I just read an awesome and really helpful blog from Fab Working Mom Life about what to remember when you go to the beach with a toddler. I love lists like this, because I am definitely not the type of mom who can remember a bunch of things, and we almost always end up missing something it seems obvious you would have.

Reading the list, I was struck that almost everything on there has awesome eco-friendly options, which made me think everyone could switch out a few things and our beach visits would have a more positive impact. And it is so worth it to do that, because beach days like the ones we enjoy could very well be a thing of the past if we don't clean up our act.

We love our days at the beach, and it breaks my heart that by the time our children are adults, it's expected that the oceans will have more plastic than fish in it. It honestly makes me sick to my stomach to think what my grandchildren's beach days will look like. So if I can make our beach days a little cleaner (and often even cheaper), I am going to do it. If you want to as well, I have some suggestions.

1. A Wet Bag

Instead of throwing all that wet stuff into a plastic bag, bound for the garbage, throw the wet clothes (and even the diapers) into wet bags like these ones from Planetwise. It just goes into the laundry when you get home. I recommend 2 so you can use one for diapers and one for everything else. If you do bring a plastic bag, use it for collecting trash on the beach.

2. Reusable Water Bottles

Easy, money-saving, and will help keep water clean. My favorites are Lifefactory and Liberty Bottleworks. My kid loves his little Klean Kanteen bottle too. 

3. Hats and Sun Shirts

We all need cover from the sun, but slow down your use of sunscreen by covering what you can with hats and shirts instead of giant globs of sunscreen. We usually buy all of this used at the consignment store or Thred Up, because there are tons there. Especially when they are little, these things get one summer of use, so you can find them as good as new.  Bring the sunscreen too, obviously.

4. Reusable Swim Diapers

Even if you aren't generally a reusable diaper family, reusable swim diapers might be a great choice. You just get two per tiny person, and you can switch them out. If you are nervous about it, you can get a size larger and put a normal diaper underneath. Brands that do them are- Thirsties, Smart Bottoms, and  Blueberry.

5. A Change of Clothes

I pack one for each kid and have a back-up set in the car trunk as well. Because toddlers should get to make a mess. We also have a change in the car, because grown-ups should be allowed to make a mess of themselves too.

6. Umbrella for shade (if needed- trees also work for this) and Towels to Stay Dry

These are basic, but no one wants to forget them. Eco-families need towels too. If you need to buy them, check out Big Ass Towels, which have a cheeky (get it? I'll be here all night) name, but great and American-made towels. Otherwise, my suggestion is to always bring as little as you can, because we all schlep that stuff and don't use it.

from Amazon

7. Healthy Snacks in Reusable Containers (no Insta-garbage!)

Just leave the pouches on the shelf at the store. Pack a few small oranges or cut up fruit or whatever treats you all love into a snack container (we swear by these stackable ones from Re-Play). Reusable sandwich bags also work really well for things like crackers. If you want your grandchildren to enjoy the beach the same as you are today, you need to stop using disposable plastic, because it is drowning out our oceans.

8. A Beach Toy of Two (Not Ten or Twenty)

A few cups and a shovel can really do the trick. We all know you bring a kid ten toys and they are going to play with a stick the whole time, so do yourself and the Earth a favor and think small and simple. Those plastic toys will be in landfills and water long after all of us are gone, so we want to avoid that heap. If you aren't a huge beach goer (maybe going on vacation?) check with friends for things to borrow.  Instead of buying new , check consignment stores for things that would work as a bucket or shovel. A consignment dump truck can be a lot of fun too. If you can't find much secondhand, I highly recommend Green Toys beach sets. Recycled plastic for the win!

9. Sandals

Again, if you have kids, find your closest consignment store to save money. We bought our son a pair of Keen sandals, and we never went back. We have one in every size since then (which little siblings are using as well), and even though they are secondhand and WELL used, they hold up- I definitely recommend this brand (find them used and save like 30 bucks). So ugly, but they really stand up to toddler craziness (so you can pass them on to another kid when you are done).

10. An Old Tablecloth to Sit On

I got this genius idea from my mom (who lives in Hawaii, so lots of beach experience). Instead of going and buying a new blanket or towel, just use a retired tablecloth or even shower curtain as your beach blanket. It give a retired item a second life and it works better than anything else we've done. Re-use!



