7 Gear Tips For Hiking With A Baby
So you are thinking about hiking with an infant? Awesome! Getting out on the trail has been one of the most important experiences we’ve shared as a family. The fresh air and scenery helped us shrug off the cabin fever that set in while we were recovering after birth. Whenever you feel ready (and get the okay from your doctor), make a move! We found that getting out sooner than later helped us gain momentum early, and hiking has quickly become part of our weekly routine. Getting out on the trail can be tough at first, but having the right gear makes doing it easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
Read More10 Tips To Make Your Van Build Kid-Friendly
Adventure vans are everywhere! People are doing everything from day trips, weekends, longer trips, and even living in adventure vans. The beauty of these rigs is their versatility to be built out in so many ways. When we started our journey gathering ideas for our van, we were just a family of two. However, during the design process we found out we were expecting! Building a van for a couple is much different than building a van for a family. We wanted to share our experience designing and using our van as a family with a newborn for those adventures out there considering, building, or even renovating their builds to accommodate kids!
Read MoreHow-To’s of Hot Springs
Soaking in a natural hot spring is magical. It’s not just the temperature of the water, but it’s also the miracle of how the water is naturally heated by magma or hot rocks far beneath the earth’s surface that creates a truly visceral experience.
If you are new to soaking in hot springs, you might be a little unsure about the whole experience of heading out into the wilderness to soak with complete strangers…strangers who might or might not be nude. Sounds a bit awkward, right? It can be if you aren’t prepared for it. You might also be wondering if hot springs are family friendly? Not to worry! We’ve got you covered with a few tips how to soak in the springs safely and responsibly.
Read MoreBryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park has always been a bit elusive to us. It’s not really on the way to anywhere, which kept if off our radar for far too long. After a strong recommendation from a friend, we decided to make a dedicated trip to see the mystical wonders of the hoodoos.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park truly is an iconic park. The towering sandstone cliffs swirled with reds, creams, and pink tones overlook the green canyon and Virgin River below. The name Zion means “promised land” and we can see why. It’s a park full of rich history of native peoples and pioneers, and is now preserved for generations to enjoy as a national park.
So We Went
We are Ash, Margaux, and Martha, and Luke – a family of four living in San Diego, CA. We grew up as a couple exploring the outdoors, fishing, backpacking, hiking, camping, and stand-up paddle surfing. Now as a family of three, adventuring fuels our spirits and immerses our daughter into a lifestyle that we know will enrich her development. In 2018, we bought our custom campervan, and we affectionately refer to him as “Bruce.” We love that he has expanded our adventures into #advantures!
Our handle, @SoWeWent, is all about “going”. Whether we spend an afternoon at the the beach, weekend excursions to local forest areas, or longer road trips to the mountains or beyond, our goal is to make the most of our time together and squeeze every bit of adventure out of life. So We Went represents the activity that follows every desire to travel and explore and do. Adventure was calling, so we went…
To meet us more, learn About Us!
Photo Credit: @lovenicolephotography
Backpackers’ Cookies
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats, blended into oat flour
- 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats (keep whole, don’t blend into flour)
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1/4 cup mini dark chocolate chips (or any small dried fruit like cranberries, raisins, etc)
- 2 tablespoons white chocolate chips/or other dried fruit
- 2 T chopped almonds
- 2 T sunflower seeds
- 2 T pumpkin seeds
- 2 T chia or hemp seeds
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
WET INGREDIENTS
- 1 Tbsp ground flax + 2 Tbsp water, mixed together
- 1/2 cup natural almond butter (Preferably a bit runny, you can also use peanut butter)
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 Tbsp vanilla
Directions:
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Whisk the ground flaxseed and water together in a small cup. Set aside and allow it to gel.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients.
- In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients, including the flax and water mixture, until thoroughly combined.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined. There should be no dry patches.
- Portion into balls, about the size of a ping pong ball. Place on the baking sheet a few inches apart.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes. Cookies should be golden brown on the bottom. Cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. If you transfer the cookies while they are hot, they will break apart.
These treats fueled our backpacking trip to the top of Cloud’s Rest in Yosemite
Traveling With Kids
“Get ready! Your traveling and adventure days are over!” “You are chained. You will have to settle down.”
We heard it ALL before we had our daughter. We just want to put it out there that it’s NOT true. If you are planning to have a baby or just became parents and you are unsure about traveling, just know we think getting out there and traveling is even better with a baby! Read More
Tips For Finding Free Campsites
No campsite reservation and you are are headed out tonight? Want solitude and great views? No problem! Disperse camp! If you are like us, you may not always plan ahead and book designated campsites. Plus campsites can be crowded, noisy, and don’t offer solitude in most cases. If you aren’t familiar with dispersed camping, it basically means camping outside of a designated campground. Keep in mind this means no services are available like trash, potable water, bathrooms, and so on. If that doesn’t scare you away, here are some pointers for finding spots that are peaceful and available, even up to the last minute! Read More
Great Guacamole Greens
Makes 8 side salads or 4 entrée salads*
This is a light and refreshing summer salad that is packed with folate, healthy monounsaturated fats, potassium, vitamin B6, lutein (boosts eye health), lycopene, protein and fiber.
Salad ingredients
- 2 boxes/bags organic mesclun greens (or spring mix)
- 1 large avocado, sliced
- 3/4 of a pint organic cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 1/2 c cooked quinoa, cooled
- 20 tortilla chips, broken into small pieces
- Grilled chicken (optional)*
- Slice of olive bread (optional)*
Dressing ingredients
- 3/4 c freshly squeezed lime juice (about 4 limes)
- 1/4 c + 2 T extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp crushed garlic
- 3/4 of a bunch cilantro, chopped
- 3/4 chopped jalapeno (if you don’t like it hot, remove a few seeds)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Mix the salad ingredients in a large bowl. Save the tortilla chips.
- Prepare the dressing, whisking all ingredients in a bowl. For best flavor, let sit for about an hour in the refrigerator to allow time for the flavors to develop.
- Pour dressing over the salad mixture and toss. Add tortilla chips just prior to serving.
*Add grilled chicken and a slice of olive bread to make an entrée salad