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 children. Our style changed even more when … [Read more...]
Sled-Dogging For the Suburbanite: Mushing Mt. Bachelor
by Natalie VanCleave Mt. Bachelor near Bend, Ore., soars more than 9,000 feet above sea level, a stunning display, white with snow over lush forests of evergreens. Skiers from all over the world flock to its slopes, but today my family and I are here for a different sort of adventure--the canine variety. The idea of dog sledding is enticingly, thrillingly exotic to our … [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...]
Savor a South Carolina Autumn With Kids
When people think of South Carolina, they usually picture the Atlantic coastline destinations of Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach and Charleston. While there are lots of great outdoor spots in the low-country, we love exploring the upstate. My wife, Kendra, is from a community near Greenville, so when we visit her family, our adventures start from there and do not disappoint. An … [Read more...]
Worldschooling – The World as Your Classroom
by Sabrina Norrie In some ways we've always loved the concept of ?worldschooling,? or using the world as a classroom, long before we even knew it had a name. Having traveled my entire life and marrying an outdoorsy man, we loved how we felt as a couple being in this world together and learning from it. And there was no question we would continue to do so as parents. From … [Read more...]
Finding Our Way “Down Under”
by Sarah Richardson ?Mom? What are those pink things underneath that cow?s tail?? my daughter asked a few weeks ago as we sat watching a herd of bulls in the field across the street. Drawing from a legion of parental advice columns, I answered only the question I was asked, hoping that was the end of it. I was NOT ready for the inevitable, ?What do they do?? Turns out it was … [Read more...]
Exploring Colorado’s Western Side: Family adventure awaits
by Melissa Edge - With mounting excitement, my family and I hopped aboard a gondola to glide 2,200 feet across the Royal Gorge area of Western Colorado. As we smoothly traveled 1,200 feet above the Arkansas River with amazing views of deep canyon walls, my son had a smile that stretched from ear to ear. We had arrived at the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park in Canon City on day four … [Read more...]
Tame the “stuff” with Chums Latitude Series cases
by Erin Kirkland It's always about the "stuff." Little stuff, funny-shaped stuff, stuff that takes up space needed for other stuff. My junk drawer at home is testament to my penchant for keeping things, and when I travel, the "stuff" seems to multiply. Storage of small items, be they batteries or a spare pair of sunglasses and a toothbrush is critical for the organization of … [Read more...]
Great Gear: Hobo rePETe bag from ChicoBag is a stylish option
by Mae Kiggins Ever wonder what happens to the thousands of post-consumer-recycled plastic bottles? In the case of ChicoBag, the company is putting to good use this detrius through construction of fashionable and versatile bags. So serious about their mission are ChicoBag's long-lasting and environmentally-friendly products, they have trademarked the term "rePETe" to … [Read more...]
Notable Summer Reads for Outdoor Families
by Kelly Johnson - Your local library's shelves are probably filled with nature books for kids. But how is a parent to know which specific concepts to promote, like biophillia, for instance, a term describing humans' inherent love of nature, or ecophobia, a fear resulting from too much exposure, too young, to environmental problems and the pressure to "save" nature? Which … [Read more...]
Pacsafe Shoulder Bag Works for Parents on the Go
by Mae Kiggins Full disclosure: I am not a purse or diaper bag gal. Clunky and funky, purses or giant diaper bags never stayed on my shoulder, and organization was only fair, so when my kids were little, I relied upon a trusted backpack. Comfortable to wear, backpacks generally aren't designed for family caregiving, but mine lasted through two babies with ease. Now that … [Read more...]
Welcome to Outdoor Families Magazine
On a busy work day in 2014, a cadre of outdoor bloggers gathered on Facebook, commenting and cajoling, posting and plotting their weekly musings. Some were veterans of online publishing in the realm of families and the great outdoors, others were still finding their footing. One thing remained clear, however; this was no ordinary group. These men and women were philosophers, … [Read more...]
