Getting outside is a must for this mama, but recently I’ve felt the need to get out and away a bit further, a bit more remote.
(I did spend a summer living in the Rocky Mountains in a teepee in college, so getting remote is something that I’m definitely familiar with, and, oh, how I desire it.)
We haven’t been on a vacation in months, and I could feel that it would be good for all four of us – my husband, myself, my three year-old son, and my 16 month-old daughter – to get away from town even for just a morning so that we could stretch ourselves (if you will) and breathe some fresh air.
We headed to Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Pine Mountain, Georgia, one of my favorite places to hike. It helps that it’s only an hour away from Auburn; it makes a day-trip completely doable.
We hadn’t taken both kids on a real hike so I made sure to do this quick trip in a smart way. I wanted to make sure I enjoyed myself since this was a special outing for our family. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised.
So how did we do it with two kids ages three and under? Here are my top tips for those of you adventure-loving mamas (or those of you at least willing to give it a try).
#1 Have a plan.
If you’re going on a hiking day trip with littles, it’s best to do it smart. Hiking with toddlers is no walk in the park, but it can be fun!
Since both kids eat lunch around 11:00 AM and then nap afterwards, the best bet for us was to leave the house as soon as possible in the morning, make the hour drive, and begin our hike.
Once we got to the mountain, we made a quick pit stop at the state park office to use the bathroom… a must for a potty trained toddler.
Aside from snacks, we also had a picnic lunch packed so we could eat following our hike. That way, on the hour drive home, the kids could nap in the car.
#2 Be prepared.
I mean, it goes without saying, right? But when you’ve got two kids ages three and under, you really do need to make sure you have everything you need without overpacking.
My husband carried Emily, our 16 month-old, in a hiking carrier and she didn’t fuss a bit. She loved to keep moving through the woods and check out what’s going on from up above. The sun shade in the carrier was perfect as it kept her cool and out of the sun. The pack also housed their water bottles and our first-aid supplies… just in case.
John Paul, our three-year-old, hiked all by himself in his “hiking” boots (a pair of outdoor boots from a local sporting goods store). He loved every minute of stepping on, over, and around rocks, tree branches, leaves, and bugs. He was in his element.
I carried my small hiking backpack that housed water bottles, snacks, and diapers. I didn’t want to carry a heavy load since I knew I’d have to help John Paul learn how to maneuver through the terrain, so the absolute essentials was all I had.
#3 Use the experience as a teaching opportunity.
There wasn’t much to directly teach to Emily; being out in nature and observing all of creation around her was enough teaching for her, but we had many teaching moments for John Paul.
This trip was a good time to teach him about how to hike, how to move through nature and maneuver around trees, rocks, and plants. He got really good at learning how his feet and legs work through these objects.
We also were able to teach him how to fall down easily and how to catch himself when he does fall. Sometimes we forget that kids may need to be taught how to put their hands down when they fall to catch themselves so they don’t scrape up their bodies. John Paul did trip over tree branches and rocks a few times but quickly learned how to catch himself, get back up, and hike on.
And, of course, poison ivy. We had many opportunities to help him identify poison ivy and remind him not to touch it.
#4 Have realistic expectations.
I would love to spend hours hiking through the mountains but I knew that it just wouldn’t be possible with a three-year-old’s little legs and an impending naptime.
Since this little day trip was a way for me to get out and rejuvenate, I wanted to make sure that my expectations were going to befulfilled, otherwise I may have felt letdown by the whole experience.
So, with two small kids who had never been “real” hiking before, my goal was that we would spend at least 20 minutes on the trail hiking through the mountain. If we just spend a total of 20 minutes on the trail, I would have been happy.
To my great surprise, we spent a little over an hour hiking through the mountain and hiked a little over a mile!
I was shocked and delighted that John Paul hiked that whole way by himself. And he loved every minute of it.
Lunch was well deserved for all four of us, and the kids had a blast eating a picnic lunch outside.
As John Paul said
to me a few days after our trip,
“Mama, I just love the mountains… let’s go back…”
I couldn’t agree more.
