Happy first day of Spring! The trees are blooming here in Portland and it’s supposed to be over 60 degrees here today, so it couldn’t be a more perfect day to ring in this new season. And although I know we still have plenty of rainy days ahead here in Portland, I’m soooooo looking forward to warmer weather and sunshine in the future!
This is also a perfect day to share with you guys a post that I’ve been planning for awhile and I’m so excited about – our recent spring hike in our family’s new Keen shoes! We don’t have any big plans for spring break, so when Keen Kids offered to let us try out some new styles of their shoes, we figured we may as well take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy some of the amazing natural areas we have right here in our own backyard. And the best part is that in addition to sharing our recent adventure with you, I’m also giving away Keen shoes to one lucky family, so be sure to check out the end of this post for details on how to enter!
So before I get to sharing the rest of the photos, I have to start out by saying the Keen is a brand we’ve been a big fan for many years. I’ve had my same pair of Keen hiking boots for ten years (well, until I got new ones as you’ll see in this post – ha!) and we all wear their shoes. Cameron and I even used Keens in our pregnancy announcement with Henry! So I know sometimes it’s weird when people post about a brand and I often wonder if they actually like something they’re going on about as much as it seems, so I just wanted to throw it out there that I’m genuinely a huge fan of the brand!
The weekend before last, we decided to head out for family hike over Powell Butte Nature Park in Southeast Portland. If you’re local and haven’t checked this spot out yet, it’s a great place for all ages as there are lots of different trails, many of which can accommodate a stroller, which makes ideal for running or dog walking. On a clear day, you’ll get great views of Mount Hood and many other peaks, so it’s definitely a popular place!
When picking out shoes for the boys, I tried to think about their current stages and what shoe from Keen Kids would best fit their needs. Henry has reached an age where he’s outgrown the hiking backpack (maybe not technically by weight, but he has no desire to ride in it – ha!) and is going to do any hiking on his own two feet. I wanted him to have a little bit more of a traditional hiking boot style shoe, but one that would still be light enough for him to wear from day to day. These Little Kids’ Hikeport Boots perfectly fit the bill, and the best part is they’re waterproof, making them perfect for spring time in Oregon!
Not to mention, the red and blue color is really classic and I really like that they have bungee cord type laces so no tripping over untied shoes!
Charlie, on the other hand, is still doing a lot more of our hikes/walks in either a carrier or stroller, so he doesn’t need a shoe that’s quite as rugged and needs something more suited to every day wear. However, he does still like to try to keep up with everything that his big brother does and so I wanted him to also have a shoe that was waterproof and durable. These Little Kids’ Chandler Waterproof Shoes were exactly what I was looking for and work perfectly for both outdoor adventures and trips to the grocery store. (Or in this case, a stroller coffee break – ha!)
I love that these also have bungee cord style laces and what’s great is that they are super easy to get on his feet. Both of the boys have wide feet, but Charlie’s are especially tricky to find shoes that fit. I feel like overall Keen Kids shoes are designed to fit kids’ feet really well, but these shoes in particular are so perfect for younger toddlers who aren’t always the most cooperative when it comes to putting on shoes.
Who are you talking about being uncooperative putting on shoes? (Ha!)
Seriously though, I really think this are such great, all-purpose kid-shoes and this is actually our second pair of them since Charlie and Henry both wore another pair we had, and Charlie just grew out of them. I totally plan to buy more of these as their feet continue to grow and the fact that they’re waterproof is just icing on the cake for our lifestyle here in the Pacific Northwest.
During our day at Powell Butte, we hiked to the top, took in the view, and both boys got plenty of time to run around. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves, because I took a lot of them…ha!
This is what 90% of our family photos look like…ha! We usually have to take soooo many to get one where we’re all looking. #thestruggleisreal
Notice Henry on the trail – ha!
In addition to having tons of great trails, Powell Butte has an area near the parking lot with picnic tables, bathrooms, and all these pipes that the kids love climbing on. There’s actually a lot of interesting information on them so it’s a great learning opportunity for people with older kids!
Or if you’re my husband, it’s a great spot for doing pull-ups…ha.
We had such a great day enjoying the sunshine here in Portland in our new Keen shoes and I know they’re going to get lots of use this spring! (Just FYI: Here are the boots I have and these are the ones my husband has – we were both super impressed by their comfort right out of the box and would highly recommend them if you’re in the market for hiking boots!) And be sure to check out Keen Kids for lots of great spring shoes! I plan to have the boys wearing some of these colorful Newport sandals once the weather warms up a little, they have so many cute colors!
Finally, I’m excited to give away a four pairs of Keens to one lucky family! To enter, just head to my Instagram for all the details! Happy spring!