She's all smiles and laughs
Brooke's essay dives into the world of off-highway driving.  As she's seen, and as she's dealt with first-hand, it's a macho world that's not very inviting to women.  Off-road trips with the local club are usually long, tiring, and really just not quite the same as a day out with the girlfriends.

She's found a way that it can be fun, though, and she wants other women to experience the fun, too.  "As great as our off-highway drives and camping trips are now," Brooke says, "one point I can't overlook is that fellow women adventurers can be sparse out here. So, hello? Where are my girls at?"

The rocks, sand, and wild desert vegetation of the Baja pensinsula made up the backdrop for our family road adventure this summer. Greg and I can take partial credit for this successful vacation, having hatched out the whole plan out around a campfire last November. "We've got to get the cousins out on a really cool trip this summer," I implored. "Are you up for something?"

We settled on Baja, pleaded with Mark to go along with it (he quickly agreed), and 6 months later, with fresh passports in hand, we made the trek down. While the trip was Greg's and my idea, Mark was definitely the driving force behind the success of our 2 weeks. He planned a great route and was our group's main Spanish speaker. Baja gave our family the perfect balance of adventure on and off the beaten path. We enjoyed the food, the culture, and the views from every mountain and beach we explored on the way.

A starry night in the Kofa Wilderness

Mark, remember our first anniversary in San Carlos?

We had a lot of great times our first year of married life, but that trip was exceptional. I remember sitting on a patio with the sun setting over the Gulf, talking and eating fresh seafood. The strolling mariachis and flower vendors spotted us a mile away and came over to see if we were total suckers in love. Maybe we were, but who cares on a date like that? I still don't think you fell for it, though...Later on that trip, we snorkeled, went kayaking, and played in the water. Perfect 3 days of Mark and Brooke time.

The Phoenix-area is a great launching point for 2-3 day weekend road trip "mini-vacations." With a young daughter we try to minimize the driving and include more hands-on experiences that appeal to a toddler. Like everyone else, we prefer a short drive, to a not-too-crowded camping area, where it's scenic and there's something fun to do nearby.

That's not too much to ask, right?

The JJ Cole Essentials Sling back diaper bag has gone everywhere with us for two-and-a-half years because it's ideal for moms (or dads) who prefer to travel light and like a stylish, rugged diaper bag.

I can fit a drink, snack, couple of toys, change of clothes, couple of diapers, and wipes in the compartments along with a few of my own womanly essentials for an outing. This bag adjusts to fit different body types, which makes it versatile enough for both parents to use.  And yes, if you can believe it, dads will not mind shouldering the diaper bag burden when it's this compact and easy to wear.  If you are tired of the bulkiness and clutter of diaper bags and want something new, or if you're becoming a first-time parent, this bag is a great addition to any family's travel gear.

Chloe plays at the park
Fall has arrived in the desert.  Trying to take advantage of some days in the sun that are the perfect 78 degrees, we've been escaping to our neighborhood park for morning play time.  Having a two-year old toddling in the park is always fun and sometimes even funny...except when it's time to say 'bye-'bye to the slides once more.

Brooke prepares for a half marathon by working out on the trails near Saguaro Lake
After a few years off from competitve long distance running, Brooke gets back into the action with a wee little half marathon to get the rust knocked off.

Watch out boys, them ladies are taking over.
Seriously, have you ever seen a group of women rigging winch cable together?  It's like better than a swimsuit calendar.
Brooke gives an overview of her experience with Overland Training's Woman's Course.

If you have to know, our daughter Chloe wasn't conceived at home, or in a hotel, or in the backseat of a car. So what choice is left?
Get the woman's perspective on this luxurious safari tent that keeps us, warm, dry, and really really comfy when we're on a trip. So comfy, in fact, that we're likely to reproduce.

Brooke and Chloe hanging out at the campfire
We know what all of our friends and family thought before Chloe came along. "Good thing you're getting all your travels out of the way before you have kids, because once you do it'll all come to a stop."  Well, with all love back to them, they were wrong. Brooke covers the essentials that have helped us out in the first two years of parenthood and outdoor family adventures.