I had never heard of butterfly puddling until we started researching it after witnessing a group of tiger swallowtails feasting upon the sand. Being out in nature allows us to observe fascinating creatures, turning it into a valuable science lesson about animal behavior. This is my favorite way to teach because homeschooling isn’t just about my kiddo learning – I’m learning right alongside him. 🌿 That’s what makes this homeschooling journey so incredible. 🚌📖 The beauty of nature perfectly aligns with the beauty of homeschooling. 🦋✨ Wouldn’t you agree?
Butterfly Puddling: “also known as mud-puddling or salt-drinking, is a behavior observed in some butterfly species. It involves butterflies gathering in groups to drink liquids from moist surfaces, such as mud, damp soil, puddles, or even animal droppings. This behavior is especially common in male butterflies, and it serves as a way for them to obtain essential nutrients and minerals, including salts and amino acids, which are crucial for their reproduction and overall health.” (per the web)
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✨ Follow @ali_son_wanderland_adventures ✨
We are Ali & Son Wanderland Adventures. A mom and her tween who love the outdoors and finding new adventures! We hike, car-camp, navigate my celiac disease & my son’s food allergies while traveling and homeschooling in between. Our aim is to demonstrate to others that despite life’s obstacles, we must persevere and find our happiness. We’re here to show you that with a sprinkle of creativity, you can enjoy allergy friendly meals and conquer mountains, forests, and everything in between! 😄
Happy Wandering!
❤️Ali
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Family adventure travel, family-friendly nature experiences, family road trip destinations, outdoor family, outdoor travel with kids, family adventure, family travel, family travel destinations, adventure travel, outdoor travel, family-friendly outdoor adventures, outdoor family fun,
What did I want for my birthday? This and more of this 🥳🎂🎉 Nothing makes me feel more alive 🌄 double tap if you agree ❤️
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✨ Follow @ali_son_wanderland_adventures ✨
We are Ali & Son Wanderland Adventures. A mom and her tween who love the outdoors and finding new adventures! We hike, car-camp, navigate my celiac disease & my son’s food allergies while traveling and homeschooling in between. Our aim is to demonstrate to others that despite life’s obstacles, we must persevere and find our happiness. We’re here to show you that with a sprinkle of creativity, you can enjoy allergy friendly meals and conquer mountains, forests, and everything in between! 😄
Happy Wandering!
❤️Ali
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Family adventure travel, family-friendly nature experiences, family road trip destinations, outdoor family, outdoor travel with kids, family adventure, family travel, family travel destinations, adventure travel, outdoor travel, family-friendly outdoor adventures, outdoor family fun, hiking with kids, outdoor kids, Virginia
#birthdayplans #blueridgeparkway #naturalvirginia #virginia #loveva #virginiaisforlovers #naturalwonders #geologicalwonders #blueridgemountains #virginiaisbeautiful #hiddengems
Before anyone gives the lecture on not feeding wildlife ✋we are at my home (not saying you should do it) but onto the story.
Hi, my name is Raptor 🐿️ I want to tell you a story about life. It all started one day when the outdoor cat was out on patrol leaving her residence unoccupied. I invited myself into the garage for a quick little snack but I guess I overstayed my welcome 😬 Arriving home to an uninvited guest didn’t go over so well, but I made it out of there just in the nick of time before becoming the cat’s next meal.
Over the next few weeks I kept visiting, until she finally gave up chasing me and decided it would be okay to share a few kibbles with me instead. I was grateful for the food and friend.
The cat later introduced me to the local group of chickens where I found a bounty of daily food scraps which they seemed more than happy to share.
The humans started to notice that the entire farm seemed to be getting a little nutty, because they all were welcoming me into their homes. While I loved my new friends, I realized they ate like animals and I wanted to try a more civilized life 🍽️
I invited myself to sit with the humans on their porch the next day. From a safe distance, I observed their human ways until I felt confident enough to make my move. I politely inched forward hoping they would notice me and give up a tiny morsel of their food, and well, you know what… they couldn’t resist my adorable face! So began the daily ritual of porch visits, where I mastered the art of ease dropping, perfecting my charm and some cunning tactics 😏 Little did the humans know what kind of monster lie wait in their midst. 😂
I now know the sound of one human’s voice and if I’m around, I come when she calls. I have even gotten brave enough that I’ve jumped on them a few times because I was impatient waiting for my food. I forgot my manners…oops 😅
The kid named me Raptor, back when I was stealing the cat’s food. He
Okay, note to self: Next vacay, I’ll be a sunset chaser instead of a sunrise warrior. 🌅🛌 (Let’s be real, sunset chasing is gonna happen too – can’t resist those views! 😂) Already counting down to my next so-called ‘restful’ adventure! 🏖️😆
Honestly, I come back from ‘vacation’ needing another one. Any fellow travelers feeling the same? 🙋♀️
📍Outer Banks, NC
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✨ Follow @ali_son_wanderland_adventures ✨
We are Ali & Son Wanderland Adventures. A mom and her tween who love the outdoors and finding new adventures! We hike, car-camp, navigate my celiac disease & my son’s food allergies while traveling and homeschooling in between. Our aim is to demonstrate to others that despite life’s obstacles, we must persevere and find our happiness. We’re here to show you that with a sprinkle of creativity, you can enjoy allergy friendly meals and conquer mountains, forests, and everything in between! 😄
Happy Wandering!
