OUTDOOR FAMILY GUIDE TO YELLOWSTONE AND GRAND TETON
By Lisa Gollin Evans
The world's first national park remains a premier destination for enjoying the great outdoors with the entire family - wildlife, Old Faithful, rivers, lakes, fishing and more! An Outdoor Family Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks provides both practical advice and trip destinations with the whole family in mind. Tips on hiking, biking, and paddling with children will lower the odds that you'll end up with an exhausted, unhappy, or hurt child. For example, the Two Ribbons Trail, a very short loop leading to the Madison River and its adjacent meadows, is a great way to introduce young trekkers to the wonders of self-propelled travel. An overview chapter lists visitor centers and museums, and provides specific information on how to access myriad activities--climbing, horseback riding, boating, rafting, and mountain biking--within the parks. The rest of the book offers detailed hiking descriptions, each beginning with at-a-glance details (difficulty, distance, usage, and elevation gain) to help you discern which trails are appropriate for you and your young hiker. For instance, if you'd like to explore geothermal activity at a leisurely pace, choose the Artist Paint Pots trail (rated "very easy") to view these "strange-colored pools and a huge, spitting, burping mud pot." Detailed maps and a smattering of photographs add to this high-quality guide. Click to purchase at Amazon.com!

TEXAS OUTDOOR ADVENTURE GUIDE FOR KIDS
by Melissa Maupin
The resource to show kids where to roam and have fun outdoors in Texas. You'll be surprised at the state's broad diversity of terrain and plant and animal life. This book describes places with great outdoor programs for kids, ranging from state parks to nature centers and museums. There are chapters on the best sites for fishing and shooting sports, for water recreation, and for birding and other kinds of wildlife watching. The best places for nature study, environmental protection activities, and volunteer opportunities are also treated in detail, as are overnight camps and trips. f you want to help children explore the wonders of Texas' natural world, this guide will lead the way. Click to purchase at Amazon.com!

KIDS IN THE WILD: A FAMILY GUIDE TO OUTDOOR RECREATION
By Cindy Ross, Todd Gladfelter (Contributor)
A great book for new parents who don't want to give up all the things they loved to do before they had kids. You can still camp, backpack, canoe, cross-country ski, etc.; just bring them with you. This book is a great reference for everything from clothing, to what to expect, to equipment, to dealing with diapers. The authors base their book on extensive experience including anecdotes about a 3 month trip in the back country with two little ones. Click to purchase at Amazon.com!

KIDS ON THE TRAIL: HIKING WITH CHILDREN IN THE ADIRONDACKS
by Rose Rivezzi, David Trithart
The Adirondack wilderness area in northern New York State has hundreds of various types of hiking trails, from the 4-5,000+ foot High Peaks area, to short hikes to waterfalls and other ecologically interesting places. The authors provide excellent recommendations on hikes that are appropriate for families with children. They provide clear directions and maps to specific trails and describe the length and degree of difficulty. For people who live in the region, or anyone thinking of vacationing in this beautiful area, this book would be an outstanding resource. The Adirondack Mountain Club is also sponsoring the Kid's Challenge Patch, which hikers can receive for completing a certain number of hikes from those listed in the book. Click to purchase at Amazon.com!