Wow, I didn’t think that anything could top last weekend when I was back in my home State of Oklahoma. However, this weekend has turned into a strong contender for sure. I was actually available to cash in on a phone call I received from my friend David Molnar, to be his partner on an intense sand volleyball game. It’s been years since I’ve played, and I’m already paying for it with pain, but it was a BLAST and got the weekend off to a great start!

Also, we as a family were all able to get out of the city and get out in the country. We spent some time at my friend’s ranch pond fishing, kayaking, canoeing and taking in some sun. I even got a fishing pole in Lindsay’s hands, and believe it or not she actually tried to catch a fish. She even took off on a leisurely stroll around the pond in the Kayak on her own. Then at the end of the day we booked it over to the town’s ice cream / burger joint and topped this hot and action packed day off with a killer burger and refreshing ice cream and headed home. What a great day and I just love when we can get out like this AS A FAMILY. It was such an amazing time and it’s days and memories like this today that we’ll never forget, sunburns – sore muscle or not! ha ha!

Well, I don’t have any big deep thought on this blog post as I normally do. I just wanted to share our weekend with you and hope that you’re able to get out this summer and make some memories of your own. Have a great weekend and stay inspired! Enjoy the pics below!

This past week I posted a picture via instagram of a steak that has become quite famous in my household. Due to the face that I had such an overwhelming response, the weekend coming up, and that I promised a few friends that I would post the recipe of the steak rub that I make, here it is!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup – Pure Cane Sugar
1/2 cup – Kosher Salt
1/4 cup – Fine Ground Pepper
1/4 cup – Crush Red Pepper (judge depending on how much heat you like)
1/4 cup – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4 Rib Eye Steaks

What to do:
Grab a mixing bowl and put all of your ingredients in and stir together as you add in the oil. This makes a paste or glaze that you’ll then add a thin layer to both sides of your steak. Then proceed to grill the steak however you like. Enjoy!

Asheville, NC, a true vacation place and there’s something for the whole family. My wife and I try and visit Asheville, which is just a five hour drive East of us in Nashville, any chance we can. My wife and I recently spent a weekend in Asheville for our 12 year anniversary and we had a blast. On our normal trips I usually head out to a local stream to fly fish of a morning, come back to the cabin and have coffee and breakfast on the deck that overlooks the scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and then we’ll head to shop in the city or nearest town. This place is magical and whimsical and a must visit. Below I’ve listed a few things below with links that will share our most recent adventure to Asheville, as well as some suggestions from past trips. ENJOY! (Navitat Canopy Tours, Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, Tupelo Honey, 12 Bones BBQ, Farmer’s Market, Hunter Banks Fly Shop)

Other amazing places to spend your time in Asheville, NC (Grove Park Spa & Inn, The Biltmore House, My Father’s Pizza)

WHICH OF THESE THINGS APPEAL TO YOU THE MOST AND WHY?

::ADVENTURE::

NAVITAT Canopy Tours (zip lining)

Chimney Rock / Lake Lure

Fly Fishing

::FOOD::

Genny's Family Restaurant

12 Bones BBQ

Tupelo Honey

Farmer's Market

Twelve years ago yesterday (July 17th) in a little church in San Antonio, TX, I married the love of my life. The little college girl that bought me, yes, bought me for $110 at my fraternity date auction at the frat house in August of 1997. Oh, and also, if you didn’t notice, we shared the same last name even before we were to wed. And no, we aren’t related. Our healthy kiddos have proven that (smiley face).

We’ve had such an amazing twelve years and we are both extremely excited for many more fun, exciting, challenging, sleep deprived, fast paced, adventurous, laughable, lovable, whimsical, spiritual, thought provoking, victorious years to come. The years haven’t always been the same as others, yet there are so many that I can’t stop thinking about due to how much fun we’ve had. I sure do love adventure and the great outdoors, as you can see on my blog. However, I didn’t realize that when I signed up for marriage, that there would not be another adventure that I can think of out there that could contend with this one. Traveling through trails and rough terrain of mountain ranges that we’ve never traveled before, rough on our feet, hotter than Hell , and at times unbearable, but we always get through and are better for it. Storms that come out of nowhere, yet still have a stunning view only to learn that these adventures & storms that we’ve weathered have made us stronger individually and have brought us closer together throughout the journey. The adventure that brings us to the most peaceful of streams, the feeling of gliding through the air on a hang-glider without a care in the world thinking nothing will ever come between us and we’ll never lose this feeling. Oh, the ups and downs of marriage, life, love and relationships. We can’t live without them and I wouldn’t change a thing from the good and the bad. It’s ALL of it that makes us who we are and who we’ve become as a couple. I know that I’ve made some of the most unbelievably ridiculous decisions in these past twelve years and I’m pretty sure that I’ll make some more. Yet she is still with me and SHE STILL Likes ME!

