Modern Mama

Something our family has really gotten more into over the last year is taking our Jeep out on different trails and up into the mountains. While we usually do this in the summer we recently ventured out this last weekend and went out for a winter ride which ended up being great! And it was definitely needed because one of the hardest things for us in the winter is getting out of the house. Our little one currently loves going outside so we’ve had so find ways to get out even if the weather isn’t going to be perfect. So if you’re looking for a winter friendly idea that will keep you out of the weather (for the most part) but changes up your usual routine I would highly recommend going on a short road trip out to the mountains or finding some fun roads and exploring nature in a four wheel drive vehicle. For us that means getting together with some friends and family and hitting the road in our Jeep.

The nice part about going out and hitting the trails is that with a little bit of research you can find a variety of paths that fit your skill level as far as the difficulty of the roads but can usually mix it up enough that even when you go out multiple times you never have to take the same path twice which makes it more enjoyable for me. We’ve also found that the park service in our area usually does a great job of keeping their sites updated with any warnings of places to avoid and videos of current conditions so you make sure to not bite off more than you can chew. Though that being said I would highly recommend getting a few friends together with some walkie talkies and going as a group that way if you do want to get off the main road you have some people who can get you out if you do happen to get stuck. Its also nice to have other people around just to enjoy some company when you stop to stretch your legs and let the little ones run around a little. Also, if you really want to go off roading but don’t know anyone who you can go with you can usually find a few groups online that like to meet up on weekends and hit the trails. While it may be a little awkward at first you may also make some new friends who can show you some great trails to hit.

Now if you are sold and want to go hit the road I do have a few recommendations on how to make the trip a little smoother for yourself as well as your little one. The first thing is make sure you have snacks and meals covered. Nothing ruins a trip faster than the family being hungry when you are more than an hour from the nearest town. Currently we have a one year old so our meal prep is making sure we have plenty of ice packs to keep plenty of milk, yogurt, blueberries, and deli meats and cheeses cold. This last time our lunch consisted of hot dogs that we cooked in croissants so we also had to pack all of the condiments that come with that, but really if you have a solid lunch packed you should be good since we usually try and be home by dinner so we can get our little one to bed at a good time. I also like to pack snacks for my husband and I since we sometimes like to explore new trails and aren’t always sure when we will be able to stop to make lunch. For us we usually pack jerky, chips, trail mix, and apples. It’s nice that these snacks don’t necessarily have to be kept cold and are easy to eat in the Jeep. I also like to keep a second cooler just for drinks like soda and water so that it is easy to find what we want and so far has kept everyone happy on the road no matter when we are able to stop. Finally you will want to pack some garbage bags so that way you can take out any waste that you create.

The next thing I usually make a checklist for so that I don’t forget anything is packing extra clothes and for this last trip some winter clothes so we could easily change into the appropriate clothes for the weather but not getting overheated in the Jeep where we have really good heating. For our little one I packed her snowsuit, snow boots, extra socks, extra clothes, plenty of diapers and wipes, and blankets (just in case something happened to the heater while we were on the road). For us I didn’t get that crazy but I did pack some extra socks and one set of extra clothes just in case something got wet so we could be comfortable for the whole trip. This advice actually also works for going out in the summer because having extra clothes is nice when you are playing outside in case you get dirty or if you end up wanting to play in a creek or river you find on your journeys.

This next tip might seem obvious but you would be surprised how many people forget to pack toilet paper and paper towels. At least for us a lot of the places we go don’t necessarily have bathrooms readily available so you want to make sure you are prepared in case you need to make a quick stop along the road. The paper towels are really helpful when you are making lunch and just cleaning up the inevitable spills that will happen when you are road tripping with the whole family in the car.

The last thing you should keep in mind especially going out with very little kids is packing a few different things to entertain them especially if you have a bit of a commute before you get to the trail you are going on. We’re pretty lucky that our little one usually travels well and doesn’t usually get too fussy but I always make sure to pack a few toys, books, and Aqua Art so that way if I need to sit in the back and entertain for a while we have a few options because it is no fun listening to a little one be fussy while you are all trapped in a car for a few hours. I also like to bring some things she can play with when we are outside the car. That being said we did manage to find snow on this last trip and our little one just loved making snow balls, kicking the snow, and picking up pinecones that she found under the trees so sometimes nature steps and up and keeps them entertained more than any toy ever could which is part of the point of getting out and mixing it up so don’t be afraid to make multiple stops when you are able and enjoy the area. Also don’t forget to take a million pictures. These are moments you won’t want to forget.

Before this year I don’t think I ever would have imagined that we would have gone out Jeeping as much as we have but it has actually been really nice as a way to step out of our usual routine, get outside, see some new places in our beautiful state, and spend more time with friends and family in a way that everyone has a good time. While we have mainly stuck to trails and the mountains our friends have also suggested we try and do a Jeep gathering at some beaches that are just a few hours away so we will see what this year brings but hopefully it is full of new adventures and places. If you end up going out and finding a trail or place you really like make sure to let me know by shooting me an email or if you are interested in learning more about ways we spend time together as a family make sure and subscribe to stay updated on all of our new posts this year. Until then happy trails!