An estimated 50 million people visit Chicago annually. Precious few of them see the rest of Illinois, however, and they’re missing out. While the most famous city in Illinois always delivers good times, anyone who loves the outdoors will be amazed by what lies beyond the purview of the L. With 64 state parks, 289,000 acres of protected national forest,...

　　Updated May 10: Andrew Cameron, 23, from Utah, and Austin Mallet, 32, from Montana, have been identified as the victims in the May 9 avalanche on Lone Peak in Utahs Little Cottonwood Canyon. The third person, whose identity remains undisclosed, was rescued by search and rescue teams and a helicopter. He was taken to a nearby hospital and released on...

　　If you’re an automotive enthusiast, you probably love supercars and other rare or unique models. But few of us can afford to actually buy (and run) such ultra-exclusive über-rides. The everyperson’s answer to unrequited supercar love could be a kit car. 　　Building a kit car from the ground up is not only a satisfying project but also gives you an...

　　If you had to pinpoint one thing that makes Breckenridge so awesome in summer, it’d probably be this: choice. As good as the mountain biking, trail running, fly-fishing, and rafting are—and make no mistake, they’re world class—those are just part of what makes the place so special. The town’s culinary and cultural scenes don’t take a back seat to its...

　　For one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country, Charlotte, North Carolina, has an impressive outdoor scene that offers everything from urban parks and greenways to wild river adventures and hiking and biking trails galore. Outside tapped John Searby, executive director of the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation and Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, for a local’s take on the best ways...

　　It didnt take long for Sara Chen to realize she was onto something. Her business idea —to make flattering pants for women with curves — hatched from a gym conversation. She and a climbing partner were simply reflecting on the lack of options for women who dont have the body shape of skinny climber dudes (like the one writing this)....

　　If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you already know the importance of protecting your skin from the sun. But despite what you may see in your feed, the best sunblock doesn’t come in a bottle. If you want reliable protection from the sun that you never have to reapply, you need to wear it. As a river-loving father...

　　Columbia: Up to 25% Off 　　 　　(Photo/Columbia) You can do lots of virtual window-shopping on Columbias website this weekend, with a 25% Mothers Day sale running through Sunday evening. 　　That means you can snatch a pair of the Women’s Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Amped Hiking Boot for just $75. Or you could opt for the Women’s Arcadia II Jacket, a...

　　An enthusiastic transplant from the East Coast, Michael Zocco loves spreading joy about Austin, Texas, as a fantastic running city. “It’s a very special community,” says the co-city lead for the Endorphin Running Club, Austin Area. Zocco and his co-lead, Makayla Bassi, host group runs every Monday evening and occasionally other weekdays, plus long runs on Saturdays. Whatever the day,...

　　It is a great time to be a runner. Today’s smart shoe designers are using advanced materials, new geometries, and creative combinations of foams, plates, fabrics, and soles to create models that are faster and more comfortable than ever before. Many shoes in this roundup are franchise models, in their second, fourth, 17th, or 21st(!) iterations, representing the best of...

　　Camp cooking is a glorious pastime — or, at least, it can be with the right stove. Bring one thats too small to adequately cook your meal or too big and heavy for the backpacking trip youre on, and youve got a recipe for a rough time. 　　However, when youve got the perfect stove and a dialed camp cooking setup...

　　When it comes to building a layering system, the most chatter seems to be around base layers and insulation layers. Rightfully so, because those land on completely opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of capability. 　　One breathes extremely well to keep cool and dry. The other traps heat to keep you warm. What resides between those two is a...