Adventures & Guides
Explore our posts below for family-friendly adventures, national parks, hiking tips, and local gems across Upstate New York. Real trips with real tips for real families🏕️
8 Best Tips For Hiking With Toddlers & Preschoolers
Our family loves a good hike. We started when my stepdaughters were still small (now teens), and now we’re getting my son out on the trail with us. There is a method to the madness, especially when the kids are…
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9 Trail Games For Hiking with Kids
If you’ve ever tried hiking with kids, you’ll know that boredom is inevitable. Since we started taking kids hiking when my step-daughters were still little, we’ve gradually built up a toolkit of games and distractions. Here are our top ways…
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Rent vs Used vs New: A Practical Guide to Gear for Families
We’ve all had that moment. You realize you want to try something new or you’re getting ready for a new season and find yourself thinking: “Whoops, I need gear for this.” Someone wants to learn to ice skate, or every…
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6 Ways to Get Kids Outside in Winter
I know winter isn’t the preferred season for a lot of outdoor families. It was actually my least favorite for a very long time. Here in Upstate/Central NY it gets cold, not to mention the mountains of snow and lovely…
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3 Snow Experiments for Cold Days
When the temperature inevitably drops one wintry day it helps to have some options. We normally try to get outside as much as possible, but there are times when it’s just too cold to be safe. Enter: Snow Experiments! These…
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Mom Pack: Everything I Carry When Day Hiking With Kids
I remember a life before kids when my now husband and I would head out hiking with a battery pack, a protein bar, and a water bottle. We’d hope for the best and it was always fine, but those days…
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But I Don’t Even Ski: Greek Peak Review for Non-Skiing Families
Greek Peak Mountain Resort in Cortland, NY is one of those places that thrives in the winter. This is of course due to the skiing and snowboarding opportunities, but is the trip worth it if that’s not on your agenda?…
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Rochester Museum & Science Center: Review & Tips
Located right in the city at 657 East Ave, Rochester, New York, the Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) is a classic stop for museum going-families. We’ve been a few times, and always have fun–it’s another great option for when…
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2025 Round Up: Our Family’s Favorite Hikes
2025 was a busy and beautiful year! We were lucky enough to log 53.1 miles over the year, all of which are tracked on All Trails if you’re curious to see everything we got up to. As we started dreaming…
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The Littlest Pack: Our 3-Year-Old’s Hiking Essentials
As many parents know, there comes a time when a toddler suddenly insists they can do everything by themselves. Well, this has become my son’s entire personality–he’s a big kid now. Naturally, that meant he needed his own pack, real…
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