Advice from a Travel Expert • 2 Words to Stop Saying to Kids • Outdoor Gear Reviews
Go Adventure Magazine
Spring 2015 goadventuremom.com
1
Spring 2015
Hello Adventurers!
Go Adventure Magazine officially welcomes you to Spring! I love this time of year and get excited to spend more time outdoors with family. Last week, we spent a few days in Southern Utah. One of the highlights was watching my one year old son explore the grass, dirt, blossoms and rocks. He is just starting to walk and he loved it. The pure joy in his face as he experienced this was priceless. It was a good reminder to take a step back and see the world through the eyes of a child. This issue we’re sharing some of our favorite gear for Spring to help you explore like a child. For those of you planning spring break trips, we’ve got some tips from family travel expert Samantha Brown, host on the Travel Channel.
Happy Adventuring! Kathy Dalton and the rest of the Go Adventure Team P.S. Use the tag #GoAdventure on Twitter, Instagram and FB for a chance to win great prizes and products from our sponsors!
Be part of raising a generation of nature-loving outdoorsy children. Adventure Mom offers easy-to-replicate exploration ideas and field tested product reviews that enhance outdoor recreation. We also supply family travel tips, colorful infographics and family focused articles designed to inspire family activities and togetherness.
We want to hear about your adventures! info@goadventuremom.com 801-901-0515
Find us on . . . Twitter twitter.com/GoAdventureMom Facebook facebook.com/GoAdventureMom Instagram instagram.com/GoAdventureMom Pinterest pinterest.com/GoAdventureMom
Contributors in this issue Staci Levine’s cover photo and article will make you want to play Sarah Tilton is a Britax Child Passenger Safety Advocacy Manager. Sarah participates in passenger safety activities at local, state and national levels. Suzanne Solsona is the owner of MyMayu and shares her love for hiking with children. Dr. Pete Sulak shares his tips for a stress-free trip. He is a writer, speaker and founder of Unhealthy Anonymous. Allison Yamamoto-Sparks shares her adventures with her husband and 2 ½ year old in South Eastern Utah. Barbara Foster has published numerous articles on education and travel.
Visit GoAdventureMom.com to sign up for our newsletter to get insider information and special offers on the latest gear and deals.
goadventuremom.com
2
The Team The Go Adventure Mom team consists of outdoorsy parents who bring a diverse knowledge of outdoor recreation, family travel and conservation. Kristin Sokol: I’m an early thirties mother of two and wife to a husband who is pretty much the wind beneath my wings (and the money behind my debit card). I enjoy writing and laughing at the things I write.
Kristin Mary Edwards: I’m in my late 30′s and a mother of 6-year-old twin girls. We like to run, hike, camp, snow shoe, cross country ski and cozy up to a stack of books together. Christine Bowman: I am the token baby boomer in this group. The one who is stalling when it comes to elastic waistband pants and evenings in the recliner.
Mary
Mae Kiggins: loves the outdoors and grew up hiking and camping in the Rockies. In college she studied natural resources and worked as a park ranger, research assistant and policy intern. These days her adventures include her two children (1 and 4) and husband. Mae also blogs at Mommy Loves Trees. Jamie Moesser: is a mother of two and is a blogger at HobbyMamas. com. She is a compulsive volunteer, waterskier, wakeboarder, scrapbooker, dirt biker, fiction writer, reader, flyfisher, geocacher, r/c car driver, camper, gamer, etc. etc.
Christine
Mae
Ann Weaver: is a mother of three kids, one husband, many chickens, and her fruit trees. Her primary outdoor passion is backpacking, but she’ll also jump at the chance to go skiing, cycling, climbing, kayaking, or canyoneering. Tacy Jensen: I’m in my thirties, am a wife and mother of a spunky little one year old girl. I happily enjoy rock-climbing, snowboarding, back-country skiing, mountain biking, long-boarding, cooking, reading, traveling, and Downton Abbey.
OUR TRIBE Go Adventure Mom believes building a community of like-minded readers. We depend on our tribe to join the conversation and share ideas that support one another in raising kids who love and appreciate the outdoors
“
Jamie
Ann
Tacy
Adventure is a path. Real adventure – selfdetermined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind – and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white. Mark Jenkins goadventuremom.com 3
Contents table of
Interview with Samantha Brown
Spring 2015
Stress Free Travel
Page 16
6
3 Easy Tips for Organizing Your Gear
8
Two Horrible Words to Stop Using On Kids 10 Spring Break Safety 14 Guide to Preparing for a Stress-Free Trip
16
Tips
Hiking the Monteverde Cloud Forest with Kids 20
Kids Activity
Cinderella: Spot the Difference!
Gear
2015 Best in Show: Outdoor Retailers 24
Reviews: MyKick By Burley 26 Britax Advocate ClickTight 27 Joovy Caboose Varylight Tandem Stroller Baby Carrier WE 30 Blundstone Boots for Kids-Blunnies 31 Mountain Smith Modular Hauler 32 Madsen Bike 33
Travel
Top 5 in Puerto Vallarta
28
Get new gear
Page 24
35
Can’t Miss Eastern Basin Parks
36
Family Travel Destinations 38 Gateway Canyons
42
Hiking in South East Utah
44 Gateway Canyon
Bike Tour of Tuscany 48 5 Tips for Women Traveling Solo How to Choose a Travel System
50
Page 42
52
goadventuremom.com
4
Get Away Today is thrilled to be celebrating 25 years of making vacation dreams come true! Go Adventure Mom recognizes Get Away Today as a trusted partner, and recommends their services for these top reasons: • Winner of Best of State Travel Agency for two consecutive years • Leading provider of Southern California vacations • Over 35 agent-training trips to top destinations • Donated more than $3.5 million to benefit children in need • Best Price Guarantee – plus, no booking fees • Customer service and personal contacts before, during and after your vacation • Flexible vacation payment options starting at $125 down Go Adventure Mom and Get Away Today love helping you make memories that will last a lifetime! For more information or a free vacation quote, visit getawaytoday.com or call 855-GET-AWAY. Remember to mention Go Adventure Mom when booking! goadventuremom.com
5
Why should kids explore? By Erin Kirkland
We had a chance to chat with one of our favorite Travel Channel hosts, Samantha Brown. Originally our interview was scheduled for last week, but we both ended up having sick family members. Right off the bat, we connected as mothers with a passion for travel. I was pleasantly surprised by how nice she is in person and we had a great time talking about family travel. Sam shares her secret travel trick for traveling with kids. (You’ll want to add this to your travel bags!) Kathy: I love your article on 6 Things I Always Bring On A Plane. Since becoming a mother of twins, how has your list changed? Is there something you’d add to your list? Samantha: Unfortunately I think that list has changed completely! Now I always error on the side of caution and bring food and am prepared. There never seems to be child friendly food at the airport, you can’t just buy diapers or whole milk.
But as I’ve traveled with the children, I feel like can trust the system a little more. Kathy: What are your secrets to traveling with children? Samantha: My secret to traveling with children is STICKERS! Anything from puppy stickers to pearl gems that go on the window. Another thing we do is rehearse the security line. With two baby carriers, strollers and to adults it can get tricky and add a lot of stress. By rehearsing what we do, we each know what our responsibilities are and can troubleshoot who will hold the baby. It’s even better with older children because you can get them involved in the process. For example, you can use the kitchen table and an empty salad bowl as the tray. The children can practice putting the teddy bear in the salad bowl and walking through the checkpoint. This has worked really well.
goadventuremom.com
6
Interview with Samantha Brown• Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
Kathy: What trends do you see in family travel for 2015? Samantha: 2015 is the year for travel. With gas prices historically low, road trips are huge. You can go further than you thought you would. Gas is so cheap at two dollars a gallon. The US dollar is the strongest against the Euro it has been in 10 years. We’ll see more people traveling to Europe than in years past. Multi-generational travel will also be big, we will see grandparents wanting to take their children to European destinations. Suddenly it’s affordable to travel and they are going to go further than they have. They aren’t going to put it off or stay home on awful stay-cations.
“2015 is the year of travel. With gas prices historically low, road trips are huge.” Kathy: What advice would you give to parents on traveling with children? Samantha: When your child is crying you feel affected the most. Mothers need to give themselves a break when their child cries. I know you’re mortified that the baby is crying, but I think other travelers are much more empathetic than we give them credit for. You may always get that one jerk, but at least there is only one. Kathy: What are cities have you found are the most family friendly?
Samantha: I love cities more than beaches for family destinations. New York, Washington and Chicago are wonderful cities. What people don’t realize is that cities are less expensive during the summer and often people that work in the city during the week empty out on the weekends. You can get discounts on hotels on the weekends and typically big cities have airports close by and you don’t have to travel for more than 30 or 40 minutes from the airport. Often there festivals, music concerts and events at the park that are free. Chicago is my favorite city for families because you get the city experience, the beach and an amusement park all close to downtown. It’s easy to fly into and has everything. Kathy: What’s next for you? Where are you traveling this year? Samantha: I will be at the Travel + Adventure Shows at speaking engagements until the end of March. If you are in the Bay Area this weekend, Los Angeles February 21-22 and Philadelphia March 21-22. Come say “hi”! We will have a Q & A Session and a Meet and Greet. There is a NEW PROJECT with the Travel Channel that hasn’t been announced, that I’m very excited to be apart of. Kathy: How can we connect with you? Samantha: - Online: SamanthaBrown.com - Twitter - @samanthabrown - Facebook: Real Samantha Brown Who else is adding stickers to their carry-on bag from now on?
goadventuremom.com
7
If your kids are in sports during the school year or summer, you know how hectic things can get!
with everything they need for skiing. Another example-- if your children play baseball, stay organized by ensuring everyone has their own duffle bag.
