(Podcast) Rock Springs, Wyoming: Mountains on the Horizon

Season 1 Episode 4 — In this episode we have a pretty day on the road and sight the Rocky Mountains for the first time on the trip. That inspires Matt to go over the truck and travel trailer to see if anything needs fixing. Cristen works her magic and finds a fantastic place to eat that the whole family loves! If you’re in Rock Springs, Wyoming, be sure to check out the Bitter Creek Brewery.

We hope you love Episode 4, and we’re looking forward to really getting this adventure started as we get into the mountains!

(Podcast) The Loneliest Highway in America Across Nevada’s Great Basin - Don’t Miss This!

Season 1 Episode 12: We’re diving into and across Nevada on “America’s Loneliest Road.” AAA was once quoted as saying, “we warn all motorists not to drive there, unless they’re confident of their survival skills.” So, let’s go! We find long stretches, lots of mountain passes, great camping, history, petroglyphs, incredible stars, and even some ties back to our home state of Missouri.

In this episode we definitely geek out on the history, and we find a wonderful reprieve camping at Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area (BLM) after the busy bustle of Lake Tahoe. Taking time and soaking in the frontier of US-50, “The Backbone of America,” lets a visitor come away with much more than a badge of “I drove that”: there’s a whole other way of life and rootedness to the people, places, and wildness that exists along the way.

We hope you enjoy this episode. Please share it and comment if you do! We’ve also been updating and adding to our website — come check it out. Thank you again; we really appreciate you listening!

(Podcast) The Amazing Oregon Coast and Mountain Biking the McKenzie River

Season 1 Episode 8 takes us to the Oregon Coast and back to mountain bike along the McKenzie River.

In light of everyone being socially distanced during the Covid-19 pandemic, we talk about something that can happen when you spend lots of time together in a smaller space: overwhelm. When we’re traveling together each day, homeschooling, sharing meals, and so on — what do we do when we need some healthy solo time? We’ll give our simplistic answer.

Highlights this episode: ocean, sand dunes, huckleberries, Cape Perpetua, mountain biking, and looking forward to a little movement south toward the northern coast of California and the Redwood Forests!

(Podcast) Into the Storm: Driving Across Nebraska in Summer

On this episode (Season 1, Episode 2) we talk about comfort for you and your pets, how to stay sane by making and using some simple checklists, and some of our favorite smartphone apps for finding camping and checking the weather along the way.

Of course, on our first day out — crossing the Great Plains on I-80 across Nebraska — we encounter a dangerous line of thunderstorms.

Summer in the Great Plains is always a prime place to run into some fierce resistance from Mother Nature. While that can be beautiful, it can also be dangerous and intimidating, so it’s best to have a plan in place!

Apps we mention: for camping spots, Campendium and Park Advisor; for navigation, Waze, Apple Maps, and Google Earth; for weather, MyRadar (great for forecasts), NOAA, and Hi-Def Radar. And don’t forget a pet medical kit.

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

(Podcast) Hunkered in Nebraska: Riding Out the Storm

In this episode (Season 1, Episode 3), we make a decision: charge ahead to see just how good our timing is with the storm ahead, or hang back and spend the night in a Walmart parking lot with dozens of truckers.

We cover weather resources and safety, and touch on a bit of human safety in everyday scenarios.

And finally, we introduce ourselves! You gave us some great feedback and we realized we hadn’t given a proper introduction yet. Get to know who we are, how we travel, what we’re doing and why, and the mission that inspired the creation of Keyword Adventure.

(Podcast) Eugene, Oregon, and Beyond: Exploring Trails, Lakes and Waterfalls

Season 1 Episode 7 took us a while to finish: turns out traveling and working remotely takes a bit of extra planning…

In this episode, we start exploring around the town of Eugene, Oregon. It’s way too much fun, with gear shops, greenway trails, and breweries. We explore waterfalls and talk a bit about gear… of course.

From biking on the local trails to sailing and paddle boarding, this Oregon adventure gets off to a fantastic start. Let’s dive in!

Brewery: Plank Town Brewery, Springfield, OR.

Watery places we love: Sahalie Falls, the McKenzie River, the Willamette River and Willamette River Greenway, and Waldo Lake.

Apps we use: AllTrails and Trailforks.

Gear shops and outfitters: Backcountry Gear, REI, and Horse Creek Lodge (mountain bikes and much more).

Gear we mention: BOTE and NRS inflatable SUP boards and the Werner Zen SUP paddle; Black Diamond Distance Z and Trail Back trekking poles; Arc’teryx Beta AR rain jackets and Outdoor Research Helium pants; REI Rainwall kids’ jacket and pants; Outdoor Research Ferrosi pants; and Osprey packs.

Thanks for listening!

(Podcast) Covid Interrupted: Adaptability is Essential

Season 1 Episode 9.

We’ve all been thrown for a loop. It’s not that we’ve never experienced something in life that completely threw us off course, but we definitely haven’t experienced something that changed the world as we know it on such a broad scale for such an extended period.

We’ve been sitting with this experience for a couple of weeks, reevaluating how travel and adventure currently look and how they’ll look going forward. We’re examining the tools we’ve found ourselves using during our return journey and our time staying home.

It turns out there are many things about travel and adventure — whether with a partner, solo, or as a family — that are coming in handy: tools that help us stay a little more sane, communicate better with one another, and use our time effectively, while also honoring that things are weird and we need to be good to ourselves.

