Rancho Los Coches RV Park

San Diego's best kept secret

Camping & RVing with Kids

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camping with kidsIt’s a wonderful thing to share with the younger generation. The beautiful scenery and pure air of the outdoors as well as the wildlife and starry nights can’t be bought or duplicated. On any given weekend, a meteor may cross the night sky that would not only be a
pleasure for your kids but also any of their friends that are invited to join on the trip. Just one camping trip can persuade your kids to enjoy the environment and all it has to offer. Below are some camping tips that should make the next outing a
wonderful family experience.

Before embarking on an overnight trip with kids who haven’t camped before, you could try practicing having a campout at home, whether in your backyard or in your living room.

In preparation, you should try to get the kids pumped about their weekend adventure and ask them what they would want to do and see on the family fun weekend. After creating a list, let your kids pack their things so that they will feel involved. You also should let your kids bring a few of their favorite toys or stuffed animals so they can feel comfortable in a new environment.

While on the campsite you should keep a positive attitude so that everyone has a fun and relaxing time. It’s always important that everyone knows where the campsite is located so that no one gets lost or disoriented, make sure that everybody knows the lot number and location. Giving everyone a whistle to blow in the event that someone is falling behind while hiking or during other group activities can help in keeping the group together.

Whenever you go camping, there’s always plenty to see and do. You should check out the wildlife of the local area to enhance the experience and enjoy any activities offered to visitors. Bring fun stuff like volleyballs, swimming equipment devices, campfire goodies, Frisbees and such to make your next family adventure the best yet.

Tips for Making Your Own Trail Mix

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Trail Mix for campingIf you are interested in having delicious and nutritious snacks that are easy to take on the trail with you, making your own snacks is a must! While you can purchase prepackaged mixes, creating your own can be a lot of fun! Invite the kids to help if you want and they are old enough.

Either way, making your own trail mix gives you the opportunity to be in charge of the ingredients. For some, this might mean purchasing dried fruits that have been processed a particular way while others might need to avoid ingredients due to potential allergic reactions.

Generally, trail mixes are concentrated sources of nutrition. This way, you can eat small amounts while hiking to provide your body with vital energy without being bogged down in the digestive process.

For the protein and fat content of your trail mix, use nuts and seeds. Chia seeds are excellent sources of nutrition and do not have to be ground up like flax seeds for the nutritional value to be accessible. Pick out the nuts and seeds that your family likes and experiment with different combinations in your trail mix.

As for the carbs, you will include the dried fruits of your choice. Some people like to focus their choices on a particular theme. For instance, a tropical fruit themed trail mix might have banana and coconut chips along with dried mango.

You can also add a few dark chocolate chips, dried fruits covered in chocolate or yogurt, or anything else with concentrated nutrition that will not spoil.

Have fun making your mix and record the ingredients you decide on so you can replicate the recipe later on down the line. You could even make a tradition of it for your family each year.

How To Create A Treasure Hunt For The Kids When Camping

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treasure huntCamping is a past time that many people enjoy for a wide variety of reasons. It is a great opportunity to get together with friends and family and enjoy all that nature has to offer. When you take your children camping, it can add a whole new level of fun to the equation. There are many exciting things to do with children when you go camping and one of them is creating a treasure hunt. If this sounds like something you and your children would enjoy, use the following tips to help you set up a fun adventure.

First of all, you should consider the age and abilities of the children who will be going on the treasure hunt. This will help lead you in the right direction as you create the fun adventure. For instance, if you have children who are just starting to read, make sure that your map or clues are easy to decipher. However, if you are creating the treasure hunt for older children, you can make it a bit more challenging.

Then, you should think about what you want the treasure to be. Again, this will depend on the age and interests of the kids doing the treasure hunt. Would your kids love bubbles, silly putty, or a new book? There are lots of options of things that can serve as treasures depending on your kids.

After that, you can decide where you want to hide the treasure. As you do, don’t forget where you put it and how to get there. It may be a good idea to make your map backwards if you find it difficult to create a map from the starting point to the treasure location.

Finally, it’s time to start the fun!

Healthy Popsicle Recipes The Kids Will Love

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healthy popsicles for camping kidsKids absolutely love sweet treats and, if you add a dash of cold in the summer months, you have a real winner. Unfortunately, most store bought popsicles contain high amounts of sugar, preservatives, artificial flavors and colors as well as other ingredients that could be harmful to your kids health.

Try these healthier popsicle recipes at home:

1. Fruit Juice

Simply take some fruit juice and dilute with some water until the right popsicle taste is achieved. Pour the solutions into a popsicle tray and stick the lot into the freezer. Remove when fully frozen and enjoy.

