I went to bed with bites all over my legs. I'd already tried everything in the house. A shower. Benadryl cream. Absorbine Jr. I decided I'd just tough it out and sleep through it. I woke up in the middle of the night scratching. That's when I got up and went digging through the bag of samples I'd [...]
Ombraz Sunglasses rethink the functionality of sunglasses by removing the arms and hinges.
Ankle gaiters insulated with oyster shells and recycled bottles. What Hikas are, what they keep out, and why I picked hot pink — before I've worn them.
Missy's take on the Kelty Wayback — a flannel-lined square bag that's a throwback to childhood camping. Why comfort beats mummy bags every time.
ENO's Parkway Adjustable Hammock Stand allows you to relax in a hammock anywhere.
Senator Tim Kaine gives us a glimpse into his journey to walk the Appalachian Trail, ride the Blue Ridge Parkway, and paddle the James River in his book "Walk Ride Paddle - A Life Outside"
Kelty Highroad Shelter provides you extra space for car camping and your weekend adventures.
PyreLogs makes building and maintaining your campfire a breeze.
Farm to Feet socks provide the comfort needed for long days outside.
Otterbox 2-in-1 Crossbody Strap is a game changer for my dog walks.
The Landmark Project Smokey Bear puzzle will bring all ages together to play.
The Landmark Project playing cards will keep you entertained and telling stories late into the night.
The Smokey Bear mug will tap into nostalgia as you practice what he taught you when you are outside.
EcoFuego allows you to enjoy the warmth and ambiance of a fire, without the mess.
The Keepa magnet provides an extra hand on the trail, campsite, or around the house.
The Ruffwear leash allows me to have my hands free on a hike.
State & National Park Passes make a great gift for the holidays, and brings joy throughout the year.
The Radiant Revolve Light helps illuminate the trail on a night walk.
The NutLit is whimsical and functional. It's easy to hang and provide the perfect light at your campsite, shed, or blanket fort.
Nite Ize dog leash provides visibility on your nightly adventures.
GSI's cutlery set is what comes with me on the trail, at the campsite, or in the van.
ENO Hammock Straps allow you to attach your hammock to trees, poles, and other items when you are out on your adventures.
John Goodwin's "Echoes of the Badge" is a glimpse into stories as an NPS Park Ranger.
My Birdie goes on the trail with me wherever I go. The personal safety alarm alerts those around me that something is wrong.
Yeti's drinkware is my go to to keep drinks hot and keep drinks cold.
Nite Ize GlowStreak Rechargeable ball is a hit for all the dogs in our family.
Teva ReEmber camp shoes are warm and cozy and sturdy enough to be an outdoor shoe for relaxing at camp.
Tick Patrol Tick Remover makes getting rid of ticks an easy task.
The NiteHowl collar is an easy addition to our nightly walks. The additional visibility is good in the campgrounds or neighborhood routes.
Based in Gorham, Maine, Flowfold produces bags and outdoor accessories from recycled sailcloth. Their high-quality process provides a reliable bag for your outdoor adventures.
White Duck Outdoors has modernized the canvas tent experience. Explore the variety of styles for your outdoor adventures.
Teva helps our feet feel more comfortable when we are out playing in nature.
Teva helps our feet feel more comfortable when we are out playing in nature.
Ombraz Sunglasses rethink the functionality of sunglasses by removing the arms and hinges.
Fueling our bodies is something to think about when heading to parks and public lands. Mountain House helps us think about that by providing nutritious options in an easy to cook pouch. When I first started exploring parks, I thought these prepared foods were for the hardcore outdoors person. Someone who was packing light and headed to [...]
If you have followed us for long, you will have seen KeeKee and Flat KeeKee in photos. KeeKee is a character in Shannon Jones' "KeeKee's Big Adventures" book series. KeeKee's Big Adventures is also a great resource for family travel adventures. The plush is new in 2024 and a great gift to bring to life the stories of KeeKee [...]
I was on a winter hike in Gallatin National Forest, snow on the ground, cold enough that I'd stopped taking my hands out of my pockets. I stopped walking, picked up a handful of twigs, and had a fire going in a stove the size of a coffee mug. Ten minutes later I was holding a cup of [...]
Picking up after your pet is very important. You don't want your pet taking anything into the park that one of the native animals picks up. It's one of the rules of the Bark Ranger program. Be kind and follow those rules. I also like poop bags as a trash bag for my own trash. They are a [...]
Yeti's dog bowl is sturdy for your outdoor adventure basecamp needs.
Having a long lead is valuable to allow your dog some freedom. I like to have the ability to loop it around a tree, a picnic bench, or just to hold it. This leash is one that I keep in my car most of the time. My thoughts: I like that it's light weight and still very [...]
