It would be a whole lot easier (for yourself) if you could get him on side to drive you there, help to unload, maybe even stay a night if he's feeling brave and then come back for you all when you are ready to come home.
My husband was dead set against camping anywhere, I've proved to him that he can enjoy camping in France but the UK is a bit beyond him as yet.
By including your OH a little to start with it'll give him a chance to see how much your kids enjoy themselves.
For your teens, I'd recommend a site with wifi in case it does rain. It keeps mine from mutiny.
Thanks everyone!
I do think it's doable. I walk a lot and although I'm only small I'm a fairly fit person and I can carry a massive amount of shopping home!! Haha!
I don't know anyone that camps but I've had an idea.. I'm going shopping at the weekend to look at what's available and may purchase a tent and go camping in the back garden a couple of times and see how we get on :-) lol
We have a large garden and even if I decide it's not for me the kids are already begging me to camp in the garden so I have nothing to loose.
I'm probably going to sound a bit down and mean on your hubby here but.... It's not all about him....camping is great for adults but for the kids you can times that by 10 for the experience and fun they will have doing it.
If it was me trying to persuade mine ( although I don't have to now) I would be using the selfish word lots and then promise him romantic chilled evening round the campfire once kids in bed ;)
A garden camp is a great idea, nothing quite like trying it to see what works and what doesn't - get your disasters out of the way when home is just a few steps away Just make sure that it is a good lesson - everything that you took out to the garden, try to pack to see what carrying it would be like. Perhaps spend a night in the garden with the kids, then leave the tent up and spend a night in it with your husband to show him the potential joys of camping
The alternative of hiring a tent already pitched would be a really good idea to try before you commit too much, would be a little more expensive, but this would be offset by not buying a tent for a start.
There are several sample packing lists kicking around both this site and the internet. Search for one or more of these, and see how much you can borrow from home so that you don't commit too much money to it at first.
Read these forums lots, to become an expert. There's tons of great advice, including the important things like staying warm and comfortable at night.
Especially read up about things like EHU, and carbon monoxide.
Don't get too caught up in the glossy brochures about the kit that you need. Look at the advice on here for guidance. Think seriously about second hand kit, there are some cheap tents on ebay/preloved/gumtree/local papers/newsagent windows.
There is a very good chance that the tent that you buy first will not suit you for very long and you'll want to change it. This is because once you start camping, you can work out what sort of camping you want to do. Will you be a 'glamper' or a 'back to basics' kind of camper?
We're only back to camping for our third year, and are on our third (and hopefully last for a long time) tent, and every time we go away, we learn more about what we like, what works for us and what doesn't.
Good luck!
------------- Good times and great adventures await...
You could always say look Darling if you keep saying No then I am going to have to say No ( womens ploy) at least you could take us there and you cant cook so you will have to come if you want to eat or live on takeaways and your mothers says she,s not putting up with you for a fortnight and so the battle was won if this fails keep telling the kids to go and ask your dad ah please dad can we go camping please please Tommy from school always goes with his Dad How could he refuse after that
Thank you so much to everyone taking there time to reply to me :-) you are a lovely lot!
My 12 year old said we should pack everything up in the house, carry it all to the train station and back to our garden, then set up and were only allowed in the house to use the loo and get water!! All weekend! Sounds like an adventure!
Wonder who will crack first? Probably me, watching the tv through the window! Hahaha!
Hubby won't budge, so if I'm going to do it I'm doing it alone, it's all about the kids childhood in my eyes and they really want to try it, and so do I!
Will report back and let you know how we get on with our weekend camping in the garden experience, but first I need a tent so I will be searching this forum and the internet for inspiration :-) thanks again for all your advice.
My hubby wasnt keen, but was willing to make me happy. In the end, he enjoyed being together and chilling.
Some partners need a bit of pursuading im afraid.
ps. we are STILL camping and caravanning and both very happy.
French families often camp during the week while the father is at work, then he comes to visit at the weekends, you could try something like that.
Start with a minimum of lightweight equipment but remember a 3 man tent fits 2 people and their kit.
A very small gas stove will get you your morning cuppa and let the kids cook sausages and beans.
If hubby could get you all to your local station you could always get a taxi at Skegness station.
