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Getting Families Outside, One Adventure at a Time

LOCAL GEMS

CAMP, FAMILY TRAVEL, LOCAL GEMS, NATIONAL PARKS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
A Central Washington Road Trip with Kids
- June 17, 2019
Taking local road trips with kids is a great way to teach your children about the history and beauty of your home state. You don’t have to go far to find fun new campgrounds, forests, monuments, museums, diners, shops and hikes. Today, I’m really excited to share a post all about one family’s adventures on a Central Washington road trip and camping trip with kids. Evangeline Dittman – writer, photographer and Seattle mom of two – is here sharing the good, the bad, and the bizarre of her family’s most recent camping trip. Evangeline has the most amazing way with words -she’s the perfect mix of hilarious and humble – guaranteed to make you fall in love with her and their adventure. Ready to hit the road?!

Spring break tradition

Our family has a tradition of traveling over spring break. We live in Seattle, where winters are gray and drizzly. By the time April rolls around, we’re starved for sunlight. Last year, instead of our usual trip to Somewhere Sunny, we decided to stay more local and spend our spring break camping. We had just bought a travel trailer and were feeling bold. That trip has gone down in our family’s annals as the “Mud Camping Trip.” I now have enough distance on the experience to be able to speak of it without breaking into hives, but I still choose not to dwell on it. This sums it up nicely: We ended up visiting a laundromat during that trip, and the laundromat owner said we were nuts to be camping in that area, at that time of year.

Central Washington road trip

Undaunted by our mud camping misadventure, we decided to camp over this year’s spring break as well. My husband plans most of our family adventures; for this trip, he plotted Central Washington road trip, which is sunnier in spring—and blessedly drier—than is the western half of the state. We started at a state park in Yakima (we’re big fans of state parks!). Then, we wended our way through wine country and hops fields to take up residence at a second state park, this one just south of Moses Lake. Along the way, we hiked a canyon, sampled wines, toured a nuclear reactor, visited a petrified forest, and—yes—played in mud. (Though this time the mud was contained and didn’t necessitate a side trip to the laundromat.)

Yakima

We began our Central Washington road trip in Yakima, Washington. Did you know Yakima, Washington produces nearly 75% of all US hops? Me neither! Yakima’s hops production surpassed Germany’s a few years ago and hasn’t yet given up the lead. Evidently, that’s a big deal to hops connoisseurs. Me, I just think the hops fields are pretty and the beer is tasty.

Yakima greeted us with lush hops fields and pruned vineyards. This put me in the perfect state of mind for family camping. Our campsite at Yakima Sportsman State Park was spacious and verdant, filled with friendly families and overly-friendly leaf bugs. (I had to escort out several dozen that just wouldn’t follow our social cues when we felt tired or needed privacy.)

The kids spent most of their campsite time on their bikes, checking out the lily pond and playground. The trails were wide and flat, but something on them had it in for my son’s bike tires. Husband spent his evenings applying patches, and we eventually had to go into town for a new bike tube.

Hops & wine

We hiked the Cowiche Canyon for our first outing. Offering a variety of short trails with little elevation gain, it’s a great hiking option with kids. We nevertheless chose to tackle the steeper, rockier Winery Trail because…wine. If you make it to the end of the trail, you’re rewarded with crisp rosé wines in air-conditioned tasting rooms.

Or so I assume. We didn’t make it to the end of the trail. My Seattle kids don’t tolerate unrelenting sunshine very well, and the sun was beating down on us that day. What’s more, the Winery Trail offers very little in the way of shade. It does, however, offer plenty of raptor and vulture sightings. The enthusiasm for those was almost enough to propel our kids onward up the hill, but not quite.

It’s just as well. We chased marmots back down the trail, scooted over the more treacherous stretches on our bums, and lay on shaded boulders while we snacked. Added bonus: At the end of the trail, the kids played under a weeping willow’s canopy. My daughter insists it’s a whomping willow while my son prefers to call it a happy willow.

Finding the wineries

Rest assured, we did eventually make it to some tasting rooms. The Bonair Winery features a pond with fish and ducks that the kids can feed while you sip wine. (The tasting-room hosts provide food for the critters!) The VanArnam Vineyards has a sweet old dog that will frolic with the kids while you sip wine. See? The kids can interact with nature while you sip wine: parenting done right.

Toppenish

Another day trip took us to Toppenish, a small city noted for their outdoor murals—over 70 of them—depicting various historical scenes from the region. What does 70+ outdoor murals plus two kids equal? Several hundred rounds of I Spy with My Little Eye.

We hit the famed Miner’s Drive-In restaurant on our way back into Yakima. We were surprised (and a little frightened) to discover they serve burgers as big as your head. Honestly, just order one burger. Get your photo, then cut the burger in half and share it. Ugh, three weeks later and I’m still groaning from that burger. Their shakes are purportedly masterful, but we were too stuffed to try one.

Yakama Nation Museum

We visited the Yakama Nation Museum on our way out of town. The exhibits there are a bit choppy. I needed more background information to make sense of some of the stories presented. Then again, my attention was divided between the exhibits and my antsy kids, so it’s possible all the background one needs is there and I just missed it. Alas, museums and children are ancient and natural enemies. I had to do my part to keep them both safe from each other.

Hanford Site B Reactor

Never let it be said that the Dittmans failed to explore a nearby national park. Turns out, the Hanford Site—home to the world’s first plutonium production reactor; source of the plutonium used in the first nuclear explosion (the Trinity test), as well as in the nuclear bomb that the US detonated over Nagasaki, Japan; and the most contaminated nuclear site in the United States—is now a national park. And we went there.

We did our best to prep the kids for the tour. Husband covered the science of nuclear fission while I attempted to sketch out the history and prevailing fears that led to the Manhattan Project. Imagine doing this in four-minute chunks—the approximate attention span of our youngest—using vocabulary a kindergartener and third-grader could grasp. We mostly failed, of course, but it’s important that we tried, right?

Funny aside: I went into the tour thinking it might be the inspiration for the kids’ upcoming science fair. Maybe my oldest could do a presentation on how nuclear reactors work? In hindsight, I’m laughing my butt off. The tour lasted two hours. Twenty minutes in I knew we wouldn’t be explaining nuclear fission to anyone anytime soon.

The truth about the reactor tour

The tour is very science-heavy and disappointingly light in setting the historical context. It starts with a forty-five-minute bus ride (the kids’ favorite part of the tour—the bus was very plush), during which our tour guide, whom I dubbed Euphemism King, described the geography of the area and what made it suitable for hosting nuclear reactors. He sort of glossed over the fate of the people who were farming that land when the government moved in, just as he glossed over the environmental and social impacts of operating a nuclear reactor. Details about the weapons that Hanford’s plutonium enabled, and the millions of tons/billions of gallons of the resulting radioactive waste that is oh-so-leaky were similarly glossed over. All in all, it was a very glossy tour.

Junior Rangers to the rescue

BUT, they have a junior ranger program! Never let it be said the Dittmans failed to earn a junior ranger badge when within a five-mile radius of one. The requirements for this badge were tough. We had to chase down very persnickety details, but the kids nailed it. My favorite part of the ranger workbook was the fill-in-the-blank prompt: I saw my first _____________ at Hanford. Now, I don’t know how often you hang out in a nuclear reactor, but every square foot of it was pretty stinkin’ new to me. I could have filled in the blank with one hundred things that I was seeing for the first time. The kids, however, were most wowed by the typewriter.

Turns out, it’s a teletype machine, so make that 101 things I was seeing for the first time.

Hanford Site gift shop

There’s a funny little gift shop at the end of the tour. I don’t think it’s affiliated with the Hanford Site, though the owner does have official-looking memorabilia—Manhattan Project pins and patches, informational booklets and the like. She also offers a unique assortment of kitsch. The shop gives a kind of 1950s garage-sale vibe. My daughter fell in love with a frankly hideous porcelain keepsake for baby’s first haircut. As it was only three dollars and I had just finished praising her for her patience on the not-so-kid-friendly tour, I bought it for her. Maybe she’ll always remember the atomic bomb when she looks at it?

We chatted a bit with the shop owner and learned that she is descended from the first wave of folks who were recruited to work at Hanford. She graduated Richland High School, whose mascot is the Bomber, usually depicted with a mushroom cloud. A survivor of the Nagasaki bombing who had visited Hanford just last year expressed shock at discovering the mushroom cloud proudly painted on the school’s hallway floor. The shop owner mentioned the visit and politely, but firmly, defended the mascot and logo as a critical emblem of the town’s history.

A little too behind the scenes

When we didn’t cringe or argue (mostly because I was preoccupied with convincing my son we didn’t need the black velvet Elvis painting), she offered to take us to the back of her shop. There, she had a nearly perfect replica of a bedroom from the Hanford Engineer Works Village. This was a 1943 federally sponsored planned community to house Hanford workers and families. I admit to some initial trepidation about following her back there. The shop and the conversation had put me at unease, and the room we stepped into was eerily Stepford Wives-ish. I felt like I was in that scene from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull where Indy wanders into a fake Doom Town minutes before an atomic bomb test. Remember the much-maligned “nuke the fridge” scene? No? Don’t worry about it—just know that the bedroom creeped me out a little.

Once we were safely back in the sunshine, though, I came to appreciate the museum-quality collection the shop owner is cultivating. It’s an important part of the Hanford Site story. If it were put to a vote, I’d tick the box in favor of integrating the shop owner’s eerie room into the overarching tour.

A Hanford Site recap

Here’s the most important thing parents needs to know about visiting the Hanford Site: there are amazing wineries nearby. It’s imperative you make time for them. We visited Col Solare, which offers panoramic vistas, but not a lot of distractions for the kiddos (we read out to them from Harry Potter). Then we dropped by the Hedges estate where walked around the vineyard with glasses in hand, watched some of the workers wrangle chickens into a new coop, laughed at an ornery turkey who looked like he’d been in a few dozen bar fights, quit our jobs, pulled the kids out of school, and moved into a trailer on the estate.

Okay, that last bit isn’t true, but Hedges is the kind of winery that dares you to chuck all your priorities and take up the oenological life.

Potholes State Park

I was apprehensive about bringing our trailer to a park called Potholes. However, it turns out it got its name for the hundreds of tiny islands surrounded by “pothole” lakes that make up the nearby reservoir. And the park offers lush campsites with shorebirds, great horned owls, and long, even groves reminiscent of the manicured lawns Jane Austen’s characters are always walking about, plotting their marital strategies.

Exploring Potholes

We spent our days at Potholes building mud dams along the lakeshore, weaving wreaths from fallen weeping willow twigs, disturbing the fish with our splashing, and—in the evenings—playing a lawn game of our own invention: a blend of soccer, tag, and Game of Thrones (in which we convince Little Sister she not only wants to give the ball back, but giving the ball back is her brilliant idea). Also, the campsites have enough strategically-placed trees to accommodate hammocks, so the kids were able to do their two-headed-burrito thing while Husband and I read and napped.

A couple of birders we met who were familiar with the park told us it gets very busy during the weekends. Sure enough, by Thursday we had quite a few new campsite neighbors. Happily, our nearest neighbors brought kids roughly my kids’ ages, and the four of them hit it off right away. They shared bikes, scooters, bubble wands, marshmallow sticks, and Minecraft stories. (Minecraft stories are interminable, amiright?)

Gingko Petrified Forest State Park

Just when I’d given up on finding ideas for the kids’ upcoming science fair projects during our travels, we found a petrified forest! The final stop on our Central Washington road trip was Gingko Petrified Forest. This state park hosts a remarkably diverse collection of petrified wood species—we saw petrified spruce, elm, maple, and Douglas fir logs during our hike on the Tree of Stone Trail (which, by the way, is a very gusty and exposed trail; pack water and a sweater!).

We sought refuge from the wind at the Gingko Petrified Forest Museum where we discovered…wait for it…a junior ranger program! The requirements for this badge were fun to fulfill; we watched a short film describing how wood becomes petrified, and then we hunted for fossils hidden throughout the museum. I was especially taken with the display of small, polished bits of petrified wood. The natural markings on the wood, when polished, reveal painterly landscapes and ghostly portraits. (My daughter saw a Harry Potter Dementor in one.)

Petrified forest museum

The museum is also home to ancient petroglyphs which were relocated to the site when rising waters created by the Wanapum Dam threatened to destroy them. My son remarked that whoever made these drawings probably led a happy life; they depict sunny scenes of families and wildlife and gave us a kind of contended feeling—a contentedness that did not diminish even when I saw the signs warning of rattlesnakes. As it happens, the rattlesnakes in this area attack only men—at least according to the sign—so I had no reason to fret.

The deck at the back of the museum provides a lunch spot with an expansive view of the Columbia River, and it’s relatively protected from the wind. If you can time your visit right, take advantage of the beautiful resting spot so you have the energy to check out the Gingko Gem Shop afterwards. It’s just down the road from the museum, and it looks tantalizing to kids. We skipped visiting the shop—we weren’t in the mood for a touristy jaunt just then—but if you need examples of petrified wood for a kid’s science fair project, this is evidently the place to go!

(In the end, my third-grader chose rocketry and the kindergartner chose soap bubbles for their science fair projects.)

About the author

Evangeline is a family photographer and freelance copyeditor in Seattle, Washington. Thanks to her tirelessly adventurous husband, she and her two kidlets (and said adventurous husband) are always exploring the vast and varied wonders of the Pacific Northwest. From camping to cross-country skiing, Evangeline’s family embodies the Swedish maxim: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.”

