family outdoor activities Archives - Page 3 of 5

Historic Yates Mill County Park – Hike and Learn

Most recently updated January 18th, 2022

Estimated Reading Time: 18 minutes

Historic Yates Mill County Park is not on my usual round of go-to parks.

This is mainly because it’s a longer drive for me than either Umstead State Park or Bond Park, both of those parks have longer trails – and these days I’m usually looking more for a place to have a serious hike than to entertain kids.

Raven Rock State Park is another great place to take younger kids, but it’s an hours drive away….

But a couple of weeks ago, I had an hour to spend and didn’t want to get too sweaty.

So I dropped by Historic Yates Mill County Park to take an active break.

I’d visited Yates Mill once before, in the winter, but this visit I got to see what it was like in the summertime.

I wasn’t disappointed.

There’s a pond, a few shorter – mostly shady – flat hiking trails, and fishing (with a permit).

Plus, it’s got a historic working water-driven grist mill. So there’s that 🙂

Based on what I found, if you’ve got grade school or younger kids, or even Middle-schoolers who (unlike mine) DON’T refer to hikes as “forced marches”, Historic Yates Mill County Park could be a wonderful hang-out for your family!

Continue reading Historic Yates Mill County Park – Hike and Learn

Fort Macon State Park – Hikes and History at the Beach

Most recently updated January 18th, 2022

Estimated Reading Time: 18 minutes

Fort Macon State Park is located on Bogue Banks near Atlantic Beach on the North Carolina coast.

Opened in 1936, at only 424 acres in size, the park is one of the smallest state parks in North Carolina.

But with 1.3 million visitors annually, despite it’s small size, Fort Macon State Park is the second most visited state park in North Carolina.

I’ve always been too busy on my Coastal visits to be one of those visitors.

But I made up for my previous neglect a couple of weeks ago on a spontaneous overnight trip to the Coast.

A visit to Fort Macon was the main thing on my “must-do” list. I was delighted with what I found!

The park surrounds the US Coast Guard Station

The park completely surrounds the United States Coast Guard Station Fort Macon, and park visitors can catch a glimpse of one of the Coast Guard Cutters that are moored there.

The infamous pirate Blackbeard’s ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, has been discovered in shallow water right off the Park in the Atlantic Ocean and is being recovered.

The park is also the site of the Battle of Fort Macon, which was fought there March-April 1862, during the American Civil War.

In addition to tours of the fully restored fort, the park offers both sound-side and surf fishing, hiking trails, ranger guided tours, a protected swim area, a refreshment stand, and a bathhouse.

Continue reading Fort Macon State Park – Hikes and History at the Beach

Clean Your Indoor Air With Houseplants for National Indoor Plant Week!

Most recently updated April 19th, 2023

Estimated Reading Time: 20 minutes

Indoor plants are growing in popularity in American homes and workplaces, and also in places like hospitals, shopping malls, and hotels.

National Indoor Plant Week (September 16-22) was established to promote and increase public awareness of the importance of live plants in interior spaces.

Anyone can participate in this holiday. You can do your part with something as simple as giving a plant to a friend, or picking up a new houseplant for your kitchen or living room.

Some of my potted plants spend the summer on the deck outdoors.

Houseplants and other indoor greenery improve your mental and physical well-being in a host of ways you’ve probably never thought about.

These days, with more people working from home, we’re spending more time inside our own homes than ever before.

By now maybe you’ve realized there’s a funky smell you’ve never noticed before, or the decor could use a little brightening – or maybe you’re just tired of watching screens and need to create something!

Plants can help clean indoor air, enhance your mood and create a soothing and cheerful living space.

Caring for another living thing, even a plant, can be very rewarding. — Caring for a plant can be very rewarding.

I knew a guy who grew 200 potted marijuana plants in the attic of his apartment building… But that’s not the kind of “mood enhancement” we’re talking about here 🙂

Growing indoor plants can really help alleviate loneliness and depression.

Caring for another living thing is very rewarding, especially when you see that living thing bloom and grow, all because of you!

