by Stephanie Green - I grew up in Chicago, where the highest elevation was a 50-foot freeway overpass. When I moved to California, I fell in love with the mountains and their commanding height. I also loved exploring the variety of natural areas from the ocean to the desert. After twenty years, I am still in awe of the abundance and diversity of ecosystems. My recreation of … [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...]
Snake Bite Prevention & Survival Guide
This week, outdoor blogger and mom Saskia Cameron from SniffOutdoors.com joins us to discuss snakes and how best to protect yourself and your children from a snake bite. As any outdoorsy person knows, there’s always a chance you will encounter a snake on your trek, so it’s important prepare yourself, especially when you’ve got kids with you. Do’s And Don’ts Of Hiking With Kids … [Read more...]
Hike It Baby: How to get involved & get outside more
by Erin Kirkland - Shanti Hodges has no qualms about admitting she has a problem "overextending myself." Fact is, though, if she hadn't, hiking with newborns might not be a thing. Enter Hike it Baby. Hodges, of Portland, Oregon, is the owner of Hike it Baby, an organization she gestated and birthed in the cool forests of the Pacific Northwest but now nurtures through 290 … [Read more...]
5 Hiking Tips To Inspire Teens and Tweens to Hike
by Traci Lehman - Like most outdoor activities, hiking offers limitless fun that can be tailored to all ages. From easy nature walks to tiring mountain climbs and challenging multi-day treks, hiking promotes fitness, entertainment and hands-on education to anyone who partakes, especially kids. Why Is Hiking Important For Kids? For tweens and teens, the outdoors is less … [Read more...]
Troll Forest – Expert Advice For Hiking Norway’s Most Whimsical Trail
Images courtesy Ania Krasniewska. by Ania Krasniewska - Before children, an ideal holiday for me consisted of visiting cities without doing much of anything, lying on great beaches with a stack of books to lose myself. As any parent who's tried to read more than two consecutive sentences in the presence of small tots knows, that vacation style changes when you have … [Read more...]
“Rocks in the Water” and Other Life Lessons
by Jackie Semmens My son hikes with one goal in mind - to throw rocks in the water and watch them splash. When we hike, we walk slowly. Every rock we pass must be examined for suitability, and if it passes inspection (which it always does), it is then carried along until another more appropriate rock is found only a few feet later. The type of water does not matter. In my … [Read more...]
Before and After: Hiking with Kids in 7,982 Simple Steps
by Elizabeth Small I was the sort of not-uncommon-but-woefully-ignorant pregnant lady who believed I could somehow do this parenting thing differently. Yes, I was familiar with the entirety of human history and the overwhelming evidence that "different" was impossible. But I thought, "Hey, I'll just do this my way." It's not exactly that I thought other people were doing … [Read more...]
Great Gear: New guidebook helps first-time visitors to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
Guidebook review -- Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park; first-time trip guide for families by Erin Kirkland It's never too late to begin planning next summer's family vacation, and in the case of national parks like Yellowstone and Grand Teton, a year may be considered prudent. In 2016, the National Park Service celebrates 100 years of enhancing visitor experiences … [Read more...]
“Earthcaching” Indiana’s Hemlock Cliffs
by Duane Bolin - If someone were to ask, where is the perfect playground for a family who loves the outdoors? I'm guessing Hemlock Cliffs Indiana might not be your first answer. The Colorado mountains, perhaps. Or maybe the California coast. But, the rolling hills of Southern Indiana? Not so much. While images of the Rocky Mountains and Yosemite National Park routinely find … [Read more...]
Seattle Day Trips: Big Four Ice Caves
By Brittany Schultz It's that time of year again when the Beatles song "Dear Prudence" comes to mind: The sun is out, the sky is blue...And you know what that means: It's summertime, the season to get out of the house and embrace the warm weather. A good start? Day trips are the perfect way to get outside and entertain the whole family. In the Pacific Northwest, we're … [Read more...]
Taking Kids to New Heights: hiking Colorado’s “14er” mountains
by Heather Mundt - For Coloradans, it's not enough to brag about getting outside with our families and enjoying the beloved Rocky Mountains. It's that those mountains mean we can take "getting outside" to extreme heights. Extreme ColoRADo 14ers. It's not just any old Sunday drive, for instance. We can drive the highest continuous paved road in the United States, Trail Ridge … [Read more...]
Columbia River Gorge Hikes Along the Historic Columbia River Highway
by Kelsey Ivey - In a day's trip by car from Portland, Oregon, travel along the Historic Columbia River Highway to the deep, magical beauty of this lush region, and the Columbia River Gorge. Whether you have an afternoon, a day, or a week, you can take this journey amid trails once traveled by the early pioneers, see amazing modern engineering feats and spot wildlife in a place … [Read more...]
Cinque Terre With Kids: Hiking the famous blue trail
by Jennifer Fontaine - I first discovered the tiny, scenic fishing villages of Cinque Terre, Italy nearly 20 years ago. A fellow traveler had thrown out a fascinating new term of agriturismo on the still-young internet, and, intrigued, I began researching its roots. Virtually scanning Tuscany's rolling hills and vineyards, I was led to a magical place where craggy mountains … [Read more...]
An Outdoor Dad’s Resolution
by John Soltys It might sound strange to make a pledge to "have fun outdoors," but as a new year gets underway, bear with me. All too often I find myself cajoling my three children to "push a little more" and we'll reach the top of the peak, the base of the waterfall, or shore of the lake. Too often I find my daughters and son have mentally checked out of a hike long before … [Read more...]
Family Snowshoeing Primer: Wintertime adventures await!
by Tanya Koob - People tell me snowshoeing is boring. It's not as fun as skiing, they say, or Why walk both up and down a hill To those individuals, let's rethink the process. Snowshoeing is fun if you choose the right trails and resources. Snowshoeing is a great activity for children of all ages and requires a lot less coordination than skiing. The learning curve is very … [Read more...]
