Mountain Mom and Tots

Happy Independence Day!

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In honor of Independence Day I’d like to share a post I made just two months ago about visiting Independence Hall and the birthplace of the nation. I feel honored just to have visited there and I have been thinking about that trip all week. If you have a chance, I hope you have a chance to visit there as well. There’s no better way to be celebrate America than remembering what it took to become a nation.

Independence Hall: National Historical Park

Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The highlight of taking the tots back east, aside from visiting family, was touring the Independence National Historical Park. This National Park is unlike any other in that its purpose is to preserve the birthplace of our nation. The biggest draw for me was a tour of Independence Hall, the location of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Now, I’m no historian but I did have a great US history teacher in high school. I know the founding fathers met here in the Pennsylvania state house to discuss the radical ideas of representative government. It was heart warming to tour the building where this great nation began and to consider the cost the founding fathers were willing to pay for their their idealistic democracy.

I mean, if King George had come out on top in the revolutionary war there would’ve been a lot of smart guys killed for treason. Luckily for the USA, the crazy democratic experiment continued against the odds.

Independence Hall has two main meeting rooms, both set up in the way it would’ve been in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed. In order to tour Independence Hall you must pick up tickets at the visitors center on the day of your visit. Tickets are free and are available starting at 8:30 in the morning. On busy days they suggest having someone in your group pick up tickets for whatever tour is available and planning your visit from there.

Being in the same room where our nation began gave me a powerful feeling of national pride. I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the sacrifices of those founding families and I was awed by their courage to try such a bold endeavor.

Unfortunately little g was more concerned with pushing her stroller around than staying quiet for the tour. Whenever I tried to park the stroller to the side she went over to it and cried until I undid the brake.

Big E was also upset with life and wanted to be held by me constantly, making the stroller controlling even more difficult. Thankfully my brother and his family were there to help and thankfully the tour was only about twenty minutes.

After the tour we had snacks outside, which was probably the tots favorite part of the experience. They ran around the garden area watching birds sneak in to steal our spilled food. It was a great tour and I was glad to have gone there, but next time I’ll make sure to have snack time BEFORE the tour.

Battlecreek Falls, Pleasant Grove, Utah

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Water is one thing I always look for when hiking with my tots. I don’t know if the rushing sound is calming to their nerves, or exciting for their senses but one thing’s for sure, my tots LOVE the water. That’s why Battlecreek Falls hike was such fun.

Not only did this short hike follow a meandering stream most of the way, but the end result was the playful Battlecreek Falls. The tots and I joined our friends from Rocky Mountain Mammas on the wide, rocky trail. We gained elevation gradually, walking through dense foliage in some parts, and over running water in others. Near the falls, a small cave appeared in the wall of the mountain, which my tots were a little too timid to explore.

The main attraction of the hike is Battlecreek Falls, a waterfall approximately forty feet high. Big E was happy running around and throwing rocks, like always. Little g, on the other hand, only wanted to be in my arms when we were at the falls. Perhaps the pounding sounds of water, or the cool spray on her face scared her. To me, the refreshing spray felt great after the uphill hike.

Hiking down from Battlecreek Falls, we got a great view of Utah Valley. Following the water, we ended up at a large pool near the beginning of the trail, where Big E and little g would’ve been content to stay all day, throwing in rocks and watching them splash.

Over all this was a great hike for kids. It was short, fun and had a great waterfall to enjoy.

Battlecreek Falls
Rating: 4 stars
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: Approximately 1 mile
Tips: Put your toddler in a baby carrier. Why did I think she would walk the whole way?

Canoeing the Provo River with CLAS Ropes Course

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I’ve never been great at paddle sports. Several years ago Mountain Dad, who guided rafts down the American River in northern California during college summers, took me down the American on an inflatable kayak. The trip ended in exhaustion and tears, and since then, I’ve been wary of floating down a river on a boat of any sort.

However.

The opportunity to canoe on a very calm section of the Provo River came up this past week and I decided it was time to challenge my river fears. A canoe is more stable than a one man kayak, can seat the whole family and seemed like a good adventure. Plus I want my tots to be comfortable near water, especially since Mountain Dad loves it so much.

We visited CLAS Ropes Course, near Utah Lake in Provo, Utah. Although the main attractions at CLAS Ropes Course are the zip line, giant swing and rock wall, they also have a great boat dock right on the Provo river. For under fifteen dollars, you can take a canoe out for a two hour rental, life jackets and paddles included.

Big E was ready to go before we even got the boat to the water, but little g cried when I tried to get her inside. It was only after she saw ducks floating along the river that she decided the canoe was a great idea.

The placid water was relaxing and beautiful, and the ducks and what I assume was a muskrat or funny looking river otter provided great entertainment. Mountain Dad and I manned the paddles, although Big E tried it out too. It was a fun outing for the whole family, and was the perfect end to a summer day.

Tips for Camping in the Cold

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I got this question from a camper friend of mine and thought I’d share it with all of you:

I am going camping this weekend for the first time with my three year old and it looks like it will be a chilly night. How to you keep your little ones warm at night? Any words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated!

Here are my thoughts, plus some suggestions from another experienced camper mom too:

1. Air mattresses alone get too cold, so make sure you have a foam pad or blanket under you if you use one. I usually put my kids on a Camp Bed like this one from REI.

2. Dress warm, obviously. I put my tots in their warmest winter pjs before bed and nice warm socks. But my secret weapon? A warm winter hat.

Since most heat escapes your head a warm winter stocking cap is a must. I also like winter hats because I can pull it down over my eyes and it blocks the early morning sun so I can sleep in a little more. If it’s really cold I’ll bring mittens or put socks on the tots hands too.

3. Get the kids a real sleeping bag. When I went camping as a youngster my parents just packed a stack of blankets from home and I froze all night. That taught me that camping was cold and for years I didn’t enjoy it. Now, my tots each have their own sleeping bags, again from REI.

4.Use a small fleece blanket in the sleeping bag to help keep your tots warmer. A fleece pillowcase to add some warmth on the face and head, is also a good idea.

5. Little hand warmers in jacket pockets are great for keeping fingers warm, and having them close to the chest/stomach keeps vital organs warm too.

6. Keeping tots (and parents) warm on cold nights is not always easy, but the old adage to dress your kids like you would dress is true here too.

Camping in the mountains can be cold, even in the middle of summer. So make sure you follow these tips and stay warm out there!

PS – I received no compensation from REI for mentioning their products in this post. They just happen to be what I actually use.

Independence Hall: National Historical Park

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