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Getting Families Outside, One Adventure at a Time

FAMILY TRAVEL

FAMILY TRAVEL, HOLIDAYS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Our Favorite Adventures of 2020
- January 4, 2021
Happy 2021, friends! We are so excited to wish farewell to 2020 and to start a new year of adventures with you. No matter who you were or where you lived, 2020 was probably a tough year. And while it had its challenges for everyone, there were also a lot of amazing things that came out of those difficult times. We seemed to all feel a big shift towards what really matters, like family, nature, and self-care. The adventures we took in 2020 probably looked different than how we imagined them when planning. But, we still managed to make the most out of it and spend some time outside together. Today, a few members of our Creative Team are here sharing a little bit about their favorite adventures from 2020. Here are a few memories we’ll never forget.

Leslie – @c_l_allofus

Our family plan for 2020 was to spend the year clearing our newly acquired homestead land and beginning the process of building our house and barn. Even in our personal lives, not much else went we as expected in 2020, but that basic plan of spending the year working together outside never changed. It stretched and challenged us as we cut trees, burnt massive piles of branches, put in our driveway, and passed out endless snacks to our pint-sized helpers. Our kids learned to help with whatever jobs they could, to stay clear of moving equipment and falling trees, and to discover endless ways to create their own adventures on our homestead property. They found favorite climbing trees, built forts and hidden playhouses in the west thicket, and made playgrounds out of just-dropped trees. I love the above picture because it shows our whole family working and playing together–our three-year-old plopped down with her coloring book and crayons in the dirt driveway while the two older girls play in the dirt, our son and his dog dig up a groundhog hole, and my husband works with the mini excavator.

We’ve spent the year trying to balance work and fun, stopping to enjoy the little moments and accomplishments together. We camped out on our property, dreaming about the many nights there in our future. We’ve watched the sun set across the field and fog lift over our meadow. The autumn leaves have fallen and we’ve learned which trees have the most spectacular color. We’ve watched trees bud and left footprints in the snow. 2020 may not have held epic visits to exotic locations for us, but it’s been full of beautiful adventures right here on our own homestead.

Kristen & Jared – @kristcx & @bikeshikesbiners

Our favorite adventure this year was getting to take our kids on a road trip to visit a handful of National Parks. One of those parks was Arches National Park. My husband and I had visited this park on our honeymoon 12 years ago. So, getting to come back to explore it with our new little family was such a great experience. We made so many new memories together as a family. We loved getting to see our kids explore new terrains and experience a different region from our own, learning as they went and opening their minds to what else was out there. It really fanned the flame of our sense of adventure and we can’t wait to see where 2021 will take us!

Stacey – @familyroots.photo

2020 was a crazy year for everyone! It brought highs and lows to all of us. Our family is so grateful to have had some wonderful memories come from it. Here’s a photo of my kiddos and their cousins at the top of the deer loop trail. This trail is right down the street from our cabin in Vermont. It’s about a 3.5 mile loop and the kids absolutely love exploring this trail. We’ve gone multiple times this year, over various seasons – spring, summer, and fall. And it was right here at the top, with this beautiful view of Pico mountain, where they took their very first solo ski down the mountain. It was a memory I’ll never forget and one of our favorite adventures. I hope you and your families can dwell on all the good memories this year has brought you all and cheers to a happy + healthy new year!

Nichole – @coleyraeh

This year was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Unlike anything any of us have experienced. But for us, it was also a year of “level up” adventures. We weren’t able to travel quite as much but I decided to dig deep into shenanigans close to home. Lucky for us, Arkansas is full of adventure. My favorite adventure this past year was a canoe and camping trip, to a floating platform on a river in central Arkansas. Yes, my kids and I CAMPED on a platform, in a river, surrounded by massive cypress trees, blue herons, egrets, owls, and Pileated woodpeckers.

The experience stretched all of us – for me, loading and unloading the canoe from my car (by myself, thank you very much) and for my kids paddling in a river, and against a headwind on our return trip. We also learned the best way to pack the canoe to balance their weight with mine. My son slept in a hammock (with a bug net) and couldn’t stop talking about the stars. We also spotted a snake mid-meal, with the still croaking frog hanging out of its mouth. It was memorable. And yes, we even jumped on the Ocean Spray cranberry juice/Fleetwood Mac challenge, making our video while floating down the river. I’m so excited about where our canoe will take us in 2021!

If you’re interested in reading more about this trip, I wrote a post about it on my blog Luckey Wanderers.

Michelle – @wonderclubexplorers

I have to say, picking just one favorite outdoor adventure from this past year was tough! If nothing else, 2020 was a year that taught us to count our blessings and get creative, especially here in Southern California where safer-at-home orders kept us, well, home. Sort of. In search of new vistas and fresh scenery, we perfected the art of Sunday drives this year. Our destinations were always somewhere new and different filled with interesting roads and places to explore.

One of our family’s most favorite and memorable Sunday drives was to the Anza Borrego Desert in California. Here in the desert, we found more than 100 sun-bathed metal sculptures amidst the cactus plants, tumbleweeds, and sandy earth. As my son ran wild from sculpture to sculpture in the desert, he proclaimed that “This day was the most fun ever!” I have to agree, and as we waved goodbye to the dinosaurs, dragons, and wild horse sculptures on our drive home, I looked back and indulged in a cotton candy-colored sunset. How lucky are we to have this beautiful earth to explore?

Araceli – @roaminggonzalez

I read an article that described 2020 as the year that offered us a “reset”. That is the biggest lesson I am taking away from this year. Although it was difficult, lonely and some days were impossible, I am walking into 2021 with a grateful heart. We grew closer than ever as a family. I realized how over-scheduled life was for us. This year gave us an opportunity to slow down. Our days were filled with all the simple things that matter most and that is what I plan to take into the new year!

We are also unbelievably grateful that we were able to recreate responsibly throughout the year. Whether it was exploring where we live or camping along the coast we treasure what the great outdoors offered us this year more than ever. Sunshine, fresh air, and time together as a family. ADVENTURES are truly the best gifts. We remain hopeful for a better year.

SarahRuth – @kindle_togetherness

The devil came down to Georgia. Seriously, you’all. The devil came down here. This guy made 2020 his year. Maybe it wasn’t just Georgia, but can I tell you something? We had a hurricane. In the Appalachian Mountains. Pause there and let that settle for a minute. Five and a half hours from the nearest beach, our family lost power for four days. Our community had massive flooding, hurricane-force winds, and more. With three young kids and a camper hanging out in our driveway, we figured if the devil came here to Georgia, we would head to North Carolina! In a frenzy, we packed up enough clothing to get us through, tossed the bikes on the truck, and ran!

If 2020 was anything, it was unexpected. As we drove a couple of hours away, we laughed, we cried, and we counted our blessings. Not everyone could run away from 2020 for a few days and fish, ride bikes, count the stars. But, if they could, they should, right? So we did! And we had the time of our lives. If I learned anything this year, it’s that circumstances don’t determine outcomes. Often time, you can switch gears and change the atmosphere of a situation. It is hard to defy your feelings. Super challenging to go against the crashing waves of fear and anxiety….but when you do it, you don’t regret it. Instead, you walk away a victor. I’m all about bringing my kids along for that!

“Challenges are what make life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua Marine

Meghan – @meghangarriott

We had a lot of growth in 2020 at the Garriott home. Our boys grew and grew and so did our garden! The initial shutdowns across the US due to COVID 19 just happened to be the same time to start a lot of my seeds indoors. This year we grew Roma tomatoes, grape tomatoes, bell peppers, and jalapeños from seed. With all our added time at home it worked out perfectly to be able to care for our little seeds and expand our garden. As the weather warmed we planted green beans, carrots, green onions, basil, mint, and cilantro.

Our extra time at home over the summer ended up making for a much larger and better cared for crop than in years past. We were able to freeze over 20 quarts of carrots, canned and froze 15quarts of tomatoes, and 20 quarts of green beans all while also eating fresh throughout the summer. Our time in the garden gave us some much needed physical and mental exercise. My boys loved helping me dig and water the garden, they were less thrilled with weeding but I took what I could get. I can’t wait to see what our garden brings in 2021 with all that we learned and expanded in 2020!

Ashley – @sage.and.summit

My favorite memories and outdoor adventures from this year would have to be hiking with my girls and incorporating trail cleanups on those hikes. It not only was a way to get us outside, strengthening our bodies and minds. It also made us feel good to leave the places better than we found them. The most challenging thing about 2020 was not being able to see our friends, however, it made us all more grateful for those friends that we will hopefully see in 2021.

Gaga – @groovybananaphotography

2020 has been a very weird year. We did quite a bit of international travel in the beginning of the year, then the borders to our island were closed because of COVID. As wedding, engagement and family photographers, we had much less work coming in, as people were not allowed to travel overseas for destination weddings. Incredibly, our island was very lucky to not get hit by COVID and we lived quite a bit of the year in a normal bubble where we could still hang out together. Having more time not working gave us more time to spend with friends, and above all, with our kids.

My favorite outdoor adventure of the year was probably our trips to Tanna, another island of Vanuatu. One time we went for a couple photoshoot on the top of a volcano and another time to cover a huge cultural event. In both cases, we went exploring the volcano ash plain which offers out of the world landscapes. It was the most amazing playground and a trip we’ll never forget.

Sara – @sara_mccarty

This may be a very unpopular opinion, but I did not think 2020 was the worst year ever. Yes, it was tough, challenging, infuriating, and heartbreaking. But, it was also beautiful, eye-opening, transformative, and resetting. When the world shut down, it forced us to reevaluate and reprioritize our actions. It was disappointing having to cancel adventures, trips, and extra-curricular activities, but it forced us to get creative and explore our local surroundings in a whole new way. We were scared and apprehensive, but spending time together as a family in nature seemed to make things feel more manageable.

In 2020, we did a lot of fishing, a family canoe trip, some camping, quite a few hikes, and more creek play than we knew what to do with. One of my favorite adventures from this past year was a 2-day getaway to a nearby lake, where my two big kids (6 and 8) and I rented a tiny cabin in the woods. We fished during the day, made a bonfire each evening, and spent our time enjoying the beautiful fall colors and nature around us. The weather was perfect and the kids got along the entire weekend (which is a miracle in and of itself after all the “togetherness” we’ve had). The kids also discovered a newfound love of kayaking and I could barely get them out of the water to eat or go home. It was amazing to see their confidence grow with each trip out and we can’t wait to do it again. It was a bit of a last-minute trip, less than an hour from our house, but it was just what we needed to re-energize and reconnect.

What were your favorite adventures from 2020?
We’d love to hear all about it!
ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, FAMILY TRAVEL, HIKE, LOCAL GEMS, NATIONAL PARKS
Kakadu National Park, Australia with Kids
- October 8, 2020
Kakadu National Park is Australia’s largest terrestrial national park, situated in the Northern Territory’s tropical north. It would be hard to find a place that is more unique or diverse as this Aboriginal-owned World Heritage-listed National Park. It’s an incredible place. Today, we have Jodie of Territory Mama here to take you along on a trip through Kakadu and give you all the recommendations, tips, and advice you need to plan a trip to Kakadu National Park with kids.

Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park spreads across almost 200kms from north to south and over 100km east to west. The diversity of landscapes it covers range from coastal and estuaries to billabongs and floodplains, through to the rocky ridges and stone country of the Arnhem Land Escarpment. These landscapes are home to more than one-third of Australia’s bird species and one-quarter of it’s freshwater and estuarine fish species. Not only does Kakadu extend across such spectacular landscapes and diverse wildlife, but it’s home to the oldest living culture on earth.

But, the best part about Kakadu National Park is that it’s easily accessible for families. And there are lots of amazing outdoor experiences for families to discover together. It’s a truly magical place and you can’t understand quite how incredible it is until you experience it for yourself, but I’ll do my best to capture a little bit about what makes this place so special.

Things to do in Kakadu National Park with kids

There are so many things to do in Kakadu National Park with kids. I’ve broken activities down by a couple of different categories: cultural experiences, waterfalls, and magical sunsets. These three activities encompass a lot of other activities that can be done at these locations (hiking, swimming, animal sighting, camping, etc.).

Cultural experiences at Kakadu

The traditional owners Bininj Mungguy have lived and cared for this country for more than 50,000 years and you can experience firsthand their connection to the country through many of the cultural experiences and tours on offer within Kakadu.

Guluyambi Cultural Cruise – Kakadu Cultural Tours

The Guluyambi Cultural Cruise is a scenic boat tour upstream of the majestic East Alligator River. Your Aboriginal guide will provide insight into their culture, traditions, and beliefs. You will experience traditional hunting and gathering techniques and learn about the many uses for the plants and animals that call this area home. You may also spot many of the local saltwater crocodiles that inhabit this spectacular river. The cruise operates between May and November and is owned and managed by the traditional owners of Kakadu.

Yellow Water Cruises

Ran by the Indigenous-owned Kakadu Tourism, the Yellow Water Cruises offer a year-round boat cruise along the ever-changing Ngurrungurrudjba (Yellow Water) Billabong. It is recommended to take the cruise during sunrise or sunset when the wildlife is most active but many visitors undertake more than one cruise during their stay to experience the changes in wildlife at different times of the day. While cruising along the tranquil wetland there is an abundance of wildlife to encounter, up to 60 different bird species, saltwater crocodiles, wild horses, buffalo, and wallabies all in their natural habitat.

Warradjan Culture Centre

Warradjan Culture Centre was developed by the Aboriginal traditional owners of Kakadu to help tell their story. Displays include artifacts, bush tucker, and local artwork. During the dry season (April – September) local Aboriginal artists often conduct demonstrations here from painting to traditional weaving techniques and the kids are always welcome to join in.

Waterfalls at Kakadu National Park

There are so many stunning waterfalls to choose from at Kakadu National Park its hard to know where to start. Some can be a little more difficult to access than others and depending on your family’s level of hiking, its always a good idea to check with the Bowali Visitor Centre to see which falls would best suit your family. Here are our picks that are easily accessible but still have spectacular views and perfect swimming holes.

Gunlom plunge pool

Only a 100 metre walk from the carpark this sandy beach-like pool is perfect for young families. A shallow entry means the smallest members can splash by the edge while the more adventurous can swim to the waterfall. Gunlom is a seasonal waterfall and best visited in the early dry season (May – June); however, the bottom pool remains swimmable usually until August-September. (Gunlom waterfalls pictured below)

Maguk

Maguk requires a little more of a walk-in with a rocky 2km track. However, the effort is worth it when you reach the stunning turquoise pool. This waterfall is spring-fed so it flows year-round, which makes it a perfect stop even for travelers visiting later in the year when other falls start to dry up. Seasonal closures do still occur due to crocodile movement, so always check with the visitor centre before your visit.

