Or have I been doing camping 'wrong'?

[Starupinthelightningsky]

I have always camped, usually in small campsites with very cheap, light gear as I have a small car and am usually on my own with two under sevens.
I camp generally due to the price; we can go away lots for £20 quid a night, kids aren't bothered by food at all and I don't enjoy going for meals. We just wake up, eat some breakfast and go out for the day, come back at 8/9pm, heat some water for a pot noodle and go to sleep.
The more people I speak to, the more I realise that maybe camping itself is what you're meant to enjoy and that some don't go off the campsites much, at least not everyday.
No judgement here but what are you supposed to do all day? Drink? Sit in camping chairs? Is there enough to do for small children? Is it because I don't have another adult there, is that the key? I can just imagine I'd be expected to play pretend all day, or worse, play off ground touch for hours?
Also, people who can afford to go self catering but camp? Why?? I mean I do enjoy the fact we can pack up and move on but some days (weather) usually I would choose a beautiful holiday home over a small four man tent.
Sorry if this sounds judgey, just feel like the curtain has been lifted and maybe I've been missing out!

“@Workawayxx they probably can’t afford the car, it likely to be “on finance” which is the best marketing of our generation, a rebranding of debt.”

what an odd comment, do you think if you have money you don’t also enjoy camping?

I’m firmly in the category of loving the campingness of camping! Sitting around a camp fire chatting with friends and then snuggling down into a sleeping bag for a night under canvas - it’s great!

I always thought that camping was something you just did how you wanted? We would always pick somewhere with stuff to do nearby as it can be pretty miserable if you get bad weather. Sometimes when we've camped there has been a big communal area near the tents where kids can all play together, which can be nice too. i;ve sometimes felt envious of other people's camping equipment, but never felt judged by others there

It's easy to fill our time, the world is such a big place! If we go to Cornwall then usually it's beach, walk, ice cream, short drive, another beach, walk, find a shop for some yellow sticker goodies, beach in the evening or park, quiet drink, drive back listening to folk. It's divine.
I don't have enough friends to do the big friends camping trip and I find other people limit my adventures sometimes. They always want to go back early or eat at set times. A lot of my friends have babies too. My dd is nd so not sure she will ever run off and play without me, which is a bit of a sad thought.

We always stay on 'site' - but it's a different kettle of fish as we live in Canada! All the activities are on site - hiking, canoeing, beach etc.

We usually do a couple of activities, then we're back at the site around 4pm for dinner, then a walk to the beach /through the forest afterwards then back for campfire and marshmallows. Sleep by 10pm at the latest.

Sounds like you're doing it right, op

You are right. The campsite is just a base for me. I would be bored out of my mind if I stayed on the campsite the whole time! We do have 'down time' where we might chill out for the morning but nothing more.

We do a mix of off and onsite. The kids (primary age) like to run around a little feral and we specifically pick sites which will facilitate that. We like basic sites, no designated pitches, lots of space.

I find our kids need down time which lots of days out, even walking or mooching doesn't give them. We play kubb, quick cricket etc and they do lots of running around, den building. DH and I read and chat.

Also, people who can afford to go self catering but camp? Why??

Because campsites are often in very beautiful locations where houses are not - ie, right on the beach, on a remote spot of riverbank, on a cliff top, in a woodland.
I want to be as deep in nature as I can and typically can't achieve that in a building.
I also like the slow pace of life with camping. I want the process of cooking and eating a bacon sandwich, and washing up afterwards, to take 2 hours. In a cottage it's done in 20 minutes.

Some photo from last months camping trip. One from our pitch, and one when we went exploring the views from the pitch.

For dinner, we normally have fajitas, as you can chop everything in advance and it just needs one frying pan

I think camping holidays with small people (mine are 3 & 5) are hard work so you do what you do to make sure everyone has enjoyed something during the day. You do what suits.
I used to see weekends at home as a bit of a fail but lockdown taught me that as long as they're smiling and go to bed fed, watered and tired that's all that matters. 😊

I think your way is correct, except for the pot noodle in the evening - I would prefer a proper meal.

I camped a lot as a child because it was a cheap way of going on holiday and visiting lots of places.

As an adult camping isn't for me. I like my creature comforts, and if I can't afford a proper roof over my head I would rather stay at home.

That’s pretty much how we camp too. I love the ‘camping aspect’ of camping but 3 nights is about my limit. I’m usually tired and feel too grubby by then.

Theres no right or wrong waybill doing it, just do what suits you!

Do what you like but this "come back at 8/9pm, heat some water for a pot noodle and go to sleep." might change when your kids are older. Pot noodles are shit. We cook lovely (but simple) meals when camping and love sitting around a fire pit in the evening, either on the campsite or back on the beach if they don't allow fires.

