HIKE

FALL, HIKE, INFORMATION, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
How to Get Kids Outside During the School Year
- October 2, 2019
It’s that time of year again – our children are trading in their beach towels for backpacks and holding pencils more than sidewalk chalk. Whether you homeschool or traditional school, back-to-school generally means less free time and fewer hours to play outside. Not only that, but the days are growing shorter and the weather’s turning cooler. Getting kids outside during the school year can be a challenge. However, spending time outside in nature is still necessary for our kids’ physical health, mental focus, and emotional development. Today, the amazing Leslie Alvis, Ohio homeschooling mom of four, is here sharing a few ideas for practical ways to build outdoor routines into your school days. Hopefully, these tips will help you incorporate more nature into your busy schedule without making outdoor time feel like one more thing on your to-do list.

Make nature time a priority

Whether back to school means a traditional school program for you or homeschooling with a flexible schedule, days become extra busy as you settle into a fall routine. Many of us have kids involved in extra-curricular activities and sports. It’s easy to feel like we don’t have enough time for nature exploration during the school year. However, a busy schedule doesn’t mean the outdoor adventures have to stop! In fact, I think it should help us make nature time even more of a priority. We’re here to show you how to get kids outside during the school year.

Our kids need us to help them balance the demands of school with the freedom of childhood and the wonder of exploring outdoors. Formal education is necessary, but children also require time outside for proper growth and development. Ginny Yurich, author, educator, and founder of the 1000 Hours Outside movement, says,

Nature play facilitates growth in every area, making time outside a crucial part of the landscape of childhood.”

Time outside matters

Time spent outdoors doesn’t always have to be done in giant hour+ long chunks. Even on busy days, there are many ways to get our kids outside for short amounts of time, which still have huge benefits for kids. A quick break to explore outside helps break up the mental stress of school. While a long hike or bike ride gives them a chance to catch their breath mentally while also strengthening their bodies, sometimes a short walk/ride around the neighborhood is just what they need. Weekend adventures provide fun and memories for the whole family, but short outings to a local park are great for when you don’t have tons of time. Our family tries to include a mix of these different activities throughout the school year to keep us all enjoying the great outdoors, no matter our schedules or the weather. Time outside gives us space to breathe and the freedom to explore.

Take walks to get kids outside

Walks are one of the easiest ways to get kids outside and moving! A family walk can happen anywhere, anytime. It doesn’t have to take long or have the perfect setting. Just look around at what you do each day and see if you can link a walk into that activity. Walk to the bus stop. Stroll to get the mail. Wander to the end of the street…around the block…down a country lane.

As homeschoolers, we work a daily walk into our school routine as our recess. Sometimes we do it when the lessons are dragging long, or sometimes as soon as the school day is finished. But at some point, we grab the bikes, scooters, and stroller (and the dog! Our neighbors call us a parade!) and head outside for some fresh air and exercise. The time out in nature is good for us all. I’m pretty sure it’s all that saves my sanity on some long winter days.

When you get your kids outside to take a walk, you’re not only getting active together, but you are also exploring and observing nature together. My kids never fail to find something wonderful to point out to me on our walks. The bunny that’s always lurking near the vacant lot on the next street over. A brilliantly colored leaf or flower. A puffy cloud.

There are a world of discoveries from every sidewalk, driveway, and walking trail. Sometimes we have more time to linger and wander than others, but wherever we are outside, we see amazing and beautiful parts of the natural world. Getting kids outdoors on a walk is a great way to tailor-fit a quick nature adventure to your family’s busy schedule.

Evening adventures get kids outside

Sometimes our days get really full and busy. I try to plan at least one evening (or late afternoon as the days grow shorter) each week to intentionally get outside! Look at your schedules and find an hour somewhere in the week to go have a little outdoor adventure. Play at the park. Walk in the woods. Blow bubbles. Get some friends together to play frisbee or hide-and-seek together in the lingering twilight. Again, this doesn’t have to be elaborate. It just requires you being intentional about making time for your family to breathe in the fresh air and explore nature together. You won’t be sorry you did!

Take kids’ school outside

Another way to get kids outside after school is simply to take the lessons or homework outside! Before you discard that idea as impractical and impossible, I challenge you to give it a try. When the weather is nice, set up a school/homework station on the porch, the backyard or in the tree fort. Let your older students take their reading up in their favorite tree. Pack up the backpacks and snacks and go sit in a picnic area at a park. There are so many ways to help kids take their schoolwork outside!

Yes, you may have to keep tabs on them and make sure they aren’t totally distracted from their work. But honestly, most of the time kids will buckle down and get their book work done when they realize all the many other things they would rather be doing outside! And wouldn’t you rather have your kids distracted by the mystery of the cicadas and the falling leaves than sitting inside glancing at a computer or television?

We are a second-generation homeschooling family. I grew up hauling my textbooks outside every chance I got. I loved it. (This probably contributes to the feeling of claustrophobia when I’m stuck indoors.) It motivates me to give my own children the same opportunities to get outside in all seasons, doing all kinds of things. Even schoolwork.

Outdoor learning

Whether you homeschool or not, there are a lot of ways to extend learning outside. When you step out into nature, everything around you is a science lesson, art lesson and history lesson. Studying the beauty of nature gives inspiration to every kind of art. Observing the mysteries of the natural world naturally leads to questions and learning about plants, animals and how things have changed over time. Time spent in nature is never time wasted. So, when your days are busy with school schedules and extra-curricular activities, don’t forget that time in nature is an essential part of your children’s education, too.

Look for ways to include outdoor time as part of school! Choose a nature-based science fair project. Conduct your own STEM activities outside using nature. Help your kids study the weather, the seasons, the natural world around them. Volunteer in your child’s classroom to take them outside to work in the school garden or go for a nature walk. Incorporating education into your outdoors time is one of the best ways to make sure you are getting your kids outside after school starts.

Picnics get kids outside

Is the sun shining? Is the sky so blue it takes your breath away? What about the breeze that’s the perfect combination of crisp air and gentle warmth? Take advantage of the lovely fall weather and have a picnic! Take PB&J sandwiches on a hike. Order pizza delivery to your favorite local park. Or build a campfire in your backyard and cook hot dogs and s’mores. Kids don’t need fancy food—they need time outdoors and memories with their families. Impromptu meals outside on a gorgeous day are some of my favorite times with my kids.

Weekend adventures get kids outside

Another way to get kids outside during the school year is to plan weekend adventures! We all know that sometimes if we don’t make plans to do something, it just won’t happen. So, grab your calendar and make some plans. Pick a Saturday afternoon and go explore that state park. Find a new bike trail and spend a few hours on it. Go hiking together, or just go have a picnic at a nearby park. Find a local corn maze or fall festival and enjoy some outdoor fun. Pull your family loose from the tug of school schedules and obligations and make some memories together.

Weather

Just a quick note on the impact weather can have on your fall activities. Cooler days, shorter evenings, and more rain can make planning an outing challenging. Getting caught in a summer shower can be fun. But getting caught in the rain in October can be miserable. Especially if you aren’t dressed for it. There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing, so be prepared! Check the weather often and look for days that will suit your family and the activity you are planning. Take advantage of those gorgeous sunny days and enjoy nature to its fullest!

Don’t let bad weather keep you from getting your kids outside this fall. Sometimes the wind is unexpectedly biting. Sometimes it pours rain every time you plan a nature outing. Several times we’ve planned for an all-day outdoor adventure and had to do it in chilly, incessant rain. Honestly, that makes memories, too! Sometimes they’re the best memories! Just remember that your attitude sets the tone for dealing with the unexpected or inconvenient. Oftentimes, kids don’t mind wet feet and pants as much as adults do. And a cup of hot chocolate can turn a chilly experience into a delightful adventure for a kid!

Need more fall ideas?

As we mentioned, sometimes planning an outdoor activity and making it a priority is half the battle. If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas of things you can do outside this fall as a family, we’ve got a great list of 100+ outdoor fall activities for kids and families. This list should give you all kinds of inspiration for easy and quick nature crafts to outdoor adventures, STEM experiments and more.

How do you get your kids outside during the school year?

Hi, I’m Leslie Alvis! I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, wife to my high school sweetheart and best friend, and a mom to four rascally kids. They love the great outdoors as much as I do, and our yard often feels like the scene from “The Sound of Music” where you hear voices and laughter and can’t find any children until you look up into the trees. I love writing, photography, and all things outdoors. We live in Northeast Ohio on the edge of Amish Country, where it’s perfectly normal to park beside a horse and buggy at the grocery store. We also homeschool, which basically means that I’m trying to teach my kids to use their minds without losing my own. While we follow a traditional curriculum, I weave every outdoor adventure I can into our educational journey. I believe that the lessons children experience firsthand sink deepest into their hearts and minds, and there is so much we can learn outside in the beauty and wonder of nature.