Website: www.rosefinchphotography.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rosefinchphotography
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rosefinchphoto
HIKE, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Hiking & Creeking Little Missouri Falls with Kids
- July 31, 2018
If you know me and my kids, you know we love nothing more than exploring a good creek. Creeks offer so many opportunities for educational lessons, outdoor adventure and good old-fashioned fun. Which is why I’m super excited to share this post with you today from another creek-loving mama. Nichole Holze and her family spent some time exploring Little Missouri Falls in the Ouachita National Forest, near Hot Springs, Arkansas. She’s here sharing their adventure, recommendations on what to pack when creeking and her thoughts on raising outdoor children.

Creek stomping

I have nothing but fond memories of my sister and our stomping our way up a creek in a nearby county park. My mom took us there many times to play, climb, explore, and adventure. Then as I became a nanny for the summer I took the kids to that park nearly every week. And every week we returned home with sand in our shorts, mud between our toes, smiles on our faces and epic stories in our memory bank.

As a parent now with my own two adventurers, I have made it a point to continue with the creek stomp tradition. From a very early age, my husband and I exposed our children to the natural world and gave them the freedom to fully experience it with all of their senses. Dirt in the mouth was a common occurrence. That early exposure to the natural world allowed them to grow in their confidence and ability to navigate nature now as children. In addition, they are strong, bold, curious, but also with a healthy respect for the dangers that do exist in nature.

Little Missouri Falls, Ouachita National Forest

It is not uncommon for my kids and me to load up our car and head out to explore for the day. We are very fortunate to live within a few hours drive of some of the most beautiful places to be found in Arkansas, a state which is far underrated for outdoor pursuits. So a three-hour drive hardly makes us flinch for a day trip.

On one particular day a few weeks ago, we decided to chase down some waterfalls. It had just rained (heavily) the day before, which in Arkansas, means that the falls would actually be flowing. We quickly packed up some snacks, lunch, towels, goggles, life jackets and a camera. A short two hours later through windy mountain roads, which gave way to bumpy and dusty forest roads, and we arrived at our destination: Little Missouri Falls in the Ouachita National Forest.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the area, the Ouachita National Forest is located in Southwest Arkansas, about half-way in between Dallas, Texas and Memphis, Tennessee. This national forest has over 1.8 million acres of wilderness and spans from Central Arkansas through Eastern Oklahoma. So it’s not only wilderness but mountains, bluffs, rivers, fields and streams for hunting, camping, hiking, biking, fishing and camping. If you’re in the area, this is definitely a place worth checking out.

Hiking into the falls

Strapping on my backpack filled with towels, my camera, lunch and loads of fresh water, we raced off for the trail. The kids were dressed in their swimsuits, sun shirts, life jackets and water shoes. They are both fantastic swimmers, but I always take life jackets when rivers or lakes are involved, until I know the water situation and depth.

A short hike gave way to steep stairs to head down to the river. At the sight of water, the screams and shouts of my excited kids filled the valley. Within moments we were scrambling over rocky riverbed to the falls. The water, which was actually cold (an impressive feat for hot Arkansas summers) cascaded from an upper pool into lower pools and quite literally took our breath away. My son quickly scampered over to the edge of the larger waterfall and begged to go down. I love that he shares my same thirst for adventure.

Navigating the terrain

I decided it would be best to work our way down to the lower falls first instead of going over. A quick scuttle through the woods and over large boulders brought us down to a pleasant rocky beach area where laid out our blanket then made for the water. The blue-green water, typical of this area of Arkansas, flowed into a deep pool with large boulders. A massive fallen tree laid in the perfect spot to climb back up to the top of the falls. We discovered a wolf spider hiding on the underside, but we let it be as it seemed to content to hide out under the log.

My daughter splashed and played, then grew bold and swam out to a rock island to perch. My son scurried up the log and was ready to slide down the waterfall. I stood at the base to catch him due to the large boulders just under the water in the deep pool below. He most likely would not have been injured, but when it comes to large rocks underwater, I prefer to not take chances. Over and over again my son giggled his way down the waterfall. And over and over again I dunked my head under the rushing falls; delighted to have found such a wonderful nook.

Break for lunch

A little later and ready for a little calmer pace, we hiked downstream to where the river opened up to a large shallow pool. I laid out our picnic blanket and we were all soon munching away on our still cold lunch. It was so relaxing listening to the sound of the waterfall intermingled with bird calls and the buzzing of insects. We all sat in contented silence, gazing around at the huge boulders against the blue-green water and the green trees against the azure sky.

Catch something!

After lunch, my kiddos took off their life jackets and headed into the water to explore. Within moments my son exclaimed that he had found a big fish. I splashed over and shared in his excitement, but it was not a fish — it was a tadpole! And probably one of the biggest tadpoles I had ever seen. A quick group effort ensued, my kids standing next to me to watch it move, and I caught it!

One thing I forgot to bring was a net. So we used a baseball cap as a temporary home for the tadpole as we examined it. My son was nervous at first, but his curiosity overtook him and he was soon gently handling the incredible creature in his own hands. The bullfrog tadpole had it’s back legs but had yet to grow it’s front. It filled up my son’s hands with its massive size. The magic of that moment will forever be etched in my memory.

Appreciate your surroundings

Hiking up a creek. A seemingly simply endeavor. But an adventure, for certain. As always, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings, especially in southern Arkansas during the summer. We were fortunate to not have any snake encounters on this outing. However, I have taught my children to always be aware of where they are moving and what is moving around them.

The natural world is a wonder to behold, especially when experienced alongside our children. Educator Charlotte Mason said it most wonderfully “We are all meant to be naturalists, each in his own degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things.”

What to pack

Here are a few things to pack for a successful creek outing:
- Water shoes – (I have a pair of Teva sandals that I’ve worn each summer for 7 years and they still work great). Any waterproof shoe with a gripping sole will be great.
- Life jackets for children, especially if they cannot swim
- Goggles – for underwater exploration! Take your exploring to the next level by having a look underwater. We always have our goggles if there is any water involved.
- Swimsuits – rash guards and waterproof shorts work great for all day exploring and protection from the sun.
- Snacks and picnic lunch
- Sturdy lunch boxes – For day trips, packing lunches in reusable containers is important to me and highly recommend PlanetBox lunch boxes. They are made of highly durable stainless steel. They are a bit heavy but hold up well to all of our adventures. I have loved using Planetbox lunch boxes for the past few years. We have one in each size and they work great for us, including the “no food can touch” preferences of my daughter.
- A sturdy backpack
- Towels
- A net and maybe magnifying glasses
- Field guides to creeks in your area
- Plenty of fresh water to drink – perhaps take along a water purifier if you have one
- Sunscreen
- Sunhats – I really love the kids’ hats from Sunday Afternoon Hats
- A small first aid kit – I recommend Adventure Medical Kits
- Your sense of adventure and a childlike wonder!
Are you a fan of creek stomping with your kids?

Nichole is a homeschooling mama to two incredible adventurers, an older boy and a younger girl. She has been married to her best friend for nearly eleven years. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. This is their 3rd year homeschooling, and after a rough first year, Nichole discovered the mash-up of styles that suited her, and the rest is history. She is a gypsy-hearted, fearless, road tripper who has been known to take off for epic adventures at a moments notice. Hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety) are their favorite family activities. She still swims competitively and enjoys showing her children what it means to live a healthy life. Coffee is her drink of choice (all day long, and black, please). You can usually find her in the woods somewhere, probably up a creek, jumping off waterfalls.

Follow her adventures here:
Instagram: @coleyraeh
Website: http://www.luckeywanderers.comSaveSave

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FAMILY TRAVEL, HIKE, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Arches National Park – 8 Easy Hikes for Kids
- June 26, 2018
Arches National Park in Utah is one of those picture-perfect iconic places that’s destined to be on your bucket list. While hiking through the desert with kids might not sound fun or easy, we’re here to assure you that it is! Today, Stacy Bressler of The Crazy Outdoor Mama is sharing all kinds of wonderful info and advice on visiting Arches with kids, along with 8 Arches National Park hikes with spectacular views that little kids and toddlers can easily do. Happy hiking!

Arches National Park

Arches National Park is just north of Moab in the state of Utah. Bordered by the Colorado River in the southeast, it’s known as the site of more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive fins and giant balanced rocks. This red-rock wonderland also contains a variety of hiking trails, many of which are considered easy to moderate. Trails provide access to outstanding viewpoints and arches not visible from the road. In some cases, trails travel under arches, affording quite a unique perspective on the park’s namesake features.

When to visit Arches National Park

Overall, the most ideal time of year to visit Arches National Park is probably in the spring or fall. I visited in early April and the weather was perfect! Cool in the mornings, and warmer but cloudy the rest of the day. Summer in Utah can get pretty hot and winters are very cold. If you’re going to do a lot of hiking with small children, I recommend you choose a season with more moderate temperatures.

In terms of time a day, it’s best to visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon. Again, it’s the desert, so it can get really hot in the middle of the day. Also, the line can be ridiculous to get into the park, so it’s not worth wasting your kids energy or time sitting in line all day. Particularly if you are only in the area for a short amount of time. I suggest getting there before 9 A.M, or choose to go later in the afternoon, after 3 or 4 p.m.

I personally liked going early as it wasn’t as busy. We were often in the park at around 8:00 a.m. and got a jump start on the hikes before they got busy and crowded. There is a decent amount of driving to get to most places, around 20-30 mins once you’re in the park. Don’t forget to account for this when planning your day!

Cost of visiting Arches National Park

The National Park Service website has a full list of prices for each national park, but for quick reference, the Arches entrance fee is $25.00 for seven day access (as of 2018). If you want to visit the nearby Canyonlands National Park, there is a Southeast Utah National Parks pass that is $50.00 and also includes entry for Natural Bridges National Monument. We decided to buy the “America the Beautiful” pass that gives access to all U.S. national parks for $80.00. It’s a great deal if you plan on visiting more parks!

To save time, buy your pass online. That way you just have to show your park pass at the entrance and move on instead of buying it there. I think that’s partly where the giant line comes from.

Park maps & Junior Ranger program

You can pick up a map of the park and all the trails at the Arches National Park Visitor Center, or download it here. As of 2018, the hours for the Visitor Center are 7:30 – 5:00 daily except for Christmas. Be sure to also get a guide to the park. This will include some fun facts about how the arches in the park were created, as well as more in-depth info about all the trails.

Don’t forget to pick up the Junior Ranger Guide so that your child can get the chance to earn a badge! Most national parks have a Junior Ranger Program, which allows your child to get an activity book from the visitor center and complete it as you explore the park. Return to the visitor center at the end of your visit to be awarded an official Junior Ranger badge from a park ranger. The activities are typically designed for kids 4 and older, but even younger kids can participate. It’s a really motivating way for them to have something to work toward as we hike and explore. Plus, it’s a great way to encourage your kids to learn about the place you’re visiting!

Here’s a little secret: even if your kids are younger than the recommended age for Junior Ranger, take them to the visitor’s center anyways to talk to a park ranger. They love to see little kids excited about hiking and will often give your toddler a badge anyways!

Arches National Park hikes with kids

With enormous sandstone sculptures in every direction, freestanding arches framing snow-capped mountains, precariously balanced rocks, Arches National Park is truly one of the most impressive national parks in the world! It’s also the perfect place to explore with the whole family. We especially love it because there are a lot of fun easy hikes for kids and each one has at least one great reward and breathtaking view. Some of the best hikes in Arches National Park are pretty easy, making it the perfect park for kids.

At the time I visited Arches National Park, I had three children under three. That’s right, a toddler and two twin 8 month old babies! We hike all over and got to know the area pretty well. I promise, it can be done. I’m going to give you the scoop on which arches in Arches National Park are the easiest to get to with young children, and which ones are worth the extra challenge.

Eight easy Arches National Park hikes for kids

Today I’m sharing 8 easy hikes that are all doable distances with big rewards to keep your toddler or little kid pumped about hiking! While we adults might enjoy longer and more challenging hikes to get away from the crowds, I found it very important to keep the hike distance minimal for the kids in order to maximize the fun! This might mean stopping a couple of times on a 0.5 mile hike; that’s ok! You’re setting them up to love hiking as they get older!

Though you should never step off trail (it ruins the very delicate bio-soil that takes years to form!) most of these hikes have many turn offs and rest areas since they are so popular. These areas make the hikes PERFECT for little ones – they can stretch their legs, climb on little rocks, play in the sand, and have a snack to recharge for the rest of the hike!

Just remember, hiking with kids is fun, but it’s also very SLOW. I always think we are going to have time to do more than we actually can accomplish. If you’ve got babies, toddlers or even preschoolers with you, plan to double (or triple) whatever amount of time the park brochure says a hike will take. Take your time and don’t rush everyone. You’ll enjoy the views and the hikes so much more. If all else fails, bribe them with snacks to keep going and you’ll be fine!

1. Balanced Rock hike (0.3 miles round trip)

At only 0.3 miles, this hike is a great hike to begin with and an excellent way to gauge how far the kids can go! It’s a big reward for little effort; what kid doesn’t love rocks?! You can see the giant balanced boulder while driving, but it’s worth getting out of the car and hiking out to look at it up close.

Balanced Rock’s off-balanced shape is something that you’ll need to see to believe! It’s probably Arches’ most unusual attraction! The rock is always eroding away, and one day Balanced Rock will not be balanced anymore! In fact, there used to be a smaller formation called “Chip Off the Old Block” that fell down in 1976.

There is a covered picnic area and some restrooms here so it’s also a great pit stop on the way in an out of the park, if you want to save it until the end.

