Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Vagabond Tales: Winter on California's Mt. Tahquitz]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/21/vagabond-tales-winter-on-californias-mt-tahquitz/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/21/vagabond-tales-winter-on-californias-mt-tahquitz/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/21/vagabond-tales-winter-on-californias-mt-tahquitz/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Some people are not aware of the fact there are mountains in Southern California. Not just brown looking hills with Hollywood signs sprinkled across them, but real mountains which feature real fresh snow. You can even ski in Southern California.

If you aren't one of the 22 million people who currently reside in Southern California, there's a decent chance this is the first time you are hearing this. Why? Because the image of the "California Dream" of sun, sand, and surf has been marketed across the country since well before the Beach Boys decided it would start selling records.

Due to the year-round sunshine, many of the those 22 million residents have relocated from elsewhere to sprawl along its trademark golden shores. During the winter months, while most of the country collectively pulls on another turtleneck, Southern California frequently basks in midwinter warmth. This is the Southern California most people know.

While there is no denying the existence of the stereotypical image, beyond the beaches, date palms, and sun drenched boulevards, there exists this other Southern California that only a handful of people take the time to experience. In order to get there, you have to shun the warm beach image and drive into the icy hinterlands where the population can easily drop to only 1.

Climbing off of I-10 and onto the back roads which lead into Southern California's inland mountains can be a relaxing, near meditative experience. The number of lanes gradually funnels from 6 down to 1, and the scenery slowly morphs from that of aggressive billboards, off ramps, and car dealerships to dry rolling pastureland and rows of solitary fence posts.

The multitude of peaks which populate the southwest corner of the state can refreshingly offer a transcendental respite from the chaos of the urban world left back below the tree line.

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: Winter on California's Mt. Tahquitz

Vagabond Tales: Winter on California's Mt. Tahquitz originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>California hikingCalifornia mountain lionsCaliforniaHikingCaliforniaMountainLionsIce climb Southern CaliforniaIceClimbSouthernCaliforniaIdyllwild CaliforniaIdyllwildCaliforniaLily RockLilyRockMt. TahquitzMt.Tahquitzpopulation of Southern CaliforniaPopulationOfSouthernCaliforniaSan Jacinto MountainsSanJacintoMountainsSouthern California mountainsSouthernCaliforniaMountainsTahquitz PeakTahquitzPeakvagabondtalesTue, 21 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The two worlds of Waiheke, New Zealand's paradise island]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/20/the-two-worlds-of-waiheke-new-zealands-paradise-island/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/20/the-two-worlds-of-waiheke-new-zealands-paradise-island/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/20/the-two-worlds-of-waiheke-new-zealands-paradise-island/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,




Sipping a succulent syrah inside of the beachfront tasting room at Man O' War winery, a quick glance of the room is all it takes to confirm I'm out of my element.

To my left, a middle-aged man sporting crocodile shoes and hair of a dubious authenticity casually flashes a credit card for $500 of the vineyard's finest vintage. To my right, a suntanned yachtie with a bushy white mustache gesticulates to an acquaintance about the strength of the new varnish recently applied to his helm station.

Then, sandwiched between the two socialites, is me, a wandering travel writer who temporarily lives in a van which was shipped to the island on a 45-minute ferry. Meekly performing a free wine tasting just trying to learn a little about Waiheke wines, the contrast is pretty black and white.

Luckily for all parties involved, however, Waiheke Island is more multi-dimensional than simply being a playground for the uber-rich. Sure, there are expensive rave-parties at vineyards, hidden beachfront mansions, and trendy, high-priced boutiques lining the island's main thoroughfare, but there is an entire other side to Waiheke which can't be invested in, can't be corrupted, and definitely can't be bought.

I am here to explore that side of Waiheke.

