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.
Healthy Breakfast for Adventure Families: Apple Carrot Squash Muffins
Outdoor Mom Academy: Take Your Family’s Outdoor Adventures to the Next Level
Deuter Kid Comfort 3 Kid Carrier Review
Women’s Hiking Boot Review: V-Lite Altitude Pro Lite from Hi-TecWhy 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.
Night Walking Safety Tips | How We Stay Safe While Talking Daily Evening Walk
How to Make Walks More Fun for Kids
Micro Kickboard Mini Scooter Review
Treasure Walks and Early Spring in Seattle’s Washington Park ArboretumNC’s Outer Banks: Visiting Jockey’s Ridge State Park with Kids
The sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge State Park in North Carolina’s Outer Banks are the tallest on the east coast. Of all the places I wanted my family to see on their first trip to the Outer Banks this was it. From the multiple times that I got to visit as a child (we vacationed and traveled to the area at least once a year growing up), I remember running down the dunes as fast as I could, log rolling until I was dizzy & covered head to toe, burning my feet on the hot sand in summer, and feeling the horrible sting of wind blown sand on my legs on a windy spring day. Jockey’s Ridge is often referred to as, “The Living Dune”. It’s always changing, always shifting, so really every visit to the place will be a little different from the next.
Mostly I just want to share the beauty of the park, and how you quickly depart the busyness of the bypass with all its shops and restaurants (and box stores, and houses, and strip malls…), and soon feel like you are in the middle of the desert with nothing but sand, and on this particular day, clear blue skies. However, I also put together a few quick tips that might help if you decide to visit!
Raleigh, North Carolina with Kids: Exploring NC’s Capital City
Exploring the Outer Banks: Duck, North Carolina with Kids
Ocracoke Island, North Carolina with Kids (+Video)
Kinston, North Carolina with Kids (Video)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
Fall Nature Walks: Tips for Fun and Enjoyment with Dr. Scholls®
Fall Inspired Treats: Peanut Butter Acorns
Summer Scavenger Hunt (with printable) for Kids
Spring Scavenger Hunt (with Printable) for Kids8 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!
Marmot Women’s PreCip Rain Pant Review
As I know I’ve mentioned before, I’ve got 10 years of living in Seattle under my belt. I also get outside…a lot. You’d think I would have rain gear coming out of my ears, or at least crowding my dresser drawers. In reality though, it wasn’t until a couple of months ago that I acquired my very first pair of decent rain pants.
I’m pretty sure the wait was worth it though because I think I now have a pair of the best rain pants out there. The Women’s PreCip Pants from Marmot are impressive. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, it took quite a while for me to actually find enough rainy days to do the proper gear testing. The rainy days here in Seattle this late summer and early fall have been few and far between, but I still managed to test the pants on a 7-mile hike in light rain, a 5-mile hike in heavy rain, and in and around our neighborhood on several walks.
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