Igoymarrwa

Igoymarrwa is a small crystal clear plunge pool located in the southern end of the park. Although a short drive in from the main Kakadu Highway, you will still require a 4WD. The waterfall however is just a short walk from the carpark opening up to a lush little oasis. (Igoymarrwa pictured above)

Jim Jim and Twin Falls

If you happen to visit Kakadu during the wet season (October – April) a scenic flight over Jim Jim and Twin Falls is an experience you will never forget. You can choose between a light aircraft or helicopter, with flights leaving from both Jabiru and Cooinda airstrips.

Magical sunsets at Kakadu

There’s a number of sites to take in the incredible Kakadu sunset but here are our top three.
1. Gunlom Top Pools – Gunlom is perched at the top of a waterfall. You can take in not only some of the best views in Kakadu but watch as the sunset lights up the bush and surrounding escarpment.
2. Ubirr Rock Art site – This point is overlooking the Nadab floodplain. It’s a stunning cultural site where you’ll feel as though you’re on a set from a movie scene. Channel your inner Lion King while watching the sun set into the horizon and the birds find their way to roost for the night. Ubirr is also home to some of the oldest artwork in the world, with galleries dating back thousands of years.
3. Nawurlandja Lookout – Nawurlandja overlooks the mighty Burrungkuy rock and Anbangbang billabong. The sun here sets behind you but you have front row seats to a spectacular display as Burrungkuy escarpment transforms before your eyes with the setting sun. (pictured below)
How to get to Kakadu National Park with kids

Kakadu National Park is approximately 250km south of Darwin. If you fly into Darwin you can hire a car to explore the park on your own terms. Alternatively, you can join one of the many tours on offer, but be prepared these are often rushed and on a strict time schedule. We recommend 5-7 days to explore the park at a leisurely pace and to really explore all Kakadu has to offer.

When planning your visit keep in mind the scale of the Park, 200km from North to South. Many attractions are a full day out. If hiring your own vehicle, we highly recommend a 4WD. While much of the park is still accessible via 2WD, it will limit the sites you can visit, particularly, the waterfalls.

Where to stay at Kakadu National Park with kids

Kakadu National Park has a range of accommodation options to suit most budgets. Cooinda Lodge Kakadu, Aurora Kakadu Lodge and Caravan Park, and Anbinik Kakadu Resort all offer a range of air-conditioned cabins, eco tents or unpowered and powered campsites. For those looking for a little more luxury on their visit be sure to check out the Mecure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel, which has been built to resemble a crocodile!

There are, of course, many campgrounds throughout Kakadu if you have your own camping gear. We love the campgrounds at Gunlom, Mardukal, and Garnamarr.

It is always a good idea to check in with the staff at the Bowali Visitor Centre before your visit to get the most up to date reports on road conditions, site openings. You can also get more in-depth information about the walks, level of difficulty, and whether they are suitable for you and your family.

Our land has a big story. Sometimes we tell a little bit at a time. Come and hear our stories, see our land. A little might stay in your hearts. If you want more, you can come back.”

Jacob Nayinggul, Manilargarr Clan

About the author

Jodie is a mum of two little adventurers living in the Top End of Australia. With a passion for nature and a lust for adventure, she is always exploring with her two littles in new and exciting places or special old favourites.

You can find more from Jodie online in the following locations:
Website: territorymama.com
Instagram: @territorymama
ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, CANOE/KAYAK, FAMILY TRAVEL, INFORMATION, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Family Travel: Sunriver Resort, Oregon
- October 5, 2020
Adventure is out there for those that know where to look! And we love sharing those hidden-gem locations that are jam-packed with outdoor activities for the entire family. Today, our Creative Team member Araceli Gonzalez, a California mom of three and adventure-seeker, is here sharing her family’s recent experience at Sunriver Resort just outside of Bend, Oregon. While travel may not be possible for everyone right now, we highly encourage you to bookmark this post and immediately add Sunriver Resort to your travel bucket list for your next outdoor adventure getaway!

*This post was sponsored by Sunriver Resort. All opinions expressed and photos contained herein belong to the author.

Sunriver Resort in Bend, Oregon

If you are looking for sunshine 300 days out of the year, Sunriver, Oregon is waiting for you! This region of the PNW experiences a warm-summer Mediterranean climate and lots of sunshine year-round. In Sunriver, you will find a little gem known as Sunriver Resort. Sunriver is located about 15 miles south of Bend, Oregon right at the foot of the Cascade Mountains. The Deschutes River (a major tributary of the Columbia River) runs right through this beautiful resort and alongside the bike trails and golf courses.

If you’re looking for a fun getaway with plenty of adventure right at your doorstep, Sunriver Resort has so much to keep the entire family entertained, occupied and having fun outside. We spent a few glorious end of summer days enjoying this beautiful resort and absolutely loved every minute. I’m so excited to share our experience with you and encourage you to consider adding Sunriver Resort to your “must-see” list as soon as you can. This place is a true gem. My family and I will definitely be back. Sunriver may just be our new summer tradition.

Outdoor adventures at Sunriver Resort

The best way to get around Sunriver Resort is on a bicycle. Bike to grab your morning coffee, go shopping at the village square, dine at beautiful restaurants, all while filling your day with outdoor adventure and exercise. Every activity is within biking distance. If you don’t want to bring your own bikes, the Bike Barn has over 300 bikes ready to ride! Bikes are available first-come, first-serve and rentals include a helmet, lock and bike map.

Biking is definitely the most popular outdoor activity in the area and something this resort is known for. The bike trails are extensive, impressive and exquisite! Ride alongside the Deschutes River or through the forest on over 40 miles of paved bike paths and some of the best mountain biking trails in Oregon.

Horseback riding at Sunriver

One of the highlights during our stay was our visit to Sunriver Trail Rides. It is a magnificent Horse Ranch with over 54 beautiful horses. Sunriver offers guided trail rides in the spring, summer and fall for all experience levels, as well as pony rides for kids ages 2-6. If you need a lesson or refresher course, they also offer horseback riding lessons for those that want to polish up their riding skills.

We spent the day riding along the river and across stunning meadows. My youngest enjoyed a pony ride while the rest of us set out on “The Great Meadow Experience.” We saw coyote, deer, and other wildlife roaming through these serene meadows, which was just spectacular!

Also, this is a great place to meet genuine real-life cowboys! How about that? If you do the ride, you will get to experience a trail ride led by a real-life cowboy who will not only teach you, but entertain you with incredible stories and tales of cowboy life. These two had so much to talk about as we galloped down the meadow.

We also made friends with the most amazing horses. My children absolutely fell in love with these gentle animals and within minutes, they were the best of friends.

We spent the entire day horseback riding and getting to know these beautiful creatures. I love adventures where we can slow down and really take it all in. This adventure was one that I will always remember for it’s calm and soothing experience. The entire day felt relaxed, un-rushed, fun and grounding. It was such a great way to spend our last days of summer.

Deschutes River float trips at Sunriver Resort

The next day, we set out on a water adventure down the Deschutes River. A quick bike ride from the resort and we explored a 6 mile stretch of the Deschutes River. This is such a great way to see the beauty of this entire area. You can float, kayak, or paddle down the river on a raft, canoe, kayak or paddleboard. All rentals are available at the Sunriver Marina and include life jackets, paddles and a shuttle ride back to the marina at the end of the float.

We rented canoes and slowly made our way down the river. This felt just like a real-life lazy river, only better! The scenery was incredible, the company was fantastic and the weather was perfect. We stopped for snacks along the way and enjoyed a slow morning cruising down the river. We had so much fun floating down this picturesque river while lazy ducks moved right along with us!

Sunriver Resort pool

And last, no trip to Sunriver Resort would be complete without a trip to the pool! The Cove pool is the resort’s outdoor pool and is zero-entry (great for little ones). It also has a hot tub, private cabanas, a waterslide, nature walk and discovery area, a poolside restaurant, lakeside trails, and a spacious deck and lawn. My kids absolutely LOVED the rock slide. The pool offers gorgeous mountain views and was such a serene experience.

Adventures for everyone

Sunriver Resort is the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation for the whole family. The adults had just as much fun as the kids and we all got to do something (multiple things, actually) we loved. Our days were filled with so much adventure and we never had to leave the resort. The location is inviting and offers so much fun for the entire family and we are already making our list of what we’ll do when we come back. Because, we will definitely be back!

Have you been to Sunriver Resort in Oregon?
What activity would you be most excited about?

About the author

Araceli is a wife and momma to three wild and adventurous littles. She believes that nature and free play are truly the foundation to a beautiful childhood. Araceli and her husband have made it a priority to raise their children with a strong bond to the great outdoors. Araceli is a working mom with an extensive career in Project Management. She’s creative, crafty and loves collecting houseplants. As a family, they love exploring wild places and she loves documenting their adventures.

Find more from Araceli in the following locations:
Instagram: @roaminggonzalez
All RWMC posts: Araceli
FAMILY TRAVEL, NATIONAL PARKS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Visiting the Black Hills of South Dakota with Kids
- August 10, 2020
The Black Hills are a small and isolated mountain range in western South Dakota. The name “Black Hills” is a translation of the Lakota Pahá Sápa. They were called “black” because of their dark (tree-covered) appearance from a distance. With over five million acres of forest and mountain lands, you’ll also find rich western history, abundant natural beauty, and outdoor adventure. Today, we have Natalia Pollard of @ThisAdventureFamily here, with tips for visiting the Black Hills in South Dakota with kids, where to stay while you’re there, and all the must-see attractions!

Black Hills of South Dakota

The Black Hills region of western South Dakota is an outdoor recreational paradise. Monuments, wildlife, rugged mountains, caverns and scenic drives are just a few things that you should put on your list when visiting South Dakota. The area covers over 10,000 square miles of vast prairies, grasslands, badlands landscapes, and rugged mountains. Year-round opportunities for outdoor adventures abound, and beg to be explored and experienced by families and kids of all ages.

The Black Hills is home to large herds of buffalo, wild mustangs and burros. The world’s largest collection of reptiles. Wall Drug. Six theme and amusement parks. Museums, galleries, and music festivals. Dig sites of prehistoric mammoths and dinosaur exhibits. Crazy Horse Memorial. The Black Hills National Forest and Badlands National Park. Old West shootouts, rodeos and cowboy supper shows. Custer State Park. Hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, camping, trail riding. Historic Deadwood and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Mouth Rushmore.

The best time to visit the Black Hills

While there is an abundance of things to do in South Dakota during all seasons of the year, the absolute best time to visit is late Spring and early Fall. During these times, the daytime temperature is ideal for exploring the beautiful Black Hills and the places aren’t as crowded as during South Dakota’s peak season which runs from June to August.

An important thing to note is that while the daytime temperatures are very comfortable in the summertime, it can dip significantly in the nighttime, so plan accordingly.

Where to stay in the Black Hills

The best way to explore all that the Black Hills have to offer is to stay right in the heart of it! Whether you’re traveling in an RV, tent camping or using lodging facilities, your options are many. We stayed at the Center Lake Campground for one week in our 29 feet Travel Trailer. Campgrounds in Custer State Park fill up quickly. We suggest making reservations way ahead of your visit!

Some of the other popular campgrounds that offer all types of stay (RV, tent and cabins) are Bluebell Campground, Game Lodge and Stockade Campground. Beware, some of the roads in the Black Hills are very narrow, windy and with sharp turns. There are also three tunnels that will not allow an RV through them. Make sure you pick up a map at the entrance to the park so you can see where the tunnels are.

Top 5 must-see outdoor places in the Black Hills

With so many amazing sites to see and places to explore, it’s hard to narrow it down to only five! We spent a week in the area and still didn’t cover everything. There truly is something for everyone. This means you can plan your trip according to your family’s interests and hobbies. Whether you’re a history buff, an outdoor adventure junkie, an avid hiker, a water lover or a foodie, there’s something for you!

1. Custer State Park

The number one attraction in the Black Hills is Custer State Park. This 71,000-acre park is abundant with wildlife and adventure! Nearly 1,300 bison wander the park with pronghorn antelope, elk, mountain goats and a band of burros. It features nine campgrounds, at least five large beautiful lakes with clear mountain waters, hiking and biking trails, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, camping, chuckwagon suppers, fishing, jeep safaris and much more. There is truly something for everyone in Custer State Park!

2. Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake is the most popular Lake in the Black Hills. It’s a favorite of anyone who has visited it. Sylvan Lake is so picturesque that you will end up photographing it from all the angles. Every picture will be just beautiful! There are a lot of amenities at Sylvan Lake – a lodge with fine dining, campsites, swimming beach, hiking trails, boat rentals, fishing, rock climbing, you name it!

Sylvan Lake can take the whole day to visit, make sure you arrive early to get a parking spot as it fills up fast. We did some hiking first and by the time we were done, we were ready to cool off in the lake! Sylvan Lake Shore Trail takes you around the lake, it is an easy trail with a few places to scramble some large rocks. If you have time and would like to take on a moderate trail – definitely check out Sunday Gulch Trail, it’s amazing, but not suitable for toddlers. Bring good waterproof hiking shoes!

3. Wildlife Loop Road

If you’re looking to view some wildlife, make sure to take a drive down Wildlife Loop Road. It stretches for 18 miles through open grasslands and hills, winding up and down. Depending on the time of day that you visit, you might be able to spot herds of buffalo, wild burros, antelope, deer, elk, prairie dogs, eagles and other birds. Wild burros are very friendly. If you’re lucky enough to run into them, make sure to stop and let them say hello to you! Besides all the wildlife, you will also see a variety of beautiful wildflowers. The best time to take a drive down the Wildlife Loop Road is usually in the morning or at the sundown, when the animals are most active.

4. Spearfish Canyon

If you’re up for another scenic drive, then head to the Northern part of the Black Hills to take in the scenery of Spearfish Canyon. Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway is such a beautiful drive with towering palisades on both sides, Spearfish creek lining the base of the canyon and three waterfalls to explore on your drive. Bridal Veil Falls, Spearfish Falls and Roughlock Falls can be found right off the byway and feature both, lower and upper levels for viewing the falls. We suggest that you choose to hike down to the lower viewing areas as the views are so worth it!