In this episode we talk about two of the most important aspects of spending so much time together while maintaining a healthy personal existence: adaptability, and discovering and making room for our fundamental needs. We share how this works in our life, both on the road and staying home during a pandemic. We hope it helps you and your family now — and definitely when the road trips start up again.

Don’t stop that dreaming and scheming! We’ll see each other having adventures very soon.

On an important note: Cristen recently lost a high school friend to a silent struggle, and she’s noticed it’s been a devastatingly frequent occurrence over the last few years — particularly with men. Tending our mental health is something all of us need to spend time on. For some of us it’s hard to imagine a mental and emotional landscape that could lead a person to take their life. But for others — many more than we ever recognize — it’s a fight they contend with every day.

In our view, tending your mental and emotional health is like going to the gym for physical health, and — if the everyday choices we’re making aren’t addressing our bigger concerns — like going to the doctor for a check-in. Our society doesn’t talk about it enough, because getting a mental-health check-up IS normal, it IS acceptable, and it may save a life. If you’re questioning your own need to check in with someone, please talk to a trusted friend, call your doctor, or reach out to one of the resources below.

Resources: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988. Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741. Trevor Lifeline (for LGBTQ young people under 25) — 1-866-488-7386, or text START to 678678; TrevorSpace community at trevorspace.org. Veterans Crisis Line — dial 988 then press 1, or text 838255. Online therapy — TalkSpace (talkspace.com) or BetterHelp (betterhelp.com). Find a local therapist at psychologytoday.com. Postpartum support — postpartum.net or supportingmamas.org; moms can also connect through The Adventure Mamas Initiative (adventuremamas.org). Support for new dads and partners — postpartum.net/get-help/resources-for-fathers.

We want to keep seeing you out there dreaming, planning, and doing your adventures, too.

(Podcast) Boise, Idaho, Bound! An Outdoor Family Playground

Season 1 Episode 5. Our family keeps the journey going and heads to Boise, Idaho — one of the greatest outdoor towns of the West.

In this episode, we test a new presentation of our podcast with a more conversational format. Please let us know what you think!

Boise captivates us with the variety of outdoor adventure it offers and the friendly people we encounter.

If you’re interested in some of the guides or recipes we mention, we include them below. Thanks for checking us out and, as always, we are super stoked to share our adventures with you in the hope that you’ll get out and search for your own!

Helpful links mentioned in Episode 5: an Instant Pot Pulled Pork recipe (The Salty Marshmallow); Malad Gorge / Thousand Springs State Park, Idaho; the USDA Forest Service national fire reports; the Boise Greenbelt; and our Keyword Adventure trailer video on YouTube.

Books and gear we mention: The Hiker’s Guide: Greater Boise (Scott Marchant); A Kid’s Guide to Boise (Rick Just); the Arkansas Waterfalls Guidebook, Buffalo River Hiking Trails, and Arkansas Dayhikes for Kids & Families (all by Tim Ernst); the Sena SPH10 outdoor sports Bluetooth headset; and the “Sorry for what I said” camping pillow.

(Podcast) Around the Bend: Driving from Boise, Idaho to Vida, Oregon

Season 1 Episode 6 finds us on the final leg of our drive to Oregon, past the beautiful mountain town of Bend, Oregon.

We get into some of the details around our motivations for loading up the family and heading west: visiting family, and pursuing Cristen’s Adventure Mamas project of 1000 Miles of Adventure.

We’re in awe of the landscape from Boise to Vida, OR, and give some pin drops for Rail Trails in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. We twist our tongues around the topic of self-efficacy and sweat over squeezing our rig into tight spaces.

The Adventure Mamas Initiative is a 501©(3) non-profit organization that supports maternal wellness. Their vision is redefining motherhood by creating a world where women feel empowered to prioritize their own wellness. Check them out at adventuremamas.com, as well as on Facebook and Instagram.

The training group Cristen mentioned is Magnetic North, founded by Brittany Aäe. Their purpose is the journey. It’s a values-based business; those values encompass self-sufficiency, durability, creativity, audacity, abundance, dignity, resilience, and commitment. Learn about this and so much more on their website, magneticnorth.us (make sure to check out the blog), and on Instagram.

Finally, our under-tended YouTube channel — where you can find the interview about Cristen’s 1000 Miles of Adventure — is Keyword Adventure. Please subscribe, like, share, and comment! We love hearing from you. It makes us feel good.

(Podcast) Northern California Redwood Forests, Crescent City, Redding, and Beyond!

Season 1 Episode 10.

The Redwoods.

If you took dinosaur habitat and combined it with a fairy realm, you might get close to what these ancient forests embody.

Today, we visit the giants and are just as blown away as everyone says we would be.

However, our “plan” was given several twists and we didn’t end up where we thought we would, which led us to the glorious Stout Grove, around Crescent City, and over to Trinidad to explore, discover eateries, and another brewery.

Sometimes things go awry and it turns out really well anyway! Sometimes you end up having to back down a one-lane mountain road with an audience. We can laugh at that now, right?

Then we drive across northern California to check out Redding. This area is well-known for its community, hiking, mountain biking, and (unfortunately at that time) for a couple of raging wildfires happening way too close to people’s homes.

