Hi! Welcome! We are a family of four with a deep love of travel, the outdoors, staying active, and new adventures of any kind. We are passionate about sharing our experiences adventuring with our little ones. We hope that other families can get inspiration, tips, and tools they need to embark on adventures of their own. Questions? Email us!
Back Road Family
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Approaching a pregnant run with a beginners mind means I often wonder... Will my left butt cheek cramp up and cause me to limp back to the car? Will my tight sports bra cause boob rash? Will my right hip flexor give out? Will I need a full meal? (Better to pack one just in case). Will I be warm enough? Will my maternity leggings slide down? How many times in an hour will I have to squat in the woods so I don’t pee in my pants? Might I just pee in my pants? Where are the most densely forested areas so I get some peeing privacy? All real possibilities, mostly centered around my bladder. (Mamas, I know you feel me) I’m not giving up what keeps me sane SO I do my wondering. Then I say, “Come what may, I’m running anyway.” Every run brings a new surprise 🙏🏼 @__magneticnorth__ for teaching me about a beginners mind and how important it is for my endurance practice. Stay curious. Keep moving.Maybe a third kid will help us figure out this parenting gig. Third time’s a charm right? #saycheese #marchbaby #boyorgirl #itsasurpriseThe Alpaca and I are the only ones cooperating for this picture. #thanksalpaca #bestsockseverI love when people share the real moments behind their social media pictures so here is our real moment. 30 mins prior to this picture Sage was sprayed with poop. Cedar had a sudden, leaky, diarrhea incident covering his legs, onesie, and shorts. Peter got C’s clothes off and was holding him naked, I was holding the solar shower up high, and Sage was hosing him off. While Sage was hosing, the incredible force of Cedar’s bowels shot round two poop all over Sage’s dress and fleece. Her response was, “ I WAS HIT!” I took this picture post-poop with Cedar recovering on my lap, Sage recovering with hot chocolate, and Peter packing up our entire campsite so we could canoe back to our car. We were bummed to leave our secluded lakefront campsite but in the packing process there was beautiful light to capture the resilience of our daughter who can really handle just about anything. 💩Just add water.South Sister Summit. Powered by a steady stream of M&Ms and her own two legs. Today Sage’s inability to sit still, her fiery will, and puppy-like energy manifested into something profound and powerful. I was so proud of her I think I cried three different times on the way up. Sage you are my Queen ❤️ As long as my legs will carry me I will follow you up mountains. A Blog post with more details about our South Sister Summit can be found at backroadfamily.com link in bio.
Category Archives: Japan
Kenmin no Mori Day Hike!
Okinawa has beautiful places to hike. We found the Prefectural Citizens Forest near our hotel and loved exploring the park grounds and tackling the steep climb to the top. You climb hundreds of wooden steps under a ceiling of lush tropical trees. The sounds of cicadas are almost deafening. Our 3 year old loved it and my husband got a great workout carrying her up the stairs. We felt the freedom of the Okinawa hills. No shoes, no shirt, NO PROBLEM! Watch our video, then get out and hike with your kids!
Posted in Asia, Japan
Tagged Hiking with kids, Japan, Kenmin no Mori, Okinawa, Okinawa hiking, Okinawa outdoors, Prefectural Citizens Forest, travel with kids
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Okinawa, Hedo Point
If it scares me or makes me feel uncomfortable, I need to do it. Fear or discomfort means an opportunity for personal growth and I have an addiction to personal growth. At the end of my life, I want to feel like I made the most of the opportunities I was given. Stretched my mind and my body. Got my bang for my life buck.
When it came to my fear of fish (it’s true, I did have a fear of fish) and my fear of the underwater world, I knew that meant I needed to get my dive certification. And lucky for me- after a few short certification dives, I discovered I LOVED the world beneath the surface! Had I let fear determine my choices I would have missed out on some of the most memorable and unique experiences in our natural world.
Unfortunately, I rarely dive anymore. When I do dive, there is that moment right before I jump in where I think, “Crap. Which button does what again? Did I turn on my air? How do I inflate this thing? Which means I’m OK? The thumbs up or the OK sign?”
I take a deep breath, calm my anxieties and jump in. Just like riding a bike, it all comes back. I bob at the surface for a minute. The cool water envelops my face and hair. I become weightless. I put the regulator in my mouth, remember how much I love the cool air and meditative sound of the most basic of human functions. I deflate my BCD and and leave the world behind.
Posted in Asia, diving, Japan
Tagged diving, Hedo Point, Okinawa, Snorkeling with toddlers
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Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is colorful, busy, and hands down one of the most impressive aquariums we’ve visited. With its dark cool hallways it is a beautiful place to burn energy on a hot, humid, summer day. Okinawa was very hot in June, like step outside, take a deep breath, and find your happy place hot.
Posted in Asia, Japan
Tagged Cafe Captain Kangaroos Hamburger Island, Churaumi Aquarium, hamburgers, Nago, Okinawa, Whale Sharks
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