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How to Have Big Adventures With Your Little Ones
Plus...the hottest outdoor trend for winter is camping đď¸đĽđŞľâď¸â
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Good morning, adventurers.
For the past several years, Jennifer Stoneking-Stewart and her kids, Elizabeth and Landon, have been hiking Great Smoky Mountains National Park, slowly checking trails off their bucket list until every single one was checked. The nine and 10 year olds were inducted into the Smoky Mountains 900 Miler Club in October 2023 after officially completing all the trails in the park.
Stoneking-Stewart says the family started tracking their miles when her youngest was about 3.5 years old (although he was hiking much earlier, as soon as he could walk). The kids recalled some of their favorite memories of their many hikes, including water crossings and, in Landonâs case, any time a trail intersected with interesting history of the area, like along the Lakeshore Trail.
Stoneking-Stewart says exploring the kidsâ unique interests on the trails, not being afraid to stop to explore these interests, and keeping it fun are all keys to hiking long distances with kids. She also encourages other parents to respect their kidsâ limits while finding ways to push those limits.
In todayâs newsletter we catch up with a trio of young families whoâve taken on massive adventures. So, if youâre looking to do the same, read on below âthereâs some incredible tips to be had from their experiences.
Also, weâll look the rise of a hot new trend in the outdoors, and check out some great gear for the rock climber on your Christmas list. Oh, and if youâre in the market for a new camping flashlight, weâve got a very comprehensive guide to the best of the best of whatâs currently available.
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Winter Camping is Heating Up
The colder weather is here, and if you miss camping, youâre not alone. So much so that about one-third of people are winter camping.
Thatâs according to new data from The Dyrt, a camping app. They ran a recent survey that found 31.2% of users camped in the winter.
While itâs great that more people are getting outdoors, the increase in people camping has made it a struggle to find a camping spot in some areas. Another survey by The Dyrt found people claiming itâs five times more difficult to find a spot to put a tent since 2019.
These numbers align with the National Park Service, which saw visitation surge around the pandemic, with more people than ever looking to get outdoors.
Together with Inside Hotels
Hotels We Love: Wyoming Inn of Jackson Hole
The winter months are a time to rest and reset. To take stock of your year, and prepare for the year ahead. This is often best done with a change of scenery and a focus on getting back to whatâs really important, like family, and for many people, nature. But getting back to nature doesnât always mean sacrificing luxuryâparticularly not at this hotel, nestled in the Teton mountains just a stoneâs throw away from two beloved national parks. Each room or suite is incredibly spacious, and some even come with fireplaces for a cozy western-style stay.
These Parents Have Climbed Mountains and Hiked Hundreds of Miles with Their KidsâHereâs How
Sarah Kingdom took her first son up Kilimanjaro when he was 10 years old. David Blanchard hiked the trails of Acadia National Park with his wife and two young daughters. And Jennifer Stoneking-Stewartâs two kids, ages nine and 10, recently joined the Great Smoky Mountains 900 Miler Club. This may sound wild to parents with young kids (donât forget the wildest of them all, the single mom who thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail with her 13 children), and thatâs because it is wild.
Clearly, though, itâs also possible, and the rewards for these parentsâ efforts have been great.
Outdoor adventures have the power to shape individuals and families, often laying the foundation for a lifelong bond among people who experience these adventures together. Hereâs a peek into how these incredible parents tackled big adventures with their young kids, plus their tips for how other parents and families can do the same.
Hereâs What Rock Climbers Really Want for Christmas
There are so many different kinds of climbers, but these gifts are great for just about any climber. This list offers updates to some classic essentials all climbers need, ranging from shoes and ropes to quickdraws and tape. If youâre looking for Christmas gifts for the climbers in your life, weâve made your job whole lot easier.
Find Something for Every Outdoors Adventurer on Your Holiday List
Whether youâre shopping for the avid hiker, camping enthusiast, or adventure-lover on your list, finding the perfect gift feels like itâs getting tougher. From backpacks to tents to clothing essentials, the gear and apparel options are endless, and so are all the emails and ads. The Outdoors holiday gift guide is designed to navigate through the noise and help you discover new products and find the right item based on your budget.
Our team of writers and editors have broken down gift recommendations into a variety of price points: from gifts under $100 all the way up to higher ticket items above $500 (sometimes way above). From stocking stuffers to high-value items theyâll treasure for years, weâll highlight some great gear upgrades, multi-functional pieces, and handy tools that will get used all season long. By gift type or price, we hope youâll find the ideal present for the outdoor enthusiast on your list and inspire someoneâs next big adventure.
âşď¸ The Packing List
Santaâs Official Post Office in Rovaniemi, Finland, is expected to receive over 30,000 letters daily from children and adults around the world this year. In a bid to attract novice elves, a magical cabin stay has been listed on Airbnb for guests â free of charge â to roll up their sleeves, lend a hand with the backlog of letters and experience the joy of the holiday season from the Arctic Circle!* |
Featured Guide: The Best Camping Flashlights You Can Buy Right Now
Some of the best parts of camping happen after dark. Cooking up a campfire culinary masterpiece or finally getting some quiet reading time can make a day of hiking worth the effort. If you forget your flashlight or find out too late that the batteries are dead, a fun camping trip can turn rustic in a hurry. Thatâs why we donât just grab a light out of the junk drawer and call it a day; we pack the best camping flashlight we can get our hands on.
Need Some New Outdoors Gear?
Have you checked out the new Outdoors Gear Shop?
There are hundreds of top outdoor brands now in stock, and more are being added all the time. Adventurers can now find everything needed for their next quest on Outdoors.com â from great content to how toâs, guides, expert opinions, and gear.
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