With Labor Day fast approaching, our thoughts naturally turn to loading up the backpacks and heading out on a fall getaway. (You didn't think we were going to say back to school, did you?) When temperatures drop and leaves turn hues of red and yellow, it'll be the perfect time to escape on a family hiking trip. At the top of your packing list: Proper footgear, of course. Most likely, Junior has outgrown last year's hiking gear—but don't worry, we've got you covered.
We're giving away two $150 gift certificates to Onlineshoes.com, the ideal place to pick up some Merrell shoes or boots. For over 25 years, Merrell has been making rugged footwear that looks as good on a hiking trail as it does on a hip city street or, dare we say it, even a school playground. Onlineshoes.com offers lots of covetable styles for the whole family. For example, we're big fans of the Merrell Moab Ventilator (pictured above), an easy on-and-off shoe for kids that stands up to loads of wear and tear. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment telling us where you'd love to take your family for fall break. This giveaway ends at midnight on August 31. We'll draw two winners at random in early September. Good luck!
August 3. 2009 01:12
We live in Vermont and hike just about every weekend with our kids. As a matter of fact we have a little beauty of a trail called Five Tree Hill in our backyard that provides a spectacular view of the Adirondacks, Lake Champlain and beyond when you reach the summit. With two growing kids we go through shoes pretty quickly in our house. Would love to treat the kids to some new ones! Thx.
dana
August 3. 2009 06:12
I'm going to be honest and say that we are going to pound the pavement at Walt Disney World this fall break. But, the kids and I are definitely going to enjoy the nice fall weather and explore some local nature trails during our down time.
I hope this is the correct place to comment!
Heather
August 3. 2009 06:50
We are going to Colorado just before Labor Day. We usually go to Oak Island Beach, NC late September or early October. Good time to go -- still warm enough, but it's quieter and you can rent an oceanfront house for much cheaper.
apexmama
August 3. 2009 12:38
We'd love to spend time in the smokey mountains this fall. Can't wait for cooler weather!!
heather
August 3. 2009 23:25
I'd love to wander the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal this fall. It's like getting a little bit of Europe for a lot less travel expense!
Frances
August 4. 2009 04:12
Would love to go see my family in Canada. Would love to show my 7 yr old daughter Niagara Falls, Canada's Wonderland, Metro Zoo,
and of course to play with her cousins.
Glenda
August 4. 2009 04:26
Cape May, NJ!
Marcie
August 5. 2009 19:46
We don't get a fall break down here in the south, but we are planning to take the kids to Chattanooga over Labor Day weekend - lots of hiking around the beautiful N.Georgia mountains!
Jill
August 5. 2009 21:57
Nova Scotia, Canada
mike
August 5. 2009 22:09
Sanibel Island for sure!!
Kathy
August 5. 2009 22:11
We will be going to the Adirondacks for a weekend of horseback riding and savoring the changing colors of the leaves.
CMC
August 5. 2009 22:12
We're taking several college road trips this fall and my son wears only size 12W Merrells! If you've taken those college tours, you know you need comfy shoes!
Marsha
August 5. 2009 22:16
I will be going to Disney World in October with my daughter, son-in-law and 3 grandchildren ages 6, and twins 2 1/2. I've gone before but not with any of my grandchildren. Should really be a different and more exciting experience.
Diane
August 5. 2009 22:16
I buy a new pair of Merrell shoes for my son each fall-great shoes for playgrounds and exploring outdoors. We'll be exploring around Asheville, NC in September.
c2cmom
August 5. 2009 22:17
We would love to go hiking along the North Shore of Lake Superior, in Minnesota. I'm from the Duluth area and miss the fall colors immensely... and I would love to share that with my husband and son!
Paige
August 5. 2009 22:18
We haven't lived in Delaware very long and would love to get to know it better by hiking the area State Parks. DE is a small and diverse state and new shoes would make this a more comfortable trek! Maybe we would also have our new comfy shoes take us wandering through the Brandywine Valley, the Chesapeake Bay area and the nearby beaches! I can't think of a better way to spend affordable, fun time as a family! We would just enjoy the adventure of discovering all our new surroundings!
