the kid project 
A few things you should know about me: I LOVE exploring new places. I plan at least one family trip to a place we have not skied before every season. During these explorations I am constantly on the lookout for that ideal location I could see us moving to one day. McCall, Idaho and Brundage…
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Looking for a ski/snowboard area close to a major airport, where you can fill your hours lapping run after run instead of waiting in lines? Then you should consider Bogus Basin, Idaho. Located a 45 minute drive from Boise, ID, Bogus Basin boasts 2,600 acres of skiable terrain, more than Sun Valley, Idaho, without forfeiting a…
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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,…
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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. This May we took two weeks to explore the region, hike, camp and visit some of the amazing hot springs we’ve heard so much about. What we…
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I totally agree with the adage, “humans were never meant to hibernate.” Often, we just need a little inspiration and a bunch of layers to get outdoors during the winter and have fun. This January is the 11th annual Learn To Ski and Snowboard Month. The goal? To get more kids, families and beginners out…
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If you are one of those followers wondering how on earth our trip went from “Maine and back again” to “Beyond Maine and back again,” then I encourage you to check out this post: New York to Nova Scotia: Traveling with a blank page. We have been adoring our time writing our own story, traveling without…
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After exploring Cape Breton Highland National Park, which is on the northeastern end of Nova Scotia, we decided to explore more of this Canadian Province for another week or two before heading back to the Bay of Fundy. I have no doubt that these few weeks out here on the tip of North America will…
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Our trip to Maine and back has now turned into “Nova Scotia and Back” as we push across New Brunswick and up to Cape Breton. A lot of people have been asking me where Cape Breton is. Basically it is as far east as we can get before we’d have to hop a ferry to…
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A blank page. I love a blank page. It’s future is unwritten, open and beautiful. It is full of anticipation and maybe a little uncertainty. You get to decide what is on this page, how it looks and feels. And so the last 8 weeks of our journey to Maine have been similar. After a…
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The water lapped over my toes, it was not necessarily cold, just a tad cooler then the air temperature. Thick forest surrounded us and brightly colored rafts bobbed into the strong current, turned a corner and descended down the first of many rapids. We weren’t even 5 minutes into the day of rafting and already…
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Man, I am so behind on keeping the blog updated with our travel across the U.S.! If you want to keep up in real-time, come find us on Instagram or Facebook! Seven-ish weeks ago, we rolled into Duluth, Minnesota with a few goals and barely any direction except this: explore east along the south shore…
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Hi friends! Our time in the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota were a bit of a mixed bag. Some of the best memories so far, and also some of the hardest days. I am going to be honest… as we left Colorado on our trip eastward, the Great Plains stretched before us, a…
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Mesa Verde National Park should be on the quick list of must-do destinations for every family. Located near the Four Corners in southwest Colorado, it sits close to Durango and only 10 minutes from the adorable town of Cortez, CO. 20 years ago I would not have called Cortez adorable, but I found myself enchanted…
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Hello friends! Well, we are smack in the middle of a week in Moab. Not our official start to 6 months on the road, but a good week to test out the new solar, mountain bike in Moab and most importantly visit family we haven’t seen in 16+ years and show them around our Utah…
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As the end of our 8 weeks of travel came to an end, we found ourselves at a bit of a low. If you tagged along on our adventures last summer, then you read the post on leaving Oregon, with wildfire evacuations hot on our heels. We passed from Oregon into Idaho and the smoke did…
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St. George is located in southern Utah, where spring/fall temperatures are perfect for hiking, biking and camping. Less than an hour from Zion National Park and only 2 hours from Las Vegas, St. George has become a beacon of sun and warmth for those looking to escape cold temperatures. For us, it is like a…
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If you are into biking, a four-day trip on the White Rim Trail in the Island in the Sky region of Canyonlands National Park should be on your bucket list. And if you have kids, it is more than do-able. If you arrived at this post without reading our trip report from doing it with…
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Last fall some of our good friends put together a four-day, three nights, vehicle supported trip on the White Rim Trail in Southern Utah. The goal? To bike as much of the 100 mile White Rim Trail as possible with our kids, enjoy backcountry camping in secluded parts of Canyonlands National Park, and have a ton…
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Grand Targhee Resort is located on the flanks of the Teton Mountains, just west of Jackson, WY and East of Driggs, Idaho. A small, local mountain, this area is known for its epic powder (500+ inches of snow a year), amazing views, big terrain, but also its family friendly vibe. If you missed my trip…