2. Sand Dune Arch hike (0.3 miles round trip)

Sand Dune Arch hike is probably the BEST hikes in Arches National Park for kids of all ages! It’s surrounded by a giant sandbox! It’s only a 0.3 mile hike in, and it’s tons of sandy fun.

Sand Dune Arch is nice, but all the sand really is what makes this area a must for little kids. There were toys available that someone generously left there, and lots of easy climbing and exploring to be done. The babies got a nice break from the backpack, and our 2 1/2 year old got some much needed free time! (There was a lot of “Let’s go” and “Let’s keep going” on our hike! :P)

We spent probably around an hour in here, and easily could have spent more just letting the kids all play. There are some cool slot-y areas nearby and fun rocks to climb for the adults, so if there’s someone to watch the kiddos, explore around for yourself!

Bonus: If everyone is in a good mood, head over to Broken Arch, which is accessible from the same trail head as Sand Dune Arch. It’s about 2 miles round trip and takes you through some fun rock formations and includes slick rock scrambling! It’s really fun!

3. Skyline Arch hike (0.4 miles round trip)

A short, sandy hike through some cool fins bring you to Skyline Arch. This arch, framing the sky way high up in a tall red rock fin, can be viewed from a scenic half mile trail. A big moment in it’s history was in 1940, when a huge boulder fell out of the arch, doubling it’s size to what is is today!

While not as picturesque as some other arches, it’s a nice short hike for kids as they get their reward (the arch!) quick and easy!

4. & 5. Double Arch + Turret Arch hikes (1.2 mile loop)

This is one of the best “bang for your buck” arch viewing hikes in the park. Only a 25 minute drive from the visitor center, there are multiple arches to choose from here; North and South Windows, Double Arch and Turret Arch. Double Arch was one of my favorite arches in the park and the ENTIRE loop trail is only 1.2 miles!

There is a “primitive trail” marked by cairns that is much less traveled and very scenic you can take if you choose. This is a little longer (1 mile roundtrip) but it’s worth it if you want a more authentic hiking experience. We had our two babies in backpacks and our toddler in tow, and we all made it! I think our toddler only took 2 breaks the whole time this hike. There’s a lot to look at.

There is a staircase and some slight uphill hiking, but it’s pretty doable for everyone. The trail is gravel, so that makes for easy walking. Once you climb up into the base of the arch, the views become even more impressive. You will not want to ever leave this place!

Cool facts about Double Arch – it’s the tallest in the park at 112 feet and the second longest at 144 feet! You might also recognize it from the beginning of Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade movie.

6. Landscape Arch hike (1.6 miles round trip)

The Landscape Arch hike is another iconic arch at the end of a surprisingly easy hike. It’s possibly the most imposing arch in the whole park and is unbelievably long and narrow! The irregular shape of the arch makes it hard to believe how long it has survived through so much crazy weather.

This hike starts at the Devil’s Garden Trailhead, by entering a narrow canyon. A hard packed gravel path turns into a sand trail with little elevation gain making this a perfect Arches National Park hike to take the kids on that has a little more distance.

Landscape Arch is the longest arch in the world and conveniently near other lesser known arches such as Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch. Though people were allowed to walk underneath this arch in the past, it is now blocked off due to the delicate nature of the arch.

7. Double O Arch hike (4.2 miles round trip)

The Double O Arch hike is also accessible from the Devil’s Garden Trailhead. The hike out to Double O Arch is 4.2 miles, so it’s a bit long for little kids, but much less crowded and great for older kids that want a longer challenging hike. It has a very primitive trail, meaning it’s much less crowded and leads to some pretty spectacular views.

8. Delicate Arch hike (3.0 miles round trip)

Finally, we’re to the big daddy of all the arches. If you’re in shape and up for a little more challenge, you HAVE to see Delicate Arch!

The Delicate Arch hike is a fun walk through a canyon, over slick rock and close to some 3-foot cliff edges (it’s not as scary as it sounds; promise!). The hike ends in an amphitheater with the Delicate Arch in view! This is the quintessential arch – that iconic famed arch that is on the Utah license plate!

It can be very crowded, so be aware of that in advance. Go as early as possible and take lots of water. The crowds pick up significantly as the day goes by. However, when I was there everyone moved out of the way of the arch so that each group got a picture in front of it without others around. I hope that you’re as lucky!

The amphitheater is a good resting spot; there is plenty of seating with views of Delicate Arch. Our toddler enjoyed this break, and I was able to take the babies out of their backpacks to feed them! There is hardly any cover from the sun, so this would be a good hike to do at the start of the day so as to beat the heat and the crowds! Also, there are very steep parts of this hike, so it might be necessary to carry very small kids part of the way.

BONUS: Don’t miss the original homestead historic house and several-hundred year old petroglyphs on your way back down!

Now go hike!

Arches National Park is a great place to introduce young kids to hiking. There are many trails that are short with big rewards, as well as lots of areas to take a break! Whether your baby is on your back or holding your hand, get out and explore Arches National Park with your kids!

Or…if you’re in the area and not all that into hiking, check out Stacy’s post on 6 fun things to do with kids in Moab, Utah (that aren’t hiking).

Stacy Bressler is an avid outdoorswoman, wife, and mother of three under three (the youngest being 10-month-old twin girls). She writes about all things motherhood, including surviving it with (most) of her sanity intact, as well as raising mini adventurers. Navigating life through the lens of humor and positivity, she chronicles it all in her blog, The Crazy Outdoor Mama.
CAMP, FAMILY TRAVEL, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Guide to Glamis Sand Dunes with Kids
- June 1, 2018
The sand dunes in Glamis, California are the perfect spot for a family weekend adventure, full of fast-action and moto-excitement, thrills and spills! The amazing Sarah Robinson (an Arizona photographer and mom of 2) is here today giving us the complete lowdown on how to do the dunes right. She’s been adventuring in the Glamis sand dunes for years and has insider tips and advice on where to go, what to do, what to bring and where to camp. Get ready for some “duning” fun, this adventure is going to blow your mind!

The ultimate guide to Glamis sand dunes with kids

Being an Arizona native and growing up in the desert, the Sand Dunes have always been a part of my life. As a child, my family went to the sand dunes in our motorhome and my brothers and I rode around on little Honda 50’s, 80’s, 125’s. My older brother had a three-wheeler, too. As we got older and busier with life and growing up my family just kind of stopped going to the dunes.

However, when I met my husband in the late 90’s, we realized we both had a childhood at the Sand Dunes in common. He and his family were still die hard “duners.” Now, I am able to get back to this happy place of my childhood with him and introduce our little family to the sand dunes. Today, I get to tell you all about how, where and what to do while “duning” with kids in Glamis, CA.

About the Glamis sand dunes

The Glamis sand dunes are located off of Hwy 78 between and Blythe, CA and Brawley, CA. This is about a 3- 4 hour drive from our home in Mesa, AZ. The town of Glamis, CA has virtually no permanent structures, aside from a small store and trading post. These offer limited supplies for the hundreds of thousands of recreational visitors each year who pass through the Algodones Dunes and the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area(collectively called the “Glamis Sand Dunes”), located in the southern portion of the dune system. Dune season begins in October and goes until April, usually depending on the heat.

Dunes Wilderness

The largest section of the dunes (located north of State Route 78) are off-limits to vehicular traffic due to designation as the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness. The federal government protected these 25,818 acres in the early 1980s and closed them to vehicles as part of the California Desert Protection Act. However, much of the area south of this road remains open for off-highway vehicle use. It is the largest sand dune area open to off-highway vehicle use in the United States. The sand dunes are an awesome terrain for many off-road vehicles: motorcycles, sandrails, ATVs, and 4-wheel-drive vehicles.

In addition to the Glamis Sand Dune Recreation area, there are other dune areas that are a little easier to find. They are right off Hwy 8 and have much of the same things to do such as large hills to ride to and sand drags of their own. These areas are called Buttercup, Gordon’s Well and Grey’s Well.

Dunes wildness

In the late 90’s and early 2000’s the sand dunes were a wild and dangerous place. The crowds were a bit out of control due to insufficient ranger and law enforcement presence, specifically, Glamis and Competition Hill. As a young adult, this was great time, but it certainly was not family-friendly. However, over the last few years, ranger law enforcement presence was significantly increased and law enforcement is now in full force in Glamis. Competition Hill was eventually shut down due to winds washing it away from existence. The Glamis dunes are a much safer, regulated, family-friendly adventure land for everyone to enjoy.

Riding the dunes

Glamis Sand Dunes is sometimes called the “Sand Toy Capital of the World,” and it truly is! Trucks, dirt bikes, quads, rzrs, and sand buggies galore! And with the recent popularity of the new 4-seater Polaris RZR’s and Can Am’s, it is so easy to now take your whole family on a fun adventure through the sand dunes.

The best sand dune buggies for kids

Before these Polaris 4-seaters were around, kids weren’t able to really go “duning” unless your family had a Sand Rail or Buggy. These were mostly all custom built and pretty pricey, making it very restrictive for families to dune together. Kids were confined to riding their quads (4-wheelers) around camp until they were old enough to operate something that could make it through the sand dunes.

Now, with these awesome machines, you can buckle them up and take them along! These overgrown quads are the perfect family fun mobile in the Sand Dunes. We call them the wagons… ha ha! My kids are 5 and 8 now and have been duning since they were babies.

How to ride the dunes

There is a “rhythm” to riding the dunes. If you are new to driving in the dunes, the best thing is to follow a leader that knows what they are doing. Never go up and straight over a hill because you don’t know what is on the other side. The way to drive the dunes is to get to the top and then turn and drive along the ridge until you can see what is in front of you, then go down. A good rule of thumb is that if it is round on one side, it will be steep on the other. But that is not always the case.

There are dangerous swirls or bowls that the wind make called witches eyes and you don’t want hit one of those going fast. Razorbacks can be tricky too. That’s where the dune is steep on the both sides. If you drive the dunes right, it can be like the smoothest roller coaster ride ever. The enormous “bowls” are exhilarating to drive around in. The G-forces push you into your seat and you can almost lose your sense of up and down while running the bowls. It’s sooooo much fun!!

Camping in Glamis

It is open camping, meaning you show up and find a spot. You do need a Camping permit as well as registration for your OHV (off highway vehicles). Here is a guide to permits. Make sure you get all your ducks in a row, they check and ticket. Remember that ranger presence I mentioned was in full force earlier? Yeah, get the permit.

There are 4 main camping areas: (1) the Washes; (2) the Flats; (3) Gecko Road; and (4) the Canal. Each of these areas has it’s own unique personalities and features. Depending on what you’re looking for in a campsite, you’ll find one that suits your needs.

The campsites

The Washes camp area runs along the rail road track. These campsites are numbered by the wash that runs under the track are a popular place for the big rigs. The sand is a little more hard-packed and gravel so getting stuck isn’t so much of an issue. While this is a very popular spot, I’m not a fan. Most of the time, the wind blows in the direction towards the Washes so all the dust kicked up gets blown right your way… which sucks, in my opinion. Also, it gets pretty packed in there and you’re basically camping on top of each other. Finding a campsite can be a challenging on a busy weekend. It used to be that you’d have to go to the railroad track, find your wash, and then go from there to find your camp. However, GPS has made this less of an issue than it used to be. Now, you can just ping your camp and go right to it.

The Flats area is located right off Hwy 78 next to the Glamis Store. The Flats area is super easy to find and is right in the middle of the action. This is where all the vendors are located. At “vendor row” you can get food, ice, firewood, t-shirts, souvenirs. You can rent ATV’s and OHV’s here. They also carry all the supplies you’d need to fix any vehicles that break down. I’d say you could rebuild almost anything right there just utilizing the vendors! If you aren’t camped at the Flats, it’s a fun ride to head down there, cruise the vendors and get a hot meal.

Gecko Road is another popular camping area. This area is a long road that turns off of Hwy 78 and goes right passed the ranger station. This road goes for miles and miles. There are camping spots off of the side of the road, as well as paved spaces down towards the end. The camping flats have names and also have restrooms. The nice part about these spots is that you are super close to the actual dunes. However, be advised that these spots fill up quickly on a busy weekend.

The Canal is another campsite for large gear. Right on the other side of the Gecko Road is additional paved camping flats for the Big Rigs. We call it the “Canal” because it’s right next to the canal. These areas are recommended if you have big fancy motor homes and are pulling some big trailers. It’s paved, so you don’t bury your $100k rig!

If you are like us, we can pretty much camp wherever we want. We have conservative camping gear that is more off-road friendly, so getting stuck isn’t a big deal. Our gear consists of trucks with box trailers, smaller toy haulers, tents and vans. This means we can pick a spot away from the crowd and not have to worry about lots of traffic or being stuck next to neighboring campers. In my humble opinion, this is the way to go when camping with kids. A little spot is all by itself means that the kids can ride around camp all day and the only people they are bothering when they fire up their 80’s at sunrise is us!

What to bring

When camping in the Sand Dunes with kids, there are essentials that you need besides the obvious food and drinks. First of all: safety gear. Wearing helmets is the law of course, so each kid needs a good helmet that fits, as well as goggles. Moto helmets can be confining and heavy for little riders; especially if they aren’t used to wearing one. We use skate or snowboard helmets. These don’t have face protection like a moto helmet, but they are light weight and don’t feel claustrophobic. Goggles are very important. Getting sand in your eyeballs isn’t fun for anybody, especially little ones.

When riding in the RZRs, kids don’t quite fit into the seats, so we use Graco car seats. They are buckled into the car seat harness and the car seat is buckled into the RZR seat. This also boosts them higher, for better viewing when riding.

