Summer days at the lake were always memorable! The August 2009 Sunset Magazine has two articles about lakes: Lake Tahoe – where Sand Harbor is the place to swim – and then the Top 10 Lakeside Camps – the on-line article has 15, including the best photo ops, sunsets, fun, small town feel, and four-star food!
Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe and More
August 20, 2009
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Nature Activities, Places to Explore | Tagged: Big Bear Lake, biking, Brainard Lake, camping, child, children, Coeur d'Alene, Crater Lake, Fairholme Campground, family, fishing, Flathead Lake, fun, Grand Lake, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, grandparent, Green Hour, Hawley Lake, hiking, hiking trails, Indian Creek Campground, Juniper Lake, Kangaroo Lake, kayaking, kids, Lake Crescent, Little Crater Lake, Lost Creek Campground, nature, Pawnee Campground, Pawnee Campground at Brainard Lake, photo ops, Photography, Places to Go, playing, Priest Lake, Saddlebag Lake, sunsets, swimming, Tony Grove Lake, wildflowers | 
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Posted by mygrandmasue
National Parks of the West
August 19, 2009The August 2009 Sunset Magazine has a great article by Peter Fish and photographed by Ian Shive on National Parks With Amazing Views: Grand Teton National Park, Yosemite National Park, Channel Islands National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Yellowstone National Park. It has an on-line link to an interactive page with lots of information on Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Olympic National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Zion National Park. Watch the video of Sunset editor-in-chief Katie Tamony interviewing Ken Burns, who is the filmmaker of “National Parks: America’s Best Idea” – PBS will show it on September 27. The other videos are also very good. There are suggestions, photos and a map where you click on the park for even more info on activities, accommodations, campgrounds, and “top wow spots” from Sunset. I found it quite awesome!
Leave a Comment » | Nature Activities, Places to Explore | Tagged: camping, Canyonlands, Channel Islands, child, children, family, fishing, fun, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, grandparent, Green Hour, hiking, Ian Shive, kayaking, kids, National Parks, nature, Olympic National Park, Outdoor Adventures, Peter Fish, Places to Go, playing, rafting, relaxing, river rafting, snorkeling, Sunset Magazine, trails, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion | Permalink
Posted by mygrandmasue
Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky
July 6, 2009I haven’t had a non-western blog in a while. A very long time ago we visited the awesome Mammoth Cave National Park in Cave City, Kentucky. It is a totally fun spot for the family to explore.
There are the cave tours. There are more than 70 miles of backcountry trails through forested hills for hikers and bicyclists. There is canoeing, kayaking, swimming and fishing on the Green River. There is horseback riding on 60 miles of trails. Also possible is camping and backcountry camping. Special family and children’s activities are available, as well – like Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park! These pages from the Mammoth Cave National Park website provide everything you need to plan an expedition in and around the world’s longest known cave.
Then there is a lot more commercialized stuff, too.
Hey, you corvette lovers! The National Corvette Museum is in nearby Bowling Green. Of course, you knew that already…it’s for the rest of us to find!
Leave a Comment » | Nature Activities, Places to Explore, Sport Activity | Tagged: backcountry hikes, Backcountry Hiking, biking, biking trails, Bowling Green, camping, caving, child, children, Corvette Museum, family, fishing, fun, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, grandparent, Green Hour, Green River, hiking, hiking trails, horse, horseback riding, Jellystone Park, kayaking, Kentucky, kids, Mammoth Cave, Mammoth Cave National Park, National Corvette Museum, Places to Go, swimming, world's longest cave, Yogi Bear | Permalink
Posted by mygrandmasue
The Great American Backyard Campout is TONIGHT!
June 27, 2009The Great American Backyard Campout is tonight. I wrote about this before. The Reno Gazette-Journal has an article here on Backyard Bonanza by Maggie O’Neill.
Do it! Have fun and take pictures! Send the best one in for a contest!
From the RGJ (Reno Gazette-Journal):
Send in a photo of your family participating in the Great American Backyard Campout for a chance to win a copy of Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Your photo could be published in the RGJ. Send submissions to moneill@rgj.com
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Posted by mygrandmasue
Marine Science Adventure Camps – Summer 2009
June 24, 2009Long Beach Marine Institute has two series of camps this summer. Ocean Adventure Camp is for ages 5-12 and Junior Oceanographer is for ages 13-16. The following information is from their poster:
Ocean Adventure Camp for Ages 5-12
Unique experience with hands-on marine science
Available June 22-August 21
$180/week or $680 for four weeks
Prices include all field trips
Each week has a different ocean related theme and is filled with projects, crafts, and aquatic fun designed to promote ocean sciences and conservation. Campers will enjoy weekly field trips, kayaking, snorkeling, an expedition aboard the Long Beach Marine Institute research vessel and lots more!