Find Leslie on Instagram @c_l_allofus
BEACH, HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER
15 Water Activities for Kids & Ways to Get Active on the Water
- August 13, 2019
It may be back to school season, but there’s still LOTS of summer left! Temperatures have been soaring around most of the U.S. over the last couple of weeks. It’s only natural that many of us have been gravitating toward the water to catch a break from the heat! Today, we have the amazing Chelsea Furlong, photographer and mom of 2, here with 15 kid-friendly ways to get active on the water this summer! Not only will these water activities for kids keep them cool, but they’ll help with swimming skills, improve balance and coordination and wear them out! This post is sure to inspire you to get outside and into the water as soon as possible!

Get active on the water

Summertime is the BEST time to get active with your family and it’s extra fun when the activities involve water. With two very busy kids in our house, we’re out adventuring on the water almost every single day. We’re lucky to live in Virginia Beach where the weather is warm most of the year and the beach is nearby, but we’ve done lots of these water activities for kids on lakes and rivers all over the East Coast!

Benefits of spending time on the water

As my children continue to grow, our list of family activities to do on the water grows right along with them. Each summer we’re able to add a few more fun water activities to do together that we weren’t quite able to do the previous year. We love being able to create so many incredible memories with our children while also getting plenty of exercise! The more time we spend outside together, the happier we all are. And it doesn’t hurt that the kids are nice and tired when bedtime rolls around!

15 kid-friendly ways to get active on the water

Getting outside and active on the water doesn’t have to be hard. And it doesn’t have to be the same old thing again and again. There are so many ways to enjoy the outdoors and keep cool. Here are 15 different water activities for kids that will get your kids outside and active on the water this summer!

1. Stand up paddleboarding

Stand up paddleboarding has become one of our absolute favorite summertime water activities for kids. We started when our kids were young (ages of 4 and 6), so our kids are now great at paddleboarding alone or just sitting along for the ride. Stand up paddleboarding is a great full-body workout. While you’re balancing, your body is using your core, shoulders, arms, legs, and back. If you’ve done it before, you know that it’s even great for foot strength! You’d be surprised at how tired your feet will get from gripping the board to balance.

Our kids also love to play a game they call “Paddle Battle.” They stand on opposites sides of the board, facing each other, and rock the board from side to side to try to get the other person to fall off the board first! They can play this game for hours and never get sick of it! They enjoy climbing up onto the boards and jumping off of them as well. If you’re not comfortable heading out for a long paddle, your kids will have a blast simply playing around on the boards. They’ll come up with all sorts of fun games!

2. Kayaking

Another favorite water activity of ours is kayaking. Depending on the age/size of your kids, they can join you on a ride or paddle along in their own kayaks! Our kids have learned to kayak on adult-sized kayaks. However, there are wonderful kid-sized kayaks that you can use as well. You’ll be surprised how quickly children will learn how to use their paddles to navigate a kayak. And if they’re able to go a distance on their own (even in very shallow water where you’ll easily be able to walk to them if they need help), the pride on their faces from that sense of independence is absolutely priceless. It’s like learning to ride a bike for the first time!

3. Hiking or trail walking

Sometimes our favorite water activities for kids involve more than just water. Whether you’re near an ocean, lake, river, creek or stream, you should be able to find lots of great walking trails close to water to enjoy! Here on the coast, we have several boardwalks, as well as walking/hiking trails along the inlets. If you’re further inland, you can usually find great hiking trails in state parks or up the mountains beside rivers and waterfalls! If you have young children, it doesn’t even have to be a very long distance. Just a quick trail with water to toss some rocks into will thrill them!

4. Nature hunts

Along those same lines, nature hunts can be an amazing way to spend a few hours by the water! We often find ourselves out on a nature hunt during that rough late afternoon/early evening timeframe when it’s too early for bed, but the kids aren’t tired yet. You know what I’m talking about. That’s a perfect time to go out for a nature hunt if you have some water nearby. We’ll walk or ride bikes to the beach or inlet, and the boys will search for bugs, crabs, turtles, birds, snails, etc. They’re never disappointed.

Kids are so curious – they can find some kind of amazing treasure wherever they go. Even a new rock and a stick is enough to excite my kids. You can either come up with a specific list of items for the kids to search for, find a list online, or forget the list and just see what you happen to come across. No matter how you decide to do it, the exercise, fresh air, splashing, and nature treasures will always be a crowd-pleaser.

5. Pedal boating

Another great way to get active on the water is to cruise around on a pedal boat! I remember trying these out as a kid when we were on vacation at places like campgrounds with ponds or lakes. Sometimes local parks will have these for rent on the lakes. My kids are lucky because their grandmother happens to have one for them to play on at camp! And they love that thing!

Last year their legs were a little short so the adults ended up doing most of the pedaling. This year, however, both boys had both grown quite a bit and were able to reach the pedals on their own. Pedal boats are a surprisingly good leg workout and if you pedal around enough, you’ll likely feel it the next day! Our kids love cruising around where there’s lots of seaweed but still shallow enough for the sunlight to illuminate the creatures swimming below.

6.Yoga

While it may seem like a land activity (and it is), yoga can really be enjoyed anywhere, including on or near the water! You can do yoga on the beach, on docks at the lake, and even on a stand up paddleboard! We like to turn our paddleboard yoga session into a bit of a challenge. We’ll see who can get into certain poses without falling off the board or see who can hold specific poses the longest. There’s no shortage of laughter during that particular activity!

7. Skimboarding

Skimboarding is a fun outdoor summer water activity for kids that my boys have are just getting into this year! At the beginning of the summer, they saw some older guys using them at our beach and they didn’t stop talking about it until I finally broke down and got them a skimboard of their own. At 5 and 7, I wasn’t sure our kids would be old enough yet but they proved me wrong! They’ve had a ton of fun on that skimboard. It takes a lot of patience and coordination. Plus, it occupies them for hours.

8. Dock jumping

Those of you living the lake life will be very familiar with this one! This activity has been a people pleaser for decades and will never get old. My kids can spend an entire day doing this and never get sick of it. Jumping off, swimming back to the dock, and then climbing up the ladder over and over for hours. Such a great way to enjoy a warm day while also getting lots of exercise. Like most everything else in our lives right now, the boys turn this into a competition to see who can jump the highest, furthest, or do the best trick.

We alternate between using the life vests when I’m not in the water with them and no life vests when I’m right there to assist if they get too tired to swim back to the dock unassisted. This activity was probably the best activity we’ve done all summer to help them learn to swim better. They made massive improvements in their swimming abilities after just an hour of jumping without the life vests and swimming back to the ladder! And I was right there to catch them or lend a hand if they needed a little extra help.

9. Surfing

Surfing is something that’s only just now popped up on our radar as our boys are getting older. Now that they’re better swimmers and have a great sense of balance on our paddleboards, we’re ready to add surfing to our list of favorite water activities for kids! I grew up in the mountains so I’ve never tried surfing before, but since we live on the ocean it’s time to give it shot. If you live in a beach area or plan to vacation to one, you’ll likely have access to a few places that offer surfing camps for kids and private lessons. Since our youngest isn’t quite old enough for the surfing camps yet, we decided to do private lessons as a family! I have a feeling that surf boards will be on our kids’ wish lists in the near future!

10. Climbing

If you’re in the mountains rather than on the coast, I highly recommend taking some time to adventure near waterfalls! My kids are fascinated by waterfalls because we don’t live in an area where you can find them. Whenever we head to the mountains they insist on going out to find some! Usually, you can also find some great spots nearby to climb rocks! We stick to small falls with fairly easy-to-navigate rock areas, since we’re not well-trained in rock climbing yet. When we get hot and sweaty from our climbing, we just find a little pool without fast-moving water to plunk down in and cool off! Please be warned – there is no shortage of beautiful rocks to take home in places like this, so you’re pockets and backpacks will get heavy!

11. Canoeing or row boating

When it comes to being out on the water, you can really just assume that everyone will have a blast using any kind of boat. Kids love learning to paddle and are filled with pride when they’ve gained the skills to do it independently.

