Kate P asked:
I want to try and encourage my husband to go caravanning or at least camping so that we can all to go away for weekend breaks. He hates the thought of camping because he says it will be wet and miserable and what can we do with the kids on days like that. We can't afford a caravan but even if we could he doesn't want to do that either. He is happy to be in a static caravan but that costs more money for being a week away in one.
I want to try and encourage my husband to go caravanning or at least camping so that we can all to go away for weekend breaks. He hates the thought of camping because he says it will be wet and miserable and what can we do with the kids on days like that. We can't afford a caravan but even if we could he doesn't want to do that either. He is happy to be in a static caravan but that costs more money for being a week away in one.
I am beginning to get quite envious of people going away at weekends with their children in their caravans and tents and we stay at home and I am trying to think of a way that I could maybe buy a tent and take the children away on my own (which is probably total madness). I can't force him to come but I don't want the children to loose out on enjoying the outdoors and going away somewhere maybe once every few weekends.
I hope someone can help.
Maybe show him some footage of refugee camps to get him in the mood first. Or suggest he sleep in the garden where its wet and miserable. Or maybe block up the toilet so he has to walk down the street to empty his bucket everytime he has a number 2.
Maybe even drive really slowly next time you go somewhere and block the traffic for miles.
If this doesn't warm him to the charms of caravanning. I really don't know what will.
we love camping holidays. the kids love them too. over the years u can build up your equipment and can even go electric in a tent. we went a couple of weeks ago and took microwave, fridge, heater. its like home from home but its also an adventure for all of u. good luck.
The easiest way to combat the wet and miserable is show him the weather forecast.
Pick a place that's not too far away, preferably near a lake though. Take a barbeque and an esky filled with meat.
The kids can go collect firewood and stuff like that, and you can teach them the glories of pyromania. Safely of course.
Also, you spelt Lose incorrectly.
I despise camping and only used to put up with it for festivals but I think if you make your tent relatively comfortable and have plenty of space its fine. This year we had a huge tent between 4 of us and there was loads of room so it was much more enjoyable.
I've also seen people with camping air-beds that would be a good idea and if you invest in a good tent you shouldn't get wet (it rained all of August bank holiday weekend but we never got wet inside the tent)
As for activities have a search what there is to do around where you are in the outdoors to encourage him? I don't know how old your kids are but fishing? nature reserves? walking/cycling? horse riding etc?
And if all else fails guilt him into it!
Leave him at home and take the children and when they get back they can tell him what a fantastic time they all had. That might change his mind.
I say leave him at home and get out there and have a great time. Maybe then he'll join in, or not. Either way you'll enjoy it. You could always plan it with other family/friends. A group effort can make these things a little easier.
If you live where it rains a lot in summer, it can be dampening, but still is a lot of fun and educational for the children. Try joining your friends to see how you like it.
We find that the driest places to camp are in California and the wettest in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado where it can rain as much as 3 times per day.
Get a POP-TENT for ease of erection, or some other kind that goes up fast and simple. Get a thorough demo before buying one. . REI and CAbella's have pretty good stuff.
Always get a Forecast for the area from the internet weather sites. Wisconsin and Michigan are dampish. Western states tend to be drier. Our first experience was at Rocky Mountain National Park in CO. in 1964
My husband had never been camping until we got married. He wasn't too keen on the idea either. I asked him to try it just once, and if he didn't like it we wouldn't go again.
The trip up and the first night were miserable. It was dark and raining, driving on very windy roads. We couldn't get a fire started due to the rain, so we had raw hot dogs, and turned in for the night. When we woke up the dog's water dish was frozen, as were we. We hadn't checked the weather forecast before we left. At that point I was thinking he would never want to go again.
Once the sun came up, and it turned out to be a nice warm beautiful day, he started to really enjoy it. We've gone camping between 4-8 trips per year for the last 10 years. Good luck!