5. Badlands National Park

No visit to the Black Hills is complete without making a stop at Badlands National Park. Located south of Rapid City, near the town of Wall, this National Park is full of dramatic landscape boasting many layered rock formations, steep canyons, and towering spires. Take the scenic road through the park and stop at many lookouts! Most of the hiking trails are located near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Notch trail and Door trail are two of the most popular trails in the park. We suggest that you hike early in the morning or closer to sundown, as there is no shade at the Badlands.

Exploring the Black Hills with kids

Regardless of what kind of outdoor activity you prefer, you will surely find something amazing to do at the Black Hills of South Dakota. From the faces on Mount Rushmore and the Spires of Custer State Park to the caverns of Wind Cave National Park, and the alien feel of the Badlands, the Black Hills area is home to some truly monumental places. Year-round activities, fun attractions, and lots of outdoor adventures make this an amazing place to visit with kids. I hope this inspires you to plan a trip to the Black Hills soon!

Have you ever been to the Black Hills?
What’s your favorite outdoor thing to do there?

About the author

Hi, I’m Natalia Pollard, mom, wife, and adventure seeker. After becoming a mom to my two boys, I developed a deep appreciation for nature, being in the wild and exploring new places. On a regular day, you can find us checking out a new park, splashing in a lake somewhere, or taking a hike together. As a family, we always try to immerse ourselves in nature and connect with each other and the Earth. That’s why we have recently started our full-time RV life and it has brought us even closer.

Follow along with our adventures in the following locations:
Blog: This Adventure Family
Instagram: @ThisAdventureFamily
Facebook: @ThisAdventureFamily
YouTube Channel: This Adventure Family
FAMILY TRAVEL, HIKE, NATIONAL PARKS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER
Exploring Capitol Reef National Park with Kids
- July 3, 2020
Exploring national parks can be an amazing experience for families. One of Utah’s most beautiful and underrated parks is Capitol Reef National Park. This park is great for hiking, learning about new cultures, camping, appreciating natural beauty, bonding as a family, finding yourself, and so much more. Today, we have Katie Fox, a full-time RV-traveling mom of 2, here with everything you need to know about exploring Capitol Reef National Park with kids.

Exploring Capitol Reef National Park with kids

Our family loves exploring national parks. However, one big problem with national parks is that they’re usually huge and have so many neat places to explore. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if you are anything like me, the list of things to do and places to see can be daunting and overwhelming when trying to plan your adventure. This is especially true when you factor in planning a trip that accommodates the needs and desires of small children. Never fear! I’ve got your back. I’m here to share everything you need to know to plan a successful, family-friendly weekend adventure exploring Capitol Reef National Park with kids.

Capitol Reef kid-friendly hiking trails

There are numerous hiking opportunities at Capitol Reef. The options can feel overwhelming if you don’t know much about the area. Here are a couple of kid-friendly hiking trails in Capitol Reef that are easy to squeeze into an adventure-packed weekend in the park.

Sulphur Creek Waterfall Trail

Sulphur Creek Waterfall Trail in Capitol Reef National Park is a 1.8-mile round trip hike. It’s easy and, while it is a full sun hike, it’s a really great way to beat the heat! The trail begins right behind the visitor center and follows the shallow Sulphur Creek as it meanders through red rock canyons. We walked in the creek almost the entire time. The water helped keep us nice and cool.

If that isn’t amazing enough, it ends at a large swimming hole and small waterfall. The swimming hole is murky brown because of the red clay bottom. The water temperature is perfect! There is just something surreal and wondrous about taking a dip surrounded by the lovely red rock canyon walls. The best part? Even if you don’t make it to the waterfall and swimming hole, you and your little hikers can still play in the creek and enjoy the amazing views.

Hickman Bridge Trail

Hickman Bridge Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Capitol Reef National Park. If you are looking to avoid crowds, this one may not be for your family. Full disclosure, this 1.8-mile round trip hike is in full sun and has some elevation gain that is sure to tire little legs. If you’re up for it, I recommend hiking this one in the morning, when the temperatures are cooler.

The trail does offer stunning views, such as the ruins of a granary and the foundation of a pithouse used by the Fremont Culture, as well as the smaller Nels Johnson Bridge. If you, like our family and many overly ambitious parents before you, attempt this hike and find you aren’t up for finishing it, just know you are not alone!

Gooseneck Overlook

This .2 mile round trip hike (yes, you read that right), is at the end of a washboard dirt road. If you and your vehicle are up for the bumpy ride, the overlook is beautiful. We even saw an adorable snake chasing a lizard, which obviously captivated the children more than the beautiful view.

Capitol Reef kid-friendly activities

There are lots of other kid-friendly activities to do at the park besides hike. These are the experiences that really make Capitol Reef distinct from the other nearby national parks. They really add that extra something special.

Fruit picking in historic pioneer orchards

Yes, that is correct! There are fruit trees in the historic town of Fruita. You are able to meander through them and pick fruit to your heart’s content. They have apricots, cherries, apples, mulberries, plums, peaches, walnuts, and more. They bag and charge for what you leave the orchard with, so be prepared with cash. Check the Capitol Reef website to find out which fruit is ripe for the picking when you go, because orchards are notoriously finicky. Avoid my mistake and speak with a ranger or call ahead to double-check which fruit is available. We went in early June and nothing was ready yet. My kids were expecting a fruit picking experience and it was unfortunate to have it end up being unavailable.

Pies at Gifford House

Nothing lifts people’s spirits quite like pie, right? If you do happen to follow in my footsteps and the orchards are not available, grab a fruit pie at Gifford House! Gifford House is a restored Mormon pioneer house that operates as a small storefront. Inside the store, you’ll find delicious fresh-baked pies, cinnamon rolls, sourdough bread, homemade ice cream, replicas of items pioneers would use in daily life, and more. Once you purchase your pie (or various other goodies), there is a lovely grass area right out front where you can sit and enjoy your treats while taking in the spectacular red rock walls.

Be on the lookout for marmots

Have you ever seen a marmot? I realize marmots are not just in Capitol Reef National Park, but we’d never seen them before. These adorable little creatures inhabit the area of Fruita. There are signs along the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive warning of their frequent road crossing. If you happen to see one, count yourself lucky. Plus, a sighting may also lend itself nicely to learning more about the chunky little creatures.

Capitol Reef Scenic Drive

If your little hikers are tired of all the walking, or if it’s too hot to be outside, consider a driving tour of the park. The Capitol Reef Scenic Drive is a sixteen-mile round-trip drive and is absolutely stunning. It offers a lot of different views of the park and all the areas. Not to mention, there are weather permitting offshoot dirt roads you can venture down and explore. Capitol Gorge Road and the highly recommended Grand Wash Road meander through tall rock canyon walls and provide more beautiful views. Even if you skip the detours, the drive is lovely and has pull outs for you to stop and take photos or just linger to soak in the views.

Earn a Junior Ranger badge

The chance to earn a Junior Ranger badge is available at almost all national parks and is a great way to round out your trip. With my kids, this experience always adds some additional fun (and learning) to our park adventures. The Junior Ranger booklets are chock-full of information about the park, including geology, plants, animals, Leave No Trace practices, and the former peoples and cultures to inhabit the land.

As part of the Junior Ranger program in Capitol Reef, you must attend a ranger talk. There are so many amazing options, including bats, geology, the Fremont culture, and more. Plus, if you turn in your completed booklets, you get a badge and sworn in as a Junior Ranger. If your little ones are like mine and struggle with the end of a trip, the swearing-in process is a wonderful send-off and makes leaving a little easier for everyone.

Explore the cultures at Capitol Reef National Park

One of my favorite things about national parks is how they try to incorporate information about the cultures and people that inhabited the land before it became federally protected land. Here are a couple of kid-friendly activities and options to incorporate cultural learning and bring awareness to your adventures at Capitol Reef.

Explore the historic town of Fruita

If you have time, Fuita is a little pioneer town full of buildings to explore and things to see. An old-school house, a barn, Gifford House (as mentioned above), a nature center (which due to Covid-19 we were unable to explore), and more. There are signs to provide some information about each building too. I found it really neat to share with my children how the Fremont people lived in the area before the Mormon pioneers and how each culture was different. I am a total history nerd and very much enjoy learning these types of things.

Petroglyph Point

Petroglyph Point is a short trail right off the main road. This is such a lovely stop and I highly recommend it. There are several spots to view the petroglyphs created by the Fremont culture and some are in amazing shape. My little ones tried to guess what each symbol meant and we looked them up later in a petroglyph handbook we picked up at the visitor center.

Capitol Reef National Park resources

There are so many amazing things to do while exploring Capitol Reef National Park with kids. This is a small list of all the amazing things Capitol Reef has to offer. The Capitol Reef website provides a variety of other options, and even has a section for visiting with children.

Looking for some more information to make your trip the best it can be? Read up here for some more tips from Run Wild My Child.
- A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking with Kids
- Hiking With a Toddler
What’s your favorite place to explore in Capitol Reef National Park?

About the author

Katie lives in a tiny home on wheels and travels full-time with her two mostly wild children, tech-minded partner, two well-traveled pups, and adopted pet snail. As they wander the North American continent, Katie explores as much as possible, with a particular fondness state and national parks. When not trekking through the outdoors, Katie enjoys baking, homeschooling, consuming mochas from local coffee shops across the continent, practicing her photography skills, and soaking up as much knowledge as she can. As an advocate for families exploring the great outdoors, Katie co-founded a Hike it Baby branch in her hometown in Northern California. Katie has a Master’s degree in human development from the University of Missouri, Columbia, but her passion is really history and humanities (which is coincidentally what her Bachelor’s degrees are in). She currently volunteers on the Hike it Baby National team as a contributing blogger.

You can find more from Katie online in the following locations:
Instagram: @familyinwanderland
Website: http://www.familyinwanderland.com
Facebook: @familyinwanderland
FAMILY TRAVEL, INFORMATION, NATIONAL PARKS
Tips for a COVID-Safe Roadtrip with Kids
- June 29, 2020
Traveling looks much different right now than it looked last summer. With the COVID-19 pandemic still happening across our country (and the world), there are more restrictions on travel and lots of precautions and considerations that must be taken before leaving, along the way, and while you’re at your destination. Today, Nichole, a homeschooling mom of 2 and road-tripping expert, is here with some COVID-safe roadtrip health and safety precautions that families should consider in order to keep themselves and others safe.

Please note – any decisions to travel are highly personal and we encourage you to take note of the risks, do your research, consider your doctor’s advice, assess your family’s health and make your own informed choice. Do not travel if anyone in your family is sick or running a fever. The information shared here cannot guarantee anyone’s health or safety and is not meant to be divisive or comprehensive. Please do not travel through Indigenous communities at this time. This post contains affiliate links.

Making the decision to travel during a pandemic

Summer started months ago for many of us. Usually, by this time of year, the kids and I have been on the road for several extended trips already. As states began to reopen, we made the tough decision to drive from Arkansas to Arizona to surprise my Mom for her birthday. We hadn’t seen her in nine months and she lives two states away (one of those states is Texas). My husband and I talked for a week before we made a decision about the trip and it was not an easy decision to make. We decided to go with the idea that we’d be diligent, overly-cautious, and not take any unnecessary risks.

Road-tripping during a pandemic is a scary prospect, even more so to do it with children. There are a lot of things to consider and a lot of things we’d need to do differently for this trip. However, I found that by taking some protective measures, along with a few changes to our typical routine, we had a great COVID-safe roadtrip experience! Today, I’d like to share some of the steps I took to make our trip safe and successful.

Laying the plans and making tough decisions

I’ve made this drive at least five times already, but this time would be different. Normally, I am not one to stress over road trips, but if I’m being honest, this one made me worry. I approached our road trip planning (which is also a foreign concept to me as I rarely plan these shenanigans) with an overabundance of caution. We talked about all the options for overnights: camping versus hotels versus AirBnB‘s versus sleeping in the car.

After seeing if my kids and I could squeeze in the back of our Subaru Outback (not really), we decided against that option. I prefer more remote, dispersed camping, so public campgrounds with shared bathrooms were not an option for me during this trip. We don’t have an RV (though renting one may be a great solution!). After looking into the status of forest lands, I decided we would avoid them. Some lands are still closed within New Mexico and Arizona, and it is advisable to avoid Indigenous communities entirely due to the COVID outbreak. That left hotels and vacation rentals – both of which have their own issues and restrictions, but they were the best and safest option for us.

COVID-related safety precautions while roadtripping

Our final decision was to make the drive in two days rather than three, to minimize exposure. After careful research, our opinion was that hotels were probably the cleanest they’d ever been and I felt okay about staying in hotels. I picked a Drury Inn in our destination for day one (Albuquerque) and we left at home at 6 AM.

We are no strangers to long days in the car, but this one was different. Most of our favorite stopping points were either closed or not the best idea to visit. Palo Duro Canyon and Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. The Blue Hole in Santa Rosa and Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. Not everything was closed – the Texas State Parks are open but require advance tickets purchased online and there are capacity limitations in place.

One of the great things about traveling out west (or anywhere) with a highly capable vehicle, is the ability to roll down unknown roads to find a breaking spot. We took several rest breaks along back roads and side roads. We avoided people and got the chance to experience some beautiful countryside.

COVID-related hotel safety precautions

After a long 13 hour day of driving, we finally pulled into a familiar Drury Inn (we’d stayed there two times before). I wasn’t sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised upon our arrival to find the hotel very quiet with hardly any cars in the parking lot. The check-in process was smooth, all the employees and guests wore masks (my children and I included; it was required in the lobby). I was impressed with their social distancing measures in place.

To minimize any exposures, I carried one backpack into our room with what we would need for the night, plus our electronics. I wiped down any surfaces we would touch and we all relaxed for a moment while I ordered Panera for pick up. The restaurant was in the parking lot for the hotel and was incredibly convenient. Our hotel room was impeccably clean and any blankets, throw pillows, or comforters had been removed from the room so the beds only had sheets and pillows. We found that staying in a hotel and getting food to go felt perfectly safe with the excessive protective measures in place.

Roadtripping pit stops during a pandemic

We left Albuquerque the next day at 5 AM (mainly because my kids wake up ridiculously early). I stopped at a Starbucks because I know they require employees to wear masks and gloves. A few hours down the road (and every cheesy photo op along the way) we made a stop on a random dirt road off the interstate. That turned out to be a great choice because my kids got out to run free, I made some more coffee and even got their bikes down for them to burn some energy off.

When we needed to stop for gas, we took extra precautions. When pumping gas, I used a paper towel as a barrier between my hand and the gas pump. I wiped my card down after inserting it into the card reader. I brought my own hand soap to use in the bathrooms and sanitized my hands immediately after getting gas or going inside. If we went inside a gas station, we all wore masks.

