Tag Archives: hiking

Visiting Bay Landing – Texas

When planning your next family vacation, you might consider a summer trip to Bay Landing in Texas. While there, you will discover many wonderful things to experience such as “Thousand Trails”. This area was founded in 1969 and today, is considered one of the most successful and largest private camping clubs in the United States. The people who run Thousand Trails are dedicated to making every person’s time safe, clean, affordable, and filled with fun. While many people love camping, some prefer less rustic settings. At this particular location, the parks have campsites with running water and electrical hookups. In … Continue reading →

Traveling in Colder Climates

As we think about what clothing to take along for trips to colder climates, it is best to think of dressing in layers, with lighter clothing underneath and long sleeves/jackets on the outside. This allows us to be prepared for winds that might come up and for the naturally cool temperatures at higher elevations. However, if needed, the jacket, cap, and gloves can easily be removed and stashed in a small backpack or shoulder bag when it warms up. I made a few mistakes in my cold-weather travel, so I thought I would pass them on to you. One thing … Continue reading →

Fun Fall Family Travel Destinations—Part 3: Hiking Trails

If you are looking for some fun family travel destinations—places where you can take advantage of the great outdoors before Old Man Winter comes howling in, then you’ve found the right blog. So far, we’ve covered corn mazes and haunted houses, and now we are moving on to hiking trails. Remember we are trying to make these trips family-friendly. Which means we don’t want to junior to be begging to stay in the minivan and play his Gameboy while the rest of the clan is discovering nature. We want the entire family to spend quality time together. So how can … Continue reading →

“Take A Hike”—On The Appalachian Trail

Have you ever heard the expression: “Take a hike?” Growing up, it was considered my dad’s catchphrase. Whenever my brothers or I wanted to use the car for some Friday night fun we’d nervously approach my father and sheepishly ask if we could PLEASE borrow the keys. His response: “Take a hike.” (He, of course, was kidding—well, at least most of the time.) Years (make that decades) have passed since I was told to “take a hike,” but the phrase stuck and I think about it (flashback, flashback) whenever I hear about nature trails. Such is the case in writing … Continue reading →

5 Reasons Why You Need a Food Dehydrator

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1. Beef jerky. My husband love beef jerky but I absolutely hate the price! With my food dehydrator, I can make a pound of beef jerky for about $5. That includes the meat and seasonings used. That same pound of jerky (with a lot of extra additives and chemicals) would cost at least $20 retail. Now that’s what I call frugal living! 2. Fruit leather. This is a great way to make inexpensive and really healthy fruit rollups at home. My food dehydrator came with liners so that all I have to do is pour applesauce or pureed fruit on … Continue reading →

Pets At Parks

Looking for an excursion to take with your pets? Think about your nearest state or county park! Rules may vary from park to park, but in general, pets are permitted while on leash or in a cage or crate. Why are pets regulated or restricted at parks? A loose pet can frighten or injure wild animals. A wild animal that is frightened may react aggressively towards pets or people. A loose pet may become prey for wild predators like bears, coyotes, or owls. A loose pet may harass or frighten other park visitors. Domestic animals and wild animals may carry … Continue reading →

A Trip To The Mountains

Saturday we were wondering what to do as a family. My two-year-old suggested swimming. Neither my husband nor I were very fond of the idea of spending another day at a local pool. We had gone swimming the week before. So I suggested we take a trip to the mountains. We were a little worried about West Nile Virus, since Idaho is currently the top state in the nation for reported cases. So we checked and found that the area we wanted to visit had only one reported case. A lot less than the county we live in. I went … Continue reading →

Backyard Vacation

Skyrocketing fuel prices have many families re-evaluating their summer road trip plans. If soaring gas prices have caused you to put the brakes on a long-distance family getaway, consider other vacation destinations closer to home… really close… like your own backyard. With a little creativity (and little or no expense) you can set up the ideal vacation spot for the entire family. Here’s how: “Camp Fill-in-Your-Last-Name-Here.” Pitch a tent. No tent? No problem. Drape a large tarp over a clothesline. Stock it with sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, an inflatable mattress, and your child’s favorite furry friends. Create A Safe Campfire. … Continue reading →

Camping Food Favorites

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We all probably have fond memories of roasting marshmallows and eating S-mores on camping trips (or, if your like my family, S-mores made by roasting marshmallows over the stove burner….), but there are plenty more tasty treats you can easily make over a campfire. One that I learned from my brother-in-law is my personal favorite. You peel down one section of a banana. Leave the banana in the skin and cut a slice the long ways down the middle. Stuff in some pieces of chocolate (Hershey’s chocolate bars or chocolate chips do the trick). Then roast some marshmallows and stuff … Continue reading →

Take A Handcart Trek

For the outdoors family a handcart trek can be a fun family adventure. During the 1800’s thousands of people traveled west in wagon trains and handcart companies. Your family can have the chance to reenact the handcart experience. In Wyoming, between Casper and Rawlings and near Independence Rock, is the Mormon Handcart Visitors Center. It lies along part of the original Oregon Trail. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has handcarts that the public can use at no cost. Families can take a handcart and pull it along the trail, getting a taste of what the handcart pioneers … Continue reading →