When we camp, we prefer to do it away from a lot of people. On occasion we will camp in improved campgrounds that you can reserve – especially if we’re going to be in an area during a popular time, like a holiday weekend. Most of the time, we prefer to camp off-grid so we boondock. You might also have heard it called dry camping or dispersed camping. So what is boondocking exactly and what do you need to know…
Picture this: Sitting on the private deck of a cute cabin looking out over the Middle Fork of the Boise River. You start to get a little chilly so decide to warm up by climbing down into the hot tub that is fed from a natural hot springs source. Sounds like a pretty ideal spot doesn’t it? Well this is what you get when you enjoy a stay at the Twin Springs resort! Alex and I recently had the pleasure…
A weekend warrior is defined in the Oxford dictionary as someone “who participates in an activity only in their spare time.” That’s what Alex and I are. We LOVE traveling and going on adventures but we both have full-time jobs. Contrary to what some may think – we don’t get paid to travel (we wish!). Lately people have surprised me by saying something similar to, “you guys are so lucky to be able to go on so many adventures! I wish…
Have you ever thrown a banana peel or an orange peel into the brush while camping? Confession time – I have. “Why would you ever do such a thing,” my horrified self of today asks my oblivious past self?! I didn’t really think it was that big of a deal back then. I mean, after all, won’t some cute little squirrel appreciate an easy snack, I would ask myself? Or I might also think, it’s food – it will decompose…
Many of us are getting out and enjoying the camping, hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Chances are we will encounter all sorts of wildlife during our adventures. Most of us know we shouldn’t approach wildlife as it can lead to unintended consequences – for humans and the animals. So how can we take in the beautiful sights and sounds of nature while staying safe and respecting wildlife? Read on for some tips! When it comes to camping, most of…
Snakes. They get my heart pumping and cause me to instinctively recoil from them. If I’m camping or hiking and encounter them, I usually jump back and scream. I do not want to be too close to them. Not only because I don’t want to get a snake bite but also because they are one of those creatures that simply creeps me out. My Uncle Mike loved snakes (maybe he still does) and I recall him showing them to me…
More people are getting outside to enjoy all that nature has to offer. We are fortunate in Idaho and the rest of the Pacific Northwest to have so many different outdoor activities to participate in – hiking and biking on trails, kayaking in rivers, snowshoeing, skiing, and snowmobiling in the backcountry, camping during all four seasons, to name just a few. There is so much beauty all over the state and we love going out and soaking it all in.…
Our pups love camping and get antsy when they see us prepping to go. They lay in front of doors or follow us around like our shadows just to make sure we don’t forget them (never!) or, heaven forbid, purposely leave them at home with a dog sitter. They go with us 95% of the time and love every minute spent exploring both new and familiar places with their human parents. We try to plan as much as possible in…
Some people are planners and some are not. Am I a planner? It depends, but when it comes to food, not so much. Alex, on the other hand, totally is. Thankfully I am a beneficiary of his planning because, even when we’re traveling and living the #vanlife we eat like we’re dining in a restaurant…and I’m not talking fast food either. Being a chef, Alex has the knack for throwing together “simple” meals that he likes to prep in advance…
This past fall, Alex and I took our pups and headed out with my sister and her partner on a trip to Coeur d’Alene, camping along the way. It was a blast discovering places we had never been – all beautiful in their own way. On our way home, we discovered we’d be near the Nez Perce Clearwater National Forest so we decided to see if we could find a spot to dry camp for the night. Enter Jungle Creek.…