by Stephanie Harper - You’ve got everything you need for your family camping or backpacking excursion except the one item that might slip your mind. Tent tarps - often called tent footprints - provide an extra layer of protection between a camping tent floor and the elements. Tent Footprint Buying Guide Not sure what type to get? The gear team at Outdoor Families … [Read more...]
5 Best Camp Pillows + Expert Camp Pillow Buying Guide
by Stephanie Harper - There’s nothing better than laying your head down to rest on a comfortable camp pillow that resembles a puffy cloud of softness after spending the day adventuring outdoors. Making an investment in a comfortable camp pillow means an investment in your family's happiness because let's face it, there comes a time when we all have to upgrade from sleeping on … [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...]
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...]
8 Best Instant Pop Up Tents + Tent Buying Guide
By Stephanie Harper - Setting up your family campsite can be a challenge with kids in tow; hands full, and time ticking away by the minute until the moment you can sit down, relax and enjoy the great outdoors. Having easy access to an easy, instant, pop up tent can be the answer to dreaded hours spent unpacking, whether on a beach, by a river, or at a park. Think a lighter, … [Read more...]
An Apostle Islands Camping Family Adventure
by Jenny Wisniewski - In the summertime, my young family regularly camped. I have always wanted my boys to get dirt beneath their nails, play from dawn to dark, and explore until they collapsed in their comfy sleeping bags, bellies full of s’mores. It was the packing of gear and meal planning that my husband and I dreaded. Our family camping trips had waned until this past … [Read more...]
Camping For Beginners: 23 Money Saving Tips And Tricks
Camping for beginners is not only a great way to get outdoors and bond with family members, but it's also a fantastic way to take a budget-friendly family vacation to some of the top destinations around the world. We've invited Susan Strayer, our colleague and friend from MountainMomandTots.com and camping for beginners guru at Outdoor Mom Academy, to help … [Read more...]
Backpacking with Kids – Expert Advice for Backcountry Camping
[Photo courtesy John Soltys, Moosefish.com] by Karen Ung - Backpacking with kids is the perfect way to share your admiration of the great outdoors with the people you love most. While hauling everything on your back may seem daunting at first, just a bit of practice and these expert tips, will have you planning a family backpacking trip over a family car camping trip … [Read more...]
Family Camping is Cool: Tips and tricks for a successful first outing
by Val Joiner - Begin a discussion about the concept of family camping and you're likely to discover everyone has a very different definition of what true camping is. Whether you're new to the concept, or a longtime veteran of sleeping outdoors, it's easy to notice the wide spectrum of styles; bare-bones minimalism to deluxe RV'ing. The good news? There's room for all, with … [Read more...]
