A fun day on the Tuckaseegee River, NC

 

On a recent trip to western North Carolina, we took our boys whitewater paddling.  Because kids have to be 9 years old (and ours are 5 and 8) to go on the Nantahala River (with Class III rapids) we opted for the Tuckaseegee, a fun, but somewhat tame Class I-II river for all ages fun.

 

We went with Tuckaseegee Outfitters (owned by a friend of ours, James); and all we had to do is show up in our swimsuits and we were outfitted with paddles, boats, PFDs, a safety talk, and a shuttle to the put-in.

This was great fun for our group, which included another family as well.  The perfect way to introduce kids to the fun and power of water!

Garden Time !?

Despite the fact that it's snowing here today (ARGH!!), the day before EASTER, we are thinking garden, putting (organic) manure on our plot and we have thoughts of GREEN grass, not just that in the Easter Baskets!

To gear up for planting (OUTSIDE!), we have stocked up on the necessary gardening tools, sized just for kids and priced economically just for our customers!

(hoe, leaf race, garden rake, garden spade)

Hand tools measure approx 8" in length; Other 'tools' are approx 27.5" in height.
ALL have wooden handles and metal ends.

Kids first BACKPACKING Trip

Another way to have "kids travel happy"...... last weekend we hiked into a cabin near Jackson, NH, with our two boys, my Mom, and her partner, Lynn (and Moxy, our pup). It was what we like to think of as a perfect introduction to backpacking.
First of all, the cabin is a gem, it sleeps 8, and although uninsulated, has a wood stove, which made it toasty, even on a cool mid-November night.

We DID have to carry sleeping pads, sleeping bags, food, cook-stoves, cook pots, utensils & bowls, etc., but because the hike was less than 1.5 miles each way, we also carried a box of wine, our knitting (well, my mom and I) and enough food for more than the one night we stayed there.

The kids (4 and 7 years old) each had their own "packing list" and had to carry their spare clothes, toothbrush, hat, gloves, flashlight, book & one activity of their choice.

We enjoyed reading the journal entries of past visitors in the cabin, as well as eating our "cabin made" tasty pesto, roasted red pepper, artichoke, black olive, parmesan cheese pasta! For dessert? Starbucks via decaf and biscotti from Trader Joe's! Oh yes, we were 'roughing' it!

It was a beautifully, clear night and we had fun with the Star Charts and studying the constellations. Dylan, our 7-year old was particularly into this!

The next morning we warmed up with Old Fashioned Oatmeal, and a loop hike to the summit of Black Mountain and a beautiful view of Mt Washington - the northeast's highest (and a little snowy!) peak at 6288' above sea level.
We knew the trip was a success as on the way down, our 4-year old said "my favorite thing to do outside is to hike, and to stay at THAT cabin".
Want more info about these Forest Service Cabins? At only $20 per night up to 8 people, they are a bargain! And, dogs allowed!!

Fun for all, nothing plugged in, and time for knitting and cribbage playing (by gas latern, of course)

Lots of Outdoor fun had by all

Thinking back to the "Island Canoe Camping", it surely went without a hitch, thanks to great weather, friends, food and fun. I think many people would be surprised about the ease of entertaining kids with no real toys at all.

At 'maximum' capacity we had 7 kids ranging from 3 to 8 years of age, and they ALL played together with stuff they found on the island the majority of the time.

The (simple) highlights

• stick collection
• fairy searches
• hiking
• swimming
• paddling (canoeing)
• rock throwing (this was NOT the best activity, but entertaining nonetheless!)
• fishing
• cooking
• marshmallow roasting

The other great thing, is that by the time darkness arrived (by 7:30-8PM), the kids were tired and ready to go to sleep. This was awesome as I often forget how fun it is to have some uninterrupted adult conversation around the campfire!

We spent 2 nights at Student's Island on Mooselookmeguntic Lake in Western Maine. A nice map of the sites can be found HERE. It's primitive camping (bring your own water, or boil lake water, purify it etc.), with outhouses (which, frankly, cracked me us as they had air fresheners in them that were "NEW CAR SCENT" ?! NOT exactly an 'outdoorsy' smell!). Which reminds me, always have a good hand washing station set up, with biodegradable soap, and a towel for the kids (and adults, of course).

Every time we take our kids in the Outdoors (which, thankfully is quite often) I am reminded what a fine experience it is for them - to learn about the stars, collect rocks, live without luxury, and play (so important to their learning). I find it hard to believe that most would NOT 'travel happy' with any family that takes the time and planning to give them outdoor experiences. To top it all off, they are relatively inexpensive endeavors. Don't have a canoe? Camping gear? Contact a spot you are interested in going to, and you'll likely be able to rent all that you need, and not even have to schlep it to your destination. Easy for mom & dad as well!!

Rental Gear Ideas

• REI rents gear HERE
  
• GITTO - get into the outdoors is a great site
• check local outdoor shops near your home or your destination
• where we were, the campsite rental location had boats, wood, water containers etc. right there at the shoreside

Lastly, a great book for kids and adults as well is CAMP OUT: The Ultimate Kid's Guide - tons of outdoor games, things to discover, menu ideas, star charts, animal prints guide, tree identification, clouds, weather, build a sun dial and much more!

As we left the Preserve, we made our reservation for 2010 (can't wait!) - a family tradition in the making.

Pack Small, Exercise BIG

We're very excited to have found and added some really fun, exercise-based activities that pack small for travel. This week we feature the company "Just Jump It" as a NEW addition to our lineup of offerings.

Remember 'Romper Stompers'? Just Jump It offers their 'modern' version, the 'EZ Stepper'. Strings are adjustable to make handles for those small or tall, and they hold up to 100 pounds (this over 100-pounder, has done NO damage to them yet, however!!).

Next on the list of easy to pack, fun to play, is the 'skipper' - a nicely weighted ball with a bell (makes a soothing 'jingle' when it is shaken) on a sting with a loop that is stepped into and positioned on an ankle. Place the ball behind you and kick forward to get it going. Very little space is needed to get kids moving - use in an airport, at the playground, waiting for the bus, or at a rest area to get the 'blood' flowing. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the challenge.

Lastly, from Just Jump It, is a solid-colored, polypropelene (and washable!) jump rope. You can get an 8-foot, solo rope, or a 16-foot 16-foot ropes for 'double-dutch'). These do NOT come with handles, but for good reason - adjust the knot at the end of the rope depending on the size of the user, and it's a one-size fits all, high-quality jump rope. We really like the 'swing weight' of the rope, and it's a good value at $5.50 for the 8-foot rope. multi-player rope (or, TWO).

These were so popular at a recent festival in town, we almost ran out! We think you'll LOVE them too. Not only are they a perfect travel activity, they add some exercise to any summer outing.

(Hmm... maybe a good future GIVEAWAY item?). Stay tuned for MORE ideas for on-the-go exercise toys and activities!