Family Travel 5: Ways to Explore the Great Outdoors

Spending time in nature stimulates the brain and calms our souls. Here are five ways to explore the great outdoors.

1. Discover The Forth Bridges Trail, Edinburgh, Scotland

One of Scotland’s newest visitor trails, the Forth Bridges Trail highlights the country’s iconic Forth Bridges, three bridges spanning three centuries.

Located nine miles west of central Edinburgh, the five mile loop route has multiple entry points and brings together 16 points of interest in North and South Queensferry and along the Forth Road Bridge, an area rich in history, heritage, life wild, nature and beauty. Along the way, families will see the world’s smallest working lighthouse, the rocky ledges where the ferries landed, and the Hawes Inn, mentioned in Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel “Kidnapped.” The footpath covers both sides of the Firth of Forth and the bridges can be crossed on foot, by bike or by train. Opened in 1890, the Forth Bridge is a Scottish icon, recognized as the most famous of cantilever designs. and holds the record as the longest cantilever bridge in the world. In 2015 UNESCO listed the Forth Bridge as the sixth World Heritage Site in Scotland.

For more: VisitScotland.com; www.theforthbridges.org

2. Play at Pronghorn Resort, Bend, Ore.

Nestled amid ancient juniper forests in the central Oregon high desert, this resort near Bend is a mecca for outdoor lovers. Connect with your crew over a round of golf on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course, or ponder the meaning of darkness during an on-property cave tour. Ride a bike or plan a hike along the nearby rivers or on wooded trails. Spend a day at the full-service spa and sample the dining services. Visit the wellness teepee for yoga classes, music-enhanced guided meditations, crystal guidance workshops, and herbal tastings. Stay in vacation rentals or the 104-room Huntington Lodge, where panoramic views of the Cascade Mountains will take your breath away.

For more: www.PronghornResort.com

3. Explore the rolling hills of Logan, Ohio

Visit the rolling foothills of southeastern Ohio for great hiking, caving, multi-generational zip lining, canoeing on the Hocking River, and guided day and moonlight walks. An eco-tour through a nature preserve includes a historical and cultural presentation by a Native American of Shawnee descent, who provides insight into life in the region during the time of his ancestors. Visit Ash Cave, considered the largest and most impressive cave in the state. Stay in a historic cabin, yurt, or geodome at the cozy, family-run Inn and Spa in Cedar Falls, where a warm fireplace, fresh-baked cookies, and an extraordinary dinner await explorers at the end of the day.

For more: hockinghills.es; innatcedarfalls.com.

4. Hike in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

As the gateway to two of our most impressive national parks, Grand Teton and Yellowstone, this Wyoming paradise has long been a favorite stop for active travelers.

Lace up your hiking shoes and explore among the jagged peaks of the magnificent Teton Range. You’ll find family-friendly scenic trails that skirt the shores of String, Leigh and Trapper lakes. Spend a sunny day picnicking, wading, floating, fishing or kayaking on the Snake River. Spend the night in one of 25 small, but cleverly designed (by Wheelhaus) and sustainably built rustic cabins, where you can cook dinner on your own grill and savor s’mores around a campfire as you plan your next day’s adventure. .

For more: www.wyomingtourism.org; https://www.firesidejacksonhole.com

5. Lake Sioux Charley, Nye, Mont.

This six-mile round-trip hike offers a visual feast of nature’s bounty.

Initial views include waterfalls tumbling through a canyon-walled section of the Stillwater River, known locally as “the washtubs.”

The river braids and the canyon widens as hikers push toward the peaks of Beartooth Mountain, meandering through forests and meadows dotted with wildflowers or the changing colors of the season. While some stretches have been affected by recent flooding, the lake area or intermittent rock outcroppings provide an ideal setting for a family picnic.

For more: www.visitmt.com; www.MThikes.com.

Lynn O’Rourke Hayes (LOHayes.com) is an author, family traexpert in speed and keen explorer. Gather more travel information on Twitter @lohayesFacebook, or through FamilyTravel.com.