Sometimes the very gear that it takes to help them play the sport can make everything even
#3. Write Down a Schedule
more chaotic. It’s been a goal of mine in 2015
Now that all of your gear is organized, make
to get our gear as organized as possible. Check
sure you have a clear and concise schedule
out my tips for organizing your gear for the year.
that everyone understands. If you have more than one child in a
#1. Organize By
sport, the schedule
Sport
can get a bit murky.
When everything
Get creative in how
is mixed together
you remember
into one bag, life
practice and games!
can get a little confusing. We have started organizing by
3 easy Tips for Organizing your Gear
Encourage your kids to get their gear ready and organized by the door or put
sport. If we’re
in the vehicle, so
playing 1-2 sports
there is less rushing
at a time, it’s
around when it’s
important to stay
time to go.
as organized
I hope these tips
as possible, so
help you get
organizing by
your gear more
sport is the best
organized in 2015!
option for us.
No one wants to feel rushed and unorganized. I have found that my kids always practice
#2. Use Gear Bags
and play better when they feel like their gear
You don’t need to have a fancy gear bag to get
is organized and ready to go. Nothing ruins
this next organizational part down. We use gear
a game more than anxiety from losing some
bags to help make the organizational process
gear!
a lot easier. Throwing everything into one bag does not help the educational cause at all. For
We hope these tips for organizing gear will
example: we have one ski bag for each kid
help! Do you have tips for keeping your gear organized?
goadventuremom.com
8
for your reading list!
The Boy Who Spoke to the Earth Why should kids explore? World-renowned adventure photographer, and father of 2, Chris Burkard is tackling that question with his new children’s book, illustrated by Disney Interactive artist David McClellan. The book, titled The Boy Who Spoke to the Earth, teaches kids (and adults) the importance of getting outside, enjoying nature, and finding joy in the journey of life. It’s about the journey of a young boy who speaks to the earth, and the Earth speaks back. The boy goes on to ask the Earth, “Where can I find happiness?” The Earth decides to take the boy to some of the places he’s the most proud of, but the boy finds happiness much harder to discover than he had expected. “To cultivate a true appreciation for wild places, we can’t simply daydream about them. We have to get out there and go. We have to actively seek the places that bring us happiness, near and far. For me, this children's book is a way to cumulate all the knowledge and all the experience that I've learned into one, simple solitary idea. Kids should be taught to have an open mind and not be afraid of the unknown. Having kids, I’ve started to realize that those are the types of lessons
I want to pass on. I don't want to pass on some inherent fear of the unknown. I want to pass on this idea of being courageous and exploring and going boldly.”- Chris Burkard The book is published by Dreamling Books, a new crowd-sourced publisher of children’s books. The book can be purchased at Kickstarter through April 3.
goadventuremom.com
9
Two Horrible Words You Need to Stop Using on Your Kids By Staci Levine
I don’t like the words “be careful”. I think separately they are fine words but when used together they can be rather negative – as in Brake! Slow down! Stop!
Really what we mean when we use those words is “you’re freaking me out so stop what you’re doing!” And doesn’t that inhibit their adventurous pursuits? My little 9-year-old daughter has been one of those daring, fearless, adventurous kids since birth. No joke. She tried coming out with her
goadventuremom.com
1010
Two Horrible Words • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
umbilical cord around her neck because I’m assuming she wanted to bungee jump out. As soon as she saw water, she dove right in – headfirst. Swimming lessons were in order at age 2. It’s true that she has inherited some of her adventurous spirit from her mother; I do love a good thrill myself. But when your baby wants to fling herself off a 30foot platform, bungee jumping to the ground, right in front of you, that’s a whole other level of “be careful!” Being a mother to a child like this is certainly an exercise in finger biting. I have chosen to not use those two horrible words, and instead embrace her wonderful, adventurous spirit and feed her soul with all the exciting thrills that life has to offer. Our latest adventure is case in point. We were in Hawaii and my husband and I wanted to go zip lining. We weren’t sure if our daughter was tall enough – the website said she was but the person on the phone had a different answer, so we showed up anyway knowing once they looked in her eyes, they’d know who they were dealing with. goadventuremom.com
There were 5 couples and one kid. The average age of the group looked to be about 35. And an 8 year old. This was no novice zip lining – the shortest was 300 feet and the most thrilling was 1000 feet and it culminated with a bungee jump off a 30 foot platform to the ground. Our guides were nice young men and I think they were excited to have a little spitfire with us to make the day extra exciting. After a lengthy tutorial on what to expect, my daughter’s hand flew up when asked who wanted to go first. She proceeded to go first on every line, insisting she would be the “tester” for us all. As soon as she realized she was going slower than the rest because she weighs less, she asked the guide to zip with her tandem so she’d go faster. What a joy for me to see her filled with so much life and happiness. The last thrill of the day arrived. The guide explained what to expect
continues on page 12
11
Two Horrible Words • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
on the bungee and once again, “ME FIRST!” Now of course I knew she was safe, but when I say I was terrified watching her jump, my limbs were literally shaking with fear. But I absolutely didn’t let her see that. Rather I wanted her to see my excitement and anticipation and didn’t want to impart any of my fear onto her. She jumped, landed with her feet on the ground and screamed up “Mommy that was so much fun, JUMP!” And I did. And it was so much fun.
Her favorite story is telling about the 10-foot wave she surfed while in surf lessons (really it was 4 feet) but I’ll save that story for next time… How do you teach your children to be brave? A partner in Los Angeles-based lifestyle PR agency, SnL Communications, www.snlc.net, Staci is an entrepreneur, mom of one energetic, full of life 8 year old girl, a wife, yogi, nature lover, interior design enthusiast and passionate traveler. Growing up in the fashion industry, Staci began to love fashion at a very young age. Living in California her whole life enjoying skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing and SUP, this aquarian truly loves the water.
goadventuremom.com
12
goadventuremom.com
13
Six Tips for Safe, Simple & Sane Spring Break Travel
By Sarah Tilton, Britax Child Passenger Safety Advocacy Manager
movement in a crash. Britax and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend keeping young children in rear-facing seats until age two, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat, to ensure the highest level of protection in an accident.
Winter can feel like it lasts a lifetime. Before you know it, spring break will arrive, a time when many families plan to pack up their vehicle and venture out on road trips. To survive travel with young children, every parent should keep these car safety tips in mind to ensure a safe and fun trip for all.
1
Ensure your car seat is safe. Before you begin your trip, make sure you have a safe and reliable car seat. The best car seat is one that fits your child, fits your car and that you are able to install and use properly. Many car seat companies have online safety resources to prepare families for travel. In addition, make sure your child’s car seat has superior side impact protection to minimize lateral head
●
2
Use your seat correctly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seven out of 10 children are not properly secured in their car seat. To ensure you’ve installed your seat correctly, attend a free car seat safety check in your area, or have a Certified Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) check your child’s seat. Be sure to bring your child with you to make certain your car seat fits properly and comfortably. ●
goadventuremom.com
14
Tips for Safe Spring Break Travel • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
3
Know current car seat laws. Even if you believe your child has outgrown car seats, be sure to do your research because each year – and each state – brings new safety laws. For instance, if you’re traveling to Disney World this year, be sure to comply with the new law in Florida that requires children under 6 years old to be restrained in car seats or booster seats. Some states, including Tennessee and North Carolina, require your child to be in a car seat until 8 years of age. Visit the Governors Highway Safety Association website to understand the new car seat laws in both your destination and travel-through states. Remembering all of these new laws may become overwhelming – in that case, follow best practices and safety precautions as advised by your car seat and vehicle manufacturer.
4
Avoid driving while distracted. With all of today’s technology, it’s easy to become distracted on the road, but remember you have precious cargo in your backseat. Be sure to leave cell phones in your bag or pocket, employ the use of hands-free devices or pull over to make calls. If you are traveling with another adult, allow your passenger to handle the GPS and stereo.
5
●Entertain safely. Many parents are tempted to purchase hanging accessories and toys to
goadventuremom.com
keep children entertained during long trips. However, it’s essential that you only use car seat manufacturer-approved accessories to ensure they have been tested and certified as safe. During an accident, toys can become projectiles, so bring only soft toys like stuffed animals or cloth books. If you’re traveling with a spouse or another adult, take turns sitting in the back with your child and enjoy some one-onone time playing a game or reading a story.
6
If you’re flying, bring your car seat. If you are taking flight this spring break, remember the safest place for your child under 40 pounds is in a car seat or booster seat, not your lap. To ensure your car seat is FAA approved, look for a label on the side of the seat that states, “This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards,” or, “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.” If you’re renting a car once you get to your destination, you will feel confident knowing your child is properly fitted and safe in his or her own car seat. For easy car seat transportation, many car seat companies make travel carts and travel bags. The key to a safe and easy spring break travel is preparation. If you’ve installed the proper car seat, turned off all distractions and packed the right entertainment, your biggest source of stress will be how to answer that seventh cry of, “Are we there yet?”
15
Guide to Preparing a
Stress-free Trip By Dr. Pete Sulack | Stress expert, writer and speaker, Dr. Pete Sulack is the founder of Unhealthy Anonymous
Whether it’s for business or pleasure, it is no surprise that traveling – especially with the family – induces stress. While we know the greatest enemy to our health is stress, we still find ourselves planning for or enduring a stressful vacation simply because we didn’t have the forethought to prepare. Identify key travel stressors and eliminate them with the following tips guaranteed to short-circuit stress and give you peace of mind. Be realistic. What you picture your vacation to look like in your mind is oftentimes not the reality. Read the fine print and reviews from people in your same life stage to ensure you aren’t booking a trip that will fall short of your expectations. For example, make sure the amusement park is open the day you plan to go and be aware of planned events in the area. If you have small children, taking a family vacation during “college spring break”
week may not be conducive to family-friendly fun. Realistically assess your limitations as well – you might feel pressured to take a day-long hike to the top of an active volcano, but if you’re the kind of couple who enjoys a glass of wine and a low-key (www. unhealthyanonymous.com) - a wellness support program that provides tools for healthier living.