We had a WHOLE lot more on our agenda for the Redding area, but the smoke from these fires was so dense we decided to move on — not to mention wanting to give a grieving community some space and humility. We did visit a couple of great gear shops, though, and made some fun acquaintances for future visits!

Sometimes when you keep running into unexpected obstacles, you decide the time is right to just move along. We set our sights on Tahoe via a winding path through agricultural land and beautiful foothills.

The town of Grass Valley, CA, was an unexpected and wonderful surprise — especially when we discovered the Empire Mine State Historic Park. Whoa!! Following that unplanned detour was a highlight of this trip leg as we make our way to Lake Tahoe for the next episode.

Links for the episode: Redwood National and State Parks (nps.gov/redw); Stout Memorial Grove Trail, Crescent City; USDA Forest Service Active Fire Mapping Program; Jefferson State Adventure Hub, Redding (jsahub.com); SeaQuake Brewing, Crescent City; The Hermit’s Hut, Redding; Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse Park; and Empire Mine State Historic Park, Grass Valley. (A few favorites — Vita Cucina and the Crescent City Crab Shack — were closed or uncertain during COVID; call before committing.)

May all of our traveling dreams return safely and swiftly. It’s always a perfect time to scheme and plan for your next adventure.

(Podcast) Misadventures in Tahoe, CA-NV

Season 1, Episode 11.

Tahoe Misadventures. Well, nothing like arriving in an area and nearly leaving your mark on the landscape… literally! Be careful driving with your RV in the Tahoe area, and remember: if you are coming from the West/North, go clockwise around the lake and save the pretty scenery for a time when you are not pulling a trailer.

There are a lot of great campgrounds in the Tahoe area, and with a little planning ahead you can stay at one of the stunning State Parks that surround the south side of the lake. Or if you are looking to be closer to the action, you can even find some great spots in town to set up camp.

Whether you are looking for food, gambling, outdoor adventures, or just stunning scenery, the Lake Tahoe area can give you memories that will last a lifetime. There is a reason this has been one of America’s Playgrounds for more than 150 years! Ever since the Gold Rush, Americans have been coming here in search of escape and exciting adventures.

Advice we would give when visiting Tahoe… Enjoy!! AND DON’T GO THE WRONG WAY AROUND THE LAKE!!

(Podcast) Great Basin National Park: Wild, Beautiful, and FREE

Great Basin National Park needs to be on your must-see list. It is stunning, diverse, remote, and free to visit!

So much history and raw beauty that this episode went way longer than we thought!

This was our first cold camping experience this season, in September, and we learned that our memory foam mattress doesn’t like the cold. From hiking to high alpine lakes to learning about some of the oldest living things on this planet, you can find it all at Great Basin National Park! It’s hard to emphasize how incredible this place is — enjoy.

(Podcast) Magnificent Moab, Arches & Canyonlands National Parks, & Mountain Biking Heaven

Season 1 Episode 15, Magnificent Moab, finds us having way too much fun in Moab, Utah, exploring Arches National Park, partying with the Adventure Mamas Initiative during their Dirtbag Family Bash, and hitting the trail on some fantastic mountain bikes near Canyonlands National Park!

We talk about the Trail Forks App that helps you find fantastic trails with ratings, pictures, and off-line available maps so you don’t get lost.

For you hikers and runners out there, AllTrails is another app that we have found to be super useful when you are looking for some awesome hiking trails.

Of course, that doesn’t replace local knowledge, and you can get the best local knowledge for biking at Chili Peppers Bike Shop or Poison Spider Bikes (sweet name btw).

Hiking, climbing, camping, or need to do some laundry? Then Gearheads is your shop!

They even have free filtered water. We picked up a 5-gallon Scepter water container and flow-control spout to keep in the truck: it is great to have that added water insurance on our back country adventures. I can’t tell you how many times that has come in handy.

Moab is an unparalleled adventure locale for everything from climbing, 4X4 adventures, mountain biking, hiking, canyoneering, and of course whitewater paddling!

I have to admit, I found it very difficult to find an outdoor itch that you can’t scratch in this adventure mecca of the American West.

We even got to catch the Banff Mountain Film Festival (Eric’s first in-the-theater experience).

Referenced in this episode: Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Adventure Mamas Initiative, Chili Peppers Bike Shop, Poison Spider Bikes, Gearheads Outdoor Store, Trail Forks, AllTrails, and the Banff Mountain Film Festival.

(Podcast) The Wonder of Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods, Bears Ears National Monument, + Durango, CO

Season 1, Episode 16.

As we move on from Moab, we head to Bears Ears, Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods, and Natural Bridges National Monument, then on to Durango, Colorado.

If you’re going to visit this area, be prepared to be in a very remote place — pack accordingly and fuel up whenever possible. It’s a stunning part of America that’s only now really getting a lot of attention, with big vistas and natural wonders around every turn.

We boondocked at an abandoned airstrip we found using the Campendium app — what a great find: beautiful, uncrowded, with a view of Bears Ears and Natural Bridges. To be clear, it’s only a place to park your rig — no electricity, water, or septic — so come prepared to be self-sufficient.

