Trail Snacks to Summit Goals: Hiking the Tri-Cities with Kids (and One Ambitious Husband)

When we moved to the Tri-Cities, we knew we wanted more outdoor adventures for our family—but we didn’t expect to fall so hard for hiking. Turns out, when you trade Mississippi humidity for dry desert air and panoramic views, it’s hard not to get hooked. Over the past few months, we’ve been lacing up our sneakers, loading up the snack bags, and hitting some of the area’s most popular trails: Badger Mountain, Candy Mountain, and the Rattlesnake Dance Trail. Spoiler alert: the kids crushed it. I survived. And my husband? He’s now plotting to turn us into a full-blown mountain-climbing couple. Pray for me. Badger Mountain: Our “We’re Actually Doing This” Hike Badger was our first big local hike—and by “big,” I mean big for a family of five plus a dog who thinks he’s part mountain goat. The trail is wide and well-kept, but don’t let that fool you: it’s a steady incline that had my calves singing by the halfway point. Luckily the kids wanted to stop and rest, take some photos. Did you...