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Get Outside Holiday Gift Ideas – Outdoor Clothing
Though many don’t think of clothes as being particularly exciting gifts, pieces designed to wear while exploring the outdoors may be the exception. There are specialized clothing options for any outdoor activity. Though these items are not generally necessary to enjoy these activities, they are designed to improve performance and comfort and may be a worthwhile investment for someone regularly engaging in these pursuits. Since many of these are made of technologically-advanced fabrics to increase mobility, some of these can be pricey and perhaps something people won’t buy for themselves. High-tech fabrics and layering An almost universal benefit to clothing worn while exploring the outdoors is breathability. Wicking fabric, which…
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How to Combat “I’m Bored” When Hiking With Kids
We are all used to traveling to get to a destination. It is a change of mindset to think of the journey as the destination. Though toddlers are especially good at rambling, this idea of walking to get to a place is instilled in our children fairly quickly and as they get older, kids tend to look past the now as evidenced by the popular question “Are we there yet?” They have learned that there are schedules to meet and they must learn to hurry up and get moving, so that we can reach our destination in time. Hiking doesn’t always have a destination. Sure, you may be hiking to…
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How to Get Credit for “People Walking”
My introduction to Volkssmarsching (literally, people walking) occurred while staying with friends in Germany. This was a common weekend activity for our friends. The day started with looking up the list of available 5 or 10k walks to see where they were located and what sort of prize was offered. The thought was intriguing, and we agreed it would be a fun way to spend a day. We selected a walk (based on the described prize), drove to the starting point and purchased our start cards (there is a fee involved if you want a prize), then headed out on our 10k stroll. It was an overcast day, and…
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Beautiful Vistas in Valley Forge
Valley Forge National Historic Park is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. Unlike other historic military sites, the Valley Forge Encampment was not the location of any battles. It has a peaceful beauty any time of year. The place where the Continental Army spent the winter of 1777-78, there are rolling hills and fields, hiking and biking trails and an assortment of buildings to explore and see what life was like during that grueling winter. The Visitor’s Center offers a look at the history of the area and has artifacts on display. The 3500-acre park offers a 10-mile driving Encampment Tour with nine stops. The tour comes on a …
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Ricketts Glen Is a Gem in the Endless Mountains
Ricketts Glen State Park, in the Endless Mountains of eastern Pennsylvania, is a popular recreation spot year round. Home to 22 named waterfalls, as well as numerous other trails and Lake Jean, the park has something to offer for the adventurous and beach lovers alike. The park is named for Colonel Robert Bruce Ricketts, a Civil War veteran who at one time owned much of the park land and the surrounding Game Lands. Fishermen exploring his land found the waterfalls, and Colonel Ricketts built trails to the falls, which became known as the Glens Natural Area. He named the waterfalls after American Indian Tribes and his friends and family. In…
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A Multitude of Things to See and Do on the Chesapeake
My husband learned about Elk Neck State Park in central Maryland from a co-worker shortly after we starting taking camping trips with our family. We have since been back and it is one of my favorite camping spots. The park is on a peninsula between the Elk River and the Chesapeake Bay. The park is on over 2188 acres and its landscape includes beaches, wooded areas, marshes and cliffs, and a big draw for me, a lighthouse. Our first visit, we made the easy hike to the Turkey Point Lighthouse where we could walk around the grounds. On a return visit, the lighthouse had been restored and we were able…
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Who Wants to Take a Walk on The Appalachian Trail?
Now the Appalachian Trail (AT) may seem like an unusual travel destination to some, but the trail has a mystique that calls to thousands each year. The 75-year-old trail, a 2189 mile footpath along the Appalachian Mountains in the Eastern U.S. has been the subject of many books as well as conversations among hikers for generations. It takes careful planning and five to seven months to complete the hike. Since the shelters actually on the trail are limited, one needs to carry both shelter and supplies as well as enough food to get to the next resupply location, which can sometimes be several days. The trail does go near and…