Happy Anniversary My love, and here’s to many more adventures with you my queen!

[Enjoy some pics below of our past adventures]

(ABOVE: our 12 year anniversary trip to Asheville, NC)

(ABOVE: our honeymoon)

(LEFT ABOVE: our wedding night – RIGHT: moments after I proposed)

(LEFT: the moment we met – RIGHT: our first date)

My wife and I are celebrating our 12 year anniversary this weekend, and one of our favorite places to go is Asheville, NC, just a 5 hour drive east of our home in Nashville, TN. Below is a snapshot of just one of the adventures that we’ll go on together on this trip! Enjoy the ride!

NAVITAT CANOPY TOURS – ASHEVILLE, NC
- One the most amazing zipline designs in the Nation
- Over 200 ft in the air & close to a 3 hour long outdoor adventure thrill
- Equinox Environmental Consulting : assisted in design

I can’t wait to go on this journey with my best friend! WATCH BELOW!!

navitat canopy adventures from Navitat Canopy Adventures on Vimeo.

I love the great outdoors, and I love photography. These photos are just a quick snapshot of my latest turkey hunting trip to El Dorado, Kansas with my brother to participate in the 25th Annual Governor’s “One Shot” Turkey Hunt event. I never knew that Kansas was such a beautiful State until this trip, and the people are so amazingly nice! I can’t wait to go back.

All photos taken & copyrights by ©Daniel C White

I’ll start this post by apologizing if you’re not an advocate of hunting, but that’s really not what this post is about at all. It’s about the day in the life of a father and his son who had the BEST bonding experience EVER! I do hope you continue to read on.

I have two young boys, much like my father before me, and they just LOVE being outside, but you can only do so much hiking through the trails, riding your bike in the culdesac, before they start getting bored. As boys, they love exploring and I love watching them, so of course, since I grew up with my dad taking me and my brother hunting and fishing, of course I feel the need to share those experiences and expertise with my boys.

Some of the fondest memories of my childhood were when my dad took me hunting or fishing. It was not only a good time, but it got me out from behind the television and video games, and to enjoy God’s amazing creation that he painted specifically for us to enjoy and live off of. It also taught me the little patience I have, survival confidence, should I need it, a peace of life and responsibility. I’ve been talking for years, even before I had kids, of how I couldn’t wait until the first time I could take my boys fishing and/or hunting for the first time. Well, I finally got to take my boys fishing last year and not was able to take my eldest son of 5 years old, Nolan, on an early morning turkey hunt today. The goal was not to necessarily get a turkey, although that would be awesome, but was truly to get him out and enjoy nature in its finest. We walked through fields, crossed & splashed in streams, talked to turkeys, made funny videos, took great pictures and even got to harvest a beautiful Easter Turkey on our walk back to the car. IT WAS AWESOME!!! The biggest thing for me was hear that he actually had FUN this morning, and even as much as I did.

I would just encourage all dads reading this to get out with your kiddos, boy or girl, by yourself to enjoy the great outdoors and strengthen your relationship with them as their father. Whether it be hunting, fishing, climbing, hiking, etc, etc, just do it! The peace that this quality time will bring to you and your children will be invaluable and will build unforgettable memories and create a bond between the two of you that will never be broken. Although I don’t have a lot in common with my dad right now, we’ll always have stories and experiences of our countless trips we shared in the great outdoors. Now I’ll have the same with my boys!

WHAT ARE SOME SPECIAL OUTDOOR ADVENTURES THAT YOU DO WITH YOUR KIDS OR THOSE CLOSE TO YOU THAT HELP YOU STRENGTHEN YOUR BOND WITH THEM?