Create Play Travel Pacific Northwest family lifestyle and creative ideas
  • Family Travel
  • Kids Activities
  • DIY Projects
  • Family Lifestyle
  • Homeschool
  • Beauty Tips
  • About

We may have received one or more of the products mentioned below free for review purposes. Our posts contain affiliate links which allow us to earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are exclusive to Create. Play. Travel.

Summer Essentials for Family Adventures

by Katie Wallace | Updated: June 2, 2024

Summer is an awesome season to get out, enjoy family adventures, and make memories! The weather is often nice and our kids enjoy a break from school. Here’s a few summer essentials for exploring with babies and kids.

Some years we’ve gone RV camping, stayed in a forest service fire lookout, and explored new destinations while traveling with kids. It’s important to bring the right gear and make reservations in advance. Here are some great items to consider bringing along on your family adventures this summer.

family hikes baby Moby Wrap summer essentials

A Moby Wrap makes it easy to bring your baby on a walk or hike. See more details below!

Keep>Going First Aid Kits

For bumps and scrapes, this adorable kit has all the summer essentials for first aid. Keep>Going First Aid contains bandages of several sizes, tape, antibiotic cream, burn gel, hydrocortisone, disposable thermometers, hand sanitizer, lip balm, and more! All the travel size items come inside an adorable zipper bag. I can easily tuck this woodland gokit in our backpack for a hike, or take it to the beach. Furthermore, Keep>Going first aid kits come in several sizes and patterns. You can choose from a minikit, gokit, and superkit. This bag shown below is the gokit in the woodland pattern, containing 130 first aid items. The woodland pattern is a whimsical assortment of trees, flowers, and forest creatures.

keep going first aid kit summer essentials

First Aid Summer Essentials

This compact first aid kit has many helpful things for small cuts and scrapes. It’s ideal for soothing scraped knees on a hike, and minor burns from activities such as making s’mores. I think the bandage patterns are cheerful and happy, which can help soothe a hurt child too! Additionally, the hand sanitizer and lip balm are simple essentials you can use anywhere. I often need lip balm for chapped lips, and it’s a bummer when I forget to bring some. This kit has chapped lips covered! Everything fits into a streamlined zipper bag, and the items are easily refillable. Overall I recommend bringing one of these kits along on family adventures.

keep going first aid kit for travel

Keep>Going First Aid kits are very helpful to bring along on hikes, camping trips, and road trips.

keep going compact first aid bag

Sunscreen

Next on our list, sunscreen is another essential for exploring the great outdoors. Bare Republic is one of our favorite brands, with a range of products that protect the skin with broad spectrum SPF. I’ve used the tinted face sunscreen, mineral sport sunscreen, and mineral shimmer sticks. I especially love Bare Republic mineral shimmer sunscreen, which deflects the sun’s rays and adds a bit of glitter.

Bare Republic reef friendly sunscreen

Babywearing with a Moby Wrap

One of our greatest adventures has been adding a new baby to our family! A Moby Wrap is my favorite carrier for babywearing, especially when baby is ages 0 to 6 months old.  Babywearing is a great way to include a baby while hiking, exploring a new city, or using public transportation. I can keep her close and she can easily nap wherever we are.

Moby Wrap babywearing hiking

I think the reversible Moby Wrap design is great because it securely hugs my baby close to me, spreading baby’s weight evenly across my back and hips. Baby’s head can be tucked under one of the side panels, while her torso is held securely, and her legs and feet can be tucked up too. The Moby Wrap is also so comfy. The featherknit fabric is soft and doesn’t dig into my shoulders. Furthermore, the two-color design I received is reversible to show either the jade or gray side. Overall, I love the style, colors, and feel of this Moby Wrap. Once I learned how to put on this babywearing summer essential, it’s very easy to use!

baby sleeping Moby Wrap babywearing

Babywearing is the only way I can bring my baby girl on trips and hikes at this age. The Moby Wrap allows me to carry her to places that are too hard to bring a stroller. Finally, my baby often wants to sleep while I wear her, rather than in her crib. I’ve often enjoyed babywearing and cuddling her during this sweet baby stage.

Moby Wrab hiking with baby

Snacktime Summer Essentials

Last but not least, my kids love having snacks on our hikes and family adventures. A little sugar can provide a needed boost of energy. Wiley Wallaby licorice is a great snack for hikes, camping, and traveling. This licorice comes in a lot of natural flavors including apple, watermelon, huckleberry, strawberry, and classic black. I agree with their marketing, it IS the best soft and chewy licorice that I’ve enjoyed.

Wiley Wallaby licorice watermelon huckleberry summer essentials

This licorice is really yummy and flavorful, and yet not too sweet. The pieces are generously sized and the perfect amount of softness. Finally, Wiley Wallaby licorice is very reasonably priced at $5.99 per 10 oz. bag.