Monument Valley is a Navajo Tribal Park, not a US park, with fantastic tours, hikes, and history; their website is the best resource and lists current conditions and closures. John Ford and John Wayne helped put this area on the map with beautiful old Westerns, and it’s continued into modern films — it’s one of the most iconic places in the American West. Valley of the Gods (not to be confused with Garden of the Gods in Colorado) is a stunning, often-overlooked area that’s free and accessible via a 17-mile gravel road, with remote camping, hiking, and photos galore. Just be very aware of the weather: it’s prone to flash flooding, which can come from rain falling miles away, uphill in the mountains. As always in country like this, take more water than you think you’ll need — enough for a couple of days if necessary. It can make the difference between life and death.

The Moki Dugway is about as treacherous a road as you’ll find — the most dangerous in Utah: narrow, with very tight switchbacks, and all gravel. It descends 1,200 feet from the mesa rim to the valley floor and will absolutely get your attention. Beautiful? Yes. Dangerous? You bet. Do not attempt it with large vehicles like RVs or while pulling a trailer.

Natural Bridges National Monument is one of the oldest national monuments (Theodore Roosevelt, 1908) and was once very hard to reach, until better roads were built in 1977. People have lived here since around 7,500 BCE — a stable desert water source with overhangs where they could build dwellings and granaries made it a good place to survive and thrive. Challenging hikes and beautiful rock formations make it a great place to explore.

Bears Ears National Monument has gotten a lot of press over the last few years, and was unfortunately reduced in size by 47% — a real shame. And then Durango, Colorado stole the show.

(Podcast) Santa Fe, NM: Adventures in a City Different

Season 1, Episode 17.

The last episode in Season 1 finds us in the second-oldest city in the US: Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Santa Fe is like an onion — so many layers it’s easy to get lost — but the heart of town is the Historic Plaza: food, history, mystery, and more, a great place to start your Santa Fe adventure. Visit the Loretto Chapel and wonder at its Miraculous Staircase, go hiking in White Rock, stretch the boundaries of your imagination at Meow Wolf, and push your mountain biking to the next level with a trip down Windsor Mountain (thanks to the Mellow Velo bike shop).

While this might be the last stop on this road trip, the adventures continue in Season 2 with a whole different kind of adventure. We hope that, over the last 17 episodes, we’ve inspired you in some small way to pursue an adventure of your own — we’d love to hear about it! The similarities between RV life and sailing life are, in some ways, shocking. Until next time, remember: when life throws you a curve, the keyword is adventure!

Taking Kids Paddling: Gear and Tips

Taking our kids paddling at a young age is a ton of fun, and it takes a little planning to make sure everyone has a good time. The first time you take your kiddo out on the water can feel a bit overwhelming — for them and for you. But you can do it! Here’s some advice to make it a fun, safe time outdoors that builds a foundation for a lifetime of playing on the river.

Personal flotation devices (PFDs). As the saying goes, safety first. On your first trip out, start with a PFD. They’re required by law: everyone in a watercraft must have a PFD available, and kids must be wearing theirs. A well-fitting PFD helps keep a child floating face-up even before they know how to maneuver their body in the water. A good fit includes a recommended weight range for the intended user and a rating from the U.S. Coast Guard — infant vests carry a Type II rating, for example, while most others are Type III or IV. Be sure whatever you buy meets or exceeds these requirements, and once they’re more mobile and comfortable in the water, update their PFD to match their changing needs.

Sun protection. Sun protection around water is as easy as sunscreen or a long-sleeve sun shirt, hat, and sunglasses. Sunscreen should be waterproof and applied 20 minutes before going in so it doesn’t wash off, and reef-friendly formulas help protect our rivers, lakes, and reefs (they’re often better for your skin, too). If you’d rather not smear yourself or your kid with sunscreen, there’s a great second option: swim clothing with a sun-protection (SPF) rating. It should be reasonably close-fitting, and it’ll keep you cooler out of the water and warmer in it. Avoid cotton and loose-fitting clothing. A bonus: most of these double as a rash guard, protecting sensitive skin from the chafing that can happen when a PFD is worn for long stretches and things get wet, sweaty, and rubby during play.

Foot protection. Good-fitting foot protection is a key safety item on the water. If your little adventurer is still an infant, this matters less — but for the mobile, tadpole-chasing, rock-skipping, splashing bundle of energy, they’ll need something on their feet to keep the fun going all day. Water shoes come in all shapes, sizes, and price points. I could write a whole article on this one topic, but I’ll keep it simple: they have to fit and stay in place. Flip-flops are fine for the pool or maybe the beach, but on rivers, streams, or any rocky, uneven terrain with moving water and unsure footing, nothing is more useless than something that floats away or rolls your ankle. Sandals that actually stay on are great — Chaco, Keen, Columbia, and plenty of others make good ones that stay put and protect. A pair of river shoes that keep out gravel and fit well will also do the job. Keep those tootsies protected: too often the easiest water-access points have broken glass, metal, and fishing hooks lying around that can ruin an otherwise fun day.

Let the floating begin! You’ve checked the safety boxes, so now you’re ready to get moving on the water. It can feel like a lot to manage, but the best advice I can give is: make the trip about the kids, keep it short, bring lots of snacks, and if they’re having fun, you will too. We love our paddleboards for their versatility — you can sit, stand, or kneel depending on the situation, and SUPs make great swimming platforms when you need to cool off. Ours are inflatable and roll down to about the size of a suitcase, fitting in the trunk of the car. If you go that route, look for one that includes a pump and is made with durable drop-stitch construction. Kayaks and canoes are also great tools for getting on the water, each with their own challenges and benefits (I can go on about this for hours — fair warning).