12. Go to a splash pad

For those of you who aren’t near nature-made splash areas, you can still have fun getting active in places like splash playgrounds or splash pads! More and more cities are building wonderful splash pads to run around in! These are especially great for families with babies and toddlers because you don’t have to worry about the water being too deep!

13. Go to a pool

Along those same lines, find a pool nearby! Both indoor and outdoor pools are a great way to spend some quality time with your family. My favorite thing about going to a pool is that I have to leave my phone behind! Once I jump in the water with the kids, they get some absolute undivided attention. It’s so refreshing and necessary!

14. Playing a sport

When you pack up your beach bag, add a soccer ball, football, or frisbee! Depending on where you’ll be and how many people will be there, you could also play volleyball or whiffle ball, too. Tossing a ball back and forth in the water is actually one of my very favorite things to do with my kids. We can keep cool by being waist-deep, connect with each other, and practice hand-eye coordination. You can purchase some fantastic frisbees and balls made specifically for water. We LOVE these. They soak up water and then splash it all over when you toss them. It’s tons of fun!

15. JUST PLAY!

My final suggestion is to just jump in and play anywhere there’s water! You can swim around, play on floats, use kickboards or boogie boards, or dive to the bottom to find treasures. Anything you do in the water together will be fun and your children will appreciate the quality time with you! You honestly don’t need to rent or purchase any of the fancy stuff I mentioned above to enjoy water activities with kids. Splash around with your family and make some summer memories that will last a lifetime!

What are some of your favorite ways to get active on the water?

Hi there, I’m Chelsea! I’m a photographer, mother of two busy boys, and sunshine and fresh air addict. We live in Virginia Beach and spend as much time outdoors as possible! We spend most of our time exploring the beach, inlets, and nature trails nearby. Our family loves biking, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, building forts, and playing in the sand! During the warm months, you can find us enjoying the Chesapeake Bay almost every night until long after the sun goes down. We’re doing our best to reduce our carbon footprint and always try to leave every trail cleaner than it was when we arrived.

Personal Instagram: @dimples.and.the.blonde
Client work: @chelsea.lyn.photography
Website: dimplesandtheblonde.com
HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, URBAN NATURE
Neighborhood Hiking with Kids
- June 19, 2019
Hiking with kids doesn’t have to be daunting or intimidating. It doesn’t require fancy gear or long miles. All you need to do to get started is step outside your front door with the purpose of having fun and a sense of adventure. Today, we have Maggie (Nimo), active mom of two from Sydney, Australia here sharing how her family got started hiking by going on local neighborhood excursions. She walks you through everything you need to know about neighborhood hiking with kids and how to start your own family tradition.

Benefits of hiking with kids

Hiking is not only fun, but it has many health benefits for kids and adults. Hiking is a great way to get kids outdoors and is a fun way to get them to love nature and foster their curiosity about the world around them.

When most people think of hiking, they think of an expedition that involves fancy gear from The Northface, hiking poles and a hydrating Camelbak with a straw into your mouth. While these kinds of hikes can lead you to some amazing places, they are not always possible to undertake with small children. However, hiking doesn’t have to be so intense. Kids can get outside and hike in their own neighborhoods!

The start of neighborhood hiking

When my son was only 20 months, I fell pregnant with my second child. I had such bad morning sickness that I spent most of my days laying on the floor, the TV on and my son entertaining himself around me. When my husband would come home from work, we would go for a walk to get some fresh air. This was the beginning of our neighborhood hiking adventures.

In the beginning, we needed to carry my son most of the time we were hiking, but in no time, he was covering the distance all by himself! That was 3 years ago. Today, he is an avid hiker and is always encouraging his little sister not to give up.

Neighborhood hiking with kids

Our hikes have since advanced from our neighborhood to National parks, but we still make time to walk around the neighborhood a few times a week. Most of our neighborhoods are rich with interesting things to make a group of children excited enough to get outside. If you want to get your little ones hiking around your neighborhood, here is where to start.

1. Start a weekly tradition

Pick a day (or multiple days) in a week and call it “family hiking day.” Pick a time that suits the whole family, when the kids are not too tired or hungry. Also, make sure you are not in a hurry so the kids can explore. Our hikes usually happen in the evening, after dinner. This is a time when my husband and I are not rushed, the kids are full and they have that pre-bedtime surge of energy.

2. Make it exciting

Make a big deal of your neighborhood hikes and show them you’re excited about going. Help them pack a little bag with items for the hike (my kid’s bags contain water, a magnifying glass, a neighborhood map printed off Google maps and a headlamp for winter walks). Our hikes are known as excursions by the kids and we have reached a point where they usually choose which direction to take.

3. Find interesting things in your neighborhood to mark your destination

When we first started hiking and our son was small, our excursion used to take us to a neighborhood cat. When he became comfortable with that distance, we discovered a friendly dog that was a little bit further and this became our destination. We have since discovered other interesting things around the neighborhood and we choose to hike to those destinations. This gives the kids a goal and helps set their expectations.

Some of our other destinations are a large tree with all sorts of interesting insects to watch. There’s a large rock where we practice our climbing technique and a local dog park where we have made friends. Sometimes we hike to a construction site so the kids can see the diggers and tractors. Most recently, a local community garden has become a favorite spot for my 2-year-old daughter because she gets to feed all my lettuce to the chickens. Kids find interest in so many things that adults tend to overlook. Use your neighborhood hike to discover things in a whole new way.

4. Find friends to hike with

There is strength in numbers. This could not be truer when it comes to toddlers and pre-schoolers. During our walks, I usually notice that my kids cover way more distance when we bring friends along. I like to ask other mothers in the neighborhood and their kids to join us on our hike. I find that the children get so busy with each other that they rarely ever ask to be carried or complain about the distance.

5. Don’t worry too much about the destination

Yes, I mentioned that having a destination helps keep kids motivated, but make sure you allow them to explore. Toddlers and pre-schoolers get distracted very easily. Sometimes, a rock or tree will catch their attention and they’ll want to stop to explore or play. You can try to gently encourage them to keep walking, but don’t force them or get impatient with them. This will only make you frustrated and discourage them from trying the walk again.

If it so happens that a child stops and refuses to move on, then stay there! Let the kids explore whatever they find interesting until they’re satisfied. If after a while they still don’t want to move on, turn around and go home, and try again another time.

6. Don’t combine the hike with a task

Neighborhood hikes should not be the time when you plan to stop at the grocery store and pick up a gallon of milk. Separate “tasks” from “hikes.” These neighborhood hikes are meant to get your kid outside and into nature and eventually increase the child’s stamina and endurance. If you tie it to a task, you shift the focus to your needs and it then becomes impossible to move at the child’s pace. Remember, these child-friendly hikes should be led by them, so don’t rush them.

7. Safety first

As always, when hiking, safety is high on the list. Put down some basic rules that are easy for the kids to follow. Our rules are:
- No running too far ahead of the parents
- When asked, you must stop
- All children must hold an accompanying adult’s hand when crossing a street
We also try to avoid main roads, as its more peaceful and less polluted. We always repeat our rules before leaving the house. If any child is struggling with following them after a few reminders, that child goes back home with one of the adults. I have had to do this to show the kids just how important it is to follow the rules. I’m happy to report that, my 4-year-old son knows them and follows them quite well. My 2-year-old has not gotten the grasp yet, but I am confident she will get there.

8. Leave the gadgets at home

When we do neighborhood hikes, we make sure to stay off our phones. However, one adult usually carries a phone with them for emergencies and safety reasons, but it stays hidden in a backpack or pocket and is not to be used. Our hikes are a time to connect as a family. You never know when a pre-schooler is going to hold your hand and tell you about their day. If you are distracted by your phone, they may move on to something else and you’ll miss out on an important piece of your child’s day. Our neighborhood hikes usually last around 45 minutes, and everything else can wait.

9. Don’t forget to have fun!

The main purpose of our neighborhood hikes is to explore, exercise, and, most importantly, have fun. Use your imagination on your hike and pretend to hunt for dinosaurs or escape from crocodiles. Let the kids’ imagination take them places like the jungle or desert, and go along with them. You will be in for quite an adventure.

Start your own tradition of neighborhood hiking

If you want to get outdoors more with your family but find life getting in the way, neighborhood hiking is a great place to start. Getting out the door and into your local neighborhood is the perfect way to start adventuring more with the kids. Before you know it, you will be online ordering that fancy gear from the Northface, ready for a hike off a beaten track! We hope to run into you out there. Happy hiking everyone!