Meg
August 5. 2009 22:20
I would love to take my family to a family-run farm in Vermont that shows them how a farm is run and gives them an opportunity to feed the animals, milk the cows, pitch the hay, go horseback riding, pick apples/pumpkins, enjoy the fall foliage, hike, and toast marshmallows and tell stories around a campfire.
Mary
August 5. 2009 22:29
Downtown Chicago, here we come!
Millennium park, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Navy Pier, the lakefront and the beaches, the "L", the food, the Hancock Building, the Sears (Willis) Tower, the Art Institute, Grant Park, so many things to do, not nearly enough time!
Catherine
August 5. 2009 22:31
Fall in New Jersey is beautiful and now that I have started back to the Gym and walking 3 miles 2x a week, I would love to have some great walking shoes to explore the area with my 3 year old and husband. NJ is home to wonderful parks and hiking trails and not far from the Poconos! Love to discover NJ in a whole new way!
Jennifer
Jennifer
August 5. 2009 22:31
I would love to see the Fall colors of Cape Breton Canada with my Family!
c
August 5. 2009 22:40
I'd love to head to the beach again while the weather is still warm -- perhaps somewhere in Florida.
Regina
August 5. 2009 23:04
I would love to explore the Great Smoky Mountains with my family!
Kim
August 5. 2009 23:12
I would love to go to Deep Creek Lake to the autumn glory festival
Jennifer
August 5. 2009 23:13
We live in SoCal and we'd love to visit the northeast (NY or PA) in the fall to see the leaves change.
Laura
August 5. 2009 23:32
Bermuda, if I had my way. But realistically, we'll settle for the MD/DE coast.
Tina
August 5. 2009 23:36
We live in the Phoenix area, so I'd love to go somewhere where you can see the leaves change colors. Thanks!
Annette
August 5. 2009 23:42
Wow! Those shoes are PERFECT! Sorry, but my 9 year old son has stinky feet coupled with the boyish active mind body and spirit that only boys can muster! He has a 3 year old sister that is determined to keep up with him...even at the skate park! As a single mom, outdoor activities are our families "freebies" for entertainment! These shoes would "rock" our nature hikes in ND! We still have to travel to Minneapolis to scout out some parks this summer, and we are running out of time!
tara
August 6. 2009 01:06
Acadia National Park - lots of hiking & biking - beautiful scenery - great with family - doesn't get better than that!
Steven
Steven
August 6. 2009 01:12
This fall we will finally get to go camping in the everglades! My daughter is old enough now to enjoy this and by Oct. the mesquitos aren't so bad... I can't wait!!!!
Christine
August 6. 2009 07:41
We'd love to go to the Bahamas and sit on the beach sipping Pina Coladas! Thanks for the fun giveaway!
Beeb
August 6. 2009 07:46
ANYWHERE would be great!!!! Florida is our next vacation spot, we SO need one!
Carrie
August 6. 2009 10:05
We'd love to see Big Bend (Texas) during the cooler months.
Chris
August 6. 2009 19:35
We love the smoky mountains and we love to hike just about anywhere. Even when the kids were babies we just put them on our back and went. Our fall break would love to be in the smokies finding an off beat path looking for lizards and Bears!
melissa
August 6. 2009 19:38
i would LOVE to go to florida with my kids and my husband to visit my brother and his fiance - we've never seen them there!
leah
August 6. 2009 21:23
We would love the fall and the change of seasons! We would love to take our kids to the Mountains to really enjoy all that fall has to offer - maybe Canada or smokey mts would be fun!
Sandra
August 7. 2009 02:57
Near home this year so it's up into the Rocky Mountains, probably Grand Lake. Try to go early enough that we can drive over Trail Ridge Road before the snow closes it. Thanks for the contest.
Sarah
August 7. 2009 08:34
I would love to go north for a fall vacation.
