by Erin Kirkland - Perhaps no other agency moniker is as familiar as that of national parks. Providing access, protection, and valuable historical information, national parks are considered sacred ground by many as hallmarks of family vacation destinations. Sharing of a legacy, if you will. In the United States and Canada, at least, most national parks see the highest number … [Read more...]
Traveling the Park to Park Highway
by Susan Strayer To celebrate this year's centennial anniversary of the National Park Service, my family wanted to do something really special, an epic, once-in-a-lifetime trip. So we packed up our truck and hit the National Park to Park Highway trail for a 7,000-mile road trip. It may sound crazy to voluntarily trap oneself in a car with three young kids for six weeks … [Read more...]
Two Great Ways to Explore Your National Parks: Just Ahead app and a parks guide
by Outdoor Families Magazine editorial team The App Gregory Morse had no idea that a summer 2013 trip to the USS Midway aircraft carrier in San Diego would be a life-changing experience. The Long Beach, Calif., father of three had opted for an audio tour of the ship for his family, including his two oldest kids, then ages eight and six, despite skepticism it would hold … [Read more...]
“In His Element:” Traveling and autism
by Jean Grant Oh yes, Ewan loves volcanoes, I say with embarrassed pride at a parent preschool conference, while my son scribbles May 18, 1980 and a drawing of a volcano on a white board with a dry-erase marker. Certainly all children have their obsessions. For Ewan, they are volcanoes, weather and drawing complete U.S. maps, but starting in kindergarten? I chalked it up to … [Read more...]
America’s National Park Service: Gifting the future
by Erin Kirkland - Most national park memories are vivid collections as diverse as the locations themselves. Waking to the sound of a crackling fire and the smell of frying bacon at a campground. Watching a waterfall tumble down a steep canyon trough far, far below. Observing an intricate science of fossils and painted hills. Feeling the solemnity of a ceremony for those lost … [Read more...]
Celebrate the National Park Service Centennial
The National Park Service celebrates 100 years of protecting, promoting, and preserving the natural spaces set aside for generations to come. But who uses them? How many are there, and how can we get there? In 2016, Outdoor Families Magazine will be exploring national parks, popular and not-so-much. During this centennial year, we'll delve into the history of the National Park … [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...]
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park: Exploring the Big Island’s explosive history
by Erin Kirkland We could smell Hawai?i Volcanoes National Park before we could see it. The rotten-egg aroma preceding our arrival was unnerving for my 10-year-old, who craned his neck around the backseat in order to locate the source. ?Is a volcano erupting right now?? he quavered, sniffing the air, aware only of the icy, ash-laden monoliths in our home state of Alaska. … [Read more...]