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I walked up the short flight of stairs and entered the small village at the base of Grand Targhee Resort. The air was crisp and cold, friends were huddled around the fires with an apré-ski beer, a couple of moms bounced infants snuggled deep in layers of down. One dad carried a passed-out toddler, goggles…
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If you are part of our Facebook community, then you know that a few weeks ago, we started our all new Kid Project Tip Series! We will be publishing new tip videos every week on our Facebook and YouTube channels! Since it is super easy to miss things via social media, I will be summarizing and sharing…
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If you’ve been around the blog for any length of time, then you’ve no doubt noticed we have partnered with Snowbasin Resort through the last couple seasons. We love skiing as a family at Snowbasin and want to share our tips for your visit to the resort. Snowbasin is a huge mountains with a total…
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We are feeling so very lucky to have snagged 5 nights camping in Fort Stevens State Park, Oregon. As we work and school from the road, we’ve felt the necessity of slowing down our travels even more than we anticipated. Our time to explore an area is much slower than it would be in “weekend…
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We have been in the Airstream for three weeks, and while we were at the family’s ranch for part of the time, we still camped out front as all of the Erickson clan descended for the eclipse. We spent time enjoying ranch life, which includes everything one would expect: cleaning horses, riding horses, feeding horses….
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This is a guide to the best South Lake Tahoe Beaches, cost, location and general amenities. If you are headed to the northern side of the lake, don’t miss our guide to North Lake Tahoe’s Best Family Beaches! We’ve now spent a month in both locations, in addition to shorter trips to the area during the…
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A deep sigh escapes my lips. Chris and I joke that we have roughly 20 of these deep “sighs” that need to escape as we re-learn to relax on every trip. After 4 weeks of travel, I think this might be sigh #17 for me. 🙂 Four weeks done and we are only half way…
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For many people, a summer road trip through the inspiring desert landscapes of Southern Utah is a life dream. And I am not here to argue. It should be. Below I highlight our favorite locations, the best hikes, and epic adventures for families in Southern Utah. Itinerary: The route I chose could be followed in opposite…
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Every year, March emerges like a butterfly from a chrysalis, and everyone (from Utah and beyond) starts dreaming of heading to southern Utah. And for good reason! Southern Utah is like the sweet taste of summer in March-May. Bluebird days in the mid-70s, a unique and wild landscape, and endless opportunity for adventure. Below are…
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Every year for the last 3 years, I’ve wanted to take my kids on a backcountry yurt trip. And every year the reservation period flies by and soon there are no nights left available. This year I was still late to the party, BUT I did get the last 2 nights available for the Bear…
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I am a Colorado native, and so I have very dear memories of traveling to the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool from my own childhood. It was where I learned to swim around age 2. And where I first experienced a tube slide. So naturally I counted down the weeks till I was able to introduce…
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Every fall, as the Wasatch starts to light up gold and red, we receive a long list of inquiries on the best places to go for Utah’s fall foliage. So I figured I’d attempt (I am sure it isn’t “all”) to get them in one post. This includes hikes, popular and not so much, trail…
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The sun is nearing the horizon and the sky has lightened to a pale blue. The mountains hold mist in their laps as they wait for the heat of day. The bright moon that spent the night hanging next to Bugaboo Spire has moved on and the glacier sits below, a silent sentinel slowly creeping down the…
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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. The Sawtooths are also decently accessible and super family friendly both for backpacking and car camping. Though I’d certainly suggest…
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The sun is blazing here in Utah, with no sign of stopping. So naturally we are looking for a way to cool down but remain active. So why not head on over to the Utah Olympic Oval for a Learn to Skate camp? While my kids have ice skated a few times, they haven’t spent considerable…
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This is our second installment of “Family Friendly Hikes near Salt Lake.” If you missed the first one, check out five of our favorite hikes, especially during shoulder seasons (ie. less crowded): Five Family Friendly Hikes near Salt Lake. For awhile now I’ve been thinking there was a lack in covering so many of the…
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I just looked at our weekly forecast. Highs in the upper 90s (F) and lows in the 70s. Ugh. Nothing kills my drive to adventure outdoors like heat. However, if I have a cool body of water (i.e. lake, river, ocean) nearby, then all the sudden camping in the heat is refreshing again. This last…
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On the second day of our trip to Capitol Reef National Park, we hit the trail even earlier (9 a.m.) in order to hike before it became to hot. The day prior we had hiked to Hickman Bridge and the Cohab Canyon Trail. The trail to Cassidy Arch actually begins in Grand Wash. It heads…