Some of the most memorable experiences happen spontaneously –-it’s all about attitude. Acknowledge you can’t control everything. You can do all the research and planning possible and still feel disappointment upon arriving to your destination,
especially if the folks in charge of the cruise, hotel, spa or trip misrepresent themselves. What do you do in these cases? And how can you salvage the time you have away? Report any bad business practices to the Better Business Bureau, and try reasoning with management. Explain the situation from your point of view and appeal to them with a rational argument. Avoid emotional confrontations and threats, as they rarely help in this type of situation. All is not lost! Some of the most memorable experiences happen spontaneously – it’s all about attitude. If you are stressed out and angry, complaining and miserable, your entire family will follow suit. Salvage the experience and teach your children to make the very best of every circumstance. Actually be prepared. It sounds harsh, but this one is on you. If you haven’t planned for the best
goadventuremom.com
16
Stress-free Trips • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
but prepared for the worst, you may encounter stress on your vacation. • •
•
Plan for rainy days – While napping might sound like a relaxing idea, it’s not your kids’ idea of a good time. Instead, pack a board game or deck of cards, or play a family game of charades. Plan for sickness – Germs don’t take a vacation, so be sure to pack over-the-counter remedies for headaches, diarrhea, cuts and scrapes, sore throats and the like. Pack enough prescription meds in
case you get delayed on your return, and keep them close by in your carry-on bag. Plan for delays, because they are inevitable – Pack snacks in case your flight is delayed or you can’t stop on the road. Single servings of almond butter, nuts, crackers and cheese are good, filling choices.
If you’re traveling by vehicle, keep an emergency kit in the car in case of a breakdown. In addition to keeping plenty of clean water and nonperishable food items on hand, the Department of Motor
goadventuremom.com
Vehicles suggests packing things like a First Aid kit, roadside flares, work gloves, jumper cables, brake fluid, a blanket, flashlight with extra batteries, a few adjust expectations when traveling with kids. If you traveled a lot before you had children, you will need to adjust your expectations – especially in regards to time management. Kids like to explore, they have to use the bathroom frequently and hurrying them can make the situation worse. Instead of pulling out a tablet to occupy them, the experts at Rough
continues on page 18
17
Stress-free Trips • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
Guides suggest giving them a disposable camera, journal or coloring book to record the experience. Find balance between structure and relaxation. Toward the end of a trip, you may itch to get back home to the structure, simplicity and normality of a routine. Vacation was supposed to be a time to relieve stress, but instead you find it has you more stressed than normal. Time to relax is fun, but too much unstructured free time can cause anxiety or boredom to those used to a routine. Schedule at least one thing every day, even if it’s only to explore the other side of the campground or make a dinner reservation.
out of the vacation that you do. You may want to take a nap on the beach and catch some sunshine, while your partner wants to hike, roam or explore. Decide how much time you want to spend doing kid-friendly stuff, and how much adult time you need. Have a discussion with your family about vacation expectations, and make a plan to accommodate everyone’s needs.
Vacations are fun and may be tiring, but they don’t need to stressful. If you need an extra boost, take a day to reboot once you return. After you’ve had a day to unwind, reconnect with your family at home – and carry the sweet memories and funny stories of your trip together into the normal, daily walk of life.
Manage the entire family’s expectations. Don’t assume that your mate wants the same things
goadventuremom.com
18
goadventuremom.com
19
d u o l C e d r e v e t n Hiking the Mo s id K h it w t Fores lsona
by Suzanne So
I grew up hiking with my family in the Rockies Mountains of Alberta, Canada. One of my earliest memories is that of being dragged up a long, switchback laden trail surrounded by shale and my dad being rather irritated with me. I think I was four or five. The memory now makes me smile with empathy, as I am now the parent dragging my two boys (4 and 6) up mountains- sometimes against blood-curdling protestations. My goal? To make each of them into the lover of hiking that I now am. We’ve hiked in some fairly spectacular places as a family: New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Argentina, Hawaii and many of the National Parks in Canada and the USA. In March 2014 my dad generously took my family of 4 and my sister’s family of 5 to Costa Rica for two weeks. The 5 kids on the trip ranged in age from 3.5 years to 15.5 years. The age spread was at times difficult to manage, but one of the best days we had- where everyone came together and
experienced an outdoor excursion in a group with joy and patiencewas our trek at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The journey there was long- at least a 4 hour car ride on winding roads that were at times made more for 4x4 jeeps than our economy rental cars. I was grateful that I wasn’t driving! Several stops were made for two of the kids to throw up at the side of the road due to car sickness and I was the lucky target once when we couldn’t stop fast enough. Was the trip still worth it? Without a doubt.
goadventuremom.com
20
Hiking the Monteverde Cloud Forest • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
but they were very audacious and photogenic. Our oldest son, Nash, was able to get up close and take photos of the friendly animals of his own. The look of pride and wonder on his face in being able to capture the image of the animals magically made the vomit on my shirt disappear.
When we finally arrived, the children relieved to just be out of those stuffy vehicles, what greeted us was a wonder. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is located in the interior of the Northwest part of Costa Rica. Though perhaps lost on the youngest kids, the bounty of the Reserve and its flora and fauna was breathtaking. What wasn’t lost on them was the fact that they were seeing animals on the trail that they had never seen before- not even in a zoo. As we were strolling along one of the many wellmaintained paths, we came across a band of coati. We were surrounded by them! We made sure to stay a respectful distance and did not feed them,
We managed to coax the kids into hiking for several hours that day. There were suspension bridges, stairs, look-outs and more. The older kids helped the adults urge the younger ones on and my niece even took a few turns at carrying Rio, the “baby” of the family. It could have been a chore and unpleasant. It could have been stressful. It could have been hours of tantrums, whining and “dragging” children up a mountain. It simply wasn’t. It was easy. The trails were well marked and maintained and generally low grade. Being with his older cousins spurred Nash on with minimal complaint. Hiking in a large group allowed some of the adults to forge ahead at times while others stayed back with the shorterlegged members of the family and thus the bribing and cajoling that often accompanies us on our hikes were mostly absent. Yes, I piggy-backed our youngest son quite a bit, but actually, I loved it! A better work-out and having him on my back forced me to walk more slowly, meditatively, breathing in the lush environment and listening for bird songs I did not recognize. Being with Rio for much of the day also made me look more closely at my surroundings because for him, every leaf could be interesting enough to warrant detailed inspection.
According to the Reserve’s website: • Monteverde houses 2.5% of worldwide biodiversity. • 10% of its flora is endemic (found only in Costa Rica). • ●Costa Rica represents only the 0.03% of the planet’s land mass, yet has the 5% of the Biodiversity of the entire world.
•
•
●100% of the incomes collected by the entrances and other services are designated for educative, preservation and research programs. ●Visitors can step on the Continental Divide, where one foot will be on the Caribbean side and the other on the Pacific side.
continues on page 22 goadventuremom.com
21
Hiking the Monteverde Cloud Forest • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
I could have walked the trails at the Reserve for several more hours especially since the Reserve trails were empty of tourists. However, a wise parent knows when the next promise of “just one more corner then we’ll turn back” will confront anarchy and quickly transform a pleasurable day into a nightmare of epic proportions. It is at that point we trundled off to the cars and headed back to the beach houses, tired, yet refreshed by the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Highlight: Running into a band of Coati on the trail Low point: Projectile vomit from a car-sick child What to keep in mind for the hike: The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is- you guessed it- generally cloudy! As with many hikes, we favored lightweight pants that convert to longer shorts, comfortable walking shoes, tees, lightweight long-sleeved shirts that can be tossed in the backpack or worn around the waist and hats. Don’t forget: insect repellent, water and snacks for the kids! Suzanne Solsona is a co-founder and the CEO of MyMayu. MyMayu creates kid-focused gear, thoughtfully designed by parents who love the outdoors. Their first line of lightweight, collapsible, waterproof boots with flexible soles and optional fleece liners are perfect for hiking and camping as well as puddle jumping and sledding. No matter what the terrain or the weather, MyMayu boots will keep kids playing outside until bedtime.
goadventuremom.com
22
goadventuremom.com
23
GEAR
winners
2015 Outdoor retailer show The Best Gear for 2015 This past week we attended the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City and got a sneak peek of new products for the Fall 15/Winter 16 season. These are some of our top picks that you can look forward to seeing this next year. Best outdoor gear that are either Family Friendly, Innovators and Trend Setters.
1 3
FAMILY FRIENDLY 1. OAKIWEAR- Oakiwear is quality kids rain gear at an affordable price. They supply kids rain pants, kids rain suits, kids jackets, Kids fishing waders, and kids boots. This is the best outdoor gear for outdoor play, 2. POLER- Be the envy of the campground. Fun prints that will make you want to set the tent up in your house.
4
2
5
3. CUSHE - Mom and Me matching slippers for hanging out at home, playing at school or on the trails. This is the ideal show for travel as it is UBER LIGHTWEIGHT. 4. KLEAN KANTEEN - Keep kids hydrated. Extend outdoor play longer by drinking lots of water. 5. INCASE - Portable power and storage solutions. Keeping your ideas safe. 6. BUTLER OVER BOOTS - Making mom’s lives easier. Wear over your shoes like a rain jacket.