About the author

I am Maggie (Nimo). I’m originally from Kenya but lived in the U.S. for over 10 years. While living in Pittsburgh, I met and married a Slovakian man. We decided to move to warmer weather, initially thinking California, but we kept moving and ended up in Sydney Australia. We now call Australia home and when we are not busy working, we like to get out and hike, camp and travel with our children ages 2 and 4.

You can find more of their family’s adventures in the following locations:
Instagram – @babystepslongstrides
Website – http://babystepslongstrides.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
HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
How to Be Prepared when Desert Hiking with Kids
- February 26, 2019
Hiking with kids is one of our all-time favorite activities. It can be done nearly anywhere, doesn’t require fancy gear or weeks of planning and can be adapted for kids of all ages. No wonder it’s one of the first activities that most parents resort to when getting their kids outdoors. And while it may sound (and be) relatively easy, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared…especially when hiking in locations such as the desert. Today we have Chelsea Bowden from Las Vegas, NV here to share all her tips and advice on hiking with two little ones in the desert.

Desert hiking with kids

We live right outside Las Vegas, NV and enjoy finding beauty in the desert. I have two kids (four and three years old) who love to be outside exploring. They need their daily dose of fresh air and outdoor fun. Even on days when I feel too tired or overwhelmed to do anything or go anywhere, my kids encourage me to get out of the house, which is something I never regret afterward.

One of our favorite family activities is hiking. I use the term “hike” loosely, though. To us, hiking can be something as simple as a walk around our neighborhood or as complex as a planned adventure through the mountains. We love hiking along paths we discover while playing at the park and hiking middle-of-nowhere desert trails. There’s no one way to hike and so many great places to go, especially in the Nevada desert. Today I’m sharing some of tips, advice and recommendations on how to be prepared when hiking with kids in the desert.

What to pack

For any desert hike, water is essential. On short hikes at a local park or around the neighborhood, I typically just carry one large water bottle for all of us to share. Otherwise, a good size water pack (we use CamelBak) with room for lots of ice water and lots of pockets.

In addition to water, we always keep the following essentials in one pocket for hikes:
- a utility knife
- compass
- small sunscreen
- small first aid kit with baby wipes (for cleaning off scrapes or wiping hands before snack)
- medicine (such as Neosporin)
- Band-Aids
These are things we’ve kept in our pack ever since we bought it years ago. No need to unpack! Just replace as needed. I also like to keep a towel and an extra pair of clothes handy in the car for each kid. It’s hard to stop my son from jumping in a muddy puddle when he occasionally finds them.

For more info on what to pack when hiking with kids, check out our full list of hiking essentials for families.

Don’t forget the snacks

Kids constantly need to refuel, so make sure to bring snacks. If traveling on a longer hike, I use one pocket in our backpack dedicated to snacks. My kids love snacks, as do most kids. They would honestly eat snacks all day long and have no sit-down meals if it were up to them! I usually let them help pick one or two things that will go in the bag to get them more excited about our adventure.

We use snacks as motivation on our hikes and it keeps them going when they start getting tired (which will happen). Whenever they say they are getting tired, they want us to pick them up, or we hear any kind of whininess, we motivate them to keep going by saying something like, “when we make it to that bench (big rock, sign, tree, or whatever landmark we can point out ahead) you get to pick out a snack and have a drink of water. We save “treats” (like small chocolates or gummies) for the very end.

Here’s a list of the most common snacks we’ll bring with us:
- Clifkid zbars
- mixed nuts
- dried fruits
- fruit snacks
- apple sauce pouches
- Nature Valley granola bars
- Nutrigrain bars
- pretzels
Pro tip: Don’t leave home with an empty belly – make sure your kids have some food in their bellies before beginning any adventure.

Where to go

Know your kids, but still start small. Kids have a surprising amount of energy, but they still get tired quickly. We’ve gone on enough walks around the neighborhood to know our children’s limitations. They can handle around a 2 ½ mile hike on their own without us needing to carry them a lot. If we go any longer distance, I need to be prepared to carry someone at least part of the way. For those distances, I try not to go with the kids by myself. I’ve been using the app AllTrails for some time now and always look at the difficulty level and length of the hike before deciding where to go.

We’ve also found that a lot of parks we go to have trails within them, as well. These trails won’t necessarily be labeled a “hike,” but as I said earlier, we use the term hike loosely. A new path of any kind where we might discover new plants, flowers, animals, rocks, etc. is exciting for the kids. And it’s a bonus when I say we are going to the park and then we get to add on additional time there for a newly discovered hike.

As the kids get older, it will be fun to explore more challenging hikes. But for now, we are in the “easy zone” and try to make hikes pleasant for everyone. Hikes with little kids should be fun for them and not stressful or scary. Because if the kids are having fun, they’re much more likely to want to go hiking and exploring again in the near future.

How to make it fun

Walking to/from the park, climbing a mountain (or small hills), going through a tunnel, seeing a river, lake, waterfall (or any sort of water, for that matter) makes hiking a little more exciting! These elements make hiking trails more of an adventure and are a great way to keep kids motivated to keep going. My kids love exploring new places and are so excited to see what’s around the next corner. Along the way, we often find ourselves singing songs, looking for different colored rocks, pointing out what kinds of animals live along the trail, and finding “good picture spots.” My kids really like to run, so we often have races along the way to see who can make it to our next “benchmark” first.

Handling the weather

We’re very lucky in that 9-10 months of the year we experience pretty great weather. For most of the year, we don’t really have to worry about what time of day we are going to be outside. However, in the middle of the summer, it can become dangerously hot, with temperatures up to 118° F. If you want to do any outdoor activities during this time of year, its best to be up with the sunrise and get your activities in early.

Also if you’re adventuring in the summer, be prepared with lots of extra water, sunscreen, and shade. Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back. On the opposite end of the spectrum, it gets colder in the desert than people may think. You may need gloves, hats, and an extra jacket during cold weather, especially if traveling up to the mountains. Here in Nevada, Mt. Charleston is where we usually head each year to get our snow fix and go sledding. It’s only about an hour away with lots of good sledding hills for kids of every age.

Hazards on trails (cactus/critters)

Hiking in the desert comes with its own hazards in the form of cactuses and desert critters. My son once picked up a large piece of cactus that had broken off along a trail, which embedded spines into his hand. Thankfully, it was close to our house, so I was able to run home and grab a pair of tweezers to get all spines out. Needless to say, he’ll never touch a cactus again and tells everyone else not to touch them either. Lesson learned, I guess! Make sure to warn children of the dangers of cactuses before your little one makes the same mistake.

As far as critters go, we usually don’t see too many on the trail. However, if you venture a bit off the beaten path, it’s not unusual to run into snakes, scorpions, or spiders. Most of them tend to avoid main paths and trails, so if you’re hiking with little kids, keep your eyes open and stay close to the trails.

What we’d do differently

I think everyone probably has a story about an adventure that went wrong. While they can be very scary, they also teach us valuable lessons. Recently, we went on a hike without being too aware of the weather. As I mentioned before, our weather is usually good and doesn’t catch us off guard too often around here. We usually check the weather before leaving the house, but this time we didn’t. There were gusts of wind up to 40 miles an hour! They could almost blow my children over! Needless to say, we learned our lesson and called it a day. If you find yourself in a similar situation, know when to turn back and be ok with not finishing what you started. There’s always another time to come back and try that trail or hike again.

Also, when hiking with little kids, you’ve got to time it right. You know your child’s schedule best. If they have the most energy in the morning when they wake up, try going for a hike early. If they get afternoon antsy, then try going after lunch. Need to burn energy after being cooped up all day, try an early evening hike. However, always make sure to give yourself enough time to be done before it’s dark out.

Wrap it up

Hiking with kids is always an adventure and gets a little bit easier every time you go out. We have so many great memories from our family hikes and have such a great time exploring together. Hopefully, these tips and advice will help get you and your kids out the door and on the trail. Because when we plan ahead a little, it makes for a much happier hike!

About Chelsea

I was born in Orange, CA, but raised in the small town of Boulder City, NV (about a 30 min drive from Las Vegas), the youngest of 4 with older brothers. Early on I took dance classes but eventually turned to sports to be like my brothers. I played everything from basketball, softball, volleyball, and track and field. My parents always encouraged us to be active. I met my husband at 20 and we married the next year! Immediately thereafter, the Navy stationed him near Seattle, WA. We spent the next four years in the Pacific Northwest. I grew to love the different climate and all the hiking trails we discovered there.