Particularly South Carolina to the fall leaves changeing and my brother who I haven't seen in a while. I bet his kids have gotten big , I know mine have.
taulya at hotmail dot com
trin
August 7. 2009 09:29
I'd like to take my family to Upstate New York. I hear it's beautiful in the fall.
Ashley
August 7. 2009 11:29
I'd love to take my family to Northern Virginia and Lake Monticello. The lake is beautiful as is all of Old Town Alexandria. The ghost tour is fabulous and I'd love to take my fiance around D.C. to see the sights!
Rachel
August 7. 2009 11:54
I'd love to take the kids to Jamestown, NY! My hubby and I have gone a few times, and I know the kids would have a blast, and then we could go see Niagra Falls too!
Kristy
August 7. 2009 13:45
We like to hang out right here in the NC mountains. Great place for hiking!
Cindy
August 7. 2009 14:17
We spend a lot of time at our Local State park, This fall we will be spending time at a lot of our local County Fairs as well as at some of our favorite festivals, The Tomato Festival, The Pumpkin Show, Great Fun!
Thanks!
Maureen
August 7. 2009 14:30
cdziuba@aol.com
I'd love to go to the Smoky Mountains. My family would love to go too!
carol
August 7. 2009 17:23
Tyler Family resort from your ads! Just saw it...wouldn't it be awesome in the fall???
Darci
August 7. 2009 19:36
We'd love to go to Tucson to enjoy some dry air and mountains
*Thanks* for the giveaway!
Cheryl F. (The Lucky Ladybug)
August 8. 2009 07:14
I would love to take my family to Georgia for fall break because I have heard it is beautiful there in the fall and I have never visited before!
Danielle
August 8. 2009 08:45
I'd like to take our family to the Olympic Peninsula in the fall.
Kimberly
August 10. 2009 19:36
We will be back in my home state this fall to visit family. I sure hope to make another trip back to The Great Smoky Mountains. I love the area and when retired in a few years, will return home.
Shelby
August 11. 2009 02:47
We would love to walk the beaches of sunny Naples, FL this fall.
JM
August 11. 2009 13:02
Would love to go to Nova Scotia, but the Fall problem is it interferes with school so it has to be a weekend.
Jill
August 11. 2009 15:15
I would love to take my family to Nantucket and to visit my grandmother who is 93 years old.
Karen
August 11. 2009 18:27
Either Denver or a beach somewhere would be good.
Lisa L
August 11. 2009 18:39
I would love to go down to Virginia to visit my sister and brother and hit the beaches down there. I understand they are beautiful.
Diane
August 11. 2009 19:00
Where I would most love to take my family is to Disney World. My kids have never been there before and I'd love to bring them there.
Thanks so much.
Margaret Smith
August 11. 2009 19:10
I'd like to take my family to Gatlinburg, TN for the fall. They've never been to the mountains before.
Tracey
August 11. 2009 19:36
we want to hike in the appalachian mountains
adrienne Gordon
August 11. 2009 20:00
up to my sisters in Vermont for the leaves to change...
i had a hard time finding the log in place...hmm
addrienne
August 11. 2009 20:20
up to kootanii lake, it's wonderful
Jill
August 11. 2009 21:02
Would love to take them to Santa Barbara for walks along the water.
tvollowitz at aol dot com
Stephanie V/
August 11. 2009 22:22
I wish we could go back to North Conway, New Hampshire. The MT Washington Valley is beautiful. We need a vacation, it's been a long time :o)
Valerie
August 12. 2009 00:06
Crazy but I'd like to take my family to the beach! It is so quite and beautiful after all the summer crowds have gone.
Susan
August 12. 2009 08:53
WE'LL BE HEADING TO THE ATLANTIS IN
THE BAHAMAS WITH OUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS
HOPE
August 12. 2009 08:55
I would love for everyone to go drive the Blue Ridge Parkway--to see the leaves change--just drive and stop when we see something interesting--maybe visit a park or take a hike and soak in the beauty.
Lisa
August 12. 2009 11:12
I'd like the family to go to the Grand Canyon for the fall.
