Yesterday we talked about our Spring Break camping trip to the Ft. Collins/Lakeside KOA campground - we definitely enjoyed our stay and look forward to a summer visit so we may utilize more of the fabulous amenities they offer.  We're suckers for paddle boats and ice cream!  Not to mention seeing all those big trees in bloom.  As promised, today we are going to talk about our cabin experience.  

Renting a cabin at a campground can be a good idea for those looking for a comfortable and convenient camping experience with added privacy and protection from the elements. It may also be a good option for families or groups who want to have a more familiar or home-like atmosphere. However, it's worth considering that cabins tend to be more expensive than traditional camping options and the noise level might be higher due to the proximity of other cabins. It's important to weigh the pros and cons and decide if renting a cabin is the best choice for you.

Our family has stayed in KOA cabins previously so we knew when booking our trip to Lakeside that we were in for a great stay. For this trip, we reserved a two-bedroom camping cabin without a bathroom.  We don't mind using the communal bathrooms, so we save money by not reserving the cabins with bathrooms.  The off-season base rate was $80 for two people and then a charge of $5/additional person per night - the final charge was $95/night.  However, we have a VKR card so we saved 10% and earned 2860 points.

Upon arrival the Ft. Collins/Lakeside KOA staff quickly checked us in and showed us to cabin number 6 which is right on the lake.  We were separated by an empty cabin from the other cabin campers that had arrived before us, which we appreciate because the boys haven't mastered "campground voices" yet and still tend to be a little loud when eating breakfast.  The cabins are situated very cozily, but there was more than enough room for our minivan to park right next to the patio.

The patios are made of a nice modern decking and adorned with a patio set for 4 and lighting.  A simple grill is also provided - this is where you are allowed to have a campfire if you don't have or don't want to rent a raised fire pit.  There is also a porch swing attached to the cabin as we have found at most KOA cabins.  There are a screen door and a rustic front door with a deadbolt.

Once you walk in the door you step into the front bedroom - in there you have a generous full bed, small shelf with a clothes rod, two benches, a peg coat rack, a small desk, and a chair.  This KOA offers a small portable radiator that we did take advantage of and it offered a nice amount of heat during the night.

We found all the beds to be very comfortable and we had plenty of room.

The second bedroom is separated by another door, it's not soundproof, but it does create a good barrier.  In this room, there are 2 bunk beds, a bench, a peg coat rack and a desk with a chair.

The great thing about these KOA cabins are the extra inclusions - the mirrors, peg coat racks, benches, and desks are nice features.  There is also a good amount of windows for natural light during the day and curtains for night.  For summer, there are ceiling fans in each room and an A/C unit in the second bedroom.

As you can see we like to make the cabin comfy for our stay.  The kids love their sleeping bags so those are a must-have for them, plus pillows of course.  For our bed, we prefer not to deal with sleeping bags, we would rather use sheets and quilts.  Another comfort item for us are rugs, we normally use these old rugs for our tent, we love the softness underfoot, plus they help stop the spread of dirt.  Just like at home we make the beds and keep everything organized and clean.

So, in the end, would we go back?  Yes!  First, because we can't tent camp at Lakeside due to the size of our family.  Secondly, the location of these cabins and the size are big bonuses, plus we enjoyed Lakeside.  Cabins are a great alternative to hotels.  Also, if you're interested in camping, but not ready for tent camping, a cabin is a perfect start.

Questions?  Leave a comment below and we'll reply.