Top Ten of 2016: Toddler Tips, Self-Care, & Family Fun
This year has been a whirlwind of surprises and obstacles but what’s remained is our avid sense of getting out and exploring which we hope to bring into 2017. I started this blog almost exactly a year ago and I never imagined it would take off like it has. With your continued inspiration to get outside and share our brand new experiences in a whole new environment. Until then, here are the top posts for 2016.
- Big Sur San Kids: Backpacking As A Couple— I wanted to give you the other side of adventure parenting. Overcoming elevation challenges, hammock naps, a hot springs hike, and yummy camp food shots, all while camping under the redwood canopies off the California Coast–the perfect date weekend.
Backpacking weekend in Big Sur, CA
- Family Goals: 7 Mile Donner Falls Hike— Now that California has all the rain now, it might be a good time to revisit this waterfall hike if you haven’t already. It was our longest and most challenging hike to date and is worth the trek if you need some sweeping views of Mt. Diablo and abroad. Oh and waterfalls, lots of little waterfalls which I imagine are now abundant with water.
- Raising Naturalists Through The Nature Pal Exchange–We loved participating in this seasonal offering from Nature Pal Exchange. We got paired up with an amazing family in Boston and learned about their natural habitat through various regional objects they sent us. We also sent them our natural finds from our area too. Think pen pals of the natural world with the added benefit of discovering new things.
Nature finds for the Nature Pal Exchange
- Raising Kids Wild Challenge And First Giveaway–Being able to host a challenge was in line with why I started this blog. It was a nice little boost via social media that encouraged you to post photos of your family adventures outside over the course of a few weeks. Our friends at Nature Play Sign and the Children & Nature Network, provided some prizes for our challenge winners. I was happy to connect with some pretty rad families over the course of this challenge-giveaway.
- 3 New Ways To Enjoy Your Favorite Trail–Tired of hiking the same ole trails, but its the only green space near you? I came up with some easy and maybe not so obvious ways to enjoy your go-to spots without compromising your outside time with your family.
- Harper Family Camping 2016–Here’s a peek into our yearly Summer camping trip up to Russian River in Sonoma County. I used to come here when I was little and I incorporated those memories into our family camping time. The post has tubing on the river, meeting new friends, and our favorite family-friendly campsite, Schoolhouse Canyon Campground.
In awe at Armstrong Redwoods, Sonoma County
- 6 New Things To Try At The Park With Your Toddler–Sometimes #momlife takes over and packing up for a hike won’t do. In that case, read this post for a creative spin on utilizing your resources at parks to get the most fun out of your visit. This may or may not include banging sticks on play structures to make music.
- 6 MORE New Things To Try At The Park With Your Toddler–Because you are absolutely right in that you can never have too many ideas on playing at the park with your wee one. Now you have 6 more!
So many natural materials to play with at parks!
- REI Outessa Summit Review: My Take on Women Adventuring–A few months ago, I volunteered with REI Outessa Summit (which was my first solo adventure away from the family). There was SUP yoga, rock climbing, mountain biking, and more, all taught from the most elite adventure experts in the outdoor industry. Mix that with some gourmet grub and some legit wine and beer options and you’ve got yourself the makings of the ultimate girls weekend or solo adevnture.
All smiles at REI Outessa Summit
- The Best Natural Remedy For Those Annoying Mosquito Bites— I’m not exactly Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman but I love anything I can make that is natural and works decent wonders. My first attempt at making a mosquito remedy was successful and one I use on any kind of bump or bruise now. It’s the perfect, mild relief that is easy to make.
My featured photo (first photo you see) for this post was the most liked photo in Instagram for 2016. It’s one of the last posts I made before 2016 ended and when we made our cross-country move to the East Coast. If you’re slowly getting through all the “Best of 2016” articles like myself and want more highlight posts to read like this one, check out these outdoor families and their year in review and/or wisdom below:
- Mountain Mom and Tots—National Park to Park Highway–Best Outdoor Adventure 2016 and I Don’t Believe in New Years Resolutions
- AKontheGO—Top Family Trips for 2016
- Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies—2016 in Review and Top Ten Highlights and Top Ten Posts from 2016–Did you miss any?
