Let's Go Outside | Adventurous Moms, Hiking, Camping, Travelling with Kids, Parenting Outside

In this solo episode of the Let’s Go Outside Podcast, we are breaking down a massive family update—we are officially committing to thru-hiking a section of the Great Divide Trail (GDT) this summer with our three kids, including our 6-month-old baby! (so a three-week backpacking trip as a family!)  Stepping away from the daily grind means swapping endless housework and domestic chaos for the beautiful simplicity of mountain life, but it also comes with real fears. I share honestly about the logistics we are sorting through, from managing backcountry food drops to solving the ultimate "diaper dilemma" on a long-distance trail. 
In addition to our GDT planning and gear testing, the second half of this episode is packed with practical, field-tested tips to get your kids to actually enjoy hiking. You’ll hear me share about transforming the trail into an imaginative adventure and eliminating complaining and other tips I’ve learned from legendary outdoor parents so your kids look forward to hiking. Whether you are an experienced backpacker looking to transition into adventure parenting or a mom trying to navigate a weekend day hike with a toddler, this episode will give you the practical tools and inspiration you need to confidently head into the wild.
Resources mentioned: 
How to Tell Stories to Children: https://amzn.to/4vWXahO
Osprey Poco Premium Child Carrier  https://amzn.to/4uFNdUU
The Nugget Podcast Episode 171: https://thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/leo-houlding 
Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 
Connect with Danika on IG: @besidethemountain 
Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/
Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain
Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com 
Codes & Discounts:
Download my FREE high protein snacks ebook: besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook
Travel gear guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IEqVfpGk-5uJ29uoiScoZXLPnTY4r311/view?usp=sharing

What happens when life suddenly pauses everything you thought your family’s future would look like? In this emotional and inspiring episode of the Let’s Go Outside Podcast, adventurous outdoor mom Frieda Draxlir shares her family’s difficult NICU journey with her daughter Ivy, who was born at 32 weeks with a perforated bowel and required intensive medical care, including a PICC line for 3 years. 
Frieda shares the reality of spending time in the NICU over 2020, the uncertainty that came with caring for a critically sick baby, and the practices that helped her stay grounded during one of the hardest seasons of motherhood. She also opens up about how her faith became an anchor when everything felt completely out of control.
Frieda also talks about what it looked like to return to “normal life” after the NICU, and what came with travelling and exploring again. How their family figured out how to go outdoors with the PICC line and did things like caving, road tripping, and taking flights with their daughter. 
This conversation goes beyond parenting and outdoor adventure. Whether you are healing from trauma, or simply a parent trying to rebuild confidence after a hard season, Frieda’s story is full of hope, honesty, and resilience.
Frieda’s NICU journey with her daughter Ivy

Ivy being born with a perforated bowel and requiring a PICC line

Coping with fear, uncertainty, and medical trauma in motherhood

Finding peace and grounding during long hospital stays

Christian faith through difficult seasons

Returning to outdoor adventure after trauma

Navigating anxiety and building confidence as a parent

Adventuring, travelling, and exploring with kids after the NICU

Encouragement for moms walking through hard seasons

Wisdom in how to support moms that are in the NICU

Connect with Frieda Draxlir: 
https://www.instagram.com/friedadrax/ 
https://www.instagram.com/thedailydraxlirshow/ 
Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 
Connect with Danika on IG: @besidethemountain 
Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/
Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain
Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com 
Codes & Discounts:
Wildelore: https://wildelore.com/ Use code LETSGOOUTSIDE15 for 15% off

Ever look at photos of families hiking beautiful trails or camping under the stars and think, “I want that so badly, but I am just too exhausted to make it happen”?
If you are trapped in a cycle of survival mode, drowning in laundry, and feeling like your physical body just can’t match the adventures you want to do, this episode is for you. Staci is a functional nutrition coach and metabolism specialist, Staci goes beyond surface-level solutions to uncover the root causes driving weight, gut, hormone, and energy issues. Her Whole Health Method equips clients with the tools — food, movement, habits, mindset, and lab data — to finally understand what their body needs and build health that actually lasts.
Today, we dive into mom fatigue and the goal of being healthy to do the adventures we want with our kids. Hint: It’s not just "part of having kids." We talk about the hidden root causes like gut health and inflammation that quietly drain our energy and steal our capacity for big family adventures. We aren't here to give you a massive, overwhelming life overhaul. Instead, we’re sharing simple, realistic health habits and everyday nutrition shifts that will help you rebuild your trail energy one manageable step at a time.
Tune in to hear how you can go from surviving park days to thriving on dream family hikes!
The "Just a Parent" Myth: Why deep exhaustion isn't just a baseline requirement of motherhood, and how hidden root causes like gut health and inflammation might be holding you back.

