Camping. With kids.

I have been looking into buying a new tent for our family. I would like to introduce my children to the world of camping. I have not been camping in nine years. I have not owned a tent in nine years. The last time I went camping was while I was teaching in Monterrey, Mexico, back in 2002.

My tent did not return home with me. It was a good tent, but parts of it were held together with duct tape, and I calculated it would be better if I sold it to a teacher who was staying in Monterrey, instead of having to pay the extra money to bring it home with me, and probably never use it again. I sold it for 300 pesos. I likely would have had to pay $30 to bring it on the plane, so I was actually up $60, in the end.

It was a tent by Eureka. It was roomy, and had a full fly. I had used it on a school canoe trip. I had used it for camping at a weekend concert in Gimli, where I saw Pearl Jam, briefly. I had also used it camping several times in BC, and stayed quite dry. And, I used it on our many weekend excursuions while working in Mexico.

My parents had bought the tent while I was still in high school. It replaced our massive, heavy, canvas tent we used when we were much younger, and our parents still enjoyed camping. I ended up trading a tent I received from my brother for my birthday and Christmas one year for it. The tent he had bought me from Canadian Tire might have been okay, but it didn't have a full fly. I wanted a tent with a full fly.

And now, I am searching for a tent for my family, so we too can experience camping. I haven't decided where we will camp. Next summer, we want to drive out east, to the Quebec Maritime, or Cape Breton. Perhaps we can camp along the way, instead of staying in motels, as we did for our trip west last summer. Santa's Village has a campground. We could stay there one night instead of doing the crazy three hour (one way) drive for a day trip. There is always the back yard. I would like to get a canoe or kayak one of these days, but I really am not experienced enough for that. We might all need to take canoe lessons before we foray into canoe trips.

My first step is to decide what tent to buy, and move on from there. Any advice? I have looked at Canadian Tire. I have also looked at Mountain Equipment Coop, and on the Eureka website. A friend said they really liked their Broadstone, with two rooms. They have since moved up to a tent trailer. My best friend said she bought her tent, with a full fly, at Costco. She too has upgraded to a tent trailer. Another friend, who is an active canoe tripper, and a single mom of one little girl, is still using the same tent she had as a tree planter. I suppose it depends on how much money I am willing to part with. I want a tent that will house a family of four, fairly comfortably, and keep us dry. I would like to spend less money, if possible, but am open to options.

Then, we need to buy the rest of the camping gear so we can truly live outdoors!