This post was sponsored by Zappos.

This fall we’ve made a pact to ourselves to get out and explore the local hikes, state parks and nearby National Forests that make this area of Southern California so special. From easy afternoon hikes in Griffith Park to longer full day excursions in Los Angeles National Forest, we’ve discovered some amazing adventures so close to home. On one of our recent hikes we realized that, as the weather was cooling and getting colder into winter, we didn’t really have the perfect gear to enhance the experience or be properly prepared if we stayed out later than expected.

Around the same time, Zappos reached out to us to introduce us to The North Face’s new ThermoBall Eco clothing line. Scrolling through the styles on Zappos.com, it was evident that we needed to up our adventure gear and that The North Face was the gear to do that. I’ve long admired The North Face company and brand mission, and was truly inspired a few years ago after watching the 180 Degrees South movie and learning more about the early years of some of the incredible outdoor companies and their mission to protect so many natural areas.

The brand’s motto to ‘Never Stop Exploring’ truly speaks to us as adventurers and world travelers. And the ThermoBall Eco jacket uses recycled insulation for warmth, even when wet, something that could come in handy when we visit Portland next month.  All in all, it seems like a win win buying and supporting their brand.

In addition to the jacket, I added some thick black leggings (perfect for those SoCal hikes or for layering), a new pair of hiking shoes, a blue backpack for Bob to carry all our snacks, and a jacket for Augustine. Through Zappos.com, we were able to get all the looks, with super fast shipping. I love ordering through Zappos.com because I know their customer service is the best and if we don’t love anything they have a super easy and convenient return policy. Plus, I recently heard the head of Zappos.com speak at a conference in Vegas, and their mission to put money into Downtown Vegas and revitalize that area was really inspiring. Any company that invests in the area they move into is one that should be supported. We were set, head to toe, and ready for our next adventure.

That adventure turned out to be one where we didn’t quite make it to the final destination. That happens sometimes with kids. You make grand plans but then climbing a tree turns out to be more exciting than summiting the mountain. And while that might have annoyed me pre-child, now I’m just trying to live in the moment. Augustine was thrilled to do it by herself, a saying she’s shouting more and more these days as she becomes more independent and confident. Gone are the days when she needed me to hold both hands, and now even one hand. So we didn’t make it to the top, honestly, we didn’t even come close, but we had a blast, and we were warm in the right gear, and that’s all that mattered.

I’m excited to take our gear to Portland this weekend. We are going up to Mount Hood and Mount Adams, and the temperatures are expected to be anywhere from 40 degrees and sunny to 10 degrees and snowy. Now, with our The North Face gear, I know we are ready for any winter adventure.

Where is your next adventure?