In addition to the soft & chewy licorice, my kids also like the Fruitrageous Drops. These original fruit candies are smaller sized pieces with a hard candy coating and soft licorice inside. Wiley Wallaby apple, watermelon, and strawberry drops are fun to eat as a hiking snack.

Wiley Wallaby fruitrageous licorice

Wiley Wallaby soft & chewy licorice is a great snack for summer adventures!

Wiley Wallaby licorice assorted flavors

Ultimately, these summer adventure items are helpful to bring hiking, camping, or traveling. Keep>Going first aid kits easily fit in a day pack and can help soothe minor injuries. A Moby Wrap keeps baby close and included on family adventures, while keeping mom comfortable too. Tasty Wiley Wallaby licorice is naturally flavored and fun to snack on in the car or on a trail. Your family may have a hard time choosing a favorite flavor, but I recommend them all. Happy adventuring!

summer snacks Wiley Wallaby licorice

Wiley Wallaby makes a variety of licorice the whole family will enjoy!

summer adventures keep going first aid

Keep going with this super cute first aid kit, which is sized to easily fit in a backpack to take on adventures and hikes.

Katie Wallace
Katie Wallace

Hi, I’m Katie! I live with my husband and 4 kids in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I love Jesus, coffee, creative projects, photography, and traveling. I’ve previously worked as a web designer, journalist, and barista. I hope you enjoy our creative projects and family adventures!

Tags

  • Product Reviews

Post navigation

Baby Sleep Basics from KeaBabies
Meow Wolf The Real Unreal, Dallas, Texas

Related posts

How to Choose an Accent Wall Paint Color + Painting Tips
June 2, 2019
by Katie Wallace  /  25 Comments

How to Choose an Accent Wall Paint Color + Painting Tips

Learning Activities for Preschool & Kindergarten
January 7, 2026
by Katie Wallace  /  15 Comments

Learning Activities for Preschool & Kindergarten

Easy Shopping for Babies
August 1, 2017
by Katie Wallace  /  13 Comments

Easy Shopping for Babies

guest
Recipe Rating




guest
Recipe Rating




0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Hello

Wallace Family 2024 create play travel

Hi, I'm Katie and we are the Wallace family! We homeschool, go on adventures, and travel internationally with our four kids. I hope you enjoy our creative ideas on Create. Play. Travel.

Do it Yourself

do it yourself watermelon fruit bowl See our creative projects, kids activities, & party ideas »

Homeschool Ideas

katie wallace homeschool ideas Homeschool Tips & Ideas »

Popular Tags

  • Babies
  • Baking
  • Camping
  • Colorado
  • DIY Home
  • Easy Crafts
  • Europe
  • Fall Ideas
  • Family Fashion
  • Gift Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
  • Idaho
  • Kids Activities
  • Kids Science
  • Memories
  • Pacific Northwest
  • Paper Crafts
  • Party Ideas
  • Product Reviews
  • Snacks
  • Summer Ideas
  • Teens
  • Toys
  • Travel Tips
  • Valentines Day
  • Videos
  • Worldschooling

Latest YouTube Videos

Create Play Travel Youtube Videos@createplaytravel on YouTube »
Europe with kids YouTube videosEurope with Kids Video Episodes »

createplaytravel

Travel with kids tips & inspo 🌍🌺 Creative family ideas 🌟 Saved by grace ➡️ Follow our adventures!

The struggle is real when charging our family’s de The struggle is real when charging our family’s devices! 😀 We try to balance screen time with learning and adventures while traveling. 

Phones & tablets can be helpful for language learning and some games/entertainment. 📱

Our watches double as GPS tracking for our kids, and the drone is fun for capturing unique video content!

💬 Which devices do you bring when traveling with your kids? 

Hi! We’re the Wallace family. 👋😀 We love traveling with our 4 kids, homeschooling, and exploring. ➡️ follow along! @createplaytravel

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! 🌎🩵

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschool family, worldschooling, exploring with kids
The struggle is real when charging our family’s de The struggle is real when charging our family’s devices! 😀

We try to balance screen time with learning and adventures while traveling with our kids. But phones & tablets can be helpful for language learning and some games/entertainment. 📱Our watches double as GPS tracking for our kids, and the drone is fun for capturing unique video content!

💬 Which devices do you bring when traveling with your kids? 

Hi! We’re the Wallace family. 👋😀 We love traveling with our 4 kids, homeschooling, and exploring. ➡️ follow along! @createplaytravel

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! 🌎🩵

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschool family, worldschooling, exploring with kids
Girls spa day! 😊🌸 We got pedicures at a nail studi Girls spa day! 😊🌸 We got pedicures at a nail studio near our house, and it was such a fun way to spend time together. 💕🇲🇽 @teenglowtravel @just.sylvie.xo 

💬 What activities do you enjoy doing with your daughter? Comment below👇

One thing we love about living in Mérida, MX is how affordable beauty treatments can be. It’s easy to enjoy a little pampering without breaking the budget!

