Mildly Girly Outdoor Adventures
Slightly outdoorsy. Slightly girly.
For women who like comfortable adventures, scenic routes, and finding interesting places most people drive right past.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission.
Why I Stop At Every Brown Sign (And Usually Don’t Regret It)
I have a habit that drives some people crazy.
I’ll be halfway to my destination, see a brown sign on the side of the road, and immediately start negotiating with myself.
“Maybe just a quick stop.”
Twenty minutes later I’m standing at a scenic overlook, wandering through a ghost town, or reading every historical marker in sight.
My daughter knows exactly what’s happening when I suddenly slow down and point.
A brown sign usually means our plans are about to change.
Over the years, those little detours have led me to some of my favorite memories. They’ve taken me to places I never would have found otherwise, given me perspective during difficult seasons, and turned ordinary drives into adventures.
I’ve rarely regretted stopping.
I have regretted driving past.
What Brown Signs Mean To Me
Technically, brown signs mark recreational, cultural, and historic destinations.
They’re the signs pointing toward state parks, national parks, scenic byways, trailheads, historic landmarks, museums, ghost towns, and roadside attractions.
But I’ve never thought of them as road signs.
To me, they’re invitations.
They’re little reminders that something interesting exists just beyond the highway.
Someone decided the place was worth preserving, protecting, remembering, or exploring. It mattered enough to earn its own sign.
That’s usually all the encouragement I need.
Sometimes the stop turns out to be spectacular.
Sometimes it’s just a quiet overlook, a strange museum, or a place with an interesting story.
Either way, I’ve learned that the brown signs almost always lead to something better than another twenty miles of highway.
Why I Started Stopping
As a kid, I got dragged on hikes.
At the time, I wasn’t always thrilled about it (nor my brother, seemingly)
As an adult, those experiences became something else.
Now I feel a strange pull whenever I see a place that offers space, fresh air, and a chance to explore.
I think part of it is nostalgia.
Part of it is curiosity.
And part of it is that nature has gotten me through some difficult seasons of life.
And part of it is that nature has gotten me through some difficult seasons of life.
The Reset I Didn’t Know I Needed
A brown sign usually leads to one of three things:
Space
The kind that makes your problems feel smaller.
Perspective
A reminder that the world is much bigger than whatever is stressing you out.
Awe
The feeling that makes you stop talking and just look.
I think we need more of that.
Sometimes the stop turns out to be spectacular. Sometimes it’s just enough perspective to send me home feeling better than when I left, which is exactly why I have a simple post-hike reset routine I come back to again and again. -> here
A Book That Resonated With Me
When a friend shared Black & Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places, it immediately felt connected to some of the things I think about when I’m outdoors. The stories explore representation, belonging, and the many ways people connect with nature.
Why I Added It:
- Personal stories about nature and belonging
- Diverse perspectives on outdoor experiences
- Thought-provoking and easy to read
My Daughter Understands The Assignment
One of my favorite traditions now is taking random brown-sign detours with my daughter.
She claims it’s about bonding.
I’m fairly certain it’s also about convincing me she needs new hiking gear.
Somehow every brown-sign detour turns into a discussion about hiking clothes, water bottles, or backpacks she suddenly needs -> here.
A backpack
A Stanley
A sweatshirt
A hat
The good news is we’ve discovered some great gear along the way.
I usually cave.
The memories are worth it.
- Soft cotton blend with a comfortable relaxed fit
- Open leg design feels easy and less restrictive for lounging
- Stretch fabric works well for travel, walks, or casual days
- Polarized lenses reduce glare and improve clarity outdoors
- UV400 protection helps shield eyes from sun exposure
- Lightweight frame stays comfortable for all-day wear
- Large capacity (40 oz) makes it easy to stay hydrated all day
- Keeps drinks cold for hours with an easy-carry handle
- Cupholder-friendly design for travel and everyday use
Some Of My Favorite Brown Sign Discoveries
Some brown signs lead to quick stops. Others become places I return to again and again.
These are a few of the places that remind me why I keep pulling over.
Bryce Canyon City, Utah
Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon is one of my favorite brown sign detours and one of my most humbling.
A few years ago, I took a solo Labor Day weekend trip and decided to hike from Tropic all the way up to the Bryce Canyon rim.
What I failed to consider was that my confidence level was significantly higher than my fitness level.
