Camping

Guanacos on a mountain hill in Patagonia, Chile
Guanacos on a mountain hill in Patagonia, Chile

Patagonia: the Ultimate Travel and Hiking Guide

Patagonia is a huge region of South America covering both Argentina and Chile. With so much to see and do, including hiking, trekking, boating, skiing and snowboarding, touring historical sites, and more, we had to send someone down there to find out everything about it. And now our ultimate guide to Patagonia is awaiting those who yearn for more adventure in this beautiful and inspiring area. Come check out our guide and start planning your trip today!

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The view of the Columbia River Gorge from the Vista House in Corbett, Oregon
The view of the Columbia River Gorge from the Vista House in Corbett, Oregon

The Columbia River Gorge and Hood River, Oregon

Our next destination on our Summer Road Trip was the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. We decided that the town of Hood River would make a great base for our adventures in the area, and it turned out to be a much better destination than we had originally hoped for, as we found vineyards, orchards, waterfalls, and amazing viewpoints around every turn.

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Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park

Beyond Mount Rushmore: Southwestern South Dakota

The area west and south of Rapid City is home to several national and state parks as well as the famous and frequently photographed Mount Rushmore. While Mount Rushmore draws a huge number of visitors every year, visiting this area and skipping the rest of the region would be like swinging through Paris to see the Eiffel Tower and visiting nothing else. The park areas around Mount Rushmore include large tracts of land where Bison roam freely, one of the largest caves in the world, unique geological landscapes not found anywhere else in the world, and fun cultural and historical attractions.

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Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Our campsite in Badlands National Park, South Dakota

What to Pack for a Camping Trip with a Toddler

Planning a weekend camping trip with a young child (or more than one) can be a real challenge, as we know. So when we set out to take a multiple-month road trip across the country, our tripathalas (the region of the brain devoted to travel) went into overdrive for several weeks. How can we possibly do this? We can't just take a tent and some toys! We actually have to keep another human being alive!

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Routeburn Track
Routeburn Track by Tourism New Zealand

Hiking in New Zealand

New Zealand has long been recognized as one of the most beautiful places on earth. With stunning fjords, lakes, rivers and mountains in vast wilderness areas, there is no shortage of amazing scenery to breathe in. One of the most rewarding ways to see New Zealand is by foot, so grab your backpack and your walking boots and hit one of the many walking and hiking trails that crisscross this beautiful land. There are thousands of miles of tracks, with options to suit all levels of fitness, experience and time available.

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Towers in Torres del Paine, Patagonia
The Towers in Torres del Paine, Patagonia

Hiking Torres del Paine in Patagonia, Chile

Torres del Paine is a national park in Patagonia, Chile. It is known for some of the most spectacular hiking in the world. I met many people as I hiked the park - people doing it on many different budgets. There was Joe from Chicago who camped and lived on porridge for nine days - surely that’s the cheapest it can be done. There were others who stayed at the Refugios with breakfast, dinner and a box lunch included for the trail. In between there was me: I camped, ate one meal at a Refugio, had drinks at the bar during happy hour (when they were half price) and ate a lot of nuts, dried fruit and other easily portable food.

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