A few safety tips to close.

Practice paddling before you take your kid out. You’ll be more confident, and that translates to a better experience for everyone.

Watch for hypothermia. It happens when exposure to cold is prolonged — in the water, or just from cold wind when someone is wet. A rain jacket or a towel can go a long way toward keeping someone warm. (Reminder: cotton is not your friend when it’s wet.)

Tie down your cooler — but never tie your child to anything. In a tip-over, you don’t want your kid tied to something they could get entangled in. Yes, that includes being tied to you.

Don’t forget the snacks. Snacks and water while floating keep energy up and hold off the Hangry Monster.

Save the party for another time. Alcohol is a leading contributor to deaths on our rivers. Save it for later.

2021 Gear Gift Guide

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through our links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Do your friends have the tie-down straps they need to get that tree home? Read on for more stocking-stuffer ideas.

A spectrum of our favorites, collected and coddled through the year: here’s our Gear Gift Guide. These are items that really stood out to us or made our adventures better in some way. If you’re looking for something that isn’t a tangible item wrapped in a box, check out our “No-Box” Holiday Gift Guide, too.

Minus 33 Midweight Merino Wool Beanie. We met these folks at the Outdoor Media Summit, and — wow — their merino is amazing. They brought these beanies as swag, and it’s the softest wool we’ve ever felt. Well-made, with a great family start-up story behind the company.

REI gift card. Such an easy, no-brainer gift. Write a heartfelt message and let them choose from the candy store of outdoor gear. (For the women in your life, a Title Nine gift card is a great option too.)

MPOWERD solar lanterns. We talked about these in our multi-purpose gear post, and they’re back for the holidays. They shrink, glow, float, clip on, travel, and self-charge by solar. Tent, backyard, boat, or elsewhere, these will light the way.

Sea to Summit hanging toiletry bag. This was given to us a couple of years ago, and Cristen commandeered it — she hasn’t looked back. It has a ton of storage for its compact size and lots of organization, from hotels to sailboats to campground showers.

Kammok Roo Double camping hammock. We love hammocks and take them everywhere. If you have an outdoor lover who hasn’t yet enjoyed the bliss (and usefulness) of a hammock, this is a great one to stick under the tree.

Rab Dispatch 50L duffel. This duffel will get you there — and get all the souvenirs back, too. It’s sharp-looking on the baggage carousel, has thickly padded shoulder straps for the trek to your hostel, and is heavy-duty and water-resistant.

Osprey Transporter bags. We’re thinking of their commuter-style, laptop-carrying bags for folks getting back to the office or telecommuting from home or the local coffee shop. Padded laptop and tablet pockets, tons of nooks for pens, notebooks, and cables, and comfy straps that cinch close if you’re riding a bike to work.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite sleeping pad. We touched on these in our podcast episode about camping sleep systems. Your sleeping pad can mean the difference between a night and a great night — and Therm-a-Rest has led the charge on pads for decades.

Thermacell MR300 portable mosquito repeller. Our caveat: we use this on our sailboat, anchored near mangroves along the Florida coast in spring. If that’s not endorsement enough, it’s the size of a flashlight, lays on any surface, and works.

AeroPress coffee maker. We drink plenty of coffee — if you’ve listened to the podcast, you know local coffee shops are one of our favorite things to seek out in new towns. Our brewing evolved from an electric maker to a pour-over until we found the AeroPress. Now we can make coffee or great espresso, and it packs tight and goes everywhere. We’ve added a reusable metal filter and a USB-rechargeable frother over time.

Hiker’s Brew sampler and an insulated mug. While we’re on coffee, let’s complete the kit. Hiker’s Brew focuses on sustainable coffee in a small, multi-use, compostable package that keeps it fresh for the trail — and it’s some of our favorite. Add a two-cup insulated mug (we don’t mess around in the morning) and you’re set.

A clip-on safety light. A small clip-on that glows or flashes — perfect for a late run or trick-or-treaters, but we love putting one on our dogs’ harnesses when we walk them at night in campgrounds or marinas, so others can see them coming.

Upcycled bicycle-tube jewelry. Delicate designs made from discarded bicycle inner tubes — weightless, waterproof, upcycled jewelry, hand-drawn and laser-cut. Earthy accessories with unique flair, for bike lovers and beyond.

Sea to Summit Stretch-Loc straps. These. Are. Amazing. In lengths from 12 to 30 inches, they secure almost anything — bikepacking gear, SUP paddles, even roof racks. Talk about multi-use; it never hurts to have a couple in a pinch.

Eddie Bauer Kids CirrusLite Down hooded jacket. It’s tough to buy solid (and necessary) gear for kids when they grow so fast, but cold weather is nothing to mess with. Eddie Bauer’s kids’ winter coats fill that gap, and the CirrusLite has become our son’s favorite. It doesn’t hurt the wallet either, and there are lots of colors.

Therm-a-Rest Stellar tech blanket. Packable, fast-drying, warm, and lightweight, this one made our multi-purpose gear list, too. You might think you have enough blankets at home — but we daresay this replaces at least three of them. It’s so nice, even our dogs try to steal it.