The hike seemed simple enough on paper. In reality, I kept taking wrong turns, climbing higher, descending lower, and repeatedly convincing myself I had finally reached the rim.
I had not.
At one point I became so focused on finding a bathroom that it felt less like a hike and more like a survival exercise.
I also learned an important lesson that day:
Just because your leggings are intentionally tight enough to make you feel athletic does not mean you are actually in shape.
Eventually I made it to the rim, overheated, exhausted, and questioning every life choice that brought me there.
I flagged down a shuttle, rode to Bryce Canyon Lodge, ordered lunch, and rewarded myself with a Blue Moon.
After cooling off and regaining my dignity, I hiked back down to Tropic.
These days I’m much better about packing hiking snacks and more water than I think I’ll need -> here
By the time I got home, I felt incredibly accomplished.
It wasn’t my smoothest adventure, but it became one of my favorite memories.
It was also the trip that convinced my daughter I needed a tracking device attached to my backpack.
Red Canyon (15 miles from Bryce Canyon))
My first visits were with my mom, who was a photographer and loved taking me to places that felt bigger than everyday life.
Years later, after my boyfriend died by suicide, I returned alone.
I spent a week there hiking, thinking, and trying to make sense of things that didn’t make sense.
The cliffs didn’t fix anything.
But they gave me space.
Sometimes that’s enough.
A few years later, Zion became part of one of the happiest chapters of my life when my husband and I got married there.
For a Kansas girl and a Minnesota boy who somehow ended up in Las Vegas, getting married surrounded by red rock felt a lot more like us than a ballroom ever could.
Now I return several times a year
Zion is probably the place that inspired many of my mildly girly outdoor adventures before I ever had a name for them -> here.
Some visits are active.
Some are quiet.
Some involve hiking.
Some involve sitting outside with coffee and staring at the cliffs.
But every visit feels like checking in with an old friend.
Lincoln County, Nevada
My Nevada Brown Sign Trifecta
Some days I want towering sandstone. Some days I want water.
Some days I want an easy trail and comfortable clothes -> here.
Echo Canyon State Park
When I want water, a reservoir view, and a quieter day.
Kershaw-Ryan State Park
When I want shade, greenery, and a cool canyon that feels completely different from the Nevada most people picture.
Cathedral Gorge
When I want to feel like I’ve landed on another planet.
The best part is that all three are close enough that I can choose based on my mood. Some days I want towering sandstone. Some days I want water. Some days I just want a trail and a little perspective.
Before every solo hike, I send my location, tell my family where I’m going, and give them a rough time I expect to be back. My daughter would still prefer a GPS tracker permanently attached to me.
What I Keep In The Car For Brown Sign Days
I never know where a brown sign is going to lead.
That’s why I keep a few essentials in my car year-round.
Some are practical.
Some are comfort items.
And a few exist because experience has taught me lessons I’d rather not learn twice.
Other Things That Live In My Car.
Use this space to add a medium length description. Be brief and give enough information to earn their attention.
- National Parks / Nevada State Parks pass
- Electrolytes
- Gallon of water
- Reusable bags
- Hiking poles
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Gloves for collecting rocks
- Snacks
- Tripod
- Shoes and comfortable clothes
Garmin inReach Mini
- Lets you send messages or check in when you’re off-grid
- Adds peace of mind on remote or less-traveled trails
- Compact design is easy to carry without extra weights
Because “I’ll probably have service” is not actually a safety plan.
Hydro Flask or Stanley Bottle
- One-handed push lid makes sipping easy on the move
- Leak-resistant design for tossing in your bag without worry
- Insulated stainless steel keeps drinks at temp on hikes or busy days
The unofficial sponsors of every mother-daughter brown sign detour.
Rumpl Blanket
- Lightweight and packable without taking up much space
- Adds a comfortable layer for breaks or post-hike relaxing
- Easy upgrade that makes outdoor time feel more intentional
For impromptu picnics, scenic overlooks, and pretending I planned this stop all along.
There are also a few things I don’t photograph for blog posts. After enough solo road trips, you learn to be prepared for everything.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Scenic Route Is Usually The Better Story
I’ve never once come home excited that I got somewhere five minutes faster.
I have come home excited about the overlook, ghost town, roadside museum, trail, or random discovery I almost drove past.
That’s why I stop at brown signs.
And why they’re one of my favorite types of mildly girly outdoor adventures.
And why I’ll keep doing it.
As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases.