Every year as fall approaches, I eagerly anticipate the crisp air and the vibrant colors of the changing leaves. But more than that, I look forward to our annual Family Camping trip. For my family, this isn’t just a vacation; it’s a cherished tradition, specifically our fall camping trip to the stunning Adirondacks.
My introduction to the outdoors began incredibly early. My parents first brought me to Indian Lake, New York, when I was only six months old. For the past 24 years, we’ve returned to our favorite campsite on Indian Lake every Columbus Day weekend. Come rain or shine (and yes, even snow!), camping on this particular weekend has become a constant in my life. Just as many families have their special holiday gatherings, our fall camping trip to Indian Lake is the cornerstone of our family traditions.
Family enjoying the stunning fall colors at Indian Lake in the Adirondacks
This annual adventure has profoundly shaped my love for the outdoors and taught me invaluable life lessons. Reflecting on these years of family camping, I’ve identified five key reasons why I am so grateful my parents introduced me to the wonders of nature, especially in the Adirondacks during the fall, at such a young age. And more broadly, why family camping trips are incredibly important for building strong bonds and creating lasting memories.
Family tradition of carving pumpkins while camping outdoors
1. Cultivating a Lifelong Love for Nature
Our annual family camping trips were instrumental in fostering an early and enduring love for nature, particularly during the breathtaking fall season in the Eastern United States. My parents wisely avoided the sweltering summer heat, making our camping experiences primarily focused on the beautiful autumn months, always accompanied by the spectacular display of fall foliage.
The peak of fall colors in the Adirondacks typically arrives around the first weekend of October, and we’ve consistently been fortunate to witness nature’s artistry at its finest. The vibrant hues are truly awe-inspiring and never fail to amaze me year after year. While I might be biased, experiencing an Adirondack fall firsthand is an adventure I wholeheartedly recommend. For families considering a fall camping trip, the Adirondacks offer an unparalleled experience.
Timing your family camping trip to coincide with the fall foliage peak offers numerous benefits. You’ll enjoy fewer insects, smaller crowds, and ideal temperatures for outdoor activities. Imagine returning to your campsite after a day of hiking and wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket, like a Puffin Blanket, while sipping hot cocoa around a crackling campfire – pure bliss.
Having spent years in Western New York and Colorado during my college years, I can attest that no other fall season quite compares to the Adirondack autumn. While aspen trees are beautiful, they simply don’t evoke the same nostalgic feeling. Now, each year as I drive towards Indian Lake, my heart swells with excitement for the long-awaited arrival of reds, oranges, and yellows, knowing another incredible family camping adventure awaits.
Scenic view of fall foliage from a family campsite in the Adirondacks
2. Building Resilience and Preparing for Future Adventures
The Adirondacks region is known for its sometimes unpredictable weather, and our annual family camping trips provided my first real-world experiences with cold weather camping. These early exposures were invaluable in preparing me for countless adventures in my adult life, teaching me resilience and adaptability in the face of challenging conditions.
One particular Columbus Day weekend stands out. My mom, dad, my childhood best friend, and I spent the majority of our trip huddled under a rain shelter. Rain greeted us in the morning, accompanied breakfast, and persisted through lunch. Fortunately, the skies would clear for a few precious hours each afternoon, allowing us to emerge from our shelter for a couple of hours of hiking or kayaking before the rain resumed around 8 p.m. each evening.
Despite spending nearly 90 percent of that trip confined to our rain shelter, we remained cheerful. Simply being together in our favorite campsite was enough. These experiences taught us that family camping isn’t always about perfect weather; it’s about making the most of any situation and cherishing the time spent together.
Family memories built over a lifetime of outdoor adventures
Over the years, we’ve certainly encountered our share of “bad” weather during our family camping trips. However, what might be considered adverse conditions to some never truly felt negative to us.
I vividly remember one Columbus Day weekend when I was seven and my brother was three. The high temperatures barely reached 30 degrees Fahrenheit, and it even snowed. In fact, snow has made an appearance on several of our family camping trips. There’s a unique magic to waking up in the pre-dawn hours and opening your tent to a serene snowfall, blanketing your campsite in a layer of quiet beauty.
