Top Picks – Page 5 – On the Loose Live

Gift ideas for your adventure traveler

December 12, 2016livevigorously

Waxing nostalgic…When I was a kid, my Mother used to hand my brother and me the Sears Christmas Wish Book. She’d give us both magic markers and tell us to mark everything we wanted Santa to bring us for x-mas. We spent hours mesmerized by the glossy, colorful 600 page tome, poring over 200 plus pages each bursting toys galore. Even after we knew that Mom was Santa, there was still a certain sense of excitement every year as we huddled together over those dazzling pages.trying not to circle every toy. It was so hard to decide. Once the presents were delivered, we were always confused. We didn’t recall circling Yahtzee, or Rack-O…Later, we realized it was just one of our Mother’s schemes to keep us occupied for endless hours.

sears-wishbook

Today, do parents send their kids to the web to create their wish list shopping carts? For fun, I went window shopping online at Amazon and “circled” some items. I’ll start with some stocking stuffers and keep adding as I browse and hear back from you. What’s the best travel adventure gift you’ve ever received? And what’s on your wish list this year?

Stocking stuffers

$5 and under

mad-libs The Mad Libs WORST CASE SCENARIO Survival Handbook: Travel Fun for all ages on a road trip, in the tent, or by the campfire. : )

Mosquito Head Net

Sure wish I had this when I was hiking in Yosemite. The face flies were so brutal I nearly turned back. Other hikers did. Luckily, once you get above 8k feet they drop off. This could be the best $2 bucks you’ll ever spend.

$10-$20

survival-bracelet_ TECH-P 5 in 1 Multifunctional Paracord Bracelet with Compass Flint Fire Starter Scraper Whistle Your mom would want you to have this survival bracelet.

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter Your mom would want you to have this one too. Warning, this does not does not filter out viruses, but is good in a pinch.

bandana Kalily Headband Bandana 16-in-1 sports & casual headwear with UV protection.Be sporty and stylish, even with sleeping bag head.

ultra-lightweight-foldable-backpck Foldable, Ultra Lightweight Packable Backpack

Handy for travel and day hikes

Waterproof Headlamp with rechargeable batteries, AC charger and car charger

bear-spray Bear Spray

I prefer the one without the holster. Ideally, you should have it on the ready and carry it in your hand.

sleeping-bag-net

Mosquito Net for 1 sleeping bag I really enjoy camping out under the starts without a tent. Unfortunately, so do the bugs. Here’s a solution.

Other ideas

Gift certificates to their favorite outdoor store

Airline tickets or points

State Park Passes

Sun Valley, ID eatery: Warfield for foodies

December 1, 2016December 5, 2016livevigorously

Executive Chef, Sean Temple was on his way out after a long day behind the range when he walked by the bar and caught a snippet of our conversation with a local. We were chatting about who had the best food in the area. Sean joined the conversation and suggested we stay for a bite. The local had never dined there so he couldn’t weigh in. And honestly, we were a bit skeptical as the Warfield is a distillery, brewery, and restaurant…

Great little shop: espresso,bike & ski rentals, gear, and more

November 21, 2016December 3, 2016livevigorously

Warmed up a sunny, 19 degree morning in West Yellowstone with a coffee and chat with the locals at the Free Heel and Wheel. Cassie, the barista at the espresso bar, and Neil, a friendly officer, gave me the inside scoop on the area and nearby activities, including the Rendezvous xc ski trails. I learned that the best time to road bike in Yellowstone park is around the 1st of April after the first plow while the road is still closed to vehicles. Both the skiing and the road biking sound worthy of a return trip…A woman owned business, this little shop has everything to outfit the adventurer from the latest gear to fashionable outdoor wear.

Local color, the Hungry Horse Reservoir & a scary attic

November 4, 2016October 29, 2017livevigorously

After working up an appetite on the Avalanche Trail in Glacier National Park, we stopped in for some sustenance at a local watering hole…It was very “colorful” as they say…Friendly barmaid and a handful of Montana mountain men.

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On the way back to Columbia Falls, we swung by the scenic Hungry Horse Dam, the 11th highest concrete dam in the US at 544 ft tall, 2115 ft wide, 39 ft thick at the top, and 330 ft at the base. There’s a 15 mile loop you can drive or bike, but it started pouring rain and visibility was poor so we opted out.

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Stopped for a cocktail at the Blue Moon Bar and Casino.

Have I mentioned that it’s all about hunting in these parts? Taxidermy shops and small bars / casinos are as common as nail salons back in LA. When I walked into the Blue Moon, it was like walking into a natural history museum (and I’m not talking about just the patrons either).

Later, the granddaughter of the owner took me on a private tour of the attic that was jam packed with the owner’s “trophies” of big game from Canada, Alaska, Montana, etc…It was like something out of a horror movie, a bit creepy, and way over the top for this animal lover.