Outdoors with Kids Archives - Page 6 of 7

Get Outdoors with Your Toddler at JC Raulston Arboretum

Most recently updated September 22nd, 2022

Years ago, when my daughter was about 3 years old and I was looking for outdoor activities for smaller kids, a friend introduced me to the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh.

For my daughter – and for me, too – it was a magical place.

This was partly because we were living in a rented townhome with not even a minimal yard, and partly because the arboretum really is magical! 🙂

But seriously, it does seem to be getting more difficult to find simple inexpensive fun outdoor activities for toddlers, especially if you don’t have a home with your own yard.

This is a real shame, because toddlers love getting outdoors to run around in the sunshine, play with bugs, and eat dirt.

Part of a border garden at the JC Raulston Arboretum

Fortunately for me, the JC Raulston Arboretum was only a short drive away, and was a great place to get outdoors and explore without any admission or parking fees – or even funnel cakes or anything-on-a-stick that I had to say “no” to.

Fortunately for everyone, although it has grown a lot in the past 20 years, the JC Raulston Arboretum is still a magical and inexpensive place to take young children to play outdoors.

They can feel the sunshine, eat dirt, and maybe learn a few things about trees and plants, too.

Continue reading Get Outdoors with Your Toddler at JC Raulston Arboretum

Grow Your Vacation Saving Account – 4 Simple Steps

Most recently updated January 16th, 2022

If you’re ever going to take that big trip you’ve been dreaming about, you’ll need to stash more money – or at least some money! – in your vacation or holiday savings account.

Whether you’re looking at a 1-2 week getaway for the holidays or several months on the trail, these saving strategies add up.

SAVE MONEY FOR TRAVEL

The first thing to do is to figure out how much money you’re going to need – so you know when you’re done saving :-).

Check out my post on planning your multi-day hiking trip for some good ideas on how to plan your trip so you can figure the cost. I’ve also got some info on different lodging options that might help with your estimate.

The closer you are to your vacation date and the less money you have saved already, the more intense your saving activities will need to be.

DO THE MATH

It’s easy to figure total cost if you go on trip with a travel company . They usually have a planned itinerary that includes food, lodging, activities and a guide all in one price.

That can save you time – and sometimes money, too, so it’s worth looking into.

You could also use a trip cost calculator, like the one I’ve linked to here, to help figure your savings goal.

Once you have a ballpark idea how much money you’ll need and when you want to go, you’ll know how much time you have to pull your travel stash together – that is, the time between right now and your vacation date.

For more of my favorite travel deals and resources, see my Travel Tips & Deals page, and take a look at the G Adventures page, too for some great discounts.

FYI, the photos I’ve included in this post are from some fantastic trips I’ve taken – using money from my own vacation saving fund!

Continue reading Grow Your Vacation Saving Account – 4 Simple Steps

Outdoor Activities for Kids at M&M Alpaca Farm!

Most recently updated January 16th, 2022

A few months ago, I decided to do a tour of local farms and animal rescues that would be fun outdoor activities for kids.

I planned to visit and preview the places, then post outdoor activity ideas for families to use during their kids’ school breaks.

So, I tapped into the Facebook hive-mind for some local outdoor activity ideas.

My friends came back with all sorts of great recommendations – most having something to do with goats, llamas, and alpacas – but also a lot of breweries, wineries and meaderies. Hmmm. Anyway…

So, I trimmed out all of the adult beverages (that will be a different set of posts!) and made a list of places to go see.

For my first visit, I narrowed it down to alpaca farms near me, specifically looking for an alpaca farm tour.

And that’s how I found M&M Alpaca Farm. Although M&M offers free self-guided tours of the farm, I opted for a scheduled guided tour for just a few dollars. I’m very glad I did!

Continue reading Outdoor Activities for Kids at M&M Alpaca Farm!

Prairie Ridge EcoStation – Easy Family Hikes, Fossils and Fun!

Most recently updated January 16th, 2022

A couple of weeks ago, when I was searching for outdoor activities for kids, I saw an event posting for a Fossil Dig at the Prairie Ridge Ecostation.

My initial thought was, “Fossils? Digging? I must go!” 🙂

But first I had to find out more about the Prairie Ridge park.

Bees take advantage of the flowering plants in the Prairie habitat

I learned that the Prairie Ridge Ecostation is the west Raleigh branch of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. The main branch of the Museum was created in 1879, when the State’s agricultural and geological collections were merged.

It’s the largest institution of its kind in the South East and the most visited museum in North Carolina.

The main branch is located in downtown Raleigh and there is a third branch in Whiteville (Columbus County, NC).

