Let's Go Outside | Adventurous Moms, Hiking, Camping, Travelling with Kids, Parenting Outside

If you're a mom who's ever packed snacks, wrangled kids into boots, and wondered if outdoor adventures are really worth the effort—this episode is for you. I chat with Annika Mang, a fellow adventurous mom, author of Hikes for Families: A Guide to the Canadian Rockies, and creator of TrailCollectiv, a hiking app for families. We dive into what hiking with kids really looks like at different ages, from babywearing on mountain trails to toddler-led nature walks and muddy backyard play. Annika shares how her approach to adventure shifted with each child, why she challenges the idea of what’s considered “family-friendly,” and how she self-published a hiking guidebook with two little ones at home. If you’re craving encouragement, relatable stories, and practical ideas for getting outside with your kids, you’ll love this conversation.

Places we mention: 

West Coast Trail BC, 

Juan De Fuca BC, 

Regina SK, 

Vancouver BC, 

Edmonton AB, 

Calgary AB, 

Kananakis AB,

Banff AB,

Crowsnest Pass AB, 

Ontario,

Chicago, 

Montana, 

Utah, 

Hawaii, 

California, 

Lindeman Lake BC, 

Peter Lougheed AB, 

Point Backcountry AB, 

Three Sisters Lake AB, 

Porcupine River AB, 

Pickle Jar Lakes AB, 

Mount Assiniboine BC, 

Helm Creek BC

Connect with Annika: 

Personal Instagram https://www.instagram.com/borntobeadventurous/ 

Trail Collectiv Instagram https://www.instagram.com/trailcollectiv/ 

Website: https://www.borntobeadventurous.com/start-here/ 

Hiking app: https://www.trailcollectiv.com/ 

Get Annika’s book - Hikes for families: https://amzn.to/3ZT1b9s 

FOR SPOTIFY:

Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 

Connect with me on IG: @besidethemountain 

Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/

Watch on podcasts Youtube: @besidethemountain

Email me: [email protected] 

Codes & Discounts:

Travel Gear Guide

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IEqVfpGk-5uJ29uoiScoZXLPnTY4r311/view?usp=sharing

Muffin recipes: Besidethemountain.com/muffins

Ever wondered how families actually make backpacking with kids work — from packing gear to keeping toddlers moving on the trail? In this episode, I chat with Stephanie (@thebackpackingmom), a mom of four who’s spent years exploring places like the Idaho, Tetons, the Washington coast, and even Patagonia with her kids. She shares real stories, her favorite gear, and super practical tips for everything from sleep setups to food to choosing the right trail. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to go deeper, this conversation is full of encouragement and tangible advice.

Places mentioned: 

Massachusetts 

Washington State 

Tetons 

Bugaboos 

Idaho 

Washington State Coast 

W trek in Patagonia 

French Polynesia Family Sailing Experience

Nepal - Everspace Camp 

Yurt Trip  

Backpacking packs & kid carrier backpacks: 

Gregory Packs 

Dueter 

Osprey

REI 

MEC 

Other gear and brands mentioned:

Steepandcheap.com  

Big Agnes - Copper Spur 4 person tent: https://amzn.to/3FYFj5y 

Reflectix insulation: https://amzn.to/4mYO7ZP 

Merino wool clothing  

Morrison Outdoor Sleeping Bags - kids sleeping bags: https://amzn.to/4lch0Af  

Double Sleeping pad: https://amzn.to/4063TIx  

A camping down quilt 

Backpacking food and stoves: 

Mountain House: https://amzn.to/3HHfEio  

Backpackers Pantry: https://amzn.to/4l3FZ8x  

Jet Boil Sumo Stove: https://amzn.to/3HGNiEQ  

Pocket Rocket: https://amzn.to/409vGI2  

Connect with Stephanie McNulty: 

@thebackpackingmom https://www.instagram.com/thebackpackingmom/ 

Message Stephanie on instagram to ask questions, or go on a trip with her! 

Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 

Connect with me on IG: @besidethemountain 

Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/

Watch on podcasts Youtube: @besidethemountain

Email me: [email protected] 

Codes & Discounts:

Wee Woolies: https://www.weewoollies.com/ Use code LetsGoOutside for 10% off

Travel Gear Guide

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IEqVfpGk-5uJ29uoiScoZXLPnTY4r311/view?usp=sharing

Are you nervous about hiking or camping with your kids because of wildlife? You’re not alone—and this episode is for you.

Hosts Danika and Stephanie Goodbrand break down everything outdoor moms need to know to feel confident and prepared in the wild. From how to tell the difference between black bears and grizzlies, to handling bear spray the right way, to what to do if you see a cougar or moose on the trail—this episode is packed with real talk, practical tips, and relatable mom moments.