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Last weekend we visited Capitol Reef National Park for the first time. Yes, I know. Five years in Utah and we are only now visiting Capitol Reef… For more information on camping in the area visit: Camping near Capitol Reef National Park. On day number one, we hit the trail around 10 am. During the…
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Every once in a while we willingly and knowingly enter into a “bad idea.” Last weekend, we decided last minute to head to Capitol Reef National Park. Without camping reservations. On Memorial Weekend. Just a tad crazy. But we had an amazing weekend, didn’t have too hard a time finding camping, and learned a lot…
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If you have been following the blog for a while, then you may have read this week’s post on taking extended family vacations. Last summer we decided to take a full month and relocate to Tahoe Vista, CA. We are a family with three kids ages 5, 7, and 9. We also have a beloved dog,…
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Combine everything we love about Lake Tahoe hiking and beaches… and ta da! You have Chimney Beach! Chimney Beach is located approximately 12.7 miles from King’s Beach, along the east side of Lake Tahoe. It is just south of Sand Harbor State Park. The sign for Chimney Beach can be tricky to find if you…
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On the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe, NV is Sand Harbor State Park. A beautiful peninsula jutting out into the crystal blue waters and lined with soft white sands. A true gem for families and adventurers of all ages! It isn’t every day you get to visit one of the most beautiful beaches you’ve ever…
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One year ago we decided to take a chance. Life is full of “chance” when you decide to make good on your “I wish” list. Like when I wished one day to run a half marathon. And then thought it would be fun to do my first triathlon. Or when later I wished I could…
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If I am going to keep it real, we never intended to stay at Dead Horse Point State Park on this trip. We intended to visit Island in the Sky/Canyonland National Park, and had a variety of campgrounds on BLM land that we were going to check out. For a full account of our mis-adventures visit…
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Not all adventures start off pretty. This one began with a whimsical dream. We literally decided to leave town for the weekend, jumped in the Xterra, hooked on the camper and were on the road within an hour. It was awesome. As a mom that struggles with a hyper-scheduled life, I often dream of the…
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If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you’ve no doubted noticed we’ve been touring around the desert southwest a bit during the last few weeks. Most of this was due to my first ultra race, the Antelope Canyon 55k. This is one thing I love about racing! It opens up so many opportunities to explore new…
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Anticipation built all week for our trip to the Midway Ice castles. We even watched Frozen the night before, and like a good mother I endured “Let It Go” at ear shattering decibels for the hour-long ride into the Utah mountains. Every year, the temperatures drop, the holidays pass, and everyone begins posting photos of…
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This last year of adventures has truly been remarkable. In looking back, I am filled with overwhelming thankfulness. If I could, I would fill another year up with the same adventures and not find it lacking. So I figured I would share our best and most favorite destinations of 2015 in hopes that someone out…
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The snow is accumulating all around the state of Utah, and our family is making the most of winter! This year, for the holiday season, we made reservations at the Homestead Resort in Midway, UT (only a 25 minute drive from Park City Mountain), with plans to ski and explore Park City Mountain. If you are…
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Country roads, take me home To the place I belong… -“Country Roads” by John Denver The work day ending early, we jump in the already loaded car and hit the road. I laugh (and cry) a bit inside when the kids whine about a 50 minute drive. We are so spoiled in Utah, with the…
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What is it that drives you out in to the mountains, on to the water, or in to the storm? This is a question that I ask myself a lot. And my answers are usually different depending on the day. But this day, in July, my reason to load on a 40+ lbs. backpack and…
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This last weekend we embarked on a mission. To hike Mount Raymond with the kids. Our trusty adventure pals joined us, bringing the kid total to 5, all between the ages of 4 and 8 years old. For most the adults, this was not the first time to have summited Raymond. [ I had done…
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If you live in the Salt Lake Valley near Corner Canyon, you’ve undoubtedly noticed all the work, additions, and improvements to the Draper Bike Park over the last year. What was once a sleepy neighborhood bike park, is bustling with energy… and people. Currently there is a large plan to continue development of the area…
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This time of year is always a bit of an anomaly for me. Stuck somewhere between winter and summer we find so much beauty. Waterfalls, flowers, green mountainsides crowned still with snow. I find myself yearning to launch into our normal summer menu of backpacking and summitting mountains. And yet, it is still too rainy,…
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The hot air shimmers off the pavement, blurring the orange and pink rocks off to the east of us as we travel south on I-15. I am overcome by the beauty of the landscape but also its inhabitable nature. It is summer and temperatures are in the mid-90s. But the lack of shade makes it…
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It is only one week until the St. George Ironman 70.3, a race I enthusiastically signed up for 5 months ago, when it was snowing outside and the thought of actually training for it was hidden behind Christmas vacation and general holiday busyness. But we are headed down to Snow Canyon for a weekend of…
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Today’s trip report is courtesy of Kristen Bonkoski, a local Utahn and owner of Rascal Rides, an online bike retailer. She is passionate about getting families out on the trail and opening up opportunities for that to happen! ————————————————————————————————————————- Finding family-friendly mountain bike trails can be a challenge. You want a trail that isn’t too technical,…
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Earlier we posted on our fun and low-key hike to Delicate Arch late last fall. Fall and early spring are amazing times to visit Arches National Park. The air temperatures are cool or pleasantly warm, and there are less crowds. Two days prior to our Delicate Arch hike, we took on the longer Black Angel…
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The air was crisp and cool, requiring down vests and fleece jackets. But the sun was strong, promising warmth as we hiked into the day. For once, instead of refereeing an argument all the kids were geared up for our hike. We had one of those rare moments of bliss as parents where no one wants…
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Note: Winter recreation in the back-country comes with inherent risk. Avalanche education and gear is a must. Visit the Utah Avalanche Center or your local center for more information. At the very least, watch this video and educate yourself about avalanche terrain, risks, and awareness: Know Before You Go All tours embarked on with our kids so far…
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Chris came bouncing into the kitchen yesterday, like Tigger from Winnie The Pooh. He’d just spent a morning skiing thigh deep powder in the Wasatch backcountry and was busy riding a powder high… one I’ve learned that lasts much longer than a runner’s high… I was replacing our 2014 Runner’s World Calendar with a new…
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We have received a ton of interest and inquiry over our recent trip down to Goblin Valley and the popular Little Wild Horse and Bell Canyons in Utah. We have been looking forward to the trip for months and it did not disappoint! Due to recent tragedy, we are reiterating the danger of slot canyons…
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This summer began with what was, in my mind, an outrageous endeavor: to hike Grandeur Peak in the Wasatch Range of Utah with our three kids ages 4,6 and 7. After a successful summit and a summer full of hiking and backpacking, it seems that Grandeur was only the beginning. I read once that kids…
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Dare I say I’ve lived in Utah for almost 4 years and never visited Goblin Valley? Until last weekend this was true! Goblin Valley, a secluded valley in central Utah, is filled with hundreds of unique sandstone formations known as Hoodoos. These Hoodoos take many forms, most looking like overgrown mushrooms, nobs and spires. The most…
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An hour north of Zion National Park and just south of Cedar Springs, UT is the small town of Kanarraville. Until recently my only experience with Kanarraville was trying to say the name three times fast as we passed on our way to Zion or St. George. But tucked in the hills outside of town…
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I’ve never regretted taking our kids into the backcountry. We’ve taken small steps in that direction, biting off only what we are comfortable with. But after a few summers of backpacking with the kids, the only thing I’ve regretted was not doing it sooner! I’d like to call the Uintas, “the land of lakes.” It…
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Sometimes I feel conflicted posting about my all-women’s trips on the Kid Project blog… After all they have nothing to do with kids. But they do have everything to do with inspiring people to get into the outdoors, push new limits, and explore new places… which is what we are all about here. And even mom…
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It is about that time of year again, when we gather our wits, a whole bunch of gear… and head into the Colorado backcountry in search of summits. This is my third year joining one of my favorite groups of ladies on a backpacking adventure and my mom joined me this year! Not many girls…
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My son is way into mountain biking and Snowbasin is way into making mountain biking fun for the whole family. A few weeks ago we loaded up the bikes in search of some fun trails that would suit my adventurous boy and somewhat more timid girls. We found something for everyone. Here is a quick…
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Stomach jittery. Mind reeling. That is how I went into this weekend’s race at Echo Reservoir. It was my first Olympic triathlon (1500m swim, 40k bike, 10k run) and I had (unknowingly at the time) entered a race that had a large pool of elite athletes. For some reason that intimidated me. I was thankful…
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So last week I signed up for my first Olympic length triathlon. Then I looked at past race reports and freaked! Hills, a trail run, and a large number of elite athletes while I am just aiming to finish! So last weekend I took my fears head on, went up to the venue and did…
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Hiking in the Wasatch Range is… unique. It didn’t take me long after moving from Colorado to realize there aren’t many ‘easy kid hikes’ here. In fact, many of the lesser peaks have more technical trails and more elevation gain than some of Colorado’s 14er’s. It was Kai’s (our Golden Doodle) birthday and so the…
