Natalie
@campingkiddos.bsky.social
Outdoor family travel blogger at campingkiddos.com. National parks obsessed. Slow but determined hiker. Forever handing out snacks to my 2 kids. Former English professor, lifetime book nerd. Always planning my next road trip.
Boxing Day hike for the win! We did 6 miles on the Wateree Passage of the Palmetto Trail, and it was so fun. I loved the old railroad tracks and suspension bridges through the cypress swamp. #southcarolina #hikingwithkids #palmettotrail
December 27, 2024 at 4:40 PM
Boxing Day hike for the win! We did 6 miles on the Wateree Passage of the Palmetto Trail, and it was so fun. I loved the old railroad tracks and suspension bridges through the cypress swamp. #southcarolina #hikingwithkids #palmettotrail
One of my Christmas presents: a new gear closet to organize all of our camping and hiking stuff 😍😍😍
December 23, 2024 at 11:26 PM
One of my Christmas presents: a new gear closet to organize all of our camping and hiking stuff 😍😍😍
Since we bought this trusty little camper in early 2023, it’s been nearly 20,000 miles. The only issues we’ve had were a bent black tank pull and a stove eye that came loose.
December 9, 2024 at 7:56 PM
Since we bought this trusty little camper in early 2023, it’s been nearly 20,000 miles. The only issues we’ve had were a bent black tank pull and a stove eye that came loose.
A3: some of the best state parks we visited this year were Hickory Knob SP in SC, Bannack SP in MT (which has a complete historic gold rush town, shown below), Custer SP in SD, and Kodachrome Basin and Goblin Valley, both in UT! #parkchat #stateparks
December 5, 2024 at 10:24 PM
A3: some of the best state parks we visited this year were Hickory Knob SP in SC, Bannack SP in MT (which has a complete historic gold rush town, shown below), Custer SP in SD, and Kodachrome Basin and Goblin Valley, both in UT! #parkchat #stateparks
Yes! We spent a month slowly doing the Mighty 5 this summer and it was incredible. I also can’t stop talking about Grand Teton and Glacier! #parkchat
December 5, 2024 at 5:45 AM
Yes! We spent a month slowly doing the Mighty 5 this summer and it was incredible. I also can’t stop talking about Grand Teton and Glacier! #parkchat
A2: we did 9 national parks, 2 national memorials, and a national monument. One of my favorite memories was hiking the Narrows with my kids in Zion! #parkchat
December 5, 2024 at 5:42 AM
A2: we did 9 national parks, 2 national memorials, and a national monument. One of my favorite memories was hiking the Narrows with my kids in Zion! #parkchat
We went a long way out of our way to stop by Craters of the Moon when driving from SLC to Glacier. It was totally worth the detour.
December 4, 2024 at 10:12 PM
We went a long way out of our way to stop by Craters of the Moon when driving from SLC to Glacier. It was totally worth the detour.
We ended up putting buffs on the kids’ heads and sprinkling the fabric with water to help keep the kids cool. And when we did find some shade, we stayed there for a long time until we got cooler. We had hats and lots of water, which got us safely back to the car. (3/x)
December 4, 2024 at 5:53 PM
We ended up putting buffs on the kids’ heads and sprinkling the fabric with water to help keep the kids cool. And when we did find some shade, we stayed there for a long time until we got cooler. We had hats and lots of water, which got us safely back to the car. (3/x)
The hottest hike I’ve ever been on was the Corona Arch trail this June in Moab. We started the hike with overcast weather in the mid-80s (and it was supposed to stay that way per the weather apps). About halfway through, the clouds disappeared and the temp shot up to 102. (1/x)
December 4, 2024 at 5:49 PM
The hottest hike I’ve ever been on was the Corona Arch trail this June in Moab. We started the hike with overcast weather in the mid-80s (and it was supposed to stay that way per the weather apps). About halfway through, the clouds disappeared and the temp shot up to 102. (1/x)
Craziest things we’ve seen (so far) in the national parks:
-a guy on the wrong side of the fence at Canyonlands inches from a 1400’ drop
-several guys climbing Hidden Falls in Grand Teton wearing flip flops. One slipped and fell a long way.
-people attempting selfies w/bison in Yellowstone
-a guy on the wrong side of the fence at Canyonlands inches from a 1400’ drop
-several guys climbing Hidden Falls in Grand Teton wearing flip flops. One slipped and fell a long way.
-people attempting selfies w/bison in Yellowstone
December 3, 2024 at 4:00 PM
Craziest things we’ve seen (so far) in the national parks:
-a guy on the wrong side of the fence at Canyonlands inches from a 1400’ drop
-several guys climbing Hidden Falls in Grand Teton wearing flip flops. One slipped and fell a long way.
