From Wanderlust to Campfire Tales: Joy of Family Adventures

‘I like traveling‘ is stating the obvious. I caught the travel bug from my parents. Every summer
during vacations, my dad and mum will plan a trip and take us to different cities, and towns in India. They have extensively traveled across Western Europe, North America, South East Asia, and almost all states of India, making them well-traveled in our extended family.”

Even after retiring from active work, my parents continue to travel, and most importantly, we still travel together as a family. Traveling together with family is all about making memories. As they say, the
family that travels together stays together. ( or I say that! )

Travel can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s an escape from their routine life and for some, it could be about an immersive experience, and for some it’s education. For me, it’s all of those. Travel for me is a way to explore the world, learn something new, escape reality but immerse in a different reality or culture, relax, unwind, and clear my head. Above all travel helps me understand myself better.

My cultural vulture side of traveling loved walking in the ancient ruins of Athens, marveling
Gaudi’s non-linear architecture in Barcelona, visiting the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, architectural
masterpiece that is the Sun temple of Konark and the huge palaces of Rajasthan. For these trips my
number one rule is to get a guided tour then explore local arts, crafts, and cuisine and immerse in the
local culture.

When kids were young, travel was all about leisure and escape. In the traveling world, AI is not Artificial Intelligence, AI is all-inclusive. I loved my getaways to resorts in Goa, Malaga, Cancun, Maldives, Portugal, and more. All-inclusive holidays, where I could relax near the pool while the kids played in the water nearby, and everything was conveniently brought to you, were exactly what one needs at times.

However, during the pandemic when borders were sealed, my travel bug was itching more than ever. Even when the lockdowns were lifted, traveling abroad was not easy or allowed. It was during this time that I discovered camping.

I had camped as a child but those were organized by Scouts and Guides organizations or National Cadet Core (NCC). But never as an adult and that too with a young child, until recently.
Even when I went to music festivals, I either did day tickets or stayed in a hotel. So, before 2020, if anyone had asked me about camping, I would have said, “Camping is not my thing. I prefer having my shower, toilet, a clean bed, and a warm room.” However, now I am a convert!

I mentioned to my dear friend Sam that I wanted to go camping. Sam took the lead and booked us for my first camping experience—a night on a large farm situated on a hill in the south of England. The idea was to give it a try. After reaching the campsite in the afternoon, we pitched our tents, left our belongings, and spent the rest of the evening on a nearby beach. Upon returning, the kids enjoyed the evening entertainment and activities while the adults gathered around the campfire for some chitchat. Since we were there for just one night, we had pre-made food like wraps and sandwiches for dinner. Surprisingly, the toilets were clean and the shower provided warm and refreshing water.

I had a basic single-sheet tent, and I won’t lie—it was quite cold inside during the night.

Even with inflatable mattresses, groundsheets, a sleeping bag, and a duvet on top, I still felt cold. In the morning, there was a bit of perspiration inside the tent. I was relieved it was only for one night. This experience taught me that if you choose a campsite carefully, you can have access to clean toilets and hot showers. Additionally, we thoroughly enjoyed meeting new people and exploring an area that isn’t overly touristy.

So I knew that all I needed to do was to invest in a better-quality tent and some more camping gear. After that, I tried a weekend of camping at a balloon festival and was better prepared. My child had already made friends with kids in another tent and all the kids were playing and having fun.

Last month I got braver and booked us for a whole week of camping! I went for a pre-erected bell tent option that had basic equipment, hob, kitchen table, camping chair, camping bed, etc all included. This was our best camping trip so far.

The campsite, located in the scenic New Forest in the south of England, featured a horseshoe-shaped clearing with an activity tent and picnic tables at its center. It boasted excellent shower and toilet facilities. The campsite organizers, known for their family-friendly approach, had a variety of activities planned each day, including movie nights, silent discos, archery, bingo, pizza nights, face painting, BBQs, nightly bonfires, picnics, and even crabbing for those interested. The majority of campers were fellow mothers like myself, accompanied by their children. My child made numerous friends, and they engaged in all-day play, including water fights with balloons and water guns, flying foam gliders and kites, playing ball games, and more. Surprisingly, we didn’t bring any gadgets except for my phone, yet we didn’t miss a thing.

I met so many like-minded mums like me. Some of us instantly hit it off and would gather around the fire each evening chatting till late. We know that we will see each other next year if not sooner. The friends I made during my most recent camping trip are actively involved in planning future camping events, including a group trip to Europe. We have established a Facebook and WhatsApp group specifically for camper moms. Camping has provided me with a sense of community that surpasses my other travel experiences.

Preeti lives in Berkshire, England, and works as a Digital Transformation Professional while nurturing her children’s love for travel and outdoor adventures, exploring the world together during school holidays