Mia
August 12. 2009 12:08
I'd love to take them to Los Angeles! There's so much fun stuff to do down there
Deanna
August 12. 2009 14:03
On Fall Break, I'd like to take my family to either Bangor, Maine or Bellingham, Wahington.
Alicia Webster
August 12. 2009 15:20
I would love to go north for the fall leaves. Florida is just to green
Linda Lansford
August 12. 2009 17:35
I would love to go to upstate PA to see the leaves changing color.
lisa
August 12. 2009 23:06
I would love to go to Charleston, SC for the Fall.
Carolyn
August 13. 2009 11:47
I like the Keen Sienna MJ's in coffee liquer. Thanks
Erica
August 13. 2009 13:35
I'd love to go to the Smoky Mountains and take my family to Dollywood. They would love it and the shoes would be ideal for all of the walking.
Cherie
August 13. 2009 15:26
I would just love to take my family up to Cape Cod for a Fall vacation. The ocean is just gorgeous during the autumn season. And it goes without saying that there's nothing like a road trip when all the leaves are changing colors!
Aimee W.
August 13. 2009 19:35
We have taken up walking and we could really use some new hiking shoes.
Yvonne
August 14. 2009 11:06
I'd want to take my kids to the Great Wolf Lodge as a fall getaway.
Sarah
August 14. 2009 11:40
We are going to visit colleges on fall break!
Elizabeth
August 14. 2009 18:05
i wish we could go to disney world! but we arent going anywhere
Ashley
August 15. 2009 07:10
We'll be going down to the beach and walking a lot. Thank you!
Christine
August 15. 2009 10:37
Well, we're heading to St Louis next week- which will involve lots of walking- then to Kansas City for Irish Fest over Labor Day. Would love to get to Ireland this fall but will have to wait until next spring/shoulder season.
Jody
August 15. 2009 16:02
I'd love to take the kids to New Jersey to visit their great grandpa!
Naomi
August 15. 2009 17:27
Washington DC.....Have not been here in many years and would love to share it with my family. semtaylor@yahoo.com
Susan
August 16. 2009 15:32
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It's Not a Vacation if Your Feet Hurt! | Have Kid Will Travel
setup.havekidwilltravel.com
August 17. 2009 14:01
southern Ohio has great trails and caves for hiking come peak leave season - would love to take a trip down that way!
Amy S
August 18. 2009 05:52
We are thinking about Disneyland or San Diego
Shelly
August 19. 2009 17:17
My middle son just moved to New Orleans to start a teaching job. I'm dying to take the rest of the family and go visit and see New Orleans. I'd love to take a tour of some of the plantations and I really want to take a swamp boat tour.
Michelle
August 20. 2009 23:39
we will probably go hiking in Shenandoah this fall. My daughter is 16 months and we have just started hiking with her in a backpack.
chiquita
August 21. 2009 05:44
Our 60 year old feet are headed on a trip this fall to see the foliage, and I know these shoes would make us have much happier feet if we could wander around in such comfort!
Melanie
August 23. 2009 09:04
I would love to take my family on some desert hiking in the Reno, NV area. There are some great trails that are not very well used, so it's not very crowded. We love it, and the weather in the fall is really nice (not too hot!).
Julie
August 24. 2009 07:36
I would love to take my family to Mount Rushmore. Thanks for a great giveaway!
Patricia
August 26. 2009 00:56
We don't have a fall break so, during the weekend, I would like to my kids to either Connecticut or upstate NY to see the beautiful trees changing colors.
NITA
August 26. 2009 03:34
I'd love to go to the Grand Canyon
James
August 26. 2009 07:22
I'd love to check out he Hudson River Valley in Upstate NY to see the leaves changing color, and I really love the rich history of that area. Thanks for the great giveaway!
Jessica
August 26. 2009 10:31
I'd love to go to Glacier National Park. We live permanently nearby, but are currently living out of state for work. We miss it!!
Cindy
August 26. 2009 14:13
in the appalachians
Jennifer gersch
August 27. 2009 01:14
These would be great for our hikes in the beautiful Idaho Mountains.