Safety first

Bright colored clothing is always a good idea. I try to always dress the kids in bright colors like neons, bright reds and greens. These colors stand out against the beige background of the sand. Anything that might make the kids easier to be seen by other duners is a good idea. We’ve even made matching shirts for all the kids in camp so they are easy to spot and easy to keep track of. It was actually super helpful.

There are no trails or traffic laws out in the dunes. You make your own trail and go where you please, so anywhere you stop in the middle of the dunes can be the middle of the road for the riders the next dune over. All OHVs are required to have flags so that you can see and know where your fellow duners are when they are not visible behind the height of the dune.

When going on a ride, you should always be prepared for a breakdown or some situation where you can’t get back to camp immediately. Have repair tools, a first aid kit, a blanket, and warm clothes in case you are out past dark. As well as snacks and drinks in your cooler.

Bring the fun

Some other fun things to bring for the kiddos are glow sticks, S’mores fixings, fireworks, sparklers, wish lanterns, sand/beach toys (shovels, buckets, etc.), toy trucks and quads. The kids can play for hours duning their toy monster trucks in the sand. They also love their own camping chairs and picnic tables. Sunscreen is also a must. The desert sun is pretty powerful and if it’s a cold day you can’t even tell you’re getting burned. I just slather it on first thing in the morning and apply a second coat after lunchtime. If you have really little ones, a pack and play and a baby carrier are a must to bring. And of course, don’t forget your camera!

Where to go and what to do

For the most part, when we’re at the sand dunes, we stick to the same tentative schedule. First, the kids wake up at the crack of dawn and ride their bikes around camp waking everyone up! We either get up and go on a breakfast ride to the vendors at the Flats (where they have the best waffles and breakfast burritos you could ever ask for) or make breakfast at camp.

Next, to keep them entertained, we find or make tracks for the kids to ride on. There is a great track about a ½ mile from our camp that the kids love to ride around and around on. These are great because they stay confined to the track and they usually don’t run into each other since everyone is all going the same direction. These tracks are the stuff of childhood memories learning how to ride your quad and pushing yourself to go a little faster each time.

Explore the swingset

After breakfast, we all head out for a “ride.” We pack everything up and plan on being gone all day. From our camp we ride to the “Swingset.” The swingset is exactly what it sounds like, a giant swingset in the middle of nowhere! This is a relatively new family-friendly destination, built as a Memorial. It is out in the middle of Dunes, so you have to know how to get there and have something to ride/drive that will make it across the sand. The dunes swingset is a perfect destination to take the kids. They get to get out, run around, and of course…swing! The adults get a refreshment break while we hang out and watch the kids have fun for a bit.

Oldsmobile Hill

When the swing set gets old, we load up and head to Oldsmobile Hill. There are a few stops or destinations you can hit along the way to Oldsmobile Hill, if you want to lengthen the trip. There is a memorial flag pole in the middle of nowhere, a slide, and a few smaller hills that people like to race up and down (China Wall and Brawley Slide).

“Oldsmobile Hill” is kind of the epicenter of Glamis. It is a huge hill where everyone goes to hang out and watch the show. The show being everyone racing up and down the hill and cruising the rows. People park in rows down at the bottom and hangout, have lunch, and be social. Usually some of the trucks from our camp will meet us there by taking Sand Highway, which is just what it sounds like… a sand road. Almost any 4 wheel drive can make it to the hill by taking sand highway.

Sand Drags

After the midday Hill session, we either ride back to camp to regroup or ride straight to the Sand Drags. The “Sand Drags” is an area similar to the Hill except, there is no actually hill. It’s a flat drag strip that runs parallel to Gecko Road where people race. There are no set lights or flags to tell you when to go. The races start going about 3 or 4 pm and go until sunset.

We park along either side of the drag to watch and participate in the races. We usually prefer to go back to camp to get the trucks so we can put the kids up high in the back where they can see the show and are a little safer in case anything loses control and comes flying into the crowd. I know, it sounds crazy, but it occasionally does happen! The Sand Drags go until sundown, then it’s back to camp to make dinner.

Dinnertime

Around dusk is dinner time. There are a couple of restaurants to ride to like Boardermanville and Duners Café. But honestly the kids have a ton of fun just playing at camp, so there’s no need to leave. They make ant farms, dig in the sand, roast s’mores, ride around and around and just play and get dirty. We usually do a big camp potluck meal. And let me not forget to mention how epic Glamis sunsets can be by the way. Carne Asada and Pollo Asada burritos are the most popular with our group.

We eat dinner, make s’mores around the camp fire, play with glow in the dark Frisbees, have glowstick dance parties, burn some sparklers, let off a few fireworks, then clean the kids up and put them to bed. They are usually so tired that they literally sleep through everything. The adults can have adult time by the campfire and do adult stuff (or in my case I usually pass out right with the kids)! And then we wake up and do it all over again!

Insider tips

The biggest tip I can give to highway vehicles going off-road in the sand dunes is to let a little air out. Actually, not just a little air…a LOT of air. You want a PSI of no more than 20. Trust me, this is the ticket to getting through the soft sand without getting stuck. The trucks can bring chairs and easy ups for shade and anything else we might need (firewood, coolers, etc.). We usually hang out at Oldsmobile Hill for a couple hours. The kids can race up and down the Hill, have lunch, and even take a nap on a blanket or in the RZRs if they need to.

Breaking down in the middle of the dunes happens, but it isn’t necessarily a terrible thing. It can actually be a great time! RZRs are notorious for burning belts, but if you have a spare and your tools… no problem! We usually have a lot of unexpected fun when this happens (or at least the kids have a blast). The sand is so soft and clean out in the middle. They can climb to the highest peak and look out and see the entire sand dune area. It is a beautiful intriguing wondrous site. It makes you wonder how all this sand got to the middle of a rocky mountain landscape.

Ice cream truck, for the win!

Oh and I almost forgot to mention…the ICE CREAM TRUCK!! How many of you remember the sweet sound of the ice cream music coming down your street when you were a child? We don’t hear that anymore. However…the ice cream truck is alive and well in Glamis! There are actually multiple ice cream trucks that cruise around. This is a highlight for all children in the sand dunes.

Some people actually complain about the trucks’ music being too loud (particularly those people in their $100k rigs who have freezers full of ice and bring their own ice cream). They just don’t fully appreciate the excitement of the ice cream truck. We have broken down on the side of Gecko Road before and the sweet sound of the ice cream man coming down the road is music to our ears. We get bags of ice for our coolers and the kids get their favorite ice cream treat, literally in the middle of nowhere. It’s such a luxury… ha ha!

Kid-friendly Glamis

The Glamis Sand Dunes are such a fun adventurous thing to do with kids. If you are smart, have the right gear, and always pay attention to your children, it can be the absolute best time! Like most outdoor adventures, there are accidents and owwies and things out of your control. The only thing you can do is pay attention, be aware of your surroundings, buckle them up and make sure they have everything they need to have a great time. Before hitting the dunes, I always have the talk with my kids to remind them that there are a lot of stupid people out there that aren’t looking for little kids (I probably should come up with a better word, but it’s true) and that they have to look out for everyone. Prepping them ahead of time has made a big difference.

Plan your trip

I hope this gives you some insight about how to do the Glamis Sand Dunes with children. If you are hesitant to take them for whatever reason, I encourage you to give it a chance. It opens up a whole new world of trucks, dirt bikes, quads, rzrs, sand buggies. Kids LOVE that stuff! And letting them learn the lessons on how to ride and drive these machines, be brave and careful, will be lifelong skills and amazing memories that they will have forever. And as I always say, “falling or crashing in the sand isn’t bad at all. It’s a nice soft cushion to fall down on.”

Sarah Robinson is mom of two awesome kids, photographer, blogger, model and outdoor adventurist in Arizona. You can find her at any of the following locations:

Sunshyne Life Blog

@Sunshyne.Diaries on Instagram

Sunshyne Pix Photography

@SunshynePix on Instagram
BEACH, FAMILY TRAVEL, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Hawaii with Kids
- April 26, 2018
If you’ve been dreaming of gorgeous sandy beaches and the deep blue waters of Hawaii ever since watching Moana (just me?), then today’s post is for you! The amazing Andrea Laughery is here today sharing her latest adventure in Hawaii with kids. She’s sharing all the gorgeous images from their most recent stay on Maui. Plus, tips and advice for planning a Hawaiian vacation with kids and all their favorite kid-friendly activities, places to stay and eateries.

Hawaii with kids

The soft Pacific waves are clapping up in rhythmic motion on the sand, carrying away and bringing with them new bits of coral, shells, rocks…and the occasional beach toy a child calls out for one of us to grab. The shade tent is propped up just perfectly in a way so that my legs are warm from the sun and I can see the kids digging tunnels and castles ferociously by themselves a few feet away. My husband lets out a snore from the reclined chair next to me. I sip my chilled La Croix. The emerald palms are dancing and swaying overhead in that perfect Maui breeze. Life is good.

The above scenario is what I always envision when we plan our trips to Hawaii with the kids. Somehow the tortuously long days of travel, hungry kids, lost luggage, the arduous task of organizing airplane entertainment and snacks, unplanned visits to urgent care for ear infections, countless applications of sunscreen on tiny ears and necks and noses, the formidable and sweaty trudging through deep sand carrying blankets and umbrellas and buckets of toys all end up lost in a sea of more powerful, more enjoyable memories. Make no mistake, traveling with young children isn’t at all easy breezy.

But we do it anyway! Because….wait for the cliche…it’s always worth it. Our kids already have these amazing, deep rooted memories of our family trips in Hawaii. We’ve been traveling with our kids since the time they were babies. By this point in life they are really amazing troopers and keep good attitudes and know the routine.

Family-friendly Hawaii

Every family has their own quirks and routine for travel. It’s important to always look first inward when planning a Hawaiian vacation, and less outward at what others are doing. Our family tends to err on the side of ‘outdoor adventure obsessed’ and ‘spend days searching for the best shave ice on the island.’ So, that’s also how a lot of our trip time is planned. We personally love experiences that are just challenging enough to build character. I don’t like everything to be easy for our kids. It’s okay to hike down a long trail and get hot and work your muscles. It makes you appreciate the reward and feeling of accomplishment at the end. I love pool time and relaxing too, but the times we grow as a family and push to experience something unique together are always my favorite.

But maybe you’re a big resort lover. Or you like wandering touristy shops. Maybe you enjoy spending all day at the pool. Or taking whale watching tours. Or snorkeling or going to luaus or building sandcastles or driving winding roads through lush jungles. Whatever it may be, Hawaii has something for everyone. If you go with an open heart, gratitude, and appreciate for the people and the land you are sure to leave with incredible memories for this very special piece of earth.

Every island has something a little different to offer. I advise to research each one thoroughly before making your choice! We’ve personally loved our time on all the islands for different reasons. We chose different islands depending on the season we are in and what activities we have our hearts set upon.

Hawaii planning tips & advice
- Think about whether your family would feel more comfortable in a large resort with other people (and more amenities), or something more private and simple like renting a house or a condo.
- Book flights for weekdays to save cash. However, don’t go so crazy on flight times that you sacrifice you and your kids’ sanity. We try and fly during the day so that we land in time to get kids to bed.
- Adjust to local time zone as quickly as possible, and allow plenty of downtime in the room for naps and quiet time the first couple of days.
- Consider using a local rental company to deliver things to your room for things like pack-n-plays, beach toys, and high-chairs. The less things you have to pack with you, the better!
- Remember you don’t need to do something just because you think you should. This is your vacation and your family time. If you want to spend every day of it at the pool or beach, and skip spending hours in the car driving the narrow road to Hana, then do it!
- If your family dynamics work in a way that you feel comfortable inviting other family members such as grandparents or an aunt or uncle along, that can be a great way to ensure you and your partner get some solo time away from the kids, and create positive memories with family.
- That said, putting some planning and organization into your vacation will pay off in droves and allow you to fully relax when you get there! Make lists and pack minimal, but do remember that most all of the Hawaiian islands have major stores with any items you may need or forget upon arrival.
- Keep a short list of activities or sites you may want to see, but wait to book until you get to Hawaii. You may find you don’t want to do that night manta ray dive after all, or a sunset picnic with the kids sounds better than a 4 hour long luau with hundreds of other people. Let your mood and vibe direct your plans, so keep them loose!
- When flying, reserve all technology use until the end of the flight or the kids start falling apart. We avoid small pieces/toys and stick to things like coloring, stickers, and a lot of snacks.
- If you have a newly potty trained kiddo, invest in a travel potty seat that can fold into a chair with bags, or out as a seat on the big airplane toilet. It’s the best travel investment we’ve made.
- Go with the flow. Expect that when you travel with kids things may not (definitely will not) go accordingly to plan. And that’s okay. Attitude really is everything. My husband and I always give one another a little fist bump before the beginning of a long journey. It’s our reminder to one another to not get cranky with each other and have each other’s back on whatever may come our way.
Hawaii favorites with kids
- Favorite place to stay? We like to stay on Kauai at Waipouli Village, but this most recent trip we stayed on Maui at Honua Kai Resort. For our upcoming trip to the big island of Hawaii we are renting a house through VRBO.
- Favorite Hawaii activities? Hiking, eating shave ice, and swimming in the ocean.
- Favorite thing about Hawaii? Simply being outside in the warm weather, exploring new places and savoring the laid back atmosphere of the islands.
- Kids favorite thing to do in Hawaii? The kids love the swimming pool, and I’d say if you’r traveling with small kids you definitely want to stay somewhere with a pool!
- Recommended trip length? Allow yourself enough time to adjust to time zones, get real relaxed, and figure things out before you have to pack stuff up again to leave. I say at least 10 days, but 2 weeks is ideal!
- Best kid-friendly places to eat? The Fresh Shave is the place to be for good shave ice that is made with all fresh ingredients and no artificial syrups!
Andrea Laughery lives in beautiful Washington state with her two kids and red-bearded husband. Together, they enjoy traveling, hiking, backpacking, and spending time in the great outdoors. Andrea also owns a small photography business, is constantly writing and putting her journalism degree to use, and works with a non-profit foundation. You can follow her over on Instagram @laughclan
FAMILY TRAVEL, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SKI/SNOW, WINTER
48 Hours in Banff National Park with Kids
- March 7, 2018
Banff National Park is Canada’s oldest national park, comprised of 6,641 square kilometers of unparalleled mountain scenery nestled in the heart of the magnificent Canadian Rockies. Banff is home to world-class skiing and snowboarding, the emerald waters of Lake Louise and the breath-taking towering jagged peaks lining the Icefields Parkway. Today we are thrilled to have local mom and outdoor adventurist, Krista, here to take us on a 48 adventure through Banff National Park, with her 4 year-old in tow. Krista is sharing all the details on where to stay, what to do and where to eat while you’re in Banff for an epic outdoor winter weekend family adventure.

