A blog for adventure junkies or adventure wanna-bes, outdoor enthusiasts or animal lovers. Live adventurously through my blog or get tips to live your very own adventure.
If you can’t always be on adventure, at least you can always be reading about one or watching one as is the case for these sites and series.
Adventure Online TV: This site allows members to post videos of their adventures and including sailing, skydiving, climbing, kayaking, surfing and more. Share your adventures or enjoy watching others.
Adventure Week on Universal Sports channel: Cliff diving, extreme rock climbing, kayaking (from Alaska to Seattle), cycling, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, and an adventure race through Montana are just a few programs that will showing the week of October 10. If you don’t get Universal Sports channel, check out their website for info and videos.
Passport to Adventure: This PBS travel channel says its mission is provide “inspiring television that ignites a passion for travel & discovery!” Their website also has a travel blog, video clips, and recommended travel books.
West Coast Adventures: Need a British Columbia fix? This is the place for you. Whether you’re planning a trip there, dreaming of one, or just want to watch others enjoying BC, this site offers a tons of videos and info.
Please take a minute to like my new page on Facebook. I’ll be posting updates of new articles, quotes on adventure/travel, info and tips on adventure/travel, and pics of my own adventures (there isn’t enough room in one article to get all the great pics).
I’d love to see what you’re up to as well. Please stop by, post pics of your travels or ask questions about upcoming adventures.
I know I can’t be the only one out there. You spend all your pre-baby days on the trail or otherwise outside doing adventurous things. During your pregnancy, you remain as active as possible, still hitting the trail but maybe easier hikes and OK, so you’re waddling along instead of hiking. And then the baby comes. You recover and feel ready to hit the trail again. But what about the baby? Depending on the time of year you deliver, you should be able to get your baby (and you) on the trail before long.
My son went on his first hike at 6 weeks of age. The weather was sunny and in the high 50s. We made sure he was warm enough (without overheating him), placed him in our Bjorn carrier and headed out. Of course, my husband and I asked our pediatrician first and we had to bring a few extra supplies along that we didn’t need pre-baby. But we did it! And though he slept through the whole hike, I can’t help but think our baby enjoyed the hike as much as my husband and I did.
So after our first few experiences hiking with a new baby, I’ve compiled a list of tips for others who wish to take their baby on a hike (whether 6 weeks old or 6 months old).
Only hike in good weather. Depending on how young your baby is, he may not be able to regulate his body temperature very well yet. Be sure the weather is mild and be prepared with extra clothes, hats, gloves, and socks in case it is cooler than you though. Check you baby’s temperature throughout the hike to be sure he is not too cold or too hot.
Bring a baby bag. Be sure to pack all the supplies you may need, including diaper changing supplies (a diaper mat, diapers, wipes, and a plastic bag for the messy diaper), extra clothes (in additional to extra clothes for layering, bring a full change of clothes in case of an accident), pacifier, formula bottles (premixed are easiest for hiking) or nursing cover up), and hand sanitizer (so that you can clean your hands before feeding the baby or after changing a diaper).
Plan a short hike first. While you might be used to taking off on an 8 mile hike, plan shorter hikes for the first few times out. You’ll most likely find yourself wishing you had brought something else so it may take a few hikes to get your baby bag packed just right.
Look for stroller friendly trails. Many state and national parks have paved pathways that allow easy access for strollers. If not, find a fairly level trail and invest in a jogger stroller with bigger, more rugged wheels.
Use a baby carrier. If you want to get off the beaten path more, use a baby carrier, like a Bjorn. Be sure to try it out at home first in case your baby doesn’t enjoy being in a carrier.
Be flexible. Your few attempts might not go as planned. You might have to turn back early if baby gets fussy. You may find that your baby does better at certain times of the day or prefers one carrier over another. Be prepared that things might not go as planned at first. Learn from your mistakes and keep trying.
Skiing vacations are exhilarating for family members of all ages because they enable you to have fun, get exercise, and relax. However, if you don’t plan your trip in advance, prices for flights, hotels, and ski passes can be exorbitant. Here are some helpful tips for finding skiing travel deals for you and your entire family.
Get a Package
Airlines and ski resorts often team up to offer travelers good discounts on their services. Get a ski vacation package in order to obtain the lowest airfares and prices on lodging and ski passes. Some travel agencies also offer packages. Since they purchase flights, resort stays, and other services in bulk, they get a good discount, which they can then pass onto their customers.