Week 1 & 6: Liquid Jungles
Kelp Forests and Coral Reefs
Session I: 6/22-6/26 & Session II: 7/27-7/31
Week 2: Mysteries of the Deep
Deep Sea Creatures and Habitats
Session I: 6/29-7/3
Week 3 & 7: Whales and Friends
Marine Mammels
Session I: 7/6-7/10, Session II: 8/3-8/7
Week 4 & 8: Invertebrate-A-Mania
Study of Invertebrates
Session I: 7/13-7/17, Session II: 8/10-8/14
Week 5 & 9: Shark Days
Study of Sharks
Session I: 7/20-7/24, Session II: 8/17-8/21
Junior Oceanographer Teen Camp for Ages 13-16
This oceanography and marine science camp is created for teens enthusiastic about learning and exploring our marine environment. Campers will have the opportunity to participate in oceanographic research and exploration while they live aboard the Research Vessel Conqueror. This week long excursion will allow campers to discover marine habitats along our coast and on Catalina Island. This camp will better acquaint students with the basic elements of geology, physics, chemistry, and biology. Hands-on activities such as snorkeling, kayaking and dissections are utilized to conduct investigations to re-enforce concepts learned. ** Inquire about school credit!
$1200/week
Price includes all room and board
Session I: July 13-17
Session II: August 10-14
Long Beach Marine Institute
6475 E Pacific Coast Highway #281
Long Beach, CA 90803
(562)431-7156
For more information, visit the Long Beach Marine Institute website.
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Posted by mygrandmasue
Mountain Deals – Aspen, CO
June 16, 2009The Long Beach Press Telegram carried an Associated Press article by Catherine Teal about the great bargains and beautiful scenery to be enjoyed if you visit Aspen, CO in the non-ski months. I couldn’t find the article on-line, so you’ll need to check out the Aspen Chamber of Commerce website for details. There are 50% off deals for booking over a Wednesday night. What sounded awesome to explore is Maroon Lake in the Maroon Bells wilderness area; however, it sounds like everybody is doin’ it from the USDA Forest Service website. Shuttle buses are in service to help with the traffic jams. This news release from 05/19/2009: On-Mountain Activities, Camp Aspen/Snowmass and Bluegrass Sunday Line Up for Summer 2009 captures oodles of summer events to include Silver Queen Gondola rides, alpine sightseeing and hiking, mountain biking, skateboarding, rock-climbing wall, camping, guided hikes and walks, disc golfing, fishing, backcountry hikes and Hatha yoga, storytelling and campfire sing-alongs.
Leave a Comment » | Nature Activities, Places to Explore, Sport Activity | Tagged: alpine sightseeing, backcountry hikes, campfire sing-alongs, camping, child, children, disc golfing, family, fishing, fun, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, grandparent, Green Hour, guided hikes, guided walks, Hatha yoga, hiking, hiking trails, kids, mountain biking, Places to Go, rock-climbing wall, Silver Queen Gondola rides, skateboarding, storytelling | Permalink
Posted by mygrandmasue
Great American Backyard Campout
June 9, 2009Be Out there! On June 27th join the Great American Backyard Campout with the National Wildlife Federation Great American Backyard Campout. Planning your campout is helped along with this website. Campfire songs and crafts and activities are linked here. And don’t forget to review my earlier post about camping with children!
1 Comment | Nature Activities, Places to Explore | Tagged: backyard camping, camping, Camping With Kids, child, children, family, fun, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, grandparent, Green Hour, kids, Places to Go | Permalink
Posted by mygrandmasue
Ten Tips for Camping with Kids
June 7, 2009Ten Tips for Camping with Kids was an article in the 6/6/09 Reno Gazette Journal that called out to family campers. The attitude of the GROWNUPS is key!! Plan for fun but still have rules! This is well worth your time even if you aren’t in the Reno area – apply it to your area!
1 Comment | Nature Activities, Places to Explore | Tagged: backyard camping, camping, Camping With Kids, child, children, family, fun, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, grandparent, Green Hour, kids, nature, Places to Go | Permalink
Posted by mygrandmasue
Saguaro National Park
April 29, 2009The Saguaro National Park outside of Tucson, AZ, is a majestic place to hike around. The tall – and very old – Sagauro cacti reach for the sky and you feel so very small – and young – in comparison! So many outdoor activities are available to do: hiking, biking, camping, birding, horseback riding, and wild flower seeking ( in the spring ). Grandpa Ron and I really enjoyed the park.
Leave a Comment » | Nature Activities, Places to Explore | Tagged: biking, birding, camping, child, fun, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, grandparent, Green Hour, hiking, hiking trails, horseback riding, kids, nature, Places to Go, Saguaros, Saguauro National Park, Tucson, wild flowers | Permalink
Posted by mygrandmasue
MyGrandmaSue 