No matter what your indoor space is like, there are many plants that would thrive at home with you – and be useful, too.

Continue reading Clean Your Indoor Air With Houseplants for National Indoor Plant Week!

Hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing – New Zealand’s Favorite Day Hike

Most recently updated February 6th, 2024

Estimated Reading Time: 19 minutes

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a 12 mile day hike on New Zealand’s North Island, is one of the most popular day hikes in the country.

Located inside The Tongariro National Park, the alpine crossing is part of a larger 3-4 day hike that is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks.

Tongariro National Park was made famous – like so many places in New Zealand – by it’s appearance in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.

The park’s alpine, volcanic scenery is the setting of Mordor, home of Mount Doom – aka Mt Ngauruhoe – the object of Frodo and Sam’s quest throughout the series.

I had the opportunity to take this trek as part of an active group trip to the North Island early this Spring.

(Fortunately, I was able to return home before travel became restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

Here’s how hiking the Tangeriro Alpine Crossing went for me, and some information that will help if you want to go try it for yourself!

Continue reading Hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing – New Zealand’s Favorite Day Hike

Outdoor Activity Ideas for Homeschool Kids

Most recently updated January 20th, 2022

Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Home school kids need to get outdoors in the sunshine and play – for their physical and mental health and for ours, too.

If you’ve recently become a remote worker AND a home-schooler all at once, courtesy of COVID-19, you’re probably already running short on patience.

Getting outdoors, either in your own yard or in a local park or forest, can help boost the entire family’s mood and immune system.

Sitting still for long periods of time is hard for everyone, but it’s especially difficult for energetic young ones who may have shorter attention spans.

When children have the space and freedom to move around, they can work off their excess energy and be more focused on learning when playtime is over.

Through physical outdoor learning activities children can improve their speed, strength, stamina and motor skills, too.

Here are some ideas for incorporating outdoor time into your new at-home daily schedule, and some tips on places to go for outdoor fun where you can still avoid crowds, for social distancing purposes.

Continue reading Outdoor Activity Ideas for Homeschool Kids

Hike the Route of the Hermitages de Tella in Spain

Most recently updated June 9th, 2022

The trip began in Barcelona and ended in Madrid

Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

Last summer, I took a whirlwind tour across Northern Spain.

We started in Barcelona and made our way across the country to end the tour in Madrid – all in 8 days!

For me, the highlight of the tour was a short day hike in the Aragonese Pyrenees.

Don’t get me wrong – the rest of the tour was great, too.

But I’m not usually a fan of big cities, even cities as beautiful as Madrid and Barcelona.

I usually like to spend my holiday time away from cities, sweating in a desert canyon, searching for ruins in a rainforest, or hiking up a steep slope to a mountain view.

To be honest, the hike in the Pyrenees was the main reason I signed up 🙂

I’d been planning another trip that cancelled at the last minute, so I decided to take a chance on a different sort of trip for me. I’m very glad I did!

Continue reading Hike the Route of the Hermitages de Tella in Spain

First Landing State Park – Hike the Cape Henry Trail

Most recently updated January 16th, 2022

Spring can be the best time to try out some coastal trails, before it gets too hot or or crowded with Summer visitors. One great place to visit is First Landing State Park.

Situated at the juncture of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, First Landing is the most visited State Park in Virginia and includes one of the most endangered habitat types in the world – the maritime forest.

I first visited First Landing State Park several years ago, on a long Spring weekend with That Man and the puppy.

We hiked several of the park’s trails on that visit, including the Cape Henry Trail – which is the longest trail in the park.

Spanish moss hangs from the trees on the Cape Henry Trail — Spanish moss on the Cape Henry Trail

The 6.1-mile (one way) Cape Henry Trail winds through many diverse habitats, including the rarely-found maritime forest.

This past October, I had some free time and took a day trip to the park from where I was staying in nearby historic Williamsburg, specifically to hike the Cape Henry Trail again.

