Greetings fellow campers. We are a family of four in Minnesota, with two boys 7 and 5. We just bought a new 2011 Jayco 1007 popup, had it out for a maiden voyage in Minnesota 2 weekends ago, and loved it. My parents were public school teachers so we had summers off, and I grew up camping; first in tents, later in a small Tradewinds popup whose only amenity was a fold-down table, then when I was a teenager we got a new Starcraft with a few more options. We would go to the state parks (Minnesota has among the best in the nation) on Sunday when most people were leaving, then head home on Friday as the crowds arrived. I had great memories of those trips, so when I got my own family (late in life, I'm an older dad), and after a few years of tent camping, my wife jumped at the idea of a camper.
Our 1007's options include furnace, hot water, power roof vent, bunk-end fan/lights, 3-way fridge, surge brakes and stereo, with outside speakers, even. (The latter option we abhor -- who would inflict a stereo on neighbors in a campground!?! But the discounted 2011's were going fast so we held our noses and took it.) All much fancier than anything I grew up with, but I think I can get used to it.
Someone told me to enjoy road trips with your kids while you can, because when they reach the teenage years they won't want to go with you. We have maybe 6-7 years before our nearly 8-year-old reaches that stage, though at the rate he's going he may be there sooner! So I'm hoping we can get in some road trips out west. It'll be a race not only with the approaching teen years but also my advancing age and diminishing ability to do long bouts of driving. Wish us luck!