Have a great time at the beach! And if you need more shopping inspiration, check out the Giant List of Shopping Lists!

What's the easiest switch you can make for the environment? Eat less meat!

Every week we are exploring vegetarian meals for meat eaters. Cooking with seasonal vegetables can seem really limiting at first, but the possibilities are endless. And it is worth it. Just cutting one day of meat eating out of our diet can keep thousands of pounds of CO2 out of the atmosphere a year. No seriously, it's that big a deal. Plus, it's a great opportunity to have some new adventures and try new things. Just another way to take care of the planet AND make life a little bit better!



When you think of the All-American barbecue or picnic, from family reunion to 4th of July, you probably think of this menu:

hot dogs
hamburgers
grilled chicken or pulled pork

Obviously, every cook and family culture (since we are a mixing pot) has huge variations on this, but if we take the basic plot sold to us by every picnic-type ad, this is the equation.

Now, this is a heck of a lot of meat. If you have a vegetarian present, are they going to be stuck with a veggie tray? Best case scenario is a whole lot of pasta salad.

Now, whether you have herbivores or carnivores at your party, you can do a heap of good by serving less meat. We know the production of meat is one of the largest sources of climate change. In fact, a person with a vegetarian diet has half the impact of a meat eater. Meat is also a key source of waste- they waste fossil fuels, water (having a drought? Stop messing with military showers and stop eating meat), and energy. Now, if you are a meat-lover, you can still do good for the environment by just eating less meat. Every meatless meal you eat adds up to help the environment.

In a usual week if we are really scheduled, we eat 21 meals, so that is 21 chances to eat no or less meat. When we have a party, we can be in charge of that many meals all at once. So a meatless party can have a serious positive impact on our environment!

So, why not try hot dogs and black bean burgers as a big switch!? Sure, someone will give you the eye. But that is their problem. You don't have to make a frozen veggie burger (that will change no one's mind). You can find tons of amazing veggie options that will leave your guests cleaning their plates, and most will probably not even notice that they ate less meat.

Or just serve a LOT of pasta salad and invite me. I won't complain a bit.

from Running in a Skirt

Black Bean Burgers- Before this year, I would not have gone for a black bean burger, but we tried this one from the Plantiful Table (one of our favorite vegetarian cookbooks, lent to us by a friend), and now I am all about them. They are pretty dang good! If you want something with a little more pizazz, this black bean burger from Running in a Skirt looks ridiculously good!

from the Culinary Chase

Cauliflower "Wings"- Love that crispy, fried chicken with hot sauce? Why not try this amazing cauliflower recipe from The Culinary Chase instead? These are fun and bite sized, but they can hold a bunch of sauce just like a good hot wing, and their texture has that same crispy outside and soft inside. But people can feel proud of themselves for eating something healthy.

from A Spicy Perspective

Grilled Veggie Skewers- So simple, and you could choose whichever veggies you wanted, but putting vegetable skewers center stage next to your protein might be a delicious choice that cuts people's meat intake down without much fuss.  I like this combination from a Spicy Perspective. No one gets mad with corn on the cob, and you could put it all together easily.

from The Spruce Eats

Balsamic Beets- Loyal Readers know my obsession with beets, but come on! This looks so good! I have never tried grilling a beet, but you know this is on my list now. The Spruce Eats knows the way to my heart, and if you have an open-minded crowd, this could be a hit!

from Mom on Timeout

Rice Salad- People don't miss meat when you give them carbs. This Wild Rice Salad from Mom on Timeout looks so delicious, and it would be super hearty and filling too (without being slathered in mayo or something). I definitely want to try this one.

from Well Vegan

Carrot Dogs- Are you ready to kick the hot dog for good? (someday guys, I promise I will get there) These balsamic carrot dogs from Well Vegan are in the same old bun and might give you the same feeling, while being fresher and not having lots of unnameable animal parts. This is my big leap suggestion, but I think it could actually be awesome!



 Want more vegetarian recipes to try? Awesome! Adding more meatless meals to your diet is such a fun challenge and you can discover so many things you like. Check out this page for all of the Meatless Monday Recipe Round Ups!

