How Can I Make Gear Last Longer? It’s hard to spend money on gear, and then our kids (or we) get holes so quickly. Sometimes it’s totally a freak accident or regular wear and tear, but sometimes it’s just being stupid. For example, my husband once decided to try to get our Solo Stove burning … Read more
Fall weather brings relief from hot summer temps and makes everyone want to go outside! The colors, the cool air, the moody rainy days- we are here for it! And wouldn’t it be great if our kids grow up not thinking rainy weather was a mandate to stay inside? Sure, cozying up by the fire … Read more
Fall on the trail is my favorite season. Crisp air, golden leaves, and cool afternoon sun make for perfect hiking weather, but it also brings chilly winds, muddy spots, and frosty mornings. Our four kids spend hours scrambling up rock outcroppings, crunching through leaf piles, and exploring local forest paths. To keep everyone happy on … Read more
Our journey with the REI Westward 6 Person Tent began when we realized it was finally time to update our family car camping setup. Our trusty tent we received as a wedding gift 11 years ago finally called it quits, and with four growing kids ages 4 to 9, we needed a roomy basecamp that … Read more
For all the planning, prep, and experience of adventurous families, sometimes things just go completely awry and turn our best laid plans into misadventures. We can have a great meal plan, but forget all the food. We may have taken the family skiing hundreds of times, and still choose to drag sick kids out despite … Read more
I consider myself and the kids to be rain gear aficionados. We get a lot of wet weather up here in Alaska, and we spend a great deal of our lives outside in it. We don’t believe in “bad weather”, in fact rainy days are some of our favorite! Of course, rainy days can be … Read more