Guest Blogger Kid Hike Series – Stokes State Forest

We have partnered with some great brands from around North America to bring you some outdoor kid hike locations that you can enjoy with your children.  Today we are featuring a location in New Jersey from Kathleen P. of The Noblo.

Location: Hiking and tent camping at Stokes State Forest, NJ

Getting There: Stokes is a beautiful days drive from any part of New Jersey

Best Time of Year to Visit: any time of the year we go in the fall because we love to see the leaves changing colour

What To Bring: tent, lots of food, lots of blankets, lots of warm, clothes

Points of Interest: Stokes is beautiful – hills, rocks, streams, lakes

About our Hike/Walk:  We hiked along a ravine in the rain – thanks to Roo Rain Gear my little guy was dry yet able to jump, climb and run.  The kids found crayfish under rocks in the stream.  The leaves on the trees were colored red, orange, yellow and the ground was covered with leaves that had fallen.  It was a beautiful fall scene.

  Thanks Kathleen for the Kiddie Hike Location, the great pics, and the excellent write up!

Check back soon for another guest blogger’s outdoor hike location, and don’t forget to visit Kathleen’s website for an awesome solution to those fly away umbrellas, a great stocking stuffer for the travelling family.

Guest Blogger Kid Hike Series – Bonnie Brae Park in Tampa

We have partnered with some great brands from around North America to bring you some outdoor kid hike locations that you can enjoy with your children.  Sometimes the best places to get out with your kids are just around the corner. Today we are featuring a neighbourhood park in Temple Terrace, Tampa, Florida, submitted by Gina of Refresh-a-baby.

Location: Bonnie Brae Park, Temple Terrace, Tampa Florida

Getting There:  located just south of Druid Hills Road

Best Time of Year to Visit:  I love October – April which is not typical for a native Floridian. The summers for me is too hot, unless you are at the beach or poolside then perfect!

Points of Interest: Tampa in general has so much to offer you can visit the white sandy Gulf Beaches, Ride new rides at Busch Gardens, See the sea life at the Aquarium and watch the cruise ships depart on their journeys, Take a ride on the trolly car downtown, Visit zoo animals at Lowry Park Zoo, Walk beautiful Bayshore Blvd (come January 31st for the Gaspirilla Festival and parade), take a drive through the historic YBOR City and learn about the culture, only an hour drive to Disney World, Sea World, and Universal theme parks, try some Cuban Food in West Tampa, Shop at International Plaza for top of the line shops and boutiques.

About our Hike/Walk:   My son and I went on a walk to the park about a mile away. We knew it was going to rain, but we wanted to get a little exercise before it started. So, we decided to go for it knowing we would be protected with our rain gear and besides a little water won’t hurt anyone. Normally, we get some severe thunder and lightening storms here, but the last few times it rained we didn’t have any. There are some exercise equipment we like to work on at the park and had just enough time to get a little work out in before it started raining. Roo Rain Gear was easy to roll up and store in a small bag making it not a problem to bring along. We will usually bring along a fruit and water bottle for a little snack and hydration. Then, we head on back home taking different routes to see different scenery. Most of our local area are covered with canopy’s of oak trees bringing in a lot of shade and a beautiful view. We do however need to be careful with wet tree limbs that fall which happens quite often, but we love this quality time together and usually will alternate riding bikes and walking.

Here are some pictures of my son playing at the park in his Roo Rain Gear rain poncho

                     

 Thanks Gina for the Kiddie Hike Location, and the excellent write up!

Check back soon for another guest blogger’s outdoor hike location, and don’t forget to visit Gina’s website.

Guest Blogger Kid Hike Series – Overton Park in Tennessee

We have partnered with some great brands from around North America to bring you some outdoor kid hike locations that you can enjoy with your children.  Today we are featuring a location in Memphis, Tennessee from Melissa P. of qdsprayer.

Location: Overton Park in Memphis, Tennessee

Getting There: Settled nicely between Poplar Avenue and East Parkway, directly beside the Memphis Zoo

Best Time of Year to Visit: Spring and Fall, since it’s extremely hot in the summer and gloomy in the winter.

What To Bring: Mosquito repellant and a water bottle

Points of Interest: The winding trails in the woods, the amazing playground, the large lawn, the dog park, the waterfall lake.

About our Hike/Walk:  We love Overton Park.  It’s such a jewel in our Memphis community, especially since it was almost destroyed in the 1960’s.  Luckily, a bunch of grassroots common people fought the government and rerouted a transnational interstate to save this precious area.  Now, it’s full of winding trails and wildlife, free to the public who choose to explore it.  And that’s exactly what we did.  My kids and I set off on a drizzling day to enjoy our park.  As you can see above, I mentioned that something you definitely need is mosquito repellant, and there is a VERY GOOD reason for that.   We’ve traveled these trails many times, and my kids LOVE throwing rocks, jumping fallen trees, and chasing random squirrels in the woods, but our trip this time was cut short, due to a vicious attack by mosquitoes!  But we were able to get some amazing pictures with our gorgeous Roo Rain Gear Poncho before the onslaught, and we found another use for it- keeping off mosquitoes!  It works so well, that my baby girl didn’t want to take it off!  Come visit our precious hideaway within our big city- there’s so much to find and so many memories to be made!

 

                               How cute is Melissa’s little girl in her Roo Rain Gear poncho?!

 Thanks Melissa for the Kiddie Hike Location, and the excellent write up!

Check back soon for another guest blogger’s outdoor hike location, and don’t forget to visit Melissa’s website.

Guest Blogger Kid Hike Series – Bradbury Mountain State Park

We have partnered with some great brands from around North America to bring you some outdoor adventure locations that you can enjoy with your children.  Today we are featuring a location in Maine from Karen G of Swimlids.

Location: Bradbury Mountain State Park, Maine (Portland Area)

Getting There: Situated on Route 9 about halfway between Portland and Lewiston-Auburn

Best Time of Year to Visit: Sept/Oct for the foliage.  Mid March – Mid May for the Annual Hawk Watch.

What To Bring: camera, good shoes, and lots of different clothing layers. You never know what the weather is going to be like in Maine.

Points of Interest: Summit Trail which is west of Route 9.  This trail is the quickest way up to the top of Bradbury Mountain, which is where the annual Hawk Watch takes place.

About our Hike/Walk:  My daughter and I hiked up Bradbury Mountain a few weeks ago.  It was raining slightly so we decided to wear our Roo Rain Gear ponchos to keep us dry.  Once we got to the summit we enjoyed the beautiful view.  There are two routes to the top. One is a quick steep hike, or there is a longer gradual hike to the top if you are hiking with younger ones.

Karen G of SwimLids’ daughter in her Roo Rain Gear poncho

Thanks Karen for the adventure location!

Check back soon for another guest blogger’s outdoor adventure location.