Bear Lake

We got a cute old 1981 camp trailer this year and we were dying to get it out and use it.  So we decided on a whim to go to Bear Lake... which I have learned that you don't do on a whim as campsites all through the area book up about a year in advance.

Fortunately, I was able to find a website where people rent out pieces of their nearby ranches to camp on.  We found this little campsite right on the bank of the Bear River.  It wasn't necessarily the best campsite we have ever been in, but it was 15 minutes away from the lake and it did the job.

The kids were able to float and fish in this slow moving river and we spent a lazy morning playing at the campsite, which was a mistake because apparently the state beaches at Bear Lake fill to capacity early in the morning and you have to wait to get in until after 2 p.m. when they figure some of the morning goers start leaving... and I'm talking about EVERY beach clear around the lake.  We checked.

Fortunately, we did get to the beach a bit earlier the previous day and we were able to enjoy the lake.  The kids couldn't believe how blue and how shallow it was.  They had so much fun playing in the sand.  Bear Lake is a magical place.

Ian, Whitlee, and I worked hard on our amazing sand castle.

And Zac spent all day on this beauty.

Tanner and Ashlyn were city planners and made a whole summer camp plotted out.

And Charlotte made a pineapple under the sea.

Maybe next year we will have to plan ahead a little better because Bear Lake is definitely a do again!