In 2014, we had our daughter, Chloe. One year later, my husband was ending his career in the Navy and I was 6 months pregnant with our son Logan, when we packed up to head back to Las Vegas. We stayed with my parents while saving to buy our first home. After getting settled, I ended my 8-year career with Starbucks to become a full-time stay at home mom. We are now expecting our third child in September. Even though my energy is low these days (pregnancy wipes me out) we still love to explore the outdoors as often as we can, even if it can only be for 15 minutes some days.

You can find Chelsea on Instagram at @Mrschelseab
HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking with Kids
- November 13, 2018
Lately, I’ve received a lot of questions about how to get started hiking with kids. Parents want to know how old kids should be when they start, what to pack, where to go and how to motivate their kids. I’m here to provide some answers! My husband and I have been hiking with our kids since the time they could walk. Actually, we started well before that with babies in carriers! We’ve definitely learned a thing or two about hiking with small kids over the years. Hopefully, this post will inspire you to get out on the trail with your kids, no matter what age they are. If you have a question that I don’t answer, please leave it in the comments below and I’ll respond.

Benefits of hiking with kids

Hiking is such a wonderful way to get children outdoors, immersed in nature and burn some of that boundless energy. It can teach them so much about their surroundings and instill an appreciation for nature deep in their soul. Hiking can build confidence, foster independence and encourage curiosity in children. It gives them opportunities to explore your local area, learn about local plants and animals and other natural teaching opportunities. Hiking can help push kids out of their comfort zone and accomplish something they can be proud of. Plus, hiking provides a distraction-free environment for quality time with your children…and what could be better than that?

Easy or hard hikes?

Depending on the parent’s definition of hiking, it can be one of the first or last outdoor activities that parents want try with their kids. If a parent thinks hiking is merely a walk through the woods, they’re probably more inclined to try it than a parent that views hiking as scaling steep mountains. Luckily, hiking is both of those things and everything in between.

Hiking can be done nearly anywhere and (a lot of times), you don’t need any fancy gear or very much experience to do it. However, there are a few things you should know/do before you go to ensure you have the best possible experience. The more fun the kids have hiking, the more likely they (and you) will want to do it again. We’re here to set you up for hiking success, which we hope will lead to even more outdoor adventures for you and your kids.

When to get started hiking with kids

There’s no perfect age to start hiking with kids. The perfect age is RIGHT NOW. You can get kids started hiking any time, from baby to teen. I think a lot of parents will tell you that it’s always beneficial to start them young, but that’s certainly not always the easiest. Every age has its own difficulties to consider and challenges.

On the one hand, babies are relatively easy to hike with. For short hikes, all you really need to do is put them in a wrap or backpack carrier, strap on your shoes and go! Most babies love being outdoors and close to a parent. However, hiking with babies can be intimidating for beginners and new parents and logistically difficult depending on how much you need to pack to feed, clothe and diaper them. The good news is that every hike with your baby will get a bit easier. You’ll soon figure out what you need and what you can leave in the car. The hard part is just getting out of the house in the first place.

Hiking with toddlers

Hiking with toddlers is a bit easier and more difficult, simultaneously. Personally, I think this is the hardest age to hike with (see above) Toddlers can walk on their own (less for you to carry), but they usually can’t go very far and tire quickly. Some toddlers also have very strong feelings about what they wear, where they go and how things are done. They wear out quickly and aren’t easy to coax when you’re ready to move. Meltdowns on the trail will happen, but trust us, it does get easier. If you check your expectations at the door, hiking with toddlers can be done successfully. After the age of 4, hiking with kids gets much easier!

Choose the right hike for kids

One of the most important things you can do when starting to hike with children is to choose the right hike. In order to set them up for success, you want to choose a hike that won’t be too long, difficult or dangerous. If your kids are small or you’re just getting started, don’t overestimate how much they can do. While they seem to have endless energy, hiking will take it out of them in a whole new way. Choose a short trail with easy terrain. Paved trails are great for little ones and unstable walkers who have a tendency to trip over things. There’s a lot to look at other than where their feet are going. Expect a few spills and plan accordingly.

As your kids get older and more experienced, you can do longer and more difficult hikes. With school-aged kids, we love going on hikes with rocks/boulders to climb, creeks to play in and more rugged terrain. The kids like the challenge and are extra proud of themselves when we get to the end of a hike. Don’t be afraid to challenge them! They might surprise you with how well they do and quickly they catch on. But also don’t be surprised if you end up carrying one of them for a while if they’re having trouble keeping up. You just never know!

Also, consider choosing a hike that has a destination or goal to get to (a creek, waterfall, lake, swimming hole, or picnic area). Kids are motivated by the end reward. Give them something to look forward to and strive for.

Dress appropriately for your hike

The right clothing and shoes will go a long way ensuring your hike is a success. Nothing will make your kid hate hiking more than being uncomfortable in their clothing, too hot/cold or getting blisters on their feet from wearing the wrong shoes. Layers work great for kids so they can adjust the amount of clothing to the outdoor temperature. Tennis shoes with socks are great for hiking, but not so great if they get wet or dirty. Consider bringing a back-up pair or some water shoes if you know they’re going to jump in the creek the first chance they get!

And be sure to keep a set of dry clothes in the car for each kid to change into before getting in their car seat to go home. I can’t even tell you how many times my kids have ridden home naked because I forgot to restock after our last adventure!

Hike early

The best time of day to go hiking with kids is usually in the morning. Everybody’s energy level is full and you can beat the heat of the day by getting an early start. Kids are usually at their most hyper in the morning, so taking a morning hike gives you a breather and lets them channel their energy productively. While I can’t guarantee it won’t happen, there’s usually less whining and fewer demands to be carried in the morning than if you go later in the day as the kids get more tired and cranky.

Plus, the earlier you start, the fewer people you’ll have to deal with out on the trail. And getting an early start means you won’t have to rush the kids through their hike to make it back before dark.

Let your kids set the hiking pace

When you first start hiking with your children, let them take the lead. Hiking with kids is very different than hiking with adults and you have to go at their pace or they’ll hate it. Children walk much slower and need lots of stops and time to explore. If your kid is more interested in climbing rocks and chasing butterflies than making it to the next mile marker, that’s ok! It may take you two hours to walk a half-mile, but at least you’re outside having fun! Be patient with them and always give yourself WAY more time than you expect to take. And just remember, the goal when hiking with children is not to get to a destination, it’s about the journey.

Let them explore

Giving your kids plenty of space, time, and independence to explore out on the trail will help them fall in love with hiking and nature. Try to find trails with interesting features or have a lot of varying terrains. Natural elements like creeks or rivers, waterfalls, boulders or caves will keep kids entertained and occupied. In addition, bridges, stairs, rock formations, boardwalks, ladders, and fallen logs can encourage adventure and imaginative play while you’re hiking. As long as these things are all safe for your kids to play on (and permitted in the area), allow them ample time to play and explore off the trail.

Trails are teaching opportunities

Use hikes as a way to teach them about their surroundings and how to respect the environment. Teach kids which plants to avoid and which are safe to touch. Point out the stingy, itchy, scratchy plants, so they know to stay safely away from those. If you’re not sure, get a book at your local library or download a plant ID app and learn together! Take in all the nature you see around you on your hike. Identify flowers by their colors and trees by their leaves and bark. Look for animals, bugs and birds. Pay attention for animal tracks on the ground.

And just as importantly, teach children to leave no trace. Always take nothing but photos and leave nothing but footprints. Take all your trash to a trash can or home with you and leave none on the trail. If you have older kids that can safely pick up trash they find on the trail, encourage them to clean up after others when you’re out hiking.

Play to their strengths

As the parent, you know your kid better than anyone. Consider their personality and strengths when planning your hike and play to those to make it enjoyable for them. If your child loves being the leader, let them walk up front and lead the way. Give one kid the job of reading the map and choosing which direction you’ll hike. Have a kid that needs extra motivation? Give him the role of the encourager/cheerleader to get everyone else motivated. Let your voracious snacker choose when and where you’ll stop for snacks. Have a singer? Let her pick the songs you’ll sing along the way. Give your artistic/creative kid control of the camera and have him document the adventure. It’ll be fun looking back at those images and seeing the hike from his perspective.

Know their weaknesses

Along the same lines, watch for their signs to head off any issues before they happen. Watch for signs that they’re getting tired and know when it is time to head back home. Exhausted kids are more prone to accidents, so be aware of their energy level. If you have a child that gets tired easily or gives up quickly on adventures, bring a carrier and expect that going into the hike so you’re not disappointed.

