We passed by Jordan Lake on the way home from a soccer match, and the kids asked if we could camp there before summer's end. We lucked out and found a spot available online to reserve Labor Day weekend, so we packed up and headed out for a couple of relaxing days by the lake.

The camping offerings are in different areas of the lake, and the perks vary greatly depending on where your spot is located. We miraculously snagged a spot by the water (100 feet from our site), and still relatively close to the bath house.

The kids immediately changed into bathing suits and hit the water and sand to play, while I grabbed a book and strung up my hammock to relax and unwind after setting up the tent. Our site was mostly shaded, great to get a respite from those hot summer days.

One of the highlights of the trip was spotting bald eagles in flight (there are several nests along the lake - you can find out more at the ranger/welcome station).

We didn't pack our kayaks, as they had kayaks for rent at the marina–although we ended up just deciding to swim and skip the boating, as it was a busy weekend on the water (Labor Day).

The trip as a whole was an amazing weekend of sharing our state's beauty with our kids. It was a great opportunity for us all to unplug, unwind and reconnect with each other as well as nature.