Tag Archives: hiking

Indoor Campout

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I am not a woodsy or outdoorsy person in the purest sense. I love being outdoors, for sure, cooking on the grill and enjoying the backyard or local park on a warm and pleasant spring, summer or fall day but the act of camping out – of actually SLEEPING outside is something that has never appealed to me – not even a little bit. Seriously, the bugs? No Thanks! But the communal act of being together and spending that time in a general woodsy calm is highly intriguing to me. I just wish there was a way to do it … Continue reading →

The Ten Best Things about the Annual Father Son Campout

This weekend my husband is taking our son on his first father son campout with the stake. While I worry a bit since my son is only two, I know that he will absolutely love it. It’s a chance for him to spend some quality time with his dad. Plus he will get to look at, touch and possibly eat things that I never would allow. This is a timeless tradition that dates back as far as I can possibly remember. It is in May every year. Here are the ten best things about the father son camp outs. 10. … Continue reading →

Countdown To Summer Camp

As I write this snow is accumulating on our front yard and according to the Weather Channel, the wind chills are hovering around 20 degrees. However, I am undeterred. I refuse to let Mother Nature’s identity crisis put a damper on my countdown to summer (never mind spring). If you have school age children then you may have already seen the return of the red X’s on your home calendar (my 11-year-old cousin starts drawing them the day after spring break ends as he counts down to summer vacation). Yes, it’s that time of year again… when parents (and kids) … Continue reading →

Visiting Hawaii’s White Mountain

If you fly into Hilo airport (located on the Big Island of Hawaii) on a clear day the first sight that will greet you as you drive out of the parking lot is a massive dormant volcano that towers nearly 14,000-feet above sea level (from its base on the ocean floor it rises 32,000 feet). Its Hawaiian name is Mauna Kea or White Mountain. It got its name nearly 2,000 years ago from the natives who saw snow blanket its barren slopes. These days Mauna Kea is more than just a scenic backdrop to sleepy Hilo town; it is a … Continue reading →

Rock Climbing At Red Rock Canyon

In a previous blog I tried my best to sway you from getting sunburned while walking from casino to casino (or buffet to buffet) during your trip to Las Vegas. Rather, if you are going to cause damage to your skin I suggested you do so at Red Rock Canyon—a.k.a. a rock climber’s mecca. (Kidding aside you should really apply sunscreen to all body parts before exposing yourself to the Nevada sun.) There are a few points I left out of that blog that I’ve decided to share with you now in hopes you will take the 25 minute drive … Continue reading →

Camping Options For The Anti-Camper

My name is Michele and I am an anti-camper. I’ve regaled you with my camping stories (okay story) in a previous blog, just to prove that I am not someone who voices discontent with an activity without trying it first. What can I say? I’m just not the camping type. At least that’s what I thought until I heard about “glamping.” Have you heard of “glamping?” According to tour companies, the word is shorthand for glamorous camping. Resorts in the United Kingdom and Canada have turned the spotlight on luxury camp sites in an effort to lure high rollers to … Continue reading →

How to Hike with Small Children

Since I got several messages about hiking with the family, I thought I’d offer some easy guidelines for hiking with small children. People wanted to know how I managed. When I say “hiking” I’m not talking doing the Appalachian Trail or anything. I admire people who backpack with their small children. Before kids, I thought I’d be one of those people. But like a lot of things, once I had the children I realized the before-kids-me didn’t have a clue. The reality of diapers and being hours away from medical help stopped those idealistic dreams. I had enough trouble getting … Continue reading →

Stuart Little 3: The Call of the Wild (2005)

“Stuart Little 3: The Call of the Wild” is the first Stuart Little film to be animated, rather than shot in live action. The voices of the characters are the same (Geena Davis as Eleanor, Hugh Laurie as Fredrick, Michael J. Fox as Stuart) with the exception of George, who is now voiced by Corey Padnos. Jonathan Lipnicki, George’s original voice, is now too old to sound like a little boy. The Littles are on their way to the lake for a relaxing vacation. Eleanor is looking forward to a whole summer with nothing to do, but when they arrive … Continue reading →

Hiking with the Family

The weather is finally warming up here in Colorado. This year we’ve had the snowiest, iciest winter in the fifteen years we’ve lived here. As the days are finally getting warmer, we are all anxious to be outside. I love to hike. I’m a slow hiker and I like to take my time and notice the changes the seasons bring. I look for wildflowers, or the way the ice has formed at the creek edges, the autumn leaves laying on the ground damp from a recent rain, or the way the wild roses form rose hips in the fall. So … Continue reading →

REI Clearance – This Week Only

I like to camp. Yes, really. When we were kids, some of my favorite memories are of camping. It’s funny, because my dad’s not the kind you’d think of as a camper. Yet I can remember heading up to Yosemite (back when it was still fairly uncrowded) and all of us sleeping in one big family tent. That part wasn’t the best, but the camping experience itself was good. We hiked to the top of Yosemite Falls, through seemingly endless switchbacks. We finally made it! Another time a neighbor loaned us his now cabin at Sugarloaf Mountain. We got snowed … Continue reading →