Pay attention to their cues to avoid meltdowns before they start. Children can have meltdowns over all kinds of thing: exhaustion, boredom, injury, frustration, jealousy, etc. If you have little ones, it’s like to happen. But it doesn’t have to end your hike. Address the situation and move on quickly. Children can feel your stress and anxiety, so don’t sweat the small stuff and try not to dwell. If you have to turn around and go home, that’s ok!

Play games, all sorts

Hikes are a great opportunity to really get to know your kids and have some really wonderful conversations with your child. If you keep their minds engaged while they’re hiking, you’ll get more miles out of them and it’ll go by in no time at all. Here are a few simple games you could play while you hike that lets you get to know your kids and their amazing imaginations:
- Play “I Spy” with a variety of clues (something red, something that eats worms, a place where an animal lives, etc.)
- Play “Would you Rather” with everyone taking a turn asking and answering (Would you rather live in a place with a lot of trees or live in a place near the ocean? Would you rather be funny or smart?)
- Use hikes as an opportunity to have more intimate conversations about their friends and school or their accomplishments and struggles
- Help your kids work through some math word problems without them realizing it’s studying! (If we hike 0.75 miles west, then 0.5 miles north and then hike back, how far did we go in total and in which directions?)
- Let your kids get creative by asking them open-ended questions (Describe your ultimate birthday party. If you could create your own holiday, what would it be like?)
- Teach your kids your favorite silly camp songs and sing along the way.
- Do a nature scavenger hunt on your hike (there are tons of free printable ones on Pinterest) or pick 5 items to look for before you begin the hike. Winner gets a prize!
- Geocache one your hike! You’d be amazed at how many caches are hidden along popular hikes and perfect for little ones to find. If you need a primer on geocaching, we’ve got a great Beginner’s Guide to Geocaching with Kids on the website!
Bring snacks on your hike

Food and water are imperative to have on hand when hiking with (or without) kids. Little ones burn fuel and get dehydrated quickly, so stop frequently for breaks. Hiking burns lots of energy for kids and adults, so it is important to replenish it regularly with nutritious food and lots of water. We like fruits, nuts, bars, jerky, granola bars, graham crackers and maybe a little chocolate (for mom). If your kids are old enough to carry their own packs, let them make/carry their own snacks and water bottles, too. They’ll feel extra responsible having their own gear and refreshments. (Although you should definitely supervise to keep them from eating it all in the car before you even get to the hike! Speaking from experience.) Small treats also make handy bribes if you need to coax a kid to do just 10 more minutes!

Be prepared

We hope nothing bad will happen out on the trail, but it’s best to be prepared for anything. This could mean a scraped knee, an insect bite, or a sudden change in the weather. Make sure you pack your first aid kit with the standard supplies and any medications you may need. Hopefully, you won’t ever need anything more than a band-aid, but better to be prepared. Also consider packing bug spray, sunscreen, poncho, spare, cell phone and a map. And before you go, always let someone know where you’ll be hiking.

For more info on what to pack when hiking with kids, check out our full list of hiking essentials for families.

Take a friend hiking

Allow your child to bring a friend along on a hike and double the fun. Having a buddy there to play with and talk to will make any hike more enjoyable for your kids. The kids will challenge and encourage each other to keep up and the miles will fly by. Bonus points if another adult comes along as well! If you don’t have friends that enjoy hiking, check out a local Hike it Baby branch and go on a group hike.

Hike often

While hiking with kids may sound intimidating at first, the more you get out on the trails with your kids, the easier it’ll get. Every time you make it a priority to your kids out into nature gives them an opportunity to fall in love with it. Your first hike (or even your first 10 hikes) may not go according to plan, but they’ll be an adventure and fun. Give it a shot! Get outside!

More resources for hiking with kids

If you’re interested in more great content about hiking with kids, be sure to check out the following posts:
What’s your best advice for hiking with kids?
HIKE, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Hiking & Creeking Little Missouri Falls with Kids
- July 31, 2018
If you know me and my kids, you know we love nothing more than exploring a good creek. Creeks offer so many opportunities for educational lessons, outdoor adventure and good old-fashioned fun. Which is why I’m super excited to share this post with you today from another creek-loving mama. Nichole Holze and her family spent some time exploring Little Missouri Falls in the Ouachita National Forest, near Hot Springs, Arkansas. She’s here sharing their adventure, recommendations on what to pack when creeking and her thoughts on raising outdoor children.

Creek stomping

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

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

Little Missouri Falls, Ouachita National Forest

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

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

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

Hiking into the falls

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

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

Navigating the terrain

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

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

Break for lunch

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

Catch something!

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

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

Appreciate your surroundings

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

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

What to pack

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

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

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

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

Arches National Park

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

When to visit Arches National Park

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

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

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

Cost of visiting Arches National Park

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

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

Park maps & Junior Ranger program

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

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

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

Arches National Park hikes with kids

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

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

Eight easy Arches National Park hikes for kids

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

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

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

1. Balanced Rock hike (0.3 miles round trip)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Skyline Arch hike (0.4 miles round trip)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. Landscape Arch hike (1.6 miles round trip)

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

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

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

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

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

8. Delicate Arch hike (3.0 miles round trip)

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

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

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

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

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

Now go hike!

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

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

Stacy Bressler is an avid outdoorswoman, wife, and mother of three under three (the youngest being 10-month-old twin girls). She writes about all things motherhood, including surviving it with (most) of her sanity intact, as well as raising mini adventurers. Navigating life through the lens of humor and positivity, she chronicles it all in her blog, The Crazy Outdoor Mama.
FAMILY TRAVEL, HIKE, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, WINTER
Taughannock Falls State Park, Ithaca, NY
- February 27, 2018
Today we’re sharing an awesome family winter adventure in Taughannock Falls State Park in Ithaca, NY with Jamie Love and her family. Jamie is an inspiring professional photographer, outdoor enthusiast and mom of three. She’s taking us for a hike through one of her favorite local state parks to visit the awesome frozen waterfalls. Along the way, she’s sharing tips for hiking with kids, ways to turn your hike into an adventure and some truly gorgeous images. I absolutely love exploring new areas and parks through the eyes of other moms and Jamie does an amazing job making us feel like we’re right in the middle of the adventure with her. If you’re ever in the Upstate New York area, you must check out Taughannock Falls State Park.

Taughannock Falls State Park, Ithaca, NY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hikes and trails

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

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

Waterfalls

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

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

Post-hike sledding

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

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

Links & local suggestions

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

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

Galisteo Basin Preserve, Santa Fe

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

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

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

Hiking with a toddler

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

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

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

Choosing a trail

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

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

What to pack

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

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

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

Website: http://www.kellijohansen.com
Instagram: @kellijohansenphotography
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellijohansenphotography/
FAVORITE GEAR, HIKE
Gear Review: See Kai Run Boots
- November 7, 2017
This post was sponsored by See Kai Run. The boots were provided as post compensation and for review purposes. All opinions expressed and photos herein belong to the authors and photographers, as noted below. This post may contain affiliate links.

Winter is coming!

Getting your kids outside during the winter months is not only important for their physical health, but for their mental health as well. The winter months provide different ways of moving our bodies, such as sledding, walking up a snowy hill or building a snowman. Children’s larger muscles are put to great use in the winter months due to the challenges that snow provides. This large-muscle use and increase in physical activity support children’s gross motor development and overall health. In addition, getting lots of fresh air and Vitamin D decreases the likelihood of winter colds and illnesses, such as the flu.

If your kids are like mine, they’ve probably outgrown all of last year’s clothing, coats, layers and boots. Which means it’s not only time to size up, but it’s time to reevaluate your needs and check out any new gear on the market. Winter boots are one item that we always need as soon as the weather turns cold. My kids are outside a LOT in various conditions, so we need tough durable, yet comfortable boots. Boots that will hold up to the abuse, allow their feet to grow during the winter and keep them warm and dry. That’s expecting a lot.

Get the right gear

One thing I’ve learned about getting kids outdoors is that having the right gear can make or break your experience. Icy hands and feet are not only uncomfortable, they’re dangerous and easily preventable. And there’s nothing like cold fingers or toes to guarantee whining and complaining about outdoor weather. To ensure that your child has fun in the cold, the most important thing to consider is appropriate clothing, including winter boots.

