Are you into hiking the tallest peaks in every state? Or big hikes with big rewards but still doable for most families? Either way, Black Elk Peak should be on your to-do list when visiting the Black Hills. Our whole family enjoyed this hike even though it was fairly strenuous. Not only does the top have fantastic 360 views of the Black Hills (the big reward), but the trails up and down were full of impressive rock formations, showy fall colours, and even some mountain goats who took time out of their busy mountain goating to pose for me.
Read moreThe Mammoth Site: A Hidden Gem In The Black Hills of South Dakota
If you are looking for fun and unique family activities in the Black Hills that are not hiking, biking, or Mt.Rushmore, than check out The Mammoth Site, the largest collection of mammoth bones from one place in the world. It is a great little museum that doesn’t take long to see but packs a lot into that visit. Walk around (and over !) an active dig site containing at least 61 mammoth skeletons and brush up on your Ice Age knowledge. Two thumbs up from our family.
Read moreWind Cave National Park- An Absolute Must Do Addition To Your Black Hills Vacation Itinerary
Wind Cave is a fantastic national park that often gets overlooked in comparison to its more famous neighbors in the Black Hills of South Dakota. We are here to tell you—you should definitely add Wind Cave to your Black Hills vacation itinerary as it is not to be missed! Touring one of the most unique cave systems in the world was a lot of fun for our entire family. Afterwards, take a lovely hike through the prairie where the kids can now say they have walked over and under the same part of the Earth. Not something you can say too often! And to make it all even better, the wildlife watching was some of the best in the Black Hills.
Read moreSedona and the Grand Canyon National Park Can Be Combined For A Terrific Road Trip- Easy Hikes, Great Lodging, and Terrific Restaurants!
Here is everything you need to know about where to sleep, eat, and hike in Sedona, Arizona and nearby Grand Canyon National Park. All of the hikes described here are rated easy and provide an enjoyable short walk to experience the best vistas in Sedona.
Bonus! Just a short drive from Sedona, you’ll also be able to check the Grand Canyon off your bucket list. We let you know the best road stops along the way as well as in-park lodging recommendations and activities during your stay at Grand Canyon National Park.
Read moreFamily Skiing at Bozeman’s Bridger Bowl
Having skied at the destination resort of Big Sky for the last decade, our family decided to try something different. Don’t get me wrong- we still love Big Sky Resort with its endless choice of terrain and trails. We ultimately decided to go just one hour north of Big Sky Resort to check out Bozeman’s local ski area at Bridger Bowl.
Read moreSki Discovery In Montana Is A Discovery Worth Finding
Discovery Ski Area in western Montana is a discovery worth finding. Fabulous runs, uncrowded, nice variety of terrain, uncrowded, inexpensive, family-friendly, did I mention uncrowded? We had a wonderful day skiing here with the family and everyone agreed more people should know about this place. Or wait, maybe they shouldn’t???
Read moreThe Best Family Ski Trip Packing List For Cold Weather
If you live in a locale that doesn’t experience true winter weather, meaning bitterly cold temps, wind, and big powder like you see at ski resorts in the western United States, this packing list is for you. Having planned our annual ski trip to Big Sky Resort, Montana for eight years now, we’ve managed to create a packing list that ensures everyone will be warm and comfortable while enjoying the snowy winter wonderland.
Read moreYes, You Can Hike The Narrows In Zion With Kids: Everything You Need to Know
The Narrows is one of the most iconic hiking trails in the world because of its spectacular scenery, easy access, and the uniqueness of hiking in a river. It has been on my bucket list for years and even though I crossed it off with the day trip section, I have now added the two-day hike to my to-do list. It was a fantastic hike that the kids thoroughly enjoyed and still talk about. It totally lived up to our expectations.
Read moreA Simply Awesome Day In North Cascades National Park Complex
If you drive just over 2 hours northeast of Seattle's airport, you will find my new favorite national park, the North Cascades. It has everything you could want from an outdoor adventure--hiking trails to breathtaking views, amazingly tall trees, pristine mountain lakes for kayaking, glaciers calling out for photography, and lots of uncrowded campgrounds.
Read moreA Simply Awesome Day in Southwest Utah
Welcome to our series “A Simply Awesome Day in...” where we share a full day’s excerpt from one of our family vacation destinations. Today, we offer a fun day from our 7 day Southwest Utah Itinerary. Day 4 details a sunrise hike in Bryce Canyon, followed by a scenic drive and some more short, kid-friendly hikes.
Read moreZion National Park Without the Crowds (and the Heat!)
Heading to Zion National Park in the summer is a family vacation to remember for sure but unfortunately, part of the memory will be waiting in line for shuttle buses and wilting in afternoon highs of 100℉. Because the canyon is so fantastic, the other memories easily outweigh these irritations but you can also skip them by detouring to Kolob Canyons, the unheralded northwest corner of the park. Here you can take scenic hikes, and drive through a beautiful canyon and actually stand a chance of finding some solitude on the trail. The higher elevation (700ft versus 4000ft) means that Kolob Canyons is great alternative when the heat is too much for hiking in the main canyon.
Read more