From a young age, my parents instilled in us the importance of resilience in cold weather. This early training in adaptability has extended far beyond camping, shaping my approach to challenges in all aspects of life and empowering me to persevere in my own independent adventures. Family camping, therefore, becomes a fantastic training ground for building character and resilience in children.
Family kayaking on a calm lake after a camping breakfast
3. Discovering Personal Passions and Interests
Visiting the Adirondacks and engaging in family camping exposed me to a wide array of outdoor activities, allowing me to discover which ones truly resonated with me and ignited my passions. Family camping provides a fantastic opportunity for children to explore different activities and find what they love.
Growing up, my family embraced an active lifestyle. By the age of eight, I even had my own garage-sale whitewater kayak. While it wasn’t intended for actual whitewater kayaking (my parents simply preferred whitewater kayaks), it introduced me to paddling. As anyone who has paddled a whitewater kayak knows, they demand significant upper body strength due to their maneuverability. At eight years old, I lacked the necessary muscle, but I learned to master the boat’s balance and developed a deep appreciation for the smooth glide of my bright red Dancer kayak on Indian Lake.
Today, kayaking remains a significant part of my outdoor pursuits in New Hampshire, alongside hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing – all activities my parents introduced to my brother and me during our family camping trips. Thanks to these early experiences, I’ve always been drawn to mountainous regions, which likely explains why I now live in Dover, a short drive from the White Mountains. Family camping opened up a world of possibilities and helped shape my lifelong interests.
Building rock cairns together as a relaxing and meditative family activity during camping
4. Creating a Tranquil Space for Family Connection
Away from the everyday pressures of work and school, our annual family camping trip provided a valuable opportunity for quiet, quality time with family and friends. For many, Columbus Day weekend marks the first break of the academic year, a welcome chance to unwind before diving back into routines. During my pre-teen years, it also meant reconnecting with cherished friends whom we’d only see once or twice a year.
We initially met these friends at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival and looked forward to seeing them there each summer. Soon, these friends began joining us at Indian Lake, expanding our family camping circle! Those years were filled with fun, laughter, building forts in the woods, and epic games of capture the flag. As we grew older and extracurricular activities and academic commitments increased, these friends gradually stopped joining us. However, this shift didn’t diminish the magic of the trip; it simply brought us back to our core family roots, mirroring how it all began.
When I went away to college, I missed a few of these family camping trips. Traveling five hours home, followed by a 2.5-hour drive into the Adirondacks, felt too challenging amidst studies. However, my parents continued the tradition with my brother and occasionally other family friends. Now, the roles have reversed. My brother is busy with college swimming and often cannot make the trip, but I eagerly block out my calendar each year for my favorite time in my favorite place. We always find our way back to this special tradition. Family camping is a powerful way to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with loved ones.
Parents who made family camping possible and encouraged outdoor adventures
5. Demonstrating that Family Camping is Simpler Than You Think
The most frequent excuse I hear from parents of young children for not going camping is that “it’s too hard.”
“It’s too much effort to pack the car. Managing kids in the backseat on a long drive is too difficult. Everything about it is just too hard…”
And I understand the sentiment. At times, family camping can present challenges. Yet, I grew up in a family that somehow managed it all – and, remarkably, my parents always claimed it was easy.
Two kids, one tent, sleeping bags, two large shelters, food and cooking supplies packed into large bins, and four kayaks – all meticulously loaded into two Honda station wagons.
Favorite family camping spot, Camp Hermit, in the Adirondacks
Yes, you read that correctly. My parents insisted it was easy. While it likely wasn’t always effortless, in their minds, it was. It’s always easier to make time for the things you genuinely enjoy. They prioritized family camping and made sure to include their children because it was important to them.
For my parents, a vacation meant family camping with us. Kayaking with us. Hiking with us. Carving pumpkins with us. Simply enjoying life with us. And for me, that approach has made all the difference. Family camping is not about elaborate plans or perfect conditions; it’s about prioritizing quality time and creating shared experiences.
By NEMO’s Sam Rokos