Over the last few years, we’ve made various mistakes with our winter boot selections and learned many valuable lessons. For example, insulated boots that aren’t waterproof, get wet, soggy and cold after playing in the snow. Waterproof boots that aren’t insulated don’t keep little feet and toes warm enough. The opening of the boot needs to be wide enough to accommodate thick socks and pant legs, but tight enough to keep the boots on in deep snow and keep pant legs secure. Tie boots seem to come untied all the time. Leather boots need treatment and protection. Who knew there were so many considerations when buying kid’s boots?

See Kai Run boots

That’s why I’m really excited to share the newest line of insulated and waterproof boots from See Kai Run, one of our favorite kid’s shoe brands. See Kai Run was started in 2004 by a Seattle mom on a quest to find a shoe that was best in health and design. She ended up launching her own line of shoes that are fun, fashionable and feature the finest in materials and craftsmanship. All See Kai Run shoes are proportionally engineered for a child’s foot and designed to promote healthy foot development. They are flexible, which helps develop proper balance, gait and stride. The broad toe boxes give little toes lots of room to move, which build strength in muscles and tendons. Plus, the wide openings and secure closures provide optimum fit for a shoe that’s easy to get on and actually stays on.

We had the opportunity to test out a couple pairs of boots from the new line of See Kai Run insulated and waterproof boots. My kids each put a pair of boots to the test as we hiked on a chilly Midwest morning. We also sent a couple pairs out to Salt Lake City, Utah, to make sure they could also withstand the cold and snow of the mountains. I’m happy to report that each pair was a big hit from both kid and parent perspective. Here’s what we thought of them and all our favorite features.

Waterproof and insulated

The first thing I noticed when unpacking these boots was how thick and durable they were. They are not only insulated with a 3M Thinsulate™ thermal lining that is good to -35°, but the insulation is soft and fuzzy (not hard or scratchy). Plus, the bottoms of the boots are made with a thick, seam-sealed, waterproof membrane that keeps water and debris out and increases durability. The rubber traction outsoles are perfect for wet surfaces and aren’t slick or slippery. Both kids said the boots were really comfortable, roomy and sturdy. My son loved jumping around in them and smashing pinecones and acorns. Not once did we receive a complaint about the boots on our hike — complaints about the weather, the distance and the lack of snacks was abundant, but not about the boots! We can’t win them all, right?!

Wide openings

I loved that these boots all had really wide openings, large enough to fit my kid’s wool-sock-clad feet. The double-velcro straps on my son’s boots (Charlie) actually made the opening incredibly wide, allowing me to stuff the bottom of his pant leg into the boot opening no problem. Then I could secure the boot around the pants with the velcro. Genius. The tongue on that boot is attached on both sides, so no issue with it moving around, making it easy for him to put his own boots on. The openings on my daughter’s boots (Abby) were not quite as wide, but still gave her plenty of room to get her feet into. The laces on the Abby boots are stretchy, allowing the tongue to fold down for easy access. Both boots had wide enough openings for the kids to get them on by themselves, but the velcro straps made them tight enough that they won’t slip off while trudging through heavy snow.

Stylish

While function definitely outweighs fashion when it comes to buying quality outdoor kid gear, this is one of those times that you don’t have to sacrifice cuteness in your quest for quality. The entire line of See Kai boots are absolutely adorable. I had the hardest time deciding which boots to choose because there were so many great styles and color combos. We chose the girls Abby (brown) and boys Charlie (navy) styles and the kids loved them both. The colors and tweeds are perfect for fall. They’re not obnoxious or super bright or gaudy. Most of the styles come in both toddler and big kid sizes. There are tall boots and ankle boots in the new line. Whatever your style is, there’s sure to be a boot that you love.

Shop the line

The new line of See Kai Run boots are available nationwide in stores such as Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Ave, REI, Zappos and Amazon! Basically, they’re everywhere! Most pairs are priced between $60 – $75, which I think is very reasonable for such a durable, quality boot. These will definitely last all season, get tons of use/wear and can probably even be passed down to the next kid when they’re ready to size up. Well-made, comfortable, quality gear is something that you’ll never regret purchasing and will make your time outdoors that much more enjoyable!

See Kai Run

If you’re in the market for a great, quality kids boot this season, check out the entire line of waterproof and insulated boots from See Kai Run. I have a feeling you’ll be just as impressed as I was! You can find them online in the following locations: Website // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Instagram

What’s your favorite outdoor (boot-friendly) winter activity?
CRAFTS, HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Journey Sticks and the Art of Storytelling
- September 28, 2017
I’m really excited to bring you today’s post, all about creating storytelling journey sticks with your kids. The amazing and uber-talented Jessica, from Collect. Make. Explore. is here to show you how to incorporate elements of your hikes, adventures and outings into beautiful physical storytelling devices. I love the lessons this project teaches – from being observant in nature to inspiring creativity in retelling the story of your adventures. This would be a great project to start this fall while the leaves are turning and there’s lot of adventures to be had.

Fleeting anchor

How many times does something beautiful happen in life, be it simple or extraordinary, and you think to yourself, wow I wish I could hold onto this day a little longer? We may rembember the overarching feeling or event, but the little details eventually slip through our hands like tiny grains of sand, getting lost in the crevices of our minds. Wouldn’t you love to have an intuitive way to access all the little details that make a day so magical? Like dew on the morning grass, the everyday moments of our family’s journey shine brightly, but quickly get pulled back into the earth or sky – our natural narrative truly is our fleeting anchor.

Storytelling

The story we tell ourselves shapes who we become. If you want your children to learn to love and respect the natural world and better yet, to understand their part in it, it needs to be an integral part of their story. The lasting memories you create as a family can live on through the art of storytelling. We as humans are more likely to attach importance to a story when we see ourselves as a part of it. And when children are asked to recount the story of their daily adventures and explorations, they become active learners, leaders, and caretakers of their environment. Just like that, they understand in some basic way that their journey is shared with that of the world.

By using verbal and visual maps, we can more easily recount our days, and tap into those individual grains of sand that might otherwise get lost with the passage of time. Creating a journey stick is one way to poetically strengthen our connection to the natural world, as they intertwine person, place, and time. The most amazing thing about this method of remembering is it’s ability to capture individual perspective and personal narratives. Something a standard map can’t touch. When we look at a map we see the lay of the land, yet when we tell our story the land comes alive. I’ve made journey sticks with my little ones, ages two and four, while out on the trail. I’m excited to share our experiences with these storytelling tools with you and get you started making your own memory maps!

History of journey sticks

First, a little background on the journey stick for you. Aboriginal people in Australia used journey sticks to more easily recount their journeys to other people upon their return. They found a large walking stick, collected materials found along the way, and tied them to the stick in chronological order. Native Americans also decorated sticks to recount their journeys and tell about their travels. These sticks can be used as storytelling and navigational tools. The collected materials and markings have various purposes. Some things can be used as markers for natural features in the land, such as tree bark to indicate passing through the woods. While particular symbols carved into or painted onto the stick could show weather patterns, natural features, or events that took place.

Making your own journey stick

To start the process with your family, show your children pictures of journey sticks to familiarize them with the concept. Talk to your kids, show them pictures of journey sticks before setting out on the trail. When you go, be prepared – bring various colored string, scissors, and crayons on your hike. You can either create your journey stick at home after your adventure or while you are out exploring. You can make one journey stick for the entire family or individual sticks for each child, if they’re old enough.

Make it part of the adventure to find the perfect stick. When we began our hike, our perfect journey stick happened to present itself right before the trail began. Once we had that, the kids played while I wrapped various colors of string on the stick to create layered stripes of color. For each part of our adventure that day we tucked little physical reminders of that part of our story under the string, creating a visual narrative. I used thin string, but would recommend yarn because it would be stretchier and easier to manipulate objects through.

You can alter the actual creation of the journey stick to fit the age group. Younger children, such as the toddler age range, may like to have sticky clear contact paper attached to a large piece of bark or cardboard. They can then attach their materials to this as they hike along to make their own version of a journey “stick”. While older children may want to use a pocket knife or other tool to carve simple images into the wood. The most important thing to remember is to not push focus, but instead lead them with a gentle hand. Breaks from the project at hand are fine, come back to it when they are ready. It is a shared journey after all!

Tell your story

Later that night, I helped the kids use the stick to recount their hike to their dad. It was amazing to hear the details come pouring out in order as we touched each object on the stick from top to bottom! The shale from our initial stop at the creek was coated with a thin layer of dried mud. This reminded them to tell their dad about the large patches of cracked dry mud that they peeled apart at the creek.

