This past weekend we went to Garner State Park for our annual camping trip at our favorite Texas state park. One of these years, I am going to get lucky enough to get a cabin at Garner, but this year was not the year!
We have bene going to Garner for years. If you ask my kids, this is the only place they beg to go back to year after year. Quite honestly, Paul and I feel the same way. 🙂
As I am writing this post up, I don’t have anything crazy to post like previous trips, where we had rabid squirrels, or I traveled by myself, or Paul lost all our money or I had just had a sick baby or I almost froze to death or we got rained on and had to leave early.
Pretty much for the Ivanovsky’s it was an uneventful trip. Except that it was just COMPLETELY AWESOME!
To get a camp site at Garner you have to make your reservation 11 months ahead of time. And I do. I sit there at midnight waiting to get our spots! I am a little crazy about this place like that.
Then all the family decides they are going to come as well and we make it a mini family reunion.
Pretty much we eat all day when we are at the campsite. This lunch we were having Tacos in a bag (recipe HERE) and chase away the kids from the treats so we can make them last.
We let Paul make chorizo and eggs for breakfast tacos in the morning.
We get the kids ready for the day with sunscreen and gear. We steer clear of 3 years olds with blankies and Chihuahua’s who just woke up, it is not a pretty sight!
If you are a Mom and don’t like camping…. I kinda feel like it is one of those things that you just do for the kids. I know that we do that all day every day anyway, but my kids don’t talk about Six Flags, Disneyland or Splash Town. They talk about all the camping trips we have been on and want to go back.
They want to play in the dirt, and sleep in a tent, and play with bugs. I hate to be sweaty and sleep in a tent, but I LOVE to camp overall.
After breakfast we try to get an early start. It usually doesn’t happen and that is the beauty of camping we really are not on a schedule.
The little one above crashed everyday in a camp chair for a nap.
We get some breakfast, add some ice to the coolers, pack a little food and some water and head out for the day to hang out on the Frio river.
That is my husband. ^^^ It is usually every summer that I decide we don’t have enough life insurance. 🙂 It just happens to coincide with my husband jumping out of trees and off rocks on the river… See below as well 🙂
Later in the day when we come back from the river the kids hang out and do what kids do.
I just want to point out my rock star sister in law, Mother to 5 children, in the first photo jumping off a tree! Doesn’t get cooler then that! My son in the middle flying off a rope swing and my niece making it look pretty as she hits the water!
Then we always stop for a while to let the little kids have a turn!
The best part comes at night, after we have showered and had some dinner, we get dressed up for the dance.
Garner was built in 1941 by the CCC and they have a BEAUTIFUL stone dancing area where from 8:30 – 11pm there is a old time dane with jukebox and all the campers hang out.
THE KIDS LOVE IT!!
My kids get all dressed up and have so much fun asking other kids to dance and dancing with Paul and I.
My 5 year old asked this little girl to dance. He though her bow was “pretty.” It was the first girl he asked that was not a family member, she cried and ended up not dancing with him but he did dance with her big sisters!
It was so good to “unplug” and spend some uninterrupted time with my family. Camping may not be glamorous, and can really be hard on the parents and esp. the Mom at our house, but it is SOOO worth it!
Part comedian, part Dad, part athlete. He will boss around your children while they play ball.
Just as angelic as she looks, this girl could easily raise a Village by herself, and all the children would grow up to be President.
Self proclaimed, she would be a webkinz dog. Because, "they're cute, and puppies are too. And they're sweet and they always get along with other puppies."
This mini-Martha Stewart can handle ANY craft you send her way. She isn't all bows and rainbows, she's got karate kid moves!
Not "Pick-Me-Up" like caffeine, she wants you to pick her up! AND NOW!
Anything that can be destroyed WILL be destroyed!
Practically Perfect in Every Way for now! Nicknamed "The Panda" she is rolly polly and lives by the motto, "the little one, is KING!"
The resident Labradoodle, Miller got his name because Mom won and got to name the baby! Need something chewed up? He'll take care of it. Especially if it's expensive..
We use to go camping there when we were young (30) years ago. It is a blast! However, now that I’m older I would prefer a bed. I have gone on many Girl Scout camping trips. Got no sleep, froze. It’s something you just do for your kids. 🙂
It looks like fun wish i could go and have fun.. I also love the chorizo tacos in the morning can i tell u something if u add onion with the chorizo and cook it until its soft then add the eggs its good and after u add the eggs when its all done i put shredded cheese on top to melt its good
I agree it is so hard on us Moms, so Im glad you are reminding us how much fun it is, even if its exhausting.
I know what you mean about husbands jumping out of trees at Garner. That tree is where I learned that my husband was not scared of heights and could do flips! That tree is also where my husband learned that if he is going to jump out trees that he needs to inform before hand so I don’t have a panic attack when I am watching him from down the river. Call me a sissy, but I can’t handle the tree. Even as a kid I could only handle the ropes!
Good times had by all!
We are a Garner family as well. We have been going most every summer since 1994! So glad to share it with my kiddos and you are right, it is the one place my kids always want to go to again. We were there 2 weeks ago. Glad you guys had a great time as well!
How far in advance do you need to make reservations to camp at Garner?
11 months.
Hello,
I have an 18 month old and will be camping in Garner. I was wondering if you remember the site number and if it had a fire ring or grill? I can’t end up with a fire ring because I don’t want my baby to burn himself. I know some sites have grills but there’s no way to know which ones, so I was hoping you could help me.
Thanks!
They all have fire rings. Just don’t light a fire in it and you won’t have to worry.
This is our first time camping at GSP. How does the reservations work? Can you reserve in certain campgrounds? Why did you have to reserve 11 months in advance? I just reserved yesterday for mid week in in June. I imagine weekends fill up quickly. We are reserved in the rio frio area. We also have a 30′ trailer. Just wanna figure out how to get a good campsite. We have 4 kids too.
I am wondering if you ended up in New Garner? Same park, just Old Garner is more popular.
We are headed down there next weekend and just got 3 sites in the new park reserved. People cancel at the last minute so if you plan on going keep checking the website. Do we need to get there at midnight to get in line? I’ve never been but I heard it gets crowded fast in line. Should I have a Texas Parks pass in advance to save time?
What month(s) did you usually go camping at Garner State Park? We’re thinking of going there in May so it’s not too hot, but will the water be warm enough to swim in?
The last time I went camping was 10 years ago, any tips on the campsite # or new vs old Garner park, etc?
Any tips or suggestions are welcomed for this camping newbie. Thanks.