Our First Family Camping Trip

As some of you may know, Matt and I have always shared a love of the outdoors. We love to camp, hike, and just look at God's amazing creations. Anyways, since having our girls, I have been looking forward to the time that we would be able to take them camping. Well, I have been patient long enough, and this fall break we packed up and headed down to FDR State Park for a weekend getaway.


Let me just begin with the statement... I forgot how much work camping was?

Matt and I were tired, hot, and in turn a bit grouchy.

Let me end with... it was all worth it.

Sleeping in a tent...



adventuring in the great outdoors...

and family memories...

FDR State Park was built by the CCC. An organization created by FDR during the great depression. This park has great history with FDR and he actually built the little white house very close. We were able to visit that, as well as the warm springs where he built pools for people suffering with polio. Learning about him and the country at this time was really fun.

The girls are sitting beside a statue of FDR on top of Dowdell's Knob. This was FDR favorite place to sit.

I can see why, the view was beautiful

and my view wasn't too bad either.

Then we went over to the warm spring pools and museum

The girls are sitting in the actual changing room they used in the 40's at the warm springs pools

Here is FDR's little white house

Our next adventure was going on the Wild Animal Safari. When we arrived, we had the option of renting one of their vehicles to drive through the park. We questioned it in the beginning, but let me tell you, we were glad we did. The second we pulled into the gate, a zebra started biting the mirror. Not to mention the drooling that occurred from all the animals trying to get the food we had for them.

Enough said...

even thought it was dirty, it was pretty cool that that the animals were so close, literally eating out of our hand

Our third day was spent at Callaway Gardens. We had never been, and it was so beautiful. So peaceful and pretty. The have different areas at the park, and our favorite was the butterfly house. It was a room full of butterflies. What was really amazing, was that they would actually land on your fingers. The room was very steamy, and it was a hot pursuit to catch one, but it was worth it to see the look on Ella's face.

Matt and I definitely learned a few lessons about camping with small children, but we look forward to our next adventure.