https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2020/08/18/19/23/monument-valley-5499156_960_720.jpg Top Arizona parks to explore with your kids: Arizona’s Grand Canyon is a sight to behold for many tourists and road trip enthusiasts. If you are planning on going on a road trip with your family, make sure that you have made the necessary preparations for your kids, including a Diono car seat and snacks to … [Read more...]
Family farm stays: a review of Leaping Lamb Farm
June 20, 2021 By
Eight-year-old Toby wants to be a farmer when he grows up. So instead of spending a few perfect days in May enjoying a traditional family vacation in a hotel or resort, we headed to Leaping Lamb Farm in the coastal range of Oregon, where we got to play farmer for two days. I'll admit that before arriving at Leaping Lamb, I half-hoped doing farm chores would cure Toby of his farm-love. Instead, the … [Read more...]
How to pick a dude ranch for your family trip
April 15, 2021 By
Dude ranch vacations have gained immense popularity in recent years, and for good reason. They combine the peace of mind and convenience of an all-inclusive vacation with the nostalgia of summer camp, all against a backdrop of beautiful wilderness and lively adventure. The best will offer a range of activities that appeal to your whole family, but each ranch specializes in different things and has … [Read more...]
Zion National Park in winter
February 25, 2021 By
Before I visited Zion National Park in winter, I pictured the famed slot canyons and rock formations of the park buried in snow, with park amenities shuttered for the season and the adjacent town of Springdale hard to access on wintery roads. I could not have been more wrong. Thanks to it's low elevation and Southern Utah location near St. George, Zion National Park in winter is completely … [Read more...]
Best family vacations during a time of social distancing
November 12, 2020 By
If you’re an adventurous family, you're probably itching to travel again. Travel is coming back, but it will look different than in the past. We took an amazing rafting trip--and felt completely safe--in the midst of CV-19, for instance. Then, we 'glamped' in a rural location. The key: focus on outdoor-centric vacations that naturally promote social distancing. Note: Be careful if you’re … [Read more...]
How to pack for a camping trip and organize your campsite
September 28, 2020 By
Camping with the family is supposed to be relaxing, but it can feel stressful if you don’t know how to pack for a camping trip, and set up your campsite efficiently. After all, no one wants to spend all their time unpacking gear, looking for things, and hauling stuff around their campsite! Read on to learn how to efficiently pack and set up all your gear! How to Pack for a Camping Trip: Easy Set … [Read more...]
Exploring Spokane and Northern Idaho with kids
September 3, 2020 By
Two of my three kids were born in Spokane, Washington. During the time we lived in this Eastern Washington city, downtown Spokane remained fairly sleepy, with quiet, understated shops and eateries framing beautiful Riverfront Park. In the years since we moved to Oregon, we’ve been lucky enough to return multiple times for the wonderful outdoor opportunities in Washington and Idaho, and have … [Read more...]
Main Salmon River rafting trip with O.A.R.S.
August 3, 2020 By
The best—and nearly only—way to experience the 2.3 million acre Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness of Central Idaho is by whitewater raft down the Main Salmon River. The route along the Wild and Scenic section of the Salmon runs 80 miles and requires extensive whitewater experience and permits…or can be booked with an adventure outfitter like O.A.R.S. Why choose the Main Salmon with … [Read more...]
Outdoor adventure road trip: 30 days on an outdoor adventure itinerary
June 22, 2020 By
Our absolute favorite type of travel involves an outdoor adventure itinerary, the longer the better! However, even we don't cherish the idea of roughing it continuously for weeks on-end. While we will be spending a full week (or more) on the PCT with kids soon, we opted to plan the rest of our summer outdoor adventures with a little more comfort in mind. Here's how we'll be spending 30 days on an … [Read more...]
Three multigenerational trip ideas in the outdoors
April 10, 2018 By
Multigenerational travel is so important in today's reality of extended family often living great distances away, and kids becoming more and more scheduled, with less opportunity for quality time with parents and grandparents. We've written extensively on the type of trips that make for ideal multigenerational trips, the best of which include group tours led by experts in the outdoors. Why do … [Read more...]
