Like everyone else, I’ve been taking a long and slow perusal of our journals, albums and moments from the last decade. It has been a fabulous journey. A decade ago we had two kids under the age of 3 and one child about to make an appearance.
Since then, we’ve moved from Colorado to Utah, embarked on homeschooling, and learned that an important part of how our family connects is through outdoor adventure. We’ve climbed, hiked, camped, skied, paddled and RVed across this continent and still have only scratched the surface.
When asked what the best thing we’ve done in the last 10 years, I’d have to say it was taking 6 months to travel across the U.S. in an Airstream. We made it all the way to Nova Scotia, spent invaluable time together as a family, changed, grew, learned a lot. Mostly, we decided to live by rule number one:
Do not save for tomorrow what you can do today.
If we’d delayed or waited, we would never have been able to go. Jobs changed. Kids got older. If the time seems perfect to check a dream off your list, by all means do it!
Our Top Ten Adventures in Ten Years
Conrad Cain Hut / Bugaboos, B.C.
It is hard to argue with a hut perched up by the base of a glacier! The hike into the Conrad Cain Hut in the bugaboos is still my favorite backcountry experience and we cannot wait to go back. The days spent up there, walking across glaciers and enjoying the terrain will never be forgotten.
I wrote: “The Conrad Kain Hut sits perched on stone, high in Bugaboo Provincial Park and is maintained and operated by the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC). The Bugaboos are a trad climbing mecca, a place for those wandering souls that are always looking to the mountain tops. Surrounded by glacier and granite spires, it is also a place of inspiration, a place where you cannot help but let your deepest dreams surface.”
Lake Tahoe, CA
During the last decade of travel, there is one place we keep returning to… Lake Tahoe. We’ve visited over 4 times, 2 of those times for a month at a time. There is something magical about this place where the wood scent is deep, the blue water deeper, and the mountains march right down to the beach.
It doesn’t seem to matter where we visit in Tahoe, whether it is our favorite family beaches up north, or the more touristy Tahoe beaches down south, we love it all.
Squamish/Whistler, B.C.
We’ve been to many bike towns. But Whistler is on a whole different level. We are still recovering from having our minds blown on the length, quality, and amazingness of the trails.
At the same time, there are so many non-biking option, making Whistler/Squamish a great destination for any family. Our favorites include hiking the Chief in Squamish, touring around town on the bike trails, visiting Alice Lake Provincial Park, and hunting down the rope swing at Brohm Lake.
Note: Most ski resorts, bike shops or local many trail systems and downhill bike parks (like Whistler, Crested Butte, Telluride, Jackson Hole) have super easy green trails that introduce you to the sport. Don’t be intimidated by all the body armor, huge jumps and fast riders. Everyone has a place here.
Canmore, Alberta
A few years ago we took a one month roadtrip to explore the Trans-Canadian Hwy through Glacier, Banff, and the surrounding area. We decided to base most of our travels from an AirBNB in Canmore, which turned out to be a great idea!
We love Canmore, only 20 minutes from Banff National Park, it is ideally located to visit many of the well known highlights such as Lake Louis and Morraine Lake. We had a blast hiking local treasures sure as Ha Ling, Temple Peak, Fairview, and Tent Ridge.
Backpacking in the Sawtooth Mountains, ID
The Sawtooth Mountain Range lies in central Idaho, not far (approx. 45 minutes) from Sun Valley, Idaho. It is a jagged and rough mountain range, dotted with deep and clear lakes, abundant wildflowers and towering summits.
A couple of years ago we decided to tick off the 21-mile Alice/Toxaway Lake Loop in the Sawtooth Mountains. Unmatched views, enough lakes to satisfy my lake jumping needs and a dog-friendly destination made this a great place to see just how far our kids could hike on their little legs. They did great (ages 6, 8, and 10) at the time.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon is our favorite National Park in Utah and is world-famous for its hoodoos, or red spired-shaped rock formations that fill the valley. Cooler and higher in elevation than many of the other Utah National Parks, there are many great camping options but we love all the dispersed camping areas just outside the park.
The Navajo Loop is a perfect family hike, short but steep, and a 1.3 mile loop. I’d suggest going in a counter clock-wise direction but really either way is fine. Steep switch backs turn into a narrow slot canyon towards the bottom. Then follow the trail through a labyrinth of hoodoos on your way back up to the canyon rim. Looking for a cool off during hot weather? Check out Mossy Cave and Falls!
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park in Maine is a must-visit for every person. We spent time on both ends of the park. Over on the Schoodic Peninsula we camped, we biked, witnessed the most epic sunsets, and enjoyed deep starry skies.
We also truly LOVED our time camped at the Blackwoods Campground, hiking the steep cliffs (including chains and ladders) of the Beehive Traill and the Precipice Trail. We enjoyed views a top Cadillac Mountain and even played at a few of the beaches. Bar Harbor is a cute little town, great for souvenirs and ice cream.
Road tripping up the Eastern Sierras
The Eastern Sierra Mountains, stretching from Lake Tahoe in the north to Death Valley in the south, are some of the most magnificent adventure grounds I’ve ever seen. Abundant BLM lands for dispersed camping, close access to huge mountains, hot springs, and unique mountain towns made our time there amazing.
Our favorite hikes include the Ashram, Lone Pine Lake, and Convict Lake. For more information visit my post: Camping and Hiking in the Eastern Sierras
Nova Scotia/ Cape Brennan Island
Nova Scotia and Cape Brennan Island are located as far east in Canada as you can get. Tucked roughly an 8-10 hr drive northeast of Maine, we fell in love with the friendliness of the people, the small oceanside towns, and the rugged coastlines. We enjoyed ample beach time, thanks to a heat wave that hit the area, and I wish Nova Scotia wasn’t so far from home! A return visit would be very difficult.
Biking the White Rim Trail, Canyonlands National Park, UT
The White Rim Trail is a 71 mile (100 if you include the dirt road access to Mineral Bottom), 4×4 road that travels through the vast and rugged landscape of the Island in the Sky region of Canyonlands National Park.
Many people wonder if you can do this with kids? Yup, you sure can, it just takes massive trip planning and a support vehicle full of camping supplies and food. Our kids still beg us every year to go back and do it again. There is no better way to experience the deep starry skies, wide open expanses and desert wilderness of Canyonlands National Park.
What are your favorite travels from the last decade?