Most of us will be attending or throwing a picnic in the next few months. A lot of us will be picnicking for the 4th of July next week. I'll be honest with you- I have never felt less ready to celebrate the 4th of July. I am trying to focus on the things I love about this country, and remember that everything we do, choose, or buy can do some good or add negativity to the world, so this is still an opportunity to do good (in the constant face of evil). Every 4th of July, my Dad throws a picnic in his backyard- his band plays by the river, I see lots of people I genuinely love, and then we sit by the water and watch fireworks. There is also (as you can see in the picture) a lot of waste involved. I think we can do better though.

Barbeques tend to be super laid back- bring a dish, plastic silverware, blankets on the ground and more. The chill is part of the appeal, but now that I am a bourgeois environmentalist, I am wondering if you can switch out some of the "easy" elements of a barbeque for something a little more ethical. Take care of our beautiful summers! And, if it is 4th of July, shouldn't your party be All-American too? It sounds crazy, but a little research shows me an eco-friendly (or even zero waste) is completely possible.
There is a general assumption about outside parties that you want cheap so you can just throw it all away. There's wisdom in that- who wants to put out the fine china for your hot dogs? If you are having a big crowd over, who wants to wash all those plates?

But if you want it to be truly eco-friendly, SKIP PLASTIC COMPLETELY!

Plastic trash will last just as long (if not longer) than your regular wares, and you are just adding to a landfill future generations are going to have to deal with.

At the very least, we can all switch out the easy option for the better option in a place or two. It can save money, save American jobs, and save the planet. That's a lot of good to set your hot dog on!

The Food

I won't get too deep into this, because the menu differs from picnic to picnic, but there are a few easy shifts to make in your approach to food to have a more positive impact.

-Serve local food. it's one of the best things you can do for the environment. Probably the most healthy for you as well. The best way to answer that question is to get out there and see what you can find. American food travels literally thousands of miles from farm to plate, so anything you can buy from nearby seriously cuts down on fossil fuels.

- Serve way less meat. You think BBQ, you think beef and meat. You don't have to have none, but try way less. People won't notice less meat if you give them more carbs. Try more watermelon. Because watermelon is unbeatable picnic food. Meat, especially beef, has a huge carbon footprint, fossil fuel usage, and more. We all should be eating less, so by just making your picnic less of a meat fest, you can do a lot of good.

The Drinks

The biggest thing you can do to green your BBQ drinks? No plastic bottles! One time use plastic water bottles are the bane of my existence (loyal readers know that Nestle Pure Life is my sworn enemy), but I can't remember the last time I went to a picnic without one. Why? Because lugging water can be a real pain. I get it, this one is annoying, but cans are actually more easily recycled and plastic bottles are an abomination that makes the angels weep.

I know people are used to using plastic water bottles, but if you want to do right by the environment, you have other options that are pretty simple! If you are picnicking close to the house, you could just use the pitchers you already have. If not, try these:

Anchor Hocking from Amazon

Drink Dispensers- Why not try a drink dispenser filled with water and give out cups? You could even do a couple and have a few choices for your guests other than pop or bottled water. Drink Dispensers will also save you big money in a relatively short time. A case of bottled water is a lot more expensive than the tap water you can filter in your own house.

Our Pick- We have a drink dispenser made by Anchor Hocking that we really love, and it weirdly makes things feel more summery. We have mostly put strawberry lemonade in ours but water would work perfectly well. I like this one with a chalkboard as well, but I will say it may depend where you are having your picnic. If it isn't right in your backyard, that might be a long way to lug a glass dispenser!

If you do have a further distance to take your dispensers but still want to make a more ethical choice, I did find a Made in the USA and BPA-free version from Buddeez. Yes, it is still plastic, but you can reuse it for all of your picnics. If you need something really easy to lug, one of these sports coolers from Rubbermaid would be easy to move and you could basically use it forever.


Coolers- Ok, so you still want some pop there. I get it. Pop is delicious- go can not bottle. Cans are still cheaper and more efficient to recycle, so they are the better choice by far. If you need a cooler, I can cover you on that too.

Our Pick- Used! Coolers mostly last forever, and lots of people have more than they need. I see them on Buy Nothing pretty often, so you might just try asking around for coolers. I bet some of your picnic guests have coolers at home- have them bring it with some ice as their contribution to the party. You could also try something a little less traditional if you are going for looks- I have seen metal buckets on many a pinterest post for wedding drinks.

