The AdventureKEEN Blog
Five Tips for Enduring the Winter Season
I don’t know about you, but I’ve had it with this winter season. In Minnesota, it’s been cold and snowy. And cold. And snowy. The weather forecast calls for more of the same in February, March, April, and into forever. We won’t get discouraged, though, right? Winter isn’t going to beat us. We only have between 2 and 700 months to go. To help us persevere, I grabbed a copy of Surviving Minnesota Winter by […]
Pack Weight Revisited
Is Your New Year’s Resolution to Get Fit? Try Hiking.
It’s that time when people across the country make a New Year’s Resolution. The most popular goals range from getting organized to saving money, but tops on most lists is a desire to get healthy. Whether that means exercising more, eating better, or losing a specific number of pounds, it’s a lofty ambition and one that, unfortunately, has a high rate of failure. According to U.S. News & World Report, 80% of these resolutions fail—by […]
Put a Gift Under the Christmas Tree That’s “for the Birds”
Birds in winter are wonderful to observe, and a birding-themed gift is a perfect fit beneath your Christmas tree. A good friend of mine is very enthused about the birds (less so about the squirrels) that visit her feeder during these chilly months. I took it upon myself to create the ultimate bird-watching present. With AdventureKEEN products, that’s easy to do. Following are five ideas for a great gift package. 1. Bird Identification Guide A […]
#Optoutside 2019
New Book Celebrates the Lone Star Hiking Trail as a Hidden Treasure
Karen Borski Somers felt uneasy before deciding to pen a book about the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT). The Texas native was concerned that her book might bring too much attention to the trail and ultimately ruin its beauty and solitude. Fortunately for everyone, she chose to share her love of the trail. Now, 10 years later, Karen has put together an entirely updated new edition of The Lone Star Hiking Trail (November 2019, Wilderness […]
Forget Summer; the Time to Hike Los Angeles County Is Now
From short nature trails to difficult peak climbs, Los Angeles County is a hiker’s paradise. The diverse topography and geology yield a variety of localized climates, and these climates make for excellent hiking conditions any time of year. Yet there remains a notion in Southern California that summer is hiking season, even though it tends to be hot and dry. While this belief might make sense in other parts of our vast and beautiful country, […]
Five Things to Do on a Weekend Trip to Denver, Colorado
I’ve visited Colorado before, but I’d never been to Denver until last weekend. I was in town promoting my new book, Phillip Lindsay: Rise of a Hometown Football Hero. It seemed like a perfect excuse for a mini vacation, so my wife and a few friends decided to tag along. If you’re looking for things to do this weekend, here are five itinerary ideas that we loved. 1. Drive the Lariat Loop When my wife […]
Find the Best Hikes in Tucson, Arizona, Year-Round
Don’t be fooled by the temperature in Tucson. The thermometer might read 100 degrees in June or 50 degrees in December, but almost any day is ideal for a hike, regardless of the weather. Encircled by mountains, blessed with desert scenery, and flanked to its east and west by Saguaro National Park, Tucson is a hiker’s paradise. In the new edition of Five-Star Trails: Tucson (December 2019, Menasha Ridge Press), local author Rob Rachowiecki presents […]
Find the Ghost Adventures in Your Area for Halloween
It’s October, which means it’s time to plan something spooky—like the ghost adventures in your city or state. Yes, there are pumpkin patch festivals, haunted hayrides, and ghost walks in all corners of the country. And those are often worth attending. But to really get your heart pumping, plan a visit to a documented haunted destination. The America’s Haunted Road Trip series by Clerisy Press is your guide to the best nearby locales. The haunted […]
