Camping Near a Lake With Kids: What I Add to the Bin
Closed-toe water shoes, a towel pile, life jackets if we float, and a site I can see the water from.
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Field notes — I write these in first person, from how I actually pack. Photos go in when I have them.
Photo slot — Kids in water shoes at a shoreline, not a jet ski ad. I will drop a picture in when I have one that is not a stock shot.
Water changes the packing list more than the tent does
Shoes they can get wet. Towels I do not love. A dry bag of clothes. Sunscreen I reapply because water lies. If we get in a boat, jackets that fit, not last year’s.
I want a site where I can see the shoreline from the table if the kids are little. I do not take a nap and hope.
The lake is the entertainment
I still pack a disc and cards for after dark. I do not need a full arcade. I do need to be honest about who can swim.
What I actually link when I mention gear
Quick answers
Is this a complete packing list?
No. This is what I actually do for this situation. Use a full checklist for the boring essentials, then add or subtract from this note.