{"id":2327,"date":"2023-10-06T01:19:36","date_gmt":"2023-10-06T01:19:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifeasavoyager.org\/?p=2327"},"modified":"2023-10-06T01:42:57","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T01:42:57","slug":"how-i-choose-hikes-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifeasavoyager.org\/2023\/10\/how-i-choose-hikes-for-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"How I Choose Hikes For Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Hiking with kids is an investment. By that I mean a lot of work goes into every stage of the process but you also reap myriad rewards. There’s a concept in Norway called the “doorstep mile” where the hardest part is just getting out the door. I often feel that for new hikers or people new to an area, the hardest part is knowing how to choose hikes for kids and then getting out the door. Today, I’ll be explaining how I choose hikes for my own kids and how you can get your kids excited to get out on the trail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I did not grow up hiking. I lived all over the US, but mostly in the Inland Empire in Southern California (shoutout to the 909) where it was frequently over 100 degrees by 11AM. Not exactly ideal hiking weather. And going up into the San Gabriels when it’s that hot? Pass. But I lived for a summer in my teens in the Black Hills in South Dakota in a little cottage surrounded by woods. And I spent pretty much every day exploring those woods. When I met my husband, our first big day date was him trying to take me on a three-mile hike. I say “trying” because I had never truly hiked before, did not have appropriate footwear, and could not keep his pace. I basically felt like this Reductress article<\/a>, trying to be cool and failing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But I had the bug. I fell in love with the mountains in Montana and lived for summers there. My husband spent most of his childhood outdoors and I knew I wanted that for our kids, too. Besides the myriad benefits of outdoor time<\/a>, it fosters an appreciation for the outdoors and respect for our environment. It teaches problem-solving and is a great way to foster both independence and resilience. No matter your age, there’s nothing better than getting to the end of a hard hike and seeing how far you’ve come.<\/p>\n\n\n