The Prairie Ridge Ecostation , located off of Reedy Creek Road in Raleigh, offers outdoor experiences and learning for kids and adults year-round, and charges no admission. Continue reading Prairie Ridge EcoStation – Easy Family Hikes, Fossils and Fun!

Green Exercise – Workout in Nature to Look and Feel Better

Most recently updated January 16th, 2022

If you’ve read any of my other posts, you know that given the choice I most always prefer to be outdoors – hiking, walking, gardening, dining, listening to music and whatever else I can do outside.

Frankly, sometimes my friends and family find my need to be outdoors a little tiresome. To keep the peace, I’ve had to occasionally move activities indoors because they want to be “more comfortable”. Continue reading Green Exercise – Workout in Nature to Look and Feel Better

Walk or Run on Stroller-Friendly Routes in Bond Park

Most recently updated June 21st, 2023

Bond Park and Umstead State Park in Cary, NC are a couple of local places that I go to hike, walk and run that are easy to get to and always deliver a really good experience.

Minimum driving, maximum time on the trail is what I’m usually looking for.

I’ve been using the trails and other park amenities both on my own and with my kids since I first moved to the area in 1996.

Like all of us, the park has changed over time and also – I hope like all of us – has improved with age as well.

Actually, I recently took an afternoon break to walk Bond Park’s Lake Trail, and found significant improvements to all of the the walkways and bridges along the way!

Updated bridge on the Lake Trail in Bond Park.

Read on to learn about the Lake Trail and other trails and combined routes inside Bond Park.

Continue reading Walk or Run on Stroller-Friendly Routes in Bond Park

Trail Signs and Tokens – Practical and Sentimental Journeys

Most recently updated January 18th, 2022

Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

Whether you’re exploring in the wilderness or taking a fitness jog in a county park, it’s not unusual to find evidence of other people who’ve visited before you.

Trail sign in Palo Duro Canyon NP in Texas

Most often it’s in the form of trail signs giving practical information.

Sometimes personal tokens are left in an attempt to send a wish or a prayer to a loved one, or even to make contact with some greater universal entity.

You might also see official tributes to people who have contributed in some way to that green space.

Sculpture in the Jean Miro park in Barcelona, Spain

Or more simply, art.

Whatever it is and whoever it’s for, signs and tokens left along the trail are an attempt to communicate with others.

Continue reading Trail Signs and Tokens – Practical and Sentimental Journeys

Post Library

Most recently updated July 7th, 2023

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE?

Click on the headings below to browse posts in I’d Rather Walk’s top categories:

Fitness & WellneSS

Info to help you get fit, eat a healthy diet, and promote wellness in your life.

ASTHMA HEALTH

This page includes posts with helpful information for active asthmatics.

GEAR Info and TIPS

Info on how to use and where to find the best gear for your day hikes, thru hikes, camping trips and other outdoor sports.

If you’re looking for gear with the IRW Logo, Holiday-themed items or something fun to give as a gift – especially our snarky T-Shirt collection – take a look at our IRW Merch Shop.

GENERAL HIKING INFO

Hiking info for families, beginning hikers and more advanced trekkers.

HIKING DESTINATIONS

Hiking destinations in the USA, Internationally, and local trails close to home.

See my Travel Resource and Adventure Travel pages for more destinations and trip planning tips and deals.

OUTDOORS WITH KIDS

Helpful tips and info for outdoor activities for kids, plus kid-friendly destinations for families and children of all ages.

All Posts

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Tips for Your Visit to Arches National Park

Most recently updated July 31st, 2023

Estimated Reading Time: 15 minutes

When I was planning my Utah hiking trip, I asked for advice from hiker friends who had visited the area before:

Which National Parks should I visit? How much time should I allow for each park? Which trails are a must-do?

I was grateful for their insights, and found the advice to be mostly accurate – except for when it came to hiking Arches National Park.

Some feedback I got was that I didn’t need to plan for more than an afternoon at Arches National Park hikes, but we spent a day and a half there and still didn’t get to everything.

Entry to Fiery Furnace are at Arches National Park

While it could be said that Arches isn’t very challenging for expert hikers, there’s no doubt that it is breathtakingly beautiful for everyone!

Continue reading Tips for Your Visit to Arches National Park

How to Plan Your Multi-Day Hiking Trip

Most recently updated June 9th, 2022

Estimated Reading Time: 6.8 minutes

So you want to plan a hiking trip.

Great! Like any other event outside of your normal daily routine – hosting a party, having a night out, or even creating a special meal – it starts with planning and research.

Don’t know where to start? I’ll help.

Let’s begin by figuring out what your perfect trip would look like….

Continue reading How to Plan Your Multi-Day Hiking Trip