Welcome to Banff

My family an I are lucky to live within driving distance to the Canadian Rockies. To recharge our batteries after a busy January, we decided to take a quick road trip to Banff National Park for the weekend. One might think we are crazy to plan an outdoor adventure during the coldest time of the year, but there’s something to be said about freshly fallen snow and frozen lakes. If you haven’t experienced it, I highly recommend you give it a try. And when you have a 4 year old adventure seeker, outside (even during the winter) is the best place to be.

Where to stay

Typically, on a quick weekend getaway we stay at a hotel in the area. We are regulars at the Banff Park Lodge, as it suits our needs quite well. The hotel is located smack dab in the center of town, but is still surrounded by nature. Often you can see elk randomly crossing the street in the middle of town! By staying here, we are able to walk to restaurants, trails and even a market without our kiddo getting too tired. However, if you’re looking to stay longer or want other accommodations, there are a ton of amazing cottages and condo style accommodations available in the area and around the park.

Winter Activities

While we love the area year-round, both the town of Banff and the park are absolutely glorious during the winter. Skiing is the main attraction, but there’s so much more to do in Banff than just heading down the slopes of the Rockies. Travelers come from around the globe to meander the snow-covered, shop-lined streets, nestle into the world famous hotel or overlook the infamous view from Chateau Lake Louise. Families can also indulge in unique winter activities such as dog sledging, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, snowshoeing or a game of curling. The drive along the world-renowned Icefields Parkway towards Jasper is absolutely breathtaking. And the experience of standing on the ancient Athabasca Glacier is well worth the trip.

Lake Louise

Lake Louise is by far our favorite place to visit in the entire province of Alberta, no matter what season! The lake is about a 45 minute drive from Banff, so we turn on our favorite playlist and before we know it, we’re there! The views and photo ops at Lake Louise are unparalleled, year-round. During the winter, the lake is frozen solid. This means there are people skating, playing hockey and even snowshoeing. It’s spectacular! Whether you’re a skating pro or first-timer, it doesn’t get much more Canadian than skating on a natural lake rink in a national park beside an ice castle! Skate rentals are available and a large section of the lake is serviced by a makeshift Zamboni that helps smooth out the surface. To warm up, just head inside the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and enjoy a rich steamy hot chocolate.

Banff Gondola

Located just minutes from town center the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain is a must with kids. After purchasing tickets, kids receive a Junior Explorer booklet so they can do a little scavenger hunt when they arrive at the top of the mountain. The ride up the mountain is so much fun! For those that are not a fan of heights, beware; it will make your heart race! However, the ride is only about 8 minutes long. At the peak (an elevation of 2,281m or 7,486 ft), you’ll enjoy an incredible vista of six mountain ranges.

At the top of the gondola, there’s lots to do. There’s a little cafe called the Sky Bistro, which offers up top notch food with spectacular views (definitely worth a splurge). However, be advised that is often closed for a few weeks in January for annual maintenance, so check before you head out. Also, there’s a hike to Sanson’s Peak (which we haven’t done yet as it has always been too slippery) and an interpretation center. The center has interactive games and a cinema room where you can watch bears and other wildlife up close in their habitat. Prepare to spend at least a morning or afternoon here. For more information and pricing check out the Banff Gondola website.

Banff Red Chair Movement

Another favorite family activity is finding the red chairs. Adorable red Adirondack chairs are located in several popular hot spots around the picturesque town. Some chairs are easy to find and others will have you exploring — around the forest, on top of a ski hill and at the mouth of a large glacial lake. There is a map to print off to help you find the locations of all the chairs. We’ve had some good luck over our last few visits but still haven’t managed to find them all…yet! Make sure you take a selfie once you find the chairs and share it with Parks Canada by using the hashtag #sharethechair.

Kid-friendly eateries

Beaver Tails – Indulge in a decadent piece of fried dough smothered in Nutella. YUM. And if you are feeling extra hungry, be sure to try their poutine!

Eddie Burger & Bar – A small restaurant and usually pretty busy, but well worth the wait! They have a variety of menu items that will entice even the pickiest of eaters.

Boston Pizza – A chain pizza joint that offers both eat in and take-out options. Lots of menu choices and a big hit with our kiddo!

Hope you enjoyed exploring some of what Banff National Park has to offer families!
If you’ve been to Banff, we’d love to hear what your family favorites are – leave a comment below.

Hi, I’m Krista! A 30-something, coffee-drinking mama of one kiddo (4) and wife to an amazing guy. We live in Alberta (yes, the Winters are freezing) and have the Canadian Rockies as our playground. I can plan an epic road trip – complete with a playlist – at the drop of a hat, just don’t ask me to get crafty!
FAMILY TRAVEL, HIKE, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, WINTER
Taughannock Falls State Park, Ithaca, NY
- February 27, 2018
Today we’re sharing an awesome family winter adventure in Taughannock Falls State Park in Ithaca, NY with Jamie Love and her family. Jamie is an inspiring professional photographer, outdoor enthusiast and mom of three. She’s taking us for a hike through one of her favorite local state parks to visit the awesome frozen waterfalls. Along the way, she’s sharing tips for hiking with kids, ways to turn your hike into an adventure and some truly gorgeous images. I absolutely love exploring new areas and parks through the eyes of other moms and Jamie does an amazing job making us feel like we’re right in the middle of the adventure with her. If you’re ever in the Upstate New York area, you must check out Taughannock Falls State Park.

Taughannock Falls State Park, Ithaca, NY

As a local to Ithaca, NY and homeschooling mother to three children, our family is blessed to be surrounded by a plethora of waterfalls to explore with children. “Ithaca is Gorges,” our community slogan, was created for a reason! We are surrounded by over 150 waterfalls varying in size; all within our “10 square miles surrounded by reality.” Our little bubble of Ithaca is also home to the tallest single drop waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains, Taughannock Falls. Plunging 215 feet down rocky cliffs, Taughannock (pronounced TUG-ah-nick) Falls stands 33 feet taller than Niagra Falls! It forms a 400 ft deep gorge through layers of shale, sandstone and limestone, that were once the bed of ancient sea. It’s an amazing place to get outdoors and teach children about the wonders of geology.

While there are many waterfalls to choose from in our area, (lucky us) I choose to highlight Taughannock because it is very easily accessible for families with babies, toddlers and small children; even during the winter! The .75 mile hike from the car to the waterfall is flat, well maintained and full of benches to plop on and dish out snacks should your child get whiny and need a break. Plus, the view at the end is well worth every step!

The past few weeks has brought Upstate, NY a variety of weather – from mild 72 degrees days followed immediately by days dropping 6+ inches of snow. The weather is always in flux and unpredictable. The waterfalls undergo many rapid transformations from frozen solid, to raging rivers the next day. We decided to set out with the children after a snowfall to see what we would find. No matter when you go, it’s always an adventure!

What we packed
- Waterproof snow boots (for those wet slushy walkways)
- Good quality under layers (to keep the sweat whisked away while hiking)
- Hats, gloves, snow jackets and snow pants
- Snacks!!! (our keto family likes cheese sticks, Epic bars, celery sticks and walnuts)
- Our full Kleen Kanteen water bottles
- A sled to pull our backpack behind us, (or a whiny toddler on the way back)
- And of course, my CAMERA – to capture all the magic!
Hiking with kids

My 8 and 12 year-old children run most of the trail. However, my 5 year-old tends to lag behind and request piggy back rides on and off when the snow is above his ankles.

It’s a short distance, but the .75 mile walk to the falls can feel like a LONG time with a whiny 5 year-old. I definitely need some distracting tricks up my sleeve. To make the hike to the falls more enjoyable for the kids, I usually make it a point to ask my littles to “find their special walking stick.” They each choose one that will lead them on their special journey. This keeps their minds occupied on finding something sacred and off of the distance.

Other fun things to do is play “I spy” along the walk. “I spy with my little eye, A GIANT BOULDER OF ICE!” “I spy with my little eye, A YELLOW FALLING LEAF!” Take turns and vary the difficulty for the ages of the kids involved. I also find singing songs to be helpful for hiking with smaller children. “Off we go, through the woods, hand in hand, through the land, what we’ve got we’ll share together, and we’ll never be parted, no not ever.” This is a favorite of our family, which can get our arms swinging and feet happily skipping along.

There are also times when we do hikes with our homeschooling group. One of our favorite things to entertain the kids on these hikes is have a pre-made scavenger hunt paper ready for them. These come in handy to keep everyone happily engaged and learning about what lives in the forest.

Hikes and trails

The wooded trail at Taughannock Falls State Park runs along a river which you can walk right down into and explore, if you so choose. There are paths that lead you down into the old sea bed that isn’t covered by the river. Here, you can then see the divets created by the flowing water that were formed centuries ago. In the summer, this is the perfect place to cool off and splash around and find fossils. In the winter, it’s a different story. Its slippery, freezing cold, and not ideally safe to walk on. However, our adventurous family likes to “ice skate” our way across the terrain and crack the ice with our boots. We can spend a good half hour just walking along this part of the river bed.

Moving onward up the trail there are notices to look out for “falling ice.” Take notice and pay attention to the warnings. Right next to this sign, rests a ice boulder taller than my son, which they happily chiseled away at while I was playing catch up with my camera in hand. When you look up you towards the sky, you can see 400 feet tall cliffs with gigantic ice chunks frozen to them. It makes me feel so small in this big frozen world.

Waterfalls

On this particular adventure, the sound of the Taughannock waterfall freshly melted and raging was keeping my children excited. With every corner we turned, we came closer to seeing the powerful giant! Once we made it to the waterfall, we were sprayed with a fine frozen mist from the water sprites. When you’re there, you feel as though you’re in nature’s’ cathedral. It’s as if all of the falls’ magic pours straight into your spirit. I truly believe it’s something everyone should experience with their children! I wasn’t able to get my camera all the way up as close as the children were standing without risking a complete shower, given the raging fall, but I did manage to capture a few images.

Our family’s discussion on the way to the falls was wondering what the trees would say if they could talk. On the way back, it only made sense that the kids would try and make the trees actually express themselves. My older children took it upon themselves to construct “tree people” with snow balls that they would throw and plaster to the trees to create snow face. Onlookers enjoyed the faces as they walked past, and the children were certainly wildly entertained making themselves crack up at the faces they were making.

Post-hike sledding

When we made it to the car, we decided that the adventure was not over! Our sled (which we accidentally left in the trunk of our car with the snacks due to a certain 5 year-old’s meltdown about his snow boots not fitting right) needed SOME purpose for this trip! A short drive up the hill from the park is a place known to the locals as “Rice Hill” and known to children as a sledding paradise!

Rice Hill is an enormous hill which overlooks Cayuga Lake. Parents love the wood-stove heated cabin located at the top of the hill where we can sit inside, feed the little ones snacks, and warm up frozen fingers and toes while the older children race down the hill together. As if this place was not idyllic enough already, there are also two frozen ice ponds complete with hockey nets, just in case you and your kids have ice skates and a puck in the car! The water wasn’t frozen enough for us to pull this off this trip, but there is always another day for another adventure!

Links & local suggestions

While you’re here, I want to share a few favorite links and local gems to help with your adventure. I’m in no way sponsored by or affiliated with any of these places. They’re just my personal go to’s and I hope you’ll love them as much as I do.
- HIKING MUSIC: If you don’t like kid songs to sing while hiking, here’s an awesome list of hiking and travel songs to sing to your children on hikes.
- GET YOUR GEAR: If you’re visiting Ithaca with your wee ones and need a one stop place to pick up everything you need for a muddy hike affordably (think underlayers, rain boots, water bottles, reusable snack pouches, snow gear), be sure to visit Mama Goose.
- SNACKS: Located only 8 miles from Taughannock Falls is our local co-op, Green Star Co-op. This is where we always stop on the way to pick up our yummy snacks! Their bulk section is GOLD for on fly healthy food!
Hello, I’m Jamie Love, a homeschooling mama to three growing trees named Banyan, Malaya and Koa. I also own a home-based photography business named Jamie Love Photography. When I’m not busy editing photos, or teaching my children about all of the wonders of the world, you can find me forest bathing in my wooded land, writing music with my pianist partner Remanu Panther, or plucking vegetables and whipping up a stellar salad from my garden.

