by Stephanie Harper - Fall is the perfect time to visit Rockford, Illinois as the colors are bright and leaf-peeping is the showstopper, while taking in the sights. With weather dropping comfortably in the 40’s, there’s plenty of activities to keep you warm all day! Rockford is just one of the cities that borders along Rock River and is an hour-long drive from Chicago. With … [Read more...]
USA Road Trip Planner – 10 Best National Parks in Southwestern US
by Jean Grant - Planning a family road trip to the Southwest? Try this epic USA road trip itinerary which hits the 10 best national parks in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Our family made a slight modification of the classic Grand Circle road trip for our April school break, soaking in 10 destinations, including US national parks and monuments, national forests, … [Read more...]
Royal Gorge, Colorado – Top 4 Adventurous Activities & Accommodations
by Tami Mittan - "You do want to consider water levels when taking a family white water rafting", counseled the Echo Canyon Rafting Expeditions manager. We had asked him about our 7 year old going on the intermediate rapids half-day trip in Colorado's Royal Gorge. "Too low can be a bit boring, too high can be pretty intense. But right now… it's perfect. Just pure fun!" The … [Read more...]
My Outdoor Family: We stopped living the “dream” to live OUR dream
by Jessica Sueiro - When Will and I first met, he was an accountant and I was a graphic designer. We loved adventure and outdoor activities, but we were limited solely to weekends and two-week vacation adventures. At the time we lived in Los Angeles and our normal weekend outdoor activities consisted of hiking Runyan Canyon in LA with our dog. We had very few vacation weeks … [Read more...]
Colorado’s Sylvan Dale Ranch Offers Outdoor Fun for All Ages
by Tami Mittan - Guest or dude ranch vacations are gaining in popularity as a top choice for family travelers. All-inclusive properties like Colorado's Sylvan Dale Ranch offer a taste of Western lifestyle, along with plenty of outdoor activities. If you are looking for some refreshing, unplugged fun, it just may be the perfect fit. Are dude ranch vacations well suited for a … [Read more...]
My Outdoor Family: When three-nagers meet intentional parenting
by Lindsey Lebowitz - In 2005, my husband and I moved to Colorado from Florida. We moved across the country for a change, a sense of adventure, and the Rocky Mountains. Our 480-foot studio apartment was only $500 a month. Our jobs were not serious, and with limited responsibilities, we explored this great state together. We hiked over 12 hours to summit and descent Long’s Peak. … [Read more...]
Oland, Sweden: An island paradise for family adventure addicts
by Linda McGurk - The stereotypical outdoor family vacation in Sweden involves at least three things: camping near the sea, chasing the elusive sun, and wearing matching, dorky family sweat suits. On the Swedish island of Oland, a long, narrow strip of land in the Baltic Sea off the country’s east coast, you can have it all. No wonder Oland, Sweden is one of the country’s most … [Read more...]
20 Japanese Botanical Garden Design Ideas To Inspire Your Outdoor Space
A traditional Japanese botanical garden design is often divided into three main styles: chisen-teien (pond garden), karesansui (rock garden, also known as Zen garden) and roji (simple, rustic garden for a tea house), which exemplifies a simplistic minimalism, tempered by tranquility. A proper Japanese botanical garden design is a place of solitude and relaxation, where each … [Read more...]
40+ Things To Do In Eau Claire : A Wisconsin Family Vacation Guide
by Karen Ung - “We are passionate not pretentious,” says Troy Hoyt as we sip his Soul Brewed Coffee in the soon-to-open Shift Cyclery and Coffee Bar. The same could be said of family friendly destination Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Hoyt’s home town of 65,000 which is tucked between Madison and the Twin Cities. Touted as “mini Portland,” Eau Claire boasts a vibrant arts and music … [Read more...]
5 Family-Friendly Hikes in Thailand
by Melanie Grosjean - Thailand has much to offer family travelers, from exciting attractions comprising Bangkok tourism to beautiful beaches with plenty of water and sand to keep the kids happy. However, there are also a number of exciting places to hike in Thailand and several of these are family-friendly. | Related: Hiking Cinque Terre's Famous Blue Trail With Kids … [Read more...]
How To Ski: Expert advice for outdoor family winter fun
by Amy Whitley - Downhill (Alpine) skiing together has always been one of those core fibers of my family, an activity we all do together that is woven into the fabric of our shared history. I grew up skiing with my parents and sister high in the Eastern Sierra Nevada in Northern California, back in the days of long, skinny sticks strapped to your feet and fashionable neon … [Read more...]
Forest Bathing Connects Us to Nature and Better Health
by Jennifer Fontaine - According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Americans on average spend over 90 percent of their time indoors. All that time indoors generally means less exercise and more exposure to toxins from synthetic building materials, home furnishings, personal care products, pesticides, household cleaners, and more. Enter forest … [Read more...]
Osa Peninsula: A Costa Rica Family Adventure Itinerary
by Jenny Wisniewski - My boys were born seven years apart. While in DC a few years back, one was enjoying the museums and monuments while the other didn’t make it much farther than the zoo. And while one was having the time of his life at Disney, the other was simply putting up with it. Now with our boys at ages 17 and 10, we were all at a stage where we wanted something … [Read more...]
Winter Activities For Kids: 5 Tips for Making Winter Wild
by Veronica Davison - When temperatures drop outside, it’s tempting to bundle up under a warm blanket and stay indoors, but it’s actually the perfect time to get out, be active, and connect with nature. There are winter activities for kids that can help keep them engaged and families enjoying the outdoors together. Here are the top five winter activities for kids that will make … [Read more...]
40+ Things To Do In Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains + 3-Day Trip Itinerary
by Stephanie Harper - With backdrops of majestic peaks and sunshine beaming through the green plumage from any direction you decide to adventure in, it’s no wonder Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains beckon families to come out and play every year. | Related: Five Ways to Inspire Teens and Tweens to Hike | The Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains are one of the most beautiful and … [Read more...]
Portugal Family Holidays: The Best Places to Eat, Sleep, and Adventure
by Jennifer Fontaine - A Portugal family holiday is an increasingly attractive option when looking for an authentic and affordable European holiday. From its beautiful, historic cities and mouth-watering food, to the uniquely welcoming Portuguese culture and hundreds of miles of stunning coastline, Portugal is the sort of luxury family vacation you've been dreaming of and you … [Read more...]
Our Big, Fat Total Solar Eclipse Road Trip
Buy a Signed, Limited Edition Print of this Photograph HERE! by Jennifer Fontaine - The soft buzz of the vibrating alarm on the wood table next to the bed sounded and as I rolled over to look out the window at a pitch dark sky, my stomach fluttered with the excitement of the once-in-a-lifetime road trip we were about to embark on. It was officially our daughter's first week of … [Read more...]
