In December we started to do freezer meals (using once a month meals)

For two adults and a 5 year old as the baby don’t eat yet.

The problem is the view that a kid alone in a car, regardless of the child’s age or the weather, is by definition in extreme mortal peril if they are left unattended for any length of time, period.

Oh but see, camping is dangerous too.

Drowning, getting lost, disease carrying insects(Lyme, West Nile, Zika, plague), predatory animals, exposure (heat/cold/rain), campfires (smoke inhalation, burns) are some of the many dangers.

We aren’t safe anywhere
*panics*
*hyperventilates*

I’d be more worried that a 12 year old on their own would find a way to fall overboard.

That at least is a real and practical danger on a boat, especially a large vessel like a cruise ship. Can’t imagine swimming away from the hull would be easy, even if the fall didn’t cause some form of injury.

Kids are dirty and cavalier about hand washing. Mine for example recently decided its funny to simply wet her hands and then dry them and call that good enough.

About the only special towel ritual I have is with a hand drying towel.

I have MY towel. No one else shall use it.

I do multiple roadtrips a year.

The only thing I’ve found challenging so far is my kid’s uncanny knack for choosing the exact wrong spot to ask for a potty break. Such as right when you get to a stretch of highway that passes through the part of a city that has derelict buildings with busted/shot out windows and such.

To illustrate points many have made about the danger of getting close to wildlife.

Two more

If you are like me and have a desk job, all day physical activity carrying extra gear (water, food, camera, child, bear protection method) at high elevation will take a toll on you.

Plan on having a light activity day every couple days to let your body recover from the extra exertion.


Bear protection since I…

Patience is definitely a big thing. It is a vacation after all.

Usually I try not to do much planning beforehand because realities on the ground always trump plans.

Talking with other visitors is always fun and informative.

I’ve found it quite beneficial on trails to find out what kind of animals there might be up ahead, or trail conditions, or how close you are to the end.

And of course its always fun to find out where people are from, where they’ve been on their trip, and any…

Good point on reservations change at in park lodging.

On our first trip we didn’t bring warm enough blankets to camp with and didn’t care for the crowds (we had spent the previous week in Glacier NP which was not so crowded, and surprisingly warmer) so we decided to move on.

Went to the lodging concessionaire first…

Oh and three more.

Hey nice, one I know something about.

Absolutely no selfies 10ft away from a bison. They are not cows. Getting hit by one is almost like having a car run into you.

Its a huge park and you cannot drive anywhere quickly. Save yourself a lot of time in the car, and just spend one or two nights lodging in the different…

According to the National Sleep Foundation, we sleep best when we’re in a 65-degree room

Holy polar bears batman!
If I’m in a room at that temperature, and sedentary I’m reaching for a blanket, or tossing on some warmer clothing.

Seems to me that its a whole lot of overcooling if air conditioning is how you keep your…

Likewise

No

We went the balance bike route.
Its definitely works well for a do it at your own pace method.

Started her off a bit over age three. Kid is now five and is probably ready to move a pedal bike. The challenge is finding a decent one that doesn’t cost more than I’d pay for a bike for myself, let alone a child that will…

When I see an article about bank fees I wonder where are these mysterious fees?