My husband's favorite moment is the campfire.

My six-year-old son votes for the marshmallows — not eating them (he doesn't like them), but roasting them. It's his only opportunity in life to tinker with fire.

Car camping is a fun, low-stress outdoor
adventure for families with small children

For me, it's settling all of us into our sleeping bags for the night — everyone close together — and listening to the night sounds surrounding us.

Such are the joys of family car camping, and if you haven't sampled them, you owe your family the adventure at least once, preferably regularly. S pending at least a night or two in a tent is a rite of passage, like a first visit to the ocean, a bike ride without training wheels, or a ride on a horse.

Here are some tips to get you started, or to improve your experience if you already have a few camping trips under your belt.

Add Zip to Your Trip! Ten Fun and Handy Family Camping Items Bikes: Campground roads can be good riding, but watch for traffic, of course. Preschoolers may enjoy trikes or other little vehicles for campsite riding. Bug catcher: Help your kids with their nature patrols and study. Camp chairs for all. Camp coffee maker. Entrance mat or rug: Helps keep debris out of the tent. Some folks swear by cutting a piece of carpet to fit the entire tent floor, thus giving an added level of comfort. A friend or another family. A Frisbee. Hot chocolate. Potty: Handy even for kids well beyond potty training, especially for those middle-of-the-night nature calls. Popcorn popper and popcorn: Teach kids that popcorn can pop without a microwave!

Move on to Getting Started: Tents & Gear

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