We spent our Labor Day weekend camping at Jacob Lake. It's about a 5-6 hour drive for both us and my family in Utah, so we met there to rough it in the wilderness for a few days. This was the first time we've camped for 2 nights with the kids (we always just do one) - I was apprehensive, but I'd definitely do it again! Camping for just one night is a pain because you spend most of your time setting up and taking down camp with not much time for play in between. So, 2 nights was much more worthwhile. We had a GREAT time - we ate delicious dutch oven meals, played lots of games in the evenings (like bananagrams, BANG!, mafia, poor man's cranium), chatted by the fire, explored the wilderness, rode horses, took a field trip to the Grand Canyon, etc, etc... it was so fun! Aaron took the family pic of us above while at the Grand Canyon - this was on Day 2, and none of us had showered - I'd say we were still lookin' pretty cute. haha :)
Some sights on the drive up...
When we reached the campsite, Claire took a little outdoor nap - she seemed to really enjoy the breezes and nature sounds - she napped great! :)
Our campsite was right next to a horse pasture - the horses would come right up to the fence and the girls loved to pet them - Emma even named them... Dot and Starlight...
The horse pasture is also home to the actual Jacob Lake that the area is named after. It's not much of a lake, but it was very picturesque...
Exploring the surrounding woods...
S'mores!
Claire comfy and warm in her bear outfit...
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon was about a 45 minute drive from our campsite, so we made sure to make a little trip to see it. I've only been to the Grand Canyon once before when I was younger, and that was to the South Rim - this was my first time to the North end. The Grand Canyon is amazing and frightening - it doesn't even look real when you are right there... it looks like a painting or something. I'm definitely afraid of heights and the whole thing gave me the heebie jeebies.... but it was gorgeous!
One of our camping activities included making marshmallow shooters followed by a big mini marshmallow war...
Emma, Becca, and Jake all got to ride horses at a local ranch. They were so cute up on those big horses!
Mom went out horseback riding as well... she looks good on a horse! :)
On our last day before heading out, the kids did a simple little nature scavenger hunt while we worked at taking down tents and packing up...
By morning on Day 3, I was especially thankful that we were all able to shower the night before - bonus points for finding a campground with showers! On the way home we stopped at Lee's Ferry - we bought some Indian jewelry, and crossed the bridge and enjoyed the view...
We also stopped in Cameron for lunch and ate some huge Navajo tacos. :) What a wonderful trip!
My brother Aaron is a really great photographer and he took a bunch of awesome photos from our trip - they sum up our wonderful weekend quite perfectly...
I've been promised that for the next camping trip I will have my Tipi Tent. They sell them at Cabellas and are so cute. I have just got to have a tent that I can stand up in!
ReplyDeleteWe will also find a better way to haul our stuff. Having to leave behind so many items because of the little trunk stressed me out a bit.
Otherwise it was a good attempt at camping. We definitely need to do it again when we can do it right.
The camping trip also proves that I'm willing to walk through the woods to a porta potti in the middle of the night with a lantern if that's what it takes to be with my family. haha
I think the best part of the trip for me was the horseback ride. I would love to do the big two hour ride sometime.
Looking back at all the pictures, we found a really great location. Horses, trees, water, comfortable weather and the Grand Canyon made for a wonderful weekend. I can't wait for next year. Ben has a great idea trying Lake Powell or Yellowstone.
ReplyDeleteOh, and here is a video of the the TeePee tent, www.youtube.com/watch?v=96eXkj8DbLk