Kathy
August 27. 2009 17:28
I would love to take the family to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It it just beautiful there and it is fun to hop on and off the trolleys.
patricia
August 28. 2009 01:55
I would love to take them to the Arrowhead resort and spa. It is beautiful there and there all lots of relaxing as well as family oriented things to do there.
Lisa
August 29. 2009 01:48
We would love to take a trip to Vermont this fall to see all the great fall foliage!
Lisa G.
August 29. 2009 20:21
Love to go to Bar Harbor Maine; Acadian National Park!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How beautiful to behold.
sarah
August 30. 2009 00:58
I'd love to go anywhere where the leaves change color... maybe the northeast.
Annette
August 30. 2009 12:38
I'd love to take my kids to Floridia to visit some family! Thanks!
Sheila Hickmon
August 30. 2009 14:21
I'd love to take the family hiking in the Grand Canyon during the beautiful fall weather!
Julie
August 30. 2009 16:31
These would be great for our fall trip to Hawaii!
ktanjatk
August 30. 2009 17:44
I'd love to take my family to Florida for fall break..we actually prefer the sun and are not the biggest fans of cool weather even though we live in washington lol! My family adores Florida and we can't get enough floating in the warm ocean, it's pure heaven to us!!!
Justine
August 30. 2009 18:32
I'd love to take my kids to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Gatliburg, TN!
Marianna
August 31. 2009 00:18
Mount Rushmore area.
Lia
August 31. 2009 00:58
we're going up to lake tahoe
christopher
August 31. 2009 01:25
This fall, I would like to take the family to Florida, it gets really cold and boring in Cleveland.
Isaac
August 31. 2009 01:50
I'd love to take the family to waterpark heaven - Wisconsin Dells.
Jay F.
August 31. 2009 02:32
I'd love to take them somewhere with cool weather, maybe Colorado -- we don't really get that kind of weather in SoCal! ;)
Claire
August 31. 2009 10:12
Since hubby was laid off work all summer, we didn't do anything. He just got back to work, and maybe there is still time to go to Cedar Point with the kids on the weekend. My ultimate favorite place to go in fall is my mom's house in NC. The fall leaves on the mountainsides...breathtaking!
Paula
August 31. 2009 11:17
I'd love to take the family to New Hampshire for fall break to see family and of course have that lovely crisp fall weather.
Sherry
August 31. 2009 11:35
Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts would be our Fall destination.
Dawn
August 31. 2009 12:14
I'd love to head to Boston with my family for a relaxing fall weekend -- visit the campuses as classes get back in session; take in one of the final games of the season at Fenway; and enjoy the beautiful New England foliage and colonial scenery of the city. Thanks!
Geoff
August 31. 2009 12:52
I would love to take my family to the Outer Banks. Just thinking about walking on the beach all bundled up has me itching to go. Thank you!
Crystal
August 31. 2009 13:47
I'd love to go to Reno for a nice fun fall trip. I love to be there when the snow first starts to fall. Beautiful!
Mishia
August 31. 2009 15:11
My cousin just got back from Yellowstone. After viewing the photos, I'm hooked. I'd like to go to yellowstone!
Kim
August 31. 2009 15:37
We'll be heading up to Prairie Creek State Park in Northern CA!
Sonya
August 31. 2009 16:00
Since I am in Ohio I love to go to the amish country.
Tatum
August 31. 2009 16:44
would love to visit asheville and get a cabin there.
steve
August 31. 2009 16:47
id love to go too york beach maine
kathy pease
August 31. 2009 18:13
I would love to take my family to Mackinaw Island in Michigan! It would be great to see the fall colors on the trees!
gloria
August 31. 2009 18:31
I'd really like to hit the beach in the Bahamas.
Angela Palmer
August 31. 2009 19:21
It won't happen, but we would love to take the kids to Europe-Germany, Italy or France would be so much fun!~
This is a great giveaway!
carol
August 31. 2009 21:07
I would love to go camping during our break
tamatha
August 31. 2009 21:36
I would like to go to Duluth, MN and hopefully we will!
Chrysa