The Parks Podcast is listener-supported. Here's every way to help keep the parks content coming — from shopping my favorite gear to following along on social.
I bought my first Rumpl blanket mid-way through the trip. I'm a sucker for something lightweight and warm. It only took a few really cold nights before I caved and purchased the blanket. In addition to a great layer for camp sleeping and around the campfire, my blanket gets used a lot in the car, at soccer games, and [...]
Oboz Sawtooth hiking boots are sturdy, durable, and comfortable for your long hiking days.
I love these lights! They are easy to use, easy to hang and create a festive atmosphere wherever you use them. When the sun sets, it's really nice to have an entire space lit up versus using a flashlight. I would hang them in my tent and it mad it easy to read after dark. It was also fantastic [...]
Have you ever been sitting in one of those outdoor chairs when a breeze comes through? Your back is so cold, and it's the price you pay to have a lightweight collapsable chair. Helinox has your solution. They have quilted covers for their chairs. It hooks onto the chair and then wraps you in warmth. Since my trip, they [...]
What's the point of a footprint? Keeps all the cold and moisture from the ground outside of your tent. It's amazing how damp the floor of a tent can be, even if it doesn't rain. REI's footprint is created to be the right size for this tent. You want it slightly smaller so that when it does rain, and [...]
Sleep is the most important part of my day. I could write an entire post on my sleep routine and how it is non-negotiable for me. So when it came time for this trip, and hearing horror stories about sleep while camping (or lack thereof), this mattress is top of my list when it comes to your investment. The [...]
I didn't start my trip with a side table. I thought it was silly, completely unnecessary. Why do you need a small table when you have a big picnic table at nearly all campgrounds? It didn't take long for me to change my tune. I wanted something to sit beside me while I was around the campfire. Most of [...]
You can find sets of plates, bowls, utensils from many companies. I liked the GSI Cascadian collection (also available in a 4 person set). I finally decided on this set because they were durable, I liked the size, and I loved all of the colors. When it comes to size I was looking for a few [...]
I'm a Yeti fan. I like that it keeps my drinks cold or hot for a very long time. I like that they are durable. I like that they have a variety of sizes and lids to meet my needs. My favorite, a 30oz tumbler, is with me all of the time. It's a great road trip cup. [...]
ENO Doublenest Hammock is one of my favorite outdoor gear pieces. Nothing beats swaying in a tree when you are playing outside.
When people struggle to wrap their heads around camping for a year, I remind them that I'm camping...not roughing it. The rocking feet to my chair is one example of how enjoyable I've made my adventure. I love my Helinox chair. It's cozy and comfortable for evenings by the campfire or those days I decide to read at [...]
If a mosquito is anywhere in a 100-mile radius, it will find me. And when it does, the bite doesn't just itch — it swells into a welt that hurts for days. I spent most of my life trying bands, oils, sprays, and eventually just avoiding being outside after dusk. Nothing worked. I was in Bend, Oregon when [...]
A lot of lighting options are available for camping, hiking, and other outdoor fun. I'm quite fond of the collapsibility and solar components of the Goal Zero Crush Light Lanterns. They come in white and chroma. The white allows for three levels of brightness. The chroma allows you to cycle through 8 color modes. You can [...]
If you are asking yourself "why does a solo traveler need additional space when they have a 4-man tent?", I did too. After reading reviews most people suggested I invest in the Kingdom Mud Room. Having lived in this space for nearly a year, I get it. The Mud Room is the additional vestibule area off of the [...]
Helinox Savanna Chair is my go to chair for the campsite or soccer fields.
A camp stove makes mealtime much easier. I went with the Eureka Ignite 2-Burner stove. I like that it's easy to light, very lightweight, and has the 2-burner option. I didn't use both very often, but it was nice to know I could. The camp stove industry seems to change constantly. I highly recommend talking to someone at [...]
I bought an Ice Mule while visiting the REI Flagship store in Seattle. I had purchased several smaller coolers throughout the trip thinking it would be nice to have an easy cooler to have on the front seat for lunch, store drinks for travel days, and store vegetables that didn't need refrigerated but I didn't want them cooking in [...]
Determining food storage was really challenging for me. I watched a million videos. Some people went with coolers, others with plug-in refrigeration coolers. The price tag of the plug-in coolers was too shocking for me. I knew I needed to invest in something that would keep the cooler cold for multiple days. After reading countless reviews and talking to [...]
I started the trip with a classic dome tent. It was only a few weeks before I decided I wanted a tent with more space. Most importantly, one I could stand up in. I opted for REI's Kingdom 4. My thoughts: Size - The footprint has fit into every campsite. The height allows me to stand [...]
