Making Weeknight Memories in the Sportwagon

Some days, you just need to hit pause.

For this Hood River family, that moment came on a random weekday afternoon. Instead of heading home after school, they tossed their bikes, fishing gear, and a few dinner supplies into their Axis Sportwagon and pointed toward Kingsley Reservoir.

No big plan — just a quick escape before sunset.

The van made it easy. With space for the cooler, firewood, and all the family’s “must-haves,” they were out the door in minutes. By the time they reached Kingsley, the evening light was perfect — the kind that makes the pines glow and the air smell like summer.

Mom and Dad helped the kids tie the flies and get the canoe ready. They spent the golden hour on the water, laughing, catching (and losing) a few fish, and soaking up the stillness that only comes on weeknights when the crowds are gone.

Afterward, they cooked dinner right from the van and finished the night with s’mores by the fire. Simple, spontaneous, and absolutely worth it.

It’s easy to let the week slip by, but this little adventure was a reminder of why they love their Sportwagon: it keeps things simple so they can focus on what really matters — time together, unplugged and outdoors.