Month: December 2016

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Celebrate 2017 with a First Day Hike

America’s State Parks is sponsoring guided New Year’s Day hikes around the country. And there are quite a few in Kansas. For more information, you can go here, and below we’ve included the when and where for the trails in Kansas.screen-shot-2016-12-30-at-9-52-10-am

Most look to be fairly easy to moderate and around 1-2 miles. For most, it looks like you can just show up. We’ll make a note if reservations are needed.  Many are also on leash pet friendly. And some include hot chocolate and snacks!

Cedar Bluff State Park at 9:00am – Agave Trail. Meet at trailhead.

Clinton State Park at 1:00pm – North Shores Trail. Meet at the Swim Beach Parking Lot.

Crawford State Park at 11:00am – Multiple trails. Meet at the Beach Shelter. Register at 620-362-3671.

Cross Timbers State Park at 2:00pm – Ancient Tree Trail. Meet at the trailhead in Toronto Point. **Hot chocolate provided!**

Eisenhower State Park at 10:00am – Archery/Bike Trail & Scooter Trail. Archery – meet at the Five Star Trailhead. Scooter Trail meet at West Point. **Hot chocolate and coffee provided following the hike**

El Dorado State Park at 1:00pm – Walnut Ridge Trail. Meet at the Walnut River Cabins.

Fall River State Park at 2:00pm – Post Oak Trail. Meet at the trailhead in Quarry Bay.

Hillsdale State Park at 10:30am – Hidden Springs Nature Trail. Meet at State Park Office. **Hot chocolate and cider provided after the hike**

Kanopolis State Park at 9:00am – Buffalo Track Canyon Nature Trail. Meet at State Park Office.

Meade State Park at 2:00pm – West Trail. Meet at trailhead.

Perry State Park at 9am – Skyline/Mad Mile/Daisy Point. Meet at trailhead.

Pomona State Park at 12:30pm – Multiple trails. Meet at State Park Office.

Prairie Dog State Park at 9:00am – Steve Mathes North Trail. Meet at trailhead.

Prairie Spirit Trail at 2:00pm – Meet at Garnett Depot Trailhead.

Sand Hills State Park at 10:00am – Dune Trail/Prairie Trail. Meet at the State Park Office.

Tuttle Creek State Park at 4:00pm – Western Heritage Trail. Meet at the State Park Office. **Hot chocolate and snacks provided!**

Wilson State Park at 1:30pm – Cedar Trail. Meet at the trailhead.

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Superheroes New Year’s Eve at Flint Hills Discovery Center

One of our favorite places in Kansas is the Flint Hills, and one of our favorite places that celebrates the Flint Hills is the Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan.

And they’re throwing a Superheroes themed, family New Year’s Eve party. From 6:30-9:30pm, you and your family can enjoy “dancing, music, superhero mask and cape crafts, superpower food, a costume contest and much more!” And at 9pm, there will be a balloon drop! And who doesn’t love a good balloon drop?

Register here by December 29.

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2016 Christmas Gift Guide

Looking for a unique outdoor gift for the trail-lover in your life? The annual Kansas Trail Guide Christmas Gift Guide features the best unique and inspiring products that are sure to be perfect for your loved ones (or yourself – we won’t judge!).  Without further ado:

1. A signed Kansas landscape print by David Welfelt

Welfelt captured some stunning trail imagery included in the Kansas Trail Guide and we’ve been consistently impressed with his landscape shots. What better reminder of your hiking adventures than a signed print that captures the grandeur of some of the greatest wild places in the state?

From David Welfelt's website.

From David Welfelt’s website.

2. Pocket Monkey Multi-Tool by Zootility

You can never have enough multi-tools.  Especially one shaped like a monkey!  This unique design is American-made and has a plethora of handy features in a compact design.

And did I mention that it looks like a monkey?

$12.99 via Amazon

3. A subscription to Cairn

Here’s the gift that keeps on giving – a subscription for a monthly or quarterly box of new outdoor goodies from Cairn. The boxes are always a surprise, but they include a variety of items from these categories: food, clothing, gear, skin care, and emergency/medical. They’ve also got a limited set of holiday gift boxes.

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4. Adopt a Black-footed Ferret with WWF

The black-footed ferret, once thought extinct, is back on the Kansas shortgrass prairie. Show your support for the little animal and  symbolically adopt a black-footed ferret in the name of a loved one. They’ll get a cuddly stuffed toy ferret, and you’ll get the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped keep a species alive.

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5. Fatboy Lamzac

Ideally suited for lounging at the campsite after a day on the trail, this is an innovative way to pack along a comfortable (and very cool) place to kick back and relax. You will most certainly be the envy of all your friends.  Just remember – you move it, you lose it!

Lounging on the Fatboy Lamzac

Lounging on the Fatboy Lamzac

6. Last Wild Places in Kansas by George Frazier

This is one of the best new books on exploring Kansas that we’ve read!  An instant classic for the outdoor lover; Frazier weaves vignettes of his own adventuring into a compelling page-turner.  For planning that big adventure while sitting by the fire this winter.

$17.49 on Amazon

7. TreePod Hanging Tree House

This totally makes me want to be a kid again.  Place strategically on your next camping adventure and keep the whole clan entertained.

Plus, for every TreePod sold, they plant a tree.

Treepod!

Have kids? Look no further.

8. LuminAID PackLite Nova Inflatable Lantern

Long name, cool product. This solar powered, rechargeable lantern is collapsible and weighs just 4 ounces. From one charge, you can get about 24 hours of light. And that’s not just any light – it’s 75 lumens of LED light. Plus it’s waterproof.

$14.99 from Amazon

9. A Signature Camping trip with REI Adventures

For you big spenders out there or those looking for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, go on a Signature Camping trip with REI Adventures. While backpacking and roughing it in the wild has its charms, so does someone bringing hot coffee to your tent in the morning and having a hot shower at the end of a day. Everything gets sorted out for you from tasty food to camp set up to transportation.

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We’re not in Kansas anymore! REI Adventures campsite in Canyon de Chelly.

All you have to do is show up ready to hike and explore. Their most recent addition to their Signature Camping trips is the Arizona Ultimate Adventure – Grand Canyon & Beyond. It’s eight days of awesome where you explore many of the legendary canyons of Arizona – Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Canyon de Chelly – and kick back at the end of the day. Next trip leaves April 29, 2017.

10. Flint Hills Nature Trail Patch

So this is more of something that you have to earn.  But what better addition to your patch collection then one that signifies the completion of the Flint Hills Nature Trail challenge? Give the gift of adventure and use a signed copy of the Kansas Trail Guide to plan an epic trip with your favorite hiking partner.  Only 2 patches that have been earned so far.  Will you be next?

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Flint Hills Nature Trail Patch