family travel

Gear Review: Tarptent Cloudburst 3

Gear Review: Tarptent Cloudburst 3

The Tarptent Cloudburst 3 is a lightweight 3-person tent that’s perfect for those wanting a lightweight and comfortable backpacking and camping tent. I’ve been using this tent as my primary family camping shelter for more than a year now and will share my experience in this review. 

Video Post: The Camino Portuguese from Barcelos to Rubiaes (Pt. 2)

Video Post: The Camino Portuguese from Barcelos to Rubiaes (Pt. 2)

In part one of my Camino Portuguese pilgrimage documentary, we covered the first two stages of the trip from Porto to Barcelos. Part two picks up right where we left off in Barcelos, passing through beautiful farms and vineyards before reaching the medieval bridge at the heart of Ponte de Lima. From Ponte de Lima, we climbed the highest incline of the entire Camino Portuguese to get ourselves up and over Alto de Portela Grande. This was also the point in the Camino that my son became a little Camino celebrity. Word was spreading along The Way of the little boy pilgrim!

Read moreVideo Post: The Camino Portuguese from Barcelos to Rubiaes (Pt. 2)

Hiking The Discovery Trail At The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest - Bishop, CA

Hiking The Discovery Trail At The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest – Bishop, CA

The Discovery Trail is a short 1-mile loop hike that gains a mere 276 ft of elevation within the Ancient Bristlecone Forest. Although this hike is short, it can still be a challenge since it begins at an elevation above 10,000ft. The trailhead for the Discovery Trail is located at Schulman Grove, right outside the Ancient Bristlecone Forest visitor center. In this guide, you’ll find driving directions, maps, instructions, and photos.

12 Tips For Driving Iceland's Ring Road With Babies, Toddlers, And Children

12 Tips For Driving Iceland’s Ring Road With Babies, Toddlers, And Children

With waterfalls, volcanos, black sand beaches, glaciers, and hot springs, Iceland is fast becoming one of the world’s most popular travel destinations. Some travelers might hesitate at the thought of bringing their babies, toddlers, or children along for a trip with such seemingly demanding outdoor activities, but Iceland is actually an incredible place to visit with kids. We toured around Iceland for two weeks with an infant, and in this post, I’m going to share 12 helpful tips for parents looking to follow in our footsteps. 

A Post-Camino Day Trip To Finisterre And Muxia

A Post-Camino Day Trip To Finisterre And Muxia

Julia, Owen, and I weren’t quite ready to stop walking after completing the Camino Portuguese, but didn’t have the time to spend three more days on the trail. We decided to take a day trip to Finisterre and Muxia instead. This turned out to be a phenomenal day trip and the perfect ending to our Camino Portuguese adventure.

Camino Portuguese Day 9: Caldas de Reis to Padron

On our ninth day of the Camino Portuguese we walked 12 miles from Caldas de Reis to Padron. The day started out with a very pleasant stretch of walking on a dirt path before veering off to a few side roads on the way into Padrón. This would be our final night on the Camino Portuguese before The Way would take us to Santiago de Compostela. 

Camino Portuguese Day 8: Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis

Camino Portuguese Day 8: Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis

Leaving the city of Pontevedra behind, we hiked 14 miles on our eighth day of the Camino Portuguese. Most of this stage takes place on asphalt and cobblestone, but there were a few natural pathways mixed in to keep our legs from feeling too beat up. As we approached Caldas de Reis, we walked alongside a little farm where Owen got to befriend a horse and a few sheep.

Camino Portuguese Day 7: Redondela to Pontevedra

Camino Portuguese Day 7: Redondela to Pontevedra

On the seventh day of our Camino Portuguese pilgrimage, we covered 13 miles between Redondela and Pontevedra. This day started out along the Ría Vigo with some amazing views of the Rande Bridge off in the foggy distance. We then completed two seperate climbs totaling more than 1400 ft, with a stop in the beautiful city of Arcade in between. Our day finished at an albergue on the outskirts of Pontevedra, where we got to watch Spain take on Portugal in the group stages of the World Cup!

Camino Portuguese Day 6: Tui (Porriño) to Redondela

Camino Portuguese Day 6: Tui (Porriño) to Redondela

After crossing the border from Portugal into Spain on our fifth day of the Camino Portuguese, we began our sixth day with a goal of walking from Tui to Redondela. The stretch of trail out of Tui leaves on highway 342 before passing through a major industrial zone. There is a new scenic route that avoids this, but we decided to take a cab and skip ahead by 11 miles to Porriño. The route from Porriño climbs a few steep asphalt roads before descending into the beautiful town of Redondela.

Camino Portuguese Day 5: Rubiãs to Tui - From Portugal to Spain

Camino Portuguese Day 5: Rubiãs to Tui – From Portugal to Spain

The fifth stage of the Camino Portuguese takes pilgrims from Rubiãs to Tui. This is a very special day, as it includes the border crossing from Portugal into Spain over the Río Miño. Leaving Rubiãs, the first half of this stage is on natural pathways and dirt roads surrounded by woodlands and farms. The second half covers sidewalks and asphalt as pilgrims approach the large cities of Valença and Tui. 

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