Whether you're heading to the backcountry or walking a local trail, this episode will help you stop letting fear hold you back and start enjoying the outdoors with your kids.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• ​How to identify grizzly vs. black bears (it's not about color!)
• ​What bear spray actually does—and how to use it properly
• ​Real-life scenarios and what to do in each one
• ​Common wildlife encounters: cougars, moose, rattlesnakes & ticks
• ​What to do with food and diapers in bear country
• ​How to make noise on the trail and hike safely with kids
• ​Why staying calm and confident is your best tool

Places mentioned: 

Redwood Forest 

Southern Alberta 

Three Sisters Hike Fernie

Other things mentioned: 

Bear Spray 

Bear Spray Holster: https://amzn.to/4kKtuPf 

Tick remover set: https://amzn.to/45yufq8

Bear Safety Course in the Crownest Pass, Alberta: https://www.facebook.com/CNPBearSmart

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Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 

Connect with me on IG: @besidethemountain 

Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/

Watch on podcasts Youtube: @besidethemountain

Email me: [email protected] 

Codes & Discounts:

Healthy muffin recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/muffins/ 

Wee Woolies: https://www.weewoollies.com/ Use code LetsGoOutside for 10% off

In this episode of Let’s Go Outside, I chat with Eleanor about what it’s like to live on a sailboat with kids and how her family brings little ones along on epic bikepacking adventures. We dive deep into how to plan an international bike trip—especially if you’re brand new to it (like me!) —and go through all the different gear and systems that make riding with kids doable (and fun!). From front seats to tow ropes to tandem setups, Eleanor breaks it all down. She also shares how their sailboat welcomes other families aboard—so if you’ve ever dreamed of exploring French Polynesia, you’ll want to hear this. It’s a super practical and inspiring episode.

Places Eleanor mentioned:

Baja Divide 

The great divide, the continental divide USA

Silk Mountain Road Race

Mongolia 

Kyrgyzstan

Systems for Biking with Kids:

• Front seat 

• Back seat 

• Shot Gun Seat: https://amzn.to/3RYJn89

• Mac Ride: https://ca.mac-ride.com/

• Two train single wheel 

• Follow me: www.twowheelingtots.com/followme-tandem-review/

• Tow rope: https://amzn.to/4jE3LHD

Bike trip resources: 

Offline map: https://mapout.app/ 

For weather systems: https://www.windy.com/ 

Couch Surfing for bike packers: https://www.warmshowers.org/

US bikepacking trips: 

https://www.adventurecycling.org/ 

https://Bikepacking.com 

Europe bike trips use: bikepacking, Italy tourism, and google/blogs

https://bikepacking.com/?s=Italy

Connect with Eleanor: 

Website (sailing adventures!): https://designedtoexplore.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedtoexplore/

Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 

Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/

Connect with me on IG: @besidethemountain 

Watch on podcasts Youtube: @besidethemountain

Email me: [email protected] 

Codes & promo:

Wee Woolies: https://www.weewoollies.com/ Use code LetsGoOutside for 10% off

Download my FREE high protein snacks ebook: ⁠besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook⁠

We all know there is seasons when getting outside with our kids can feel like a lot—especially when the weather’s bad, your kids are at tough ages, or you're feeling drained as a mom. In this episode, we hear from Sara McCarty, founder of Run Wild My Child, for a refreshingly honest conversation about how to make outdoor time part of your life—even when it’s hard. You will hear about what Run Wild My Child is and how it started. We chat about why moms love going outside and feel better, and spring ideas to get outside as a family. Whether you’re dreaming of big adventures or in a season of hoping to make it through a park visit, this chat has so many ideas and affirmations for taking the kiddos outside.

Things Sara mentioned:

Ideas of things to do in every season with kids: https://runwildmychild.com/100/

Connect with Sara: 

https://runwildmychild.com/

https://runwildmychild.com/magazine/

https://www.instagram.com/runwild.mychild/ 

>>Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 

Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/

Connect with me on IG: @besidethemountain 

Watch on podcasts Youtube: @besidethemountain

Email me: [email protected] 

Codes & Discounts:

Download my FREE high protein snacks ebook: besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook
Wee Woolies: https://www.weewoollies.com/

Use code LetsGoOutside for 10% off

Heather Ellison shares all about taking international trips with young kids, and now what it looks like to go around the world on school holidays! She dives into the beauty of unplanned adventures—like hopping trains in Japan and renting a last-minute campervan in Norway. We chat about the benefits of taking the kids on these trips, and she shares about her kid's favorite places. Listen along if you are an adventurous parent who enjoys travelling, or wants to see the world with their kids.

Countries Heather mentioned: 

Maui hawaii

Baja peninsula

Belize

Japan 

Norway

Gutamala

El Salvador 

Finland

Lucky Bay, Western Australia

Ireland 

Estonia

Connect with Heather: 

https://www.instagram.com/gooutsideandexplore/

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>>Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 

Connect with me on IG: @besidethemountain 

Watch on podcasts Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@besidethemountain

Email me: [email protected] 

Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/

Codes & Discounts:

Travel Gear Guide

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IEqVfpGk-5uJ29uoiScoZXLPnTY4r311/view?usp=sharing

Have you ever dreamed of hiking internationally with kids? What about trekking through the mountains of Nepal? I chat with Shannon, who is fresh off the Annapurna Circuit with her six-year-old twins. We talk about what it’s like to trek with her husband’s heart condition, managing -15°C nights in teahouses, how to avoid food poisoning on the trail, and the signs to watch for in case of altitude sickness. This was their family’s second hiking trip in Nepal—they did Everest Base Camp two years ago. Listen in for Shannon’s insights, inspiration, and practical advice!

