We Finally Went Camping… And Nobody Got Eaten by a Bear!
Every fall, I look back at summer and think, “Wait, that’s it? It’s over already? But I didn’t even check off 25% of my summer bucket list!” Why is it that we dream so big for summer and then run out of time before we’ve even unpacked the cooler?
One dream I always had for summer was to go camping with the kids. Well, kid… I invited all the older kids, but let’s just say their enthusiasm didn’t quite match mine. Only Michael was brave enough to sign on, and it turned out to be the highlight of his whole summer.
So this year, we finally made it happen. I can now proudly check “Go Camping” off our summer bucket list—with an actual pen, not just in my head. And not just any camping trip. We got really outdoorsy
This summer, we went back to Estes Park, one of our favorite places on Earth. But instead of staying at our usual cozy spot—the YMCA of the Rockies—or finding a comfy Airbnb® with indoor plumbing and no risk of bear encounters, we went full wilderness mode. Tent, sleeping bags, firewood—the whole shebang. We camped at Aspenglen Campground in Rocky Mountain National Park.
And wow, it was gorgeous! The campground was surrounded by towering pine and aspen trees, and the fresh mountain air made everything—even french press coffee—taste better. Daniel got to play the role of Wilderness Dad and taught Michael how to build a fire, make s’mores (an essential life skill), and, perhaps most importantly, how to lock up our food so the bears wouldn’t join us for breakfast.
By day, we explored. We drove up the stunning Trail Ridge Road and spotted not one, but two moose just casually posing like they’d been hired for the summer spread of a Rocky Mountain calendar. On another day, we hiked 5.5 miles (yes, miles) and discovered a peaceful lake sprinkled with lily pads—it looked like a scene straight out of a fairy tale, or at least a high-budget nature documentary
And the best part? Our campsite was only ten minutes from downtown Estes Park. That meant we could still pop into our favorite bookstore for a new read and grab dinner at Bird & Jim, our family’s favorite spot. We also LOVED the showers at the new community center. And, for only $6/shower, I was clean once again!
So yes, summer flew by—as always—but this time, we squeezed in one last great adventure. And we made memories that will last way longer than the marshmallow goo still stuck to our cooler.
Next summer? Who knows—maybe we’ll try backpacking. (Just kidding. Probably. Maybe. We’ll see.)
What was on the camping menu?
Omelettes with fresh peppers and onions (aka Dad’s Morning Masterpiece)
Hot Dogs charred to perfection by Michael
Pancakes with enough syrup to make a raccoon jealous
Trail Mix for daaaaays (and we still brought half of it home)
Classic PB&J best served slightly squished from the cooler
S’mores soooo many s’mores