As a family, we’ve been using the Thule Sapling Elite backpack carrier for about 2 months. About two weeks ago though, I realized something (quite obvious) that’s almost become a game changer in my thinking and motivation in getting outdoors, particularly on the trail, with the kids. With the Thule Sapling Elite, I can go on adventures with both kids (age 4 & 10 months) and carry along everything we need all by myself. PLUS, I have two happy kids: One on my back, and one by my side. I find myself daydreaming often about the next time we get to lose ourselves in the beauty of our Pacific Northwest forests. We have a system now, and it makes the whole process just seem so much easier.
Why We Walk to School Instead of Drive Our Car
The other day as Bergen (4 years), Georgia (10 months), and I walked/strolled/scootered/ran to school, Bergen started to hem and haw about walking up a steep hill.
“Yes, it’s a little bit hard Bergen, but we can still do it!”
Not convinced, he said, “But maybe we could just drive our car. Then it would be easier.”
Surprised as I thought we’d gone over this, I asked him, “Why do we walk to school instead of drive our car?”
He was at a loss. Or at least his answer of, “because we don’t want to be late…” didn’t exactly make sense.
Fall Scavenger Hunt Printable for Kids
I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air. -Nathaniel Hawthorne
We agree! And what better time for a scavenger hunt than fall! So many changes, so many fallen items to collect, and so much activity to observe from migrating birds to squirrels and other furry creatures busily storing up for winter.
Inspired by this new fall season, we’ve put together some of our favorite autumnal items to search for in a fun printable scavenger hunt!
Fall Scavenger Hunt for Kids
8 Things to do with your Preschooler on a Hike
Turning three was a turning point for Bergen in terms of his outdoor activity. I officially traded his “toddler” status to “preschooler”, and his stamina and physical ability grew significantly. Over the course of the last year (he’s now 4 years old), it’s been fun to observe the types of things that he is intrigued by and the way he interacts with nature when we’re on the trail. Things that I thought he’d love, don’t turn out to be as engaging as I thought, and then I’m surprised when something completely random fascinates or captivates him.
Given the chance, preschoolers can rack up the miles and can go much further than they could as toddlers, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to keep them moving along or interested. I recently started jotting down the things that work for Bergen–the little tricks that keep him involved, motivated, and content on the trail. They are ideas you might consider to enrich your walk, and make deeper connections with both your child and the natural world.
My hope is that they might help other preschoolers to have happy and exciting hiking experiences! The list is only 8 items long (so far) and each is quite simple, but I’m expecting the list to grow as we continue our second “preschool” year. I would love for you to add your ideas too!
Seattle Scavenger Hunt (with printable) for Kids
We love exploring our city and especially love seeing the sights we’ve known and gone to for years through the eyes of our children. Seattle has so much to offer for the entire family. At least from our perspective, there are landmarks, attractions, museums, and parks that we can enjoy just as much as our kids.
For Bergen (now 4 years old), the more we involve him in our everyday adventures around town and in our travels around the country, the richer the experience becomes. When I saw how engaged he was recently as we completed a scavenger hunt together at his school, it got me thinking. Wouldn’t it be fun to hunt for various items that identify our city and make it unique? Why not create our own Seattle Scavenger Hunt?
Micro Kickboard Mini Scooter Review
Bergen’s balance bike now has some competition when it comes to getting out and about. For his 4th birthday, he received the micro mini scooter, and after just a day or so of learning, he’s been zipping through the neighborhood and around our local parks. I believe his balance biking skills carried over to make the transition to scootering easy, but I also attribute his success to the design and engineering of the scooter from Micro Kickboard.
We’re loving this new form of mobility. Now he’ll often ride his scooter when we take our daily walks, which allows Slaed and I to actually carry on a conversation instead of constantly “encouraging” him to keep up. We’ve also started to run/walk/scooter to school instead of driving the mile or so distance making for a much more active and productive start to our mornings!
Visiting Helena, Montana with Kids
Helena, Montana was supposed to be a resting place in our 12-day Idaho-Montana road trip. A “lull” of sorts between our lake adventures at Flathead and our high country explorations in Red Lodge. Instead, we ended up doing and seeing a lot in Helena because as we researched prior to the trip, and as we talked with friends about the small capital city, the more we wanted to experience.
I absolutely adore this town appreciating it’s history, charm, and family friendliness. The hospitality that I’ve grown to expect (and respect) in Montana shined through from the hotel to dining establishments, and all the activities we participated in in-between. I can’t wait to get back and experience more!