The Internal Struggle: Honest reflections on wanting to be an adventurous mom while feeling physically limited.

Where to Start When You're Overwhelmed: Practical, low-barrier first steps to rebuild your energy without adding stress to a chaotic schedule.

From Parks to National Parks: A full-circle story of Staci travelling to Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier, and realizing that your body can finally match your adventurous spirit.

Resources mentioned: 
Oura Ring https://amzn.to/4dL6JIX 

Connect with Staci: 
https://www.instagram.com/buildingtothrivenutrition/ 
https://www.buildingtothrivenutrition.com/
Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 

Connect with Danika on IG: @besidethemountain 
Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/
Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain
Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com 

Codes & Discounts:
Download my FREE high protein snacks ebook: besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook
Snack Prep Pro ebook: https://besidethemountain.com/snack-prep-pro/

What does it actually look like to backpack through Southeast Asia with three kids four and under? Sandy shares about four months of family travel through Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Philippines with toddlers and a baby in tow.
They dive into the realities of long-term travel with young kids, including how they financially planned for four months abroad, what travel gear was actually worth packing, and how they navigated sleep while travelling — from jet lag and naps on the go to bedtime routines and sharing one room as a family.
In this episode, we cover:
Backpacking Southeast Asia with 3 kids under 4

Family travel through Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines

Budgeting and finances for long-term family travel

Sleep for travelling with toddlers and babies

Room sharing while travelling as a family

Travel gear for families

Travelling internationally with young kids

Family-friendly destinations in Southeast Asia

Why experiences over things has shaped their family culture

Whether you’re actively planning a family trip overseas or simply dreaming about adventure after kids, this episode will leave you encouraged that it’s more possible than you think.
Resources mentioned: 
Agoda Website

12GoAsia Website

AirBNB Website

Gear mentioned:
Osprey Poco Plus

Euro Baby Carriers

Connect with Sandy: https://www.instagram.com/grobsonthego/?hl=en 
Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 
Connect with Danika on IG: @besidethemountain 
Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/
Watch podcasts on YouTube: @besidethemountain
Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com 
Codes & Discounts:
Travel gear guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IEqVfpGk-5uJ29uoiScoZXLPnTY4r311/view?usp=sharing

In this episode of Let's Go Outside, I’m joined by Ayla Will, creator of @thewilldernessfamily to talk about budget family adventures, RV living with kids, low-screen parenting, and raising confident outdoorsy children.
Ayla shares how growing up on a farm shaped the way she parents her kids today and why her family intentionally chose a lifestyle centered around outdoor play, homeschooling, simplicity, and daily time outside. We talk about the resources and experiences that influenced her parenting, including 1000 Hours Outside, and how those choices have helped build resilience, independence, and confidence in her kids.
We also dive into the idea that adventure doesn’t need to be expensive to be meaningful. If you’ve ever felt pressure to give your kids elaborate vacations, or expensive activities, this conversation is such a refreshing reminder that some of the best family memories come from simple adventures close to home.
In this episode, we talk about:
Living in an RV and homeschooling as a family

Raising low-screen kids who genuinely love being outside

How to build confidence and resilience through outdoor play

Encouraging kids to take healthy risks and try hard things

Budget-friendly family adventures and low-cost outdoor activities

How to enjoy adventure without going into debt

Planning intentional summer adventures versus being spontaneous

Learning to slow down, be present, and enjoy motherhood more fully

This episode will encourage you to simplify, get outside more often, and remember that adventure is less about spending money and more about being together. 

Things mentioned:
Call of the Wild and Free https://amzn.to/3ROETnM 

There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather https://amzn.to/4uVyxBn 

Let Them Be Kids https://amzn.to/42GedIi 
The brick https://amzn.to/43hPMku

Connect with Alya: 
Instagram: @thewilldernessfamily

Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 
Connect with Danika on IG: @besidethemountain 
Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/
Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain
Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com 
Codes & Discounts:
Wildelore: https://wildelore.com/ Use code LETSGOOUTSIDE15 for 15% off

Download my FREE high protein snacks ebook: besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook