Product: Lodge Deep Dutch Oven

Lodge has been a leader in the cast iron industry and has been making their heirloom-quality cookware since 1896. This Dutch oven is 10 inches deep and can hold 5 quarts when cooking. Since it’s Lodge, you can rely on this product time and time again and use it in a variety of ways. Make a delicious soup in the bowl or flip the lid upside-down and use it as a griddle to make pancakes. The Dutch oven has legs that allow it to stand on hot coals, and it comes with the Dutch Oven Cooking 101 Cookbook.

About Lodge

With over 25 years of experience, Lodge is the go-to company for cast-iron cookware. The company still operates out of its original foundry in south Pittsburg, Tennessee and creates high-quality kitchenware that you’ll be able to use for decades and pass down for generations. Besides Dutch ovens and skillets, there are a variety of other options that will help produce amazing, delicious, home-cooked meals for you and your family. 

Reviews

The Lodge Dutch oven comes well-reviewed, making it a great option for when you’re camping with your family. Cast iron can get heavy, though, so if you’re heading out on a backcountry camping trip, it might be best to leave this pot behind. 

Customers love the quality of the cookware and say that they’ve made some of their best campfire meals using Lodge cast iron products.

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From beautiful winter wonderlands to finding relief from the freezing temperatures, here are some amazing destinations to ditch the winter blues.

Winter Wonderlands

These destinations are for those who love the winter weather, can handle cold conditions and appreciate the beauty of snow-covered landscapes.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Heading to Colorado in the wintertime is always a popular choice. The state is known for its world-class ski resorts, but you can also find some solitude at Rocky Mountain National Park. The well-known destination is way quieter in the winter, and it’s easy to hike with snowshoes in this snow-covered landscape. Plus, you can still ski, snowboard, or tube at the park in Hidden Valley, a former ski resort.

Glacier National Park

Heading north of Colorado, the Rocky Mountains will eventually lead you to Glacier National Park. While many sections of the park do close for winter, which starts in early fall, there are still plenty of spots to explore. Winter visitors can travel through the park on cross-country skis, and if you’re brave enough, there are campsites available too. Just be prepared for temperatures that stay below freezing most days.

Banff National Park

Want to head even further north? The ultimate North American national park for the winter may be Canada’s Banff National Park. This destination is one of the most popular national parks in the world. Besides the park’s breathtaking views, visitors can enjoy unique ways to get outdoors. There are plenty of guide services that will take people dog sledding and even on horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Voyageurs National Park

Back in the U.S., one of the quietest winter escapes will take you to northern Minnesota. Voyageurs National Park may very well be the coldest destination on the list, with January and February averaging below zero degrees Fahrenheit overnight. However, Voyageurs is unique as the area goes from a popular canoeing destination to a fantastic place for ice fishing and snowmobiling. 

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the country. The park is also one of the most crowded, sometimes with gridlocked roadways. For a truly unique experience and to avoid these crowds, you can head to the park in the winter. Just be aware that many parts of the park are inaccessible to cars during this time of year. However, you can still take in the snow-covered views from Yosemite Valley.

Pacific Rim National Park

You’ll want to dress warmly and bring waterproof layers as you head to this Canadian national park near Vancouver. Pacific Rim National Park is on Vancouver Island, just north of Washington State. You can expect plenty of wet weather, as you would in the Pacific Northwest, but snow chances are slim. The park is located between the ocean and mountains, so there are views all around. Pacific Rim is an excellent destination for those who enjoy warming up with hot chocolate after a long day on a chilly coast.

Get out of the Cold

If you’re looking for some warmer temperatures and some extra sunlight, these are the destinations for you.

White Sands National Park

If you want to go sledding but not in the snow, White Sands National Park may be for you. While temperatures can still drop below freezing overnight, most days will get into the low 50s and 60s. The southern New Mexico destination is known for its white gypsum dunes throughout the park, and many visitors bring a saucer to slide down the hills. Basically, this desert park looks snow-covered, just without the icy temperatures.

