Colorado natives Jared and Mary Bengford had never been campers. “We’ve been more ‘glampers,’” Mary laughs. “We had such a bad experience with tent camping and never really enjoyed it after that.” When the pandemic hit, they decided to give it a second try with their 9-year-old son, Jace, and their two dogs, Stella and Lulu. Jace had just started kindergarten and was doing remote learning, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to give camping another shot.
“Parks were closed and people were afraid so we decided to start camping," Mary says. "Once the opportunity opened up, we were like ‘let’s get out of here!’” What ensued was a lot of learning and challenges alongside making beautiful memories exploring Colorado as a family.
A year later, the Bengfords are starting to feel a little more comfortable with RVing. They purchased a hybrid camper with air conditioning and a small kitchen, but the beds pop out so it’s not a full camper. They wanted to get something that was more like glamping but that felt manageable for less experienced families like themselves. “The orientation at the dealership was very quick and thorough, but overwhelming,” Mary says. She said their new RV was like buying a vacant house— it’s not equipped with anything so preparing for their first trip was a lot more work than they had anticipated.
“I filmed the whole orientation, but it’s kind of like going home with a newborn,” Mary laughs. “We’re learning on every trip things we wish we had or things that we didn’t end up needing.” They also mentioned what a valuable tool YouTube video tutorials have been for figuring out what kind of equipment might be helpful.
Their son, Jace, loves traveling with the RV. The family has enjoyed plenty of experiences due to the flexibility a camper has.
“You get to see a lot more of Colorado because you don’t have to worry about staying in a hotel,” Mary says. “A hotel just isn’t quite the experience you get staying out in nature.”
The family usually takes their two dogs along also. “You don’t have to find a pet-friendly hotel or Airbnb. It’s your camper; you can go wherever you need to and the animals can be right there with you.” She also mentioned the ability to just pack up and go without having to worry about finding a dog sitter. The family has learned a lot of lessons about traveling in an RV with kids and pets. One of their dogs, in particular, is a little more high maintenance, which can make finding a good location a challenge. They suggested ensuring you choose a spot that has a grassy area and perhaps a gated area to let dogs roam off-leash. They also suggested getting a little fence that you can take with you to fence off an area outside the RV, so the pets can still be out and be a part of the family.
Mary provided us with some advice on RVing with kids as well. “Definitely include your kid in what side of the camper you want!” she laughs, stating that allowing Jace to have that choice made him more excited and comfortable. They also bring things that are similar to their routine at home, such as movies and popcorn. While a lot of their time is spent outside, there are days when it rains, and having things such as games for inside days or after-dark can help keep the kids entertained.
In general, the family stressed how important it is to be patient throughout this process, especially as you’re learning.
“There was a lot of really scary stuff at the beginning!” Mary says. Alongside learning how to tow a trailer, park and hook up the camper and tear it down, other things broke because they didn’t properly lock it while they were driving. Additionally, planning is a huge factor in having a more enjoyable experience. “You have to book your trips ahead at least 9-12 months,” Mary says. “Spots quickly fill up, especially the ones with electrical and water hookups.”
One clever idea the Bengfords had was to measure packing totes and put them in all of the empty spaces in the RV. If it doesn’t fit in the tote, it doesn’t go. This is a helpful tool for kids who tend to overpack with toys. This also makes it really easy to see everything they pack at once, allowing them to easily make sure they have what they need. It also helps with loading everything into the RV.
While the Bengfords were never campers, they have enjoyed making memories with their family. They’ve frequented the KOA campgrounds, which are a great place for them to meet people and for their son to make friends, some of whom he’s still maintained contact with. KOAs also have activities, such as hikes and marshmallow roasts, that make it really easy to socialize with their fellow campers.
“Jace loves to just jump out of the RV and go,” Mary says. “He’d probably say it’s a little stressful to do all of the setup before we can go enjoy ourselves.” Once the camper is set up, the family enjoys the outdoors and fishing, sledding down the sand dunes (especially at night!), paddleboarding at the lake and geocaching. Jace has learned how to help tie up the hammock and search for wood for the fire. They even went buffalo hunting with some of the new friends they made. Together, they have been able to explore the beautiful trails, waterfalls and Colorado scenery while developing an even closer relationship with each other. “We’re all really close-knit in the camper. When we’re all together, everyone is really happy.”
The Bengfords took their very first trip in Granby at the YMCA with their friends, who were experienced campers that helped them get set up. After that, they took a solo trip to the sand dunes and then to Red Feather; however, they are still traveling to places where they have help in case they need it. This summer, they’re heading to Yogi Bear RV Park in Estes, Red Feather Lakes and back up to Granby.
“We’ve been married for 20 years and this is our first time really exploring Colorado. There’s a lot to see and we’re bummed we didn’t start sooner,” Mary says. While they do have the benefit of being able to work if they need to with a booster on the camper for the internet, the ability to disconnect and make memories is a wonderful experience for the family—one they encourage all of us to do!
“A hotel just isn’t quite the experience you get staying out in nature," - Mary
“We’re all really close-knit in the camper. When we’re all together, everyone is really happy,” - Mary