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WHY

Windswept Treks has grown out of a love for natural beauty, the Catholic Christian Faith, and the great importance of parents spending quality time with their children.

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Our daily lives are often so full, so busy. It can be hard to take a breath and remember the main point of it all:

 

That we are made out of love, for love.

For Love Himself, the God of the Universe,

the Author of Life and Architect of Beauty.

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And as parents, we are entrusted with loving, forming, and guiding our children to become their best selves, in relationship to God and others. In other words: to become saints.

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The shaping of saints tends to happen in community, in relationship with others -- and perhaps most powerfully in our families. Our homes are meant to be "a"domestic church". John Paul II described the family as the "school of love"...the place where we learn love, acceptance, forgiveness, and perseverance through difficulties. Let us as parents be all the more INTENTIONAL in how we lead our families, seeking to grow in love with Jesus Christ ourselves that we may model that loving acceptance with our spouse and children.

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"Parents are the principal and first educators of their children." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1653)

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The following is meant to help inspire you with ideas for places to take your child(ren) by state.

Before we get to specific places, here are some general links you may find helpful:

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LOCATIONS BY
STATE

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We all want to get outside. But​​

 

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Here is a list of destinations by state to help inspire you with ideas.

More locations and sample itineraries to come!

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MICROADVENTURE: KENNESAW MOUNTAIN

  • Park at visitor center, get ink stamp (restrooms and water filling station)

  • Hike from visitor center to mountain top (2.2 miles round-trip) through green forests and over rocks

  • Overlook the city of Atlanta on a clear day

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MICROADVENTURE: Falling Waters State Park

  • Driving between Pensacola and Tallahassee on I-10, take the Chipley exit south onto State Road 77, then east on State Park Road. Park is about 3 miles away.

  • Get ink stamp for your journals at visitor center, drive to parking area, and take short hike down to sinkholes and a 73-foot waterfall. Easy for all ages.

  • Restrooms, water fountain (bottle filling station), and picnic areas

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MICROADVENTURE: Paint Mines Interpretive Park

  • Take a few hours hiking and exploring a most unusual and colorful landscape east of Colorado Springs:  29950 Paint Mines Road | Calhan, CO 80808

  • Unique formations of clay are very scenic, great for outdoor photography

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SAMPLE TRIP: MAROON BELLS | Aspen, Colorado

  • Visit one of the most famous scenes in the United States

  • Park at Aspen Highlands ski area, take shuttle to Maroon Lake

  • Hike up trail through beautiful aspen groves or just around lake

  • This is one of my favorite fall foliage spots (late-Sept. into early-Oct.)

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SAMPLE TRIP: SAN DIEGO

  • Drive to Everyday California: 2261 Avenida de la Playa in La Jolla

  • Rent surfboards, kayaks, or SUP's and walk several blocks to the ocean

  • OR book a kayak and/or snorkel tour of La Jolla Cove, or surf camp, or whale watching kayak tour (Dec.-Mar. only)

  • Eat lunch at The Taco Stand: 621 Pearl St, La Jolla, CA (the carne aside fries are amazing)

  • If snorkeling on your own, you can drive to Ellen Browning Scripps Park, find parking, and walk down to La Jolla Cove. Small beach with easy water access to snorkel with sea lions.

  • To see harbor seals, walk or drive south to Children's Beach.

  • To snorkel with leopard sharks, head to the south end of La Jolla Shores Beach in shallow water. 

ARIZONA visitarizona.com

ARIZONA NATIONAL PARKS

 

 

ARIZONA STATE PARKS azstateparks.com

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CALIFORNIA visitcalifornia.com

CALIFORNIA NATIONAL PARKS

 

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS parks.ca.gov

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OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST

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COLORADO colorado.com

COLORADO NATIONAL PARKS

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COLORADO STATE PARKS cpw.state.co.us

--> Click here for the CO State Park finder Map

 

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​OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST

 

 

 

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FLORIDA visitflorida.com

FLORIDA NATIONAL PARKS

 

FLORIDA STATE PARKS floridastateparks.org

 

 

 

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GEORGIA exploregeorgia.org

GEORGIA NATIONAL PARKS

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GEORGIA STATE PARKS gastateparks.org

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HAWAI'I ​gohawaii.com

HAWAI'I NATIONAL PARKS

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​HAWAI'I STATE PARKS dnlr.hawaii.com

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OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST

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MAINE visitmaine.com

MAINE NATIONAL PARKS

 

MAINE STATE PARKS maine.gov

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MONTANA visitmt.com

MONTANA NATIONAL PARKS

 

MONTANA STATE PARKS fwp.mt.gov/stateparks

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NEBRASKA visitnebraska.com

NEBRASKA NATIONAL PARKS
 
 
 
NEBRASKA STATE PARKS outdoornebraska.gov
 

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NEW MEXICO newmexico.org​

NEW MEXICO NATIONAL PARKS

 

NEW MEXICO STATE PARKS nm.gov

 

 

 

 

NORTH CAROLINA visitnc.com

NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL PARKS

 

NORTH CAROLINA STATE PARKS ncparks.gov

 

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NORTH DAKOTA ndtourism.com

NORTH DAKOTA NATIONAL PARKS

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NORTH DAKOTA STATE PARKS parkrec.nd.gov 

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OREGON visitoregon.com

OREGON NATIONAL PARKS

 

OREGON STATE PARKS stateparks.oregon.gov

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OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST 
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SOUTH DAKOTA

 
SOUTH DAKOTA NATIONAL PARKS
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SOUTH DAKOTA STATE PARKS gfp.sd.gov/parks
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OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST

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TENNESSEE tn.gov/tourism

TENNESSEE NATIONAL PARKS

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TENNESSEE STATE PARKS tnstateparks.com

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UTAH

UTAH NATIONAL PARKS

 

UTAH STATE PARKS stateparks.utah.gov

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WASHINGTON stateofwatourism.com

 

WASHINGTON STATE PARKS parks.wa.gov

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WEST VIRGINIA wvtourism.com

WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL PARKS

WEST VIRGINIA STATE PARKS wvstateparks.com

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OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST

 

 

WYOMING travelwyoming.com

WYOMING NATIONAL PARKS

 

WYOMING STATE PARKS wyoparks.wyo.gov

 

OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
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WATERFALL TRAIL

 

The "Almost Heaven" state came up with a really unique way to promote exploring the state's dozens of waterfalls by creating a mobile passport. Click here to access and for more info, and to see the prizes they offer.

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LOCATIONS BY
PROVINCE

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PARKS CANADA

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ALBERTA travelalberta.com

ALBERTA NATIONAL PARKS

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ALBERTA PROVINCIAL PARKS albertaparks.ca

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BRITISH COLUMBIA hellobc.com

BC NATIONAL PARKS

 

BC PROVINICIAL PARKS  bcparks.ca

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