Berries are a firm favorite among most children as the juice is naturally sweeter and more vibrant. However, if you want to add a little extra sweetness, apple or grape juice is better than adding refined sugar. If you aren’t using freshly squeezed juice, remember to check the fruit juice label to ensure it doesn’t contain sugar or any other harmful ingredients.

2. Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is a great alternative for creamy popsicles that don’t contain any dairy. While dairy isn’t necessarily unhealthy for kids, most store bought creamy popsicles have additives that could be harmful to your kids health. Add fruit juice or any other flavoring to improve the natural flavor of the coconut milk.

3. Chocolate Mint

Contrary to popular belief, chocolate is not an unhealthy treat unless it contains large amounts of sugar. So opt for the darker varieties or make a cocoa solution and add a dash of mint for a great popsicle recipe. Add a touch of milk or coconut milk for a creamier option. Sweeten with just a dash of berry juice or a small amount of sugar.

With just a little time and effort, you can make healthy popsicle treats at home that your kids will absolutely love this summer.

Three Easy Ways To Remove A Splinter

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remove splinterEveryone has had a splinter at some point in their lives. The worst part is struggling and fighting to get them out. If you try one of the following three methods, you can remove them as easy as pie.

1. Grab Some Tape

If you notice a piece of the splinter protruding from the skin, you should try this method. Basically, you apply a piece of tape, allow it to adhere to the splinter, then tear it off in the opposite direction from the way the splinter went in. This is extremely important since pulling it the wrong way can cause the splinter to sink further into the skin

2. Vinegar Bath

Grab some vinegar and soak your finger in it for about a half-hour. This may seem off the wall, but it will cause the offending splinter to rise to the surface. At this point, you can take some tweezers, grasp it and remove it without any issues. Use vinegar that has not been diluted in order to increase the effectiveness.

3. Egg Shell Film

The film in the inside of an eggshell actually has some use. Apply this to the splinter and let it dry. Once that happens, pull on the film and the splinter should come right out. As you were told earlier, always pull in the opposite direction from the way that it went in. This will ensure that the problem gets better without getting any worse.

The next time you get a splinter, there is no need for you to panic. Looking for a needle to dig it out will not be necessary either. Using one of the ideas that were mentioned to you here means that you will be able to safely remove it without going through a ton of trouble.

Fun Card Games To Play With Kids

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kids' card gamesCamping provides lots of good things to families and time together is one of the most important aspects of it. Suddenly, the clock doesn’t really matter and you can spend more time with each other just having fun. It’s a good time to teach kids how to play some simple card games. They love the challenge of trying to beat you and you get to enjoy the sound of their laughter for an afternoon. It’s a wonderful thing.

Go Fish

In Go Fish, you shuffle the deck and hand out five cards to each person. The goal of the game is to end up with no cards in your hand, and the way to get cards out of your hand is to find a match. So if you have an 8, you ask your opponent (or one of them, if more than two people are playing) if they have any 8s. If they do, they give it to you, and then you lay your 8 and their 8 in the discard pile.

But watch out! If your opponent doesn’t have a match, they say “Go Fish”! This means you have to draw a card from the deck. If it matches a card you have, you may play the match. But your turn is still ended.

War

War is a game similar to Go Fish, in that the goal is to get rid of all your cards. In order to do this, you shuffle the deck and hand each player five cards. You then turn the top card of the deck over, and the first person to play has to play a card of a higher number than the number just put down.

If you don’t have something to beat the card last played, such as if they played a 10 and you don’t have a Jack, Queen, King, or Ace, you draw a card. Many people make a house rule that you have to keep drawing cards until you draw one that can beat the previous card.

These are some easy card games to teach the kids. If you ever need to pass the time, then these games can be great!

Don’t Forget That Camping First Aid Kit

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RV First Aid KitIt’s really important to carry a first aid kit with you and have it stocked for your family, including your pets. You never know when someone will get a bump, a bruise, or have an allergic reaction so being prepared will greatly reduce your stress and get that person back to feeling better faster.

For the humans in your family, you will need the following items:

For bumps, slivers, rashes:
Bandages, gauze pads, ace wraps, adhesive tape, rubbing alcohol, antibacterial cream, sunscreen, aloe, eye wash, Calamine lotion, pain reliever, cough & cold medicine, Benadryl, and something for tooth ache.

Tools you’ll need are:
Latex free gloves, tweezers, magnifying glass, ice paks, small scissors, eye dropper, small flashlight, and thermometer.