-people attempting selfies w/bison in Yellowstone
-a guy on the wrong side of the fence at Canyonlands inches from a 1400’ drop
-several guys climbing Hidden Falls in Grand Teton wearing flip flops. One slipped and fell a long way.
-people attempting selfies w/bison in Yellowstone
The reason this fascinates me is because my grandparents owned one of them, and it’s what I grew up camping and traveling in! They finally got rid of it when I was in middle school, but it was fun to the end.
Here’s my dad and I in front of our Grumman RV in the early ‘80s while at Fort Wilderness
Here’s my dad and I in front of our Grumman RV in the early ‘80s while at Fort Wilderness
December 2, 2024 at 10:41 PM
The reason this fascinates me is because my grandparents owned one of them, and it’s what I grew up camping and traveling in! They finally got rid of it when I was in middle school, but it was fun to the end.
Here’s my dad and I in front of our Grumman RV in the early ‘80s while at Fort Wilderness
Here’s my dad and I in front of our Grumman RV in the early ‘80s while at Fort Wilderness
I love my Osprey pack and Keen hiking sandals, and they go everywhere with me! Also, my Garmin Inreach when hiking alone with the kids in case we need help. For national parks, we love the GuideAlong audio tours for education on the go! And ALWAYS a ton of snacks!
November 27, 2024 at 5:36 PM
I love my Osprey pack and Keen hiking sandals, and they go everywhere with me! Also, my Garmin Inreach when hiking alone with the kids in case we need help. For national parks, we love the GuideAlong audio tours for education on the go! And ALWAYS a ton of snacks!
There were so many snowball fights that we could barely hike! 🤣
November 27, 2024 at 4:59 PM
There were so many snowball fights that we could barely hike! 🤣
A2 #parkchat we’ve loved meeting rangers from all over the US on our travels! We are thankful for those talented, passionate people who are happy to take extra time with our kids to answer questions and make the Junior Ranger programs fun!
November 27, 2024 at 4:21 PM
A2 #parkchat we’ve loved meeting rangers from all over the US on our travels! We are thankful for those talented, passionate people who are happy to take extra time with our kids to answer questions and make the Junior Ranger programs fun!
My National Park buddies are my 2 kiddos (and my husband when he can come along)!
November 27, 2024 at 4:16 PM
My National Park buddies are my 2 kiddos (and my husband when he can come along)!
Did you know that Badlands NP is an open hike park? That means you can hike anywhere you’d like (as long as you’re not hurting yourself, obviously). So different than other places where you need to stay on trail always!
November 22, 2024 at 1:45 PM
Did you know that Badlands NP is an open hike park? That means you can hike anywhere you’d like (as long as you’re not hurting yourself, obviously). So different than other places where you need to stay on trail always!
There’s one moment on every trip where I realize “I’m here! I’ve done it!” and it makes the stress of planning go away for a bit. This is where it hit me on our road trip this summer: while biking in Zion National Park.
November 19, 2024 at 2:51 AM
There’s one moment on every trip where I realize “I’m here! I’ve done it!” and it makes the stress of planning go away for a bit. This is where it hit me on our road trip this summer: while biking in Zion National Park.
While I love a national park, state parks can offer up some incredible things, too. Bannack State Park in Montana has a wonderfully preserved Wild West ghost town. Walk into dozens of old buildings, including the saloon, schoolhouse, hotel + jail! #montana #stateparks #familytravel
November 18, 2024 at 9:01 PM
While I love a national park, state parks can offer up some incredible things, too. Bannack State Park in Montana has a wonderfully preserved Wild West ghost town. Walk into dozens of old buildings, including the saloon, schoolhouse, hotel + jail! #montana #stateparks #familytravel
The Great Smoky Mountains on the last day of our 8-week road trip!
November 18, 2024 at 1:29 AM
The Great Smoky Mountains on the last day of our 8-week road trip!
This past summer, I went on a 9700 mile road trip from South Carolina to 10 national parks in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota with 2 kids and didn't die. AMA.
#roadtrip #familytravel
#roadtrip #familytravel
November 17, 2024 at 10:25 PM
This past summer, I went on a 9700 mile road trip from South Carolina to 10 national parks in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota with 2 kids and didn't die. AMA.
#roadtrip #familytravel
#roadtrip #familytravel
It baffles me that Black Canyon of the Gunnison is the least visited national park in Colorado. The canyon is nearly as deep as the Burj Khalifa is tall--and it's about 40 feet across at its narrowest!
November 17, 2024 at 9:03 PM
It baffles me that Black Canyon of the Gunnison is the least visited national park in Colorado. The canyon is nearly as deep as the Burj Khalifa is tall--and it's about 40 feet across at its narrowest!