6
goadventuremom.com
24
2015 Outdoor Retailer Show Winners• Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
1
INNOVATORS
2
1. HIVE DESIGNS - Hydration with built in electrolyte pouch. Drink valve allows you to drink water or use electrolyte drink by simply changing the way you bite on the valve. 2. MARKER- Magnetic helmet clasps means no more pinched chins or fingers. 3. MANFROTTO- Off Road Collection: Walking Sticks with Tripod, light weight tripod and hiker backpack.
4 3 3
4. TOPO - Minimalist Running Shoes 5
5. BEELINE CASES- Never lose your phone again. Carabiner system allows you to hook your phone to your pants, purse or jacket.
TREND SETTERS & NEW LAUNCHES
3 1
2
1. Baggallini: A go-to bag for any traveler or mom on the go, Baggallini introduced prints to compliment their solid color pallet. Available 2/1 2. OSPREY: Fall/Winter 15 Flap Jack and Flap Jill commuter series packs. 3. Ninja Suit: Onesies for Grownups.
4
4. TURTLE FUR: Keep kids warm with the Balaclava head cover. Best outdoor gear for kids!
5
5. Blundstone: Now comes in women’s size. This outdoor favorite is now tailored to fit women. goadventuremom.com
25
Reviews MyKick by Burley Review by Kathy Dalton Those looking for balance bikes for young children best check out the MyKick by Burley. They are the manufacturers of bikes and biking gear that is perfect for families. I had the opportunity to review one of them and wanted to tell you all about this product. Little Assembly Required The MyKick is a great balance bike for children ages 3 and up. This balance bike is perfect for parents who want outdoor gear that is almost ready to go. Once it is delivered to your home, there is little assembly required. All you need to do is twist the handlebars into the proper position and use the included Allen wrench to tighten them into place. Low Maintenance There is little maintenance required with this balance bike, which in my opinion is amazing! Who wants to spend a lot of time fixing flat tires? I know I would rather be outdoors with my children riding on the bike trails or other places where we like to explore with our bikes. Honeycomb Tires The tires on the MyKick are honeycomb and filled with air but are very durable. They also have great traction, which is a great safety feature given the age and ability of the rider. The rubber tread tires are great for riding on paved sidewalks or dirt roads that are level. Durable Grips Another thing that I like about the MyKick by Burley
is the rubber grips on the handlebars. They are made with rip-proof rubber, very durable and built to last. Comfortable Seat The seat post is adjustable and ranges from 12.5 to 16 inches. Adjusting the seat is really simple, there is a quick release adjuster. Told you that this balance bike was literally maintenance-free! The seat is padded which helps to provide a comfortable ride for a child. It weighs 11.3 lbs. I should mention that this balance bike does not limit the ability to turn like some of the other balance bikes. Like any other biking gear, the MyKick does need to have a regular safety check. The bolts are exposed and may show normal wear and tear over time. They jut out from the bike frame and can be a scratching hazard, so remember to check them periodically.
goadventuremom.com
26
Product Reviews • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
Britax Advocate ClickTight Review by Kathy Dalton New child safety laws have just not been passed. Unfortunately, many car seat owners do not install the car seats correctly. Britax has just revolutionized the way car seats are installed with the ClickTight system. I was fortunate to receive the Britax Advocate ClickTight for review purposes. Here are some of my findings
They are made to compress and prevent your child from being thrown forward in an accident. The spine of the car seat is built to last and is strong enough to avoid breaking at the connection points.
Safety Features Have Got Your Baby Covered The Advocate ClickTight has got your baby covered when it comes to safety. This car seats safety standard are so high that this car seat has been certified for Air Travel. Buckling the seat belt has never been easier! All it takes is a couple of easy steps. Complete Side Impact Protection It comes with complete side impact protection along with external cushions that protect your child should you be involved in an accident. It is fully convertible and has a foam headrest and external cushions. These standard features help to cradle your child’s head and upper body all the while keeping the neck and head secure. When I placed my child in the car seat it only took a couple of seconds to do so. I found that my child appeared to be quite comfortable in the car seat while we were out on the road. My child’s comfort and safety is important to me and when I am out on the road I know that they will be protected in the Britax Advocate ClickTight Car Seat. Other Standard Features Include• Stabilizing Steel Frame • Impact Absorbing Base • Tether and Harness • SafeCell Complete Side Impact Protection Built to Last If you should be involved in a crash, the energy or force is directed away from your child and those in close proximity to them by the external cushions. goadventuremom.com
Reduces Harsh Forward Movement Patented rows of stitching give way one row at a time, therefore, reducing the harsh forward movement that can occur when an accident happens. The special harness also ensures that energy from a crash is dispersed without mishap. You will know when you have closed the 14
continues on page 28
27
Product Reviews • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
position harness in the proper manner. You will hear a click when it is tightened properly. Once you child grows the harness and buckle are totally adjustable. Automatic Level Indicator Eliminates Guesswork The Automatic Level Indicator adjusts itself when installing the car seat. Its 7-Position Recline provides a comfortable seating position. The cover can be easily removed for cleaning purposes. Three fabric options are available for you to choose from. A Peace of Mind Overall, this car seat by Britax gives me a peace of mind. I am still nervous about being involved in a car accident and hope that I never am. For the time being, I know that my child is comfortable and secure in the Advocate ClickTight Car Seat as we are out and about on our adventures. For more information about the Advocate ClickTight Car Seat, visit Britax USA.
Joovy Caboose Varylight Stand On Tandem Stroller Review by Kathy Dalton The Joovy Caboose Varylight Stand On Tandem Stroller is just perfect for my young family. I had the opportunity to receive one for review purposes. There were many things that I liked about this tandem stroller. It is a great stroller for families with more than one small child. It was very beneficial on our trip to Disneyland. The kids all took turns standing on it when they needed a rest. Two Strollers in One Another feature that I love about this stroller is that it can also be used as a baby carrier. Other specifics of this amazing tandem stroller, included the fact that it is actually two strollers in one. The short frame feature allows me to take it on adventures in which we will not be staying for a long time. It is perfect for a trip to the mall!
The Joovy Caboose Varylight Stand On Tandem Stroller also converts to the long frame model. When it is in this formation it permits room for a second child. It also has a swing open tray and a 3 position front seat that reclines.
goadventuremom.com
2828
Product Reviews • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
Holds Two Car Seats This tandem stroller is great for one child or two children. It can be adjusted to hold one or two car seats. My older child has the option of using the stand on when their legs get tired. They also have the option of sitting on the little board-like seat that is situated in the area where the handle is located. There are also rails for my child to grip onto when they are on the stand on. Extra protection from the sun’s harmful rays is a given, with the sun visor extension. The 5 point harness in the front and 3 point harness in the back ensure the safety of my child while in the stroller. Easy to Handle It is very easy to handle as I can quickly collapse it for storage by using only one hand. The swing away tray works can be placed on the front or back and is easily swung away for storage. The wheels are made of polyurethane tires and bearers that are sealed in. This helps to ensure a smooth ride that glides over various surfaces. Rear brakes, front wheel suspension, and front swivel wheel locks helps me to maneuver the Joovy Caboose Varylight Stand On Tandem without accidents. Lots of Storage Space It also has an amazing amount of storage space which is located on the bottom half of the stroller.
I can’t say enough about this feature! I have seen some people with smaller strollers struggling with diaper bags and other bags as well tied to the handles of their strollers. I can fit all the necessities of the day at the bottom of this stroller with no problems. Perfect for Families This tandem stroller by Joovy is just perfect for families with one or more young children in tow. It is lightweight and easy to handle. My children love when I bring it out from the closet to pack into the car as we head out on an adventure for a day or longer.
continues on page 30 goadventuremom.com
29
Product Reviews • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
Baby Carrier WE Review Review by Kathy Dalton Transporting an infant around can be challenging, especially if you like to take the baby outside for some fresh air. A stroller is certainly an option. However, at times it can be very inconvenient. Luckily, BabyBjorn came to my rescue with their Baby Carrier WE. I was sent this product in exchange for my opinion about it. Safe for a Newborn The Baby Carrier WE is simple to use and comfortable for babies and toddlers in between the ages of 0-3 years. What I like about this baby carrier is that is also safe to use with a newborn baby. It has a special facing in position that is set at just the right height. When my baby was in this position, I was able to make eye contact, and also monitor my child’s breathing. The way the BabyBjorn is made, newborns can bond with mom or dad while out and about. There are maximum height guidelines when using the special facing in position. The child should not be more than 24.5 inches in height. Three Carrying Positions on the Back or Front The Baby Carrier WE is very easy to put on, and three different carrying positions on the back as well as the front. This feature makes the carrier much more versatile as it is totally adjustable to suit the size and age of baby/toddler up the 3 years of age. When we are out for a daily walk, sometimes the baby falls asleep in the baby carrier. I do not have to struggle when lifting them out of the carrier because the front part opens up, permitting me to remove my child from the carrier without much effort or disturbance. Its unique design permitted me to move my toddler from the front position to the back position with ease. There was no need to move my child out of
the baby carrier to change positions either. The unit is held securely to your body with a waist belt and shoulder straps. Its ergonomic dynamics support the child’s head and spine. Muscles and motor skills are allowed to develop as legs and arms can move freely in the carrier. Balance skills are also developed as well. Minimum weight of the baby must be 8 lbs. and maximum weight must be 33 lbs in order to use the BabyBjorn Baby Carrier WE. A Comfortable Way to Transport a Newborn or Toddler Overall, I found that this product is well designed. I do not worry about my child’s safety when using the baby carrier. I know that they are comfortable and safe. I would recommend the BabyBjorn Baby Carrier WE to all parents who are expecting a baby in the near future and to ones that have recently became parents of a newborn or infant.
