50 Hikes with Kids Oregon and Washington by Wendy Gorton
Wanted to review this book because we are heading from the east coast to visit with our daughter and her family on the west coast in a few months.
We love day trips and getting out and exploring, walking around and learning new things about the area.
The grandson will be 12 so we've been going out there every April for 12 years and we always plan day trips. This book has all the information I need for a whole week of day trips.
We have traveled also through Oregon so that is just a bonus for us if we spend anytime there this trip.
What I really like from the start are that the hikes are under 4 miles in length and 3 levels of skill to navigate them and love the idea of the scavenger hunt.
Very colorful pictures in this book that show the real deal.
Book starts with a table of contents where the chapters are broken up into the two states and areas.
Preface gives you an idea of how this book all came about.
Next chapter is choosing your adventure where the information of the hiking areas, their loction, length and skill level and hihglights are all charted out for you. You can plan by the level, miles or the location.
There are also charts that are arranged by features: lakes, waterfalls, , history, flora, fauna, geology, caves (hadn't even thought to look for those in our treks) sumits and peaks, rivers, beaches, campgrounds.
Also a section on the seasons as some may be closed during rainy/muddy winter seasons. Has a chart that tells you which ones will be open during which seasons. This information will save me a TON of hours on the phone or net finding it.
Love the section for preparing for your trip as I am the one usually in charge of all this part. Lots of useful information here more about the trails, parking, getting there, fees. Love the section about the scavenger hunt especially the geocaching as the grandson will want to use an app to help us navigate around the area.
They have apps to help you identify the plants and flowers-we use it all the time. We are also photographers-a hobby so power ups will come in handy.
I pack the first aid kit, snacks and drinks for all so this is a good reminder of things along the way for me. Nature journal can also be spoken into your phone as it's recording what you are seeing. Just make sure to save them all when you get home for safe keeping.
Each specified section starts with the title of where you are going and a map along with a summary of the tour adventure.
There are many pictures and a very detailed map showing length of the hike, elevation changes, level of skill, best season to to, getting there,, restroom locations, fee, parking and how to treat yourself after you are done in the local area. other phone numbers are included.
The scanvenger hunt begins with specfic things you should have no problem finding and a bit about each item: animal, bug, tree, flower, etc
We've been to many areas and I feel like we missed out on seeing and doing some things mentioned in this book. We may have to go back to them with the tips they provide so we can do it all. Acknowledgements and photo and illustration credits are also given at the very end along with an index and author bio.
LOVE this book, it's a KEEPER! for us.
Recieved this review copy via Timber Press via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.

A nice little book of hikes that one can take with young children (or even adults). The book is very simple to understand, is well laid out, and the writing is good. There are 32 hikes in Oregon, and 18 in Washington. The hikes range in distance from one mile to three and a half miles. They vary in difficulty from easy to challenging. In addition to breaking down the hikes by region (NW, Central, Coastal, etc), the author goes much further. She lists hikes by features (lakes, waterfalls, history, flora, fauna, and on and on). And then again by season, as some of the hikes are better in the winter, others in the summer. She has very good descriptions on how to select the particular hike based on the individual hikers profile. The maps are easily navigated, and the accompanying photos are helpful. All in all, this is one of the better guide books I have found. Well done! ( )