Continue reading The two worlds of Waiheke, New Zealand's paradise island

The two worlds of Waiheke, New Zealand's paradise island originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>freedomtoroamkinaMan O War wineryManOWarWineryNew Zealand by campervanNew Zealand kina divingNewZealandByCampervanNewZealandKinaDivingte Wahu wineryTeWahuWinerytravel New ZealandTravelNewZealandWaiheke ferryWaiheke IslandWaiheke Island wineriesWaiheke mansionswaiheke+syrahWaihekeFerryWaihekeIslandWaihekeIslandWineriesWaihekeMansionswaihekesyrahWild on WaihekeWildOnWaihekeMon, 20 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rare snow damages Colosseum]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/17/rare-snow-damages-colosseum/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/17/rare-snow-damages-colosseum/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/17/rare-snow-damages-colosseum/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's already been reported here on Gadling that Italian treasures such as Pompeii are slowly falling apart. This time, it's the Colosseum, although the recent damage has nothing to do with neglect.

A rare bout of freezing temperatures and heavy snow has crippled the Italian capital as of late, and it's been reported by CNN that the wintry precipitation is literally seeping it's way into one of Rome's most iconic monuments.

According to Colosseum superintendents, small pieces of the walls within the Colosseum are crumbling due to the effects of moisture and expanding ice. In much the same way as the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon are sculpted by water seeping into porous rock and expanding as it freezes, the same process is now taking place within the walls of the Colosseum.

European architects highlight this pattern is not out of the ordinary, just that the extreme weather as of late has accelerated the natural process of decay.

CNN also reports that buildings in the historic Italian town of Urbino are at risk of collapse simply from the weight of all the snow piled on top of them. Villagers have been reported to be adding extra roof braces to homes so as to avoid a cave in or collapse, and it's feared that many of the historic buildings which have wooden joists may not be able to handle the extreme weight.

One proposed solution? Covering the entire the Colosseum in the event of a future storm. The jury, however, is still out on the feasibility of that solution.

Photo; Flickr: Fabio Stefano Alla



Rare snow damages Colosseum originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vagabond Tales: Why you might not be allowed into Canada]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/17/vagabond-tales-why-you-might-not-be-allowed-into-canada/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/17/vagabond-tales-why-you-might-not-be-allowed-into-canada/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/17/vagabond-tales-why-you-might-not-be-allowed-into-canada/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,




The border between Canada and the United States is the longest undefended border in the world, yet, of the 60 countries I have wandered through, it's the one in which I have had the hardest time gaining entry.

At 5,525 miles long, there are over 120 official places where a traveler can cross the Canada border in a manner which is consistent with that of virtually any other border crossing in the world: Speak with a customs or immigration agent, display passport, visa, and proper documentation for onward travel or proof of funds, answer some background questions, and more likely than not you're on your way.

For some, however, it isn't always that easy.

In looking at the fine print, Canada has a trump card in their back pocket when it comes to admitting people into the country, and it all has to do with a condition of entry officially known as criminal inadmissibility. Go ahead. Look it up. It really isn't that strange. The United States has one too.

According to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website, "If you have committed or been convicted of a criminal offence, you may not be allowed to enter Canada." Such offenses listed include examples such as manslaughter, assault, theft, human rights violations, involvement in organized crime, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Ok, fair enough. If you're a convicted criminal we won't allow you into the country. I can agree with that. Murder, manslaughter, trafficking. I wouldn't want that in my country either.

If you read more closely, however, according to the Wikipedia entry regarding American entry into Canada, "a single criminal conviction, no matter how minor or long ago, is grounds for exclusion from Canada."

I mention this because it's this fine print which provides the background for a rather curious sequence of events which took place in the spruce forests of the Yukon Territory.

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: Why you might not be allowed into Canada

Vagabond Tales: Why you might not be allowed into Canada originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012+canada+border+crossing+with+dui2012canadabordercrossingwithduiAlaska Yukon borderAlaskaYukonBorderbike to ArgentinaBikeToArgentinaCanada entry requirementscanada+bordercanadaborderCanadaEntryRequirementsCanadian lawsCanadianLawscriminal inadmissibilityCriminalInadmissibilitytravel disastersTravelDisastersUS Canada borderUsCanadaBorderYukon populationYukon TerritoryYukonPopulationYukonTerritoryFri, 17 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vagabond Tales: Snorkeling with irukandji, one of the deadliest animals on Earth]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/11/vagabond-tales-snorkeling-with-irukandji-one-of-the-deadliest/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/11/vagabond-tales-snorkeling-with-irukandji-one-of-the-deadliest/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/11/vagabond-tales-snorkeling-with-irukandji-one-of-the-deadliest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



"This guy over here has been tagged three times mate."