Places we talked about:

Nepal 

Everest Base Camp 

Annapurna Circuit

Annapurna Basecamp

Pokhara

Thailand

Philippines

Connect with Shannon: 

@restlesscrusade 

restlesscrusade.com

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Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 

Family Travel Gear Guide: Here’s all my favorite must-haves for internationally exploring with kids that I’ve discovered over the last 5 years. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IEqVfpGk-5uJ29uoiScoZXLPnTY4r311/view?usp=sharing

Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/

Connect with Danika on IG: @besidethemountain 

Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain

Email me: [email protected] 

Mom and road trip pro— Holly Burgess— shares about finding hidden gems across Alberta, British Columbia, and beyond. Holly shares her journey into the outdoors, how motherhood changed her adventures, and why Saskatchewan belongs on your travel bucket list. We chat about favorite family-friendly campgrounds to unforgettable road trip stops. Even if you don’t live in Canada, you will learn how to find the best places as she shares Holly reveals how she finds these hidden gems using tools like Google Maps and Instagram while also embracing spontaneity along the way. You will be inspired to plan your next family getaway with Holly's tips and favorite spots.

Places Holly mentioned:

Saskatoon

Great Sand Hills Saskatchewan

Waskesiu Lake Saskatchewan

Tofino road stops 

Glacier National Park 

Coeur d'Alene 

Golden Sky Bridge - Railrider Mountain Coaster: https://g.co/kgs/zxFQSre

Drumheller, AB - Dinosaur to Climb: https://g.co/kgs/yhdpDvX

White water rafting with 5 year olds: https://raftingtherockies.com/

Backroads Maps: https://amzn.to/3Qv7niF

Backroads Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backroadmaps/

Connect with Holly

https://www.instagram.com/burgessadventures/ 

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>>Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 

>>Download my FREE high protein snacks ebook: besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook

Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/

Connect with Danika on IG: @besidethemountain 

Watch on podcasts Youtube: @besidethemountain

Email me: [email protected] 

Codes & Discounts:

Jan and Jul Outdoor Clothing 

Discount code: LGO10

Affiliate link: https://janandjul.com/?ref=DANIKAVANDERPYL

Erika Norton, a Utah mama, proves that doing what you love doesn’t have to stop after kids. She trekked 50 miles in Peru while pregnant with her first, hiked weekly with her one-year-old during her second, and now, at 21 weeks pregnant with her third, she’s still skiing, hiking, lifting, and embracing the outdoors. Erika shares how she keeps adventuring through pregnancy, her favorite family trips, and practical tips for making outdoor adventures possible with kids in tow. Get ready to be inspired!

Places Erika mentioned:

Olympic National Park - Washington, USA

Hiking Machu Picchu Peru 

Grand Teton National Park

Yellowstone National Park

Cambodia

Gear Erika mentioned: 

3-person roomy tent - Big Agnes Copper Spur - https://amzn.to/41CApmI

Pregnancy snow pants - powder pants - https://powderpants.com/products/maternity-snow-pants

Connect with Erika: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exploring.with.erika/

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*Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 

*Download my FREE high protein snacks ebook: http://besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook

Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/

Connect with me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/besidethemountain/

Email me: [email protected] 

Mentions in the podcast: 

Jan and Jul Outdoor Clothing Brand

Discount code: LGO10

Affiliate link: https://janandjul.com/?ref=DANIKAVANDERPYL 

Ever wondered about living in a van and homeschooling?  As a family of 4 (with a 5.5-year-old and a 7-year-old) Kirsty shares about life in Europe as a nomadic climbing family. She shares about homeschooling her kids on the road, getting back into climbing as a mom, her son starting into lead climbing, and how they started chasing this dream as a family. For climbing families or to anyone who wants to adventure as a family this episode is very inspiring and encouraging!

Things Kirsty Mentioned: 

Climbing in the Dolomites with kids 

Hazel Findlay - Climbing mindset: https://www.instagram.com/hazel_findlay/

Climbing mindset book - The Rock Warrior’s Way: https://amzn.to/4k27vUc

Connect with Kirsty Pardede: 

Wild Adventure Film: https://youtube.com/@wildadventurefilm?si=mwLvhxAe6KJ_HX6N

Kirsty’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirstypardede/

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>>Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions. Search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 

Connect with me on IG: @besidethemountain 

Watch on podcasts Youtube: @besidethemountain

Email me: [email protected] 

>>Download my FREE high protein snacks ebook: ⁠⁠besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook⁠⁠

Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: ⁠⁠https://besidethemountain.com/⁠⁠

Codes & Discounts:

Jan and Jul Outdoor Clothing 

Discount code: LGO10

Link: https://janandjul.com/?ref=DANIKAVANDERPYL