goadventuremom.com
30
Product Reviews • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
Blundstone Boots for Kids-Blunnies Review by Mary Edwards Is your kid a trailblazer? You may want to check out these Australianmade boots for stylish and rugged outdoor kids. They are Blundstone Boots for Kids-Blunnies. These “blunnies” kids boots are comfortable, durable and made to last. They’re easy to get on and off with no lace pull on shoe. My daughter is the queen of style. She tells me what and what not to wear and she’s only 6 years old. So, when it came time for her to get boots, of course she had to approve them. One look and these Blunnies became her favorite shoe for every season. Features: • Premium water-resistant leather • Sturdy front and back pull-on tabs • Elastic gore retains its shape • Roomy silhouette allows for feet to spread naturally • Removable insole is padded for comfort • Dual-density polyurethane outsole are weatherproof, lightweight, and durable
Why Buy? • Keep feet warm during the cold months, without being bulky • Better looking with age and wear • Versatile and very good looking • High Quality and easy for kids to pull on • Blundstone Boots are known for high quality women and men boots. Recently became sustaining sponsor of the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. • Retail around $100.
continues on page 32 goadventuremom.com
31
Product Reviews • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
Mountain Smith Modular Hauler Review by Kathy Dalton Modular Hauler- The Modular Hauler by Mountain Smith is a must for travelers! It is a great travel accessory for organizing all of the items you need to take on your adventure. It is rugged, roomy, and color-coded making identification a breeze. The Modular Hauler comes in two different sizes and two different components. One is the Body, which is made of Ballistic Poly and the other component is the Cube Poly, which is made of RipStop Poly. We use our Mountain Smith Hauler when camping in the Tetons. It’s perfect because we use each separate bag for each child. It’s a nice way to keep things organized when camping. Features of the Modular Hauler Other features of this travel accessory include a main packing compartment with 3 Basic Cubes. The unit also has foam padding which permits freestanding access. Tie down loops help to keep the hauler secure in your vehicle while you are on the road. The Modular Hauler also has reinforced carry handles which eliminates any fear of the handle breaking. It is quite roomy in size, yet folds away easily and discreetly. Side panel haul handles make it easy to transport. The color-coded cubes come in Heritage Teal, Heritage Cobalt, and Heritage Red, making it easy to store each child’s travel clothes in separate cubes. The size of the Hauler is 15” x 24” x 15” and the Basic Cubes are 15” x 7.5” x 15”. The Modular Hauler weighs 3 lbs. 15 oz or 1.8 kgs. I have found that the Modular Hauler by Mountain Smith has made my travels on the road so much easier. I pack clothing for the kids into a separate cube, which helps me to save time. There is no need to dig through the clothes trying to separate
what clothing article is for which child. There is no need to worry about the Hauler moving around in the vehicle should I have to brake suddenly or swerve to avoid road kill or an approaching animal. I would definitely recommend the Modular Hauler for anyone who likes to go adventure traveling around the country in a vehicle. Great for camping trips or any type of trip in which you will stay elsewhere for overnight or an undetermined length of time. For more information on the Mountain Smith Modular Hauler, visit Mountain Smith
goadventuremom.com
32
Product Reviews • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
Madsen Bike Review Review by Kathy Dalton Simply stated, I love my Madsen bike. My husband travels a lot, and even when he’s home he’s still working hard and rarely available to take the kids so I can get out for an hour, so my kids are always with me. Before any of my kids were in school, my Madsen was one of the few things that really gave me freedom to get outside and explore. Problems with Other Setups We’d been living in St George for a good six months with all of those nice established bike trails taunting me. One such bike trail started right behind out
safety. The real problem of course was that all my kids were growing: my four year old was squashed into the trailer next to the baby and the three year olds knees pushed right into the small of my back. I also knew I couldn’t take a lot of hills because while I might be strong enough to climb them, I knew the friction brakes on my bike couldn’t stop well with all of that weight going down. Best Aspects of the Madsen As soon as I got my Madsen bike I realized that it not only fit my ever growing kids better, but there were a lot of other advantages too: •
•
house. I already had a double trailer but with three kids if I wanted to get any real mileage I had to throw the three year old on a seat right behind me. It was totally worth it but there were downsides. It took a long time to get everybody situated and ready to go, the kids in the trailer were always fighting, and with the bike seat I could never pull over for a minute to help kids in the trailer without removing the kid from the bike seat as well for
•
•
Kid Experience- Since my kids were out of a trailer and close to me, they could observe all kinds of things about our environment while we were riding and we could talk about it. This also led to longer and more enjoyable rides for everyone. My son’s favorite ride turned out to be the route with the most gardens. We spotted all kind of wildlife on our rides and one afternoon they talked all about the difference between lizard’s bums and mice bums while I giggled and pedaled. Kid Visibility- While my new center of gravity with the kids up higher took some getting used to, I knew the kids were far more visible sitting right behind me in their fluorescent safety vests than they had been in a trailer on the ground behind me. Disc Brakes- Disc brakes are what motorcycles use. I could stop on a dime, even on a steep hill. In and Out Ease- The whole production of loading the kids and their stuff in and out of the bike was so much quicker than using
continues on page 34 goadventuremom.com
33
Product Reviews • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
•
a trailer that it made last minute stops on our way home from our preschool commute so much easier. ●Bomber Kickstand- Unlike other types of bikes, you can actually depend on the double kickstand as your load your kids or if you just need to jump off the bike for a second to run back and grab that teddy bear they just threw out onto the street.
Areas For Improvement While I would recommend the Madsen to almost anyone with small kids, there are some less positive aspects to consider as well: • Weight- They are heavy. While I could ride almost anywhere in St George I am not strong enough to ride wherever I want with kids in the more hilly terrain of Salt Lake City. We still have enough bike routes available in our area to enjoy our bike, but I would advise others to consider their terrain before purchasing. Now that my kids are bigger I’ve add to ex out a few more hills!
•
Cost- This is the biggest hurdle for most people considering the Madsen. However, the Madsen is bomb proof (I never needed mine serviced in all five years), and like other bikefiet and cargo bikes in its class with heavy duty components and brakes, it must be remembered that it is in another class of manufacturing (and therefore cost) that intersects more with true vehicles than cruisers. As such they also have pretty good resale value.
Ultimately for me, the pros far outweighed the cons, and with the help of my Madsen bike, some suckers, and some audiobooks played out loud, I was able to take rides up to an hour long with all three of my kids and really increase some of our quality outdoor time together. I hope this Madsen Bike Review is helpful! Do you have a favorite bike set up for families? Tell us what works for you!
goadventuremom.com
34
Top 5 Things for Families to See and Do in
Puerto Vallarta
By Kathy Dalton
Have you ever imagined visiting a place to beautiful you never forget it? Well, Puerto Vallarta is the perfect place for families to visit in 2015. There are tons of places to stay and so many things to do! For starters, there’s a lot of recreation and relaxation to be done, so make sure you head on over as soon as possible! Here are the top 5 things for families to see and do while in Puerto Vallarta. #1. Aquaventures Park
well worth watching. The whole family can sign up
This is one recreational activity to do in Puerto
for bird watching and have an amazing time.
Vallarta that you just can’t go wrong with. There’s always a deal to snag on their website. Don’t be shy
#4. Fish from a Kayak
about swimming with dolphins; you know it will be
If everyone in the family is old enough, then
a ton of fun.
consider the fun of fishing in a kayak. This is an experience unlike anything else in the world.
#2. Whale Watching
Make sure you take the chance to experience
Most Americans don’t get the chance to see
fishing in a kayak. Who knows what kind of fish
whales on a daily basis. As a family, head to
you will get the pleasure of catching.
Puerto Vallarta to get a front row seat at watching these magnificent creatures. There are plenty of
#5. Visit the Botanical Gardens
companies that will take you out on a tour. You
You may have a botanical garden where you live,
won’t believe your whale watching eyes.
but nothing compares to the botanical gardens of Puerto Vallarta. Not only can you get a personal
#3. Bird Watching
garden tour, but you get to see all of the exotic
The birds in Puerto Vallarta are unlike any birds in
plants available. The family will love the beauty of
the world. There are tons of species of birds and
these native flowers and plants.
goadventuremom.com
35
The 4 Can’t-Miss Eastern Basin National Parks By Kathy Dalton
Nothing beats quality time with your family, especially in the great outdoors. These four national parks in the eastern basin of Utah, Nevada, and Idaho are some of the most scenic areas in the U.S., making them ideal destinations for that perfect family getaway you’ve been planning. These unique geological paradises will create memories that your family will cherish for a lifetime.
Arches National Park Located in southeastern Utah, Arches National Park features a wide variety of unique rock formations of rich, colorful sandstone. One of the most loved Arches features enjoyed by families is that these beautiful formations are so accessible for people of all ages—anyone from your 2-year-old to Grandma. They are easy to get to, and visitors are allowed to walk right up to them. If your kids don’t mind the car, the 36-mile scenic drive allows you to take in all of the wonder and beauty of the park from the comfort
goadventuremom.com
36
Eastern Basin • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
tours, many families enjoy the weekly astronomy programs. Due to the remoteness of the park, you will see more beautiful stars with your naked eye here than anywhere else on the planet. If your family enjoys hiking, you can take the Bristlecone Pine Trail and walk among pine trees that are more than 5,000 years old. Zion Canyon National Park Located in Southern Utah, this park allows your family to explore the floor of the majestic Zion Canyon. In addition to a picturesque scenic drive and many hiking trails, you can also enjoy a horseback riding tour through the canyon that is perfect for older kids and parents. The Narrows, a stunning gorge with 1,000-foot walls, is a popular hike that lets your kids explore all that nature has to offer. There is also a 1-mile long, paved trail that is easy hiking for families with small children and strollers. City of Rocks National Reserve This beautiful wilderness gets its name from the rock spires and other formations that make it look like a silent city. Located in Southern Idaho along the Utah border, the City of Rocks National Reserve is an ideal destination for families who prefer a wilderness experience. This park is known for its rock climbing areas, ranging in levels of difficulty. of your minivan. Older children and teenagers will
If you and your family want to give rock climbing a
enjoy the Fiery Furnace Tour, a three-hour guided
try for the first time, the park provides a Climbing
hike that takes you through a maze of incredible
Experience Program to get you started.
rock formations.