Both Coleman and Rubbermaid coolers are still made in the States; in fact, the coolers were the only thing in Target's 4th of July section that were actually made in the US! Gah, I still can't get over how embarrassing that is. Coleman sells a steel cooler if you want to skip the plastic, and honestly, it is so pretty! I had no idea, but I love the retro feel, and it could add a little style to your picnic while minimizing the plastic you use. New favorite in my book.

Susty Party from Amazon

Cups-  If you want to have a more environmentally-friendly party style, you have three great options to bring back cups- use what you have, buy something you can reuse, or buy something that biodegrades easily, so they don't make any waste.

Our Pick- We mostly just use our regular glasses. We have enough, and it seems fine to me. We have never hosted any really big parties though, so if we did, I think we would probably get biodegradable cups (not Dixie cups, which sometimes have plastic lining and are owned by the Koch brothers).

Eco Products sell a clear corn-based cup, but they are a bit of a gamble because reviews say they melt in direct sun.  Susty Party also sells clear biodegradable cups, but they are made in China, and I honestly like the designs of their paper cups more (especially for a 4th of July picnic).

If you want to go very country and classy, you could buy a bulk set of mason jars for your outside drinking. Both Ball jars and Kerr jars are made in the US, and you could keep the big box they come in to just pack them up for the winter. I feel like this idea works perfectly if your life belongs on Pinterest. Still, washing them and putting them back in storage would be pretty easy, and you can use them for every picnic for the rest of your life, no problem. Just make sure you get an 8 or 16 oz jar. Nothing too big or with too narrow a mouth! You can get 12 for 9 dollars, so they are actually cheaper than plastic tumblers in many cases.

Party Supplies

Seventh Generation on Amazon

Napkins and Paper Towels- We have mostly switched to cloth napkins in our house, but even if you can get that eco friendly, who wants to deal with a big party's worth of napkins? Who even owns that many?!? Paper napkins tend to make more sense, and you can buy a bulk set of something recycled and made in America. There is basically no reason to get anything other than recycled napkins (ever)anyway.

Our Pick- Seventh Generation napkins are recycled, unbleached, made in America, and still really soft! Are they the prettiest napkins you have ever seen? No. But people's party obsession with napkins is frankly pretty stupid. When have you ever said "Oh that party was so fun. I really loved the napkins"? Oh, never? Yes, that's true for everyone, so recycled makes perfect sense, and you can get them in bulk for crazy cheap (and probably never have to buy napkins again).

Love a pretty napkin but still want something responsible? Check out the Susty Party napkins- made in the USA, 100% recycled, 20% post-consumer.If you want that crisp white napkin, Seventh Generation sells some bleached versions that are still 100% recycled.

Still haven't found what you are looking for? Check out Natural Value for Made in the USA and 100% recycled. Green Forest and Marcal have great options too!

Preserve from Amazon

Paper Plates-  If the party isn't too big, you might just use what you have (we do it- it's one extra run of the dishwasher). If it's just too many people, you don't even have to deviate far from the mainstream to be green. Chinet makes some of their paper plates out of recycled material that can be composted. They are also made right here in the United States!

Want something a little more stylish or a little more tree-friendly? I have got you covered on both fronts! Susty Party makes square compostable plates out of sugar cane biproduct. My pick would probably be MV Trading's Tree Free plates, which are made from sustainably harvested bamboo and are completely compostable! Earth's Natural Product also makes plates from sugar cane, but they are made in China, so it is a trade off.

If you do love plastic plates, Preserve (one of my favorite Made in the USA companies) sells plastic plates you can clean and reuse. When you are all done with them, the company will take them back and recycle them- so cool!

Silverware- Sure, use up the lifetime supply of spoons and knives you have sitting around. But there are better options for this. The best option is to just use and wash what you already own. If you don't have enough, have your guests bring their own or borrow from neighbors. Use the money you save to make a donation to The Sierra Club or the ACLU.

