Learning about animals

When we are driving around with our kids we are constantly looking for wildlife to check out. When we see an animal we pull over and take a few minutes to observe it. Then when we get back in the car we will google interesting facts related to that animal. The kids remember the information so much better because they just saw the animal in person!

Binoculars for Kids

My small business, Whimsical Kids Company, launched a new product recently which is these adorable, functional, high quality, crystal clear binoculars made specifically for kids!!  They are so easy to use that even my 3 year old can see through them.  They are also durable, and able to withstand some rough handling by that same 3 year old!  

My own kids have been having an absolute blast with them.  They are in love with the cheerful blue color and the fact that they are small and light enough to easily use, even for little hands!  We have been out looking at a plethora of animals, which includes geese, deer, antelope, marmots, skunks, moose (even a baby moose!), beavers, and an array of birds.  We then come back and look up these animals on google and learn about them. This has been so educational for the kids, but also totally fun! 

Right now I am having a special coupon for 40% off.  You can instantly redeem it right on the product page on Amazon.  Click here to access it and be sure to use your 40% off coupon!!! 

Fort Collins North/Wellington (Colorado) KOA review

     We recently stayed at the Fort Collins North/Wellington KOA campground in Colorado.  As is typical for us, we had an extended stay at the campground.  This visit was two months long.  We arrived in early May and left in early July.  We settled in and started to feel very at home, and also became very familiar with the campground.

Pros

*The campground is conveniently located just off of I-25 and only 15 minutes from downtown Fort Collins.  Access on and off the interstate is easy.

*The sites are large and pull through with plenty of room to park your vehicle as well as RV.  We had room to park our 40’ fifth wheel, Suburban, and F-250 pickup, with room left for a picnic table, BBQ grill, toys, my garden, and the kids’ bikes. The sites are very spacious and are all full hookups with wi-fi and cable.  They cost $40-$45/night. 

*The premium sites have a concrete pad to park on that runs the full length of the site, as well as an attached concrete patio that leads to a grassy yard.  The standard sites have dirt to park on, and grass in the yard.  All the sites have plenty of shade trees.

*Tent sites are available (with and without electric service) as well as camping cabins.

*The recreational facilities are plentiful. There is a pool, a fun playground, a large grassy field to play in, a volleyball court, a horseshoe pit, a basketball court, bikes for rent, and a covered pavilion for picnics.  There is also a recreation room with a large screen TV, games, books, and coffee. 

*The Kamper Kitchen is covered and has stove tops, sinks, and picnic tables.  For parties or tent campers, the Kamper Kitchen is a nice option to have.

*Campfires are allowed at each site, though fire pits are not provided.

*The showers and bathrooms are available 24 hours a day, are free, and clean.  There is a handicap accessible shower/bathroom, too.

*There is an on-site laundry room that is open 24 hours a day.

*The office contains a store that is stocked with food necessities as well as gifts, souvenirs, and quick fixes for your RV.

*Propane is sold on site, and is reasonably priced.

*For those traveling with horses, there are covered stalls with a paddock, as well as a very large grassy pasture where the horses can run. 

*The office will accept packages and mail sent to you while a guest at the campground.

*The views are beautiful. To the south the campground over looks huge pastures full of grass and tall trees.  To the west you have views of the Rocky Mountains.  The sunsets are spectacular!

*The campground is located out in the country and is very quiet.  At night the stars shine brightly up in the sky, the wind whistles through the pines, and you can hear crickets in the adjoining fields.  It’s a very serene location.  I loved going on walks late in the evening and just soaking in the peacefulness. 

Cons

*Mosquitos!  During the summer months, the mosquitos are everywhere.  We would have to cover ourselves in bug spray just to spend a few minutes outdoors.  The early evening hours are especially bad for mosquitos.

*There are quite a few flies.  We became militant about keeping our doors closed.  The kids would open the door to go out, and I’d be yelling for them to shut the door immediately.  This did help immensely with keeping the flies outside of our RV. 

*Just up the road from the campground is a large stockyard.  As you may or may not know, stockyards stink, and this one is no exception.  The smell of cattle and manure is quite strong at times, especially after a summer rainstorm.  I grew up in the country and the smell doesn’t bother me, but for those not accustomed to the smell, it may be annoying.

*After a rain the interior roads and dirt sites can be quite muddy.  This summer we have had a lot of thunderstorms, so it has been more of an issue.  However, the mud does dry up very quickly once the sun comes out again.

*The laundry room is small and does not have an adequate amount of washer and dryers for the size of the campground.  This was compounded by one of the washers and one of the dryers being out of order.  I do not know how long it was out of order, as we have a combo washer/dryer in our RV so rarely have to use the campground laundromat.