Virgin Islands National Park

You can go totally tropical at Virgin Islands National Park. The Caribbean destination is packed with history, trails, and, of course, beautiful beaches. A good chunk of the park (40%) is underwater, and visitors can enjoy fish and other wildlife while snorkeling. There is a campground within the park, but guests will also find plenty of nearby hotels and resorts.

Cabo Pulmo National Park

Located on Mexico’s California Baja Peninsula, Cabo Pulmo National Park is a great winter destination. Most days will be in the 70s, and visitors can snorkel to coral reefs, search for hidden beaches, and see plenty of wildlife. It is not uncommon to see sea lions and whales while on the beach. The park sits about 60 miles from the famous resort town of Cabo San Lucas. 

Congaree National Park

If you want warmer weather while avoiding the crowds in Florida, you can head to one of the least-visited national parks in the lower 48 states. Congaree National Park is a great alternative for East Coast visitors, with the park centrally located in South Carolina. Visitors can learn about the marshlands that make up the park, see massive trees, and canoe the wetlands. The best part of visiting Congaree in the winter is avoiding the hordes of mosquitoes.

Death Valley National Park

It makes sense that if you want to ditch that winter chill, you head to one of the hottest places on the planet. While you won’t find the scorching triple-digit temperatures in Death Valley National Park, you will find some pleasant weather. The temperatures range from the 40s overnight to around 60 or 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. The temperatures make it a lot easier to visit the park and enjoy the trails without the threat of extreme heat.

Cumbres de Monterrey National Park

Just because it’s cold in most places doesn’t mean you need to go to the beach. You can still enjoy mountain views, hiking, and even some rock climbing in Cumbres de Monterrey National Park. Located outside Monterrey, New Mexico, the park has rugged terrain and towering peaks. Plus, visitors will find waterfalls and rivers throughout the park. Like any mountainous area, you can expect cooler weather, but with most days in the 50s, you’ll have ideal hiking temperatures.

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“We have completed our goal of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail as a family,” wrote Bettis. “The past few weeks have been emotional as the gravity sets in of just how life changing a thru hike has been for our family. What we started fairly quietly as a family we also wanted to spend the last few weeks ending quietly as a family. Our days of online silence have been filled with laughter, hiking our last remaining miles in some of the most beautiful places we’ve ever seen, campfires, our first snow of the AT, memories that long outlive me and hopefully leave a legacy for my kids.”

Bettis says that the family chose to celebrate with a small intimate gathering rather than having a large summit celebration, which she hopes to postpone for a later date.

The Bettis family, including Nikki and 13 of her children, who range from toddler-aged to early 20s, began their hike in March 2023. Two additional children (making a total of 15) elected to stay behind to take care of the family’s home and dogs, although they did join the hike for sections of the trail whenever possible.

After eight months of the AT, if you’re wondering where this trail-blazing family will go from here, we have a clue:

“After 4 days of solid work and unpacking from a thru hike of an insane number of people we set out tomorrow to find another trail,” Bettis wrote on Facebook. “Maybe backpacking White Rock/Sand Cave loop. Maybe Rock Castle Gorge. It’s time to sleep outside again and breathe some mountain air.”

It seems trail life is already calling.

Would you take on the AT with kids?

The post Single Mom and Her 13 Kids Thru-Hiked the Appalachian Trail—What’s Next? appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

Pebble Flow runs on solar energy and EV batteries, and it’s got enough capacity for seven days off the grid. It also has as much computing power as an autonomous vehicle. For instance, pop it into remote-control mode and the thing will hitch and/or park itself at the touch of button. (That’s right, no more blindly backing your trailer up into campsites, although we’re sure you’re great at it.)

There’s even a setting called “InstaCamp,” which will get you set up and ready to relax in record time. While there aren’t a lot of details yet on InstaCamp, we have high hopes.

There are other benefits of having a connected travel trailer, like the ability to control the lights and monitor tank levels, energy levels, solar charge, and more from the Pebble app.

Pebble Flow is now available for pre-order in the U.S., starting at USD $109,000. The company estimates it will be shipping units before the end of 2024.

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According to research from Campspot, an online platform for booking and managing campgrounds, curated time in nature is what people will want in the new year. Their study found that increased economic uncertainty is driving people back to simple outdoor trips. Combine that with lavish trips of catching flights and busy cities this past year, and many now say “the mountains are calling.”