Get away to some of the most stunning environments nature has to offer in the eastern
Great Basin National Park
Great Basin. These rugged parks are ideal for hiking,
This park is located at the base of Wheeler Peak
backpacking, and camping with kids of all ages.
in Western Nevada, along the Utah border. Your
Share an adventure with your family today! For
kids will love an awe-inspiring tour of Lehman
more information on national parks, please visit the
Caves where they can view unique underground
National Park Foundation today.
rock formations. In addition to the underground goadventuremom.com
37
family travel ideas By Kathy Dalton
Mariposa & Yosemite •
•
•
•
Yosemite offers a budget-friendly family travel option: The Grand Family Adventure Package at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite starting at $235. Outdoor activities include hiking, rock climbing, rock wall climbing, archery, and more. Yosemite offers families an opportunity to disconnect from technology and reconnect with the essentials such as starry skies, pure mountain air, and birdsongs. From hiking, ziplining, rafting, and swimming in the summer, to snowboarding, cross country skiing, and ice skating in the winter, Yosemite offers the excitement of a world-class adventure park with the authenticity and togetherness of a traditional family vacation. Yosemite National Park and its nearby country seat, Mariposa, are epicenters for family fun. Plan to spend at least two full days in the park and one day in Mariposa. Our top five suggestions for activities include: 1) hiking 2) ziplining adventures 3) watersports 4) downhill skiing & snowboarding 5) museums & attractions. YosemiteExperience.com
goadventuremom.com
38
Family Travel Destinations • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
The Grand Canyon •
●At this world wonder, hike canyon trails, watch for California condors and explore canyon geology. Journey through the Navajo Reservation, raft the Colorado River and visit prehistoric cliff dwellings at Walnut Canyon National Monument. Cap your adventure with a horseback trail ride or wagon ride in our magnificent ponderosa pine forests. www. roadscholar.org/22000
Iceland is a real-life fantasyland of towering waterfalls, bobbing icebergs, steaming lava beds, and turquoise thermal pools. Begin with two nights in Reykjavik then sail clockwise around the island, ultimately returning to the capital.
Bass Lake •
Named by Sunset Magazine as one of the West’s Best Lakes, Bass Lake is the perfect family vacation destination. Few other lakes in the region have the amenities so close to shore. Three resorts & marinas, luxurious rental homes, rustic cabins and excellent camping are all moments from the shores edge, as are fine dining, family style restaurants, shopping and more. www.basslakechamber.com
Lake Worth Casino Beach •
Road Scholar •
Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and the Badlands: Expanding Horizons • ●Family-friendly activities include taking a Western trail ride and discovering ancient fossils and lunar-like deposits in the Badlands. www.roadscholar.org/4752 • A Family Adventure in Magical Oxford: From the Narnia Chronicles to Harry Potter. A visit to Oxford includes learning about characters made famous by some of the world’s most creative and intriguing authors – Lewis Carroll, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Roald Dahl, and Philip Pullman. • ●Adventures Afloat: Glaciers, Geysers, Volcanoes & Elves: An Epic Family Voyage Around Iceland.
Established in 1917, Lake Worth’s Casino Beach is undergoing a $117 million redevelopment to recreate 40,000 square feet of space for restaurants, specialty retail, an event center, a boardwalk and beach front, water-oriented recreation, lodging facilities, and a ferris wheel – perfect for families. Construction is set to be completed in 2015-16. Note: Casino Beach will not feature gambling of any kind.
●
Talking Stick Arizona •
goadventuremom.com
Salt River Fields features the Cold Stone Kids Fun Field where kids can take whiffle ball batting practice and run the bases just like the big leaguers. The Fields also hosts a handful of family friendly events throughout the year, including the Halloween Balloon Spooktacular,
continues on page 40
39
Family Travel Destinations • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
•
•
Independence Day Music Festival, and Tailgate Games. www.TalkingStickArizona.com ●This shopping center features the McDonalds Rock’n’Roll Car Show, held every Saturday evening. This event is the longest consistently running car show in the US and features a live DJ playing 50s era music, hula-hoop contests, and an indoor/outdoor electric race cart facility. Butterfly Wonderland is a state-of-the-art facility that includes a magnificent rainforest atrium that is home to thousands of butterflies from around the world.
Fort Worth •
Fort Worth is an ideal family vacation destination thanks to a wealth of western heritage, cultural and fun offerings that will entertain parents and children of all ages. A sampling of family-friendly activities offered in the city includes trips to the Stockyards National Historic District and Fort
Worth Zoo, hands-on activities such as cattle drive demos, bull riding, barrel racing, roping and saddling, outdoor adventure including canoeing and kayaking,
Uncruise •
•
A crew member is dedicated to organizing adventures for kids of all activity levels. Adventures and exploring outside are still the focus and families enjoy hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, paddle boarding, and skiff excursions together. www.un-cruise.com Un-Cruise Adventures offers safe, educational and kid-friendly cruises to destinations such as Hawaii, Alaska, Columbia, British Columbia and Mexico’s Sea of Cortes.
Rare Finds Travel Design •
Introduce your Harry Potter-crazed family to the captain of the local muggle Quiddich team to be
goadventuremom.com
40
Family Travel Destinations • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
•
•
•
•
your personal guide for the night in Edinburgh, the birthplace of JK Rowling’s classic book series. Set your “littles” up for a playdate in Rome with other preschoolers. Call it “Lost in Translation”, because the kids interact and play, despite speaking only their native languages. We love to recommend a home stay at a Quechuan village, high in the Andes of Peru. You will stay in comfortable beds in the dirtfloored home of a local family, where the guinea pigs run back and forth (are they pets, or dinner? Both!) ] Have a wonderful adventure in Hawaii — a waterfall guru will lead you on treks to backcountry waterfalls, knowing exactly where to jump (or not!). We have guides to take you swimming with wild spinner dolphins and also on thrilling nighttime snorkels with the giant prehistoric looking manta rays with 25’ wingspans! Take a small adventure ship up in Alaska with cruise itineraries specially aimed for kids - the kids can snorkel with giant lavender and orange starfish, roast marshmallows over a beach fire on a deserted islet, and kayak (in a double scull) out with the humpback whales as they bubble net (a type of humpback feeding) in the waters of the Inside Passage.
Grand Circle •
●Lake Powell near Page, AZ is located in the center of what is known as the “Grand Circle.” Sitting in the middle of some of the world’s most incredible natural wonders, including the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, and Horseshoe Bend is an unbelievable freshwater paradise. There is no better way to take in our unique environment than by touring the waterways on a paddleboard.
Mammoth Lakes Tourism •
Mammoth Lakes invites families to unplug and break away from computers and smart phones to spend a weekend enjoying activities such as sledding, snow-boarding and snow-tubing in the winter and zip lining, rock climbing and hiking during the spring and summer.
Infinite Safari Adventures •
•
goadventuremom.com
Infinite Safari Adventures is dedicated to planning unique and memorable family-bonding vacations filled to the brim with experiences such as animal encounters, kayaking in the Indian Ocean, climbing Mt. Kilmanjaro or hot air ballooning over Africa. ●Giving Back: Infinite Safari Adventures is proud to set an example with its own unique “give back” programs. Infinite Safari Adventures owner Alan Feldstein helped sponsor a Maasai warrior through school. Through their partnership, they sell beaded dog collars and Maasai beaded jewelry in the United States.
41
Gateway Canyons The perfect multi-generational family vacation
Resort & Spa
goadventuremom.com
42
Gateway Canyons • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa, located in Gateway Canyon, Colorado, is perfect for a multi-generational family vacation, as the endless activities range from horseback riding and group hiking adventures, to driving around in a Porsche or taking a private air tour in a fivepassenger luxury helicopter. Whether the family is large or small, Gateway Canyons brings them closer and ensures a treasure trove of memories. From morning yoga to afternoon hikes and stargazing, it can all be done at Gateway Canyons. •
•
•
The night of arrival, families may want to gather at Don’s Lake in the LaSalle Mountains for some guided fly fishing, where children can run and play and experience the thrill of their first catch. Gateway can provide a full selection of snacks and on-the-go boxed meals, even a fully-catered family reunion barbecue. Enjoy the warm Colorado sunshine on the water, where guests can pile the family into a raft for an adventure on the rapids of the Dolores River. Or, for more leisurely bonding, go tubing together on the creek for a daylong float. Explore the beauty and history of the Unaweep Canyon. On guided or self-guided mountain
goadventuremom.com
biking, hiking or Jeep expeditions, families can discover dinosaur tracks, ancient rock art and unique rock formations that will be talked about for many family gatherings to come. •
Dinner can be enjoyed at the Paradox Grille followed by foosball and air hockey games in the upstairs gaming room. Or, gather with loved ones at a special barbecue on the Entrada patio, followed by s’mores charred to perfection at Entrada’s fire pits.
•
Spend an afternoon at the Gateway Auto Museum, where the collection of antique American cars brings back stories and memories for the family to share. Or even take a spin in a suite of luxury automobiles with Driven Experiences, where guests can get behind the wheel of a Bentley or Porsche and the kids can enjoy the ride.
•
Before going home, guests can enjoy a brunch at the Kiva Café. The kids can swim and splash to their heart’s content before the trip home.