Ruffwear Knot-a-Hitch dog tether system. We can’t leave the pets out. Our tail-waggers go almost everywhere with us, but many places require leashes, and a campsite can become a tangled mess. String this between two trees, clip on the lead, and the pups can move around camp safely while you set up and make dinner.

A cat travel tent. We can’t leave out the cat, either — he travels with us too. He’s not cooperative on a leash, so we make his RV life as interesting as possible. Seeing tiny dome tents made for cats finally hit the market makes my heart happy; now your cat can have their own basecamp on the road or at home.

Stasher reusable silicone bags. Sick of disposable plastic bags? Reusable silicone bags are our go-to at home, at school, on the road, and in the boat. They save money and landfill space, wash easily, and are easy for little fingers to open and close. We use them for food, crayons, magnets, and small toys.

REI Multi-Towel Lite. Once, we had a water leak in a small space and grabbed the nearest towel — this one. It holds eight times its weight in water, wrings out nearly dry, and goes back for more. It’s also so soft it nearly feels like a blanket, whether you use it for camp showers, hair, the beach, or hot yoga.

Hydro Flask Cooler Cup. Our quick-grab item this summer. It looks like a metal koozy for a can, but it also switches into a cup for hot or cold drinks. Every trip to the lake or pool, we stuck a cold can inside and that refreshing temperature lasted much longer.

Zippo HeatBank 9s rechargeable hand warmer. A winter item. Many of us have used chemical heat packs that last eight hours and get tossed. Now there are USB-rechargeable hand warmers (and versions that run on lighter fluid). For anyone who wants to get out on winter trails or slopes, having one in a pocket warms you up fast on the chilliest days.

Minus 33 merino socks. Beanies for your feet. Like the head version, Minus 33 didn’t skimp on quality or softness, and the padding under the heels and toes really stands out — perfect on hikes or while staying cozy on the couch.

Outdoor Research Gripper sensor gloves. Grab these on the way out the door and your hands stay warm all the way to school or the office — and you can still scroll, text, and check email with them on. Windproof and water-resistant, too.

Outdoor Research Kids Adrenaline mitts. We can’t leave the kiddos out. The snowball-shaping palm seems made for snow, as do the insulation and waterproofing. A longer collar and two cinch points keep them where they belong and the elements out, so the adventure lasts. (At least two candy canes fit in each mitten, safely, when hung by the chimney with care.)

Buffs. We’ve always loved Buffs for hair control, sweat control, style, and function — and shaping one into a balaclava makes even more sense than it used to. Stick one in a stocking and your loved ones will stay stylish and warm on runs, rides, hikes, and while shoveling snow.

Nemo Moonlite reclining chair. Imagine enjoying a lunar eclipse or a summer meteor shower from a steady camp chair that reclines — or kicking your feet up at a backyard fire ring with friends. Nemo makes a very comfortable chair. Pair it with a warm blanket and a hot drink and you’ve got a cozy night ahead.

Nemo Helio pressure shower. We don’t talk about this one enough. If you kayak, SUP, sail, take pets on trails or water, get muddy or dusty, mountain bike, rock climb, or van-life and boondock — anywhere it’d be nice to rinse feet, face, hands, or body without running water — you’ll love adding this. Even with the stickiest sand or dust, the pressure behind the spray gets you, the kids, and the pets clean enough to feel great before a long drive or turning in.

Ruffwear Highlands dog sleeping bag. Our dog, Jack, believes his body was made for soft things. Like the cat tent, this may be indulgent, but it makes us smile — and makes the dog feel special with his own matching, squishy bed. He’s one of the pack, after all.

MyMedic medical kit. Update those first-aid kits and keep them ready for the backcountry. There’s a size and arrangement for every activity, from road trips to day hikes to expeditions.

We hope our Gear Gift Guide helps! It’s always fun to put together — both to help with your holiday shopping and to look back at the creativity the outdoor industry keeps coming up with to make getting outside more comfortable and fun. All the best in your gift gathering, and happy holidays from Keyword Adventure!

2021 “No-Box” Holiday Gift Guide

Whether you’re reducing the amount of “stuff” you exchange with family and friends this year, you’re a last-minute shopper looking for something thoughtful for your active or outdoorsy loved one, or supply-chain wonkiness is affecting how you shop, thinking outside the box for holiday gifts can be tough. Time, money, and connection are the main things we’d all like more of, right? And it’s a very personal way to shop, since we each have different ideas about what that time, money, and connection can offer.

Here are some ideas for the intangible gifts we’ve shared over the years.

Plan and execute an excursion. Is there someone in your life who would love to get outside and do more, but doesn’t know how or never seems to have time to plan ahead? Be their guide. You take the lead on the activity, the where, the packing, the food, even the when — all they have to do is show up. That’s a huge relief to someone who’s raring to go but struggles to carve out the planning and packing time.

Repair something for them. Kayak have a gouge? Backpack zipper blowout? Puncture in the sleeping pad? A warranty issue on a favorite piece of gear? Help them out. If you can DIY the repair well (keyword: well), it’s easy. If you can’t, find a reputable person, price it, and get it done. For warranties, make the calls or write the emails we all put off, then package up the item and send it in so their gear is ready for the new season. Sometimes the gift is just managing the details.

Detail their car. Who wouldn’t love this? If you’re detail-oriented, spend a day loving on their car — one of the most expensive things a person buys — and make it look new for the New Year. We spend a lot of time in our vehicles; a thorough inside-and-out cleaning can genuinely improve that space and their outlook.