While COVID-19 sent many deep into the woods in 2020 and 2021, in 2024, people want amenities—fancy travel but simplified. For instance, people want an easy trip to a campground near a pristine lake with Wi-Fi.

Campspot’s survey found one in three people feel very stressed about the economy, and nearly 70% of campers want a sense of calm and relaxation in 2024. Hence the demand for a “calm-cation.”

Interestingly, 91% of campers surveyed by Campspot said they want internet of some kind, and more than half said they feel more relaxed with internet access. 

Another priority is clean, fresh air, which actually ranked as the number-one demand. Coming in a little behind that was access to water like a lake, river, or beach.

The post Will ‘Calm-cations’ Be the Next Travel Trend for Reconnecting with Nature? appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

The movie focuses on the story of the Osage Native American tribe after discovering oil on their land in Oklahoma. What followed were brutal murders, which the FBI eventually investigated.

Killer of the Flower Moon’s connection to Oklahoma led Scorsese to spend significant time in the area and the surrounding prairie land, which is all new to the director.

“I’m a New Yorker. I’m an urban person,” says Scorsese. Jimmy Kimmel is quick to jokingly reply, “Yeah, we knew that.

Scorsese comments on his lack of outdoor experience at around 14:45 into the clip:

Kimmel asks Scorsese if he’s been camping or to an REI. Both of which Scorsese laughs and admits that he has not. 

Besides his highly anticipated new movie, Martin Scorsese is the filmmaker behind Taxi Driver, The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street, Gangs of New York, and Goodfellas.

Are you new to camping or need new camping gear? Check out the Outdoors.com store.

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The video ad shows destinations like Glacier, Indiana Dunes and New River Gorge, with stops close to the park. 

The video also highlights spots like Joshua Tree and Arches National Parks, which are more than 30 miles from the park. The distance has led to arguments on social media that the train doesn’t get you to the park. You’d need to rent a car or make other arrangements to complete the final leg of the journey. 

“Being 33 miles from the national park isn’t exactly seeing the national park by train,” commented @keleysaesthetics.

“I’ve taken the Builder (line) a number of times. I like getting off at Whitefish where u can at least rent a car and drive through (Glacier National) Park,” commented @legacycookbook. “The next day, re-board the train to continue by enjoying the train ride through the Rockies.”

The idea of reducing traffic in a national park has some appeal, as parks deal with gridlock traffic and parking issues. Some destinations like Zion National Park provide bus services to visitors to get people to and from trailheads. 

Would you travel by train to your favorite national park destination?

The post Would You Take a Train to a National Park? Amtrak Thinks You Should appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

On the one hand, there’s an argument for conservation, but on the other side, who has a right to keep people away from something as powerful as being outside?

A recent post on Reddit’s r/Camping page took this question front and center, with comments weighing in on both sides.

Here’s a look at some of the responses.

R/xZoomerZx started the post with, “Keeping favorite spots to yourself is all good. Fishermen have been doing it for millennia.”

While r/Careless_Advisor7396 replied and added, “That and mushroom-hunting spots are family secrets!”

Meanwhile, some of the debate focused more on the word’s true definition, including r/rooftoprevival’s post of, “Refusing to post the location of your favorite outdoor spots is not gatekeeping. It’s a digital extension of ‘Leave No Trace.’”

However, some stand firmly behind the belief that getting outside is for everyone. R/Kerensky97 says, “I think it’s important to educate the new people on how we do things outdoors and how to share it with everyone else.”

Finally, r/NormanMushariJr commented, saying a lot depends on the situation. They wrote, “I do not consider it gatekeeping not to share your preferred spots if they’re something other than already public and established campgrounds. If you like a certain spot in the backcountry or National Forest, by all means, keep it to yourself if you feel like it.

I do not consider it gatekeeping to keep details about certain hikes to yourself if they’re not the main and popular hikes in an area.

Camping and hiking are available to everyone. You’re not preventing anyone from getting into it by not sharing the type of information above, and I suspect almost all of us do share plenty of helpful information with beginners.”

What do you think about gatekeeping in the outdoors?