43
Hiking in South East Utah By Allison Yamamoto-Sparks
Cave Spring
Although my husband and I have always considered ourselves to be avid hikers, I have to admit- I HATED hiking as a kid. I’m not sure if it’s because we started hiking suddenly when I was about 10, or if it was because my Dad, a Forest Service employee, insisted that camping was to be done in the wilderness, NOT in campgrounds with amenities such as vault toilets, running water, and firepits, but I do know that I absolutely hated it. To this day, I still swear that my older sister broke her toe on purpose the day before we were scheduled to go on a backpacking trip and I spent years trying to get her to admit it, but to this day she still insists it was an accident. Likely story. Fast forward to college- I suddenly realized that I got to pick where I was going to hike, and I got to pick the length of the hike, and I loved it! Not long after my husband and I started dating we took a 6 week road trip through the west, logging 100+ miles of hiking to places like Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon, Zion, Death Valley, Sequoia/King’s Canyon, Yosemite, Redwoods, Crater Lake, and many other places. Our hiking style has changed quite a bit since having our son 2 ½ years ago- we used to do quite a bit of overnight backpacking, which I’m sure we’ll get into again once our
goadventuremom.com
44
Hiking in SE Utah • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
son is a little older, but for now we’re happy to take it a little slower, and do shorter hikes that we hope will help our son develop the same love of hiking that we share! Lucky for us we live in Utah’s Canyon Country, with endless hiking, exploring, & adventure opportunities in every direction. Here are a few of my favorite family-friendly hikes in our area:
Nations of the Four Corners
Monticello Area Needles District of Canyonlands National Park Cave SpringAt only .6 miles, this short loop trail is a great hike for kids. The trail first takes you past an old cowboy camp nestled in an alcove with tables, dishes, a cookstove, and many other items still in place. As you continue down the trail you’ll come to Cave Spring, which is one of the few year-round water sources in the area. If you look closely, a smoke blackened ceiling and pictographs confirm that this area was used by the Ancestral Puebloan Indians long before the cowboys came along. After passing Cave Spring, two ladders take you up onto the slickrock above and provide you with amazing panoramic views of the Needles Rock formations, North and South Six-Shooter Peaks in Indian Creek, and the Abajo and La Sal Mountains. This hike provides a great opportunity
for kids to learn first-hand about the history of Canyonlands. It’s long enough to get to see lots of cool stuff, but short enough that they won’t get bored or feel like they’re being punished! (As a kid who hated hiking, this is very important if you’re hoping to take them out again in the future!) Pothole PointPothole Point is another great hike for kids in the Needles District of Canyonlands. Again, at only .6 miles, there’s no time for kids to get bored on this hike, especially if you go after an early spring or late summer rain when the potholes are full of water and creatures such as Fairy Shrimp, Beetle larvae, Tadpoles, Snails, and Tadpole Shrimp. Since water never lasts long around here, the potholes provide a great opportunity for learning about the lifecycle and adaptations of these
goadventuremom.com
desert dwelling organisms. For children ages 5 and up, there’s also the Junior Ranger Program that they can complete to earn a special Junior Ranger Badge! Just pick up a booklet at the Visitor Center when you arrive! While you’re in the area: Be sure to check out ‘Finders Keepers’ at the Hideout Golf Club in Monticello. Every year from Memorial Day through Labor Day, locally made Cedar Mesa Pottery is hidden along the paths on the golf course and if you find it, you get to keep it! My husband and I have gone out looking for years and have yet to find anything, but the golf course staff always assures me that it IS out there! (549 S Main St, Monticello, UT Admission: No charge to walk the paths)
continues on page 46
45
Hiking in SE Utah • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
Blanding Area Nations of the Four CornersNations of the Four Corners is a network of trails and an interpretive cultural area made up of sites representing the different groups that contributed to the history of this area; Ute, Navajo, Hispanic, and Pioneer. It sits right on the west edge of Blanding making it very convenient to visit as you’re just passing through, or even as an evening outing if you’re spending the night in town. In addition to the structures, there are a couple of archaeological sites along the trails, as well as an arch (Prayer Arch) and a natural bridge! (Nations Natural Bridge) Since it’s a network of trails, you
Nations of the Four
can make your outing any length you want, from just a quick 10-15 minute stop, all the way up to a 5-6 mile roundtrip hike if you hike all the way out to Nations Natural Bridge and Five Kiva Pueblo. (You can also access these sites by vehicle from the south end of town)’ As you visit the structures representing each of the groups, it offers a great opportunity for kids to learn about the diverse cultural history of southeast Utah. And be sure to visit the observation tower in the center of the site for spectacular views on the surrounding countryside!
Blanding Visitor Center or Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum to pick up a Trail of the Ancients/ Nations of the Four Corners map to take with you. You’re right on the edge of city limits, so there’s no way you could actually get lost out there, but the network of trails can be a little confusing, so the map comes in handy to help you make the best use of your time. While you’re in the area: Stop by Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum or the Dinosaur Museum in Blanding. Edge of the Cedars houses one of the largest collections of Ancestral Puebloan pottery in the Four Corners area. They have a great kids area with lots of hands on
Before visiting, make a stop at the
Recpature Pocket
Recpatur
Corners
goadventuremom.com
46
Hiking in SE Utah • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
activities, as well as a restored kiva behind the museum that you can climb down inside of! (660 W 400 N, Blanding, UT Admission: Adults-$5.00, Children &Utah Seniors 62 & Older- $3.00, Children five and under are free) For anyone with kids who love dinosaurs, the Dinosaur Museum in Blanding is the place for you! They are open mid-April through mid-October each year and have exhibits with skeletons, fossilized skin, eggs, footprints, and sculptures of dinosaurs from the Four Corners region and throughout the world. They also have special exhibits on Feathered Dinosaurs and Dinosaurs in the Movies that are
re Pocket
sure to capture the attention and imagination of dinosaur lovers of all ages! (754 S 200 W, Blanding, UT Admission: Adults-$3.50, Seniors-$2.50, Children- $2.00) Bluff: Recapture PocketThis is less of a ‘hike’ and more of a place for kids (and kids at heart) to just explore and check out lots of hoodoos and really cool rock formations. It’s kind of a miniature Goblin Valley, just a few miles outside of Bluff. One advantage that Recapture Pocket has over Goblin Valley, at least in my book, is that you will likely have the place all to yourself! I love when you visit a really cool place and you’re the only one there and you get to feel that sense of discovery that you just don’t get when you’re hiking with a steady stream of other visitors. My husband, son, and I first visited in November of last year and fell in love with it- my son immediately plopped himself down in the sand and declared that he was ‘at the beach’, and sat there and played happily until we made him get up so that we could explore. And of course, once he saw that he could hide behind the rock formations and peek out at us, I think the sand was forgotten! My husband and I could have easily stayed there for several more hours, but naptime was calling so we had to cut our visit short. After visiting though, we put Recapture Pocket at the top of our list of places to
goadventuremom.com
Recpature Pocket
go car camping with our friends and their kids- I think it would be such a fun place to camp and just let your kids run free and play around all the hoodoos, crazy rock formations, and little canyons! While you’re in the area: You can’t visit Bluff without stopping at the Bluff Fort, a free museum & visitor center with replica cabins and buildings telling the story of the original pioneer families that settled in the area. Kids can climb up in the covered wagons, try out hand carts, and dress up in cowboy and cowgirl clothes and choose a handmade horse to sit on while they try their hand at roping the log cows! My son loves the horses and cows, and runs straight to them every time we go there! (550 Black Locust Ave, Bluff, UT Admission: FREE)
47
Tuscany BIKE TOUR OF
Have you ever gone on a trip to Europe and after signing up for a bike tour, ended up taking an ice bath at the end of the night in your hotel to quell the exceeding soreness of your legs?? Me too!! Well, since we have that in common, I will tell you my version, and then you can tell me yours… In October I was happily taken with my husband and his company to spend the week sightseeing in Rome. My husband was busy with work prior to the trip, so I ended up planning our itinerary. Ok, that’s
a lie. He was busy with work, but I decidedly took the lead in planning out our itinerary. And it was fun. To plan, that is. But also the actual trip was fun and interesting, to say the least.