Travel during the Off Season or Shoulder Seasons
In early January, skiing travel deals are abundant because most people are broke after the holidays or just returning home from New Years and Christmas vacations. You can take advantage of lower prices and fewer crowds during this time of year. Christmas and Thanksgiving are also good times to go skiing since most people have plans to visit relatives during these holidays.
Avoid visiting ski resorts during peak travel seasons because you will end up paying top price for everything from transportation to lodging. The only exception is if you find a last minute deal during the peak season, but to do this, you have to be flexible and willing to leave your travel plans up in the air until the last minute.
Early and late in the ski season are also good times to go on a ski vacation because ski conditions have a greater chance of being iffy, hence prices are low. However, traveling to a ski destination during the shoulder seasons is a risk since the ski conditions may not be very good.
Check Ski Resort Websites for Deals and Offers
Many ski resorts publish special deals and offers on their websites that you cannot find anywhere else. Make sure to check the websites of the resorts you’re interested in going to so you can find out if they are offering any seasonal specials. For example, some lodges offer free airline tickets to those who book a package for multiple people. Others may offer discounts for students and children. Whatever you decide, make sure to purchase ski passes ahead of time on the ski resort website because you can save big money by doing so. On the other hand, if you purchase a ski pass once you arrive, you will end up paying more.
Our Expedition tours are over 90% sold out for the season but we have one very special offer for our first departure. Travel on the October 31st departure of our Grand Voyage to Antarctica and we’ll offer you 2-for-1 savings! That’s right, one person goes to Antarctica for free!
This 24-day tour is the mother of all Antarctica tours and covers all the highlights you’d want to see. Quote promo code GV241 at the time of booking to redeem this offer.
If you like our Grand Voyage to Antarctica tour you may also like our regularly priced Antarctic Classic andBeyond the Antarctic Circle tours. Departures of these tours are almost sold out so be sure book your space now.
Antarctica Cruise Sale with Gap Adventures. Promo Code: GV241 Expires: October 25, 2009.
Glacier National Park should top all nature lovers list of must see national parks. Located in West Glacier, Montana, this park is a paradise for hikers and drivers alike. With over 700 miles of trails, hikers won’t soon run out of backcountry to explore. Visitors that are more car-bound can enjoy the scenic drive up Going to the Sun Road. The drive may be slow, especially with construction ongoing, but you wouldn’t want to drive by too quickly and miss admiring the scenery anyway. Allow plenty of time for the 18 mile drive up to Login Pass and back down to the opposite end of GNP. Just don’t plan a winter drive, as the road closes around mid October each year. A shuttle service is offered by the park, free of charge, for those who would rather not hassle with driving at all.
Enjoy the glacial blue waters of lakes and the towering mountains that surround you. Campsites and hotels abound in the area. Be sure to claim campsites early during popular seasons and book hotels in advance. Otherwise, you could find yourself lodging 30 miles or more outside of the park.
At 6,646 feet, Logan Pass is the highest point on the Going to the Sun Road at Glacier National Park. Be sure to bring warmer clothes as the summit is often windy and much colder than lower elevations. Paved walkways surrounding the Visitors Center abound for photography opportunities. The more adventurous hikers can choose to hit a trail (i.e., Hidden Lake Nature Trail or Garden Wall Trail) from here. Be prepared for a crowded parking lot if you don’t reach the pass early. Campers can check the board at the Visitors Center for available campsites (or ask the ranger to call in for up to the minute availability).
Located in Glacier National Park, this aptly named 18 mile stretch of road makes drivers feel like they are in fact, going to the sun as you wind up the mountains to Login Pass. Stop at the visitor center at Login Pass for a break, to take pictures, or lunch (if you’ve packed your own, that is) before heading back down the mountain to the East Entrance of the park.
Located on the east side of Glacier National Park, the road to Many Glacier is 12 miles long from the park entrance. If you enter the park from the west, travel along the Going to the Sun Road, exiting the park at Saint Mary. Continue on the same road (toward Babb) until you reach signs to turn left toward the Many Glacier park area. Once you enter the park at Many Glacier, you’ll follow along Lake Sherburne, which touts extraordinary glacial blue waters in the sunshine, toward the camping area and ranger station.
Hotel goers can choose to stay at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn or the much fancier, Many Glacier Hotel.
Campers will find comfort at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, including an italian restaurant and a shoppette carrying firewood, hotel chocolate and coffee, drinks, and souvenirs.
Campsites here total 109 and have amble restroom facilities nearby.
For wildlife viewing, bring binoculars and head to the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn’s parking lot to search the mountains for goats, sheep, and the occasional bear. And be sure not to miss the show of colors at sunrise.