You can go three ways with this, and they are all way better than the plastic silverware we grew up with:

 First, you can pick a biodegradable material, so when those forks (and spoons and knives, but who are we kidding, just forks) get thrown away, they can be composted or will at least break down with time. Emerald sells a cornstarch set- I have used the cornstarch cutlery before, and it is a little rougher than plastic, but they are sturdy and you can reuse them before you have to compost them. Transitions 2 Earth also sells a biodegradable set they claim will break down even in the landfull- they have solid reviews, and most say they sneak by like normal disposable cutlery. Repurpose makes plant-based silverware that has a good reputation for standing up to hot food while still being compostable and biodegradable.

You can get wood utensils like these from Pretty Sweet Party that will obviously break down with time (I also think they look much cleaner and more stylish, if that is a thing you care about). You can just get forks as well. Bonus- they are made in the United States! Creative Juice Cafe and Olia Designs sells a really lovely set as well. If you just like to picnic with your family, let me recommend these rePeat utensil sets made of wood and recycled plastic bottles.

The other option is to get recycled plastic cutlery and then reuse it. Preserve makes recycled and foodsafe cutlery that you can use over and over. And they make them here in the US! You can also buy the things you need (forks) in bulk as well, and if you reuse, it should set you for life (unless you throw some massive picnics). When you decide you are done with it, you still don't need to throw it away! You can mail used products back to them and they will recycle them for you. In my opinion, there is really no reason not to use something like this, and just have a separate bin for people to throw their cutlery in, no more trash!

Tranquilo straws from Amazon

Straws- Paper straws can be a cute way to add to the spirit and decor of your event, and they can have a mostly positive environmental impact! Woot! There is absolutely NO reason to buy plastic straws EVER again- there are tons of paper straw options out there.

Aardvark also sells paper straws made in the US, but according to reviews, they don't hold on as well in liquid. For our wedding, I think we used Kikkerland- the straws are sturdy and biodegradable, but they are made in China, so it depends on your priorities. I found some 4th of July-themed paper straws from Creative Juice Cafe as well if you want to be really spirited!

More Barbeque Staples

Picnic Blankets and Chairs- At these picnics, people may bring their own seats. Mostly, this means folding chairs and blankets. Chairs seem to always already be in someone's closet, but they had to get there somehow. I don't think people buy these often, and our picnic blankets are almost always just blankets that we have already gotten a lot of use out of. I have also used old tablecloths. You already have something you can sit on.

If you do want a picnic blanket that is a little more special than your well-worn blankets, Etsy seller Sewn Natural sells some of my favorites, but these blankets come at a pretty steep price. Modern Cabin sells really pretty ones as well.

Need some serious and stay put lawn chairs? My favorite are Polywood chairs, which are made in the US from recycled plastic. They are getting so popular that you can buy them from Target, and you can find other brands, like Eco Poly Furniture, doing the same thing, so you might check your local garden or outdoorsy store. They absolutely aren't cheap, but if you want something that stays in your yard and the color lasts forever, these could be your (very eco-friendly) chairs (the synthetic ones of similar quality can be just as expensive while sucking a lot more).

Looking for something to fold up and bring with you to picnics or parades? Telescope Casual makes those exact chairs (in lots of versions- some open box and cheaper, so poke around).

from Lot 450

Citronella Candles- The trick to being eco-friendly when buying a candle is to avoid paraffin. It's another petroleum-based product and it does not burn clean. So you are breathing in a bunch of nastiness. Almost all mainstream candles, from Yankee Candle to most citronellas, are made with paraffin wax, but you don't have to look too hard to find great candles in soy wax, beeswax, or other substitutes (at about the same price too). You can also actually clean out the jars they come in, so they can get reuse.

Our Pick- We just bought two citronella candles from Etsy stores- Lot 450 Store and Zax Beeswax. We have used the Lot 450 one quite a bit, and it works great. I am excited to have cut this needless chemicals and non-renewable resource out of our home.

Candle options have exploded in recent years, so you have lots of options. Bite Lite sells soy candles that uses essential oils to repel bugs away. A year ago, I would have thought that was too crazy and granola, but we started using peppermint oil to keep ants and spiders out of our house, and it works so well! Sugar Creek sells a paraffin-free candle as well in a 16 oz jar, so this should last you a long time. You can find tons, and if you don't care about paraffin, you can still keep an eye out for Made in the USA candle choices.