*The after-hours entrance to the bathrooms, showers, and laundry is around the back of the office.  I was scared to go back there by myself late at night, and was glad we did not have to use those facilities.  If we had, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable without taking someone with me. 

    Despite a few negatives, our overall experience at this campground was very good.  We will definitely be returning here many times.  The Fort Collins North/Wellington KOA is a great place to stay while visiting the numerous attractions in this area.  One tip: Be sure to call ahead for a reservation if you plan to visit in the summer.  There were quite a few nights during our stay that the campground was entirely booked. 

Mountain View RV Park in Wheatland, Wyoming

     Last spring my family and I spent three months at an out of the way RV Park called Mountain View RV Park in the little town of Wheatland, Wyoming, which is bisected by I-25.  We had the opportunity to go back this spring for another month, as my husband was once again working at the power plant just outside of town. 

     When I first arrived at the RV Park I was not very enthusiastic.  It appeared to be an okay park in a boring little town. But after spending time there, I grew to wholeheartedly love both the RV Park and the town.  It’s a hidden gem that most would drive right by and never stop to see! 

     Mountain View RV Park is situated inside of a residential neighborhood.  At first this can be a bit off-putting, as it does not have the traditional RV park appearance.  However, it is actually very convenient as each site is quite large and has sidewalk access right in front.  The sites in the upper row have large concrete patios along with enough parking in front for two to three cars.  On the lower row there are no concrete pads, but there is still enough parking for a couple of vehicles in addition to your RV.

     My favorite part is the city walking trail that meanders along behind the upper row.  Directly behind your RV site is a trail that you can hop on and connect to other parts of the city.  My kids loved to ride their bikes along it, and many evenings we would walk down it to the Little League fields and watch a game.  Along the trail is farmland with an absolutely gorgeous view of the mountains and sunset.  It was restorative to simply stand on the trail and take in the beautiful surroundings! 

     There is a brand new building that houses the laundry room as well as the showers.  There are plenty of washers and dryers.  Some are new front loading machines and there are also older top loading machines for people that prefer that style.  The showers are coin-op and are absolutely spotless. Each shower is in a private, nice sized room that locks with a toilet, sink, mirror, and shower.  The laundry areas as well as the showers are cleaned daily, and it definitely shows.  In the laundry room is a TV, a book exchange area, and some chairs.  It is climate controlled and quite comfortable while waiting on laundry.   It is the nicest laundry facility I have come across in an RV park. 

     There is no playground on site, which is a bit of a negative for those of us with children.  However, just a short walk through the neighborhood is a very nice playground located at a school.  My kids did not miss having a playground though, as they spent all their time playing on the walking trail and the little hill that led up to the walking trail.  They had hours of fun digging holes, pushing toy trucks down the hill, and running or riding their bikes along the trail. 

     Mountain View RV Park is a nice central point for several fun activities.  There are a multitude of lakes within a thirty minute drive of the RV Park.  The largest and most popular is Grayrocks Reservoir.   You can fish, kayak, ski, hike or just enjoy the view and swim.  The choice is yours!  We spent a couple very relaxing days at the lake with friends, letting the kids splash in the water and build sand castles.  After playing, we would spend the evening roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over a fire.  Such fun!

     Guernsey, Wyoming is only about 30 minutes to the north-east.  It is a quaint little town that is situated right along the Oregon Trail.  The Oregon Trail Ruts National Historic Landmark as well as the Register Cliff State Historic Site are located near Guernsey.  We took a short walk from the car and were able to see actual ruts from the wagons that travelled down the Oregon Trail.  We also ventured off the main roads, and found markers for the Oregon Trail way off down dirt roads.  It was fascinating! 

     Golfing, a bowling alley, several delicious restaurants, a small movie theater, unique little shops, and a beautiful city park round out the amenities in Wheatland.  These are all within a short drive from the RV Park.  I highly recommend trying Western Sky’s Family Diner for breakfast.  They have delicious, thick bacon that my husband raves about.  In fact, one of his co-workers bought an entire forty pound box to take home.  It is really that good.  Just down the street is Big A’s.  It is a bar on one side and a family restaurant on the other.   Try the steak or chicken fried steak. You will not regret it!  If you happen to wander around downtown, there are several appealing looking restaurants located there, but I have not tried them (yet!). 

