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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Breaking news!!!!! The sun came out today!!!! It has been a long time. Or maybe I haven’t noticed because I’ve been inside for 4 weeks with sick kids 🤷🏼♀️ Regardless, the sun came out and we got out. 🙌🏼 and Shiloh’s wearing wool overalls so there’s that too.On our family hike I got reeeeeeeaaaaally serious about making a few resolutions. In no particular order... I resolve to participate in a January detox that includes mostly bacon, cheese, and sourdough bread. I resolve to figure out how many grams of sugar we consumed in the month of December and next December we will double it! I resolve to brush my teeth twice a day. I resolve to keep Shiloh 9 months old forever. I resolve to create an exact replica of the garlic sauce at Kebaba. I resolve to befriend someone with a sheep farm. Free wool? I resolve to air fry edamame. I resolve to discover where the car smell is coming from. I resolve to take a picture of the kids drinking hot chocolate when they get their little behinds up this mountain. Whoohoo, one resolution completed! Here are some pics from our hot chocolate hike including my favorite view of the rocks and the river (the light is so good!) while trying to coordinate a family pic in the foreground 🙄 Happy 2020All 3 kids got on the mountain today for a full day of⛷ awesomeness. Can you find Shiloh? I do love growin’ the babies but since I’m not 🤰🏼, I’m skiing and I really love that too! Woot woot!The tug-o-war between adventure and simplicity. This has been the theme lately. Should we? Should we not? Can we pull it off? If we can, does that mean we should? Last week we drove over 28 hours as a family in 7 days. Part of me looks back and thinks, “what were we thinking?!?!?!?!” At the time, I was sure my good attitude was enough ensure success! And glory! Turns out though, sometimes there is success (and glory!) in holding back, in saying “no,” being ok cancelling (despite what others will think of you), and deciding to keep things simple. The trip was way too much for this new family of 5 and we are still recovering (almost a week later). I wish had approached life with an 8 month old the way I approached life with a 1 month old. Slow and steady. Just because he’s bigger and easy doesn’t mean we need to do all the things. We’re feeling a little broken and still trying to put the pieces back together again. Friends, this is a big season… there is no shame in slowing down, staying in your pjs, snuggling by your fire and keeping things simple. These choices can be beautiful adventures too. I am reminding myself that life is long- the bigger adventures will return. Here are some of the big wins of our big adventure. An afternoon climbing and hiking in Malibu Creek State Park, and some chilly fun in Manhattan Beach. ❤️Off to find ALL the Almond Joys. #hookmommyupFall snuggles 🍁🍂
Category Archives: Roadtrips
Oh Mexico. Conception Bay, Baja Sur.
Drive 630 lonely miles (or not-so-lonely if you bring a 3 year old) south of the Mexico/San Diego border and you arrive, bug-eyed and a little seat sore in a desert paradise. Around hour 11, as you approach the Sea of Cortez, the road ascends the coastal mountains. Awaiting you at the top is a breathtaking view and a well-deserved break from the preceding hours of desert landscape.
When I tell people that we drove 12 hours in one day with our just-turned-3 year old, they look at me like I am crazy. 
Will you believe me if I tell you that it really wasn’t a big deal? And that we did it without using movies or an iPad? Don’t let a long drive deter you from exploring the world with your child and trust me, an iPad doesn’t have to be your lifeline. We had so much fun talking to each other, telling stories, singing songs, creating window art with removable stickers, reading books… she spent time gazing, daydreaming out the window. As a child, those were the times my imagination went wild. I still remember, to this day, the stories I created in my mind with the passing landscape.
Posted in Central/South America, Mexico, Roadtrips
Tagged baja, camping, Conception Bay, fishing, Mexico, sailing, Sea of Cortez, snorkeling
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Utah: Zion. Angel’s Landing
The hike to Angel’s landing is another ass kicker. The hike is straight up and carved into the side of sheer rock, the trail is an aggressive approach to a flat and gorgeous look out above.
That peak above Peter’s head is Angel’s Landing, where we are headed.
Posted in hiking, Roadtrips, US travel, Utah
Tagged Angel's Landing, hiking, road trip, road trips with babies, zion
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Utah: Zion National Park
Zion From Bryce we drove down the gorgeous highway 89 and into the northern entrance of Zion. Having never visited Zion national park before I really had no idea what to expect.
Posted in Camping/Outdoors, hiking, Roadtrips, US travel, Utah
Tagged camping, hiking, road trip, road trips with babies, springdale, zion
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Utah: Bryce Canyon
On the long deserted stretch toward Bryce we were surprised when three Pronghorns bolted across the road in front of us. Peter swerved left, the confused Pronghorn ran right and slammed into the side of our car. I screamed the foulest of foul words and it’s nothing short of a miracle that Sage has not started running around dropping F bombs whenever she sees a animal. Somehow the word didn’t stick and fortunately we slowed down enough that both the Pronghorn and the car were ok. Well I think the Pronghorn is ok. It sauntered of into the wilderness and was only a short distance behind its friends. At the time we had no idea what the animal was and were both in shock. We found the closest pullout and drove in to catch our breath. The shock turned into tears of laughter (me) when this sign was staring at us from the side of the road.
Utah: Kolob Canyon. Zion National Park
Upon seeing the signs for Kolob Canyon we made a last minute decision to get off the highway and check it out. Sage was sleeping so we stayed in the car but from the car we saw many hiking opportunities and were interested in the overnight backcountry possibilities leaving this side of the park.
Posted in bike touring, Biking, Roadtrips, US travel, Utah
Tagged arch, cycling, kolob, road trip, road trips with babies
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Saint George, Utah
When our friend Greg announced he was going to run one hundred miles for the Zion 100, I jumped at the chance to make supporting him, a vacation for us. We explored many different options for the trip, bike touring was on the table for a while, taking the camper trailer, backpacking… when finally what seemed like the best way to do it all was to leave the camper trailer at home, make reservations for hotels and campgrounds, pack up the car, load the mountain bikes, and hit the road.
Posted in bike touring, Biking, Roadtrips, Rock climbing, US travel, Utah
Tagged biking, ibert, road trip, Rock climbing, Saint George, travel, travel with toddlers
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Joshua Tree
The fun part of meeting friends in Joshua Tree is no cell reception. We rely on the old fashioned method of leaving notes on the back of campsite information boards. Just after midnight on Friday, we found our note, drove to our campsite, and discovered that someone else had parked their car and pitched their tent where ours was supposed to be.
Posted in Camping/Outdoors, Roadtrips, Rock climbing
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Lake Lopez
This summer’s Lake Lopez kick off
Posted in Camping/Outdoors, Roadtrips, Uncategorized, windsurfing
Tagged camping, San Luis Obispo, windsurfing
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Lake Tahoe & Mammoth Lakes, CA
Sage’s 2 month birthday was made even more special because it marked the beginning of Peter’s 6 week hiatus from work.
Posted in Camping/Outdoors, Roadtrips
Tagged Lake Tahoe, Mammoth, road trips with babies, weddings
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Joshua Tree
After a long week, knowing I am heading into nature always rejuvenates me. It’s like an instant second wind.
Posted in Camping/Outdoors, Joshua Tree, Roadtrips, Rock climbing, US travel
Tagged camping, Joshua Tree, Rock climbing
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