Gift certificates. Whatever anyone says, we love gift cards — especially when style, size, or bigger items (bikes, racks, etc.) are in limited supply. Give your loved one the gift of choice.

Training or coaching. Are they training, or wanting to get into ultrarunning, triathlon, weight training, or nutrition? If you (or they) know a great coach, gifting a first session or two — or a package if you can splurge — is a great step forward.

Online subscriptions and memberships. Think Masterclass, AloMoves, the Access Fund, American Whitewater, Strava, Outside+, and the like. We used to gift magazine subscriptions; these days everything’s digital, and those subscriptions add up. If there’s one your person has talked about but hasn’t pulled the trigger on, beat them to it.

Personal assistant for a day. “How can I help?” is often asked with little follow-through, or leaves the person wondering what to even ask for. Make it actionable: sit down and ask what’s on their plate. Would a day of housework be the biggest relief? Could you sort unopened emails, make phone calls, or handle client replies on social media? They have to be willing to hand over some control, but with that trust they’ll relish the relief.

National Parks pass. Making travel plans this year? A National Parks pass gets them into more than 2,000 federal recreation areas across the US — and chances are there’s a destination close to them, too.

Local flavors. A tour of the local scene is always appreciated: wine, beer, kombucha, chocolate, coffee, cheese, baked goods, crafts, honey, soaps and lotions. There’s such a wealth of talent and tastiness in most communities — you might be surprised by the gift basket you can put together.

Gait analysis or bodywork. Wanting to start running, fine-tune their stride, or recover from training? A gait analysis can reveal nuances that level up their running. And here’s my favorite: recovery matters even more than training, so treat them to a session with a favorite massage therapist, acupuncturist, or neuromuscular therapist. Massage is good for anyone, whatever their activity level.

Race, event, or course entry fee. Do they have their sights set on a race, conference, or event this year? Cover the entry fee and let them dive into getting ready — it’s something to look forward to, and hopefully you can get out there to cheer them on.

We hope this warms up some alternative gift ideas. While it’s fun to unwrap something (we have a Gear Gift Guide for that, too), the real magic is the time, connection, and flexibility to have these experiences or reach these goals — and it means a lot when someone supports their friends and family in those pursuits. Do you have any outside-of-the-box ideas to add? Happy holidays from Keyword Adventure!

(Recipe) Campfire Stew: Simple, Quick Comfort Food

A camping recipe made easy — warm on cool nights, fast after a long day out, with easy ingredients that travel well and plenty for everyone.

Yes, this is an adventure recipe blog. Aren’t all the senses involved in exploration and delight? If you’ve listened to our podcast, you’ve probably noticed that we love finding interesting places to enchant our sense of taste — sometimes we seem to eat our way through new places (like Key West, Florida).

Today’s post, though, is meant to bring a little culinary comfort whether you’re camping out or just needing some easy satisfaction at home. The whole “chicken soup for the soul” idea definitely applies when someone talks about their favorite food to cook while camping.

For me, this campfire stew brings to mind camping along a cold river as a nine- or ten-year-old boy with my family. After a day of paddling on chilly spring-fed water, we’d light a fire and cook this super-simple, one-pot meal — warm and filling at the end of the day. Since then, I’ve shared it with others, and they’ve shared their own campfire stew recipes with me. What’s most consistent is this: the ingredients matter less than the warm feeling served up at the end of the day while camping under the stars. Felt as both a reward and a comfort, it’s these small things that create good memories when we’re young.

My campfire stew has lasted a lifetime and will outlast me, because my son delights in cooking it too. The ingredients are purposely simple: a can of cut green beans (not French-cut), a can of diced new potatoes, a sliced smoked sausage, and a little Cavender’s Greek Seasoning. Once everything’s in the pot, add water and bring it to a boil — the boil draws the oils out of the sausage and gives the stew most of its flavor.

Like any food cooked outdoors, I think it always tastes better over a campfire. But it’s become a favorite cold-weather recipe for our family, giving us that little taste of the outdoors even when we feel trapped inside. We usually have the canned items in the pantry anyway and keep some sausage in the freezer.

Campfire Stew

1 can cut green beans

1 can diced new potatoes

1 smoked sausage, sliced

About 2 cups water

Season to taste (I like 3 tsp Cavender’s Greek Seasoning)

Bring to a boil for 5 minutes, then serve it up. Add your favorite crusty bread or crescent rolls to round it out.

Classic campfire comfort food might even include those Americana favorites: s’mores and hot cocoa. Would you believe I keep packets of hot cocoa in my kayaking gear? I’ve done it as a day-saver, or in the case of a really cold swim for myself or anyone with me. It helps warm the body’s core, the chocolate helps release endorphins, and the sugar gives a little extra carb kick to recover from the cold. With a Jet Boil or another micro-cooking system, it’s an easy, packable part of my emergency kit.

It’s just another example of how the right food at the right time makes a difference. It helps on three fronts. First, warmth — one of the hardest things for your body to regulate outdoors, and in the case of an unexpected cold-water swim, it can literally be a lifesaver. Second, the chocolate releases endorphins for that “feel good” lift while your body temperature climbs back up. Third, it gives your body some sugar to burn, for a much-needed energy boost to finish recovering.

