Celebrate the US National Park Services 98th Birthday with free admission!

We love visiting the National Parks when travelling in the US and Monday Aug 25th is their 98 birthday. I really hope to be part of their 100th celebration.

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For more information and to see lists of events in the parks near you click HERE.

We are not travelling at the moment and are in Canada but here are some of our favourite US National Parks we have visited in our past travels.

Yellowstone National Park

Badlands National Park

Assateague National Seashore

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

White Sands National Monument

Mesa Verde National Park

Canyonlands National Park

Arches National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon National Park

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Montezuma Well...the spring was amazing

We've visited many National Parks, National Monuments, National Seashores, and National Recreational Areas in our travels. We have camped in many National Forests and can barely wait to be able to travel again. With 401 parks available to visit we have a lot more to see! Hopefully on Aug 25th you can stop by one of them for FREE and while you are there pick up a parks pass. The $80 fee is SOOOoooOOOooo worth it!

Fulltime Families Summer Scavenger hunt week 1

Last year we participated in the Fulltime Families      Summer Scavenger Hunt but I didn't keep track of our own photos so this year I thought I would share them here. It was a lot of fun and full of craziness trying to complete all the tasks. This scavenger hunt is fun because she leaves the description open for your interpretation just as long as it fits with what the tasks asks you to do. We joined full time families when we started our maiden voyage. Our hopes have been to spent 6 months travelling and 6 months in Canada but we haven't made it there yet...but it still is our goal!

Here are the first weeks tasks to find:
We started off with a trial practice photo. It was to be a family photo with fake moustaches.

1) "I can't believe we all fit in here!" 600 

Sierra came up with this idea all by herself and scored us 100 bonus points too!

2) Picture a live farm animal 350

3) Picture of a fountain 200

4) Picture IN a fountain 500

5) Crossing the street in a cross walk 250

As we raced to get groceries we stopped at the lights, jumped out and took this picture and raced away. By the looks on the people in the cars watching us...they thought we were crazy!

6) In an elevator 300
While we were in Barrie during the week we meant to stop by the Dr's office to get a picture but with all the flat tires that day we ran out of time. Today we went over to the senior residence and explained to them about our scavenger hunt and asked if we could use their elevator...they said yes thankfully :) She said it was old but operational.

7) Decked out in Sporting Equipment 450 

Snorkling's a sport right?

8) If you’re family was a ‘family band’ 700
We added our neighbours daughter as an honorary family band member
Aayla is on drums, I've got a Mohawk rattle, Sierra's on the mini guitar, Ian's rocking the maracas and Our neighbour was shaking some bells but I just noticed it's not in the pic.

9) Swinging on a playground swing set 400

10) Jumping on a trampoline  600

11) A fire hydrant 200

12) A cactus 400
Decor in Sierra's toad's cage

13) A palm tree 400
We tried to find a real palm tree at the garden centres but no luck so we found some at the beach park.

14) A Christmas tree 400 
OK I know this picture is lame. I wanted to set it up and decorate it but time did not permit this week.

15) Eating an ice cream by an ice cream sign 800

16) In front of a grocery store 200

17) The parents in the kids play area at a fast food restaurant 600 

18) Playing video games 200 

19) An aquarium full of fish 450

20) With a grocery cart 200 (500 bonus points if a team member is in the cart)

21) With one of those little car rides outside grocery stores 300

22) Caution tape 200
She may look cute but watch out! She can explode!

23) An insect 200 (+500 if you identify the insect) 
We moved our tent and found lots of ants making tunnels and one dead june bug

24) Park bench 300

25) Jump rope 200

BONUS1 WEB Challenge:  Go to http://www.lazydays.com/ to complete this task and post your screen capture + your pic to get your points: "Are you the Queen of your RV?" This is just right for you! Find it at Lazydays.com. Take a picture in a crown along with a screenshot of what you found. 1000 pts!

We are all Queens of our trailer :)

We had a busy week but managed to complete all the tasks just in the nick of time and are looking forward to seeing what tasks are coming in the next 3 weeks!

Hiking Recollet Falls at French River Provincial Park Ontario

While camping nearby on the Pickerel River down a logging road, we ventured over to the French River Provincial Park for a hike to the falls.

The trail was really rocky and uneven with rocks and roots everywhere. It made for a very tricky walk in certain places.

In some places you even had to climb boulders

Proper foot wear would have been good but as we arrived in the parking lot and we realized both our girls jumped in the truck in bare feet. Luckily Aayla found a pair of flip flops in the truck and Sierra found a pair of rubber boots...so we managed.

Tree climbing in flip flops is tricky.

 Walking in boots on this trail worked way better then flip flops...until your feet get too hot.

 Even though it was a tricky walk, there was lots to see a long the way.

Wild Columbine

Wild Strawberries...so tiny but sooo yummy

 Sierra ran way ahead as the deer flies were really bad and it really upset her when they flew in or near her hair, but the rest of us caught up eventually.

 We finally made it.

 The falls do not look very big but if you picture canoes 100 years ago trying to go along this river...they'd look pretty big if you weren't expecting them. While there, a row boat and a couple fisherman made the portage over the land and around the falls.

Getting closer to the falls for a better look

 Snuggling up with dad...the deer flies really bothered Sierra on this walk and she needed some help calming down.

Mark (Ian's brother) and Charlie

 Then it was time to head back... Charlie discovered a caterpillar nest near the falls.

 Some wild chives growing beside the river which the butterflies seemed to really enjoy.

 We did the walk back much faster (although it somehow seemed slower) as everyone was a bit grumpy from stumbling and falling due to improper footwear and the deer flies, so we didn't visit the museum at the park when we were finished. We headed straight back to the camp site.

On our next trip up here I want to check out Grundy Lake Provincial Park. Hopefully some of the walking trails there will be a bit more even...or at least hopefully we will have the proper footwear so we all can enjoy the walk a bit more.