     Mountain View RV park is locally owned by a very nice family who is on site nearly every day.  The camp host lives on site, and she is delightful!  If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to stop by the camp host site, which is clearly marked, and talk to Donna.  The RV Park is open year round with full hookups.  The daily rate is $35/night.  You can stay weekly for $200.  The monthly rate is $425 in the summer and $550 in the winter.  All rates include full hookups, water, electric, trash, wi-fi, and cable TV.  For more information and directions, you can visit the website at http://www.wheatlandrvpark.com/  

Rock Springs, Wyoming KOA Review

     The KOA in RockSprings, Wyoming is a great place to spend a night, or a week, while traveling across I-80 towards your next destination.  We had the privilege of staying there for almost 3 months while my husband was working in the area.  As a result, we were able to really learn the pros and cons of the campground and the area.

Pros

*Easy on and off access from I-80, with a big rig friendly gas station at the exit.

*Each site is pull through, with the majority being full hook up.  There is plenty of room for parking at your site as well.  Most of the sites have cable and wifi.  Prices range from $36-43/night.  A couple of the sites have fenced yards with picnic tables and trees.  These are available for an extra fee.

* Tent sites are available.  There are also cute cabins available, with or without bathrooms.

*The long term/monthly sites are in the upper part of the campground, while the daily sites are on the lower section.

*The entire RV park is clean and tidy, and everyone that works there is friendly.  The managers live on site.

*The office/store is very well stocked.  There is a variety of food in case you need something last minute.  The RV supply section has quite a variety.  We were able to buy a heated hose as well as fuses when we needed them.  They also have quite a few toys, much to the delight of my children.  The gift portion of the shop has adorable items. I could not resist buying some wonderful hand lotion!

*Propane is sold on site.  It is priced competitively and access is convenient.

*There is a coin-op laundry room with an adequate number of washer and dryers.  We rarely had to wait.  It was also very clean. 

*The showers are hot and free.  They also have handicap accessible shower houses on one end of the RV park.  These have individual rooms with shower, toilet, sink, and mirror and each locks individually. 

*Surprisingly, there is quite a bit to do on site.  There is a refreshing pool open during the summer months, a new playground, basketball hoop, horseshoes, and a workout room.  My kids also enjoyed riding their bikes around the campground. 

*There is a large off-leash dog park that includes a few pieces of agility equipment.   We do not have pets, but it did seem like the majority of those traveling with dogs made their way down to the dog park so that their dogs could enjoy stretching their legs, too!

*Towards the back of the campground are horse corrals and extra parking with long term storage. 

*The office is happy to accept packages and mail for those on the road.  We received mail there regularly, and never had an issue.

Cons

*There is no grass at the sites, and as a result can be a bit dusty.

*Other than the 2 premium sites, none of the other RV sites have concrete patios or pads.

*When it rains, it can get quite muddy in the campground.  Luckily, it does dry out quickly!

*During the off season (fall through spring), the office switches over to reduced hours.  They are not open at all on Sundays, and only a few hours a day during the week.  It is rather inconvenient. 

*They do not accept reservations for long term/monthly sites.  However, from what I could tell, they always have some long term sites available.

*A few people I talked to mentioned the giant oil or gas storage tanks that you pass by on the way in to the RV Park.  It seems that some people find these to be unsightly, but they did not bother us.  They are no longer in direct site once you are in the RV park. 

*Being in Wyoming, one must always expect strong winds.  The KOA is at the base of a plateau, and can be very windy.  Never leave your awning out while you are gone!

Things To Do Nearby

     Just minutes from the KOA is wild horse viewing.  The horses are located along the Pilot Butte scenic loop.  This link provides information on how to drive the loop:  https://www.wyomingtourism.org/articles/details/spot-wild-horses-pilot-butte-scenic-loop  I recommend starting the loop on the Green River side, as that is only a couple miles from the KOA.  From the top, you can look down and see all of the RVs way down in the KOA.  We had fun pointing out our home on wheels to our kids.  Even more fun was seeing the wild horses up close and personal. Simply amazing, and an experience we won’t soon forget!

     Just outside of Rock Springs is a wild horse holding facility.  You can view the horses that have been rounded up, read about how and why they are rounded up and even adopt one if you have the means to care for one.  It is very cool to see the horses and be able to learn more about them.  More information about the facility is located at this link: http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Wild_Horses/rs-wh-facility.html

     Flaming Gorge Reservoir is a beautiful, huge lake just minutes from the KOA.  It is extremely popular for trout fishing, boating, and swimming.  My father had visited Flaming Gorge Reservoir long before I was born, as part of a fishing trip.  I thought it was neat to be able to visit an area he had been to many years before. 

    We drove the entire Flaming Gorge loop, which takes you into Utah to the dam (where we did a free tour and fed fish at the bottom of the dam!) and back around the west side of the lake into Wyoming again.  Along the loop are viewpoints with breathtaking views off of cliffs, places to see wild animals, and picnic spots.  You can get more information on the loop, which takes 3-4 hours, at the Green River Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center in nearby Green River, WY. 

