Firefall is one of the most spectacular displays of natural beauty that Yosemite National Park has to offer. When conditions are just right, Horsetail Fall, located on the eastern side of El Capitan, lights up and resembles molten lava pouring over the side the valley. Words and photos don’t do it justice, you need to see it for your self! We’ve put together a few tips to help get you in place and ready to capture the big event.
One of the biggest challenges we faced when we talked about of having children was a loss of our freedom to backpack. So many people with children told us that we would have to wait years before we could get back out on the trail. If you find yourself in similar shoes, let us tell you that IT’S NOT TRUE! We’ve done it and our family of three has lived to tell about it…and had fun doing it!
Being ready for an emergency is important, and preparing an emergency kit before disaster strikes is a critical piece of the puzzle. We built our kit a few years ago, and go through it each spring to see what needs to be replaced. In the past we always purchased separate gear for our kit with no intention of ever using these items outside of an emergency. While this plan seems prudent initially, it leads to a lot of waste down the road when items expire or stop working after years of sitting in the kit. Good news! Thanks to advances in technology and gear, preparing an emergency kit that is actually useful on a daily basis is possible. The items we’ve picked are versatile enough that you can use them for camping and outdoor adventures, and still have them ready in case the unthinkable happens. We selected items that also tap into renewable sources of energy, so you always have power and supplies when you need them. Plus, this type of gear is earth-friendly, and less expensive in the long run.
We are going to walk you through our experience selecting snow chains for our Mercedes Sprinter 4×4, what we learned about Mercedes tire chain disclosure, our experience with the van’s performance with the factory mud/snow tires plus 4×4, and what conditions prompted us to install our chains.
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.
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!
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.
This 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 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.
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!