We only took our kids on a trip only once, as we usually kept canoeing as a "just for the two of us" activity.  But when they were 16 and 19 we did a family trip.  Our daughter and son shared a rented aluminum canoe, and it was most interesting to watch them learn to cooperate--at first to get that canoe to just go in a straight line, and then to decide to take off without us!    ;)

  (You need to Login or Register   (You need to Login or Register

We had a very good time.  It was lots of fun and laughter, lots of learning for all of us, and making memories that we still talk of today.  (trip was in 1988.)

That year our son was seriously training for high school cross country, so at the portages and the campsites he ran and ran.  Our daughter read books and searched the water for crayfish and other treasures.  I love this photo of us doing our "things" in the campsite.

  (You need to Login or Register   (You need to Login or Register

  (You need to Login or Register   (You need to Login or Register

They are grown up now, our "baby"  (that would be our son) is turning 40 in April.  Our daughter and her husband took one BWCA trip themselves, and it is their daughter who goes to the north every year with us for a cabin week.  So far our son hasn't showed much interest.

But we have never been sorry that we did do one family trip.  It was fun.