The bathroom situation…

There’s one question that I know you’re wondering about, so let’s just get it out there. Yes, we also used the bathroom there. No, I didn’t bring a toilet along. And yes, we adhered to Leave No Trace principles. Yes, that kind of bathroom stop too.

I planned for roadside bathroom breaks and brought along toilet paper and a disposable bag to put used toilet paper in and planned to throw away at our next gas stop. Public bathrooms don’t totally terrify me, but we found it faster and smoother (less exposure) to use back roads and side roads for this COVID-safe trip. Depending on where you’re traveling, this option isn’t always possible, but it made us feel safer.

Here are few roadside bathroom break tips:
- urinate on hard surfaces;
- dig cat-holes for number two;
- bring extra toilet paper and/or flushable wet wipes;
- bring a disposable bag to store any used toilet paper with you;
- if you need privacy, open both passenger doors and hide in between them;
- if you are traveling with younger children, bringing a small, portable toilet for the little ones to use.
National Parks are re-opening…slowly

We also stopped at Petrified Forest National Park along the way, thanks to our Annual Parks Pass. I researched ahead of time to make sure the park was open and read about any restrictions or cautions. There were not many crowds and nearly everyone wore masks at any potentially crowded stops. Luckily, we had nearly every stop to ourselves. Most people were really great about keeping distance and being respectful of space. It also felt good to get out and stretch for a while.

When visiting a national park this time of year, it’s important to go early, bring sun protection, and carry plenty of water. We hiked the relatively short Blue Mesa loop and enjoyed the views of the Painted Desert along the way. If you plan on visiting a national park (or any park) along your way, do your research. It’s imperative that you check websites ahead of time for closures or capacity limits. Some parks are requiring reservations via advance ticket purchases. Please be respectful and obey city/state guidelines, especially within Indigenous communities. To learn more about recreating responsibly, please take some time to read this guide.

Things to bring on a COVID-safe roadtrip

Before heading out, we added a few things to our packing list to make this a COVID-safe roadtrip. I realize that wearing masks is a contentious topic (we’re not here to debate this), but they are required for some states. I am a practiced sewist, and made masks for my family with pockets for medical-grade filters. You can order masks from many different outlets now, depending on what your preferences are. My “clean all the things” bag contained: two kinds of hand sanitizer, a hand sanitizer in spray format, antibacterial wipes, baby wipes, Lysol spray, and extra masks.

I also decided to pack our food for breakfast and lunch. Snacks, drinks and a cooler are all a must. I’m okay with ordering food to go, but thought that eating out only for dinner would minimize any risks. Coffee is a necessity for me when I’m doing these massive solo road trips, and our backpacking stove is a great tool for making coffee on the road. Paired with my JavaDrip, it’s a fairly quick and easy process.

I would also recommend a backpack to carry things into a hotel for an overnight stay. Choose one that large enough to hold things for the whole family, so you’re not taking in multiple suitcases. My kids were not allowed to bring their stuffed animals into the hotel just to minimize any exposures. For more about my solo travel safety tips (and my backpack system) check out THIS post.

COVID-safe roadtrip recommendations & tips

Wherever you’re going, read ahead and do your research! Now is not necessarily the time for spontaneity and winging it along the way. Call ahead, check websites, ask questions, get suggestions and make reservations. Campgrounds are filling up fast due to more people camping and utilizing RV travel. Some parks are open, some are not. All of these things can be researched before you go to minimize stress, inconvenience and confusion. Also, bear in mind that the guidelines for masks vary from city to city and state to state. Bring them and be prepared to wear them (or make alternative plans if you choose not to).

Before leaving the house, lay out a tentative route plan, but allow for flexibility. We noted two small towns along our way that were closed to outside visitors. Knowing this let us plan ahead for pit stops. One of my favorite things I’d highly recommend is cheesy photo ops along the way! Say yes to these! You may not be able to get into the museums or attractions, but you can grab some super fun photos to commemorate your journey. Most of these are free from people and you don’t have to touch anything. Plus, it’s a great way to get out and stretch your legs. Atlas Obscura is one of my favorite resources for finding these fun photo ops. Just remember to be respectful of private property and follow local rules and guidelines.

The payoff

The main (well, and only) reason we made this big trip was to surprise my Mom for her birthday. She had absolutely no idea we were coming and I sneaky planned it with the help of my stepdad. My husband wasn’t able to come along due to work commitments, but gave me his full support for this endeavor. We could barely contain our excitement, nor could we wait for 6:30 AM, the decided-upon time to surprise her.

I hauled cardboard boxes with us from home. I bet my parent’s neighbors were very curious as to why I was assembling boxes on the corner so early in the morning. We tiptoed our way down the street and my kids hid in the boxes on the front step. I rang the doorbell then hid around the corner. It was without a doubt the BEST surprise of my life! I’ll never forget the joy and happiness when my Mom realized it was my kids in those boxes. We. Missed. Our. Family. Friends, I know you do too. I encourage you to take the trip. Do so with caution, but not with fear. For some extra-happy goodness, check out the full surprise video HERE. 100% worth it.

COVID-safe roadtrip resources

For a full list of the things we brought along to make this trip safe- click HERE.

For a list of helpful things to entertain kids on long trips – click HERE.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram at coleyraeh to see all of our adventures and shenanigans, including the return trip home.

You can read more about our family on my website.

Thanks for reading friends, if you have any questions please feel free to message me on Instagram or send me an email.

About the author

Nichole is mama to two incredible adventurers, an older boy and a younger girl, and they are on their fifth year of homeschooling. She has been married to her best friend for nearly thirteen years and they share a mutual love for the outdoors. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. She is a wanderlust (and coffee) fueled, fearless, road-tripper who has been known to take off for epic adventures at a moment’s notice. Hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety) and crystal digging are a few of their favorite family activities. You can usually find her in the woods somewhere (probably up a creek and jumping off waterfalls), or on an epic road-tripping adventure with the kids.

You can find Nichole online in the following locations:
Website: http://www.luckeywanderers.com
Instagram: @coleyraeh
RWMC posts: Nichole
CAMP, FAMILY TRAVEL, NATIONAL PARKS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Top 5 Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park with Kids
- December 9, 2019
Yellowstone National Park is the oldest and one of the most spectacular national parks. This 3,500 square-mile wilderness recreation area sits atop a volcanic hot spot, in Wyoming. Yellowstone features dramatic canyons, alpine rivers, lush forests, hot springs and gushing geysers. It’s also home to hundreds of animal species, including bears, wolves, bison, elk, and antelope. With so much to do and see, planning a visit to Yellowstone with kids can be overwhelming. However, we have Kathleen White, photographer and full-time RV mom of three, here sharing her family’s top 5 things to do in Yellowstone National Park with kids. Plus, she’s got lots of great info on how to get to all these places and what to expect while you’re there. If you’re planning a trip to Yellowstone with kids sometime soon, make sure you read and bookmark this post!

Visiting Yellowstone with kids

Have you ever been somewhere where you felt like you were standing on another planet? Where the colors and sounds literally take your breath away? This is exactly what it feels like when visiting Yellowstone National Park. America’s first National Park, with over 2.2. million acres of steaming geysers, colorful springs, and wildlife galore, it has quickly become our family’s favorite National Park.

However, since it is so large it can be overwhelming to try and plan where you should visit, especially if you have kids coming along with you. So, to help make your trip to Yellowstone easier, I’m sharing my top five things to do in Yellowstone National Park with kids, plus info on getting to each location.

Getting there

First, let’s talk about getting into Yellowstone National Park. There are five entrances- North Entrance, Northeast Entrance, South Entrance, East Entrance and West Entrance. For reference, when we visited we entered through the North Entrance and stayed at Mammoth Campground and had to drive about an hour and a half to get to Old Faithful! Here’s a little bit about each to help you decide which way you want to go.
- North Entrance: best if visiting Mammoth Hot Springs and the Boiling River
- Northeast Entrance: best if visiting Lamar Valley
- East Entrance: best if visiting Yellowstone Lake
- South Entrance: best if also wanting to visit Grand Teton National Park
- West Entrance: best if visiting Old Faithful
1. Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs are a must when doing Yellowstone National Park with kids. In the Mammoth area, the hot, acidic solution dissolves large quantities of limestone on its way up through the rock layers to the hot springs on the surface. Above ground and exposed to the air, some of the carbon dioxide escapes from the solution. Without it, the dissolved limestone can’t remain in the solution, so it reforms into a solid mineral. This white, chalky mineral is deposited as the travertine that forms the terraces. Although these springs lie outside the caldera boundary, their energy has been attributed to the same magmatic system that fuels other Yellowstone geothermal areas. But they are so different from other thermal areas. They’ve been described as looking like a cave turned inside out!

To get to the terraces at Mammoth Hot Spring, use the boardwalk to walk all along the terraces and view unreal springs, full of colors and steam. Liberty Cap is probably the most famous landmark of the Lower Terrace. This hot spring cone was named in 1871 for its resemblance to the peaked caps worn during the French Revolution. Minerva Spring is favorite because of its wide range of colors and intricate travertine formations.

Don’t put off walking to the top, it’s worth it, even with kids! You can access the upper boardwalk from the one-way Upper Terrace Drive and parking lot. The road winds among springs for 1.5 miles before it loops back for a half-mile.

2. Have a picnic with elk by the Albright Visitor Center

After hiking through Mammoth Hot Springs you’re going to be hungry! Located by the hot spring is Albright Visitor Center. This historic structure was built by the United States Army in 1909 as bachelor officers’ quarters for the cavalry troops who protected the park before the creation of the National Park Service. This pit stop is outfitted with picnic tables and views of the springs and elk! Gather the kids and picnic with wildlife (just watch out for scat 😜). It also has a bookstore, a backcountry office, restrooms, and free Wi-Fi.

Go inside Albright Visitor Center and talk to a ranger to learn more about the history and wildlife of Yellowstone. Get help planning your trip and stamp your National Parks passport. Kids can also become Junior Rangers and earn a badge.

3. Swim in the Boiling River

Once you have trekked through Mammoth Hot Springs, on your way out you can stop by the Boiling River for a swim! Don’t worry this river isn’t actually boiling. The Boiling River was created where a large hot spring entered the Gardner River. The hot and cool waters mix into a temperature comfortable enough to bathe in. The natural hot tub makes a great place to stop and relax while soaking in the warm water and soaking up the natural beauty of Yellowstone. It is a little bit of a hike to get down there and parking fills up fast in the summer, but it is a must-do if you are visiting Yellowstone with kids.

Pro tips: The Boiling River is closed once it gets dark, so go during the day. It’s open 3 seasons (winter, fall, late summer), but closed during the spring when the river rises and becomes dangerous and often doesn’t open until mid-summer. Take your swimsuit because skinny-dipping is against the rules.

Yellowstone’s Boiling River is located approximately 2 miles north of Mammoth and 2.9 miles south of the park’s North Entrance. This must-stop spot is just south of the 45th Parallel Bridge, located in the Mammoth area of the park. It’s right near the North Entrance to Yellowstone accessed via Gardiner, Mont.

4. See Old Faithful erupt

Old Faithful is obviously the most quintessential thing to do in Yellowstone National Park with kids. Old Faithful is a cone geyser named in 1870 for its frequent and somewhat predictable eruptions. It has erupted every 44 minutes to two hours since 2000. Old Faithful eruptions can vary in height from 100-180 feet with an average near 130-140 feet. Eruptions normally last between 1.5 to 5 minutes.

Because eruptions happen so frequently (about 20 times a day), you can plan when you want to see it around the rest of your schedule for the day. Make sure to get a seat early and listen to the Ranger give amazing facts all about Old Faithful. Like the fact that when you are sitting out there, there is enough magma to fill 13 Grand Canyons. What?!

Old Faithful is located in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin in the southwest section of the park. The geyser-viewing area is the most accessible and visitor-friendly in the park with bench seating, a large parking lot, and a ranger station that tracks the time, height and length of an eruption to predict the next eruption.

5. Admire the Grand Prismatic Spring

Last, but CERTAINLY not least, add a visit the Grand Prismatic Spring to your trip to Yellowstone National Park with kids. Of all the stunning sights that Yellowstone has to offer, the Grand Prismatic Spring is far and away the most majestic and awe-inspiring. At 160 ft (almost 50m) deep, it’s the largest hot spring in the U.S. and the third-largest in the world. The spring’s incredible rainbow colors give it an other-worldly appearance. Needless to say, Grand Prismatic is Yellowstone’s most photographed thermal feature and to many the main reason to visit America’s Oldest National Park.

This was our favorite place we saw while we were there. This area is extremely popular with tourists and it’s important to plan your visit ahead in order to avoid frustration, traffic and massive amounts of people. Also, make sure to give yourself 1 to 2 hours for your visit, more if you are planning to hike to the overlook. Make sure to walk across the bridge past an out of this world steaming spring, to admire the vibrant blue and orange colors of the Grand Prismatic Spring.

As you enter Yellowstone National Park, look for signage to the Midway Geyser Basin. The Grand Prismatic parking lot is incredibly busy and priority seems to be given to the many visiting tour buses. Traffic can be heavy at times and is often impeded by visitors parking along the roads and around the parking lot entrance.

5 things to do in Yellowstone National Park with kids

I hope this list of the 5 best places to visit in Yellowstone National Park with kids helped make planning your adventure less overwhelming. Or, I hope that maybe we inspired you to visit America’s first National Park! Yellowstone is unbelievably amazing and is definitely someplace that everyone should get to experience.

Check out our Yellowstone videos

If you’re more of a visual person, we’ve got you covered! Here are two of our family’s videos of all of these places in Yellowstone we mentioned above. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more of our RV adventures homeschooling, exploring National Parks and living the RV life! I hope you enjoy!

About the author

I’m Kathleen, wife to my high school sweetheart and mama to 3 energetic littles. I’m a photographer in love with telling compelling stories of life’s beautiful chaos and photographing families authentically. I am slightly obsessed with window light, Saturday morning snuggles, and documenting our adventures. We recently took the biggest leap of faith of our lives and are currently traveling full-time around the United States in our RV!

