Who said you couldn’t take little ones camping? Camping with a three-year-old and a nine-month-old is challenging, especially when it’s just you. My best friend Meagan and her nine-month-old, Oliver, joined us for a few days. My mom and stepdad were in the cabin beside me, but they couldn’t be with me the whole time.
At the beginning of June, I took Murphy and Benjamin camping at Allegany State Park for a week. My stepdad and his family rented a few cabins, and there was an extra cabin, so we were invited to join. How could I pass up the opportunity to get out of the house for a bit?! Jeff was still working during the week, so he couldn’t join. However, Meagan and Oliver tagged along for a few days.
The hardest part of the week was going to the bathroom with an infant attached to the hip. The bathroom and showers were directly behind our cabin. When Meagan was with me, it was easy to go to the bathhouse, but once she left, I was stuck holding an infant. Midweek I went to the store and purchased an umbrella stroller. Huge game changer. I was able to put Benjamin in the stroller, bring him with me and do with needed to be done.
Another problem I ran into was bathtime. I didn’t think about baths until I arrived, and the kids needed a bath. I did bring a toddler blow-up pool, but none of the campsites had even ground to set it up. Luckily when I packed, I used a tote to carry stuff in. We emptied the tote and turned it into the designated bathtub.
The cabin was perfect. It had four giant bunks, two chairs, a huge table and bench, a small stove and oven, a full-size refrigerator and freezer, cupboards, and countertop space. There was plenty of room for the kids to play, and we had enough room to move around. Benjamin and Oliver were still in the crawling phase, and they would always try to escape from the cabin. Thankfully the cabin screendoor came with a hook lock so we could leave the door open.
Outside the cabin was a different story. We stayed on the Sugarbush Trail on the Red House side. We had very little green space, which was so unlevel. Our cabin was the driveway for the only bathhouse for that loop. The kids running freely wasn’t an option for us. I did bring a giant playpen, which came in handy for outside.
We went exploring every day and sometimes ventured off the campgrounds. The views were amazing. There is a fitness trail around the bike path. There is also a tiny beach with water activities. I wasn’t brave enough to venture down to the beach by myself with the kids. There is a butterfly meadow to walk through with plenty of chances to see all kinds of butterflies. Lastly, we visited the little nature museum in the main lodge. It showcases the different habitats and animals around the park.
One of the main attractions in Allegany State Park is Thunder Rocks. This small trail features giant boulders. The rocks aren’t meant for climbing. This was Murphy’s favorite spot to visit. We ended up going twice. The boulders and trees provide plenty of shade. If you are looking for a break from the heat, this would be an excellent trail to venture.
To switch things up a little, we decided to take a short drive to the Zippo Museum in Bradford, PA. It is a small museum highlighting the famous Zippo Lighter. I didn’t get to do much reading with the kids, but you could spend at least an hour checking it out.
Camping with kids isn’t accessible by yourself. With the right tools, it’s possible. I would not recommend the Sugar Bush Trail in Allegany State Park. There were too many opportunities for playing kids to twist their ankles (at least around the cabins we had).
Wandering With the Wilmores 