Trying to plan an outdoor adventure that the whole family will enjoy can be difficult. Whether it’s trying to find an activity that everyone can agree on or deciding on an activity that everyone can participate in, finding the right family adventure can be elusive. But it shouldn’t have to be. There are plenty of outdoor activities geared towards creating enjoyment for larger groups of people. Listed below are a few popular outdoor adventures that the whole family can enjoy.

River Rafting
River rafting is an ideal family-oriented adventure. It is easy to find companies that specialize in guiding river rafting adventures for groups. With an experienced river guide at the helm, you and your family can enjoy an exciting outdoor adventure together without worrying about renting a raft or getting lost. Consider booking a rafting trip with an experienced guide and the family will be sure to have a great time.

Hiking
Hiking is a great outdoor sport for families because everyone can participate and you can always find trails that both adults and kids can navigate with ease. In addition, everyone in the family will get to enjoy scenic vistas, vegetation, and fresh air, all while getting a good workout. There are many resources to find the best hiking trails wherever you go.

Beach Trip
A beach trip is a perfect activity for families. Kids can enjoy playing in the sand, running through the surf, skimboarding, and many other activities. Adults can enjoy relaxing in the sun, surfing, playing volleyball or Frisbee, and just about anything else. The possibilities for adventure at the beach are endless.

If you enjoy the outdoors the chances are you have been stuck in a situation where you need to protect your belongings from the elements. Whether you have been stuck in a torrential downpour, flipped over your kayak, or slipped into a stream on a long hike, you’ve probably damaged some important item at one time or another. This is where a waterproof utility case can come in handy. For smaller items like keys, credit cards, identification papers, cell phones, and GPS devices, the OtterBox 1000 is the perfect companion. The OtterBox 1000 is waterproof, crush proof, airtight, and it even floats. I take one with me on all of my outdoor adventures because it just about always comes in handy.

According to my measurements, the OtterBox 1000 case has outside dimensions of 4.8″ x 3.7″ x 1.7″. As you can tell, this case is certainly small enough to fit in a cargo pocket while still holding a good amount of small items. The 1000 feels pretty light for its size even though it is definitely very hard. My favorite feature on the box is the clasp. At first I was worried that the case would open too easily, but in reality it actually takes a good amount of strength to open it up. I consider this a great thing when I am on fishing trips or out in my Kayak. The last thing I need to worry about is whether or not my cell phone will become water damaged! One other nice feature on the OtterBox 100 is the cord that can easily be attached onto a backpack or kayak. Like the strong clasp, the cord just gives me that extra peace of mind knowing my belongings wont end up at the bottom of a lake.

My favorite use for the Otterbox 1000 case is for long camping trips. When spending several days in the woods I always store my matches and electronics (GPS) in a waterproof case. No matter what the conditions are, this makes it easy to start a fire quickly. I know from experience that there is nothing more discouraging than trying to start a fire with a box of damp matches.

Overall, I am a big fan of the OtterBox 1000. It is small enough to not be a burden, but big enough to carry the essentials. It comes in black, blue, clear, and yellow (my personal favorite). The best part of this products is that you can probably pick one up for under $10 if you look around. There is nothing I like more than a quality piece of outdoor gear at an affordable price.

Do you love camping or hiking or just being outdoors? Ever wanted to spend sometime in our nations National Parks but just don’t know much about them. A lot of people would love to spend a week camping with their family or maybe even spends weeks hiking some of America’s great hiking trails like the Pacific Crest Trail but just don’t know how to get started.

Family Camping might be the easiest of any outdoor activity. There are not many things you need to go up to the mountains for a weekend with the family. A simple tent, sleeping bags, some cookware, food, and a reservation to a camp site will get you going.

Hiking can be pretty easy as well depending on the kind of hike you are looking to do. You could start out with some short hikes around trails in your own area or you could visit some National Parks and try your hand at longer tougher hikes. The longer hikes will require you have more gear with you and you will want to make sure what you bring is not to much weight to carry while still having the proper supplies to survive out in the middle of nowhere.

If you are backcountry hiking you want to make sure you plan ahead. Know the area you are going to. Make sure you have some good maps, a compass, water, a good light tent, good hiking boots, a nice light sleeping bag, and a good pack that will hold all your gear and will feel good walking with it. You will want to bring some food with you as well. There are many great brands of dried food that is light to carry, easy to cook, and tastes good also.

If you just want to get out and explore our National Parks this can be done without any real preparation or without the need for outdoor gear. Depending on where you live and the time of year you could simply go for a drive to a National Park. Load the family or just yourself in the car, pick up a map of the park and start driving. There are many places in our parks that can be viewed from your car. You can get out and go on short little walks or stop at some of the great viewing points that many of our National Parks offer. If you aren’t big into camping but still want to explore the outdoors this might be a good option for you. Most National Parks will having lodging close to the park so you could stay in a hotel at night and explore the park during the day.

This is just a short article about things you need, depending on your outdoor activity there could be much more or much less gear that you will have to take with you. Spend some time at National Park Place and you will find reviews on different outdoor gear, hiking trails and maps, information on our National Parks, and news about the outdoors.