You can follow all our adventures online in the following locations:
Website: http://www.faithboundtravel.com
YouTube: Faith Bound Travel
Instagram: @faithboundtravel
RWMC articles: Kathleen
FAMILY TRAVEL, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Digging for Crystals with Kids
- November 11, 2019
Have you ever considered going on a real-life treasure hunt with your kids? You’ve probably heard of places where you can pan for gold or hunt for geodes, but what about digging for crystals and diamonds? Today, we have Nichole, homeschool mom of two and outdoor adventurer, here sharing her family’s newest hobby, digging for crystals! Did you know that Central Arkansas is home to some of the most amazing clear crystal quartz in the entire world? Nichole walks you through everything you need to know to get started digging for crystals with your kids, from where to go, what to pack, and how to clean them. If anyone’s up for a road trip to dig for crystals, I’m in!

Exploring outdoors Arkansas

Six years ago, our family moved from the Midwest to southern Arkansas. At the time, we had no idea just how much adventure there was to be found in Arkansas. It may not sound like the most interesting state, but there are so many amazing things to do in Arkansas!

As an outdoors-loving family, we are always seeking out new ways to explore the world around us. From hiking to swimming in hot springs, climbing mountains to exploring mines, Arkansas has some of the most amazing natural wonders in the entire Midwest.

We’ve now lived in Arkansas for nearly six years, and we are still finding new ways to spend time together outside!

Arkansas’s unique geology

Last fall, as part of our homeschool studies, I started searching for information about geology in Arkansas. It wasn’t long before we realized that Arkansas is one of the best places in the world for digging for crystals! What I learned was incredible! Arkansas has several veins of high quality, often clear, quartz that formed in the Ouachita mountain range, in central Arkansas.

Quartz is a very common mineral, the second most common on earth and forms under a wide variety of conditions. However, according to geologists, there are only two places in the world with quartz of such high clarity and quality: Arkansas and Brazil.

A new favorite family hobby emerged and now we enjoy heading out to treasure hunt all winter long.

Arkansas diamond mining

Arkansas is also home to one of two places in the world where the general public can mine for diamonds. Crater of Diamonds State Park, also in central Arkansas, is open year-round for diamond hunting.

This was actually where we started our journey of geology studies. While the idea of digging for diamonds was very exciting, we walked away feeling like it wasn’t the best option for our family. It is a very unique experience. While there are chances to find a diamond, it is a lot of work for little reward.

People do find diamonds though! In fact, just the other day a woman found a 3-carat diamond by surface searching. However, the stones are usually very small and not as easy to find, especially for kids. It is still a fun thing to try your luck at, but bear in mind that it may not be as rewarding for children.

A guide for Arkansas crystal hunting

I continued my research and learned that we were very close to one of the best places to mine for quartz crystal! We chose to visit Ron Coleman Crystal Mine, near Hot Springs, Arkansas. This is a commercial quartz mine that often produces some of the most beautiful (and massive) clusters in the world.

In my searching, I also came across an Instagram page run by the nicest couple. Betsy and Dillon of Passion and Prospect were more than willing to help guide us in our geology journey. They answered our questions and even got us started on where to dig.

If you aren’t local to Arkansas and are interested in some crystals from the place that we dig, watch their page as they often have crystals for sale!

Crystal mining supplies

In the days leading up to our dig, we started a “crystal corner” in our garage to stage our supplies for the weekend. In our research, we learned what tools were allowed at the mine and which were not. While the commercial part of the mine is not open to the public (except for tours), the “tailings” pile is. The tailings area is where the mining trucks bring dump truckloads of dirt and rock up from the commercial mine.

The mine has tools available to rent if needed. However, we thought it would be best to bring our own.

What to bring when digging for crystals with kids

In our corner, we gathered the following:
- Two, 5-gallon buckets
- Hand tools for gardening, including small spades and shovels
- Gloves, for us and for our children
- Old shoes or rain boots
- Old clothes that we didn’t mind ruining
- Hats and sun protection
- A collapsible or folding wagon
The day of the dig

The crystal mine is about a two-hour drive for us, so we got up early and had breakfast in the car. The mine does not have food available, so I highly recommend you pack a lunch and lots of snacks and water. I figured my children may lose interest in digging for crystals if we weren’t finding anything and snacks make everything better.

Arriving at the mine, you stop at the main office and store to pay your entrance fee and sign the waivers. We were so excited to see a HUGE crystal point sitting just outside the main entrance. The store has some amazing examples of what you could find in the mine. It’s also a great place to stop if you are only passing through and don’t have time to dig. The selection of rocks and minerals is outstanding!

Head out to the mine

After going over the waivers and rules, we jumped back in our car to drive down the hill and into the public mining area. It is a dirt road and parking lot, so be prepared for red mud right away.

We visited Ron Coleman mine for the first time the weekend just after our trip to the diamond mine. Within minutes of stepping out of the car, both of my children were shouting their excitement because the ground was sparkling! A vastly different response compared to the diamond mine, and immediate gratification for young children.

We didn’t have a wagon with us on our first trip but we have since added it to our crystal digging supplies. It’s great for hauling your tools to where you want to dig, along with all of your snacks and water.

Digging for crystals with kids

We selected a spot to start digging for crystals and set to work. Both of my children were so excited to play and explore. There is no running allowed in the dig area, so be sure to instruct your children. It’s for their own safety, as there are large boulders and rocks everywhere.

For smaller children, there is an area to the left side (while facing the main entrance from the parking lot) that is flatter and less dangerous. For the really small ones, a carrier or portable play yard may be best to keep them safe.

Our day passed quickly as we were completely focused on the task of digging for crystals. It was easy to stay focused because we were finding quartz treasures within minutes!

We found crystals ranging from milky white to clear, in all shapes and sizes! We were so grateful to have chosen a cool day to go dig because there is no shade available in the digging area. It’s quite a good workout to sort through the dirt and rocks. By lunchtime, we were all in need of a short break to refuel.

An afternoon well spent

While digging for crystals, the rest of our day passed rapidly. My children enjoyed playing among the boulders and rocks once they had found their fill of quartz. My husband and I worked ourselves to exhaustion digging. Each of us got more excited with the improving clarity of the quartz we found.

By the end of the day, we both knew we found a new favorite hobby. The mine closes at 4:30 pm, and by 4:15 pm we were cleaning up our dig area. The large buckets we brought were nearly full with crystals waiting to be cleaned.

We had spent the most beautiful day together outside, on our own little treasure hunt. Warmed by the autumn sun and completely exhausted from our day, we picked up our buckets and went back to our car, all of us smiling from ear to ear.

Things to note about crystal digging

Ron Coleman crystal mine also has tours available as well as a zip line. We haven’t done either yet but they sure look like fun! Here are a few things to remember:
- There are no bathrooms at the dig site, you must go to the campground or back up to the main office.
- You are allowed to take out all you can carry out.
- Bring lots of water, more than you think you’ll need.
- Pack a lunch and snacks.
- The clothes you wear to dig in will most likely be stained with the iron in the soil. Wear old clothes you don’t mind ruining.
- Remember to bring a change of clothes. We find it easiest to lay down towels and ride in our car over to the campground area to get cleaned up. There is a fee for the showers but no fee to change clothing.
- We have also changed at our car, bringing large t-shirts for the kids to be able to change under and I bring a dress to throw over an undershirt to change out of my dirt-covered clothes.
- The office workers LOVE to see what you find so feel free to stop back up there and show them your finds! You just might get featured on their social media channels.
Ron Coleman Crystal Mine nearby attractions

There is camping available at the mine as well, complete with a bathroom and showers and hookups for RVs. Nearby, in the town of Hot Springs there are several great restaurants, as well as more lodging and camping.

My favorite, Kollective coffee, offers vegan food options and has a huge tea selection along with great coffee. Hot Springs is also home to a National Park and has a wonderful visitor center that you can tour for free, along with two Junior Ranger programs.

Nearby, in the town of Mt. Ida, there are also several other crystal mines. We have also visited Wegner Crystal Mine and Twin Creek Crystal Mine. However, Ron Coleman is always our go-to favorite place to dig.

Cleaning your crystals

We spent some time talking with the office staff about the best way to clean the crystals. The very clear points often come clean with a simple water wash. However, to remove the iron staining it’s necessary to do more than that. Ron Coleman sells oxalic acid, in its crystal form. You can place your crystals in a very weak oxalic acid and water mixture to remove the red stains. This can be done with a ratio of 1/2 to one cup of oxalic acid added to one gallon of water.

Crystal cleaning tips
- Always clean your crystals outside! Clay and dirt can clog interior pipes on your sink or bathtub.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clear away dirt and debris from your crystals.
- If you’re using an acid bath to remove staining: ALWAYS add acid to water, not water to acid.
- Use a VERY weak acid solution, these ratios can be found in a simple internet search.
- The crystals can sit in the acid and water bath for up to a week if desired, keep the pot outside so any fumes will dissipate outdoors.
- There is an option to do this more quickly by heating the acid and water solution, but not boiling. However, this must be done outside as you are heating and acid and it can give off mildly noxious fumes. The best and safest way to remove iron staining is a cold water and acid bath for a few days to a week.
- Use gloves when working with the acid solution.
- Remove the crystals after the week is up, using gloves, and rinse with water.
Any work done with the acid and water solution should be done by adults, not children. In the photo below we are working on the first step, cleaning the crystals with water. Also, note the impeccable style my daughter has for crystal cleaning.

The thrill of the hunt

Half of the fun of hunting for crystals is when you are cleaning your treasures at home. Sometimes, your finds will surprise you with more points or more clarity than you had expected. Or sometimes you’ll be let down with what you thought was an epic cluster, only to find it’s milky white quartz with no points at all. But, that’s all part of the process and it’s a great lesson in patience, persistence and hard work.

From start to finish, it usually takes us about a week to sort through all of our finds. It’s a process that has taught us many things, but has also pulled us in and made us rock hounds. I am so grateful for this newfound hobby of ours and we are so excited that it is finally cool enough to return to our favorite weekend adventure!

More Arkansas outdoor adventures

It has been so much fun to discover all of the incredible outdoor adventures within our new home state. If you’re looking for resources for crystal digging, you can find almost all of what I had mentioned here, along with books to pair with your crystal hunting adventure.

If you’d like to read about one of our other favorite Arkansas adventures, you can read about them here. Our family has so enjoyed learning to love where we live and Arkansas has so much to offer for outdoor adventure.

If you’re in or around the Bentonville, Arkansas area, check out our Bentonville Get Out Guide! This huge ebook is curated by yours truly and contains all our favorite things to do, places to eat, and more in Bentonville. It’s filled with water adventures, hiking trails, biking excursions, outdoor dining, kid-friendly camping and lodgings, parks and playgrounds and other fun and unique outdoor adventures.

If you’re ever passing through, I’d love to share some of my favorites with you! Follow me on Instagram and let me know if you’re headed this way, maybe we could even go digging for crystals together!

Have you ever been digging for crystals?

About the author

Nichole is mama to two incredible adventurers, an older boy and a younger girl. Together, they are on their third year of homeschooling. She has been married to her best friend for nearly twelve years and they share a mutual love for the outdoors. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. She is a wanderlust (and coffee) fueled, fearless, road-tripper who has been known to take off for epic adventures at a moment’s notice. Hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety) and crystal digging are a few of their favorite family activities. You can find her in the woods somewhere, (probably up a creek and jumping off waterfalls) or online in the following locations:

Website: http://www.luckeywanderers.com
Instagram: @coleyraeh
Other RWMC posts: Nichole
CAMP, FAMILY TRAVEL, FAVORITE GEAR, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Tips & Advice for RVing with Kids
- July 30, 2019
We’ve had a few recent posts here on Run Wild My Child about what it’s like to go RV camping with kids. (spoiler alert: it’s awesome!) But how do you even get started going on an RV adventure with your whole family? Where do you go? What do you pack? How do you cook? Well, today we have the amazing Kathleen White, photographer and full-time RVing homeschool mom of three here sharing everything you need to know to get started RVing with kids. Kathleen and her family are just beginning their adventures across the country and are documenting the entire journey (links below where you can follow along). If you have any questions about how to get started on your own RV adventure, she’s here to help!

Let the adventure begin!

As a kid, my summers were filled with pool days, going to camp, and traveling. I cherish those simple childhood memories and will never forget our adventures. Now, as a mother to three, I want to fill my children’s childhood with amazing memories, too. As they say, we only get 18 summers with our kids. If that’s not a motivator to soak it all up, then I don’t know what is! It’s what spurred our year-long RV roadtrip across the USA, with three kids in tow in a 300 sq. ft. RV. Adventure is out there and we haven’t looked back!

Travel opens your heart, broadens your mind, and fills your life with stories to tell.” -Paula Bendfeldt

RVing with kids tips and advice

Whether you are looking to go full-time in your RV or are just planning your next weekend adventure, getting started RVing with kids can be a bit overwhelming. Where do you even begin to know what to pack, where to park or what to bring? What do you eat? Where does everyone sleep? And how do you make your RV feel like home? If you’ve ever had these burning question, wonder no more! Based on our travels and adventure experience, I’m here to share some helpful tips and advice for RVing with kids to get you started on your next RV trip.

How to choose the right RV for your family

There are so many personal decisions and consideration to take into account when purchasing your RV. Starting the RV buying process is extremely overwhelming. Travel trailers, fifth wheels, Class A’s…oh my! Where do you even start? And then you need to consider price and condition (used vs. new), gas mileage, features, etc. Making this decision is not easy and every family’s needs will be different. I could write an entire post on just this one decision – actually, I did! If you want more information on how we chose the right RV for our family, check out our post on how to decide between a travel trailer and a fifth wheel.

Safety first

Before the adventure begins, you have to make sure you are protecting your precious cargo. Remember, when RVing with kids, you are never in so much of a rush to disregard safety! Mistakes are more likely to happen when you are rushing, so slow it down, if you can. Towing an RV is a whole other beast on its own and there are a few things you must be aware of. First, always double-check that your tow vehicle and RV are set up correctly. Second, always do a walk around your entire rig before pulling off. Third, be sure to check your towing capacity and cargo weight to make sure you are not overcapacity. We also carry a first aid kit, tool kit, emergency roadside kit, plenty of flashlights, and extra water, just in case.

This is obviously not an extensive list of all the safety tips when RVing with kids, but it’s a good place to start.

You know your child best

RVing with kids allows you to experience things with your family in a whole new way and in lots of new places. Your RV can take you on adventures you never thought possible. The world is literally right outside your door and you get to choose your own adventure daily. However, sometimes that can be a bit much for kids. As the parent, you know your kids best. Can they hike for a while on their own, or do they get tired easily? Do they love being in the water or do they come alive in the forest?

