Party on. Kids don’t stop the adventure—they start it.
Trips
A collection of destinations grouped together with a beginning and end point, but the actual course of events (and the attitudes you bring to them) are up to you.
Gear
Some of our favourite gear, tested on real family trips with real kids and real expectations, and shared to support joyful, connected adventures.
About Us
We have a simple goal to explore this world with our children, and for all of us to learn from other cultures and experiences on how to heal our world.
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Cotopaxi Allpa 60L Gear Tote Review: A Staple of Beach Adventures
The secret to a good beach tote is in the details. Anyone can grab an oversized bag and stuff it with anything and everything they want to haul down for an afternoon on the sand. But there are a few excellent beach totes out there that go above and beyond to help families stay organized…
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How to Pack A Complete Family Beach Setup in Your Checked Baggage
We saved over $1000 by not renting beach gear in Hawaii last year. A bold claim, yes, but if you see how much we packed into a 100L duffel below, it’ll start to make sense. One of the most surprising expenses on a beach vacation is renting beach gear. If you get the good stuff,…
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Are Balance Bikes Worth It? Our Family’s Yearlong Strider Review
The first time I saw a Strider Balance Bike I had to do a double-take. It was several years ago but the memory is still vivid. Here was this little kid cruising the bike path as if they owned the place. The amount of confidence and joy on this kid’s face was contagious. I had…
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Rewilding Childhood Starts with a Raincoat
Kate Howlett When I was approached to write this guest post, I wondered for a good while what perspective I could add to this wonderful site. Any organisation with the mission ‘Our goal is to raise the next generation to be mindful of our natural world and to preserve wild spaces’ is something I can…
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Kitworks 55L Gear Tote Review
Organizing gear is a necessary step for successful family adventures. The problem is, if you’re like us, available time to actually organize anything is pretty much close to nonexistent. Sure, we make time to pack for a big vacation, as tedious as it may be. But what about all the times when we want to…
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Kitworks 55L Gear Tote Review
Organizing gear is a necessary step for successful family adventures. The problem is, if you’re like us, available time to actually organize anything is pretty much close to nonexistent. Sure, we make time to pack for a big vacation, as tedious as it may be. But what about all the times when we want to…
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The Sea To Sky Gondola: An Excellent Family Activity Near Vancouver, BC
There are very few activities around Vancouver, BC that offer real outdoor adventure with a few local comforts. Sure, there are pretty parks such as Stanley Park and Lighthouse Park, or activities such as Grouse Mountain or the Capilano Suspension Bridge, but our favourite spot to take our little ones is the Sea to Sky…
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The Best Beach Totes For Family Adventures (Updated 2026)
We care about the recommendations we make. We sometimes (not all the time) use affiliate links to help keep the site running. Learn more about our Gear Review Policy here. Packing for the beach is a chore. Add kids to the mix and it becomes so daunting that it might even be overwhelming enough to…
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Nita Lake Lodge Review: Is It Whistler’s Best Family Hotel?
It’s easy to write Whistler off as just another touristy money pit. The whole resort is designed to be a moneymaker, and tourism dollars is the only way they know how to do that. If you’ve never been here and just go by the whims of the industry, I wouldn’t blame you for it not…
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The Ultimate Whistler Travel Guide for Families: A Local’s Perspective
Whistler, BC is a little town with a massive reputation. Once the site of a quiet fishing lodge, the valley at the top of two watersheds is now an international tourist destination. It’s easy to see why the vibe attracts so many. It’s close to an abundance of nature, it’s easy to navigate (even with…
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One Renegade Family’s Month-Long Trip Through Costa Rica
Sure, you can book an all-inclusive beach vacation and call it a day. But is that truly travelling? Of course not. It’s an easy way to take some time off, but it’s not immersing you and your family in the lands, culture, and special places that truly make a destination worth visiting. EFA contributor Matt…
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Helinox Unveils the “Play” Series of Backcountry Games
Playing games with your family can be one of life’s great pastimes. And passing time in remote places in nature, many will argue, is the best of all pastimes. However, until now most games were relegated to a deck of cards, and maybe a portable chess board. If you’re bringing a hatchet or axe along,…
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“Twilight Of Adolescence” Showcases The Magic of Father/Daughter Time in Nature
Jeremy Jones has been a mentor to many in the snowboarding world. His career has been on an upward trajectory most of his adult life, moving from professional racing to freeriding, and then as a leader in exploration under his own power. But where many of his protegés have never met him, his influence is…
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Helinox Upgrades Their Iconic Chair One With a [Re]boot
You can’t reinvent the wheel. But can you reinvent the chair? Turns out you can, and on multiple occasions, 13 years apart. And in doing so, you can improve upon an already great product with a few simple innovations that make it that much better. I’m talking about the new Chair One [re] from Helinox,…
![Helinox Upgrades Their Iconic Chair One With a [Re]boot](https://excellentfamilyadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Helinox-Chair-one-re-review.jpg)