You can also find me online in the following locations:
Photography website: http://www.jamielove.photography
Instagram: @jamielovephotography
Facebook: Jamie Love Photography
FAMILY TRAVEL, HIKE, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Hiking with Kids: Galisteo Basin Preserve, Santa Fe
- January 23, 2018
Today’s post is all about hiking Galisteo Basin Preserve in Santa Fe, NM. Photographer, mama and outdoor adventurer Kelli Johansen is taking us along on this gorgeous hike with her family, including her 2 year-old daughter. She’s got some great information on hiking with toddlers, what you need to know before you go and what to pack on your adventure. If you have any questions for Kelli, please leave them in the comments below.

Galisteo Basin Preserve, Santa Fe

My family and I live in Santa Fe, New Mexico and we LOVE to get outside!!! Lucky for us, we live in a state where the weather is pleasant and the sun is out at least 10 months out of the year. Santa Fe is in the northern part of the state and has a dry steppe climate, with cold winters and hot summers. At 7,000 feet elevation we have various landscapes such as the national forest, mountains and high desert to explore.

On this particular day, we decided to go to a place called the Galisteo Basin Preserve. It is the perfect place for an easy hike up and down hills with phenomenal views. The Galisteo Basin Preserve is a conservation-based community development located 14 miles south of Santa Fe. The preserve is a place of sculpted arroyos, craggy sandstone formations and vast savannah grasslands. It is also place of refuge and sustenance for wildlife and people.

The Galisteo Basin Preserve open space is planned to include 50 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. These publicly accessible trails are intended to invite exploration and celebration of this landscape by Preserve residents and visitors alike. The trails are well marked, with numbered junction posts and a downloadable map available here to print – or download into your smart phone.

Hiking with a toddler

We love exploring our entire diverse area and have a lot of hiking options to choose from. On this day, we decided to stay nearby in case our little one wasn’t feeling it. She had been a little grouchy throughout the morning, so we played it safe and stayed a bit closer to home. We’ve learned the importance of flexibility when adventuring with a toddler and adjust our activities accordingly to make life more pleasant for everyone. Of course, on our way to the trail she fell asleep in the car (as toddlers often do) which didn’t make for a fun start. However, she recovered nicely and we had a blast during our short time there.

Our little girl LOVES to hike – she especially loves leading us which is okay when the weather is cooler since the rattlesnakes aren’t out as much. My husband and I always keep our eyes and ears very open when we are out hiking, with or without our daughter.

We like to use our adventures to teach her about wildlife and the surrounding nature. While we were hiking we discussed the different types of trees, plants and rocks we came across. We also played hide and seek. I would run up ahead and crouch behind the trees and wait for her to find me. What seemed like, ‘just a hike,’ turned into a very fun, refreshing adventure.

Choosing a trail

Eevi is almost 3 now and wants to be independent on our hikes – a trait we highly encourage. Therefore, lately we tend to lean towards trails that are easy, well maintained and that we know don’t have high drop-offs. Safety is always a priority. I often use the AllTrails app to check out the different levels and reviews of trails before we go. This particularly helpful if we haven’t been on that trail or if we are in an unfamiliar region (sometimes we get lucky enough to go on vacation!).

My advice is to keep it super simple and fun at this age! The more fun kids have on the trails, the more likely they’ll want to go back, so we try not to overdo it. Start with short, easy trails and let their confidence build before adding elevation and difficulty.

What to pack

When we normally go out we are out for 2-3 hours hiking, exploring and relaxing. Our packing list includes the following items:
- diaper bag (hopefully this will be gone soon!)
- a change of clothes (for our daughter)
- extra socks (for us)
- snacks (for everyone!): granola bars, apples, trailmix, etc.
- LOTS of water (you can NEVER have enough)
- sunscreen (apply before you go and again during the hike)
- phone
- camera
- first aid kit
All of this normally fits into the diaper bag, so even if it’s just a “mommy & me hike,” I’m not carrying multiple bags. Now that my daughter is a bit older, she also enjoys carrying her own backpack. I highly recommend getting kids used to carrying a backpack with some of their own gear at an early age. Every little bit they can carry helps and makes them more independent and self-sufficient.

Since the terrain doesn’t offer much shade, plan to visit the trails early in the day before the heat or later in the evenings before sunset. Make sure to wear a hat and good/sturdy hiking boots. Please remember to stay on marked trails and roads, park only in designated areas, and carry out everything you carry in.

Hi there! My name is Kelli. I am a mama to one sassy spirit, lady behind the lens and the lucky wife to an army veteran. I have always loved photography and everything art. It’s in my blood, it’s my super power. The importance of photography and capturing those you love became abundantly clear to me after my daughter was born prematurely in 2015. Before my daughter was born, I was a Registered Nurse and I barely had time to pick up a camera or paint. After my daughter was born, I couldn’t imagine her knowing that I hadn’t pursued my passions in life. She made me brave again. Don’t get me wrong, I love being a nurse but there’s a different kind of beauty in getting behind a camera and letting the world see what you see.

Website: http://www.kellijohansen.com
Instagram: @kellijohansenphotography
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellijohansenphotography/
FAMILY TRAVEL, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Costa Rica with Kids
- January 18, 2018
I’m thrilled to bring you an amazing guest post today from the adventurous and talented Giselle Wyckoff. Giselle is a NYC mom of 2. She recently spent a week in Costa Rica with her family and documented the entire journey for us! She’s here to share all their amazing adventures, activities and experiences – giving some tips, advice and recommendations on how to successfully do Costa Rica with kids. If you have any questions for Giselle, leave them in the comments below! Pura Vida!

I consider myself a lover of travel, amateur photographer, and a mom who likes to expose her kids to the world around them, while capturing as many memories as I can. I have a ten-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl. We live in New York City and consider ourselves true urbanites. However, we wanted to take the kids out of their city comfort zone on a true outdoor adventure. This past October we traveled to the Papagayo peninsula of Costa Rica. Our experiences from wildlife-watching and tasting fresh fruit, to surfing and ziplining, brought out the inner child and adventurist in all of us.

Traveling to Costa Rica

Papagayo is in the Guanacaste region on the southern pacific coast of Costa Rica. To get there you fly into Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia (LIR). Jet Blue, American and other airlines have direct flights from multiple cities in the United States. Upon arrival, we were greeted by very friendly locals and felt safe during our entire stay. The Costa Rican people (“Ticos”) live by the motto, “Pura Vida,” which translates into ‘pure life.’ Pura Vida is more than a phrase, it’s truly a way of living. It’s used for greetings and farewells – it encompasses the optimism and easy-goingness of their lifestyle.

Weather

Costa Rica has two seasons: dry (December-June) and rainy (July-November). And rainy definitely means rainy! The rainy season is a great time to explore the lush forests. It’s also the perfect time take advantage of the swells when surfing and the full rivers when rafting. It’s usually sunny in the morning with tropical showers in the afternoon. The temperature is warm throughout, with the average temp in Guanacaste hovering around 75-80⁰F year-round. Make sure to pack your raincoats, water shoes and a water-resistant/waterproof bag for day trips. Don’t forget hiking shoes and bathing suits, as well. Make sure to pack bug spray…and lots of it.

Where we stayed

We stayed at the Andaz Papagayo which is part of the Hyatt group. The hotel is a 40 minute scenic drive from the airport, which was lush and beautiful. We saw many of the local crops (sugar cane) and native birds and animals. The beautifully landscaped property of the hotel is set between two beaches and surrounded by all things tropical. The wildlife on the property is an unexpected added bonus. Our kids enjoyed seeing the monkeys and colorful birds right outside our room!

Like most of the hotels throughout the region, a lot of attention is paid to nature and conservation. All of the employees were eager to share their knowledge about the local wildlife, foliage and ecosystem, which was interesting for all of us. The concierge at the Andaz helped us with our daily itineraries and activity planning. They also connected us with Tropical Comfort Tours, who arranged all the activities, adventures and day trips throughout our stay.

What we ate

Coffee, sugarcane, tropical fruit, rice, beans, seafood and meat are all locally grown and harvested. Only the freshest of the fresh! Our meals were truly authentic as we ate in several local restaurants. Favorite local foods include plantains, casados (rice and beans) and seafood ceviches. Bottled water is offered everywhere; however, we did not find drinking the ice or water at any of the restaurants outside our resort to be an issue.

Day trips

There are so many amazing activities to do and day trips to take in Costa Rica. It’s an adventure-lover’s dream come true. It’s also an amazing place to relax surrounded by nature. Whether you’re looking for a thrill ziplining through the jungle or just want to spend a day lounging at the beach, Costa Rica has something for everyone in the family. There are so many things to do, you can spend every day of your trip doing something different. Most hotels can make day trip arrangements for you, or steer you to a reputable third party for activity planning. We chose a combination of action-adventure outings and relaxation for each day.

Day 1: Surfing

Surfing in Costa Rica was at the top of our bucket list. We took a trip to Playa Tamarindo which is about an hour away from the resort. It is a long, rocky beach with shallow waters and breaks perfect for surfing, especially for beginners. There were quite a few surfing companies on the strip, and we used Iguana Surf. They provided the instructor, surfboards and the rash guards. There was a twenty-minute tutorial on the beach which included safety, paddling out, and popping up on to the board, and then it was time to hit the water!

The conditions were suitable for my family with the light crowd, long wide beach and knee to waist high swells. The instructor guided each of us on how best to effectively get up and ride the wave. Our son took to it almost immediately! Within minutes he was up and riding small waves. He’s asked for a surfboard every day since!

Day 2: Ziplining

There is nothing like the rush you feel zipping through the clouds hundreds of feet in the air! We took a trip to Monteverde, a cloud forest reserve found in the Central Highlands of Costa Rica. Jairo (our guide and fifth family member on the trip) from Tropical Comfort Tours drove us in a van to the top of the mountain. The trip was nearly four hours of breathtaking views and exposure to several diverse Costa Rican communities. We stopped for an authentic Costa Rican breakfast of Gallo Pinto (eggs with rice and beans), and then headed for the forest.

Monteverde has something for every adventure-lover, including ziplining, horseback riding, nighttime nature/animal hikes, hanging bridge canopy tours, bungee jumping and coffee making and chocolate tours. Two days is probably ideal to cover most of this, but since we only had a day, we opted for the ziplining and the hanging bridge tours. There were eight ziplines, which ranged from 500 to 2500 feet in length, and up to 300 feet in the air, spanning over the clouds and forest, which had our hearts racing.

The guides from Sky Adventure were amazing, and really put an emphasis on safety, making sure everyone was comfortable at all points. My seven-year-old had to zipline with an instructor due to the lack of weight (which actually made me happy), although she would have probably liked to have gone solo! The views from above were both exhilarating and breathtaking! The extensive ecological biodiversity on the hike among the canopy of the forest was astonishing for the kids.

Day 3: White water rafting

We went to Canon de la Vieja for a family outing for some white-water rafting. Next time, we will do it in the dry season! The rapids were classified as level 2, but because we were at the end of rainy season, it became more of a level 3/4 course. Saftey is priority – helmets and life vests are required for everyone. I would also recommend that children are capable swimmers if they are going to participate. We were each in separate dokis (inflatable boats) with our own guides, although they put both kids together to balance out their boat.

It was an intense 45 minutes of dips, turns and splashes, but a pure thrill, and we felt especially safe with safety guides in two extra boats in front and behind us. In between fighting the rapids, there were stretches where we would peacefully drift down the river, and we were able to observe the nature around us – birds, bats, frogs, trees, etc. The contrast between the rocky bumps and the tranquility of the calm river was beautiful.

Day 4: Relaxation

We spent the fourth day relaxing and enjoying our surroundings. Because of our limited time in Costa Rica, I had everyone running like the Energizer bunny the first three days. I kept reminding myself that they are still kids, so our last day was completely unscheduled. We walked along the nature trails observing the wildlife — white-faced capuchin monkeys swinging from the trees above us and the family of coatis (small, cuter raccoons) playing and eating in the forest.

We also walked the beach and saw many species of crabs, fish and shells. But alas, the kids wanted some time at the Andaz Kids Club, Cambio. They played board games, baked and decorated cupcakes, and did art projects. They got to play on the swings near the beach and relax in the pool. And most importantly to them, they enjoyed a pineapple smoothie sitting next to an iguana! I reluctantly obliged, and found myself a hammock, rounding out another wonderful day.

Trip takeaway

Costa Rica was wonderful and we loved everything we did. And amazingly, there is so much more than we were able to experience, including volcanoes, hot springs, waterfalls and national parks. Everything that we did was new and incredible to us. There is nothing like sharing new experiences with your children. Seeing their excitement, watching them overcome fears, and broadening their minds was everything I hoped that this vacation would be. I am most grateful for this trip because everything we did, ALL of us did, creating long lasting memories and tighter bonds.

To Costa Rica with love…this is not good-bye, this is see you later…Pura Vida!

Giselle Wyckoff is from New York City, mom to Max (10 years old) and Sam (7 years old), an operating room nurse and amateur photographer. Growing up in the metro area has given her a love for food, travel and adventure, but she also likes to break away to the east end of Long Island for a little tranquility and downtime. In her free time, she enjoys tennis, the beach, spending time with family and friends, and enjoying all that NYC has to offer- restaurants, museums, and fashion. Her passion for photography is influenced by these interests, focusing on capturing the vibrance and beauty in family shots, street and travel photography. You can find her at the following locations:

Instagram: gisellewyckoffphotography
Email: gisellewyckoffphoto@gmail.com
FAMILY TRAVEL, LOCAL GEMS, MCFAMILY, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Out & About in Overland Park with Kids
- December 15, 2017
This post was sponsored by Visit Overland Park. Some accommodations, events, and activities were comped for review purposes. All opinions expressed and photos contained in this post belong to the author.

