A breathtaking fall hike through golden larches, alpine lakes, and endless mountain views — and a reminder that not every family hike needs to be “family friendly” to be meaningful. Sometimes, the best adventures are the ones that ask a little more of us.

We almost didn’t go. The timing wasn’t ideal, I was exhausted, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it alone. But we went anyway. This solo trip with my son to Charleston and Folly Beach reminded me that presence doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to be real.