For your pet, you’ll need:
Phone number of your regular Vet, vaccination records, and all of the above plus their prescriptions and maybe needle-nose pliers. (if you’re going into porcupine country)

Once you have assembled your first aid kit you will need to be sure and check it regularly. Some of the items will have an expiration date so be sure to replace them as needed. Keeping a dedicated kit with you whenever you travel will provide peace of mind and just may provide exactly what you need when one of your loved ones is hurt or not feeling well.

Choosing the Best Sleeping Bag

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Sleeping bagsSleeping bags are the staple of the camping and RVing community. There are many choices available and your needs will differ, depending on where you are camping and what you are camping in.

You can find sleeping bags in all weights and fabrics. They can be drab green or colored and shaped like cartoon characters. Some will fit a tall person and others will fit a toddler. As your needs change you will find yourself purchasing new sleeping bags so these are a few things to look for.

Make sure the sleeping bag is durable and will hold up to whatever abuse you can dish out. You’ll be using it for more things than just sleep. You’ll find yourself pulling out a sleeping bag to cover laps around the campfire on a cool night, or laying one down for people to sit on picnic-style. The sleeping bag will be crammed into closets and stuffed into trunks so make sure it is one that will last.

It has to be comfortable. If it crinkles each time you move or makes you sweat because it doesn’t breathe you will not be happy with your purchase. There are all kinds of fabrics available these days so choose accordingly.  Do you need a fat, downy one or a thin one that can be rolled and clipped on a backpack as you hike. Decide what you will be using it for and shop for the best one in that category that you can find.

Whether you are camping in a tent or in a motorhome you will find plenty of uses for your sleeping bags. We hope yours offers you a great night’s sleep and a feeling of being refreshed in the morning.

Campers and RVers are Fun to be Around

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campers are fun to be aroundWe think campers are amazing people and we’ve enjoyed spending them time with them for as long as we’ve been here. There is something special about the kind of people who go camping.

They like to have fun
Parents enjoy some one-on-one time with their kids. Old friends and family spend time together around the campfire. Favorite old board games make an appearance and so do our childhood favorites like freeze tag. It’s delightful to see that elders are playing with grandkids and cousins are playing with cousins.

They make great neighbors
You’re never really alone when you’re in the campground. We often see a neighbor assist someone new in backing up their rig. Families share recipes and parents keep an eye out for kids, no matter if they are theirs or someone else’s.

They pitch in 
Groups of campers share a campfire and everyone brings something to eat or drink. Potlucks are a favorite and a great way to meet the neighbors. Often one family has extra chairs and another family has an extra cooler. They pool their resources and spend a good day together.

They are problem solvers
There is no problem a camper cannot solve. And when they put their heads together, look out! Items break sometimes, slides stop moving, you forget the coffee filters, or you accidentally arrive a day early. Campers can figure it out. They find a way to fix the problem and then get on with the things that matter. They get back to having fun.

We are always impressed at how wonderful our campers are. Many come here several times per year and some have been coming for many years. We consider them family and look forward to catching up with them each time they arrive.

If you’d like to join us please call to make a reservation soon. Fall and Winter camping is amazing!

 

Get the Kids Involved in the Adventure of Camping

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Kids help packing to go campingThe tasks involved in getting ready for and cleaning up after your camping and RVing trip doesn’t have to fall to only one or two people in the group. If you’re bringing kids along you can extend their enjoyment of the whole trip by allowing them to be part of the pre and post work that is required.

Beginning from the age of three or four, the kids are old enough to help with the simpler tasks of packing and unpacking. They can be helpful with carrying small items from the house to the camper or helping to set the table for meals. They love to be part of the family activities and get a real kick out of helping at this age.

Elementary school aged kids can help pack, particularly if you have a printed list they can check off. They can be tasked with packing their own things, too. Give each child a backpack for their belongings and let them add the necessary items. While you’re at the campsite they can help keep an eye on the younger kids and are a big help in preparing meals.

Older kids can handle heavier work such as gathering the firewood, setting the GPS, and helping to plan the route. They can help keeping the campsite clean and they are very capable of doing the laundry for you now. Flipping burgers and doing dishes can be part of their job while you’re all together in the great outdoors.

These activities help kids to feel they are more a part of the experience and it teaches them skills they’ll need when they become adults and start camping with their own families. Getting the group to work together expands the enjoyment of the whole group. You’ll have many more stories to share once you’ve returned and in later years when you remember back to some of your favorite trips.