Outdoorshopping Blog

In terms of square footage, Texas is the second-largest state in the country, and along with size, comes a great selection of outdoor activities to choose from. With its wide variety of terrain and landscaping, Texas has plenty of room to roam and explore. From hiking, biking, and camping to kayaking, canoeing, and fishing, Texas is nothing short of awe-inspiring and entertaining for all of its residents and visitors. Here are just a few of the top Texas destinations to visit when searching for places to experience your favorite outdoor activities!

Big Bend National Park

Pretty much any outdoor recreational activity you can think of - hiking, biking, backpacking, camping, fishing, boating, rafting, kayaking, swimming, bird watching, nature watching, rock and fossil finding, you name it - can all be experienced at

Utah offers such an abundant supply of adventure for outdoor enthusiasts, that 80% of the state is designated just for public use! What’s more is that the outdoor fun lasts all four seasons throughout the year in Utah! During the spring and summer months, you can experience hiking, biking, camping, geocaching, horseback riding, rock climbing, wildlife viewing, ATV riding, fishing, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, boating, water skiing, sailing, jet skiing, paragliding, and more. Many of these activities can even be enjoyed during the fall, as well. During the winter months, take advantage of skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice skating, snowmobiling, and the like. Take a look!

Source: pinterest

Located in east-central Asia is a landlocked country known as Mongolia. You’ve probably heard of Mongolia before and may have some ideas about what this region looks like, but have you ever stopped to consider a trip here?

Known for its mountainous landscapes, extensive areas of protected wilderness, and outdoor recreation areas, Idaho is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise. Idaho is located in the northwestern region of the United States and shares a small border area with Canada. The Columbia and Snake Rivers within the state boast a series of dams and locks, making the city of Lewiston, Idaho the farthest inland seaport on the Pacific coast of the contiguous United States.

Wildlife can be very unpredictable. Although these encounters are typically very rare, it is still important that people are aware of their surroundings and use common sense when necessary. Every animal responds differently to human interaction, so it is crucial that you are always prepared and looking for signs of alarm. Whether the animal gives verbal clues, puts its ears back, or scrapes its paws, all wildlife will give you some sort of sign. As a general rule of thumb: if the animal is reacting to you, you’re too close.

With a mix of coastal cities and rural areas, Connecticut is famed for its seaport in Mystic filled with centuries-old ships. Connecticut is the third smallest state by area and is named after the Connecticut River. Due to its extensive waterways and ports, Connecticut is famed for its maritime traditions (although it has no direct access to the sea). Despite the state’s relatively small size, it features wide regional variations in its landscape. From the northwestern Litchfield Hills featuring rolling mountains and horse farms to the southeastern New London County featuring beaches and maritime activities, there’s a little something from every outdoor adventurer in Connecticut.

Known for its geographic diversity, Colorado is one of the most sought-after locations in the western US for outdoor activities. Here, one can visit snow-covered mountains, arid deserts, and river canyons throughout its over 100,000 square miles of land. The state itself encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains. With so much to explore, it’s no wonder that Colorado is a key destination for outdoor adventurers.

Stretching from Mexico northwards along the Pacific Ocean for about 900 miles, California has a vast terrain encompassing cliff-lined beaches, redwood forests, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Central Valley farmland, and the arid Mojave Desert. While many may think of Hollywood and other famous cities and regions within the state, California is also a jackpot for outdoor enthusiasts and lovers of adventure. Indeed, the sheer size of the state demands a wide variety of climates and geological features prime for outdoor exploring. 

As the largest and most sparsely-populated state in the U.S., Alaska is ideal for visitors looking to enjoy the outdoors away from the hustle and hubbub of modern-day urbanization. Indeed, Alaska is well-known for its diverse geographical features including diverse terrain, wide-open spaces, mountains, and forests. Abundant wildlife makes for a scenic trip, and there are a host of activities available for visitors and tourists looking to make the most of their Alaskan vacation. 

Nestled between the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers is the midwestern state of Iowa, the only state to have both eastern and western borders formed entirely of rivers. Known for its vast landscape of rolling hills and fertile cornfields, Iowa’s agricultural economy has also made a recent transition to a more diversified economy consisting of biotechnology and green energy production, to name a few. There are several natural lakes within the state as well as well as a multitude of diversified ecological areas, but most of the state still remains primarily agricultural in nature. Still, there are several areas of interest to the avid outdoor explorer in Iowa!

A treehouse can be a special, magical hideaway or fort for almost any child. Whether it’s camping under the stars, playing make-believe, or simply enjoying the great outdoors, treehouses are ultimately the perfect idea for any child. Below are some tips from experienced builders that you should be sure to keep in mind when completing your project.