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Everything is just big! Huge! Our eyes were wide at the endless expanses of granite towering over our heads. Chris nearly pulled the car off the road. It was everything we’ve always been told it was. Mind-boggling-massive. That night we perused the guide-book by fire light. Inside I had a sinking feeling. Everything was long…
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We’ve all heard people say, “Things just ain’t like they used to be.” Well, after two separate camping road trips in the last year, I feel I can wholeheartedly say that the “great american sleep over” known as camping does still exist, just like it used to. Kid’s playing outdoor games and sing-a-longs. (Even if…
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While in Monterey for the Big Sur Marathon, we were looking for some inexpensive (or free?) destinations where the kids could play, run, and experience a bit of the California ocean. Oh, and if the moms could get an open water swim in (triathlon season is near), that would be a major bonus. My friend…
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I love spring. Probably more than any other season, there is so much you can do. From skiing to hiking and climbing, every adventurer can find some soul filling beauty. And every year, when the snow starts to melt, there are specific places that come to mind with a beckon similar to the chocolate in…
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Important: Family-friendly means easy mileage and easy grade, but not always safe from avalanches! Please educate yourself and visit the Utah Avalanche Center for daily avalanche forecasts and more information! Often, while you are on mild terrain, avalanche terrain looms above you, increasing risk. We’ve recently found ourselves exploring some new trails by snowshoe, and they…
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What is your, “Why Not?” What would you do if you were fearless? Maybe reckless, or financially unwise, or risky? What stops you? Kids, money, a career? Well, today we are interviewing mom, Nancy Sathre-Vogel from Family On Bikes, about a time her husband and her decided to step out of their lives and into their…
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One last look at a year full of a LOT of first for us as a family. First snowshoe trips. First time on cross-country skis. First half and full marathons. First triathlons. First all-family backpacking trips. Even the first time trying Kipper Snacks (basically sardines….) And a ton of beautiful moments in-between. Here is a…
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Canyons Resort, Utah is Vail Corporation’s newest ski area and one of the nation’s five largest ski areas with a total of nine peaks and 4,000 skiable acres. As a parent, I am often scared off by the large resort thing. I want 1) simple, 2) straight forward, and 3) relaxed. Cause chances are my…
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We’ve teamed up with Snowbasin Ski Resort as a part of their Powderoy Blogger Team for the 2013-2014 season. But before the chance of working together with Snowbasin was an option, we’d already decided to spend the bulk of our time there this season. Here are the reasons why Snowbasin is great for our family:…
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I hear it every year. And have already heard it a handful of times in the last week. There are only two seasons around here, Summer and Winter. Fall only lasts a week or so. I hate to be the contrarian, but I respectfully disagree. So why does it always feel like Fall comes and…
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This is likely to be an “alpine start” I am never going to forget. For those new to outdoorsie lingo, here is a brief definition: alpine start- 1. To make an efficient start on a long climb by packing all your gear the previous evening and starting early in the morning, usually well before sunrise. My…
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Balancing kids and climbing can be quite the task. This is what a weekend at the crag looked like for 9 adults and 13 kids: After the fourth reading of “Big Girls Use the Potty” we get the: Mom, I am hungry. Can I have some chips? It is only 9am. They just had breakfast…Imagine…
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As small coastal towns faded into our rearview mirror, a new type of water started to dominate the landscape. Rivers. Big Rivers. And cities. So it seemed some good-old-fashioned urban paddling was in our future. Spending a few days in Salem, OR meant we had to check out the local paddling scene on the Willamette…
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From Lake Tahoe we jumped down I-80 towards San Francisco and stayed just north of Bodega Bay. THE DRIVE WAS BEAUTIFUL! But when we arrived we were all a little shocked by how cold it was. Man, what a temperature difference! Doran Park Cost:$30-$32/ night. Day use fee of $7 per car if you aren’t…
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To say we were ecstatic to hit the road might be an understatement And with the Hang Ten Paddle board, a host of bikes, and our running shoes all stowed [not so] neatly in the back – we were ready for adventure. We are new to the stand-up paddle boarding [SUP] world. You can ready…
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As I type this, my kids are urgently digging for treasures in the sand around camp. Sea lions are ‘barking’ off a nearby island. Life is good. The blog has been quiet for awhile and will continue to be for the next few weeks as we wind our way up the coast. If you’d like…
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I cannot say this was my first time on a Stand Up Paddle board (SUP)…. but it was a first for my family. See I grew up windsurfing every weekend and windy day for most my youth and on non-windy days we just took the board out with a paddle. We didn’t have a name for it….