Things to Do when Visiting Helena, Montana with Kids
Last Chance Gulch (Helena’s Walking Mall)
Taking a wander up and down this outdoor walking mall was the first thing we did when we arrived in Helena. After our the drive from Flathead Lake, it gave everyone the opportunity to stretch their legs, and jump right into learning about the town’s history. Last Chance Gulch was where gold was first discovered in Helena in 1864. Unique local shops and restaurants line walkway that runs from 6th Avenue to Broadway with statues, interactive displays, and historical bits and pieces to admire and learn from along the way.
Seattle’s Volunteer Park Dahlias//2015
While spending time at Volunteer Park’s wading pool in order to get some relief from the sweltering 97 degree day last weekend, Georgia started to get a little restless. There’s only so much a baby who doesn’t yet sit-up on her own can take. So I loaded her on my back and we decided to wander over to check on the Dahlia garden near by leaving Slaed and Bergen on their own to splash in the cool water.
Every year, for over 30 years now, the volunteers from the Puget Sound Dahlia Association dutifully tend to this space planting the tubers in the spring, and then digging them up in early November. I’m used to getting to enjoy the blooms well into September, sometimes even in October, but this year I have a feeling it’s going to be quite different. What seems like constant sunshine and warm temperatures are making for early opening and growth for all the foliage around Seattle.
While this particular garden is not at its peak yet, it will be in next few weeks, so we’ll need to return sooner than later to really view the garden in its full glory.
Melting in the Carolinas: Managing Heat and Humidity Outdoors with Kids
Last month we visited family in the Carolinas. Like much of the rest of the country, the Charlotte area was experiencing extremely hot weather even for their typical early summer standards. In fact, while we were there, a record was set for highest temperature on that particular day. A high of 99 degrees beat out the old record of 98 degrees set back in 1890!
Heat alone is almost manageable. What makes these conditions almost unbearable though is the humidity. The sticky muggy thick air that makes you just want to head for the hills, or at least just run inside to some nice cool air conditioning. I always compare the feeling to being wrapped in a warm cozy blanket. At first it might feel almost doable, but after awhile, nobody wants a blanket around them when it’s already burning hot!
We’re not people who like to be cooped up though, so I’m thankful that were still able to get out and about and enjoy the outdoors. By living through the experience, and observing how my sister handles the weather with her 3 active boys, we came up with quite a few ways to make the most of the heat and humidity while still staying happy outdoors.
1. Water Play.
When you’re in the backyard of a new neighborhood where the trees are not mature enough to provide much shade, the heat and humidity can catch up to you fast. Add in some water play though, and it not only makes things a whole lot more fun, but you forget all about that uncomfortable mugginess when your soaking wet! My sister equipped each boy (Bergen + his 3 cousins) with a water gun and set out a bucket of water for easy refilling. The boys went crazy on each other while the adults just sat back and watched the fun unfold. If we got sprayed “by accident”? No need to panic. We were probably better off.
2. Frequent Visits to the Pool.
It may seem like a no-brainer, but sometimes we just don’t make the time to get all the gear together and head to the swimming pool. Lucky for us, my sister’s neighborhood pool was just a quick walk away. I loved taking the time to pack snacks and drinks to enjoy during breaks from splashing, and even more I love how much pool time wears the kids out so sleep comes so much easier. Also, don’t underestimate the size of that pool! Kiddie pools in the backyard, and wading pools at the local park can be almost as refreshing!
3. Spend time on the Water.
Swimming pools are great and all, but the real beauty of nature comes through at the creeks, lakes, and oceans that are close to our locale. During our recent visit to the Carolinas a visit to the Atlantic Ocean would have been preferable. However, since the closest beach is about 3 hours away (too far for this trip), we made do with a small lake at one of the local parks nearby. Being on the water really does make a difference in terms of getting a break from the humidity. Just don’t go kayaking or paddle boating out in the middle of the lake with the hot sun beaming straight down on you! I’m sure glad we stuck to the shore.
4. Shaded Playgrounds.
Shaded playgrounds are a lifesaver for surviving the humidity with kids! I’m so glad my sister knows her town well, and picked out spots that were bearable and actually quite pleasant, especially knowing how much fun the kids were having together. Play areas with a generous tree canopy are ideal!
5. Shaded Hikes.
Just like those shaded playgrounds, a nice shady hike allows everyone to get some of that restless energy out while still maintaining a somewhat reasonable temperature. While visiting my sister, we chose a forested hike that roughly followed the lake shore. This made for some nice views, and provided us with opportunities to dip our feet into the water if we felt so inclined!