Hi, I to camp with no car, myself and my 5 year old, its taken me a while to work out what I need and what I actually just want to take. My 5 year old takes a small case and also a small backpack, in this she has her sim and any clothes and toys she wants with her, I have a large wheeled bag and a backpack, the tent sits on top of the wheeled bag or I carry it (tent poles r in wheeled bag) I make sure the sites I'm going to have good facilities and also a shop either on site or very close by as I can't manage much shopping, and a playpark onsite always helps with my little one, we have only been away a couple of times due to work an family but it can defo be done. Good luck and have fun :-) x
Post last edited on 29/05/2014 08:58:20
------------- If it fits in my backpack or trolly bag im takin it :-) who needs a car to go camping
Hi mum of 2. Thank you, yes I'm thinking I wouldn't take anything that I can buy once I'm there.
Even toiletries, I can just buy when I'm there and throw/ give away to another family family when we leave,
Can I ask what a sim is? I've seen it mentioned a few times. Do you have electric or take a stove? My boys wouldn't need a lot clothes, just change of underwear and some warm pjs and jumpers, my 3 year old girl (and myself) would stuggle to fit our entire wardrobes in! Haha.
If you found a site that you know you would keep going back to, could you not ask if they would store the larger items for you and then you would only need to carry your clothes/food/toys with you? Just a thought.
Julie
------------- Wish I could go camping more and not have to work for a living!!!
Hi, I don't know your area but are there any campsites nearby that your husband could drive you all to and then pick you up again at the end of your stay? It seems the least he can do since you're all so keen to go camping?
A sim is a self inflating mattress. Probably essential if you're travelling by public transport since airbeds and a pump would be heavier to carry.
I hope you can find a way to go camping, I started with the same urge to try it with a reluctant family 3 years ago (although I do drive) and many, many camping trips later we've never looked back :-)
------------- April '14 - Red Squirrel
May '14 - Nydie (twice)
July '14 - ?
Aug '14 - ?
Sept '14 - ?
Oct '14 - Red Squirrel
Hi adventure time, at the moment I take a little suitcase stove which uses gas canisters but as it's just me and the little one now I plan to buy a trangia meths cooker as its a lot smaller and more compact to travel with, this along with a little pocket type thing should do me but for all of youmight be to small? I make sure I'm near a pub or cafe so at least our evening meal is cooked for us :-) I did try airbeds but they are way to bulky to carry and u need a good one with a rechargeable pump which can be expensive so iv just bought new self inflating mats, iv gone with vango adventure ones as they r less bulky so hopefully for a few nights they will be comfy enough, and most important for me and my little one is a cosy sleeping bag, with having no car u can't hide in there on a really bad night and u can't take lots of extra blankets so a good sleeping bad and a fleece liner inside works for us :-) no ehu yet tho since I'm now using sim I may have more packing space so its a thought for next time. Oh and I seen your tent thread, mines is a vango Icarus 300, you can also get them in a 500 and they r a good tent and not to big an bulky, hope you manage to find a way for you and your family to enjoy camping x
------------- If it fits in my backpack or trolly bag im takin it :-) who needs a car to go camping
Hi! Thanks again, you have all been so much help :-) and when asking around it's surprising how many of my friends would be up for joining us so I'm feeling hopefull that it will happen :-)
Mum if 2, just done an eBay search on your tent and I think it's the same one I saw in go out doors and fell in love with, the 500 one tho would be better for me.
X
Ok, I'm going to sound really negative here and probably get moaned at but I'm realistic and although I think a couple of people can easily go without a car, if I'm reading right your talking about 4?
The 8 and 2 year old won't be able to handle much at all so basically it's you and a 12 year old carrying most of the kit. An icarus 500 alone must weigh in around 20kg. Then my list for pure basics alone would be 4 x sleeping bags+mats+pillows, holdall of clothes/smellies, stove, 2 x lanterns and thars before you add ANY food or means to eat it. I really think you would struggle.
If hubby is that against it, have you got a close friend with children and a car that you could coerce instead? Or a sister etc?
Just to give you an idea, I usually camp with the royak austin 5 which is the same size-ish as the icarus and I struggle carrying it to the car!
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Topic: Hi! I`m new here, could do with some help
Just make sure that it is a good lesson - everything that you took out to the garden, try to pack to see what carrying it would be like. Perhaps spend a night in the garden with the kids, then leave the tent up and spend a night in it with your husband to show him the potential joys of camping 