Last weekend we had the pleasure of spending some time in and around the Overland Park, Kansas area with the kids. Overland Park is a suburb of Kansas City and chock-full of fun attractions, amazing food and kid-friendly experiences. It’s the second largest city in Kansas, located in the midst of the bi-state Kansas City metro. Overland Park is 29 miles from the KCI Airport, and within a 15- to 20-minute drive of beloved Kansas City destinations, including downtown and the Plaza.

Kansas City is about a 1-hour flight, a 4-hour drive or a 5-hour train ride from the St. Louis area, making it the perfect little weekend getaway. There’s so much to do in Overland Park and the Kansas City area for the entire family – from professional sporting events (Royals and Chiefs!) to unique children’s museums. We’ve put together a great list of local attractions, holiday events, outdoor activities, kid-friendly eateries, shops and accommodations. We hope this will help you plan the perfect family trip to Overland Park and Kansas City this season.

Kid-Friendly Attractions

iFLY – If you’ve ever dreamed of flying or thought skydiving would be fun, you must check out iFLY in Overland Park. This indoor skydiving experience gives fliers a chance to experience the thrill and adrenaline rush of skydiving in a fun and safe indoor environment. Instructors provide some brief training and then suit you up for flight. They’re there to help first time flyers maximize the fun as you feel the sensation of free fall in the two story wind tunnel. The flying experience is great for kids and open for anyone aged 3 and up!

Pinstripes – Pinstripes is Kansas City’s premier bowling, bocce and bistro experience in the Prariefire complex in Overland Park. Pinstripes offers classic bowling lanes, indoor bocce courts, fire pits, great Italian food and killer drinks – all under one roof, making it a fun experience for the entire family. All ages are welcome, they offer tot playtime from 10 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, and parents bowl free.

Crown Center – Located in the heart of Kansas City, the Crown Center is one of the premier family destinations in the Midwest. Housing more than 5,000 sea creatures and 30 displays, the Sea Life Aquarium provides astonishingly close views of everything from humble starfish and seahorses to graceful rays. If you have a Lego-lover in the family, the LEGOLAND® Discovery Center offers a fun, highly interactive and educational two to three-hour indoor experience ideal for families with children 3-10 years old, featuring 2 rides, 10 LEGO build & play zones, a 4D cinema & much more! If your kid is a budding artist, make sure to check out Hallmark’s Kaleidoscope, where kids use their imaginations to make art with left-over materials from Hallmark’s manufacturing processes. There are also 2 live theaters and the city’s only public outdoor ice skating rink (during the winter).

Apex Climbing Gym – If your whole family is up for some adventure, Apex Climbing Gym is built entirely around the principle that exercise should be fun and bring family closer together. Try your hand at the Warped Wall and other ninja warrior-inspired obstacles. Or see if you have what it takes to top-out in the expansive climbing area. They also offer yoga to further improve your mobility, flexibility, and strength.

The College Basketball Experience – Located inside the Sprint Center in the heart of downtown Kansas City, the College Basketball Experience is perfect for the sports lover in your family. With hands-on, high-energy exhibits throughout the facility, visitors are put in electrifying game-like situations, from sinking the game-winning shot to announcing the play-by-play action at the “ESPNU broadcast desk.” This is also the home of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

Overland Park Outdoor Adventures

Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens – For nature lovers, the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens stretches over an incredible 300 acres filled with more than a dozen gardens, nearly five miles of hiking trails and a 180-acre prairie that showcases native grasses and wildflowers in their full splendor. The Arboretum is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of eight natural ecosystems. The paved and wood chip trails wind throughout the picturesque arboretum and gardens. Gardens include Monet Garden, Children’s Discovery Garden and the International Sculpture Garden. While you’re there, check out all the fairy and gnome houses! They were one of the highlights of our trip!

Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead – This unique farm is bursting with things to see and do. The Farmstead is home to nearly 200 animals, vegetable and flower gardens, a fishing pond and more! Kids will love the pony rides, bottle feeding baby goats or petting a cow in the Dairy Barn. Other animals include horses, donkeys, turkeys, bison, prairie dogs and bobcats. Visit historical replicas of a country schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, mining camp, barber shop and Indian village. Pile the entire family into a wagon pulled by Belgian draft horses for a ride through the woods. Catch a fish with an old-fashioned cane pole or compete in a push pedal tractor race. This twelve acres of wholesome family fun and entertainment is open every day from April 1-October 31. On Monday through Thursday, admission is FREE!

Indian Creek Hike and Bike Trail – Looking for some outdoor exercise with a view? The Indian Creek Bike/Hike Trail links two states, four communities and a multitude of parks along Indian Creek. The trail includes plenty of parks, playgrounds and picturesque places to stop for a picnic. The trail starts in Kansas City and continues (around 20 miles) through the heart of Overland Park. The asphalt paths are ideal for hiking, biking and skating. Because they’re mostly shaded, the trail is a great recreation option even during the hot summer months. A trail map can be found and downloaded HERE.

Snow Creek – Who says you can’t ski in the Midwest? Snow Creek is a winter sports destination with no mountains required! Located 40 miles north of Kansas City, Snow Creek has over 60 snow-making machines with the capacity to pump 3,000 gallons of water per minute, covering 100% of the terrain in as little as 72 hours! As long as temps stay below freezing they have snow! Snow Creek offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing. They have 12 trails, 5 lifts and 2 terrain parks. Rent your equipment there and take advantage of all their amenities such as bar, restaurant, pizzaria, private/group lessons and souvenir shop. Open mid-December through mid-March.

Holiday Activities in Overland Park

Farmstead Lane Light Show – The annual light display at Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead has new features this year including lots of new fun animation. The 38-minute show is synchronized with music. Tune into 90.5 FM to hear holiday music as you watch the spectacular show from the warmth of your car!

Nutcracker – Don’t miss the magic and tradition of Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic, The Nutcracker. Performed by the American Youth Ballet, with a 40ft growing tree, snow falling on stage, and a live orchestra. The Nutcracker is a highlight and an Overland Park tradition. Saturday show times are 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday show times are 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Luminary Walk – Stroll down candlelit trails through the gardens and woods at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Thousands of candles line the walkways and trails with holiday lights on display from trees, buildings and bridges. It also features live music, Santa Claus, horse-drawn wagon rides and hot cider around a campfire. Even the mystical gnome and fairy villages are lit up. The Luminary Walk is held from 5 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday nights, Nov. 24-25, Dec. 1-2, and Dec. 8-9.

Ice Skating at Park Place – The Ice at Park Place is Leawood’s only outdoor ice rink. It’s open November 17th through February 19th, including holidays. The Ice is surrounded by seasonal festivities, warm food and drink options and unique holiday shopping. Now in its tenth season, enjoy special events like Skating with Santa, Princess Skate and Valentine’s Day Skate. Skate rentals are available, but bring your own helmets for the kids.

Carriage Ride – If you want to go all out for the holiday, book a horse-drawn carriage ride to take you through Country Club Plaza to see the lights and sights. From November to mid-January, Kansas City Carriages offers horse-drawn carriage rides to the public. Rides are available daily starting at 5 p.m. from the corner of Nichols Road and Pennsylvania Avenue and hit all the highlights as the lights illuminate the area’s pretty Spanish architecture. Reservations are recommended if you don’t want to wait in line for hours. Dress warmly and grab some hot chocolate from a nearby coffee shop for the ride.

Overland Park Eateries

Grimaldi’s Pizza – For authentic, coal-fired brick oven pizza, look no farther than Grimaldi’s at Prariefire in Overland Park. Pizza and calzones are baked to perfection in coal burning ovens, which offer a unique flavor and a crisp crust that is not possible from gas, convection or wood-burning ovens. Made with fresh ingredients, handmade mozzarella, ‘secret recipe’ dough and pizza sauce, Gramadi’s is the most award-winning pizzeria in the US. The kids loved “The Don” pizza and my husband and I fought over the last piece of “Brooklyn Bridge.”

The Big Biscuit – The folks at the Big Biscuit pride themselves on having the friendliest service in town. They’re known for portions that are impossibly generous and a staff with Big smiles. They’ve been serving up breakfast at lunch to the Kansas City area for 17 years, from a variety of locations. No matter which part of KC you’re in, you can usually find a Big Biscuit near you.

Decadent – Decadent is a delicious dessert and coffee bar in Overland Park’s Prairiefire district. Pastries and desserts are made from scratch daily, which also means the selection regularly rotates. Pair your sweet treat with a freshly made espresso beverage or a decadent drinking chocolate. Want to go all out? Try the skillet chocolate chip cookie topped with vanilla bean gelato, hot fudge, caramel sauce and whipped cream. Heaven, I tell you. They also serve ice cream, wine and beer!

Q39 – You cannot take a trip to Kansas City without having some world-famous BBQ. Q39 is a relatively new BBQ restaurant, with a created-from-scratch menu by classically trained chef Rob Magee. Prior to opening Q39 he worked the competitive barbecue circuit (and won a lot)! The restaurant is fun and contemporary, while also being rustic and friendly. You can’t go wrong with any of their amazing BBQ dinner entrees, served with apple coleslaw and your choice of beans or potato salad. It draws a crowd on a weekend night, so go early with and try the brisket. You won’t be disappointed!

McLain’s Market – The stocked pastry case at McLain’s Market is a dessert lover’s dream—cupcakes, brownies, donuts and pastries, oh my (plus a whole lot more). They serve an incredible breakfast and lunch, too – everything from breakfast BLTs to veggie spring rolls and avocado toast. There’s even a Poutine made from housemade fries covered in a goat cheese fondue with bacon and chives. Consider yourself warned!

Gigi’s Cupcakes – If you’ve never tasted the best gourmet cupcake to ever come out of a Kansas grandma’s kitchen, you need to go to Gigi’s. Featuring 30 varieties of cupcakes each week, in addition to adorable mini cupcakes and the perfect-sized cheesecakes. Everything is baked fresh each day. They even have gluten friendly fans covered with three different gluten friendly cupcakes made daily. Try the chocolate salted caramel cupcake, a dark chocolate cupcake that’s filled with caramel, then topped with caramel frosting, dipped in ganache and sprinkled with sea salt. Amazing.

Shops for Littles

Scheels – While a mega sporting goods store might not sound like the most kid-friendly destination, this one certainly is entertaining! Kids can marvel at a 16,000-gallon overhead aquarium, hear from fully animated talking presidents along the Walk of the U.S. Presidents and ride a 65 foot indoor Ferris wheel! Scheels is the largest selection of sports, sportswear and footwear – under one roof – in the entire state of Kansas! There’s also a deli and fudge shop, sport simulators (golf, soccer, hockey, baseball, football and basketball), plus a wildlife mountain.

American Girl – At the American Girl Store in Overland Park, your little one can explore the doll collections like BeForever, Girl of the Year, Truly Me, and The Bitty Baby. The store is full of fun accessories to browse and a full library of award-winning books. Make a pampering date and treat your doll to a new look in the doll hair salon or get her ears pieced. Dolls in need of a little TLC can be brought to the store and admitted to the Doll Hospital for refresh and repair. There are also exciting programs and special events held throughout the year.

Fat Brain Toys – Fat Brain Toys in the Prariefire complex in Overland Park is a fun place to learn while you play! The highly educated staff includes real school teachers that will help you find the perfect educational game, activity or toy. Kids also have the chance to try, learn, and play before you buy to ensure satisfaction! The store boasts over 7,500 in stock toys, games, and gifts, including their own original line of educational toys.

Places to Stay in Overland Park

Mariott Overland Park – This hotel boasts gracefully designed accommodations, superb service and an excellent convenient location. You’ll find our hotel just moments from premier shopping centers, as well as museums, attractions and the convention center. Epicure restaurant and the 210 Bar and Grill both have delicious American cuisine and innovative cocktails. There’s a fitness center for the parents and an indoor/outdoor pool for the kids!

Convention Center hotels – Are you headed to Overland Park for a meeting, convention or corporate event? The Overland Park Convention Center is within walking distance of 1,000 hotel rooms, including Hyatt Place, Holiday Inn and Courtyard by Marriott. The Sheraton Overland Park Hotel at the Convention Center is attached to the Overland Park Convention Center for the ultimate in convenient access.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this overview of all the fun family-friendly activities, adventures and outings in and around the Overland Park and Kansas City area. Keep this in mind when planning your next weekend getaway with the kids. And make sure to check out the Visit Overland Park website for the most up-to-date info on local events and happenings.

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LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Urban Farm & Feed – Sandy, Utah
- October 10, 2017
Today I’m really excited to bring you a full review and fall family fun guide to one of the coolest little locations in the Salt Lake City area, Urban Farm & Feed. We’ve got new local mom, blogger and professional photographer, Cara Mathis of Catcher in the Rye Photography here to give you all the details about this super cute local gem of a market. They’ve got everything from locally-grown fruits and vegetable to homemade pies and sweets. There’s pumpkin picking and animals to feed in the fall, as well as a year-round farm school for kids. If you’re in the Salt Lake Area (living there or just passing through), add this place to your “must see” list.

My family and I moved to Utah from D.C. last Thanksgiving. Needless to say, it’s been a bit of a culture shock — in the best way possible. One of the things we’ve noticed most about this state is the sheer volume of farmers markets and outdoor activities it offers.

