The stunning ocean view from Alyeska's slopes. Photo courtesy of Shannon Markley/Alyeska Resort. By Heather Mundt - Heading to a park in Anchorage, Alaska on a wintery afternoon in March, we'd expected to find a ghost town of forgotten, weather-battered play structures, neglected running paths and desolate parking lots. Instead we found Margaret Eagan Sullivan Park … [Read more...]
Where To See The Wild Horses of Salt River, Arizona
[Photo courtesy Diann Bayes] by Brian Curtice - I can still recall the first time I saw the bright yellow Salt River Canyon 'Watch for Horses' sign. It stood in stark contrast to a landscape muted in greens and browns, immediately catching the entire family's attention. Watch for horses, in the middle of the desert? All eyes were on equine lookout as I slowly drove on … [Read more...]
Kids Walkie Talkies: 10 Best Under $50
by Stephanie Harper - Having the safety and comfort knowing your kids are doing great whether during a hike or on vacation is something as parents, we don’t take for granted. That’s why investing in a two-way radio system, aka walkie talkies, can be both a beneficial and fun way for kids to build their self-confidence and communication skills outdoors. Deciding which walkie … [Read more...]
A Women’s Guide to Dealing with Menstruation in the Great Outdoors, Because Period
By Stephanie Harper - There’s no place I’d rather be than spending time outside, whether on a camping trip with my family, backpacking with friends, or going on a hike. But coping with my period while camping or hiking isn’t always easy, and waste from feminine products is a real concern. I’ve been thinking of ways to make the switch to more sustainable feminine … [Read more...]
Oregon State Parks: A Family Guide to Hiking, Camping, & Exploring
by Todd Holcomb - Pull up the state of Oregon on Google Maps and you’ll see a lot of green scattered across its diverse landscape, but that’s not all federal land. Some of the most interesting and beautiful spots to get away with the family are waiting among Oregon State Parks' many stunning natural, scenic, and historic recreational sites. The Oregon Parks and Recreation … [Read more...]
Summertime Family Fun at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, Texas
by Melynda Harrison - I’m lying, stomach-down, in a little chute, gripping a boogie board beneath me. I’ve ridden them in the ocean before, but this is my first time riding an artificial wave. The instructor tells me to pull my elbows in, keep my chest up, and put my feet down a bit if I am about to go backwards over the crest of the wave. I scoot down, shoot into the water, … [Read more...]
70+ Family Friendly Things To Do In The White Mountains, New Hampshire
Arethusa Falls hike by Jean Grant - Meander in a meadow of spiky lupine, hike to the alpine summit of New England’s highest mountain, bask in crimson and yellow autumn foliage along country roads, or swoosh down powdery ski runs. A plethora of outdoor excursions await in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The 800,000-acre hardwood White Mountain National Forest is … [Read more...]
Washington State Parks: A Family Guide to Hiking, Camping, & Exploring
by Todd Holcomb - The state of Washington is well-known as a hub for national parks and forests on the West Coast. Adventurers from around the world flock to the Cascade range or towering Olympic mountains, all under the watchful eye of Mount Rainier ever looming on the horizon. While these federally-managed wonderlands are worthy experiences of their own right, some of the … [Read more...]
4 Expert Tips on Raising an Adventure Dog
by John Soltys - For many of us, dogs are family. We celebrate their accomplishments, we fear for their safety, and we mourn their passing. And, just like we do with human children, we enjoy adventuring together. In many cases, it's dogs that begin our adventures in life and in the outdoors. Some of my earliest memories are about time spent as a child with the family dog in … [Read more...]
Camping with Kids In Quebec Province
by Janet LoSole - Flanking New York State, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine lies the Canadian province of Québec, where the citizens enjoy a certain joie de vivre and love of the outdoors. After you cross the border, English disappears, French street signs pop up and conversations become incomprehensible. Québec is Canada’s only province whose sole official language is … [Read more...]
17 Outdoor Birthday Party Ideas For Fun In The Sun
by Lindsey Lebowitz - When I think of summer with my kids, I think of popsicles, running barefoot through the sprinkler, sun-kissed cheeks, and outdoor birthday parties. Both my kids’ birthdays fall in the summertime, and as an outdoor family, we enjoy celebrating outside. This year, I’ve gotten a head start on researching outdoor summer birthday party ideas. Varying among … [Read more...]
Outdoor Safety for Kids | An Outdoor Expert’s Essentials
by Jennifer Fontaine - Recent studies have revealed the benefit— perhaps even the necessity—of spending time outdoors. For both kids and adults, spending time in nature's great outdoor spaces makes us smarter, happier, more attentive, and less anxious than those who spend more time indoors, and while it’s unclear exactly how the brain and mood improvements occur, there are a … [Read more...]
27 Best Fall Foliage Destinations To Visit In The USA
Fall is officially here. The time is here, to choose pumpkins for carving and start baking pies. The weather is tranquil and cool and that means you can pull out your comfy cozy sweaters and scarves, and zip up your favorite boots. But, the best part of autumn is Fall foliage. You don't have to travel far to experience America's awe-inspiring natural beauty. Check out our top … [Read more...]
An Outdoor Dad’s Tips For Raising Adventurous Girls
by John Soltys - As an outdoorsy father of two girls I'm often asked for tips about raising adventurous daughters. The implication is that girls are somehow inherently different than boys and require some special care to ensure they grow up loving or at least appreciating the outdoors. The truth is that when it comes to being adventurous, girls are no different than boys, … [Read more...]
18 Ways For Families To Get Outside This Summer
by Jennifer Fontaine - There's a great, big, awe-inspiring world out there just waiting to captivate, provoke, and intrigue our kids, all while making them healthier and happier. There is an ever-growing pile of evidence that tells us, time spent outside reduces stress, encourages cooperation, raises compassion, and has even been shown to improve focus, creative thought, and … [Read more...]
From Canada to Mexico: Father and daughter ride bicycles to support childhood cancers
by Erin Kirkland - Most teenagers plan a summer of sleeping late, hanging out with friends, or a combination thereof. Katelyn Cardoza, however, has had a different agenda for months. Katelyn, 13, and her dad, Jerod are currently somewhere along the narrow, hilly Oregon Coast, bicycling to Mexico in support of kids with cancer. I caught up with Katelyn and Jerod by phone. … [Read more...]
Alabama Outdoors | Family Adventure & Fun Eats On The Gulf Shore
by Nicky Omohundro - A family beach vacation is an outdoor adventure in and of itself. Whether you are building sand castles on the beach, playing in the waves, or just enjoying the warm sun overhead, it’s easy to see why “any day at beach is a good day.” If you are looking for adventures outdoors, make plans to visit the sugar white sand beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange … [Read more...]