Knowing your kids and planning your adventures to suit their strengths and interests will really help with keeping your kids excited about the trip and minimizes meltdowns! Of course, there will be an adjustment period after first setting out on your adventure. Especially if they are used to constant streaming shows, video games, and larger spaces. However, don’t give up! The reward is so great when you see them playing outside, experiencing new things and interacting with nature on their own!

Just have patience, and remember why you are RVing with kids in the first place!

Setting up your RV

Once you arrive at your awesome new location, it’s time to set up! The first thing to do is check into your campsite, if you need to and park according to the rules (is it a pull-through or do you need to back in?). Make sure there are no low-hanging branches to scratch your vehicle or interfere with awnings, pop-outs, etc. Once you’re positioned on flat ground or leveled out, park and unhook the RV from the truck. Connect your power/water/gas hookups and check to make sure everything is working properly. Assigning tasks to each person can also be helpful to make things go smoothly!

Next, we put out our outdoor rug and chairs and call wherever we are at home for a little while. I even set out a candle, plants, and pillows inside which helps make the RV feel homier. This is one of my favorite parts about RVing!

Full hookups vs. dry camping vs. boondocking

If you are coming from a “sticks & bricks” house, then you are used to the conveniences of home (long showers and A/C all the time!). This is why a lot of RVers love full-service campsite that have electric, water, and sewer hookups. You can shower to your heart’s content and not have to worry about filling up your black and grey tanks. You can run the A/C and have a movie night if you want! A lot of them also include other amenities such as laundry facilities, pools, playgrounds, restaurants, shops and dumpsters. However, these kinds of RV parks usually come with close neighbors and high price tags.

The other types of RV camping are dry camping or boondocking. Dry camping essentially means staying in a campground without hookups, whereas, boondocking typically means staying in a completely undeveloped area (also without hookups).

There is a time and a place for each type of camping and they all have their pros and cons. While I love having amenities, some of my favorite campsites have been when we are boondocking. If you’re wanting to get away and have a place to yourself, this is definitely the way to go. Just be sure to check the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service for rules and regulations.

Cooking in an RV

There are many ways to prepare food in an RV, which many people don’t realize! If you have electric hookups or a generator, you can use your Instant Pot, crockpot, microwave, toaster oven or other electric cooking appliance. I love using the Instant Pot because it makes a lot of food in a short time!

Another way I love making food when we’re RVing is using our stove, which I can use anywhere and anytime since it runs off of propane. There is really no limit to what you can cook. RVing adventures are not just eating BBQ and s’mores (although those are really yummy!).

Keep in mind that RV refrigerators are a bit smaller depending on your RV type. Buying refrigerated perishables in bulk is not necessary. We are a family of 5 and have had no issues with not having enough food. We also use our pantry to store dry goods, snacks, and household goods. And because we have kids, we always have plenty of snacks on hand. Being active outdoors makes for hungry kiddos! Crackers, granola bars, fruit, and pretzels are some of our favorites.

RV organization

One of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to RV life is, “How in the world do you store all your stuff?!” Well, the first answer is to downsize, downsize, downsize. Everything in your RV needs to have a place, and there aren’t a lot of places. I highly recommend downsizing before starting your RV adventure. We downsized our clothing, furniture, pots and pans, and the kids’ toys. It is so refreshing to get rid of so much stuff and eye-opening to see how little we really need.

As for what we kept, my husband and I each have a closet in the bedroom and we use hanging storage organizers for our clothes. The kids each have a storage bin filled with all of their clothes. If it doesn’t fit anymore, we donate it. Right now, all of their clothes have to fit in the bins!

When organizing your RV, storage baskets will become your best friends. Baskets and bins make everything look less cluttered. We also use hanging organizers for the back of the pantry and bathroom doors to maximize storage, which is my favorite RV storage hack!

Enjoy the memories

Spending time together on your RV adventures is an incredible experience your entire family will never forget. RVing allows you to camp in some of the most amazing places and experience the world in a whole new way. We have just begun our RV journey and the hard work of RVing has been so worth it. The memories we will make together make up for all the stress of planning, downsizing, and packing. RVing is an experience in and of itself. I can give you all the tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way, but my best piece of advice is to soak it up and enjoy the journey.

What questions do you have about RVing with kids?

About the Author

Kathleen
Arizona
@faithboundtravel

I’m Kathleen, wife to my high school sweetheart and mama to 3 energetic littles. I’m a photographer in love with telling compelling stories of life’s beautiful chaos and photographing families authentically. I am slightly obsessed with window light, Saturday morning snuggles, and documenting our adventures. We recently took the biggest leap of faith in our lives and are traveling full-time around the United States in our RV! You can follow our adventures at http://www.faithboundtravel.com or subscribe to our YouTube channel.
CAMP, FAMILY TRAVEL, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
A Day in the Life of a Road School Family
- July 22, 2019
Have you ever dreamed of leaving everything behind and hitting the road with your family for an extended indefinite adventure? How would you feel waking up every day in a new location of your choosing, surrounded by nature and new places to explore? Today, we have a wonderful post from Emily Kimball, mom of 3 kids and a pup, living life on the road while unschooling and adventuring. Emily’s sharing all the beauty in a day of her road school life and insight as to what she’s gained through this experience. This post seriously makes me want to sell everything and hit the road!

Greeting the morning

I awake in the early morning to the songs the birds sing. Their melodies are filled with cheer as they welcome the new day. I tiptoe to my living room where my daughter is awake eagerly awaiting my arrival. “Mama, the ducklings are back!” We open the window and watch the mama duck with her babes enjoying a morning feast.

I step outside with my golden doodle pup, Rosie, and watch the morning come to life. The river is peaceful this time of day, the Nuttall sandstone mountains still covered in the dawn’s fog, not quite ready to awaken. I breathe in deep and am grateful for this unique life I live with my family. Today, my feet are on the banks of one of the longest rivers in the world, the New River in West Virginia. Last week I lived in a little town in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. The week before, the outskirts of Washington DC. And a month before that I awoke to the sound of waves and sand under my feet in the Outerbanks of North Carolina.

A colorful trade up

We chose to leave our life of normalcy, of knowing which local coffee shop served the best lattes, which park had the largest playground and where to find almond milk at the grocery store. We left all of that and more – our family, friends, neighbors and community. Instead, we chose to live on the road. We sold nearly everything we owned, stored a few things in a storage unit and the rest is in our motorhome. It’s been a year since we said goodbye to life in Orange County, California and we said hello to living a different type of life. To quote P.T. Barnum, “Trade that typical for something colorful.” We took that advice to heart.

A life of adventure

Since we left our comfortable lives for a life of adventure, my children (8, 6 and 4) have swum in glacier lakes in Montana, had a close encounter with a bear in Wyoming and saw alligators in South Carolina. They’ve experienced countless incredible thunderstorms, had a couple of close-encounters with tornados and witnessed breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. They have met more people in a year than I had met in the previous 5 years. We’ve lived in mountain towns, coal mining towns, urban forests, beach towns, metropolitans and quiet national forests. We have visited 20 states so far and hope to see them all. Yes, even Alaska and Hawaii.

City scouting

I try to plan at least one day dedicated to seeing the city we are in. Although, we typically see much more of a city than we can in just one day while we’re there. Between grocery shopping, getting acquainted with the local coffee shop, finding a book store, visiting science and children museums (through our reciprocity program we are apart of) and scouting the best places to hike, we can get a pretty good idea of any town. Traveling is a way of life for now, but we do eventually have a goal of finding somewhere we can permanently live. For now, we are having a lot of fun and have no intention of stopping.

Exploring a state park

This week of road school, I planned for us to stay near Natural Bridge State Park in Virginia so we could visit it without having to travel far and to explore the darling little town near it. As we adventured into the park, we descended down to the path that led to the Natural Bridge. We stopped along the way reading every sign and learning why the water is brown and admiring the remains of the now-extinct white cedar trees.

Road schooling has been such an incredible blessing. Learning side-by-side with my children is a gift I do not take for granted. Are there days that are hard? Yes. Are there days of bickering and frustration? Of course! Are there days that I want to give up or maybe just take a leave of absence? Absolutely! But today? Oh, what a joy today is!

Taking in the history

The moss-covered rocks are incredible, as is the slow-moving river that has worked for thousands of years to make this gorge. We walk in awe. The arch is 215 feet above us, birds fly overhead making nests on landings. Flowers sprout from limestone walls as cool water drips on our heads from the rocks soaked with moisture. Legend says that George Washington walked the same path we are now on and then climbed up the side of this natural bridge and carved his initials into the side. Thomas Jefferson’s father owned this land and centuries later the state of Virginia was able to buy it and turn it into a state park preserving it for generations to come.

Of course, Thomas Jefferson was not the first owner of this land. The Monacan Indians lived here long before any Europeans came to the Americas. A small village shows what life was like for the Native American tribe. The exhibit gave us a sense of the intuitiveness that was needed to thrive in this place. One huge benefit to being a road school family, is being able to see places during the week, without crowds. The reenactors of the Monacan village linger with us, probably the only children they will see that day. They take time to answer our questions and give their knowledge freely.

Hikes and home base

This was a short trail, one mile each way. But, as any mother knows, even short trails require loads of snacks. Butterflies and wildflowers provide lovely distractions while we snack. As do hidden caves, mystery bones, and beautiful lace waterfalls. However, we have to make sure not to get too distracted, as one of my sons nearly touched a Northern Mole Kingsnake on accident!

Our road school days aren’t always filled with adventuring out of the campground. Sometimes we stay around the motorhome the entire day and explore. I tend to think the greatest adventures happen at our campsite. Today, while my children ate breakfast outside, three families of geese with their babies swim by. What a delight to see! It feels like we are living in the book Trumpet of the Swan by E.B.White and we were Sam Beaver getting a front-row seat to see these babies.

Welcoming the seasons

Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Monarchs and Red- Spotted Purple butterflies flutter about us. We research if carpenter bees are friends or foes. We literally watch, for the first time in any of our lives, winter turn into spring. I was born and raised in Southern California, where the change of seasons is swift. It’s nothing compared to spring on the East Coast where life emerges tentatively, with a delicate sense of trepidation. What an educator mother nature is and only now am I learning what a treasure she is.

This life is full of wonderment. And while it might seem easier for me to observe these changes in my California backyard, nothing has prepared me for how amazing this experience has been. I believe it is the posture I have taken to open my eyes to truly see the beauty of life around me. What an amazing experience this road school lifestyle has been for our family.

If you could hit the road, where would you go first?

About the author

Hi there, I’m Emily.

Road school mom of 3.

My family and I travel the country full time searching for beauty.

I am an artist, mother + wife.

You can find my writings and pictures on Instagram: @kimball5wanderlust
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
FAMILY TRAVEL, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Ten Road Trip Safety Tips for Traveling with Kids
- June 5, 2019
We are led to believe road trips with kids are certain to be fraught with danger, frustration, endless whining, and so much stress. That can leave us with so much fear and trepidation that we may never strike out at all! However, road trips don’t have to be scary or intimidating. Car travel is a great way to get from point A to point B and provides amazing opportunities to see the country and spend time together. Today we have the amazing Nichole from Luckey Wanderers here to dispel a few myths about road trips with kids and share all the road trip safety tips she implements while on the road. Nichole is a self-proclaimed road trip renegade and frequently does multi-day/multi-state road trips solo with her two kids. Here’s how she keeps them safe when adventuring and how to practice responsible bravery.

Road trip safety tips

Safety is our number 1 priority anytime I’m on the road or traveling with my children. The road trip safety tips I’m sharing today are not made up on a whim – they’re tried and tested. However, they cannot guarantee safety. I’ve developed a pattern that I go through on all of our road trips. A pattern that became a habit, hewn out of determination to keep me and my family safe. But also a determination to not let media or fear dictate the adventures my family and I would share.

In our family, we practice “responsible bravery.” We take chances, we make mistakes, and we get messy. But not without doing our research first and looking at a situation from all angles. From the hotels where we stay to campgrounds we visit, from the coffee shops where we hang out to the off-the-main-avenue adventures we have – I am always researching and scoping out the scenario before we go. I choose to be brave, but responsibly and respectfully so. We go, but I know the situation as best I can and am aware of the risks before we ever hit the road. Below, I will walk you through my top ten road trip safety tips that I use to keep our family safe while choosing to be responsibly brave.

Travel tip #1 – put down your phone

Road trip safety tip number one is to put the phone down! Resist the urge to scroll as you roll. No matter how empty, wide, or flat the highway is. Do not do it. Use talk to text on your phone, utilize the built-in voice assistant on your phone or connect it to your car’s Bluetooth if you’re able. If I need to book a hotel or research a route while we’re on the road, I pull over. I’ll find an interstate on-ramp or find a park to pull into for a few minutes so that I can use my phone safely. Use it as a chance to take a quick stretch break. Road trip selfies are fun but keep those snapshots in your memory only and please resist the urge to take video while you are driving! The only exception to this is when someone else is driving. In that case, I can do all the research I need to and record ridiculous AC/DC and Bon Jovi karaoke videos safely.

Travel tip #2 – check a map before GPS

Tip number two is to check your map before your GPS! I am not ashamed to admit that I rely heavily on my phone’s map system (Google maps or the navigation in my car). But, before we roll out in the morning, I always check the map. Looking at a map gives me the big picture idea of where we are traveling and a good break spot for the day. If you know/suspect you may lose phone service due to traveling in rural areas or national forests, it is a good idea to download an offline copy of your map. Or (gasp!), buy an actual paper map of the area where you are headed. I don’t keep a road atlas in the car, but it’s a great idea. Learn how to read a map and teach your children how to read a map. It’s an important skill that I am afraid many people are forgetting how to do.

Travel tip #3 – pack snacks and activities

Road trip safety tip number three is to pack all of your children’s snacks and activities at the beginning of your day. Or even the night before. Each child gets a medium sized, insulated snack bag, that is filled with the day’s snacks and a refillable water bottle. They know that once it is gone, that’s it for the day; this is also a really great lesson in self-control. Sometimes if it’s a very long day we will get treats along the way, but those are a bonus.

I also put a plastic tote that is filled with things to keep the kids busy. Here are a few of our favorites:
- coloring books
- small dry erase boards and dry erase markers
- a pencil case with some colored pencils
- sticker books (I also really like the Usborne ones)
- magnetic activity tins
- Buddha boards
- flashcards
- travel scavenger hunt games
- travel bingo
- mad libs
Again, this is easier with older children, but if you begin doing this with age-appropriate toys they learn to entertain themselves and to put the toys back in the tote after they are done.

