Trails & campsites
First hikes, first nights in a tent, and packing without overdoing it.
- Family camping for beginners: a first trip that goes well
Planning a first family camping trip: picking a campground, booking, a realistic gear list, sleeping warm, food and wildlife, keeping kids busy and safe, and leaving the site clean.
- Glamping and tent cabins: comfortable camping for beginners (with notes on Big Sur)
What glamping and tent cabins offer, how they differ from campgrounds and cabins, booking ahead, what to bring even when beds are provided, staying warm, food, fire rules, and planning a trip to a remote coast such as Big Sur.
- How to choose hiking boots (that you will actually want to wear)
Trail shoes, mid boots or backpacking boots: how to pick the right type, materials and waterproofing, how to get the fit right in the shop, breaking them in, and buying secondhand.
- How to pack light for a long weekend (carry-on only)
A simple system for packing a three- or four-day trip in one carry-on: a small mix-and-match wardrobe, rolling versus folding, toiletries and liquids rules, shoes, and a printable checklist.
- Planning a relaxed long-weekend road trip: a three-day template
How to plan a three-day weekend away by car without rushing: choosing a destination within reach, a loose day-by-day template, booking, food stops, driving safely when tired, and coming home rested.
- Staying warm on a cold night in a tent: pads, sleeping bag ratings, clothes and a few old tricks
How to sleep warm when camping in autumn, winter or early spring: why the ground matters more than the air, pad R-values, what the ISO comfort and limit ratings on a sleeping bag really mean, what to wear to bed, warming up before you zip in, and the signs of hypothermia.
- Visiting the Wave Organ: a short walk to San Francisco's tide-powered sculpture
How to plan a visit to the Wave Organ on the Marina jetty in San Francisco: what it is, why the tide matters, getting there on foot, what to wear for the wind, and a simple Sunday walk built around it.
- Your first day hike: choosing a trail, the Ten Essentials and coming back happy
How to plan a first day hike: picking a trail you can finish, reading distance and elevation, checking weather and daylight, the Ten Essentials, food and water, ticks, lightning, trail etiquette and Leave No Trace.
