Category: Hike

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

For our 10th anniversary Mountain Dad and I took a week long trip to the Frontier State – Alaska! It’s been on my list of places to visit for a long time now, and it was great to go without the tots in tow, just to enjoy time together. My next several posts will be about all the wild places we went to see – enjoy!

 Driving south from Anchorage along the Scenic Seward Byway was one of the highlights of my Alaska adventure. Steep mountain slopes, circling Turnagain Arm Bay is the quintessential Alaska image. The Scenic Seward Byway is a beautiful drive that can also be experienced by rail. By car or by rail, the Kenai Peninsula should not be missed.

At Mile Marker 47 on the Seward Highwayis nestled the 18 acre Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where we saw Wood Bison, Elk, Lynx, Great Horned Owl, Porcupine, Moose and Elk. One of the most interesting animals was the one winged Bald Eagle, Adonis, whose was brought to the center almost ten years ago with a bullet wound in its left wing. Being unable to survive in the wild, he now makes his home at the AWCC. 

One of my goals of the trip was to see a bear in the wild, and although the three bears in residence here are not exactly in the wild, they’re also not in the zoo either. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is working on expanding with its new BEARS exhibit. An additional 30 acres and research/visitors center building will allow visitors to learn more about native bear species in North America.

The two mile loop had a great viewpoint Turnagain Arm and surrounding snow capped mountains. The loop can be driven or walked (we opted to drive because of the rain). The gift shop has several tourist trinkets and t-shirts with all proceeds going toward the center.
I thought the price was steep for what we saw $12.50 per adult, $35.00 max per car, but I also don’t mind paying a little extra for a good cause.

Getting There: Head south from Anchorage on Scenic Seward Byway. Turn Right at mile 47 – look for the signs.
Price: $12.50 adults (12 and older), $9.00 kids age 4-12, Free for kids under 4, $35.00 total per car
Tips: Don’t touch the electric fence. This route would be a fun bike run with kids, if they can handle the gravel road.

Waterfall Week – Hike to Stewart Falls, Provo Canyon, Utah

The final adventure of Waterfall Week was the most difficult. Stewart Falls is over 200 feet tall, falling in two tiers with beautiful Mt. Timpanogos in the background. The hike is only three miles round trip, but with little legs to take into consideration, it was the longest and hardest of Waterfall Week.

Starting out on the Sundance side, we walked through lush green forests until the trail opened onto the Stewart Falls Valley. I  was grateful Mountain Dad joined us on this lush summer adventure, not only to have someone to talk to, but to have someone to help with carrying little g. She’s at the awkward age where she’s too big for a carrier but too small to walk long distances on her own which means that Mom or Dad end up carrying her a lot. 
In the distance water cascaded while the tots explored the streams that flowed below Stewart Falls. But with a total distance of three miles, this hike was already at the limit of our abilities. Although Big E could do it, little g could not, so instead of pushing on to the base of the falls, Mountain Dad and I decided seeing the waterfall from afar and playing in the stream was close enough.
 The extra agony of getting our tots there and back wouldn’t have been worth it since I have a goal to always end an outdoor activity while everyone is still having fun.
Back at home it was obvious that everyone did have fun by the smiles on all our faces. This beautiful hike to Stewart Falls was the perfect end to our Waterfall Week.
Getting there: The more popular trail head is near Aspen Grove off Alpine Loop Scenic Byway or Hwy 92. Several trails begin here, but each are well marked. An alternate trail head begins at Sundance Resort.
Length: 3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate – level trail with some short steep sections
Tips: Try snowshoeing to Stewart Falls in winter. You won’t be disappointed.
Check out these other posts on Stewart Falls 

Waterfall Week – Big E bikes to Bridal Veil Falls, Provo Canyon, Utah

Do all parents beam with pride to see their oldest on a new bike? When I first told Big E I had a great surprise for him in the garage our conversation went something like this:

Big E – “Is it a sports thing?”
Me – “Yeah, I think you’ll love it!”
Big E – “A SPORTS THING? I wanted an angry birds toy surprise!” (yelling, crying and complaining ensue)

You can imagine how excited I was to bring it up again. Luckily a few days had passed and when Big E saw me putting the training wheels on his new bike his attitude suddenly became more amenable to trying this new sports thing.

