It’s so easy to get into a rut as a parent, from making the same meal to watching the same movie to revisiting the same place, over and over again just because you know your kids like it. But guess what? Kids like novelty, too.

Last year, while writing a guidebook, I crisscrossed the region looking for outdoor adventures for families. And my family discovered several new favorites, places that were off the beaten path — or at least off ours.