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After an inspiring all-women’s backpacking trip in Colorado last year, I was motivated to plan my first trip out here in Utah. After much debating on location, I settled on The Notch Trail, High Uintas because it was super scenic and pretty tame in terms of trail difficulty. We had a few “first -timers” and…
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Every once and awhile I have some romantic, glorious idea…albeit ambitious. And last winter, when the snow swirled deep, I was dreaming of sunshine and wild flowers and high mountain lakes. I got it in my head to try taking my kid’s backpacking…not a long distance, but far enough to feel like we were getting…
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Two weeks ago our family had a mind-boggling line-up of outdoor activities that only one canyon I know of could supply at the same time: Little Cottonwood Canyon. We hit the trail Saturday morning in our snowshoes and hiked a 1/2 a mile up White Pine trail where lots of snow castle building, tractoring, and general mischief…
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Good morning everyone! I am sitting her, sipping away at my coffee, and typing away at the keyboard. To be honest I feel sort of frenzied this morning. But I am going to try to SLOW DOWN. I am joining outdoor bloggers from across North America today and sharing our favorite campgrounds. We all know…
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Last year, our annual Labor Day family climbing trip headed south an hour or so to the infamous Maple Canyon. Not having ever been there, and not having ever lead a large group into the area, I was a little nervous as to what we would find. Maple Canyon is well-known for its sport climbing….
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Well, after last week’s successful hiking and climbing day, we took a look at another weekend full of 70 degree forecasts and decided to head out camping for the first night of the season. I like to think of these as “trial trips.” We make sure all the gear is in working order (or the…
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After weeks of rain ruining our weekend plans, last Sunday dawned bright and brilliant. But after a few moments of consideration, we realized our go-to Wasatch trails were still under a few feet of snow. What to do? Having checked out Mill Creek Canyon this winter for some easy family-friendly snowshoeing, we decided to head…
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“Look down through the gaping hole and locate three bolts and two pitons.” And so the guide-book rattled on with its route description for Looking Glass Rock in southern Moab. I was stuck on “gaping hole.” The multi-pitch climbing didn’t faze me. But the way they described the ‘hole’ that you drop through on the rappel…
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This post was sent to us by Joe Schembri of Tampa, FL. Joe has taken many trips to the Northeast and his favorite was in a Class C RV and looks forward to more in the future! Families looking for adventure and charm should pack up and head to the Northeast. The region is one…
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Important: Family-friendly means easy mileage and easy grade, but not always safe from avalanches! Please educate yourself and visit the Utah Avalanche Center for daily avalanche forecasts and more information! Often, while you are on mild terrain, avalanche terrain looms above you, increasing risk. Snowshoeing has recently become our new favorite family winter activity. It is…
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I’ve flirted with climbing in and around the Moab Area. By this I mean, tried a route here or there as we passed through town or on brief afternoons. Wall Street (a.k.a. Potash Road) is a stunning climbing location, worthy of its name. Steep walls jut up from the canyon floor just feet from the…
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I have a problem. A “feeling trapped” problem. Feeling trapped leads to me to all sorts of emotional and erratic behavior. Now, all sorts of things can make me feel trapped… but a new one occurred this last week. An inversion. The Salt Lake Valley is known for inversions during the cold winter months, usually…
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We have a new bad word flying around our house. “I can’t!” “I can’t,” officially became a punishable bad word a few weeks ago. I guess I never saw that coming when the pregnancy test first showed positive! It goes like this: The boy is running around the soccer field warming up for the game….