Earlier in the week, an impromptu walk along some of the paved pathways (also very well shaded) in her neighborhood provided some really nice outdoor time. And to top it all off, we picked wild blackberries along the way–a refreshing treat rewarding us for our good effort to get out in nature.
6. Indulge in Delicious “Hot Weather” Foods.
Here are some of the foods we enjoyed that also seemed to cool us down, plus a few more ideas that come to mind:
- Fruit, especially watermelon, frozen grapes, and berries
- Ice cream!
- Popsicles
- Salads
- Fresh veggies like tomatoes, peppers, & peas
7. Hydrate!
I felt like I was drinking constantly during this trip, and even though sometimes that was a glass of wine or a beer, it really did make all the difference in my comfort level. It was so important for Bergen and Georgia’s comfort as well. With all that activity (mainly from Bergen, of course), staying fueled and hydrated is even more important. Hydration can sometimes get away from kids though because they are so busy. Making a point to take breaks helped curb meltdowns, and allowed us to keep going strong for the remainder of each day.
Do you live in a super humid climate or are you visiting one this summer? What are your tips for still enjoying the outdoors?
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Thule Urban Glide Review: Strolling for Active Families
Thule. You know, that Swedish company that makes those racks for your car? From skis to bikes to cargo boxes, they take transporting gear seriously, so we are super excited to get to be a part of their latest project, “Active with Kids“! Included in this line are carriers, bike seats, bike trailers, and today’s review: The Thule Urban Glide Stroller.
If you are a regular reader of the blog, you probably know that we are quite active. We are outdoors everyday, and long walks are a part of our daily routine. Thule contacted us just when Georgia (6 months) was ready to to transition from the carseat+bar system in the stroller to actually sitting in the seat of the stroller, and since it’s arrival, we’ve put the Urban Glide through the ringer!
The stroller has traveled with us on the rough Seattle city sidewalks, down gravel trails of parks, and even along the forested paths of the Washington Park Arboretum. In addition, we’ve tested the suspension down short flights of stairs, and through it all, our little adventurer has remained content in her cushy ride.
Truckee, CA with Kids: Where to Eat, Play & Stay
I’m not a skier, unless you consider slogging down the bunny hill inch by inch actually skiing, BUT I sure do love a mountain town. One of my favorites? Truckee, California.
Truckee is located in the Sierras northwest of Lake Tahoe. To my delight, we get to visit Truckee fairly regularly as my brother and his family call the little alpine village home.
This spring, as you might have read, we spent about 2 and 1/2 days in Truckee and as usual had a blast exploring and breathing in the fresh clean air at 5800 feet. To give you an idea of what we were up to and a bit of what Truckee has to offer aside from the obvious snow-related activities, here’s where to play (aside from the ski slopes), where to eat, and where to stay in this mountain escape.
Where to Play in Truckee
Truckee River Legacy Trail
This multi-use path currently covers a little over 5 miles and roughly follows the Truckee River’s south side. While Bergen (3.5 years) and his cousin rode their balance bikes, the adults and my niece followed on foot. We enjoyed beautiful views of the river, especially at the Glenshire entrance while the kids enjoyed crossing bridges and climbing on large boulders.
Why Travel is Good for Your Parenting: Perspective from Lake Wenatchee, WA
There are so many reasons to travel:
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To see family
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To escape
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To explore the natural world
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To gain perspective
Travel also opens up my mind to the new, to change, to better myself, to realize, and see that there might be a different way to do things.
A friend of a friend, not a parent herself, taught me how to be a better mom.
Only she doesn’t even know it.
Oregon-California Family Road Trip: 11-Day Itinerary
We recently embarked (and returned all in one piece) on our first {family of four} multi-day road trip. The journey was eventful to say the least, and to my surprise, a whole lot more enjoyable than I anticipated. I’ll admit that I expected wild tantrums occurring in the backseat along with piercing baby cries that would be impossible to quiet.
And while there was some of unpleasantness, it certainly wasn’t the norm. More often, we found ourselves enjoying the scenery, having the luxury of researching possible lunch and rest stops, and actually engaging in grown-up conversation! The one thing that did cut into our travel time (and sometimes sanity) was the amount of bathroom stops required for a 3.5 year old!
We’ll dive into more specifics of each of our destinations (and even pit stops) in the coming weeks and months (we covered a lot of ground!), but first we want you to see the bigger picture, and a few statistics for fun.
Day 1: Salem, Oregon
A good distance away (but not too ambitious) from our home in Seattle for the first leg of our trip, and also the home of my husband Slaed’s aunt, uncle and cousin. Here we visited with family and took some time to explore the capitol.