It feels like we discover a new market every week, each one teeming with even more artisan crafts and fresh produce than the last.

One of my all-time favorites is Urban Farm & Feed in Sandy, Utah.

About Urban Farm & Feed
Since 2012, Urban Farm & Feed has been giving back to its community with farm fresh produce, treats, and activities. Owners Marty and Maryann are first generation farmers who turned their love of the land into 40+ acres of farm fresh offerings. Scattered across Utah, Urban Farm & Feed provides fruits and vegetables, as well as free-roaming chickens, lambs, and cows to Utahns.

Urban Farm & Feed cultivates the land according to strict sustainable farming methods, wherein farms rotate crops and re-nourish the soil they farm. Marty and Maryann are also committed to providing the community with fresh produce and food items free of chemical treatment.
And the coolest thing about Marty and Maryann? They turned their love of farming into the Wasatch Front Farmers Market.

That’s right! One of the most well-known farmers markets in the valley was created – and now hosted – by the owners of Urban Farm & Feed! If you haven’t visited Gardner Village on Saturdays or Wheeler Farm on Sundays, you need to make that a priority this month! The markets run through the end of October, so find the Urban Farm & Feed booth while you’re there and meet the faces behind the farms!

Fall Fun at Urban Farm & Feed

Open Tuesday through Saturday and offering everything from fresh produce to farm fresh Fall decor to homemade pies and ice cream, you won’t find a one-stop shop like Urban Farm & Feed anywhere else in the area.

Especially for Fall.

I mean, just listen to the one-of-a-kind food and activities Urban Farm & Feed is offering this season!

Fun Fall Activities

Committed to teaching adults and children alike to appreciate and cultivate the land, Urban Farm & Feed offer countless opportunities to interact with the earth and learn about farming. Among these are:
Kids crafts and farm activities every Thursday at 11am, capped off by visiting with and feeding the animals in the back (Can you say ‘goats’?!); ages 12 and under

Fresh breakfast from 9am to 11am every other Saturday through the end of October, $6-$10 per plate

U-pick pumpkins

Farm schools held throughout the year to encourage others to live a simple, homemade, and happy life

You could spend every day here and never once get bored! That’s the beauty of farming – There’s never a dull day!
Local Produce and Treats
Our favorite Fall treat this season has been the pies at Urban Farm & Feed. Apple, key lime, and chocolate decorate the tables and refrigerators in the shop. We’ve had a taste of each of them. Not only are they to die for delicious, but they’re small enough to justify getting one for each of you! We treat them as personal-sized. Because pie not?

In addition to fresh pies made daily from scratch in the back kitchen, Urban Farm & Feed offers a huge assortment of other yummies:

Fresh baked apple cider donuts every Saturday through the end of October

Local homemade kombucha, butter, cream, and treats

Squash, gourds, apples, pears, and corn

Local homemade jellies, jams, and condiments

Tomatoes, chilis, meats, dairy, and other fresh produce and staples

Fresh ice cream from the USU Aggie Creamery

Talk about sensory overload! Every bite is even more delicious than the last when you’re eating from Urban Farm & Feed.

Our Family Favorite

Every time we visit Urban Farm & Feed, we have to get the Aggie Blue Mint ice cream, fresh from USU Aggie Creamery. It’s a combination of cookies and cream, mint chocolate chip, and, well, blue. And it is Heaven on earth! Even as the temperatures drop to the 40s this month, I have every intention of continuing the ice cream tradition. After all, as Brandon Sanderson said in the Rithmatist, “Everyone knows that ice cream is worth the trouble of being cold. Like all things virtuous, you have to suffer to gain the reward.” And my, can suffering be delicious.

Whereabouts

While we visit the Sandy location at 8767 S 700 East, Urban Farm & Feed is actually a collection of farms, as well as a partnership among farmers. Vegetable farms can be found throughout the Salt Lake county, and Urban Farm & Feed farmers garden plots from 1/4 acre to 9 acres large. In addition to vegetables, some plots maintain animals and poultry for the farm.

Our favorite location is the newest addition to the Urban Farm & Feed family, located at 8767 S 700 East in Sandy, Utah. Here you can find a U-Pick Acre, chickens and lambs, farm-to-table dinners, and an assortment of farm activities. And don’t forget the ice cream!

We’ve been to the shop a few times now – usually on Saturdays – and we’ve never had a problem finding parking and getting in. The owners, Maryann and Marty, and their two boys are always there, chatting with customers, baking in the kitchen, and tending to the gardens around the store.

During our last trip, I bought several bundles of corn stalks to decorate my front porch. I couldn’t be happier with the way it turned out. And the best part? My home decor supports local businesses!

Plan your Visit

I’m planning on taking my family to Urban Farm & Feed every weekend until the weather gets so cold we can’t lift the donuts to our mouths anymore. (And let’s be honest – Even that won’t stop me).

Urban Farm & Feed is the perfect local shop to get your kids out and exploring their surroundings. Encourage them to learn about respecting and cultivating the land, all while enjoying the delicious treats that come from hard work and sustainable farming.

Shop local this Fall season, and bring your kiddos on down to Urban Farm & Feed, right off Redwood Drive in Sandy, Utah! You’ll leave happy, full, and ready to plant your own garden and watch it grow!

Cara Mathis is mom to one hysterical little two-year-old and wife to the love of her life. She’s a photographer, blogger and former advocate at the DOJ. She’s passionate about art, music, dance, Kate Spade, cake and interior design She recently moved to Utah after 6 years in Washington DC and Philadelphia, prior to that. Since moving West, their family’s been busy taking advantage of all the activities and outdoor attractions the Beehive State has to offer – mountains and canyons, state fairs and farmers markets, festivals and amusement parks galore.

If you’d like to follow along with their adventures, you can find Cara at the following locations:

Website: Catcher in the Rye Photography
Photography Instagram: Catcher in the Rye Photography
Photography Facebook: Catcher in the Rye Photography
Blog: Catcher in the Rye Photography
Instagram: Catcher in the Rye Photography
Blog Facebook: Catcher in the Rye Photography
FAMILY TRAVEL, FISH, LOCAL GEMS, MCFAMILY, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Fly Fishing with Kids at Dry Run Creek, Arkansas
- October 4, 2017
Dry Run Creek near Mountain Home, Arkansas has been called “the best quarter mile of trout fishing in the world.” However, you won’t find the world’s best fishermen here – you’ll only find kids! A true gem of a fishing location, it only takes one walk along the banks of Dry Run Creek for every fly fishing adult to wish they were a kid again, if only for a day.

Fly fishing with kids at Dry Run Creek, Arkansas

We recently spent three action-packed days fishing with the kids on Dry Run Creek and now consider ourselves totally spoiled. Not only is it an absolutely gorgeous area with lush canopies and easy access to the water, but the fish were giant! My fly fishing obsessed five year-old caught his fill every day, each bigger than the last. Dare I say, he may have even got bored after a while from catching so many fish! Even the three year-old got in on the action and netted a few, although it was hard to pull her away from feeding the fish in the hatchery and chasing butterflies.

About Dry Run Creek

Flowing from Norfork National Fish Hatchery, Dry Run Creek is .75 miles of spring and hatchery effluent fed, ice-cold, highly-oxygenated water (32 million gallons/day) coming up from below the surface of Lake Norfork. Located alongside the hatchery (home to 2.5 million brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout), Dry Run Creek contains significant numbers of large trout trying to migrate from whence they came. Amazingly, despite its proximity to the hatchery, Dry Run Creek is not stocked by Arkansas Game & Fish. Instead, all the fish living in the creek have found their way out of the Norfork River and jumped “the waterfall” to access this trout-nirvana.

Until 1988, Dry Run Creek had been closed for 30 years to all fishing. The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission decided closure of the stream was unnecessary and re-opened it as a catch-and-release, single-hook, artificial-lure fishery for kids under 16 and the handicapped (an Arkansas handicap fishing license is required). Handicap wheelchair-bound individuals may fish from the newly built decks and ramps.

Designed for ultimate fish habitat and growth, Dry Run Creek is open year round to anglers and host to many fishing events and school field trips each year. Children not only have the chance to learn more about trout, but also have a great opportunity to fish for the monsters that lurk in the depths.

Best kids’ fly fishing location

As you can imagine, Dry Run Creek is hog heaven for the fishing-obsessed kid and a great place to get them hooked on fly fishing. The number of trout in the creek is astounding and it’s common to see fish lined up so thick it looks like you could walk across the water using them as stepping stones.

The cold, clear, shallow water allows amazing sight-fishing opportunities, but there are still nooks and crannies to allow the bigger fish to hide. Just because there’s an abundance of fish, doesn’t mean they’re all easy to catch! These fish don’t get this big being careless and fishing here still takes patience and skill.

Trout food sources

The fish in Dry Run Creek thrive on all-natural food sources – sow bugs, scuds, midges, aquatic worms, leaches and an abundance of terrestrial insects. No protein pellets here! Essentially, Dry Run Creek contains everything that you would find in the Norfork River, but more concentrated. Therefore, the fish are well-fed and have very little reason to ever leave! The creek also contains populations of beaver, mink, muskrat, and other animals that use or live in the stream and add to its biodiversity.

Fish for big trout at Dry Run Creek

Because the stream is well-fed and strictly catch and release, the fish have the chance to get massive. There are scores of rainbow and brown trout over five pounds and trophy trout are the norm here. In December 2005, this “little stream that could” gave up a rainbow trout that may have been bigger than the Arkansas state record (estimated somewhere near 25 pounds) to an 11-year-old angler from Kansas!

Kids can fish for the grand slam of trout

The creek has one of the thickest populations of trout in the world and is possibly the best fly fishing stream in the country for young ones learning how to fly fish. Dry Run Creek is absolutely teaming with rainbow and brown trout, but it also has some brook and cutthroat trout. This means your little one could catch a Grand Slam (four different types of trout), all in one location!

Kids only fishing location

Sorry mom and dad, but Dry Run Creek is strictly for kids. All kids must be with a licensed adult and do the fishing themselves. A certain level of parental teaching is permitted, but only in the direct presence of the child.

The kids fishing should be able to cast, hook up and fight the fish on their own, with limited parental guidance and interaction. Parents can rig the rods, coach the youngster and net the fish, but it is really important that the child actually catch the fish. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission officers frequent the creek and will issue tickets to adults fishing.

But don’t worry, parents – even though you can’t fish, you won’t get bored. There will be so much action with your kids catching fish that you won’t have time to think about all the fish you could be catching. Non-stop fish after fish (and tangle after tangle) will keep everyone in the family entertained, busy and excited for the next one.

Best fly fishing gear for kids

As for fly fishing equipment, a standard 9-foot, 5-weight rod is the ticket. Light enough to enjoy the pull of the smaller fish and sturdy enough to help control the lunkers when they decide to go for a run. You’ll want to be careful with your leader and tippet size though. When the water is stained, you can get away with heavier leaders and tippet (3X and 4X); however, most days the water is crystal clear so consider using the smallest tippet you can get away with.

(You can find all our favorite fly fishing gear recommendations for kids in this post.)

As for flies, use anything to mimic the trout’s natural diet. We had success with midges, San Juan worms, scuds, and terrestrials, as well as attractor patterns like eggs and stimulators. A strike indicator and split-shot will be necessary when nymphing, and it’s always important to have floatant for your dry flies after they get hammered several times. Make sure you also bring the biggest net you can find. We lost quite a few giant trout at the net because our biggest net wasn’t quite big enough!

What to pack when fly fishing with kids

If your child has waders, bring them. The water is cold and while there are plenty of spots to fish from the bank, with waders they can fish virtually the entire stream. Parents may also want to wear waders and boots in case you need to get in and release hung-up flies and more effectively net the big trout.

Feel free to bring snacks, lunch and a cooler. The stream is less than a mile long, so you’re never too far from your car in the parking lot. There are picnic tables and trash cans scattered along the paths and walkways, so you never have to get off the water.

Tips for photographing catch and release trout

Finally, bring a camera! Dry Run Creek definitely provides opportunities to catch a once-in-a-lifetime fish and you’ll want it documented. Just remember, when you’re taking a picture, handle the fish carefully. Dry Run Creek is a catch-and-release stream and trout must be released immediately after they are caught. Leave the fish in the net, suspended in the water, until you have removed the hook and have the camera ready.

Handle the fish gently and as little as possible when photographing. A quick lift out of the water with a firm (but gentle) grasp is all that’s required. Have your child hold the fish out in front of them so you capture that big giant smile on their face. If it’s super hot out, leave the fish in the water (keep them wet). Be sure to fully revive the fish before release.

When to go fly fishing in Dry Run Creek

Dry Run Creek is open year-round, from sunrise to sunset. There’s never a bad season for fishing and there’s lots to do and explore any time of year you visit. The paths and walkways along the creek were recently remodeled, are well-kept, shaded and a very beautiful in any season. The Mountain Home area is beautiful and filled with all kinds of amazing outdoor activities to partake in with kids: hiking, biking, swimming, boating, kayaking, etc. It’s conveniently located right between Norfork Lake and Bull Shoals, making the fishing and water activities prevalent.

While you’re visiting Dry Run Creek, make sure to check out the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. Feed the trout and take a tour. It is truly a great experience and the kids will love the break in action.

For more information

If you’d like to find more information on Dry Run Creek and the surrounding area, check out the Friends of the Norfolk National Fish Hatchery’s website.

For more info on fly fishing with kids, check out our other posts:
If you’re looking for an awesome place to go fishing with kids,
Dry Run Creek in Mountain Home, Arkansas is definitely worth the trip!