Outdoors

While a nice, thick, cozy fabric is often the first thing we think of when someone mentions “fleece,” when it comes to this innovative material, the options are practically endless. And many are best suited for very different types of outdoor activities, from chilling at the bar aprés ski to hiking up a mountain. So we rounded up our three favorite main types of fleece and break down what each is best for. Because what’s the best fleece material is based on what you’re up to.

US National Parks are expensive. You could always go during fee-free days but then you have to deal with crowds. The next best thing? National parks that are always free. Yup. They exist.

Tired of long longs and packed trailheads? Check out our list of the least crowded US national parks and take the road less traveled.

With over 60 US National Parks, it can be hard to decide where to visit next. That’s why we created this 12 question quiz to point you to your new favorite park!

There are so many amazing hikes out there it’s hard to know where to start or go to next. Luckily, with a little help from AllTrails, we can get an idea of which are the most hike-worthy trails out there. It may come as no surprise that #1 is also our favorite Utah hike: Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park (we talk about it in our Utah Mighty 5 road trip itinerary that you should definitely check out).

New to the outdoors? Or just new to pooping in it? We’ve all been there. But don’t be nervous! There’s a first time for everything, as they say! But don’t worry; we’re here to help you loosen up and make pooping in the woods less taboo, less scary, and–dare I say it–more fun. So find yourself a bush, prepare to leave no trace, and learn how to poop in the woods the right way (yes, there’s definitely a wrong way)!

If safety is a concern while sharing the trail but you want to listen to your tunes, these might just be the perfect headphones for you.

We recently visited all 5 Utah national parks (known as the Mighty 5) in one road trip with my parents (!). While Josh and I have been to all five before, including on road trips, backpacking trips, bikepacking trips, you name it, but this was the first time my parents had ever been to any of them. So they flew over, we picked them up at Salt Lake City International Airport, and we hit the road for a 10-day road trip for the ages. Want to plan your own Utah national parks road trip? Here’s our route and recommendations.

Crested Butte, Colorado is a truly lovely destination year-round, especially for outdoorists. There are trails galore, a well-known ski resort, and a poppin’ small town filled with locally-owned shops and restaurants. It’s a destination renowned for mountain biking and wildflowers in the summer (including an annual wildflower festival) and world-renowned ski resorts in the winter. But if you’re not a downhill skier, you may be left looking for other things to do in Crested Butte in winter besides ski. We got you. Here are some other ways to stay active and play outside when there’s snow on the ground.

Oregon–pretty much the whole state–is a gold mine of outdoor adventure. There’s mountain biking, hiking around mountains, backpacking, kayaking, and so much more. And the Oregon Coast is no exception. Between sandy beaches, whale watching, sandboarding, biking and hiking, you’ll never run out of things to do. But if you want to avoid the crowds, follow this coastal Oregon road trip itinerary for fewer people and plenty of quality outdoor time, epic views, and moody Pacific Northwest weather.