❤️Ali
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Family adventure travel, family-friendly nature experiences, family road trip destinations, outdoor family, outdoor travel with kids, family adventure, family travel, family travel destinations, adventure travel, outdoor travel, family-friendly outdoor adventures, outdoor family fun, hiking with kids, outdoor kids
#sunrisechaser #gettingupearly #itsalwaysworththeview #outerbanksnc #visitnc #onlyinnorthcarolina #capehatteras #capehatterasnationalseashore #visitobx #obx #northcarolinaoutdoors #northcarolinatourism #nctourism #northcarolinacoast #northcarolinabeaches
Summer nights ignite the skies with magical storms! 🌩️ I’ve been so captivated by my encounter with this mesmerizing cloud formation that I’ve spent the last few weeks researching clouds. I can finally confirm that what I witnessed is called an anvil cloud.
“An anvil cloud, also known as an anvil top, is a type of cloud formation that appears at the uppermost part of a cumulonimbus cloud (thunderstorm cloud). It typically has a flat, spreading shape resembling the anvil used by blacksmiths, which is why it’s given this name. Anvil clouds are formed when the rising warm air in the cumulonimbus cloud reaches the top of the troposphere and spreads out due to the atmospheric conditions. These clouds can indicate strong updrafts within the thunderstorm and are often associated with severe weather events.” (per the web)
Nature’s wonders never cease to amaze me! ✨
Do you enjoy the thrill of watching storms light up the skies? Share your thoughts below! 🌌
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✨ Follow @ali_son_wanderland_adventures ✨
We are Ali & Son Wanderland Adventures. A mom and her tween who love the outdoors and finding new adventures! We hike, car-camp, navigate my celiac disease & my son’s food allergies while traveling and homeschooling in between. We’re here to show you that with a sprinkle of creativity, you can enjoy allergy friendly meals while conquering mountains, forests, and everything in between! 😄
Happy Wandering!
❤️Ali
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nature experiences, outdoor family, outdoor travel with kids, family adventure, family travel, adventure travel, outdoor travel, family-friendly outdoor adventures, outdoor family fun
#SummerStorms #AnvilCloud #naturewonders #stormclouds
Snackable Saturday: Fashionably Late, but Worth the Wait! 🍪✨
If car camping is an excuse, then it’s my favorite one. We stayed up late into the night reading, telling jokes and indulging on more than one @enjoylifefoods cookie 😆 It was a perfect night to be under the stars 🌌🚐⛺️📚🍪
Warning: finishing the whole box is not just a possibility, it’s a sure thing 😜
✨Enjoy Life Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies✨
Per serving (2 cookies):
✅1g Protein, 12gSugar, 5g Fat
✅130 Calories per serving
✅Minimal Ingredients
⛔️No🥛
⛔️No 🌰🥜
⛔️No 🌾
✅Gluten Free
✅FREE FROM Top 14 Allergens
DISCLAIMER: These are solely my opinions. Just because product(s) that I share are safe for my family, does not make it safe for yours. ALWAYS READ LABELS FOR YOURSELF. If you are unsure as to whether the product(s) are safe for you or your child, speak with your doctor or allergist before consuming a new product.
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✨ Follow @ali_son_wanderland_adventures ✨
We are Ali & Son Wanderland Adventures. A mom and her tween who love the outdoors and finding new adventures! We hike, car-camp, navigate my celiac disease & my son’s food allergies while traveling and homeschooling in between. We’re here to show you that with a sprinkle of creativity, you can enjoy allergy friendly meals while conquering mountains, forests, and everything in between! 😄
Happy Wandering!
