Giving Experiences Instead of Things: Plan a Camping Vacation Together

Holiday gifts are exciting, but many of them are forgotten long before the next holiday season arrives. A family experience can be different. It gives everyone something to anticipate, enjoy together, and remember long after the trip is over.

This year, instead of adding another toy, gadget, or household item to the gift list, consider planning a family camping vacation at Elizabethtown / Hershey KOA Holiday. The trip may happen months from now, but the fun can begin as soon as your family starts planning it together.

Give Your Family Something to Anticipate

Part of the joy of a vacation is looking forward to it. Once a trip is on the calendar, children can count down the days, talk about the attractions they want to visit, and imagine the things they will do at the campground.

That anticipation can last much longer than the excitement of opening a traditional present. A camping vacation becomes something the entire family shares, rather than another item that belongs to only one person.

Why Experiences Can Mean More Than Presents

Children may not remember every gift they received, but they often remember family experiences in surprising detail. They remember catching a fish, roasting a marshmallow just right, riding a favorite roller coaster, sleeping in a cabin, or telling stories around the campfire.

A family vacation creates time together away from everyday schedules and distractions. It gives parents, grandparents, and children a chance to slow down, reconnect, and make memories that become part of the family story.

Make Vacation Planning Part of the Gift

You do not need to plan every detail before presenting the trip. In fact, involving the family can make the experience even more meaningful.

Place a simple note, printed reservation confirmation, campground photo, or small camping-related item inside a wrapped box. Then explain that the real gift is a family camping adventure everyone will help plan.

The surprise becomes more than an announcement. It becomes an invitation for the entire family to participate.

Choose How Your Family Wants to Stay

Families do not need to own an RV to enjoy a camping vacation. Hershey KOA offers several ways to stay, making it easier to choose accommodations that match your family’s comfort level and camping style.

• Bring your RV and settle into a comfortable campsite.
• Stay in a Deluxe Cabin with many of the conveniences of home.
• Choose a Camping Cabin for a simpler camping experience.
• Pitch a tent and enjoy a traditional night under the stars.

Explore the campground’s Ways to Stay before deciding which option will work best for your family.

Build a Family Vacation Wish List

Ask each person to choose one or two things they would especially like to do during the trip. Younger children may want to visit Hershey’s Chocolate World, while older children may be most excited about a day at Hersheypark. Parents may be hoping for a quiet evening at the campsite or time to explore more of Central Pennsylvania.

Your family’s list might include:

• A day at Hersheypark
• A visit to Hershey’s Chocolate World
• Fishing or relaxing at the campground
• An evening campfire with s’mores
• A picnic or family game night
• Exploring attractions beyond Hershey

Letting everyone contribute helps create a vacation that feels like a shared experience from the very beginning.

Leave Space for Simple Camping Moments

It can be tempting to fill every vacation day with attractions and scheduled activities. However, some of the moments families value most are the ones that were never placed on an itinerary.

A slow breakfast outside, an afternoon spent fishing, a family walk, or an evening around the campfire may become just as memorable as the day’s largest attraction.

Plan a few must-do experiences, but leave enough open time to enjoy being together at the campground.

Create a New Holiday Tradition

A camping vacation does not need to be a one-time gift. It can become a family tradition.

Each holiday season, the family might choose a future destination, add money to a vacation fund, or select one new attraction to explore during the next trip. Over time, planning the annual adventure may become something everyone looks forward to as much as the vacation itself.

The Experience Begins Before You Leave Home

Once the trip is planned, the months leading up to it can become part of the experience. Families can research attractions, create a packing list, plan campfire meals, and look through photos from previous vacations.

Children can make a countdown calendar or help choose games and activities to bring. Even small planning conversations help build excitement and give everyone a sense of ownership in the trip.

A Gift Your Family Can Share

The best part of giving a camping vacation is that no one has to enjoy it alone. It is a gift for the entire family—a chance to step away from everyday routines and spend meaningful time together.

Long after the wrapping paper is gone, your family will still have the anticipation of the trip, the experience itself, and the memories created along the way.