Road Trips 101

Car parked in a grove of redwood trees in Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Road Trip Travel Insurance: What You Need and How to Get It

Road Conditions the day we were able to leave Tahoe on 50 after a two day delay - great reason for Road Trip Insurance when going to the mountains!

May 16, 2023

Are you considering purchasing travel insurance for your next road trip? Read on to learn what types of travel insurance make sense for your next road trip. Then find the best policy for your trip. … Read More

Easy Road Trip Snacks for Kids

Fall on Apple Hill near Placerville in California Gold Country

February 11, 2022

The secret to a successful road trip is in the planning, and thinking about details like road trip snacks for kids will pay off down the road. … Read More

Family Roadtrip Essentials (+ Printable Packing List)

Relaxing on Butte Lake after a day of hiking

April 28, 2021

A road trip is the quintessential American family vacation, but it can be intimidating to hit the road with a car full of kids. Planning and keeping some family road trip essentials in mind will smooth out the stress so that you can focus on making new memories. … Read More

Nature Scavenger Hunts for Kids

Looking for ants on a nature scavenger hunt

April 31, 2020

Nature scavenger hunts for kids are an easy way to get your family outside and enjoy nature wherever you are. Scavenger hunts are one of my favorite activities to plan. At its core, a scavenger hunt is simply a game in which the players search for specific items. But, while the game aspect keeps participants engaged and having fun, the designer can layer in meaning in surprising ways.  … Read More

Hiking in Rattlesnake Country: What to Do in Case of a Snakebite and How to Avoid One in the First Place

July 8, 2020

Genie Moore is an Environmental Education Specialist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, and a mom of two. Here she shares advice about what families should do to prepare for a chance encounter with a rattlesnake on the trails. … Read More

Make Your Own Painted Walking Sticks: Stay Safe and Have Fun on the Trails

Painted Walking Sticks Make Everyday Hikes More Fun

July 9, 2020

In our recent interview about rattlesnake safety with Genie Moore, walking sticks kept emerging as useful advice for careful stepping. John has long been in the habit of picking up a good walking stick on a hike, but given this renewed perspective, I thought it might be a good idea for the kids to each make their own special walking stick for our hikes to reinforce the habit.  … Read More