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Honestly I have been dogged by the cranky, under slept, restless, and stir crazy me. I have no logical reason. I have no excuse. But I feel like the heat is crawling in under my skin, and making me itch all over. I never, ever thought I’d be ready for summer to be over. But…
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“I was really nervous about this trip,” my mother confessed. So was I. But she went on, “sometimes you wonder if you can even do it, but then you’ll never know unless you do. You just need to step up. Commit.” I felt the same way. And I chuckled to myself. My mom, an empty-nester,…
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Honestly, trip reports really don’t interest a wide audience. But I do them anyways, why? Because I really wish that I could go to a site and see a list of hikes/climbs/etc with all the beta from a PARENT’S perspective. So, we are trying to build that database here at The Kid Project. Awesome family…
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I love going new places. I feel as though I’ve been walking around with blurry vision and then suddenly my vision has cleared. The world is stark, clear, colorful, inspiring. That is why I love travel. Love adventuring to unseen places. It brings life to my soul. But there is also a time and place…
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I have that song, “You don’t always get what you want…” stuck in my head. Probably cause I chant it to my kids often. But this time, it is echoing around the inside of my head, strumming to the beat of the flu. Yesterday we survived an epic adventure. Yesterday, we came head to head…
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If you are not familiar with Wall Street / Potash Rd in Moab, UT just know that you cannot find routes with a shorter approach. You drive up, you toss out your gear, you jump on the rock. Easy. Today I want to highlight one area for kids – The Schoolroom Slabs Directions: Take Potash Road…
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This has got to be up there on my list of favorite places to camp. OK, after sitting here for a moment , I can actually think of no other place I like camping more. Now maybe I just haven’t experienced enough all-America-camping. But that has got to count for something, right? Directions: Sand Flats is…
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Honestly, looking at the map of Arches National Park last week, deciding on what to hike, I was a little torn. Why? Cause one of my favorite hikes is to Delicate Arch, the same arch we tote around on our Utah licence plate. That one-and-the-same iconic landmark of sandstone. I love Arches, but the remote,…
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Our Moab trip report is coming soon. Well…I think so :). Honestly, right now I am laid up with a very unhappy back. And life is sort of eating away at us. So here is a visual peek at our insane camping trip with 16 adults, 14 kids ages 5 and under, and 2 dogs….
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Pretty much the title says it all! Las Vegas is its own kind of place, with its own kind of rules. The little white words on the PINK truck? “Experience the natural side of Vegas.” Or for instance, when we were looking for fun pools and they said females over 21 years old were free…
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To all who are wondering…Yes, the rocks are really red in Red Rock Canyon, NV. My kids were thrilled. Chris once said, “Don’t ever ask me to go to Vegas, cause I won’t.” The flashy lights, questionable everything, and quantity of cement and people – all of it stressed him out. And to be honest,…
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What to expect: The bike park lies hidden like a jewel in the rough. Tucked in the lap of North Table Mountain, I would have driven right by, if my parents hadn’t been directing me. This park is a “bike only skill park.” Features include downhill flow trail (I had a blast on this), multi-directional trails,…
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What to expect: This is by and far our favorite bike park for the kids! And they are perfect for the little Strider enthusiasts. (And the adult enthusiast too!) Here is a link with some pictures of everything the adults (or crazy kids) can do. But here is why we like it for the young…
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To me, Winter Park/Mary Jane, CO will always be a mogul skier’s dream. But now that I have three tiny tots, two of which are skiing, I have realized it is a kids dream as well! I practically grew up on the tree trails, runs, and lifts of Winter Park. I remember skiing up to…
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Since we moved to Utah, just over a year ago, we have begun our Tour de ski resorts. I grew up in Colorado and have skied nearly every resort it has to offer, but I had never skied Utah until I moved here. Well, this last month and a half it was Brighton’s turn, cause…they…
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I grew up skiing Winter Park Resort every weekend and hearing everyone rave about the beginner terrain. Not being a beginner or an instructor, this meant nothing to me. And the whole beginner terrain thing meant “boring!” Until this season. Well, now we live in Utah, far from Winter Park land and so we began…