     Rock Springs has a new facility called the Rock Springs Family Recreation Center.  It is simply amazing!  The focal point for us was the indoor aquatic section of the center.  There is a large splash pad that also has a smaller warm water pool for the little tots.  This is attached to a lazy river, with a pool to the side that has two fast, huge water slides emptying into it!  There is also a large lap pool with a big hot tub in the adjacent area.  My kids loved everything about the water attractions.  I have to confess that my husband and I put the kids in the provided child care for an hour, and spent it floating around the lazy river and going down the water slides over and over!  It was a blast! 

     The recreation center also has a large ice rink, a running track, multiple rooms full of exercise equipment, private men and women’s hot tubs and saunas in the locker rooms, racquet ball courts, a child care room that is very reasonably priced, exercise classes, and other stuff that I am sure I am forgetting.  It is a wonderful recreation facility, and I highly recommend checking it out if you are in the area for more than a couple days. 

     We are hoping to be able to go back to the Rock Springs KOA again this fall for work.  We had a lot of fun at the KOA and made friends there that we are looking forward to seeing again.  The RV Park is perfect for a quick overnight stop, but is also a pleasure to stay at for a longer term visit.  It is not a fancy RV park, but it has all of the basics delivered in a clean, affordable way, along with some fun extras that one would not expect to find at an RV park in a small town in Wyoming!

1 Year Full-time RV Family Anniversary!

I am sitting here writing this on the 1 year anniversary of us living as a full-time RV family.  I am reflecting on how much has changed in the last year.  I would not have guessed how our life would look today.  Maybe parts of it, but surely not the entirety of it.

My husband travels for work.  For the first couple years I stayed at home with the kids, while he went to other states for months at a time.  It was hard.  The kids would cry for daddy.  I would cry for him.  Parenting two little boys by myself was difficult.  All the daily care, decision making, and discipline fell to me.  I would consult with my hubby, but he was working long hours, and for the most part I just had to handle everything with the kids.  After a couple years of this, we had all had enough.  We decided that we were going to travel with him.  We'd live in our RV, and figure it out as we went.

It was March 16, 2015.  Hubby had been living in the RV for a while, but we were finally going to join him.  We started off in a 30 foot travel trailer with two bunks in the back.  It had a single small bathroom.  It also had very little storage space or counter space.  But we loved it anyway!  We were together! Our boys were 4 years and 2 years old, and I was pregnant with our third boy.

The first couple months I drove back and forth to our apartment once a week, so that the boys could finish the year of preschool and I could attend my prenatal appointments.  I was also able to collect mail, take care of cleaning the apartment, and other assorted tasks that must be done to run a household.  It worked out fairly well, though it was a bit hard having "two homes" at the same time.  It seemed whatever item I wanted was at the "other house", wherever I was!

The end of April came along, and I was at the apartment for a couple days so the boys could attend preschool. To my surprise, I went into labor several days before my scheduled c-section.  Eeeek!  My hubby barely made it to the hospital (came racing from a neighboring state!) before our third son was delivered via c-section.  That's a story all in itself!

We spent the summer partially in our camper and partially in our apartment.  We did some traveling, and visited family.  It was a bit tight having 3 kids and 2 adults in a 30 foot travel trailer, but we made do.  The baby wasn't mobile yet, so that helped!

In the fall of 2015 we went to Wyoming for hubby's work.  It started to become more apparent all the time that we needed just a little more space.  So, we made a big change!  We traded in our little travel trailer for a huge 40 foot fifth wheel with 5 slides.  The boys had an entire bedroom and bathroom all to themselves!  We had our own bedroom and bathroom!  Plus a nice kitchen, dining area, and living area.  Now granted, this was all still in an RV, but it was HUGE compared to what we had been living in!  We even had room to put a mini crib in the bedroom for the baby!

The second part of the big change....we moved out of our apartment!  We no longer had that home base to return to.  It was very emotional for me to move out of our apartment.  We'd lived there for several years, and I truly loved it.  But financially and practically speaking, it just didn't make sense to keep a place we would only be at a few times a year.  I had 3 days to get everything out of my apartment.  By myself.  My parents watched the kids, I gave away a lot of stuff, threw out even more, packed the rest, and hired movers to get it all into a storage unit.  It was a crazy few days, let me tell you.  Walking away from our apartment for the last time was bitter-sweet.  It was the right decision, though.

Packing their toys up on the patio.

Saying goodbye to their best friend from across the way.

Last look at our home.

It's been a crazy year, with lots of changes.  We bought a new RV home, moved out of our apartment home, and added a baby to the mix.  I cannot wait to see what the next year brings!  Hopefully it's just a little bit more predictable (knock on wood).  Time will tell!