❤️Ali
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Family adventure travel, outdoor family, outdoor travel with kids, family adventure, family travel, adventure travel, outdoor travel, family-friendly outdoor adventures, outdoor family fun, hiking with kids, outdoor kids, car camping family
#snackablesaturday #glutenfreetravel #celiacsafefoods #safefoodjourney #foodallergysupport #foodallergylife #glutenfreeadventure #glutenfreelife #celiacfamily #foodallergyawareness #allergyfriendlyeats #celiacwarrior #allergyfriendlyrecipes #allergenfriendly #celiac
A bucket list adventure that pushed my kiddo outside of his comfort zone.
We embarked on a journey that would push boundaries to embrace the unknown. The darkness that shrouded the cave’s entrance became a mere obstacle waiting to be overcome. Hand in hand, we ventured forth, marveling at the eerie beauty of the cave surrounding us. And amidst the awe-inspiring moments, my kiddo triumphed over fear, transforming it into an unforgettable victory!
Stepping outside our comfort zones is where true growth happens, where we discover the depths of our potential. The path is not always easy, but the rewards were immeasurable.
When was the last time you stepped outside of your comfort zone? I would love to hear about it!
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✨ Follow @ali_son_wanderland_adventures ✨
We are a mother and son who love the outdoors and finding new adventures! Our hope is to encourage families to get outdoors more. We hike, car-camp, navigate my celiac disease & my son’s food allergies while traveling and homeschooling in between.
Happy Wandering!
❤️Ali
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Family adventure travel, family-friendly nature experiences, family road trip destinations, outdoor family, outdoor travel with kids, family adventure, family travel, family travel destinations, adventure travel, outdoor travel, family-friendly outdoor adventures, outdoor family fun, hiking with kids, outdoor kids, Virginia
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#exploretheunknown #destinationinspiration #conqueryourfears #fearlessjourney #conqueryourlimits #pushingboundaries #fearnomore #epictriumphs #bucketlistconquerors #unleashyourcourage #traveltriumphs #discoverandconquer #adventureawaits #beyondexpectations #unveilingwonders #conqueringchallenges #chasingdreams #embracetheunknown #overcomingobstacles #seekingadventure #dreamsintoreality #dreamdestination #adventurersunite #bucketlistadventures #journeytoremember
Eating snacks is one of our favorite activities everyday 😆 but especially when we are enjoying outdoor activities and need an energy boost. Would you agree?
If you are new here, let me first say hi 👋 my name is Ali. I have been an allergy parent for almost 10 years. That is 10 years of researching safe foods for my kiddo. He is allergic to dairy and nuts (except coconut - which is debatable in whether or not it can be considered a nut.)
Over the years, I have compiled quite the list of snack ideas. This list consists of both foods labeled specifically as allergen free as well as items I never would have thought to be dairy and nut free. (Those are my favorite finds.)
No matter whether you have food allergies or not, we all take snacks with us on-the-go whether that be hiking, camping, traveling or simply running errands. (Or at least most of us do.)
Each Saturday, I will be sharing snack ideas. I hope this is helpful. I wish I would have had this list years ago. It would have saved me a lot of time 😅
See you next week for “Snackable Saturday” - my Trail Edition.
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🥾Follow @ali_son_wanderland_adventures
My son and I love the outdoors and finding new adventures! We encourage families to find J😊Y in the outdoors. We hike, camp from our SUV, navigate my son’s food allergies while traveling and homeschooling in between.
❤️Ali
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#snackablesaturday #trailfood #allergyfriendly #allergyfree #dairyfree #dairyfreefood #nutallergy #nutfree #trailsnacks #snackideas #campingsnacks #snacksonthego #travelsnacks #allergymom #kidswithallergies #outdoorfamily #outdooradventures #adventuringwithkids #adventureswithkids
I have wonderful news! 📰
Spring is only 19 days away and is ramping up quickly 🌸🌸
I love the quote by Lady Bird Johnson ~
“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” 🫶🏼
I am so glad to be over the winter hump and slump 😆 Winter can be a bit tough for some. If you haven’t been getting outside, traveling and have had the winter blues - rest assured, the seasons changing mean more opportunities are around the corner. There is so much waiting for me and YOU this Spring season!
I personally cannot wait to enjoy all of the beautiful new things nature has to offer 🙌 along with more:
🏕️ camping
🥾 hiking
🛶 boating
🎣 fishing
🪁 park days
🚙 traveling
and so much more!!
I want to know, what are you most excited for? ⤵️
Happy Wandering!
❤️Ali
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🥾Follow @ali_son_wanderland_adventures for our spring adventures🌷
We get so much joy from being outdoors. We hike, camp from our SUV, navigate my son’s food allergies while traveling and homeschool in between.
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#getoutandplay #springiscoming #outdooractivities #springflowersmakemehappy #springweather #travelandadventure #loveva #springinvirginia #virginiaoutdoors #virginiaphotographer #springblooms