The great thing is you don’t have to have a cold swim or a brush with hypothermia to get that boost. It can rescue a kid’s day, too, when they’re cold, tired, or irritable after a lot of sledding or hiking. Sometimes children get down or feisty when they’ve burned through their energy reserves and are getting “hangry” (hungry + angry). I won’t say adults get that way too, but we all know the truth. Lift the vibe quickly — and look like a seasoned superhero — by whipping up a little hot cocoa. Not only does it create another good memory, you might just start a new tradition.

Riding Johnson Canyon Road (Utah) on a Gravel Bike

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When I was a kid, I used to look out at the odd road or random trail disappearing into the countryside as our family car passed on the highway and wonder… “where does that go?” As I got older and found myself with my own car, backpack, and bike, I realized I could finally explore some of those whims. With that delight, I also quickly learned that a little bit of a plan goes a long way — and that learning a route ahead of time, to plan food, water, and supplies, could keep the adventure going.

When Matt, our Dude, the pets, and I pulled into a campsite at Bauer’s Canyon Ranch RV Park in Glendale, Utah — north of Kanab — we delighted in the apple trees dropping fruit all around us in the old orchard. While walking the dogs morning and evening, one road kept grabbing my attention. On its west end it’s called Glendale Bench Road, and by the time it winds east, then south, it ends about 34 miles later on Highway 89, just east of Kanab.

It’s an unsuspecting-looking road, starting with nearly fist-sized gravel and heading straight up the “bench” from the town of Glendale. There wasn’t much written about it at the time, but I couldn’t resist — so I started googling it, looking at maps and satellite images, and decided I needed to ride this stretch on my bike.

I had no idea what I was in for.

On the day I departed, I left just as the sky was lightening. I packed my normal riding kit — water, food, energy chews, tools, and a flat-repair kit — but because it was remote, I also took a walkie-talkie (we didn’t have the Garmin inReach yet, and I definitely would have brought it on this ride), a headlamp, an external battery charger, an extra layer, and offline maps downloaded so I could access them without signal.

Matt and I made our plan: I’d head out and ride for a few hours, and he and Eric would have an easy morning and then take the truck up the same route to see when and where they’d catch me. I’m really glad we planned it this way, for two reasons. First, once I got a few miles out, I lost all cell signal and the walkie-talkies wouldn’t connect unless he was getting close. The second reason would come at the end of my ride.

Those first few miles were enough to make me question what in the world I was doing. In less than three miles, I climbed nearly 1,500 feet. I think I walked my bike as much as I rode it — the inclines were steep, followed by flatter sections, with plenty of “teaser” peaks: hills you climb hard thinking you’re almost there, only to reach a flat and see the next climb waiting. Ugh.

Once I finally reached the peak of the peak of the peak, the views opened up and I realized I was looking at the backside of Bryce Canyon National Park. The gravel at the start was brutal — huge chunky rocks that bounced everything and made it nearly impossible to ride in a straight line. But what I didn’t realize until I saw the sign was that I was about to ride straight into Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument.

Almost instantly, the gravel got smaller, completely bearable, and a whole lot more fun. This section was beautiful, with vast stretches of views and small canyons starting to open up. At this point I was texting Matt to tell him to leave plenty of time to enjoy the drive — hoping the message would send if I picked up a whiff of cell signal.

This is clearly a popular area for off-road enthusiasts, too; many were packing up their ATVs, RVs, and campsites from the weekend and heading home as I rode past. But the beauty of this road wasn’t over.

The brownish-red colors began to morph into chalky white rock outcroppings: I was entering Johnson Canyon. It’s an underrated drive — well, maybe not underrated, but definitely not talked about enough. Not only are the swirling white craggy bluffs easy on the eyes, but as I wound through farmland farther down the canyon, I stopped the moment I saw the wooden sticks of a ghost town. By then I had cell signal, and while I still hadn’t heard from Matt, I knew they’d have started by now. I googled where I was to learn the ghost town’s name — only to find it was the old movie set for Gunsmoke. It’s on private land, off-limits to curious tourists, but easy enough to see and photograph from the road.

Now came the hot stretch. Officially out of the rocky canyon and committed to a hot, straight, flat run of pavement through farmland, I sweat through my shirt while soaking up the colors, cows, and speed. This was when I caught sight of Matt and Eric, and we planned where to meet at the end of my ride.

Here’s where my second reason for appreciating a plan — and being willing to change it — comes in. From where Johnson Canyon Road empties onto Highway 89, it’s only about four miles into town. I figured I’d just ride the highway shoulder in and meet them at Willow Canyon Outdoor (a gear shop AND a coffee shop — can it get any better?). But once I rode out into the open, away from the canyon and valley, the wind picked up dramatically. I didn’t even mind the building rain, but as I entered the highway shoulder that strong wind became a crosswind. Add semis passing at 80 mph, with the push and suction of their wind currents, and riding the shoulder got sketchy fast.

Fortunately, Matt read the situation from the truck and stopped about a mile up the highway on a pullout to wait for me. I was happy to call it a day rather than get beat up by wind and traffic after an already epic — and tough — ride.

Would I do it again? If someone could drop me off after that first 1,400-plus-foot climb, you bet. Truly, though, this was a memorable, gorgeous backdrop for a gravel ride close to Kanab, with plenty of neat geology, public-land appreciation, wildlife, and history.