Family adventure holidays come in many forms, and planning one can feel overwhelming. Accommodation, kit, food, clothing, activities and expectations all play a part in how smoothly your trip runs. To help families prepare with confidence, we surveyed campers from beginner to expert level and collected their most useful advice. This guide brings those insights together so your first family adventure holiday is enjoyable, organised and relaxed.

Four people stand in a line on a covered archery range, holding bows and arrows. The young boy at the front is wearing a black zip-up shirt and eyeglasses and is drawing his bow. A woman with blonde hair stands beyond him, loading her bow. Just out of focus, two more people stand beyond her poised to draw their bows.

Summary

  • Learn practical advice on planning food, choosing a tent, organising sleep systems and packing clothing so families can enjoy a smooth and comfortable adventure holiday.
  • Find out how to cultivate a flexible mindset, manage routines and weather, and navigate your first camping holiday
  • Discover Mendip Basecamp in Somerset, a perfect first-timers’ destination for your next family adventure holiday

Table of Contents

Planning Food for Your Family Adventure Holiday

Food fuels every adventure. When you are active, your body needs more energy, and simple planning helps keep everyone happy and ready to explore. Think about how much time you want to spend cooking, what equipment you have, and whether you will need packed lunches.

Easy First Night Meal

Bring something simple to heat up, such as pasta or chilli, or prepare snack boxes with your family’s favourite treats. Check local takeaway options before you arrive.

First Breakfast

Pre‑mix dry pancake ingredients at home and add water at camp. Pick up sausages or bacon on the way and remember the rolls.

Snacks for Arrival and Exploration

Have something ready to eat when you arrive so everyone has energy to set up camp. Choose snacks children can fetch or prepare themselves. Look up nearby shops in advance in case you need to restock.

Cooking and Food Preparation Kit

Useful items include:

  • Knife
  • Cutting board
  • Cutlery
  • Plates, bowls and mugs
  • Water bottles
  • Washing-up bowl or bucket
  • Dish liquid
  • Kitchen towels
  • Storage containers
  • Rubbish bags
  • Aluminium foil or trays
  • Gas bottles and stove
  • Waterproof matches and firelighter

Onsite Food Options at Basecamp

When you want a break from cooking, Basecamp has a cafe in the Pavilion offering pizzas, fries, breakfast rolls and barista coffee. Essentials such as bread, milk, burgers and sausages are available on site.

Food and Drink at Basecamp
An adult and three young people are sitting at a picnic table, smiling and eating breakfast rolls in the sunshine on a family adventure holiday.

Choosing the Right Tent for Your Adventure Holiday

A reliable tent makes a significant difference to your comfort and enjoyment. It’s also more sustainable than buying a cheap tent that won’t last. Research online, ask friends if you can borrow a tent to test, and check local groups for second‑hand options.

Picking the Right Size

Choose a tent that fits your family without being excessively large. Pick‑your‑pitch campsites are flexible, but allocated pitches may be too small for oversized tents. A communal entryway is useful for removing wet shoes and sheltering from rain.

Waterproofing and Essential Components

Bring a good groundsheet, strong pegs, guylines and a mallet. These items help keep your tent secure and dry.

Practice Pitching

Set up your tent at home before your trip. Practise packing it away as well. This makes arrival smoother and helps everyone understand their role. Many brands offer tutorials online.

Tent Camping Tips

  • Check your pitch for stones or sticks before setting up
  • Bring a dustpan and brush to keep the interior clean
  • Use solar lights or reflective tape to mark guylines and doorways
  • Pack your tent last so it is easy to access when you arrive

Pre‑Pitched Options at Basecamp

If you prefer not to pitch your own tent, Basecamp offers Bell Tents, Bunk Tents and Safari Tents with mattresses included. Large families and groups can check out the Cheddar YHA for group bookings. All you need to bring is your bedding and pillows!

Sleeping Well on Your Family Adventure Holiday

A good night’s sleep is essential. Campers often refer to a “sleep system”, which includes a sleeping bag or quilt, a mattress or mat, and a pillow. Aim to stay warm, dry and comfortable.

Good‑quality sleeping bags and mattresses improve sleep significantly. When starting out, choose the best you can afford and bring extra blankets. Online groups and videos are helpful for researching equipment.

Consider bed‑sharing carefully. Sharing an air mattress may not be as comfortable as sharing a bed at home. Individual sleeping spaces often lead to better rest for everyone. And (this is important) always remember pillows!

