So, you're halfway through the winter break, and you and the kids are starting to get on each other's nerves? Well, what you need is a chance to get out of the house and do something different. Sure, you could go bowling, see a movie, or take the kids swimming, but for something really different, how about a couple of days in a yurt?
Winter camping in a tent is a non-trivial undertaking, but yurt "camping" is a very reasonable alternative. Many of the parks and conservation areas we all love set up yurts for the winter season; for example, up here in Ontario, about a dozen provincial parks now offer yurt facilities. The Ontario Parks website gives a good description of what to expect from the setup:
And, yes, you read that right: the yurt is provisioned with electric heat and lighting, as well as a gas barbecue. Heck, there were even heated washrooms and showers where we were (the Pinery), making this all a very civilized experience. The whole thing was an extreme contrast to the minimalistic conditions of our usual canoe camping trips or back-country hiking experiences.
As mentioned above, the yurt includes a pair of bunk-beds, and a table plus chairs. It's certainly not four-star accommodations, but it's appropriate for the situation:
As far as activities go, you're a lot more limited in winter than in summer. Swimming, canoeing, and biking are definitely out, and fishing is unlikely, unless you're lucky enough to be able to go ice fishing. Still, winter does offer some great activities that are impossible during the rest of the year, such as cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing, and tobogganing. Finally, the hiking trails you enjoyed during the summer remain an option, and they have an entirely different feel from the sweaty, buggy versions you encountered in July and August.
For our trip, there wasn't enough snow for skiing, so we stuck to hiking. We were "lucky" enough that there was a huge windstorm on the first night and day, which made for a dramatic experience when we headed over to the lake.
As you can see, we managed to keep busy during the day, but at this time of year, it gets dark early, and there are many hours to be filled in the evenings. A campfire is always good, but the wise GeekDad always brings backup. In this case, I made sure we brought along a Nintendo DS and a laptop loaded with movies. We did end up using those electronic amusements, but I'm pleased that the kids also chose to spend some time reading the books we'd brought along (dead-tree versions even!).
Overall, our yurt experience was entirely positive, and we'd gladly do it again. We got to spend some time outdoors, let the GeekMom have a little quiet time at home, and made some memories that will last a lifetime.
The yurt was pretty cushy for a "camping" experience, and I'd recommend it to even my more urban friends. If you like the outdoors and are looking for something unusual to do with the kids this winter, consider a couple of nights in a yurt.
