Did you know that the fourth Saturday of September is Public Lands Day? This is the nation’s biggest annual celebration of the great outdoors, and to honor it, the National Park Service is providing FREE ADMISSION to ALL national parks. Score! Established by the National Environmental Foundation in 1994, this day is designed to encourage environmental stewardship and the use of public lands for recreation, education, inspiration and general health and wellness. We could all use a bit of that these days! There are a few ways to participate in National Public Lands Day. Whatever you choose to do, please be sure to #RecreateResponsibly. Visit a national park for free.…
Welcome Fall By Cozying Up with These Good Books
It's so hard for me to believe that Fall is here! I'm ready for all things Autumn -- the changing colors of the leaves, warm soups, the occasional PSL, beanies, warm sweaters and curling up with a fantastic book. Because it's also the beginning of school season, I'll admit that I haven't been reading as much as I have in the past year. But -- what I have read, has been absolutely stellar! Here are my three book recommendations to cozy up to this Fall.
9 Reasons Why Your Family Will Love Dinosaur National Monument
One of the best aspects of winging our full-time travels is the fact that we can spend as long or as little as we desire in one place. One of those surprisingly stand-out stops for us was Dinosaur National Monument!
The Best Hiking Gear for Families
Given how much we're on the trails, I wanted to share some of our family's favorite hiking gear. Each of the items listed below have been worn by us this past year. As you know, we're living in a van... which only allows for a handful of key items given our space limitations. That's all to say that we're wearing this stuff a LOT!
Is Van Life Possible with Kids?
After spending the past year traveling as a family of four through most of the western United States and all of Baja California, Mexico, we're here to tell you that family van life is possible, but it's definitely not for everyone. We'll be honest -- if we can make it work, you can too. In this post, we'll share a few reasons why we chose van life for our Great Big Adventure, as well as some things you’ll want to consider before pulling the trigger on your own family adventure.
Exploring Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park: Best Things to Do with Limited Time
If you ask most people about which national park to visit in Utah, you'll probably hear about Zion, Arches or Bryce Canyon National Parks. To be honest, Capitol Reef National Park wasn't even on our radar when we set out on our Great Big Adventure. So when we had a few traveling families recommend Capitol Reef -- emphasizing that it was Utah's most underrated national park -- we knew we just had to see it for ourselves!
Everything You Need to Know About Dispersed Camping
As more and more Americans are choosing to get outside and camp, first-come, first-serve sites at established campgrounds have become harder to come by. Personally, we tend to prefer camping in the wild -- better known as dispersed camping -- versus staying at RV parks and established campgrounds. While campgrounds definitely have perks, we enjoy the solitude and primitive experience that comes with camping off the grid.
5 Fantastic Books to Read Before Summer Ends
It's so crazy to think that August is already here -- where did the year go?! The end of summer is near, and back to (wild) school is around the corner. Before you settle into new routines, take some quiet time for yourself to enjoy a good book... or five! While mysteries and memoirs have always been my jam, I've recently discovered love for a new genre: adventure and travel. (Wild -- I know! ?) Here are my favorite reads this month.
6 Family-Friendly Hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park + Where to Camp!
Ever since we passed through Utah on the way to Yellowstone National Park last year, Steven and I have been itching to get back to this red-rock state. Beyond the wide open spaces, Utah boasts five national parks and seven national monuments! So it was only natural that one of our first stops was Bryce Canyon National Park. Woohoo for hoodoos!
Your Complete Guide to Visiting Marble Canyon in Arizona
Have you ever seen something so vast and majestic in nature that it didn’t feel like real life? For us, that was how we felt when we laid our eyes on Marble Canyon for the first time.