Yard Games- In case your party needs some games, you can find them made in America way more than you might expect. You can find anything on this list Made in America on Etsy or Amazon, or you can use someone else's idea as an inspiration and make your own:

Giant Jenga (this looks so fun! And you can find lots of options)
Frisbee (I really like these ones from The Wright Life as well)
Cornhole Boards (tons of these on Etsy, some made of recycled wood)
Cornhole Bags
Horseshoes (St. Pierre has a set too)

This is one that I feel like I am missing lots of things- try going to your local sports store and ask what is made in the US still. Or make some games! It might be fun!

Hefty Trash Bags on Amazon

Trash Bags- Yep, we may not think about it, but at a picnic, don't you feel like you always have to look and find the garbage bag hanging off the corner of some table? Your best option would probably be PAPER grocery bags, but if that doesn't make sense for you, then always use recycled trash bags.

Right now everything that is described as biodegrading plastic (in this case) doesn't cut the mustard (if you actually want biodegradable bags, I highly recommend Biobags, but they are mostly for green waste, not regular garbage). They basically break up into tiny pieces that will be impossible for our children and grandchildren to clean up someday. Instead, look for garbage bags with a high percentage of post-consumer plastic.

Our Pick- Hefty sells a recycled garbage bag made of 65% recycled plastic. I love this because it sends a mainstream brand the direct message that their recycled initiatives are worth it and will sell.

Other recycled bags that still have solid reviews- Seventh Generation (55%, 16% post-consumer recycled), Earthsense (60% recycled), Pride Green (100% recycled, but they do have lower reviews, so may not stand up as well to party use), and the best is If You Care (97% recycled with glowing reviews).

Lodge at Sur La Table

Grill Gear- Most of the time we aren't really buying a new grill. If you are, you can find top end grills made in America, but I couldn't find anything less than a thousand dollars. If it isn't worth it to you, you can also find TONS of used grills on Ebay- used and US, treat them like the only choices! Even if you aren't buying a grill, you might need a tool or two for your planned menu, so here are a few ideas.

You can find most anything you would need made nearby- Grill brush, grill pan, grill basket. Serious about your grill pans? Lodge sells a cast iron one, and like everything they make, it is no joke. If you are going to do a lot of grilling this way, Lodge is an investment.

LA Linen from Amazon

Tablecloth- This is the kind of thing you just sort of throw in the cart while shopping for other things, and often we settle for something disposable, because it seems a lot easier.

Even worse, these are usually plastic, which means you can throw it away, but as a planet, we are still stuck with it. Basically, forever. And if you can use the same cloth (even vinyl or polyester) one over and over, the cost might be higher up front, but in the long run, you can save money over those disposable table clothes year after year.

You could very well be able to find something perfect for outdoor use at your neighborhood Salvation Army or Goodwill. I always see lots of tablecloths there, and if you don't have to worry about size, this could be the ticket.

My other pick? LA Linen makes a bunch of outdoor tableclothes in different sizes and fabrics (though mostly polyesters). Everything is made in Los Angeles, and they are also washable, so you can just throw them in with other laundry.

If you wanted to take on a craft project, these tablecloths made of sewn-together bandanas look patriotic and cool, and you can buy bandanas made in America for pretty cheap. Essma clothing sells their Made in the USA bandanas in packs of 12. It's a great deal, and you can made a really fun and memorable tablecloth quickly.

Valley Forge Flags from Amazon

Decor- I just posted a blog on amazing 4th of July decorations that are made here and could definitely take your 4th of July picnic to another level. If nothing else, you might want an American flag this summer. You would think all American flags are made here. You would think wrong, because that isn't the case at all. So if you want to get an ethical (and actually patriotic) flag, Valley Forge Flags are one of your best bets (look locally too, just check those tags!).

 These are just the kinds of things we would never think twice about just picking up whatever at the store and tossing it when we are done.

But that doesn't work anymore, and we know better. 

No picnic is worth that much more headed to the landfill, and since you are feeding more people than usual, you can make a bigger impact with one meal!

Want to make your home greener? No matter the size or location, you can limit your waste and make your house have a more positive impact on the environment. Check out the Green Home Page for thousands of ideas on how to do it.

Want more shopping inspiration? Check out my Giant List of Shopping Lists here!

