I love hiking with kids. My kids, especially. I say “my kids, especially”, because with my kids I am not afraid of pushing their limits. If you’re one of those parents who like to challenge your kids, well, let’s get together for a hike ??

Most people have something they are very passionate about.

• Something they keep doing even when the kids come along, and this particular activity gets pretty challenging.
• Something they continue doing when the kids grow up and leave the house.
• Something they want to continue doing as long as they are able to.
• Something they wish to teach their kids to enjoy as much as they do.

I have photography, crocheting, music AND hiking. 

I EDIT PICTURES when I’m feeling blue. It works like a prozac. Like a happy pill. 

I CROCHET to get to a magic world of meditation. Sometimes it feels if I crocheted fast enough I would turn Vic McQueen. 

I listen to MUSIC when there’s a particular kind of buzz in my head. I connect with my kids through music. We sing. We dance like nobody is watching. 

Once my husband said, it is hard to talk while you HIKE. And my respond was: EXACTLY! That’s why I love hikes. 

I took my kids hiking before they could pronounce the word “hike”. We started from such places as Almaden Quicksilver County Park and Stevens Creek County Park (more great locations in the free pdf provided at the end of the post).

The hikes were not hard. Slow walks half a mile one way and half a mile back. Most of the time with many breaks for snacks and TONS, and TONS of pictures. Because in reality I was just location scouting for my sessions.

On some occasions somebody else was hired as a lama:

So, first of all, the hike, stunning and beautiful, is not hard. If you’re afraid of sweating, well, that’s a different story. Haha. We take it easy. However I know my kids’ strengths. I know how much I can push them before it’s just too much.

Hiking with kids is tricky but it shouldn’t stop anybody from trying. Kids are curious. Kids are strong. Kids will follow you if you lead them the right way.

Make if fun and adventurous.

Take plenty of breaks.

Slice the entire hike into smaller chunks / destinations. 

IT CAN’T BE BORING for them. It CAN’T BE TOO HARD. Especially in the beginning.

For example, during our first hike  in Pinnacles we learned that after the Bear Gulch Cave (our destination) there is a Bear Gulch Reservoir. We didn’t go there on our first trip. Knowing how great my girls did on the first hike, I decided to push them a little more and take them to the Reservoir during our second hike.

And I wasn’t mistaken assuming they will LOVE IT! They did!

They couldn’t wait for our next hike, which we did, of course. During this hike we did close to 6 miles and there were moments where they were loosing the joy of it. Every turn we made they would ask if we’re “almost there“. And we were almost there, of course, for the entire last 2 miles. Haha!

If you’d like me to photograph some of your #summerbreakadventures let me know!!! I’m here to help you create amazing memories. Even Better lets explore Pinnacles National Park together!

Even better, sign up for the membership to Ewa Samples Photography, so you won’t have to miss on any photo opportunities through the entire year!