Hi! We’re the Wallace family. 👋😀 We love traveling with our 4 kids, homeschooling, and exploring. ➡️ follow along! @createplaytravel 

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! 🌎🩵

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling, exploring Mexico, worldschooling
The house search is on! 🏠🌴 We’re looking for a lon The house search is on! 🏠🌴 We’re looking for a long-term rental house in Mérida, Mexico. Our wish list includes:

 • 4 bedrooms
 • spacious family room
 • workspace / homeschool room
 • pool to cool off from the heat
 • space for hosting! 

Do you think we’ll find our dream home in Mérida? 😁☀️🌴 We still have one more house to look at!

Hi! We’re the Wallace family. 👋😀 We love traveling with our 4 kids, homeschooling, and exploring. ➡️ follow along! @createplaytravel 

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! 🌎🩵

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling, exploring Mexico, worldschooling
Cerrado los lunes! 😟☀️ We showed up at the zoo onl Cerrado los lunes! 😟☀️ We showed up at the zoo only to discover it was closed on Mondays. 

Thankfully, our family has gotten pretty good at pivoting when plans change. Instead of heading home, we set off on a mile-long walk to Centro Histórico Mérida and turned an unexpected detour into an adventure.

We explored local markets, enjoyed tacos and sopa de lima for lunch, and let the kids burn off energy at a park. The Mérida heat definitely called for a treat, so we stopped for fruit bars that cost just 40 pesos (about $2.50) each. We made it home just in time for Juliet’s nap!

Next time, we’ll check the zoo schedule before we go. But honestly, this unexpected change of plans turned into a pretty great day!

✨ Takeaways:

• Travel helps build resilient kids. When plans change, they learn to adapt, stay positive, and enjoy the adventure anyway.

• Some of our best experiences happen when things don’t go as planned. The zoo will still be there another day! 🦓🐊🦛

• We’re growing in Spanish every day. The kids are becoming more confident with pronunciation, casual phrases, and new vocabulary as we navigate life in Mexico.

💬 What do you want to know about our life in Mexico?

Hi! We’re the Wallace family. 👋😀 We love traveling with our 4 kids, homeschooling, and exploring! 
➡️ follow along! @createplaytravel 

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures 🌎🩵

homeschool family, travel with kids, adventure family, worldschooling, kids who travel, merida mexico, family travel
Hola from Mérida! 🇲🇽☀️ Our first week has been cha Hola from Mérida! 🇲🇽☀️ Our first week has been challenging and rewarding as we settle into life in Mexico with our 4 kids!

• We’re finding our new normal, discovering favorite stores, trying grocery delivery, getting used to air-drying clothes and doing dishes (no clothes dryer or dishwasher). 

 • We’ve almost finished all steps for receiving our family’s permanent residency cards. Praying for successful completion!

 • Also experiencing frequent tropical afternoon downpours, magnificent and soaking! 🌴

 • Being without city water for 20 hours, which impacted washing dishes and taking showers. We used our rooftop water tank sparingly. 

 • House hunting & touring several long term rental houses; we hope to find a good fit for our stay-at-home lifestyle and hosting too!

I keep reminding myself that we moved here! We’re not just visiting for a few weeks. 🤯😄

Overall, we’re grateful. ☀️🙂 It’s been a good first week, and we’re excited to continue settling in and discovering what life in Mérida has in store for our family!

Hi! We’re the Wallace family. 👋😀 We love traveling with our 4 kids, homeschooling, and exploring. ➡️ follow along! @createplaytravel 

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! 🌎🩵

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling, exploring Mexico, worldschooling, Mérida Mexico
I can’t believe in 2 days, we head to Merida, Mexi I can’t believe in 2 days, we head to Merida, Mexico to live there for two years! 🇲🇽 Our goal is to gain dual citizenship, work on learning Spanish, and get to know the local culture. We also look forward to welcoming baby # 5 in October, another GIRL! 🩷🦩🥰

North Idaho has been so good to us, and we will miss our friends and family! 

Thanks for praying for our family on our journey! 🩵🌎

Hi! We’re the Wallace family 👋😀 We love traveling with our 4 kids, homeschooling, and exploring. ➡️ follow along! @createplaytravel 

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling, exploring Mexico, worldschooling
So many fun squishies, NeeDohs, and dumplings! 🥹🍕💧 So many fun squishies, NeeDohs, and dumplings! 🥹🍕💧 @needohofficial @hallmark
Follow on Instagram
  • Elara Pro by LyraThemes.com
  • Copyright © Create. Play. Travel. • Privacy Policy