As the second smallest state in the United States, Delaware clocks in at just under 2,000 square miles in area. Fortunately, there’s still much to see and do, as Delaware dips down to touch the Atlantic Ocean for many miles. In fact, Delaware was ranked number 1 in water quality (out of the 30 states with coastline) in both 2011 and 2014! Fishing, golf courses, and boardwalk areas make Delaware a popular outdoor enthusiast location, and the beaches themselves are popular year-round tourist destinations for residents from the nearby areas of Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, South Jersey, and Norfolk, Virginia.

While his friends went to Vegas for the weekend, this guy chose the Yosemite National Park located in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. All he needed was a tent, some nice camping clothing to keep him warm and food for a couple of days. He had a great experience hiking and camping all by himself, enjoying the breathtaking views and the freshness of the air.

Hiking with an infant or toddler can be quite the chore if you haven’t properly prepared for it, but it is certainly not an impossible task. With a little extra planning, hiking with your little one can be an excellent bonding experience, a great way to introduce them to the wilderness, and maybe even a stress-reliever for yourself.

It was just recently announced that President Barack Obama will be the first commander in chief to appear on the show Running Wild with Bear Grylls, a show in which celebrities are thrown into the wilderness and pushed to their mental and physical limits while testing their survival skills. President Obama will spend three days in the great outdoors when he travels to Alaska with Bear Grylls to learn how to survive in the wilderness and to learn more about the impacts of climate control on the state. While the filming is set to take place now, the episode is not scheduled to air to the public until later this year.

Home to the Grand Canyon, Arizona is located in the southwestern region of the United States. Known for its desert climate, the southern portions of Arizona are home to the Sonoran Desert where seasons are characterized by very hot summers and mild winters. In stark contrast, northern Arizona is home to mountainous regions including the San Francisco Mountains and many forested areas of Douglas fir, pine trees, and spruce trees. In addition to the tourist attraction that is the Grand Canyon, Arizona is also home to several national forests, national parks, and national monuments as well. 

Brides everywhere are seeking outdoor and destination weddings.  While it used to be that weddings were meant to be a religious experience within a church, more couples are choosing to share their special day in a more natural setting.  With the cost of an average wedding surpassing $20,000, many couples are looking for alternative wedding plans.

Many Americans are given a day or more off from work on the 4th of July, and this year, the 4th falls on a Saturday! While some stick to tradition by grilling in their backyards with their families, there are many other ways to enjoy the holiday outdoors. Celebrate American tradition this year by stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying a few of these outdoor activities for the 4th of July holiday season.

Best Camping Items 2015.

Latest Camping Inventions to Make the Outdoors Feel Like Home.

When we hear ‘Burning Man’, we’re likely to think of hot desert concerts with celebrities and hippy cultures intermingling for a week of art and community. This year’s Burning Man is August 30-September 7, and if you’re planning to attend, your list of gear and attire should be tailored to both comfort and culture. In fact, with Burning Man’s reputation for bringing out the most fashion-savvy aspects in all its attendees, there are some interesting items that you should consider adding to your packing list.

Chile is well-known for its diverse range of climates, beautiful landscapes, and stunning topography. At the same time, Chile is also like a ticking time bomb, resting on an area known to be highly seismic and volcanic. Recently, a 2,000m (6,572ft) volcano that has been lying dormant since a minor eruption in 1972 known as Calbuco, interrupted its calm demeanor, peaceful waterfalls, and gentle forests with several eruptions in just the past week.

Image: AFP/Scanpix

Many who spend their free time exploring and traveling choose to take their companions with them. Whether it’s a spouse, significant other, or pet, traveling always seems to be a little more exciting when shared with others. ‘Man’s Best Friend’ doesn’t always have to be a dog though! Ziggy is a 250 pound pig that travels the world with her owner and calls the outdoors her playbox.

Photo: Facebook/Ziggy the Traveling Pig

The cost to adopt, feed, entertain, train, vaccinate, and care for a canine companion can be astronomical, even when considering your average mixed breed dog. There are some breeds can cost THOUSANDS of dollars just to add them to your family, not even taking into account the future costs they will run you over the course of their life. While the cost of a canine companion will vary based on the bloodline, there are several breeds that generally will cost you a good chunk of change, especially if adopted as a puppy. Here we explore a few of the breeds that may require you to take out a loan even before you bring them home…

Preparing for any excursion takes more than a bottle of water and a well-packed travel bag. In fact, critical survival skills - while hopefully never needed - can get you through a crisis situation should the need arise. Honing your survival skills takes time and preparation, but these skills are just as important as anything you could stow away in your backpack. Here are a few survival skills that every outdoorsman or woman should master.

Off-road excursions are always exciting, but many forget that the journey to your destination can enhance your trip and add to the adventure! Teardrop trailers are a great way to bring your camping essentials with you without having to set up shop every time you want to bunker down for the evening. While these trailers may have set one back $20,000 before, there are new companies aimed at bringing rental options to adventurers here in the US.