Summer is here and we’re more excited about it than ever. Considering how limiting our summer activities were last year, we’re looking to make up for lost time and make the most out of each and every long day this season. Here are 10 ways you can celebrate summer to the max, plus a piece of gear for each activity that will make the experience easier and/or more fun.
Imagine wanting to ski 350 miles through Alaska – next week, without much training or real experience on cross-country skis. That’s the situation I found myself in a few months ago: I was signed up to ski the Iditarod Trail Invitational, a 350-mile race through the interior of Alaska. The only challenge was that I am neither a skier, nor had I ever completed a 350 mile non-stop race — and in true “me” fashion I didn’t have the time to properly train for this behemoth of an adventure, either.
With the weather now warming up, it’s that time of year to break out your bike and get back in the saddle. May is Bike Safety Month and the optimal time to make sure you’re hitting the roads and trails safely. Read on to see our tips to help get you ready for the cycling season.
As a seasoned camping couple plus pupper, I can tell you one thing for sure: There’s so much I wish I knew the first time around. The dreamy Instagram pics of campers out in the backcountry with their four-legged friends only told one side of the story. I’m here to tell the other side—the nitty-gritty details about what you need to know, pack, and prepare to keep your canine camper happy.
Over the past year, the great outdoors has become a haven for people looking to escape the confines of the pandemic. Public spaces and lands are thriving as a result, with more people venturing to local trails, waterways, and campgrounds. For many, outdoor adventures are a new thing and a weekend trip to a local campground can be quite an intimidating experience. The good news is that there is plenty of space for everyone on public lands, and with a little research and preparation, a weekend camping trip to your local campground will not feel so daunting.
As a seasoned outdoorsman, I too find trips to new places to be filled with uncertainty, often presenting more questions than answers. During my research of campgrounds, I’ve noticed that information for the first-time camper is often limited to what is referred to as “the 10 essentials”. What is missing are those practical insights that answer important questions like, “Where am I going to poo? Is there a place to shower? And more importantly, will there be coffee?”
Fear not my city slicker friends–I have put together a more practical list of camping tips for the non-outdoorsy. We’ll start with the basics, and by the end of this post you will have some great resources to help prepare you for your next, or first, camping trip.
With the impacts of climate change becoming ever-present, protecting our planet is more important than ever. But for many of us, that goal seems out of reach, leaving us asking: How can I help? Well, there’s no day like Earth Day to get started! Keep reading for 6 easy ways to start thinking more sustainably, locally, and globally this Earth Day.
Let’s face the grim reality: we’re all hopelessly reliant on our smartphones. Whether we’re having GPS guide our way to our next destination or taking ‘gram-worthy photos on a hike, it’s likely that wherever we go, our phones go with us. While we’ll spare you the sociological examination of our society’s relationship with our devices, we will give you a breakdown of our favorite mobile accessories to help simplify your life and keep you connected around the house, on the road, and beyond.
Spring has sprung and the smell of summer barbeques is so close we can almost taste them. Meanwhile, thoughts of springtime adventures stir in our minds. Whether your spirit of adventure leads you to explore new local parks or faraway destinations, we have a few tips and tricks for adventuring safer and smarter with your smartphone. For better or worse, smartphones and technology have generally changed the way we explore and experience the world around us. Rather than packing up maps, a camera, a video camera, a GPS, and relying on the kindness of strangers to lend directions, we bring along one trusty, compact smartphone. So, here are a few ways we recommend keeping your device protected and accessible on your next adventure, as well as a few ways your phone can keep you safe and enhance the experience.
The official first day of spring is this weekend and you may already have the itch to start cleaning. Last spring, we all may have been a little gung-ho, purging our closets and diving into home improvement projects that we may, or may not, have had the skills or know-how to do. This year, I suggest easing into your spring cleaning with a little smaller task – tackling your junk drawer. Let’s be honest, we all have (at least) one, and it probably gets cleaned out less than every few years. So, allow me to help you find the motivation to clear out the chaos and bring calm to the place in your house where little items make the biggest mess.
My garage is my sanctuary. It is the protector of my vehicle, a room for DIY projects and it’s the only place where I’m allowed to display all the beer mugs and neon signs I collected in my 20’s. The more projects I have, the more the garage gets disorganized, because the remnants of projects past add clutter, and the tools do not always make it back to the original location.
Each spring, the garage needs a refresh. I plan a full day to give it some feng shui and eliminate the negativity associated with walking into a mess every day. There are four steps I take to make it all happen…