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Here are five great shows to get the whole family in the camping spirit. 

5. Bluey, Season 1, Episode 43 (Disney+)

Bluey is an international sensation that’s one of the most popular shows on Disney+. The Australian show follows a family of dogs in their everyday lives. In “Camping,” Bluey and her family head to the brush for a few nights of camping. Bluey makes a new friend named Jean-Luc, who only speaks French. The episode focuses on how the two become temporary camping friends and communicate even when they don’t speak the same language.

4. Peppa Pig, Season 3, Episode 6 (Paramount+)

Like Bluey, Peppa and her family of pigs are also looking for a vacation in this episode called “The Camping Holiday.” Peppa and her parents take a camper van for their lake trip. Fortunately, in Peppa’s world, their camper van also works as a boat. (We don’t recommend you try this with your camper.)

3. Trash Truck, Season 1, Episode 2 (Netflix)

Trash Truck showcases the daily adventures of a little boy named Hank who’s friends with a bear, raccoon, and, oddly enough, a full-sized garbage truck. In the episode “Slumber Party,” the four decide to have a sleepover, and the unconcerned parents set up a tent in the backyard. The episode focuses on Hank’s fears of sleeping outdoors when it’s dark and how he overcomes them.

2. Daniel Tiger, Special Episode (Prime/PBS)

PBS’ Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood focuses on communicating with kids on their level. The special “Daniel Goes Camping” episode is nearly an hour long and shows just about everything that makes camping awesome. In short, this may be one of the best camping episodes to show your kids before a camping trip. Daniel learns about all the fun of spending a night under the stars. You’ll need a PBS subscription to watch this episode.

1. Blippi, Online Educational Video (YouTube)

Blippi is an online show aimed at preschoolers. In this 17-minute-long webisode, Blippi discusses camping and answers questions your children may have about spending a night outdoors. The free episode covers everything from setting up a tent and sleeping bag to a look at the cool things you may find on a camping trip.

Check out the Outdoors.com store for even more camping essentials.

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However, there are some epic Texas road trip destinations that can help you get outside big cities like Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio and into the Texas wilderness.

5. Big Bend Ranch State Park

Big Bend National Park is easily the most popular outdoor destination for Texans. The massive park combines deserts, mountains, and the Rio Grande. Its size almost makes up for the state’s lack of outdoor spaces. However, campgrounds fill up quickly, so you should head northwest to Big Bend Ranch State Park. The park is also massive and has nearly 240 miles of hiking trails. Visitors will find much smaller crowds but still some of the best views in the state’s far west corner.

4. Guadalupe Mountains National Park

If you have your heart set on being in a national park, don’t miss Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The park sits on the border of New Mexico, not far from Carlsbad Caverns or White Sands National Parks. The park includes the highest peak in Texas and plenty of fun alpine desert hikes. Regarding crowds, Guadalupe is one of the least visited national parks in the entire NPS system.

3. Franklin Mountains State Park

As Big Bend and Guadalupe show, Texas has mountains. Franklin Mountains State Park is another prime example of that. This park sits entirely within the city limits of El Paso and is one of the largest urban parks in the nation. Visitors will find plenty of trails, rock climbing spots, and a unique range of animals like mule deer, ringtail cats, and mountain lions.

2. Palo Duro Canyon State Park

The Texas Panhandle is a vast, flat land wedged between New Mexico and Oklahoma. It’s also a quick hop over to Colorado, and rocks get really interesting here. In fact, the area’s Palo Duro is the second-largest canyon in the United States. There’s also a towering rock formation called the Lighthouse. The structure resembles something you’re more likely to see in southern Utah. The distance from most Texas metro areas makes this destination a quiet escape.

1. Devils River State Natural Area

On the opposite side of the state is the Devils River State Natural Area. A Texas road trip there will bring you to one of the state’s most “pristine” rivers. A natural spring feeds the Devils River and gives it flowing clear water. The far south location also brings together multiple ecosystems, including the Chihuahuan Desert that crosses the international border with Mexico. Visitors can enjoy the area by canoeing, fishing, and camping.

Check out these other outdoor road trip guides:

• California
• New York

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