Camping season is here and sometimes buying all the gear needed for a camping trip can add up -- especially if you're camping as a family. But these tips and tricks can help you and your family have a budget-friendly adventure without breaking the bank.
1. Shelter
A place to sleep is one of the top items of importance when planning a camping trip. It’s a good thing that shelter comes in many sh...
My father always said his favorite color was sky-blue-pink.
It’s the color that appears in those perfect sunrises and sunsets, where the right amount of sky mixes with just the right amount of clouds and turns the fiery orange of the sun into a mix of pink, blue and deep purple. It’s also what a perfectly sarcastic person replies when his 5-year old daughter asks about his favorite color.
I d...
Whether you’re new to hiking with your baby or toddler, or you’re looking for a new trail to explore, the Hike it Baby community is a valuable resource for finding family hiking trails around the country. In this article, we share three kid-friendly hikes in Minnesota to explore with babies and young children.
If you're thinking that a state known as "The Land of 10,000 Lakes" and that borders...
Camping can be a great escape from the ordinary. A chance to see things from a different perspective, like the night sky without the interference of the lights of civilization or the smell of the wind as it blows through the trees. Camping with friends and family is a way to connect and deepen bonds with each other and with our place in the natural world. If you are thinking about taking your f...
Glacier National Park is aptly known as the Crown of the Continent. Its rugged mountains, turquoise lakes and ancient forests call to adventurers of all ages. In additions to its natural beauty, there are currently 26 active glaciers within the park – down from 35 in 1966. If you haven’t made it out to see this pristine park, the time to hesitate is over. My family has spent over th...
“Go outside, you need the fresh air!” I can’t count the number of times one or both of my parents would yell that phrase to me and my older brother while growing up. It was the norm for us to explore near the creek or trails behind our house, play flashlight tag with the neighborhood kids or just generally be outside whenever possible. At the time, this was fairly common for families in our are...
As I reached the entrance to the group camp site at a local state park, I was greeted by my very muddy 3-year-old son who was wearing a rainsuit, sturdy boots and a giant grin on his face. This was the site of his school, Magnolia Forest Preschool. It was “showcase day” where we had the opportunity to tour the school and see what the kiddos had been working on. He grabbed my hand an...
In May and June, we get a chance to celebrate mothers and fathers. Here are some books you can read with your children that show the bond of parenthood in the life of animals.
I Love You More by Megan Roth & Kay Vincent
Take a journey around the world and visit with animals and their moms and dads in this lift-the-flap book. See the animals during the day, and when the flap is lifted, you c...
A woman’s body is an incredible thing. We're able to grow and nurture another human being while also sustaining our own health. That ability comes at a price as our bodies go through remarkable changes for 9 months leading up to the grand finale of delivering a tiny person. As wonderful as it is, recovering from such a task can be slow and discouraging at times.
I learned this the hard way a f...
As a kid, I thought spending time on trails was part of everyone’s childhood. I was a teenager before I realized that not everyone spends their childhood climbing mountains or sleeping under the stars. Connecting with nature as a kid was an incredible gift that I didn’t truly appreciate until later in life. I now realize the early childhood adventures my parents prioritized shaped my outlook an...