Baby Naming in Paradise: Big Decisions while Exploring Oahu’s Ka’ena Point State Park
How did you go about choosing names for your children? Or if you don’t have kids, do you know how your name was chosen? Was there a process involved? Maybe you just knew all along…or possibly the name was already picked out for you because of family history or obligations. Whatever the case may be, I think the ways people decide on names is fascinating. .
Amazing, really. I mean, the possibilities are endless, and for me at least, the pressure to choose “correctly” can be overwhelming.
Names got tossed around all throughout both of our pregnancies. One of us would might make a suggestion, and if it was acceptable to both of us, we might write it down on our list. Then, after months of brainstorming, the narrowing down, nitty-gritty decision making happened in the same way: On vacation.
Preschool Hikes: Discovering More in Seattle’s Discovery Park
Places often remain wonderful in mind because I haven’t quite discovered all they have to offer. The mystery and unknown give me reason to come back and explore. Magic remains.
Seattle’s Discovery Park is one example. Maybe its because we usually fall into the same routine: Parking in the same area, hiking down the same stairs toward the beach, walking along the same stretch of shore. Still beautiful, but I always knew there was more.
For this visit, I switched it up and we saw several aspects of the park that I’ve never seen. And because of that I have an even greater appreciation for the place. Even better, as you might expect my two little adventurers were also along for the ride, and for one of them (Georgia, 2 months) this was her very first visit.
Environmental Learning Center
I’d heard that there was an indoor learning space here, but never visited myself. So to make sure we had a chance check it out, I made it our starting point. The center proved to be a great spot to get our nature juices flowing. The space is filled with books, puppets, and tons of other hands on materials for little ones to investigate before or after heading off on an outdoor adventure.
Preschool Hikes: Learning and Exploring at Squak Mountain State Park
What would you do if you were stuck between a Cougar and a Tiger?
…SQUAK!
A little joke that gets tossed around in the outdoor world as an answer for why Squak Mountain has such a name since it is situated between Cougar Mountain (to the West), and Tiger Mountain (to the East).
I don’t exactly know the real reason for the name–I believe it has to do with the native people of the region–but we did go on a sweet little hike here this past weekend and found our time to be a perfectly pleasant family adventure.
Last Family of 3 Travel Adventure: Wallace Falls State Park
Before welcoming our newest family member into the world, we had one last travel adventure as a family of three. It was important to use to spend some quality time together just before our lives turned upside down with new routines, a new normal, and new responsibilities.
Some time away brought a chance to bond and strengthen our unit, which inevitably brought along a lot of refection as well as anticipation.
What will one more member do to our dynamic?
Surely it could only get better.
Walk and Fly Along the Lewis and Clark Discovery Trail: Long Beach, WA
While on a mini getaway in Long Beach, Washington this past summer in celebration of our 5-year wedding anniversary, coupled with our little guy’s 3rd birthday, we found that the town is great for walking.
Family Travel in Barcelona: 5 Kid Friendly Sights
Our life of travel and adventure spans back much further than the start of the “Wild Tales of…” blog. Yes, before Bergen (3 years old) and Baby #2 came along, countless miles on the road were logged around the United States and in many international destinations.
One of the most noteworthy occurred right at the time my husband, Slaed and I met. Slaed took a hiatus from his regular Seattle life and moved to Barcelona, Spain for 6 months. During his time there and thanks to several trips previous, he became quite the expert on the city. While kids of his own were barely on his radar then, two of his best friends, and a huge reason for his Spanish travels, had young families, and he often tagged along on their outings.
I thought it would be fun to pick his brain and learn about the place he called home for a short while. First, our suggestions for accommodations:
Where to Stay
- “El Born”: This “old city” district features family friendly hotels and lodging and is close to the Parc de la Ciutadella.
- “Barri Gotic”: The oldest area in the city and where Slaed called home for his 6-month stay, this is the central district of Barcelona and also has plenty of family friendly accommodations.
If you are ready to start researching possible lodging options, try using the hotel, B&B & apartment rental site, Venere. You’ll find it easy to search based on budget, landmark proximity and city areas, and ratings by reviewers.
Now for what to see and do! Together we came up with our top 5 (in no particular order) sights and activities for families to enjoy while visiting this unique and historic city.
Quick Escape to Hope, BC: 4 Fun Little Adventures
Our consistently rainy, gray days have returned here in Seattle, and I’m reminded of a quick weekend trip we had last spring.
