10 Family Adventures for Those Last Two Weeks of Summer
The clock feels like it’s ticking with summer winding down and preparing for a new school year to begin again. But not all is lost! You still have a couple of weeks. Here are some ideas for summertime, close-to-home things to do to soak up that last bit of summer together.
(Recipe) Campfire Stew: Simple, Quick Comfort Food
A super-simple, one-pot camp meal (green beans, new potatoes, smoked sausage, a little Cavender’s) that warms you up after a long day out — plus why we keep hot cocoa in our kayak kit for cold-water days.
Leave No Trace Principles for Your Family
Leave No Trace is a set of 7 principles of outdoor stewardship and ethics for your enjoyment in nature and for future generations’ continued appreciation of natural places. Here’s a quick overview for your family to learn the basics!
Riding Johnson Canyon Road (Utah) on a Gravel Bike
A solo dawn ride up Glendale Bench and Johnson Canyon Road near Kanab, Utah — a brutal 1,500-foot gravel climb rewarded with the backside of Bryce, Grand Staircase-Escalante, white canyon bluffs, and a Gunsmoke ghost town.
Taking Kids Paddling: Gear and Tips
How to get your kids on the water safely and happily — the PFDs, sun protection, and footwear that matter, how to pick paddleboards or kayaks, and the safety tips (hypothermia, snacks, and one big don’t) that keep the day fun.
(Podcast) Season 3, Episode 7 - Adult Weekend Adventures (The Kids Will Be Ok)
Sometimes the adults need to get away and play, too. Kids, it’s time to stay with the grandparents or buddy-sitter… Mom and Dad need to have some reconnection time - it’s healthy for everyone.
(Podcast) Family Adventure Nutrition with Emily Carlson (Magnetic North)
How do you best feed your family well when you’re outside and active? In this episode, we interview Emily Carlson from Magnetic North.
(Podcast) Taking Your Parents Hiking: Part 2. Going Farther & Bryce Canyon Adventures
Season 3, Episode 3: taking your parents hiking, Part 2 — going farther, from short walks to all-day hikes, plus clothing and layering, gear, first aid, and Bryce Canyon adventures.
(Podcast) A Kid’s Guide to Taking Your Parents Hiking: Part 1
Season 3, Episode 2: a kid’s guide to taking your parents hiking — motivation, tips, and tricks to get the whole family outside, from nature walks to all-day epics (Part 1).
(Podcast) Tent Camping Starter: From Living Room to the Backyard
Season 3, Episode 1: tent camping starter — laying the foundation for a great family camping experience, from the living room to the backyard, so the kids are comfortable and the pressure’s off you.
(Podcast) Key West’s Wacky History: Tales of the Conch Republic and Sailing into the Sunset
Season 2, Episode 11: the wacky tale of the Conch Republic’s 1982 “war,” then our final overnight passage of the season — sailing home to Punta Gorda and hauling Moon Dragon out for hurricane season.
(Podcast) Hanging in the Wind on Stock Island, Key West, Florida
Season 2, Episode 10: while leak repairs keep us dockside on Stock Island near Key West, we dig into local food, botanical gardens, a zoo, and the Dude’s first snorkel.
(Podcast) Sink into Key West: Highlights in Paradise
Season 2, Episode 9: we find paradise at Ocean’s Edge on Stock Island — then the boat starts (slowly) sinking. Repairs, Key West history, and exploring the Key West Aquarium with the Dude.
(Podcast) Sailing Overnight from Fort Myers to Key West, Florida
Season 2, Episode 8: an offshore overnight passage from Fort Myers to Key West — our full voyage-planning process, from weather and routing to standing watch and seasickness, plus a little pirate history.
(Podcast) Fun Sailing with Family in Florida: St. James, Pine Island, Fort Myers Beach
Season 2, Episode 7: family sailing down Florida’s west coast — interviews with family, a boat-up restaurant with a pup menu on Pine Island, and Cristen’s birthday spa day at the Pink Shell on Fort Myers Beach.
(Podcast) Misadventures in Florida Sailing: When the Boat Bumps its Way to Anna Maria Island, Venice, and Boca Grande Pass
Season 2, Episode 6: we bump the bottom off Egmont Key, anchor at Anna Maria Island, dine in Venice, and pick our way into Cayo Costa — plus a fussy forward head at the worst possible moment.
(Podcast) Exploring St Pete Beach & Tampa Bay, FL, on a Sailboat
Season 2, Episode 5: sailing the big city of St. Pete Beach and Tampa Bay — pirates, Treasure Beach, the Gasparilla festival, coastal cruising with friend Lisa, and a nervy run to Egmont Key.
(Podcast) Florida Gulf Coast Sailing: Gasparilla, Cayo Costa, Charlotte Harbor, Egmont Key
Season 2, Episode 4: sails up on Florida’s Gulf Coast — out of Charlotte Harbor past Gasparilla and Cayo Costa, dinner at Venice’s Crow’s Nest, and anchoring behind historic Egmont Key.
(Podcast) Launching a Sailboat, a Woman, and an Adventure: Look Out Florida!
Cristen goes into the drink at the dock, dolphins save the day, and Moon Dragon spends her first nights at Burnt Store Marina and anchored on Florida’s Gulf Coast — plus guest Rachael Dunville.
(Podcast) Going Overboard: Boat Projects, Leaving Dock, & Cristen Loses It!
Season 2, Episode 2: life after buying a boat — upgrade lists, assessing sails, going up the mast, and the boat projects that never end, with shout-outs to Sail Life, SailRite, and Highfield.