Another part of our stick held a leaf from the woods where we found a giant toad sitting still as a stone alongside a log. The feather we found led to speculation on the bird it was from and made them remember the sounds we heard in the trees. And on it went until we finished the story of our day. I didn’t write any of this down until writing this post, and looking at the objects, I too can remember the details of our day that happened weeks ago.

Add adventures to your journey

We’ve taken our journey stick to the beach, the forest, the field, and even little trips around the backyard or neighborhood! Each time little reminders stick with us upon our return. Love tracing and tracking the landscape this way. Little bits and pieces of memory are now displayed in the kids “garden” out back. We have a special ceramic vessel that our stick fits perfectly in, so there it lives, tucked within the dirt and leaves for when we need it next. Hope this has woven some inspiration into your day. And that you are moved enough to pick up a stick! Enjoy your journey!

Jessica is a mother of two, a professional artist, former art professor, portrait photographer, author, and writer at “Collect. Make. Explore.”. Her family is on an every evolving journey to develop a more conscious lifestyle, which of course involves natural parenting. Upon having her second child she resigned from teaching to focus on folding together her creative pursuits and nature-led parenting. The outdoors has become both her studio and her classroom. A place to find solace, to learn, to explore, and to just be. All of these local adventures and sweet connections to the outdoors led her to write a small book, sharing the name of her blog,”Collect. Make. Explore.”. If you are interesting in learning more about her book, artwork, blog, or day to day adventures in visual form, she can be found at any of the following social media sites.

instagram: @collectmakeexplore

facebook: collect.make.explore.

web: Collect.Make.Explore.. and www.spiritinthemachine.com

pinterest: @jessicawascak
CAMP, FAMILY TRAVEL, HIKE
Overnight Backpacking on the Appalachian Trail with a Toddler
- June 21, 2017
Hi friends! As you know, Run Wild My Child is all about helping parents get their children outdoors and back into nature, one adventure at a time. While I wish I could quit my day job and spend all my time traveling and outdoor adventuring with my kids so I could share everything with you, I sadly cannot do it all. However, I’m thrilled to announce that in the upcoming months we will be featuring some great posts from some really awesome outdoor mamas around the country (and hopefully the globe). We’re always looking for fun, unique content about outdoor adventures with kids, so if you have a trip, hike, activity, craft or area that you’d like to be our resident expert on, just click on that CONTRIBUTE button at the top of the website.

Today we are bringing you our very first guest post – a three-night backpacking adventure on the Appalachian Trail with a toddler in tow. Talk about awesome and ambitious (and possibly terrifying)! This post was submitted by Rachel Sims of the OutboundTribe.com and is packed with great tips/advice on how to successfully backpack with a toddler. I’m super impressed with all of Rachel and Bryan’s adventures and wish we lived closer so our families could adventure together. If you have any questions about the post or want any additional information from Rachel, leave a comment below and she’ll get back to you. Enjoy!

When and where

After our first daughter (Summer) was born, we could not wait to take her backpacking on the Appalachian Trail as soon as possible. We knew there were some initial logistics we would need to work out regarding time of year and where to hike and our first big question was…when? May is one of our favorite months to backpack on the Trail – the nights are usually a little warmer with the days still cool. However, we also knew that in May, somewhere along the trail it always seemed to rain, so we’d have to make sure we account for the weather. We planned our first trip for May 2015, when Summer was 20 months old. This was a great age – old enough to walk a bit on her own and explore, but still small enough to pack in a carrier while hiking.

The next big question was…where to go? We knew we wanted to start her off on the Appalachian Trail, but with over 2,000 miles of trail, we had a lot of options. We knew there were some particular things we wanted along our hike, so after much research on different sections of the trail, we chose to start at Grayson Highlands State Park in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, near Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, Virginia’s two highest mountains. Grayson Highlands offers scenic views of alpine-like peaks more than 5,000 feet high with campgrounds, and hiking trails leading to waterfalls and overlooks. The park also provides year-round access to the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail.

Here are my top reasons why we chose this spot as our access point to the Appalachian Trail:
1. We could start at a campground (secure place to park the car)
2. The 2nd night in we could camp at a campground along the trail (this allowed me to dump the diapers!)
3. There are several road crossings along the trail (we can easily get off in case of emergencies)
4. This section has wild ponies and we knew Summer would love that!
Four days, three nights on the trail

On May 17, 2015, we arrived at Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia. We planned to hike 5.8 miles for our first day before arriving at our campsite. However, we didn’t realize there was a 0.8-mile approach trail and 2 more miles inside the state park that we didn’t account for. So at the end of the first day, we hiked 8.6 miles total. We were thrilled that these extra miles did not affect Summer at all. She loved every minute of it! We collected sticks, acorns, and leaves along the way. The first night we camped at Old Orchard Shelter. We decided ahead of time we would bring the tent instead of sleeping in the shelters.

The next day we hiked 8.7 miles to Hurricane Campground. Our campsite sat right next to a beautiful creek. I will admit that this day I had some struggles. I used the Osprey Poco AG backpack to carry Summer. While it’s a great backpack (by far our favorite), it does not fit me correctly. The frame is designed more for a male, so I had to make a few adjustments (adding more weight to Bryan’s backpack) to get comfortable. Once we made the adjustments, I felt much better. We learned our lesson from this trip and now Bryan carries Summer and I use my Osprey Ariel 65 Womens Hiking Backpack and carry more of the equipment. Live and learn! We spent the 2nd night at the campground and it was such a great decision. This allowed me to trash all the diapers from the last 2 days (wet diapers add lots of weight!). From here we would turn around and head back the next day.

The third morning we woke up to rain. Luckily, by 10:30 am it moved out. The original plan was to hike back to Old Orchard Shelter; however, we decided to push the limits and see what Summer could really handle and ended up hiking all the way to Wise Shelter which was 14.5 miles away. About 1.5 miles away from Old Orchard Shelter the rain returned, but we had the rain cover for the backpack, so Summer never got wet and actually thought the rain was very entertaining. Once we arrived at the shelter we took cover for about 45 minutes until the rain cleared. That’s when we made the decision to head on to the next shelter.

The evening ended up being absolutely beautiful. We hiked through the grassy hills where the ponies roam right around dusk. Summer did start to get a little cranky but we were saved by other hikers. One hiker shared his Goldfish while another one gave her some peanut butter cookies. All it took was a little food and she was a happy little hiker again. Lesson learned! We finally reached the shelter around 7:00 pm.

On the fourth (and final) day, it was a quick 2.8 miles back to the car since we’d hiked so many miles the day before. By 10:00 am we were at the parking lot and packing up to head home. As soon as we reached the car Summer started crying, “I want to go hiking!” and didn’t want to leave. We could not have been more proud!

Tips for backpacking with a toddler

Want to try backpacking with your family? Here are some helpful tips that helped make our experience successful!
1. Take Plenty of Breaks – Let your little one(s) get out of the backpack and explore. There’s no magic number when to stop for breaks. If they are happy keep moving along. Sometimes Summer is perfectly content for two hours while other times she’s ready to stretch those legs after 30 minutes. Let them set the pace.
2. Sing Songs & Play Games – My husband loves to create songs as we’re hiking along. His silly songs entertain Summer and I get a good laugh. Sometimes we will have her point out objects or name everything she spots green.
3. Cut Back on Miles – Before baby, Bryan and I could hike anywhere between 15-20 mile days. Now we plan 8-10 mile days. Start off small. It’s better to get to your campsite early than pushing everyone and exhausting yourself. You don’t want to make the experience miserable.
4. Prepare your Toddler – Before you leave on the trip show your child pictures where you will be hiking. Set up the tent in the backyard and let them explore inside. I’ll even wear the backpack around the house with Summer in it or take her on a few short hikes in a park or our neighborhood. This gets her use to being in the backpack so it’s not a surprise when we’re on the trail.
5. Bring their Favorite Snack – This one was very useful for us. At some point in the trip, every toddler has a meltdown – trust us, it happens to everyone! When all else fails and Summer is just getting cranky we make sure her bunny crackers are a hand reach away. This will buy us at least 10-15 minutes and we can regroup. Most of the time after her snack she’s a happy little hiker again.
Rachel and Bryan Sims have been married for eight years and are the proud parents of two young daughters. They’ve enjoyed the outdoors together since their first date backpacking a section on the Appalachian Trail. They love backpacking, rock climbing, caving, camping, kayaking, road/mountain biking, any anything outdoors. They now share their passion for adventures and the outdoors with their girls. You can read more about their family, travels, and outdoor tips at Outboundtribe.com.

Now who’s ready for a hike?!!