I wasn’t disappointed – both the park and the trail were just as beautiful as I remembered!

Continue reading First Landing State Park – Hike the Cape Henry Trail

Bryce Canyon National Park Hikes and Hoodoos

Most recently updated January 16th, 2022

If you’ve never seen the stunning views at Bryce Canyon National Park, get ready for a breathtaking experience!

I’d seen the rock formations called “hoodoos” at other parks in the American Southwest, but never so many clustered so close together.

And never with such spectacular views of the vivid red, orange, and white rock towers within such easy access to park visitors.

You don’t have to hike for miles to see the hoodoos – which is great news for families with smaller kids or people short on time.

The most spectacular views into the canyon are literally just steps away when you pull into the Visitor’s Center parking lot.

View of the descent via the Queens Garden Trail

Bryce Canyon National Park was a good stopping place on our springtime tour of southern Utah, and a place we were excited to visit!

Bryce is just a short, hour-and-a-half drive northeast of Zion National Park, so it would be an easy drive to get to our lodgings there at the end of the day.

In a perfect world we would have had a longer stop, but Bryce is on the smaller side for National Parks, so we were able to hit the highlights.

I literally couldn’t stop taking photos, because it was so beautiful – and I’ve included probably way too many of them here 🙂

Our half-day in Bryce Canyon was enough time for a 3-mile hike and stops at the most popular view points.

Here’s what we did, and info about some other trails and park attractions we’ll see on our next visit – maybe you’ll get some ideas for your visit, too.

Continue reading Bryce Canyon National Park Hikes and Hoodoos

How to Decorate for An Allergy-Free Holiday Season

Most recently updated January 3rd, 2024

It’s that time! Time to get ready for your Fall & Winter holiday gatherings.

Yay!!! And also: Oh, no!!

Everyone loves to decorate and make their home feel festive for the winter holidays, but before you can decorate, you also need to clean. (This is the worst part, honestly.)

Lighted Christmas trees in the snow in Big Bear, CA — Lighted trees in the snow in Big Bear, CA

And not only do you have to clean your house, but you might also need to freshen up your stored holiday decorations!

Unfortunately, some of our traditional decorations can harbor allergens that may irritate allergy-and-asthma-prone family or guests.

Some people are even allergic to Christmas trees – which is a point in favor of having an artificial tree.

Are you allergic to your Christmas tree?

And just think about all of the other decorations you put up, where you put them, and how long they stay there.

The key to avoiding hosting allergens (along with your guests) is to prep your home well in advance of your first holiday event, and choose your decorations carefully.

Read on to learn how!

Continue reading How to Decorate for An Allergy-Free Holiday Season

Have a Day Out with the Kids at Pullen Park

Most recently updated January 16th, 2022

Even after the State Fair has packed up for the year, we can still take the kids out to Pullen Park in Raleigh to ride some rides and have some fair food!

The 66-acre park is a fun place for all ages, but with a historic carousel, kiddie boats and a miniature train, it’s especially fun for younger kids.

Pullen Park wasn’t really on my radar when I was in “baby jail”, but I wish it had been!

The East Coast Greenway runs along the perimeter of Pullen Park.

Established in 1887, Pullen Park is the oldest public park in North Carolina, and is open all year round.

It’s also the fifth-oldest operating amusement park in the U.S. – and 16th oldest in the world!

Little kids love Pullen Park, but it’s also a beautiful scenic place for grownups to stretch their legs:

- For hikers and bikers, the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000 mile long system of trails connecting Maine to Florida, runs through Pullen Park, too.
- The Rocky Branch Trail, another fantastic trail that connects Meredith College and NC State University to the Capital Area Greenway, also makes it’s way through Pullen Park.

As a seasonal treat, for a few magical days in December, Pullen Park becomes a wonderland lit by thousands of lights, where kids can visit with Santa and ride the “Holiday Express” train!

The Pullen Aquatic Center, Pullen Arts Center and Theatre in the Park are also located on the park grounds. Continue reading Have a Day Out with the Kids at Pullen Park