Travel tip #4 – keep water bottles full

That brings us to tip number four: always keep your water bottles full! My children are somehow always dying of thirst whenever we are in the car. I make sure to refill water bottles in the morning and keep them full throughout the day. The same is true for me. However, I usually don’t drink enough water and instead drink too much coffee. Make sure you and all of your travelers are drinking water! Otherwise, you may end up having headaches and fatigue in the afternoon when you still have many hours to drive. Drinking plenty of water is key to staying focused on the road.

Travel tip #5 – bathroom safety

Tip number five comes from something that my Mom always taught me while we were growing up. If you need to stop at the bathroom, look for gas stations or truck stops that you can see from the interstate and are well lit. That won’t guarantee a clean bathroom but it will make you feel safer and be easier to make the stop a brief one.

Confession: I am not opposed to side-of-the-road bathroom breaks. When my son was little it was so much easier (and cleaner!) to pull over on a quiet on-ramp and let him go to the bathroom out the side of my old van. It was a little harder for my daughter but I still cringe every time she sits on a dirty gas station toilet seat. Sometimes we still opt for a side of the road bathroom stop in remote areas. It’s cleaner and faster, but again, do so responsibly and respectfully.

Part two of this road trip safety tip is to take your children into the stall with you. When my husband is traveling with us, we divide and conquer. However, if it’s just me and the kids, they both come into the stall with me. I do not care. I would rather have them in my sight and safe than waiting outside of the bathroom. If I let my son wait outside the stall, I make him stand where I can see his shoes. I’m sure I will have to amend my ways at some point, but for now, the system works for us.

Travel tip #6 – no broadcasting and be vague

When we began traveling, my children loved to broadcast the fact that we were traveling alone. Obviously, this worried me. Over time (and with lots of practice and patience) I have trained them not to mention that we are traveling alone. They also know that if I say something like “Let’s get back to the car, Dad’s waiting,” that is their clue that I am feeling uncomfortable and it is time to go. The same rule applies to hotels/motels/places where we are checking in. I always say there are four of us staying in the room and ask for two room keys. It makes no price difference for our occupancy rate and it gives me peace of mind.

I am by no means saying that a spouse or significant other is necessary to feel safe. However, I am saying that there are times where me sharing that I am not traveling alone is a prudent idea. I am quite confident in my skills as a solo traveler with my children and have never been in a situation where I felt otherwise. Be confident, bold, and forward when you need to be. And for me, training my children to not publicly claim that we are traveling alone is my way of being responsibly brave.

One more item of note here. When asked directly where we are from, where we are headed, or where we have been, I am always purposely vague. This is also a good opportunity to train your children to not blurt out the city and state they are from when asked by a stranger. There have many, many, times my children or I have been asked these questions by well-meaning retirees. While I know their purpose is mainly out of curiosity and a desire to strike up a conversation, my knee jerk reaction is to be vague.

Travel tip #7 – use the backpack system

Tip number seven is one of my favorites! When I first began traveling with my children, I would stress out each night when we arrived at a hotel. There was so much to unload and I still had to check us in. That’s when I developed our backpack system. My children each have their own backpacks with nightly toiletries, swimsuits, pj’s, change of clothes, their electronics and charger, and a favorite stuffed animal. I have a backpack with my valuables, toiletries, swimsuit, pajamas, and the next days’ clothes; as well as my purse and camera bag.

Having a few small bags allows us to make one trip into the hotel/motel/Airbnb with everything we need for the night. It makes me feel less vulnerable and we only have to park the car once. When my husband is with us we actually use the same system, but sometimes bring a bit more in since he is with us to help carry things. This has become easier as my children have grown. But, from the time my daughter was two she has been able to carry her backpack with her things into the hotel room.

Travel tip #8 – hide your valuables

Tip number eight is an important counterpart to the last tip. If you are not taking the valuables in with you, hide your valuables! However, if it’s something very valuable or extremely sentimental, I highly recommend taking it inside with you. Hide anything of value you leave behind in the car. A visible valuable might as well be a target on your car. This is true for any of our stops, whether overnight or just for lunch.

We always hide everything, every stop. Usually, this means moving things to the back of the car or inside other suitcases or bags. We always hide cords as well, because those can catch a wandering eye and perhaps make your car a target. One bonus of traveling with children: a messy car is usually a deterrent. And my car is always a mess when we travel. But the mess that I leave visible is usually sticker books, spilled snacks, stuffed animals, and mysteriously single socks.

Travel tip #9 – walk around your car

The next two road trip safety tips are two that you may not hear as often but are part of my normal routine. While there is some truth to insidious papers being placed on windshields, nails behind tires, and card skimmers, it is not as common as the media would lead you to believe. Tip number nine is to walk around your car before you leave, every time. If we have been parked for over an hour and the car was out of our sight, I always walk around the car quickly before we leave. I unlock it so my children can get in, but I do a quick sweep around the car.

Here is what I look for: any door dings or damage to note, tire condition and what is around the tires if anything, flyers or pamphlets placed on the windshield, that the backup camera is free of debris and anything suspicious. While I do not believe all the scary news stories about abduction techniques are true, I do believe that diligently checking your vehicle is a wise way to spend a few minutes before you leave. This behavior pattern has become a habit and second nature for me now whenever we are loading up to leave.

Travel tip #10 – ATM safety

Along with tip number nine, road trip safety tip number ten relates to being aware of your surroundings. I’ve never had any issues with card skimmers. However, we have had to replace our credit card before after traveling due to fraudulent charges. This is a small note but worth doing: look directly at a card reader before you pump your gas or get money out of the ATM. Card skimmers are fairly easy to spot, so long as you are paying attention.

On a similar note, be aware of anyone close by when withdrawing money or trying to get a look at your pin number. Those that would do you harm or attempt to steal from you are counting on you not paying attention. So, make the choice to be responsibly brave and be aware of your surroundings. These habits are easy to adopt, it simply takes small changes in your traveling routine. But these small changes can help steer you from a place of fear to a place of responsible self-reliance. There are usually plenty of ATMs around, so if one doesn’t feel safe, move on to another.

Road trip renegades

Road trips are our favorite way to travel and explore and have become an important part of our family culture. Here is a post about how we got started and a little bit about our why we road trip.

Here is a list of ideas for low tech road trip entertainment for kids of all ages.

And here is a fun story about choosing yes to spontaneous adventure. By having a system for safety in place I have gained confidence which has given us more freedom to chase adventure when it calls to us.

I hope that these road trip safety tips have inspired you to begin forming your own safety systems for travel.

What do you do to stay safe on the road?
Share your road trip safety tips with us below!

Nichole is mama to two incredible adventurers, an older boy and a younger girl. They are on their third year of homeschooling. She has been married to her best friend for nearly twelve years and they share a mutual love for the outdoors. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. She is a wanderlust (and coffee) fueled, fearless, road-tripper who has been known to take off for epic adventures at a moments notice. Hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety) and crystal digging are a few of their favorite family activities. You can find her in the woods somewhere, (probably up a creek and jumping off waterfalls) or online at http://www.luckeywanderers.com.
FAMILY TRAVEL, HIKE, NATIONAL PARKS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Southwest National Parks Family Trip: Zion, Bryce & Grand Canyon
- June 3, 2019
If you’ve ever wanted to cross multiple National Parks off your bucket list in one fun week-long adventure, this is the post for you! Today, we have Katie Walsh, teacher, explorer and mom of 2, sharing her family’s most recent national parks trip through 3 amazing national parks – the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park. Plus they hit a handful of state parks and national monuments along the way. She’s sharing where they stayed, what to pack, the best kid-friendly hikes and info on getting those coveted Junior Ranger badges. Are you ready for an adventure?

Planning our national parks trip

We are a family of adventurers. There we stood looking at our National Park map. Tiny pins dotted the states representing the places we’d been. Up next? A spring break trip to the Southwest where we’d explore 3 amazing national parks – the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park. Our 5-year-old and 7-year-old could hardly wait to lace up their hiking shoes and get started!

These three parks had been on our bucket list for a while. We did a lot of research and planning on exactly where to go, when to go, what to do and where to stay on this national parks trip. But, first things first, we had to pack! Deciding what to pack for a whirlwind adventure that would take us to three different states and a variety of terrain seemed harder than planning the actual trip!

What to pack

We were planning our trip for seven days of adventure in mid-March and would be visiting three different states. All of these states have different weather patterns this time of year. Packing light for our whole family was going to be quite a challenge!

The answer…layers! Oh, so many layers. We didn’t want to overpack, so here are the essentials that we took for each person:
- Wools socks
- Fleece jacket
- T-shirts
- Long sleeve tees
- Jacket shell
- Hat and gloves
- One pair of hiking/sturdy shoes
- 2 pair of pants
- 1 pair of shorts
- 1 Reusable water bottle for each (there are refill stations in the airport and at the parks)
- Sunscreen
One of the most important items to have on a national parks trip like this is sturdy shoes. We did a ton of walking, hiking, climbing and running around. Good shoes were a must. I recommend going with shoes that have grip on the bottom for hiking and climbing. Trust me, purchasing the right shoes for yourself and your kids is money well spent. We discovered this during our first hike up a sandstone trail.

After doing some research, my husband and I decided on the Merrel Big Kid’s Moab FST Low Waterproof shoes for our children. They didn’t disappoint!

Trip details

With 7 days of traveling and many sights to see, we researched and put together an outline of activities before we left for our national parks trip. And of course, we made sure we had plenty of wiggle room to wander and explore built-in, just in case we found fun things to do along the way. We booked an early flight to Nevada, and finally, we were off! We landed in Las Vegas bright and early, giving us a headstart (plus, a two-hour time change). Once we hopped in our rental car, our national parks journey officially began!

Hoover Dam and Route 66

On our way to the Grand Canyon, we checked out the renowned Hoover Dam. While we didn’t take the dam tour (saying this never gets old), but there are plenty of turnouts to stop and admire this engineering wonder while completing the scenic drive.

From there, we hopped on the historic Route 66 and made our way toward Kingman, Arizona. With grumbling tummies, we stopped at Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner for lunch. It was the perfect spot to get out, stretch our legs, and enjoy a meal.

Grand Canyon lodging

The first night of our trip, we stayed at the Yavapai Lodge located in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The North Rim is closed this time of year.

Pro travel tip: To stay at one of the lodges in the Grand Canyon, get a reservation a year in advance. We were late to the party and lucked out due to a cancellation. We could only stay one night. Too bad. The lodge was perfect! Nothing fancy, but you’re not there for the accommodations, you’re there for the incredible view.

There were elk meandering the grounds. Guests are reminded to stay 100 feet away from these gentle creatures, but it became increasingly difficult as they wandered right next to the paths. Clearly, this was their home and we were all just visiting.

The South Rim has more opportunities for viewing the Grand Canyon. It also has many family-oriented activities and trails to experience with younger children.

The view was majestic. No words can describe this geological wonder.

Sunrise at Hopi Point

Bright and early on day 2, we got up early to enjoy the sunrise at Hopi Point. I highly recommend doing this! Although it was certainly a challenge getting everyone out the door on time (especially after the previous day’s travel), we knew we wouldn’t regret it. And we certainly did not! It was stunning!

6:27 am sunrise

Pro travel tip: If you go in March, it’s freezing in the morning! Bundle up!

We finished our cold adventure with a trip to the Lodge’s restaurant and enjoyed steamy hot chocolate and a plate of delicious pancakes. Once again, the elk stopped by to watch us enjoy our morning feast.

With full bellies again (notice a pattern? The key to hiking with children is always to have snacks and yummy food at the ready!), we set off to explore the Grand Canyon.

Pro travel tip: To get an overview of the Grand Canyon, I highly recommend watching the park film Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder at the visitor center. It’s a must see and as a bonus, one of the activity options to be completed for children to earn their Junior Ranger badge. The film covered the reintroduction of species such as the California Peregrine, the erosion and creation of the canyon, John Wesley Powell’s brave mission to be the first to chart the Colorado River, and how the Grand Canyon is an animal sanctuary and refuge for animals. It’s truly a wonderful film.

Desert View Watchtower

Next, we took a scenic drive to the eastern part of the canyon to explore the 70-foot historic stone watchtower. Perched on the rim, this watchtower reflects the architecture of the ancestral Puebloans. We climbed the narrow, winding staircase to the top to get a 360-view of the canyon, the Colorado River, and surrounding landscape.

Our kids also earned another Junior Ranger badge here.

Additional family-friendly trails/programs at Grand Canyon

If you’re looking for more kid-friendly and family-friendly trails and programs at Grand Canyon National Park, here are few that you should definitely check out:
- Bright Angel Trail
- Hermit Road Scenic Route (take by free shuttle, bike, on foot)
- Maricopa Point
- Powell Point
- Trailview Overlook
- Geology Glimpse (daily ranger-led program)
- Critter Chat (daily ranger-led program)
- Grand Canyon Special Event Calendar (including a star party for junior astronomers!)
Trail App

One of our favorite apps to use when searching for new trails is All Trails. This totally free app allows you to search by park, trail name, city, etc. to get a wealth of information on nearby hikes in your area. It provides lots of details on what you need to know before you go and even lets you upload photos from your hike.

Homebase – Kanab, Utah

From Arizona, we made our way to a beautiful town called Kanab located in southern Utah. It’s surrounded by towering Navajo sandstone cliffs and near three national parks, five national monuments, a renowned national recreation area, and two national forests. Talk about a great location!

Pro travel tip: Stop at the Kanab town visitor center for insightful tips and information. We learned that there are many areas with preserved dinosaur tracks. Our kids were super excited!

Kanab lodging

After doing some research, we rented a house through VRBO and made Kanab our “base-camp” for the next few days. The home was within a 30-minute drive to Zion, 90 minutes to Bryce Canyon, and 10 minutes to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Plus, the town is loaded with awesome trails to boot!

While there are many amazing options for camping, which we love to do, we chose to rent a house. Here’s why:
- It’s nice to have a home base, especially after a long day of hiking
- Washing machine and dryer = less packing
- A refrigerator = grocery shopping for the week = saving money on lunches and dinners
- Added perk (although not necessary) – the neighborhood pool!
- Price – we got more for the price that was nearly equivalent to a hotel
In the future, we’d definitely like to return and camp. There are many great sites that we discovered along the way, which I’ll briefly talk about.

Kanab kid-friendly trails & hikes

Right outside our backdoor the red cliffs towered above our neighborhood that was loaded with trailheads. It was nice to get up in the morning, go for a hike, return to the house for breakfast, map our plans for the day, then take off. Here are a few kid-friendly hikes and trails we liked:
- K-Hill Trail
- Squaw Trailhead
- Sand Caves- the climb was steep in parts along the slick rock
- Moqui Cave
Our favorite family-friendly Kanab restaurants
- Iron Horse Restaurant and Saloon – a yummy place for barbecue and old west ambiance
- Escobar’s Mexican Restaurant
- Peekaboo Canyon Wood Fired Kitchen (vegan/vegetarian)
For a sweet treat at the end of the day, we enjoyed Soda Fountain, a small ice cream parlor attached to the town’s drug store that was established in 1916. I’m pretty sure we became frequent visitors. Perhaps they know us by name?

Toad Stools in Grand Staircase-Escalante

Ah, yes. The Toad Stools. This was our children’s favorite spot to hike. Hidden along the roadside, it’s a short 2-mile roundtrip hike to see a land of balanced rock formations that look like mushrooms. Located in the Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument, this is truly nature’s playground for children. This was a great beginner hike to teach our children about following trails and proper footing while climbing.

Pro travel tip: There is climbing involved, although considered a moderate hike, children should always be supervised closely. Also, be prepared with enough water and sunscreen. This environment is an open and shadeless desert.

Zion National Park

Zion National Park was next on our national parks trip and it was magical! We were in awe of the red and white walls of Navajo sandstone, waterfalls, slot canyons, natural arches, and so much more. But it was busy! Due to the record amount of visitors and preservation of the area, you leave your car in a parking lot and take the free shuttle into the park. Buses arrive every 10-15 minutes.

Pro travel tip: Arrive at Zion by 8:00 am or earlier to avoid crowds and find parking. Parking lots are usually full from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. You can also park in the nearby town of Springdale and take a free shuttle into the park.

Favorite Zion National Park hikes with kids
- Emerald Pools- small streams and waterfalls with a view of Mountain of the Sun. It’s was beautiful!
- Weeping Rock Trail
- Riverside Walk
- The Grotto Trail
Due to flooding, many trails were closed, including the famous Angel’s Landing and The Narrows.

Bryce Canyon

Our next adventure on our national parks trip took us to Bryce Canyon National Park in Southern Utah. We fell in love with Bryce Canyon! We went from shorts and sunshine at Zion to snow, hats, and mittens at Bryce. It made it for a challenging, and often slippery hike, but well worth it. Bryce Canyon was much less crowded and the kids enjoyed earning their ranger badges while taking in the extreme rock formations known as the hoodoos, which are spire-shaped rock formations.

Due to an avalanche and melting snow, some trails at Bryce Canyon were closed. We discovered that in the winter and spring, the weather from park to park is very unpredictable. However, there is always something to be discovered, nonetheless! We got there just in time to watch the prairie dogs wake up from their winter hibernation. Let’s just say they were not happy to see snow!

Pipe Spring National Monument

While not a national park, Pipe Spring National Monument lies on the Arizona strip about 20-minutes west of Kanab, on the Paiute Reservation. Although a dry, desert area, this land has drawn a succession of people because of the aquifers that hold water underground and push it to the surface in Pipe Spring.

There is so much history here. We took a tour of the Winsor Castle and learned about the relationship between the American Indians and Mormon ranchers as well as the plants and animals that still depend on this water.

Our kids earned another junior ranger badge here at Pipe Spring.

You can take a self-guided tour or join a ranger for an educational talk.

Snow Canyon State Park in St. George, Utah

Continuing west on our national parks trip, we added a state park! We made our way to St. George, Utah to visit Snow Canyon State Park. This place was awesome and has so much to offer! Snow Canyon State Park is a 7,400-acre scenic park among lava flows and sandstone cliffs. The hiking is fantastic.

Pro travel tip: Be advised, there is a $10 entrance fee.

With more than 38-miles of hiking trails from easy to more advanced, a three-mile paved walking/biking trail, and over 15-miles of equestrian trails, it’s all about picking what’s right for you. We completed a moderate hike that was 2.5 miles to see the volcanic caves and tubes. And we did some additional climbing. There is also great camping here. We checked out the beautiful campground and agreed that if we return, this would make a great home base. Our kids didn’t want to leave. There is so much to explore!

Red Cliffs

One final place you may want to check out on your trip is Red Cliffs. Unfortunately, on the day we arrived, the grounds were full and there was no parking available. We decided to skip it this time to avoid the crowds. There are short, scenic trails that take you along the canyon narrows along with a little waterfall. Camping is also available at the Red Cliffs Recreation Area.

We’ll be back!

This national parks trip was absolutely amazing. The night before we left was somber – we didn’t want to go home! It was hard to say goodbye to the incredible landscape and magical beauty of this region. With so many more outdoor treasures to explore and be seen, you can count on us to return to this 4-season wonderland in the future.

About the author

Katie is a mom of two adventure-loving children, a kindergarten teacher, and a writer for adults and children. She and her family love to travel, be outdoors, and live a sustainable life as much as possible. Katie enjoys finding ways to share these bigs ideas with the little ones who will shape the future of our world.

Follow Katie on Instagram: @adventuresparenting
Or learn more about her through her website: https://katiewalsh.blog
FAMILY TRAVEL, PHOTOGRAPHY
Lessons Learned while Traveling with Kids
- October 16, 2018
Traveling with kids is never easy and takes lots of preparation, planning, and patience. Today, I’m excited to bring you a wonderful post all about the lessons parents learn while traveling with kids. Andrew Song is a photographer and father of three from Toronto. He’s here sharing packing tips and travel advice, plus some relatable travel mistakes they’ve made along the way while traveling with 3 kids. If you’re planning a trip with kids anytime soon, you’re going to want to read this post about learning to roll with the punches, because traveling with kids is not for the faint-hearted!

Traveling with kids

Let’s be honest, when you’re a parent and traveling with kids, the thrill of a vacation rarely comes without the anxiety of preparation. You’re exhausted and sleep deprived. The kids just went to bed after an hour of telling you no. Only then do you realize you need to start packing! Cue the panic.

If no one has told you this yet, no matter how much time and thought you put into preparing, you’ll never be prepared for every single scenario. Over the course of a year, my wife and I traveled with our three kids (twin daughters and their big brother) to France, Germany, Netherlands, Mexico, and most recently, California. Not once did we find ourselves being prepared for everything! The good news is…there was nothing we could not solve. And we learned from each mistake we made. Today, I want to share with you some of our learnings that will hopefully help you be better prepared for traveling with your kids and for taking photos of them along the way!

Car seat and stroller decisions

If you have small kids that require car seats and a stroller, undoubtedly, you’ll have research to do on what to pack, what to rent or what to buy. The options are fairly universal: you can bring your own, rent, or buy new ones locally when you reach your destination. Your decision will be based on price, convenience, availability and how much other stuff you need to pack. Sometimes the choices seem overwhelming or they all seem costly and inconvenient. That’s just part of traveling. Make sure to budget for these expenses ahead of time and plan in advance for different scenarios.

Rent or buy

When we traveled to California, after much discussion and unneeded debates, we decided not to bring our own car seats or strollers. For those of you who have backpacked a car seat on a trip, you can imagine the challenge it would have been to carry two of them through the airport, along with all our other luggage and the kids! Since we were renting a car for the trip, we chose to rent car seats from our car rental company. We were able to rent car seats for $100 each for 10-days. Yes, it’s a little pricey, but the convenience of having the car seats at the airport car rental ready for us far outweighed the cost of us lugging around the heavy car seats through multiple airports. (Did I mention we also had a layover?)

As for the strollers, we decided to leave our beloved larger, more expensive and comfortable stroller at home and purchase new strollers at a local Target once we arrived in California. That way we didn’t have to lug a giant double-stroller around or risk damaging or devaluing it. While it probably sounds cheaper to rent a stroller, we needed a double stroller for 10-days. It ended up being the same price as buying two separate umbrella strollers from Target. We bought them when we got there and then got to keep them afterward for future travel!

Learn from unexpected mistakes (we all make them)

Picture this…it’s go time. Our cab arrives on time. We throw our luggage and carry-on bags into the cab, remind the kids to go potty, and we’re out the door. On the freeway there’s no traffic, so we get to the airport in record time and well ahead of schedule. The kids are fascinated by the airport so they are on their best behavior. We use the self-check-in kiosk and there’s an error. Typical (insert eye roll). Technology never works at the most inconvenient times. We try again…error. OK, maybe there’s something wrong with how we checked in online?

And that’s when they told us, “You cannot have 5 people sitting in a row of three seats.” To which we replied, “Yes, we understand, however, our twins do not have their own seats, they will be sitting on our laps and want to sit together.” To which they replied, “It is against FAA regulations to have 5 persons sitting in a 3-seated row because there are only 4 air masks available in the event of an emergency. We’ll have to separate your family.” No!

Pack multiple bags

The problem was that we only packed ONE bag for our kids’ entertainment. OK, don’t worry, don’t panic, we thought. We’ll just split up the toys…no big deal. Turns out, it was a big deal. Our twins were not cooperating on the flight, constantly wanting the other parent or what the other twin was playing with. They started to scream, cry and kick the seats. As much as you read online to ignore the naysayers and head shakers in the rows around you, you can’t help but feel bad that your kids are the reason why people around you cannot relax. No parent wants to be in this situation. But when the going gets tough (and it will at some point), concentrate on taking care of your kids and ignore those around you.

Next time, book seats across the aisle so you stay somewhat close together. Or pack multiple bags of entertainment and snacks. Lesson learned.

Pace yourself

Our California trip itinerary was packed full of sightseeing which included Hollywood Blvd, Griffith Observatory, Disney Concert Hall, San Diego Zoo, Santa Monica beach, Laguna Beach, Venice Beach, Melrose Ave, Urban Light sculpture, and most importantly, Disneyland!

Disneyland was by far one of the best experiences in California, but the most challenging as well. We all know why it’s the best; the attractions, the rides, the Disney characters and the feeling of being in a fantasy world you never want to escape! But on the same token, it takes a toll on both the parents and the kids. We purchased a three-day pass because we wanted to experience everything it had to offer. In hindsight, that was our mistake. We underestimated the sheer exhaustion of walking for 10+ hours under the hot California sun, the lines and the crowded atmosphere.

Go slow

Not knowing any better, we went out hard and did way too much on the first day, instead of pacing ourselves. We learned our lesson quickly when we weren’t even sure we wanted to go back on Day 2. So, if you have three days, use them wisely and spread out the activities as much as you can. If you only have one day there, prioritize the attractions for your kids but still take it slow and enjoy the moment without feeling rushed or trying to cram so much in that the rest of your trip suffers.

Choose activities wisely

Coming from Toronto Canada, we don’t have easy access to gorgeous beaches. While in California, we wanted to spend as much time by the ocean as possible. The waves, sand and fresh breeze are something we do not get to experience a lot of so we definitely wanted to take advantage of it. Our son must have been a fish in another life because he loves the water. He even has dreams to compete in the Olympics! Needless to say, he loved the beach and our time there.

Our girls, on the other hand, not so much. They were apprehensive at first and unfortunately for us, they fell into a wave as they tried to escape it from touching their feet, resulting in sand and salt water everywhere. Needless to say, that was game over for them. The only way they’d get close to the waves after that was in our arms. Takeaway lesson: exercise caution when trying new things and ease kids into new situations.

Packing tips for the photographer

Let’s switch gears and talk photography, shall we? In my opinion, there are three main tips that are vital when traveling as a photographer. (You with the camera, yes you…you’re the photographer!)

Tip #1 – minimize your gear

And then minimize some more. When I first started to travel with photography gear, I wanted to bring everything. I had major FOMO (fear of missing out) of an opportunity because I didn’t have the “proper” lens. I packed a backpack full of lenses, tripod, gimbal, microphone, filters, etc. The list goes on. As I traveled, the burden of carrying so much gear started to weigh on me physically. I began to reduce my load each trip until I was down to one camera body and one standard zoom lens.

And guess what happened? I never had FOMO. I realized it’s much more important to focus on the subject (my family) than stressing the importance of having the right gear. In fact, worrying about proper gear is a crutch and distracts me from my family. That’s the exact opposite of what a vacation is about. Pick your favorite lens and you’ll learn to use it in ways you never thought possible.

Tip #2 – location scout with Instagram

When you choose the location(s) you will visit, use Instagram to scout out what’s there to see, do and explore. Instagram can show you beautiful photos based on a location search. This allows you to plan your family trip to incorporate the highlights. Instagram is an amazing resource for inspiration. I do this ALL the time even when I’m not traveling. Not because I want to recreate the same images, but it gives me a visual sense of the environment and gets me started thinking of compositions that appeal to me.

Tip #3 – bring a backup drive!

If you’re using a camera with only 1 memory card, it is vital you bring an external hard drive to back up your photos. This may seem excessive, but imagine something WERE to happen to your memory card, those memories you would have cherished for years to come can suddenly vanish in an instant. Not worth the risk. Back up your images on your external hard drive every night when you’re back at the hotel/house.

Relax, enjoy, repeat

When your day is done, take time to unwind and relax! As much as we parents may think it’s only exhausting for us, constantly being on the move is also exhausting for the kids. Now that we’re a little more experienced in traveling with our kids, we plan our days better. We always try to sight-see in the morning and then dedicate a large portion of the afternoon and early evening to one or two areas. And mainly, we just try to relax. Consider staying at places (hotel, vacation home or Airbnb) that have kid-friendly amenities. Pools, board games, puzzles, movies or other activities kids can enjoy in their down time.

The one piece of advice I want you to remember from this article is to enjoy the moments you share with family. Find time to enjoy the little things, just as much as the grand and extravagant events you’ve planned. Look around and take it all in. Just noticing a garden on someone’s front lawn can be a moment to share and cherish. When I think back to when I was a child, the most memorable moments weren’t about the places we visited. I remember the random moments with my family. The karaoke contests between my siblings in the car going to the restaurant. The races downhill to see who can still stand after being dizzy from spinning. Let your vacation be defined by the moments you share with your family and loved ones, not the physical places you visit.

About Andrew Song

I am a Family & Lifestyle photographer from Toronto, Canada. Together with my wife, we are raising a trio of misfits who always seems to get us to smile. Watching them grow up is definitely our favorite past time. Living in a country where half the calendar year is spent in the cold, we try to travel and spend as much time outdoors as possible. The camera comes along everywhere we go. Life happens so quickly and pictures help preserve those moments.

Personal Instagram @andrewsong_
Family & Lifestyle Photography @storiesbysong
Website http://www.storiesbysong.com
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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