Essential Adventure Packs: Simplify Family Outings

Oh, the hours of my life I’ve spent packing all. the. things.

It felt as if I’d spend an hour getting ready for an outing that lasts all of 30 minutes. It took days for my brain to come down from the the decision fatigue. I didn’t want any more adventures in futility. More time with my people, and less time preparing to get out the door is what I wanted. That’s what I want to help you do today in a “little fluff, only the good stuff” post.

Simplify to amplify. Once we strip away unnecessary thinking and planning, we make more space to cherish moments that matter.

Adventure packs. Listen. These are game changing if you desire a smooth morning exit.

How it works

The system is simple. Repeatedly-packed seasonal items are kept organized in the car by adventure. They are easy to grab and take with you.

The first step is the essentials pack.

Essentials Pack

Seasonally appropriate clothes / hats / socks / shoes
Water
Books
Wipes
Towel to dry off the playground equipment. Use it to keep a kiddo warm, or dry off the one that fell in the stream.
Ziploc bags to carry trash in case of spontaneous potty breaks.
Toilet paper because when you have to go, you have to go. Take a mostly used roll to save precious car real estate.

Sometimes we need to consider the adventure and pack accordingly. This is where adventure packs come in. These packs contain more specific gear for adventures that require a specialized pack.

Anytime Pack

The name says it all. This bag goes on every adventure with us. It stays in the car unless it’s being restocked, and we grab and go as needed. I add to it from the car essentials and adventure packs as needed.

Hats
Sunscreen
Bug Spray
Sunglasses
Hair ties
Pantry friendly snacks (chomps, bars, nuts and dried fruit)
band aids
first aid cream
Toilet paper in a waterproof bag
Tick twister
Tick ID card

Hiking Pack

We love new hiking and walking trails because the possibility for adventure is endless. The woods provide immense scope for the imagination! We’ve been known to pull over and hop on a trail spontaneously. That’s why I love to keep a hiking pack handy. A few additions can elevate any hike.

Kids binoculars
Seasonal scavenger hunt
ID cards for butterflies, birds, etc.

Picnic Pack

We are big picnicking people. 100% of our outings include a picnic. It’s friendlier on my (limited) budget. We can control the quality of our food, so I’m sure my kids will have a nutritious lunch. We can eat when we’re ready without needing to find / wait for a meal out. Off-the-cuff adventures are made possible as long as you can keep everyone’s basic needs met. Although I always pack bentgo boxes for our outings, we occasionally adventure longer than planned. This pantry friendly pack makes that possible.

Reusable flatware
Trail mix packs
Jerky / Chomps sticks
Fruit leather
Dried Fruit & nuts
Nuts
Yogurt or applesauce pouches
Blanket
Wipes
Ziploc / trash bag

Beach Pack

Whether we have a lake or the seacoast in sight, we like to have this ready. This is our newest pack since we are exploring New Hampshire’s beautiful lakes and state parks this summer. I’ve loved using the large utility tote from Thirty-One. They hold all the bulky gear necessary for a beach day. I grab this, plop it in our collapsible wagon, and getting settled on the beach is a breeze.

Swimsuits in a wetbag
Beach blanket
Goggles
Cash
SPF clothing (Primary makes an affordable line of SPF clothing)
Shovel & Pail

Choose Your Adventure

With these packs you can personalize any adventure without overwhelming decision fatigue that comes with repeatedly packing. Mix and match these for whatever your day may hold.

Life is precious and fleeting. Life with spontaneity in your life while also being prepared. With these packs, you’ll be ready for adventures anytime with the confidence that your family has what they need. Life is wild. Life is precious. Spend it cherishing more of the moments that matter.