Adventure Parents Feed

Photo of The Day: Proud Fatherhood Reveals Itself in The Darnedest Places

mstephens@adventureparents.com (Mark Stephens) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Camera: Canon 5D | Lens: EF24-105mm | Setting: f/18, 1/80 sec, ISO 100 "Oh really?" The conversation with Brodie (his name's not Brodie, I'm just protecting the guilty) had found a climax. "We're headed to Gonzaga Bay that same day. We should caravan down together." And so it was. Brodie's family of three, plus "one in the oven," and our family met on the north side of the Mexican border at Yuma, then drove to San Felipe. It took forever . . . Click to Continue >>> (http://www.adventureparents.com/adventure-galleries/random-photos/577-photo-of-the-day-proud-fatherhood-reveals-itself-in-the-darnedest-of-places.html)

Two Little Kids Brave The Wilderness Alone And All They Got Was This Little Movie

mstephens@adventureparents.com (Mark Stephens) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

How does the idea sit with you of two young children, a brother maybe 6 years old and a little baby sister still in diapers, forced to confront the adventure of trekking through the wilderness all alone? Not all that well, huh? Fret not, it's just a narrative comedy film: The Adventure of Jojo (and his annoying little sister Avila). On a car ride to visit their grandma, the car crashes on quiet back road, Mom is either dead or unconscious and there's no one around and there probably won't be for a while. Jojo, still rockin' his pajamas and cowboy boots, takes it upon himself to fetch his little sister Avila from the backseat and hoof it "over the hills and through the woods" to Grandma's house. They ride a river in a barrel, bicker over snacks, encounter a hungry wolf, and fend off a creepy hobo and more. As the film's creator Brian vonSchmidt says, "It's kind of like Milo and Otis but with kids instead of animals." Click to Continue >>> (http://www.adventureparents.com/blog/adventure-dads-blog/575-two-little-kids-brave-the-wilderness-alone-and-all-they-got-was-this-little-movie.html)

Gallery: Road Trip to Sedona, Arizona

mstephens@adventureparents.com (Mark Stephens) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Sedona is just up the road from us and alive with decidedly ultimate beauty. For all of these reasons, and much to our loss, we rarely go and experience the soaring, fire-red buttes, the still trickles of Oak Creek's lesser tributaries, and the whisper that drifts through the hidden canyons. Sure, the area has its crowds but you can find its desolate gems if you're handy with a map. It's all here, hikes, bike trails, dirt roads, killer views, Puebloan ruins, perennial creeks. But this time we said why not? For the first time in a while, it was just us, our little family of three for this road trip. And that always produces something extra special. Click to Continue >>> (http://www.adventureparents.com/adventure-galleries/road-trips-expeditions-adventures/574-gallery-road-trip-to-sedona-arizona.html)

The Sunday Morning Chillax: The Tranquil Road Trip

mstephens@adventureparents.com (Mark Stephens) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Chad & Malena Peacock (http://vimeo.com/chadpeacock) on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com). It's hard to say what makes this short film so captivating. The high contrast black and white? Lack of dialog? Or the choice of song, the gentle and pensive After the Storm by Mumford and Sons? Give it a watch and decide for yourself. The film is as tranquil and languid as a road trip once you've settled into the hum of the road and the kids are mellowed out with books. * *The Sunday Morning Chillax? Here's the idea. It's Sunday. You're up early. You're enjoying a cup of coffee in the quiet morning while your kids sleep in. No need to read, this is always a video; something to give you happy thoughts about mountains, fresh air, stoke, fun, or being outside. Enjoy. Relax. Not guaranteed to be weekly hey, you get what you pay for. Click to Continue >>> (http://www.adventureparents.com/blog/adventure-dads-blog/573-the-sunday-morning-chillax-the-tranquil-road-trip.html)

Photo of The Day: Dad's Old Lantern Keeps Burning

mstephens@adventureparents.com (Mark Stephens) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

My buddy Dave has this lantern, a classic liquid fuel lantern you pump with your hand to get the pressure you need. It's not that old, from the early 80s. And as you surely do not doubt, it's got a ding or two from road wear. And road wear is good. Dave's now in his 30s. As we all get older, we get our markings and dings left by the hard work and courage required of living in this world. However, nothing quite sends a shudder through your life as sharply as the hard blow delivered by the sudden . . . Click to Continue >>> (http://www.adventureparents.com/adventure-galleries/random-photos/567-photo-of-the-day-dads-old-lantern-keeps-burning.html)

Gallery: 10 Things to Love About Adventure in Arizona

mstephens@adventureparents.com (Mark Stephens) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:30:00 GMT

Today Arizona celebrates 100 years of statehood. Most states in the union have already celebrated the centennial mark, only Hawaii and Alaska have yet to hit 100 years — Arizona was the last of the 48 contiguous to be admitted. As a state, Arizona is young, but it's been here a long time before the Pilgrims were setting up shop in Plymouth. I was born in Arizona in 1976 and learned to ride a bike, drive a car, kiss a girl, rig a belay, pack a backpack, mount a horse, winch a Jeep, paddle a kayak, leap into a swimming hole all right here in this fine state. Indeed, the conception of my own daughter took place in a cozy tent under a moonless sky out there in the Bradshaws. I have yet to explore it all, but I'm trying. And if there's anything I've learned, Arizona has just about everything to give you your fix. Here are 10 of 'em as seen through my camera. Click to Continue >>> (http://www.adventureparents.com/adventure-galleries/footy-adventures/570-gallery-10-awesome-things-to-love-about-adventure-in-arizona.html)