How to Enjoy the Outdoors as a Family any Time of the Year, What to Bring
Welcome to the series, How to Enjoy the Outdoors as a Family.
After my husband and I realized that our daughter had a great love for the outdoors we made it a point to go exploring regularly. We try to go hiking at least once a week regardless of the weather. Sometimes we are not up to a big hike so we will go on an adventure to the park. As long as we are getting outside and bonding as a family it is a win.There are a few things that make these outings both doable and enjoyable. Those things are knowing what to bring and wearing the right clothes. In this series I want to share the things that have helped our family to enjoy the outdoors year round.
What to Bring
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Water
Always bring water! Even on a short hike. Dehydration is not fun for anyone so it is best to avoid it! We like to have our Hydro Flasks with us at all times. Actually, I bring my Hydro Flask with me everywhere I go, even a quick trip to the store. We always bring this water bottle for Genevieve. She likes to have her own special water bottle to drink from.
This product was given to me in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own. The most recent addition to our must have gear is a Hydroblu water bottle. This water bottle filter system is a great item to have on hand when exploring the outdoors and to have on hand in your home. You never know what might happen and it is nice to know that with this water bottle you will always have clean drinking water.
This year we are hoping to try camping and this water bottle will be so helpful! Visit Hydroblu now to find out how these water bottles work and to ensure your family always has access to clean drinking water.
Snacks
If you are a mom then you know that snacks can be a life saver on any outing. We like to bring fruit snacks and a few snack bars. Depending on how long we will be out we might bring a soft cooler with some extra snacks like lunch meat, veggies and chips and humus. If you own a bottle cooler those work great too!
First Aid Kit
It never hurts to be prepared. Having a small first aid kit in your back pack in case of emergencies can be a good idea.
A Backpack
I know what you are thinking, how on earth am I suppose to carry all this stuff?!? A quality backpack is a huge help. If you live in a region with lots of rain it could be worth it to invest in a waterproof backpack. For shorter hikes a shoulder bag is a great option. If you will be using a hiking baby carrier, many of them come with pockets for storage.
Utilize a Baby Carrier
If you little one can still small enough having a baby carrier for longer journeys can be a huge help. I prefer the fit of my Tula and my hubby likes the fit of the Baby Bjorne One. Now that G is getting older we are probably going to invest in a hiking baby carrier like this one.
A Change of Clothes
It is always a good idea to have a change of clothes for your little one. You never know what might happen especially when exploring the outdoors. Bring a pair of clean shoes for everyone. Put the dirty shoes into grocery bags and keep them in the trunk. You can then wear your clean shoes home. This helps to keep mud out of your car on a rainy day hike.
Coming up….
Speaking of a change of clothes, coming up in the How to Enjoy the Outdoors as a Family series we will cover what to wear on your family adventure, where to go, and 9 creative ways to make your outdoor adventure more fun for the entire family, plus an adventure challenge.
Does your family enjoy exploring the outdoors together? What are some of the things you like to have on hand?
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