About 6 years ago, my husband and I were DESPERATE to find a way to "unplug" our kids from their MANY devices- whether it was their cell phone, tablet, game system, computer, etc... I know many other parents understand this situation. We didn't mean to get them "addicted" to technology, but it seemed to consume our lives. Then COVID-19 came along and it forced everyone to transition to technology. We wanted to reconnect with our kids. To have quality time as a family. For our kids to strengthen the bond between them. So what did we do?
Perhaps I was irrational, but I packed everyone up (it was around February) and we took the kids to a cabin in Bass Lake, CA. No, it did NOT have reliable internet (despite the website saying they do). My husband and I knew this, as we previously stayed at this location. I also knew it was a somewhat secluded location with not much to do. While they do have a few amenities available on-site (mostly restaurants and bars), there wasn't a whole lot for the kids to do. Especially in February, when it was snowing.
After the first couple of hours, the whining and complaining started to subside. Inside the cabin was a loft area, where we soon found ALL three of the kids (the baby wasn't born yet) laughing and talking. It was literal music to my ears. For context, our daughters are older (10 & 11 years at the time) and our son was 5 years. If you can imagine, their typical interactions consisted of constant screaming and fighting... Despite the age difference. So we were pleasantly surprised they were getting along, to say the least.
In the evening, we enjoyed a BBQ dinner (yes, in the snow- it was so fun!) and got ready for a movie night. I don't even remember what movie we watched, but we had popcorn and snacks, and I loved every minute. As the movie was finishing, we lost power! Of course, the girls started screaming that we were gonna die (SO dramatic 🤣) and my son started crying. Then there was a knock on the door. Cue more screaming (luckily, there was hardly anyone staying at the property). It was an employee letting us know what happened and offered us free fire logs for the night (we had a fireplace in the cabin). What should have been a disaster was our blessing in disguise. Once my hubby got the fire going, we all moved our bedding to the living room and "camped" in front of the fireplace. As we laid in the living room, we made shadow puppets with a flashlight, told silly jokes, and reminisced about funny memories. It was a night that I'll always hold dear to my heart.
As our trip came to an end, I noticed the girls never asked about the internet after the first day. They didn't complain about "being bored", despite not having many kid-friendly activities. They were perfectly content playing in the snow with their little brother, telling jokes in the loft, and they even helped us cook most days! I started thinking if this was something that was needed for all of us. I noticed that I wasn't distracted by my phone (or other obligations, for that matter) and life just seemed.... Simpler.
On the way home, my hubby & I agreed to make this a tradition. And we did. We went back to the same cabin the next year, but the following year, we had to change locations. It was during the pandemic- the rates for their property more than doubled, so we opted for a vacation home in Oakhurst, CA (about 10 minutes from Bass Lake). We used to drive through Oakhurst to get to Bass Lake, so we appreciated that we were somewhat familiar with the area. Oakhurst had the convenience factor due to the many restaurants and stores that were nearby, but Bass Lake had the limited resources we desired in order to metaphorically unplug our kids. We really didn't know what to expect. To our surprise, our girls VOLUNTARILY stayed off their devices while we were there! They CHOSE to spend time with each other! They WANTED to explore nature! WHO were these kids? 😜
They wanted to make s'mores in the fire pit. They all gathered around it while my hubby got it going for them. They were sharing, laughing, and happy. WITHOUT their devices and technology! They were embracing what it meant to just be a kid. It's a feeling I hope they'll hold longer than I did at their age. Growing up is SO overrated! 🤣
The next night, we all played cornhole and admired the stars. From the vacation home, it was a magical sight to see. There were no distracting city lights, no noise pollution, just nature. As we watched the twinkling stars dancing in the night sky, my son said something that caught me off-guard. He said "I never knew there were so many stars in the sky. We don't see them all back home". In that moment, I knew he was experiencing something that technology would never be able to. He was experiencing wonder, excitement, amusement, and the power of nature. He was experiencing LIFE. It was a beautiful memory- a powerful reminder to enjoy the little things around us.
Now, when we say we're going to "unplug", the kids know EXACTLY what that means; they even look forward to it!
Activities near Bass Lake/Oakhurst:
- Reimer's Candy & Ice Cream- The best treats are found here! They make their own candy, and the ice cream is SO decadent! You walk into the shop and you're instantly greeted by the sugary aroma of waffle cones. Look for the little red building! 😉
- Yosemite National Park- Only about 20 minutes away, but you don't have to enter the park to enjoy the snow! We stop at one of the Play Areas on the drive up to the South Gate entrance. So fun! No snow? Explore one of the many trails! They range in difficulty, but some we've traversed with 6 kids in tow!!! 😮 The waterfalls are a MUST!
- Coarsegold Historic Village- This is one place that we ALWAYS stop by on our way in or out of Oakhurst/Bass Lake! It's SO cute, there's a coffee shop, a teepee (a great photo op!), and the cutest little paths.