Camping trips are a great family outing at just about any time of the year, but as anyone with children knows, among the first hurdles you will have to face are children who find themselves slowly getting bored of whatever entertainment you’ve provided for them. Even children who bounce with joy at the idea of an exciting fishing trip will have their minds quickly turning to something else as an hour of boating passes without more than a few nibbles, maybe a hit at best.

  by  paleololigo 

This is to say nothing of the frustration inherent in trying to convince a kid that they need to wake up early during what they consider to be their hard earned day off. This is hard enough for many adults to consider, much less children.

But, if your children are in any way interested in knights in shining armor, there’s a way to kill two birds with one stone. While it may be somewhat difficult to find a good place to "rough it" out that’s interesting for both the adults and children of the family, Sterling, which is just an hour outside of Syracuse, New York, hosts the Sterling Renaissance Festival. As an added bonus, this is just down the road from a great campground, allowing you to both enjoy the tranquility of nature, and bring your children to Sterling’s dazzling display of the renaissance.

Fortunately, this festival is as child-friendly as the local area is beautiful. As an example, the first weekend of the fair is Children’s Weekend, with a variety of games and rides aimed at appealing to the little ones. But if you think you’re going just so that you can experience a medieval themed carnival with your typical less than savory ride operator dressed in a tabard, you’ll find yourself pleasantly surprised.

In addition to these child-themed rides, there are also a number of historical features that will integrate learning with fun as children can take lessons in manners over tea and cookies, and can also learn how to shoot a bow in safely monitored archery lessons.

Children can also be enticed with costume contests with a renaissance theme, and any excess energy can be spent on what is known as the Queen’s Treasure Hunt, which is just one of the many activities that will be going on throughout the course of the day.

The tickets are reasonably priced – but even then, for those who love budget shopping, the website, http://sterlingfestival.com, can give you a chance to cash in on pre-order special offers that will save you both time and money.

The children aren’t the only one that will be pleased with the events of Sterling Festival, however, as you can also return for both the second and third weekends, which add a layer of fun for both mom and dad, as well as the activities that so excited your child the first time around.

It is an increasingly common custom to renew your vows – and what’s a better way than to come renew them at Sterling’s Renaissance Festival! You can come in or out of costume, but are assured a treat of festivities, ranging from a ceremony performed by the justice of the peace, to Sterling’s very own Queen Elizabeth to preside over the entire event. Likewise, there will be toasts of champagne with era-appropriate mugs and goblets which you are invited to take home with you.

Finally, don’t think that in this era of renewed interest in the subject that Sterling is going to forget its swashbucklers and buccaneers. On the third weekend, you are invited to let that inner pirate in you escape in a historically accurate rendition of pirate-themed events and activities.

For this reason, you may want to use the third weekend as an opportunity to hire a local babysitter, as what is a pirate weekend without the flow of beer! This is a chance for parents to cut loose and enjoy much needed mom and dad time – with a weekend aimed generally for them and other such adults. The easiest way to describe this weekend is “huge” and it is highly advised that if you miss the first two weekends, this pirate party is not one to miss.