Chicago Summer Adventure Guide

We created this Chicago Summer Adventure Guide in order to dispel the notion that worthwhile life experiences must involve international travel, significant investment and considerable allotment of time. Summers often seem short, and sometimes wishing for conditions to fall into perfect alignment so that we feel we can get away from it all keeps many … Read more

10 Essentials for Outdoor Adventures

The Ten Essentials List, originally developed by The Mountaineers, a Seattle-based organization for climbers and outdoor adventurers, included 10 actual items. Over the years, and as more modern gear became available, it had become more of a “system” approach. So, it is less about specific item recommendations, and more about the basics you really should … Read more

outdoor gear essentials

4 Outdoor Gear Essentials for Microescapes

This post contains links to purchase products from our store, or our affiliate partners. Please see our full commercial disclosure. A day trip is as simple as adventure gets. With nothing more than a a few outdoor gear essentials, you can get lost in the great wilderness that lurks just outside, wherever you happen to … Read more

camping with folding bike

Folding Bike: Your Instant Getaway Tool

A folding bike is my hands down favorite microscope tool. It is the perfect vehicle for quick and sneaky getaways. In fact, a particular folding bike was what inspired my Live Large Pack Small philosophy, and eventually led to the creation of this website. So, without further ado, here’s the scoop: What is a folding … Read more