My family enjoys the outdoors. We are often found hiking in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park – year-round. My son has been into the minecraft game lately and it is hard to tear him away – but we do – and he always has fun once we get outside. Last week, we took a trip to two of our favorite Cuyahoga Valley National Parks, Brandywine Falls and The Ledges.
It is always important to stay hydrated while hiking. It is no fun to be thirsty in the Cuyahoga Valley National Parks when you are a mile away from your car! Snacks and delicious drinks are even more important when hiking as a family! I always bring a healthy snack and drink for everyone. I was thrilled to be able to test out Cascade Ice sparkling water with juice last week during our hikes. They sent me a wonderful assortment of their flavored sparkling water drinks to review and share with my audience.
Our Spring Hike to Brandywine Falls
Brandywine Falls boast 65-foot bridal veil falls that are breathtaking year-round. It is as close to Niagara Falls that we can get in NE Ohio! We just discovered this a couple years ago and have lived in Summit County our entire adult life! If you haven’t taken the trip, make plans to go soon.
Our first stop when visiting Brandywine Falls is always the boardwalk boardwalk and steps that take you to the bottom of the falls for an amazing falls-on view. This is also the perfect spot for photo opps!
[slickr-flickr tag=brandywinefallsspring]Next, we walked back up the steps and take the boardwalk to the top of Brandywine Falls.We always mention how calm the water looks in the river above before crashing down the 65 foot drop! This is about the time that my kids start asking for their snack and drink. I hold onto the snack until later but hand out drinks – because they are already thirsty and so I can stop carrying them! 🙂
My family was excited to try out the amazing fruity flavors that Cascade Ice sparkling water with juice has to offer. Here are just a few:
There are 31 different varieties to choose from. We reviewed the Sparkling Water with Juice, but they also have Organic and Sparkling Mixers. All of the Sparkling Water with Juice are guilt-free with ZERO calories, no caffeine, no sugar, no carbs, and are sodium and gluten free. This makes them perfect for the whole family.
My son and daughter went back and forth sharing their Cascade Ice Lemonade and the Wild Berry because they both liked them both so much. The lemonade is a great, sour lemonade so I can see why they enjoyed it. The Wild Berry has a lot of berry flavor that fills your mouth. The sparkling water tickles your taste buds too. All in all, it is a refreshing, flavorful drink to take hiking.
[slickr-flickr tag=cascadeiceatbrandywine]The Brandywine Gorge Trail takes you from the top of the falls, past the waterfall, and down the river, looping back. It is a 1.5 mile hike that is filled with gorgeous scenery of the forest and river. Hold hands tightly on little ones as there are big dropp offs from the trail. The Hike and Bike Trail runs though the Brandywine Falls park, you’ll find families bike riding along the newly paved portion at the top of the falls, but it is a large pathway that is big enough for walkers and bikers.
[slickr-flickr tag=brandywinebiketrail]Our Spring Hike to Virginia Kendall Ledges
The Virginia Kendall Ledges offers several trails, Virginia Kendall lake, grassy fields, scenic overlook, and shelters. It has been our favorite Cuyahoga Valley National Park destination since my husband and I were dating. It’s just beautiful – year round. If you have visited, you are missing out!
[slickr-flickr tag=kendallledgesspring]Our favorite part to visit is the top of Ritchie Ledges or simply “The Ledges.” This overs a scenic overview of the Cuyahoga Valley – a beautiful site to see year round. You’ll see for miles of rolling hills, treetops, and the beautiful sky – this is an amazing spot for watching the sunset too! From below, you’ll see massive walls to the ledges with all sorts of ferns, moss and a variety of rock formations. On the rock walls, you’ll find sedimentary sand with quartz pebbles throughout – so cool to see!
My husband and I took our puppy, Roxy on a walk last week at The Ledges during our lunch break. We brought along Huckleberry Blackberry and Hal & Half Iced Tea and Lemonade. Both offer totally different flavors but equally refreshing beverages while hiking. I’ve been on an Iced Tea kick lately since I stopped drinking soda a couple months ago, and I really like the Cascade Ice Half & Half!
[slickr-flickr tag=cascadeiceatledges]I’m glad that the bottles were a generous 17.2 ounce sizes because we got pretty thirsty walking on one of the first warm days we’ve had this Spring!
We typically walk the entire Ledges Trail, which is just 1.8 miles, however there are many hills, twists and turns that makes it an adventure for everyone – including kids and pets! The hemlock forest is a welcomed shaded treat during the warmer months.
Cascade Ice Sparkling Water with Juice Review
I like that Cascade Ice offers a refreshing, healthy drink but it is the flavors that I like most. Every bottle is full of bold flavor and delicious. We have enjoyed trying out each fruity flavor.
Here are a few of my family’s favorites:
- Blueberry Watermelon
- Wild Berry
- Black Raspberry
- McIntosh Apple
- Orange Mango
- Lemonade
- Cranberry Pomegranate
- Strawberry Lemonade
Staying hydrated is important, whether hiking, at home, or out and about. Water is great but having a delicious product like Cascade Ice Sparkling Water with Juice makes life fun and exciting – while still healthy. I would much rather my family enjoy Cascade Ice because of the great flavors than sugary sports drinks and soft drinks. Plus, the sparkling water aspect gives it a fizzy pop kind of sensation so it make a great substitute to soft drinks – pop! Whether at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park or at home, Cascade Ice quenches both thirst and the desire for a delicious drink.
Buy Cascade Ice Sparkling Water with Juice
You can buy Cascade Ice Sparkling Water with Juice in Ohio at Drug Mart, Buehler’s, and Marc’s. Find your local retailer here.
You can also buy Cascade Ice Sparkling Water with Juice on Amazon.com for less than $1.50 a bottle.
Like Cascade Ice on Facebook
Follow Cascade Ice on Twitter
Win Cascade Ice Sparkling Water with Juice
You have the chance to win a case assortment of Cascade Ice Sparkling Water with Juice!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. In order to comply with the latest Facebook Promotion Guidelines (revised 5/11/11), the following statements are true:
* Giveaway participants release Facebook from any responsibility whatsoever.
* Giveaways on this blog are in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
* Giveaway participants are providing information to this blog and giveaway sponsors only; not to Facebook.
30 Day Winning Rule applies. For complete contest rules, please see our Contest Statement and Blog Disclosure.
Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on May 1, 2013 when a winner will be drawn at random. I will notify the winners and they will have 36 hours to respond or another winner will be selected!
This was not a paid post. My own opinions were used based on my perceptions and experience. Thank you to Cascade Ice who provided the products for review.
