Campgrounds Add Perks, Redefine 'Roughing It'

(NEWSER) - Backpacker combed through info on outdoor programs and proximity to national forests and parks to find the best cities in the US to raise active, crunchy kids. The results:

• Boulder, Colo.: "Yes, we live here, but Boulder wins on its merits." Close to woods, glaciers, and mountains, the population of 94,673 has been named "Smartest" and "Most Livable" by Forbes.

(NEWSER) - The summer solstice is upon us, but for certain enthusiasts, today bears a different name: Naked Hiking Day. “No way to explain it until you experience it,” one fan told the AP. “Traditional” hikers might feel the same upon encountering backpackers in the buff. “It’s just rude,” one Appalachian Trail official said. “People are out there hiking with their kids and families.” More»

McCain, Obama declare their love for the outdoors in nature mag

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama and John McCain will talk fishing and hunting in the October issue of Field & Stream magazine. (Coincidentally or not, the cover feature implores readers to “Find Your Bull,” the Swamp notes.) In the interview, both candidates profess to be big fans of the outdoors, with McCain recalling fishing and hiking in Arizona, Obama describing spearfishing in Hawaii. More»

Innovative solutions for wilderness living

(NEWSER) - Wired sees a distinct lack of cool high-tech outdoor gear, and gives its favorite examples of steps in the right direction:

1. The Cocoon, a hanging teardrop-shaped tent/sleeping bag.
2. The Adamant, an earthquake-proof bed.
3. The Bedu Emergency Rapid Response Kit, a keg full of enough essentials to keep a family alive for up to 5 years.
4. The Urban Skiff, a portable sailboat.
5. The Firun Inflatable Sled, a snowsled that folds down into a backpack.

You'll be glad you packed this gear if that 3-hour tour hits a snag

(NEWSER) - A GPS unit and satellite phone may be handy if you're lost in the wild, but Wired offers a simpler list of cheap essentials for any survival kit:

1. Knife, vital for shelter, food prep, campfires, and countless other tasks.
2. Lighter and tinder, like waxed cotton, to start fires in wet weather.
3. Metal container, to boil water to kill bacteria.