I want to keep highlighting amazing makers in the US, and I feel like my Etsy links can get caught in the more mainstream shuffle. So starting a series to focus on the greatest stuff we have found. 

from BoredInc

from seattletimes.com

Now that it is getting so nice outside, I have been pining to go check out the Seattle Art Museum Olympic Sculpture Park. Sculpture parks are one of those amazing things, because so often they are free, and it is a great way to check out art (often contemporary art) in a more laid back and fun setting. I know from teaching at the Cantor, if you want to get kids excited about art, helping them move through sculptures outside, where the rules seemingly change, empowers them to connect in ways you won't see outside. Plus, you can experience the environment, the sun, the ocean breeze while you look at art. It's pretty awesome.


A lot of museums now have sculpture parks because beginning in the 60's, a lot of sculpture was made to be semi-monumental, and to be viewed outside. Museums like SFMoMA stage huge shows in public settings (such as Mark di Suvero at Chrissy Field, which just closed last month), and they can make you see a place in a totally new way. Permanent outdoor collections also just feel like an adventure. The best ones combine the beauty of the environment with art objects, so you find them in surprising places.  If you have some travel planned this summer, or you are just looking for something different in your neighborhood, think about what art is living outside. It might make a great place for a summer afternoon. Here are some great ones:


The Fran and Ray Stark Sculpture Garden at the Getty- I don't care how you feel about art, there is no better place to spend a Saturday in Los Angeles than the Getty Museum, which has gorgeous views of the city and a breeze from being up on the hill. They have an interesting collection of art (the shows I have seen there, honestly, were a little lame), but some of the great pieces are actually outside, and I had one of the best days ever with my brother just hanging out there.

Storm King Art Center- In Mountainville, New York (in the gorgeous Hudson River Valley), this park is consistently on the lists of best sculpture parks in the world, with one of the best collections in the United States. I haven't been to this one, but clearly, I need to go. He has a huge collection of David Smith's anchoring the whole thing, with works from everyone from Alexander Calder to Maya Lin (of Memorial fame).

the deCordova Sculpture Park- This is the other staple on every list of great sculpture parks. It is worth going just to see the Lichtensteins, but the grounds and building on it are also some of the most gorgeous you can see. If you are near Lincoln, MA, you should check it out!


Some museums have great sculptures parks right outside their door as well- I am thinking specifically of the Hirschorn in DC,  The Rodin Sculpture Garden at Stanford, outside the Chicago Institute of Art, Mass MOCA, and the DIA Foundation. There are plenty of wonderful outdoor sculptures near museums- you don't even have to go in!

If you want even more outside art, try checking out what monuments and land art might be around you. These works are often more site specific, meaning that they were built specifically for the world around them, so you can really enjoy and think about the relationship between the object and its setting. Plus, some of the most famous ones, like Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson, are absolute adventures (see: ridiculous) to get to. Here are some Land Art pieces for you avant garde adventurers and monuments for those of you who like more kitchy or historical cultural fun (no judgement- I love both!)

 Double Negative- This is outside Overton, Nevada, and it is an adventure to get to, from all accounts, specifically so you can see a giant hole in the ground. But a freaking brilliant hole, right?

Navajo National Monument/ Montezuma Castle Monument- This is way towards the top of my Bucket List (right next to Monument Valley, God's monument to John Wayne). These historical monuments preserve the most intact cliff dwellings of peoples who lived in Pueblos. They are so strange and beautiful, and they are a good reminder that the Western Canon actually destroyed other cultures in its search of progress.

The Portland Headlight- Everyone go see some lighthouses. They are pretty and cool, and are usually really really windy. I love them on both coasts, but this is probably one of the greatest.

Cadillac Ranch- The Ant Farm made this piece simultaneously lampooning and praising American car culture. This piece is pretty popular for artists and tourists alike, and it lives just outside Amarillo Texas.

Cloud Gate (The Bean)- Chicago tourists often get their picture taken in front of this giant mirror, and I wonder how it would be to spend a whole day in this plaza- that probably makes for a great people-watching for the day. I also wonder if Anish Kapoor was building off of Nancy Holt's gates, which are famous land art works that you can go see as well, and there are "gate" sculptures in Seattle Center! Maybe I will do a whole blog on sculptures with "gate" in the title.

There are about a million suggestions I could give of things to go see. These are either ones I love or would love to go to. Just don't go to Mount Rushmore. Seriously, that place is my enemy, and it will turn against you.