Giveaway and Review: Hike it Baby 100 Awesome Outdoor Adventures with Babies and Toddlers
When the founder of Hike it Baby, Shanti Hodges, came out with her new book this summer titled Hike it Baby: 100 Awesome Outdoor Adventures with Babies and Toddlers, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. I just knew this book would be a great resource for all new parents-- from seasoned mountaineers to new adventurers. Luckily, I was given a review copy in exchange for sharing my honest opinion of the book. After enjoying it so much myself, I’ve decided to do a book giveaway for my readers, so at least one of you can treasure this book for free!
This book oozes with the Hike it Baby organization’s community feel and provides ample inspiration and practical how-to knowledge for exploring our country’s hiking trails with babies and toddlers. The Hike it Baby organization is dedicated to getting families with young children out into nature, and it does so by providing a platform for families to post hikes that others can join. When I first came upon my local Hike it Baby group as a new mom, I finally felt connected to others who wanted to adventure outdoors with their children and who were figuring how to successfully do so along the way.
THE BOOK
In Hike it Baby: 100 Awesome Outdoor Adventures with Babies and Toddlers, you’ll find all the advice and inspiration you need for hitting the trails with the smallest members of your family. Indeed 100 family-friendly hikes from across the country are featured with tons of stunning photographs. The hikes are reviewed by members of the Hike it Baby community, giving readers an inside look at what one needs to know when bringing children on the trail. Cell phone reception? Bathrooms? Knowing these things before heading out is really important when hiking with children! My family has already visited a few of the trails using the book as a guide including the Wonderland Trail in Acadia National Park and Ward Reservation, north of Boston. Wherever we travel in the USA, this will be a handy book to use for planning our hikes!
Interspersed among the trail reviews you’ll find advice, including what to pack for hiking with kids, teaching children to “leave no trace”, feeding on the trail, tandem baby-wearing, and how to dress your child for cold weather. There are fun inserts, such as a child-friendly grid of 30 “Things to Do with Your Kids Outside” and recipes for trail food like Fig-Almond Bars with Cranberries.
My favorite sections of the book are the stories from the Hike it Baby community members, which share why and how they hike with their children. The stories are personal and heartfelt. From parents new to the trails to those who met as park rangers and from those bonding over short hikes to those setting off on week-long family backpacking trips, you can’t help but feel inspired by how nature brings families together!
THE COMMUNITY
While it seems the entire Hike it Baby community came together to write this book with author Shanti Hodges, the only thing missing from the book is the physical community. That’s easy to find, however! It’s as simple as joining their website and your local chapter’s Facebook group to connect with groups of families hiking with their babies and young children. You’ll find groups all over the country. The laid back atmosphere of the groups provides all the support and camaraderie new parents need to feel at home on the trails. With Hike it Baby, there is no pressure to keep up. If a parent needs to fumble with nursing a hungry baby in public for the first time or changing a blowout diaper, everyone else patiently understands; everyone has been there at one time or another! I encourage all new parents who love the outdoors to check it out.
CELEBRATING THE BOOK
To celebrate this book, I have two exciting events to share!
If you’re in the Boston area, I’m hosting a Hike it Baby hike at Hale in October. Join us!
I’m doing a book giveaway for one lucky winner! Woohoo!!!
Hike at Hale
Live near Boston? Join Hike It Baby using their free 90 day trial ($10/year after that) and then sign up to meet up for my hike at Hale in Westwood, MA this October-- prime time for leaf peeping! This pristine land is so close to Boston but feels light years away. I recently spent a day at their Summer Club, and I can’t wait to get back there to hit the trails with my little Wike Baby and the Hike it Baby community. Click here to join Hike it Baby and to see all of the event details.
Book Giveaway
One lucky winner will receive a copy of the book Hike it Baby: 100 Awesome Outdoor Adventures with Babies and Toddlers! This giveaway is being run on Instagram and Facebook so head over there to enter!
To enter the giveaway, follow @wikebaby on Instagram or Facebook, like the photo with the picture of the book and comment below it (on Instagram or Facebook) with the account of someone else who might like the book. Each new comment with a unique person tagged is another entry to the contest. The giveaway runs through Oct 8, 2018 at 8 am EST. The winner will be chosen randomly. US entries only. See official rules below.
May the odds be ever in your favor! If the odds are not in your favor, you can head over to your local independent bookstore or to Amazon to purchase yourself a copy of the book.
Official Rules:
No purchase necessary. The giveaway will run from September 30, 2018 at 8 am to October 8, 2018 at 8 am EST. You must be a United States resident over the age of 18 to win. This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, or associated with Instagram or Twitter.
HOW TO ENTER: To enter, follow Wike Baby on Instagram @WikeBaby, like the post about the book, and comment with the name of someone else who would like the book. Each new comment with a unique person tagged is another entry to the contest. No automated or “bot” entries will be accepted.
WINNER SELECTION/NOTIFICATION: One winner will be selected at random on October 8th, 2018. Winners will be notified by October 31st, via direct message Instagram. Failure to respond within 48 hours may result in disqualification and an alternate winner may be chosen.
PRIZE and ODDS: One winner will receive a copy of the book Hike it Baby: 100 Awesome Outdoor Adventures with Babies and Toddlers. Odds of winning are dependent upon the number of entries.
What’s your favorite book about exploring the outdoors with children? I’d love to know! Share in the comments below or send me a quick email at wikebaby@gmail.com!
What is your favorite book about getting outside with children? Comment below or send me an email at wikebaby@gmail.com.