Merrell has provided me with product, along with compensation for my time and effort in creating this content. As always, all opinions are my own.

With winter fast approaching, we’ve been trying to make the most of the mild weather before it becomes too bitter to spend time outdoors. One of the boys’ favorite pass-times is to play Pokémon GO which rekindles nostalgia from hubby’s childhood, keeps our little gamers engaged, and encourages outdoor exploration. I love anything that inspires us to get up and go. Most Pokestops and gyms are located at landmarks and parks so after the boys’ digital critters and goods are captured and collected, we get to bask in the beauty of our surroundings.

Our area is surrounded in nature preserves and we always make an effort to visit new parks. While visiting family a little further out, we decided to stop at one that we have passed for years… well most of our lives. It’s funny how you could live in an area and leave so much to be explored. One of these days, we won’t be just a simple car ride away, so we need to start taking advantage now.

On our walk, the boys; all three of them crunched through leaves in their new Merrell boots. We stopped at the lake, passed cabins, played with metalworking tools, and spotted a Wigwam dwelling that several Native American tribes in North America lived in. This particular Wigwam was built by Boy Scout Troop 276. Although it was a replica, it was a fun sight to see. I took quite a few photos and couldn’t narrow them down, so I’m sharing all of them including closeups of the boys’ new boots.

The big boy is wearing the Merrell Moab Work Boot. They provide the same comfort of their Moab hiking boot, but are made for long days of outdoor work with a lightweight composite toe. These are right on time for future gigs on the horizon. Aaand the little boys are wearing the Merrell Snow Bank Boot. They have a temperature rating of negative 25 degrees. We got them bigger sizes so they’d have room for thick socks because it gets SO cold here in NW Indiana (hello lake-effect everything!). We’re loving the toggle closure for a secure fit and easy on and off during busy snow days. The boys love how they feel and how “puffy” they are. When we got them in the mail, they couldn’t wait to wear them.

Continue scrolling for more photos of our nature walk and tell me in the comments what outdoor activities you enjoy during the fall and winter!