Saxis 2018

If all goes well, we’re heading out on our last big adventure of the summer. We thought this was a good time to share some postcards from this summer’s trip to Saxis and Chincoteague. If you’d like to learn more about this awesome area of the Eastern Shore that we love dearly, check out this round-up off our previous Saxis posts.

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Getting Outside : National Park Programs

This is an ongoing series where we share ideas, big and small, for getting outside. Did you read our first post about getting outside? Are you ready to step it up a notch?

This post’s suggestion is simple : take advantage of park programs! Most state and national parks offer educational programs for kids and adults of all ages and abilities.

assateague_detectives1The programs are customized to the features of each park and to the seasons and natural phenomena. For example, many parks, especially those in dark regions, hosted Perseid viewing parties last weekend. Assateague Island National Seashore is located along a popular bird migratory pathway and visitors can take advantage of this location by going on the weekly bird-watching walk with a ranger.  At Rocky Mountain National Park, you can attend a talk about bighorn sheep, a year-round resident within the park. And that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Many parks list their program schedule online, but each park’s NPS.gov website is slightly different and navigation isn’t the most intuitive. Don’t be deterred, you can call the park office or stop in when you arrive.

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While there are programs for all ages, we particularly love the Junior Ranger programs offered throughout the national park system and geared towards elementary to middle-school aged kids. In addition to describing the program, this link provides a few junior ranger badges that you can earn at home and lists the junior ranger programs at all of the national parks.

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No matter your age or interests, there’s bound to be a program that interests you. I’ve learned about the pharmaceutical benefits from ocean-dwelling animals, I’ve taken a guided tour through the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde, and I’ve enjoyed the luxury of sitting around a bonfire without having to actually collect the wood or light the fire!

Have you attended any programs? Are there ones that you love and would recommend to others? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

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Treat yourself to a park visit and take a moment to learn more about the natural and cultural resources that make these places so special.

Knoebels {2017}

This morning we republished an old post of ours that introduced you to our absolute favorite amusement park, Knoebels. Read that post to learn a little bit more about why this park is so near and dear to our hearts.

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Below are a few postcards from last year’s visit. We never published these, but just looking through them has me so excited for this year’s visit.

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Saxis Round-up

If you’re following us on Instagram, then you know we’re covered in salt water and sand this month. We’re spending time in Saxis, Va.

We’ve written quite a few posts about this little island that we love. Saxis is 350 years old. It’s a small community full of history, and we are so happy for the chance to spend some quality time here. There is one main street that winds through the town, and all of the smaller lanes are often just someone’s driveway! The main street used to be lined with businesses, but now there are just a few ~ a museum and ice cream stand are among them, but no grocer!

Saxis is located on the Delmarva Peninsula. It sits on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and is just 30 minutes from Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

Click on the links below to see photos from our previous visits.

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Saxis

We’re spending this month in our favorite little Chesapeake town, Saxis, VA. These are a few photos from last year’s trip.

There’s one main road that runs the length of town. It’s quiet enough that you can walk down the street to the museum. Last year sweet little Luc took his time walking to the museum (with his little flowered wallet!).

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Grand Tetons & String Lake Loop

This June we’re all about camping! We’ve talked about scoring free campsites on BLM land, 24 hours in Canyonlands NP, camping in Tofino, BC, and what to pack for some good camp meals.

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In my opinion, there’s nothing like this view of the Grand Tetons.

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I camped here for one chilly night about a decade ago, and that view of the mountains rising out of the water stuck with me ever since. Fortunately, these mountains and their reflection are just as majestic as I had remembered. Come along for our quick trip back to the park.  Continue reading

Camping at Green Point Campground, Tofino, British Columbia

About a month ago, I went camping in Canada. I stayed at the Green Point Campground on Long Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. When I was researching various campgrounds near Tofino, it was really hard for me to get a sense of the best campground. I was torn between Green Point, Surf Junction, and Bella Pacifica. It definitely took me a couple hours of browsing and debating (and list making) to settle on Green Point and I’ll happily tell you why.

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24 Hours in Canyonlands

This past May we did a series of travel posts as both a kick-off to summer and as a bit of inspiration to get out there and explore. This month we’re continuing the travel theme, but with a focus on camping!

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On our most recent road trip, we spent 24 hours in Canyonlands National Park. Here’s the summary in 24 photos! Continue reading

Camping on BLM Land

This May we’ve been doing a series of travel posts as both a kick-off to summer and as a bit of inspiration to get out there and explore. This June, we’re continuing the travel theme, but with a focus on camping!
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Have you camped on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land? If you’re from the east coast (like us), you may have no clue what I’m talking about. If you’re from the west, this plethora of camping awesomeness may be nothing new to you.  Continue reading

East Coast Road Trips

This month, in anticipation of summer vacations, we’re doing a few travel-related posts. You can see our full archive of travel posts here

FH000025The weather is officially warm enough on the east coast for road trips and car camping. Actually, now is the best time to take a road trip because it’s not so hot that you’re practically suffocating and getting a sunburned while driving. Road tripping and car camping is my favorite way to travel the United States. I’ve driven across the country a couple times and up and down the east coast more than I can remember.

Vacationing in the U.S. is more expensive than many countries in the world, but if you have a car it’s easy to stay on a budget. I  like to keep it cheap by packing snacks and cold brew coffee and staying in airbnbs or camping out. There are plenty of ways to skimp and save, I’ve actually compiled a list of ways to save money on a road trip.

My idea of a great road trip is nailing down a few destinations, not driving more than 5ish hours a day, pumpin’ some tunes or podcasts, and generally leaving the game plan wide open in case something calls to me. With that in mind, I wanted to share a few of my favorite byways and rough road trip itineraries with you. Continue reading