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….
Most recently updated January 18th, 2022
Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
Camping is not everyone’s cup of tea.
It could be due to health considerations, or maybe you don’t enjoy all of the setup and planning – or you could just really appreciate modern conveniences on your vacation.
Whatever the reason for your preference, there are some good options to camping available, even in more remote places.
Some people think that you always have to camp out if you want to do any really interesting hiking.
That’s really only true for some very wild or undeveloped areas, where you need to backpack for more than a day to get to your final destination.
My recent hike on the W Trek in Patagonia’s Torres del Paine national park is one example where there were few alternatives to camping if you wanted to go deep into the park.
There are similar longer remote stretches on the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail, where you may have to camp for a night or two because you’re so far away from civilization – which is kind of the point for those kinds of trips 🙂
That said, there are a wide variety of beautiful and interesting day hikes – in and out in the same day – that may be found both in the US and internationally, with opportunities for lodging other than camping out.
Most recently updated January 18th, 2022
Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
Have you suddenly become a home-schooler and/or a remote worker because of the new social distancing requirements?
Hopefully, this won’t last forever.
Meanwhile, you could take the kids outdoors for a hike to make it feel a little less oppressive.
In spite of my asthma, I’ve always been an active person.
Becoming a mother didn’t change that, or my desire to be outdoors in Nature.
But it did change how I could participate if I wanted (or needed) to include little ones.
Here’s how I did it!
When I first discovered recreational hiking, I was working at a full-time tech job, a single mother of a toddler with few babysitters around, and my closest family was 1500 miles away.
So most of my activities (outside of work) included the company of my little Mini-Me, and hiking was no exception.
Continue reading Starting Small – How to Hike with Kids in Tow
Most recently updated January 18th, 2022
Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
Going for a hike in a park or Nature Reserve could be a solitary pursuit or an activity you engage in with other people (as on a group hike).
I’ve listed below some basic Hiking Etiquette 101. You should follow these simple rules of the trail to keep from being stalked by Rangers and irritating others on the trail.
I’ve also included some peeves that are my experienced-hiker version of “Get off my lawn!”
If these things annoy me they probably annoy other people too. Continue reading Trail Etiquette – Do’s, Dont’s and My List of Peeves
Most recently updated July 30th, 2023
Estimated Reading Time: 8.5 minutes
Umstead State Park has been my go-to hiking place for at least the past ten years. I hike in the forest, or with the forest as a starting place, at least twice per week.
Sometimes I hike on my own, sometimes as a hike leader for Raleigh Recreational Hikers or I’d Rather Walk meetups.
Umstead State Park has a long history: initially a wild hardwood-forested area inhabited with bison, bobcats and elk, it later became the site for indigenous peoples homes and trade, was part of a land grant for farms in 1774.
Finally, in 1934 – through a joint effort of Federal and State agencies – 5,000 acres were purchased to create a public recreation area.
The Civilian Conservation Corp and the Works Progress Administration helped with construction, and the park was open to the public in 1937.
There are so many reasons to love this park, it’s hard to fit them all into a single post. So I’ll just start with my Top 3.
Continue reading Top 3 Reasons William B. Umstead State Park is my Favorite Forest
Most recently updated December 31st, 2021
Hey, I’m LJ –
Thanks for joining me!
Originally from Minnesota, I’ve made my home in North Carolina since 1996.
As a single mom, I started hiking in this area with my daughter when she was small, and have been leading local group hikes since 2009.
Through the years – in between work and school schedules – we spent as much time as we could hiking across the US and around the world.
In my posts, I share my adventures hiking in exotic far-off locations, and also tell you about unique places you could visit just down the street.
I’ also share tips on good places to hike or just get outdoors with your kids in the Cary/Raleigh area and beyond.
FYI, I only write about places or experiences I’ve actually checked out myself, so you know it’s good information. (I also try to keep the info up to date if things have changed.)
My goal is to inspire you to try some outdoor adventures of your own – both with and without your children in tow.
No matter what your age (or theirs) the best time to start is right now!