When we go camping with our friends and their dc just for a weekend we don't go off the campsite as the camping and the people is the 'thing' - it's a lovely campsite and a chance for us to unwind and catch up.
When we've camped as a family and further afield / for longer it would be more of a base and we'd go out and about for the day, although we'd also spend some time on the site and the dcs would often make friends and be off playing. I love camping though (teen dc won't go now so sadly our family camping days are over)

There's loads of different ways to camp, and I always think the people who froth on forums about not doing it 'properly' are the ones who aren't proper campers. I've camped all my life. Sometimes it's about finding cheap accommodation in the summer holidays and having a 'normal' self catering holiday (no different to a cottage). Sometimes it's about a long weekend where we do stuff, but at a slower pace and without pressure to go anywhere or do anything specific. Sometimes it's to access facilities like a swimming pool or a clubhouse. And sometimes it's about the camping experience (probably with friends) and kids playing with sticks while adults sit around and do nothing. I do all on these in a typical year, although as I get older and get tired more easily I find that I'm drawn more to caravans...

A bit of both really.
kids like to make friends and could spend all day playing but I personally get bored if we do that all day so we like to go out for the day and spend evenings at camp whilst they play and we chill.
There really is no right or wrong way of doing it though!

We always go out at some point of the day, but one of the great things about camping is that the children can run away and play, and sitting in the sun relaxing while they do, and campfires in the evening. It's also an easy way to go on holiday with friends without trying to find a house the right size.
I hate to stay in hotels/b&b because you don't get this. So we could afford a hotel, but camping seems better. We usually do either camping or glamping or cottages.

Is there a right or wrong way to do any kind of holiday?

I could probably afford some airbnb options if we went away for less time. Last year we had two nights in a B&B to break up a long drive and visit somewhere along our route. I didn't really want to pitch the tent just for that and we'd had a week of staying with my mum and dad and then camping in a friend's garden, so I had the money for it. DC said they would have preferred to camp!

It depends on the campsite facilities, but we tend to go out and do things. Although it's also nice to have some lazier days. They often meet other kids and go off for a bit to play. I like sitting outside the tent with a cup of tea and actually reading my book.

I like camping because it makes a foreign holiday affordable for my budget. But I also like that we don't have TV or other electronic devices. We play cards or games instead if we have time in the day.

I like the outdoors. The DC like being outdoors, they like the freedom of camping. Although DC1 is now 13 so the freedom thing only really applies to DC2. We like the stars at night, the scenery. It's a slower pace of life. I do like 'proper' meals most of the time though, and have a notebook of camping recipes that are things we can do easily. I got a camping gaz party grill for my birthday a couple of years ago and you can cook pizza and pancakes on it for really easy meals.

I was brought up on camping holidays and don't like hotels. I always feel a bit hemmed in in them. I think that even if I could afford self-catering, I'd probably alternate. I do like disconnecting and the fresh air.

Also, people who can afford to go self catering but camp? Why??

I enjoy the freedom, the simplicity, the back to nature of it.

We tend to do a foreign holiday, a week UK self catering, a couple of weekend breaks just me and DH and 4 or 5 camping trips.

OP, you are doing your holidays perfectly well.
I really admire you in that you've sourced a low cost base so that you can spend some time to create a perfect and adventurous holiday for your family.
You haven't booked a holiday cottage that should really be a home for locals and that is to be commended.

You and your children will have wonderful memories going forward.

We do wild woodland camping so we hang around in the forest making rope swings and hanging around in hammocks. I can't imagine using camping as a base only and going elsewhere so maybe we've been doing it wrong 🤭

Depends on the campsite for me. Some campsites offer activities for the kids and we would then get involved and stay at the campsite more. Some campsites used as you describe and if the weather is crap then would do exactly what you do. Nice to have a bone fire every evening though to keep warm and have some nice food but wood adds to prices.

You've got camping right for you and your children.

Making friends and playing isn't your daughter's thing, so you have devised a way of holidaying that doesn't have that expectation with the potential for disappointment and upset.

No need to frown upon others way of doing camping, their way suits them and their circumstances.

I am a "hang around the campsite" camper. I have a big comfortable bell tent which is my pride and joy, and we go to campsite with a lot to do for the dc. They make friends and range about, while I sit in the sun and read a book, or we play endless board games and card games. We obviously do some activities too, but not all day, every day.

I suppose if I was going somewhere to see the area I'd probably stay in a travelodge type place. My camping holidays are for relaxing and taking it easy.