We were in need of a getaway and wanted Bergen to finally get the chance to use his passport, so we headed north to Hope, British Columbia. We could have gone with the more obvious choice of Vancouver (or there abouts), but we were not only looking for a change of scenery. We also wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle, and weren’t at all interested in crowded border crossings.
Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate as much as we had hoped. It Rained. Continuously. Really. It rained during our entire visit. The skies never let up, but we weren’t going to let that stop us from exploring. We armed ourselves with raincoats, rainsuits, hats, and boots, and braved the elements. Thanks to some cozy spots to eat in town, we were always able to get a break to warm-up and refuel, and as for the outdoors, we managed 4 fun little adventures:
Chainsaw Carving Tour
Their mission to become a chainsaw carving capitol started in 1991, and now Hope has over 50 chainsaw carvings throughout their community. Of course each one has its own unique story, significance, and style. From mystical creatures to wildlife to pieces of local past, these carvings captured our attention, made us laugh, and even taught us a little bit about what makes the town of Hope tick.
Keepng Feet Warm, Dry and Supported: Muddy Munchkin Boots by MyMayu Review
I’ve been disappointed by kids rain boots ever since Bergen started to walk.
We live in Seattle.
We need boots that keep his feet dry and stay relatively dry inside. Rain here isn’t just a once in a while thing. Boots can be necessary multiple days in a row, and often more than once a day. We don’t have time to wait for wet boot linings to dry.
We also need boots that last. With frequent use, we can’t worry about tears and gaps developing after just a season (or a few wears). Our son is very active. Between playground romping, hiking, scooting around on his balance bike, and trekking through the neighborhood, he’s quite hard on shoes.
Plus with this frequent use, the boots have to be supportive. Clunky rain boots that cause him to trip and fall just won’t work.
Up until this recently, we made do, but we really weren’t happy with the (run of the mill) rain boots we’d purchased, and even with a lot of research for alternatives and trying to scope out what other kids were wearing, we were coming up short.
Western Washington Preschool Hikes: Franklin Falls
With the honeymoon phase of quiet, kid-free mornings due to our little guy (now 3 years-old) being an unusually late sleeper now officially over, we are looking at the bright side.
Yes, he used to sleep until 9, 9:30, even 10 (talk about being spoiled) o’clock in the morning, and still manage (and need) a 2-hour nap in the afternoon. Now that he’s transitioned to a regular bed though, the late mornings are a distant memory. Maybe it’s his new found freedom of being able to get out on his own. Maybe it’s an age thing. Maybe the change of space changed his mindset. Regardless, we are adjusting.
As I was saying, the bright side is…more time for adventure! We can now mange a decent hike, a decent distance away from home, and still be able to return for nap time.
Franklin Falls near Snoqualmie Pass (about an hour’s drive from Seattle) is just on the verge of being too far for a morning excursion. As long as we get into gear early enough and pack a lunch to enjoy en route, it’s possible to accomplish.
On this particular early October day, we found the trail (2 miles out and back) to be filled with mushrooms. Vibrant colors and so many different varieties, thanks to the tiny fungi spotter, we probably stopped and viewed nearly every single specimen available that day.
Hiking with a Preschooler: Out of Carriers and Into Independence
As we’ve reached late summer and move into early fall, the feeling of a new season and new (school) year makes me feel like I need to set goals. Do you feel that same? I’m not one to pass-up a fresh start.
One goal that we are currently making a priority is the no-carrier hike for Bergen (3 years old). As I’ve described in our end-of-summer bucket list and recent hike, I’m in no shape to be carrying around a 40-pound little boy, and with a baby on the way, we would love for Bergen to be more independent and build his stamina.
Catch-up Hikes: Denny Creek Water Slide Trail near WA’s Snoqualmie Pass
Catching up with friends and family over coffee or a meal is nice and all—I love a fresh steaming hot cup of coffee and food always seems to be on my brain, especially these days. A couple weeks ago though, I realized there’s an even better way to reconnect when it’s been a while since you’ve seen your loved one (or even if it hasn’t actually been that long)…
Go Take a Hike!
Picture Books to Excite and Inspire Fall Outdoor Play
One of my favorite ways to prepare for a new season is to just immerse myself in all the wonderful things the time of year has to offer. A huge stack of library books does the trick.
Books not only give us ideas for how to best enjoy ourselves outside in honor of the changing weather and foliage, but they also ensure that we don’t miss a thing during this special transition. I hope this list gives you a starting point, or building point if you’ve already started, to form your own collection of favorite fall inspired stories!
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