A family of four is grouped around a campfire on a grassy field. A red tent is pitched behind them to the right, and an open-sided gazebo is directly behind them. A woman with brown hair is kneeling by the fire with two children, and a man wearing a baseball cap sits in a chair with a small dog on his knee. The man is enjoying a glass of wine and the woman and children are roasting marshmallows on the fire.

Clothing and Kit for Adventure

It can be hard to know what clothes to pack for a family activity holiday. Consider the weather, time of year, evening temperatures, planned activities and how many changes of clothes your children may need. It can get chilly at night when the sun goes down, even in the summer, so consider your family’s needs and pack more than you think.

Essential Clothing for a Family Adventure Holiday:

  • Hats, gloves, scarves
  • Plenty of socks
  • Light, loose clothing for warm weather
  • Warm layers for cool weather
  • Waterproofs, warm jackets
  • Practical footwear
  • Trainers or walking shoes for activities
  • Crocs or flip-flops for the showers and around camp
  • Wellies if it gets wet

Clothing Tips

  • Keep spare clothes in the car for emergencies
  • Bring a laundry bag
  • Keep separate bags for dirty clothes and shoes
  • Bring detergent if you may need to wash items

Onsite Comfort Options

Basecamp offers rented firepits for chilly evenings, and there’s a covered lounge and play area if you need a break from the outdoors. Hoodies, hats and shirts are also available to purchase at the Mendip Activity Centre reception if you need an extra layer.

Discover Basecamp’s Facilities

Mindset and Expectations

How you and your family approach an adventure holiday will go a long way towards influencing your experience. It is good to be flexible and adaptable, and not to stress if things change from how you imagined.

Here are a few useful points to consider and prepare for:

Welcome the Weather

Be prepared; check the forecast and pack accordingly.

You Do Not Need Everything

New kit is fun, but every family is different. It’s better to borrow, test and learn before splurging on that “essential” bit of camping kit. You’ll learn what works for you and your family.

Things May Take Longer

Morning routines and simple tasks may take more time without home conveniences. However, it’s a lovely chance to share the experience with your family and immerse yourselves in nature.

Have a Plan B

Plans sometimes change. Ask for help if you need it, and remember: everyone was a beginner once!

For your first trip, consider staying close to home so you can return easily if needed. Basecamp is only 30 minutes’ drive from South Bristol, which makes it perfect for a weekend mini-break with the family. In fact, most of our visitors live within an hours’ drive of Basecamp.

Support at Basecamp

Our staff have loads of camping experience and are ready to help if you need a hand setting up or have any questions. Plus, chatting with other campers is a great way to learn more about the subject and discover what other families have found to work well for them.

A group of children on a family adventure holiday are trying out a Circus Skills activity. A girl in the middle balances a red plate on a stick, a boy to the right is playing with a diablo and a girl to the left is walking out of frame.

Family Activities and Entertainment

Adventure holidays are a chance to unplug and reconnect with nature and shared experiences. Choose locations that offer activities for all ages and check any age requirements.

Basecamp offers free activities at the campsite, and bookable adventure sessions are available 5 minutes’ walk away at Mendip Activity Centre.

And for those moments when you’re just relaxing around camp, portable entertainment such as cards, books, ball games or colouring books can help fill downtime.

Activities at Basecamp
Adventures at Mendip Activity Centre

Activities at Basecamp

Families can enjoy woodland walks, bat spotting, the sand pit and free activities such as Circus Skills. Bookable sessions include Target Sports, Rock Climbing, Caving and more. There’s also live music on Fridays and Saturdays, and special summer events during the school holidays; you can find out what’s on at Basecamp here. There’s also plenty of space to relax with a drink and enjoy the woodland views!

Final Packing Checklist

We have covered the main areas to consider before your first family adventure holiday, but here are a few more things that will make your camping trip more comfortable:

  • Seating (folding chairs/stools/blankets)
  • Camp table
  • Torches
  • Bug spray
  • Sun cream
  • Umbrella
  • Necessary chargers/battery packs

Start Planning Your Family Adventure Holiday

We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who contributed their tips and advice. We hope this has helped break down the planning stages of your family adventure holiday. Join some family camping Facebook groups, chat with your family and get ready for the adventure of your life!

Book a Basecamp Holiday Here

Family Adventure Holidays at Basecamp

Why not start your research here? Check out our 10 excellent reasons why your family should visit Basecamp this year and look at our fantastic facilities here.