1) Were you able to understand the purpose of the website after quickly browsing? What do you believe the website is about?
On the homepage, perhaps it's only because I can't see the video that will be playing on the home screen, but I don't get a true sense of what the site is really about. I do get a bit of a sense by seeing the "our expeditions" option in the navigation bar, but below the video, perhaps it might be beneficial to have a brief "about me" sort of paragraph? It might help new users understand better instead of them going in blind? Especially if they have a computer that doesn't play videos well, or they don't have time to watch a video etc.
However, as I was browsing things became more clear. I understand you can pick a destination, and add it to your trip planner, along with events, recipes and games.
The website is focused on making trip planning, specifically for outdoor vacations in Wisconsin, more accessible, understandable, and less stressful.
2) What emotions did you feel while testing the website?
While testing the website there was a sense of understanding and ease I suppose? The check-boxes section for each category is something that I understand and feel comfortable with using, and I appreciated each section going into more detail regarding the structure of my hypothetical trip.
3.) Would you use this website to find activities and/or plan trips?
As a fan of camping, I would definitely use this for those outdoor trips. It would probably make the process a lot easier and less stressful so we can get on the road without feeling anxious (or at least less anxious). Because I'm a young adult, I may not use it to find games though, but in the future were I to have a hypothetical family I sure would :)
4. Did you notice and understand the search filtering options? If they were on a functioning website, would you find these filter categories useful (ex. Type, Age Range, WI Region)?
Yes and yes.
5.) Did you feel like anything was missing while browsing the site that could make your experience better? Please describe?
Perhaps a really brief subhead for each of the main navigation links, once you're on that main page? Like when you click on games, and get to the games page have something written like "Find fun games to play while on vacation!"
6.) Were there any features of this website that stood out to you as being unique or particularly useful? Please explain.
The filtering options are great, easily understandable, and in an easy-to-see place.
I think that the illustrations add a nice touch, alongside the wood background.
I really like how this website is bringing the planning aspect to the outdoors. You don't really have any outdoor vacation planning websites, and because I haven't actually EVER encountered any, I think that this is really unique and would make strangers to the outdoors more comfortable with planning that sort of vacation.
7) Do you have children? If so, what age(s)?
No children.
8) Please provide any other comments or suggestions.
Everything is looking great! The functionality is there, and the links seem to all be working.
The only teeny, tiny thing that bothers me is the line separating the navigation from the main content pages. It's probably just a preference thing, but I'm not digging the lines above and below the dashed line. I think that I just want them to be without that top and bottom line because the dashed lines interacting with your navigation don't have a top and bottom line.
I also think you could carry the illustrations into the navigation area just a bit, especially in the top area, to create a sort of encompassing border.
When going through your links, in the games section, the only "+" button that worked was for the top option: the scavenger hunt. I don't know if this was intentional, but because in the destinations, events and recipes sections allow you to click on all "+" buttons, I think that should also be applied to your Games section.
It would be nice to have a "forgot password" option when signing in. (Where you send their password back to them via e-mail). Also nice to have a "sign up" button next to the "Create password" area of the sign in box.
Again, everything is looking really nice, and I think that this website is definitely family friendly.