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Sometimes it amazes me what I will do out of sentiment. It’s not that I don’t love freestyle skiing in itself — I do. However, much of what I love is the feelings, memories, emotions and experiences I had growing up and living in the “freestyle” world during my teen-years. So when the 2012 VISA…
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One year ago: we lived in a different house, a different state. Now it seems like a different world. So many years come to an end, and I am amazed [disgruntled] at how little has changed in my life. This year I am amazed [loving] all the change. We talk alot about our adventures…
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Remember the Seven Sling Giveaway comes to an end tomorrow at 12pm. Pass it on to your pregnant friends! Have a great day! -the Ericksons
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I snapped this shot as the sun emerged over the horizon, on our 14 hour road trip to Oregon. We’d been on the road for 3 hours, survived black ice (and I do mean survived), beat out a snow storm, and fought the nausea that accompanies early morning hunger. Overall our trip went smooth. I…
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Seven years ago, almost to the day, Chris whisked (or rather dragged) me under a thundering, wet, magnificent water fall and asked me to marry him. I don’t remember much of what he said. In fact I could barely hear him over the roar. But I’ve never forgotten the waterfalls. So naturally every time we…
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We moved to Utah nearly a year ago- waltzed into Momentum, cause we didn’t know where else to climb, and said, “Where do you sign us up?” Climbing for us is an outlet, a must have family bonding item. So naturally when we moved it was near the top of the list- right after the…
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His face says it all.
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Location: 15 Minutes up Big Cottonwood Canyon, across the road from Storm Mountain Picnic Area. Park on the side of the road. Follow trail up the steep washout just east of the glacier gully. Cost: free What to expect: 5-10 minute approach, steep at first, then levels out. The base of most the climbs are…
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A Quick Morning Favorite! Location: From Salt Lake, take I-215 towards Big Cottonwood Canyon/ exit 6200s. Follow Wasatch Blvd. south past Fort Union Blvd. and up the hill. Turn left into the Prospector Drive neighborhoods and an immediate right up the hill. Take the second left onto Timberline Drive and park in spots on right…
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Location: Dog Lake can be reached from either Mill Creek Canyon via the BigWater Trail (end of Mill Creek Canyon Road) or from Mill D North Fork Trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon (Trailhead is 8.6 miles up Big Cottonwood, on the left, across from Spruces Campground). Cost: Free What to expect: Beauty!! The wildflowers peaked late this…
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Location: From the mouth of American Fork Canyon, go 8.4 miles up the Alpine Loop road and take a right at the Timpooneke Campground. Go a short distance past the campground host trailer to the Timpooneke Trailhead. Cost: $6/per car or annual national parks pass accepted What to Expect: The hike to Scout Falls is…
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Location: Approximately 3 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Look for Storm Mountain Picnic area, pass it and continue on till the road goes over the river. There will be a chain link fence on the left and immediately after, a black shale parking lot. Park there. Head south towards the fence, go around and follow…
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Location: Southern Idaho. For more specific direction visit the link at the end of the page. Cost: Day use is free! A camping fee for one vehicle and one site is $12.72. There is a $8.48 charge for an additional car with a max of 2 cars and 8 people per site. What to expect: A…
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Location: Wasatch Range, 2.85 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Park either on the side of road or in the Storm Mountain Picnic area. Cost: $7 day use only, if you park in the Picnic area. What to expect: Fishing at the river, clean sites with fire pit, flushing bathrooms, and a playground for the kids….
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We were introduced to this campground, located between Solitude and Brighton up Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT by some friends this last weekend. Bottom line? 5 stars! What to expect: 41 developed campsites, including large group sites. Popular for fishing, a scenic stream, and scenic driving. Nearby is the popular hiking trail to Silver Lake. Other hiking/mountain…
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Located: Between Park City and Heber City, UT off of HWY 40. Admission: Day Use $7 – $10 Camping $16 – $20 Payment accepted: Visa, Master Card Activities/Services: picnic areas, beach access, boat launch and rental, canoe/kayak, general store, fishing, tent/RV camping, playgrounds. Our adventure at Jordanelle started off a little rough. A 10 minute line of…
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