For his inaugural ride we went to our favorite family biking place – the Provo River Trail from Vivian Park to Bridal Veil Falls. The kids play while I unload bikes at Vivian Park, then the flat, paved trail follows the Provo river to the breathtaking Bridal Veil Falls.

The entire outing there and back takes a two hours or so, longer when your son is discovering the joy of back pedaling brakes for the first time. Even so, it’s a great way to spend an afternoon.

On this waterfall discovery adventure we fed fish, climbed rocks, and enjoyed a gatorade from the recently installed summertime snack bar. A special thank you goes out to the snack bar attendent, who overheard me telling Big E that I only had enough money for one gatorade, not gatorade AND fish food. The attendent offered Big E a plastic bag and told him he could pick up trash in exchange for a quarter’s worth of fish food, which Big E was more than happy to do.

Bridal Veil Falls is an impressive waterfall that the kids and I drive by several times each week. Rain, snow or shine it’s cascading levels are impressive, more so when you can stand beneath them and feel the spray on your face. It’s a great place for families to visit on a hot summer day with easy access for strollers, bikes or walkers.

After a long afternoon of riding, climbing, and feeding fish Big E decided he had enough of bike riding. The excursion ended with a rescue call to Mountain Dad, the two kids in the carrier and the new bike shoved in the back. Even so, it was a good time had by all.

Getting there: Take Provo Canyon Road (Hwy 189) north from Provo or 800 North from Orem into Provo Canyon. Bridal Veil Falls parking area is approximately ten miles up the road, Vivian Park another ten miles. Both parks are on your right.
Length: about 2 miles.
Difficulty: Easy – Biking on a flat, paved trail.
Tips: Don’t have a kids bike helmet? A kid’s ski helmet will do.

See these other posts about Bridal Veil Falls:
Bike Riding Adventure
An Advengtable!
Bridal Veil Falls Bike Ride
Bridal Veil Falls Summer Edition

Waterfall Week – Battlecreek Falls in Pleasant Grove, Utah with The Kid Project and GoAdventureMom

This last week the tots and I explored three amazing waterfalls, all within a 40 minute drive of our house. The first falls of Waterfall Week was Battlecreek Falls – a favorite of mine that I got to share with some great blogging friends – Alyssa from The Kid Project and Kathy from GoAdventureMom.

The great thing about connecting with other outdoor moms is that they get it. They understand that getting young children out in nature isn’t easy, but like me they believe it’s worth it even through the dirt, tears and mishaps.

And this adventure had several mishaps.

1. My spray sunblock could’ve doubled as mace. The faulty tip made a powerful five foot spray that hit my eyes and that of Alyssa’s son (sorry again), ruined my shirt and overall did little to protect against the sun.

2. Rumbling sounds and dark clouds were not enough to keep us from hiking to the falls, and incidentally the hike ended in pouring rain and crying kids.

3. Little g said “I wanna walk!” but would then stop to examine every pebble and bug, forcing me to strap her screaming into a MobyWrap for the majority of the trip.

4. Nature called for Big E, forcing us to use a trailside toilet AKA a boulder behind some bushes.

5. Little g ate cherries, dug in dirt and played in the blackened remains of a fire pit leaving her looking like this.

Even with the misadventure parts of this adventure, watching my son run with delight through the trees, or proudly show off a bug he found reminded me of why I bother. It’s this. Being outdoors with my kids brings me joy, and sharing that joy with other moms makes it all the more joyful. Thanks Kid Project and GoAdventureMom for a great outdoor adventure!

Battlecreek Falls
Getting there: In Pleasant Grove follow 200 South toward the mountains. The road becomes Battlecreek Drive and dead ends at the trail head.
Length: 1 mile out and back
Difficulty: Moderate. The rocky trail follows a stream for much of the way but there are some steep sections that are tough with kids.
Tips: Bring other kids along to help entertain and encourage yours!