The first two days in Rome we saw many of the renowned sites, which were just as amazing as you may think. We viewed The Sistine Chapel, Coliseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Borghese Gallery, Arch of Constantine, and the Vatican. These sights were all part of walking tours, and apparently someone in our group wearing a
pedometer reported a distance of 12 miles! On Wednesday my hubby and I ventured off on our own via bullet train to the famous city of Florence where we saw and appreciated Michelangelo’s The David, The Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery, and the medieval bridge called Ponte Vecchio. Florence won me over by the end, and I felt rather sad to be leaving. I soon had other things to worry about, however, as we realized we were going to miss our train back to Rome. As the clock ticked, we ran like crazy people
goadventuremom.com
48
Bike Tour of Tuscany • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
all over Florence, unable to locate the proper station and missing our train. (But thankfully we wiggled our way out of paying an additional fare after pleading our case to the ticket-taker.) So after all this, and as I foresaw in the months prior to the trip, I had thought, “wouldn’t it be nice to get out of the city and do a bike tour for a day, out in the countryside?” Thus I had found a bike tour company called Top Bike Rental in Rick Steve’s book, and signed up on their website to do a 14-hour day tour, starting at 8am, and finishing at 10pm that night. Well, I guess you could say it was ambitious of me. And you would be right. But you guys, I saw a picture of a town we would be visiting that is from 800 B.C. and is only accessible by a walking path!! And I was sold! Plus, the tour company said they had something called an e-bike, which is a bicycle with a little engine that can assist you on the uphills. So I thought, well even if it is 7-8 hours on a bike, I’ll use the e-bike and therefore will be set! We woke up Thursday at 6am, and were at the tour company by 8am. We met our tour guide Bruno. Somehow Bruno and Adam talked me out of the e-bike (since they are heavier) and into a normal trek bike. I later rued the hour I went without my engine bike after the 3rd or 4th long uphill slog. But anyway, we rode our bikes to the train station and boarded a train to the Tuscany countryside. From there we got on our way towards the town of
Civita, elegantly perched atop a cliff. This was my main focus as we rode down hills, and pedaled long, long uphills. The countryside was lovely and it was a treat to see the vineyards and country farms and houses along the way. I stayed focused on the goal of seeing Civita. Finally we arrived at lunch time, where Bruno handed us each two sandwiches, a bread and cheese sandwich, (delicious) and a salami and bread sandwich. We saw from an overlook the fairytale city of Civita and I was in heaven. Then Bruno said we had an hour to go walk across the bridge and explore the city on our own. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It was one of the most picturesque places I had ever been. The hour went by fast and I practically jogged throughout the small town to see it, taking pictures and trying to imagine what life had been like there. (Only 10 people still live there now and it has been deemed unsafe since the cliffs are continuing to collapse and send buildings down the side.) I took about 30 pictures and then we had to leave. But it was all I hoped it would be and more. Next we biked several more miles to the town of Orvieto. This city is home to a very unique and massive church. By this time my legs were telling me, in no uncertain terms, that I would pay
goadventuremom.com
a high price for my immediate and strenuous demands. To which I replied, in my mind, ‘if you guys will let me off the hook this one time, I’ll guarantee to probably never put you through this again.’ No deal. Bike Tour of Tuscany Schedule We arrived at Orvieto about two hours later aboard a unique trolley car up to the old city. We disembarked from the trolley, and rode our bikes up the hill to the city center where we saw an amazing sight: a STRIPED, gigantic church. The church was black and white striped, like a zebra; only these strips ran horizontal. We toured the church and were fascinated with the artistic mosaics inside depicting a myriad of biblical events, most interestingly the resurrection. Finally, to end the tour, we stooped down into a nearby wine cellar turned quaint restaurant and ate a delicious dinner, sampling many items from the menu. (Included in our tour price)
continues on page 51
49
Safety Tips For 5 Women Traveling Alone
by Barbara Foster
A Few Precautions Help Reduce Risks So You Can Focus On Fun, Globetrotting Author Says
Perhaps more than ever, women are willing to ditch their traveling companions and gosolo when it comes time to hit the road and see the world. A survey by Small Luxury Hotels of the World, for example, revealed that between 2011 and 2012 there was a 53 percent increase in the demand for rooms by women traveling alone. The London Daily Mail also reports that some hotels have taken steps to make their accommodations more appealing to women traveling on their own, with such features as women-only floors. Still, despite the trend, many women may worry that such solitary excursions carry too many risks, making them a target for thieves, kidnappers and other criminals. But one woman who has logged endless miles exploring the world and finding romance says it doesn’t have to be that way. “There is no reason to let your fears keep you from the adventures you can experience,” says Barbara Foster, a veteran globetrotter and author of the book “The Confessions of a Librarian: A Memoir of Loves.” (www.threelovestory.com) “Sure, there are risky places and bad types out there. But with the right precautions, women can travel solo with confidence, visiting the places and meeting the people they always dreamed of and returning
home with wonderful stories and memories.” Foster speaks from experience. Her travels have taken her across the country and around the world, with stops in Istanbul, Bombay, Buenos Aires, Jerusalem and other locales. As an adventurer, Foster is something of a contradiction. She describes herself as a librarian who has difficulty reading flight schedules, and suspects a haggling merchant in an Arab bazaar would view her as easy pickings.
•
•
He would be mistaken. While Foster has spent a professional lifetime in academia, and co-authored books on such esoteric subjects as Tibetan Buddhism, she also is steeped in real-life experience. Foster, who says solo trips can be deeply rewarding for women, offers five tips for traveling boldly while staying safe. • Steer clear of the most dangerous locales. Simply put, some places just aren’t worth the risk, so avoid “no go” neighborhoods, cities and countries. For example, if you feel compelled to go to the Middle East, visit Israel, which is the safest Middle Eastern country. Still, if the destination is truly important to you, go ahead and take the risk. India can be dangerous and Foster says she was nearly kidnapped there, saved only by the intervention
•
•
of a librarian friend. At the same time, she says, the country offers a once in a lifetime experience. Connect with friendly contacts. Make yourself known not only to the U.S. embassy or consul, but also to people in your field, Foster says. During her travels, Foster wrote articles about libraries she visited. Her fellow librarians were a protective group. Learn the language or at least useful phrases. Even if it’s just a few key words, speaking the language can come in handy if you need to seek assistance. Understanding what others are saying also can alert you to potential dangers. Dress wisely, pay attention to manners and spend money in moderation. Essentially, don’t draw unnecessary attention to yourself. In her book, Foster recounts a visit to Istanbul where she watched horrorstruck as two Turkish men slapped a young British woman for wearing a miniskirt on the street. For added protection against thieves, Foster recommends carrying money and identification in a pouch under your shirt. Travel in the USA. You will miss many of the world’s must-see places, but if the thought of traveling abroad holds too much stress for you, it might be better to stick closer to home. Foster says two of her favorite U.S. cities are New York and New Orleans, both great places to explore.
goadventuremom.com
50
Bike Tour of Tuscany • Go Adventure Magazine • Spring 2015
begins on page 48 The weather turned a bit cold and windy, so we bundled up and biked back to Orvieto’s train station, rode the train to Rome and continued pushing our pedals from the Rome station back to the office of our tour company. This followed by a cab ride back to the hotel, where I was, at that point, walking as if I had just run a marathon. And I had, in a different way.
When we got to our room I sent my hubby on an errand to immediately fetch a bucket of ice, which he did, and I filled up the tub with cold water, dumped in the ice and FORCED myself to get in and sit in it for 2 minutes. Mind you, we’d been outside all day and in the cold weather, so all I really wanted was a hot shower and to get in a comfortable, warm bed. But this is a testament to ice baths because I climbed into bed that night with only mild soreness, and was able to walk normally the next day.
So the moral of the story is, when you sign up for an all day bike tour of the Italian countryside which turns out being about 37 miles of riding hills, for which you are physically ill-prepared, you can make it through if only you have a romantic and dreamy destination to see, and can also get yourself into an ice bath that night. Finito
Bonus Activity
goadventuremom.com
51
How to Choose a Travel System
Since family trips are important, comfort is always a priority. Of course, when traveling, you have to get out and sight see and that’s where the Urbini Emi Travel System really knows how to shine.
If you have children, then there’s no doubt that you need a travel system. However, with so many different travel systems on the market, how do you choose? We’ll walk you through choosing a travel system, so you’re at ease when making the decision.
#5. It Has to Be Comfortable Imagine the process of choosing a car and how comfort is always a huge factor. When choosing a travel system, comfort should always be a concern. Infants and toddlers spend a significant amount of time in their travel systems, so it’s important to make sure they’re comfortable.
#1. Always Go for Quality For some reason, as a society, we always go for the price first instead of the quality. Since we’re putting children in the travel system, it’s important that it’s as high of quality as possible. #2. Safety is Always a Concern Safety is also an important concern when choosing a travel system. You want a car seat and stroller that will keep your child safe in any circumstance. Checking out the safety ratings is always an important task, when you’re making this tough decision. #3. Easy to Use We’ve all had those ‘bulky’ strollers that are a nightmare to maneuver. When choosing a travel system, it’s important that
By Kathy Dalton
The Urbini Emi Travel System has the following perks: •
the stroller is light weight and easy to steer. You also want to make sure the car seat is easy to pick up, yet still safe. #4. Fit for the Family When taking a family vacation, you’ll need a travel system that works for the entire family. The travel system will need to fit in your car and still leave room for everything and everyone else.
• • • • •
Designed for a child up to 50 lbs Full recline carriage mode Quick-step fold Front-swivel wheels make turning easier Front and rear suspension Bumper bar with removable CLICK-FIT child’s tray
No matter what type of situations you’re faced with while on the go, this stroller and car seat combo can sure deliver.
goadventuremom.com
52
www.seatosummit.com goadventuremom.com
53
goadventuremom.com
54
Resources Here are a few of our favorite resources. Do you have a favorite resource or site not listed? Please let us know! info@goadventuremom.com
Sites worth checking out
Photo by Melissa Edge, adventuretykes.com
American Hiking Society Coca-Cola #5by20 Get Away Today International Bird Rescue and Research Center Outdoor Foundation Outdoor Industry Women’s Coalition Outdoor Industry Outdoor Industry Jobs Outdoor Nation National Geographic Kids National Park Conservation National Park Foundation National Park Service Splore The Marine Mammal Center Trip Advisor Utah Outdoor Recreation Office Visit Salt Lake
Blogs you should follow A Little Campy A Nature Mom Active Kids Active Family Adventure Tykes Adventurous Parents AKontheGO.com
goadventuremom.com
55
Backcountry Parenting Big Grey Rocks Brave Ski Mom Bring The Kids Climb With Kids Chasquimom Crag Mama Family Adventures in Nature Family On Bikes Fun Orange Country Parks Get on The Beaten Path Go Explore Nature Ground Truth Trekking Kid Project Moose Fish Mommy Hiker Mommy Loves Trees Nature For Kids Rain or Shine Mama Rocks and Sun Rockies Family Adventures Tales of a Mountain Mama The Active Explorer TravelingMel Tropic of Candy Corn Val In Real Life Velomom Walk Simply Wild Tales Of
goadventuremom.com
56