The dive instructor on our Whitsunday Islands cruise peels off his neoprene gloves and shows us a slight scar located just above the knuckle of his right thumb.

"Luckily every time they got me it was in the hand or the foot", he claims. "If they'd gotten me on the bloody torso I'd be a gonner."

As someone who has worked on charter boats for a number of years, I know that telling tall tales to tourists just comes with the job. True story or not, I know that the threat is real nonetheless. A dreamy island chain set at the southern tip of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday Islands from November through April are home to one of the world's deadliest creatures: the irukandji jellyfish.

Similar to a box jellyfish, the tiny irukandji measure only 2.5 centimeters across and have tentacles that pack more venom than the combined amount of 100 cobras. Although actual irukandji fatalities are rare, one Australian teen actually reported he wishes he were dead during a recent irukandji attack.

For this very reason many towns and resorts on the Queensland coast have massive salt water swimming lagoons or fresh pools which serve as refreshing watering holes (and nighttime love hideouts for inebriated backpackers) during the annual irukandji season.

Yet, for some reason, I decided it was still a good idea to go snorkeling. In the ocean. In the Whitsunday Islands. In the peak of irukandji season.

A bit sketchy? Yes. But is it really that dangerous? Not really. Although the safest way to keep from being stung by a massively poisonous jellyfish is to abstain from the ocean completely, for those still harboring fantasies of gliding above a giant purple clam or catching a rare sighting of a giant Napoleon wrasse, the easiest thing thing to do is to simply don a stinger suit.

Wait. A stinger suit? What's a stinger suit?

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: Snorkeling with irukandji, one of the deadliest animals on Earth

Vagabond Tales: Snorkeling with irukandji, one of the deadliest animals on Earth originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Airlie Beach snorkelingAirlieBeachSnorkelingAustralia animals that can kill youAustraliaAnimalsThatCanKillYoubox jellyfishBoxJellyfishdive whitsundayDiveWhitsundayirukandjisnorkel whisundaySnorkelWhisundaystinger suits AustraliaStingerSuitsAustraliavagabondtaleswhitsunday islandswhitsunday islands snorkelWhitsundayIslandsWhitsundayIslandsSnorkelworlds deadliest animalsWorldsDeadliestAnimalsSat, 11 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hiking across Mordor in Tongariro National Park]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/hiking-across-mordor-in-tongariro-national-park/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/hiking-across-mordor-in-tongariro-national-park/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/hiking-across-mordor-in-tongariro-national-park/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



There aren't many places where you feel the urge to wear your wedding ring around your neck and begin dodging fictional forces of evil.

New Zealand's Tongariro National Park, however, is exactly one of those places.

As anyone who has been to a movie theater in the last ten years probably knows, New Zealand was the setting for the epically popular Lord of the Rings trilogy which introduced us to the adventures of Middle Earth.

Arguably one of the best known movie series of an entire generation, the movie saga has simultaneously done wonders for the New Zealand tourism economy by displaying the country's enchanting and other worldly scenery to a global audience of millions. While Middle Earth tourism has sculpted out its own niche for diehard fans (my 2012 New Zealand road atlas, for example, points out where each scene was filmed), as a casual viewer there are only a few place names I actually recognize.

One of these, of course, is Mt. Doom, and as I set out from the campervan into the volcanic cinder of the Tongariro Crossing-one of New Zealand's most heavily trafficked walks-I found myself standing directly beneath it.

So what exactly is Mt. Doom?

Well, to begin, its real name is Mt. Ngauruhoe, it is 7,516 ft. high, and from the best I could tell there aren't any quivering, flaming black eyes located anywhere near it. While Mt. Ngauruhoe doubled as Mt. Doom, the surrounding bits of Tongariro National Park provided the scenery for Mordor, the fiery and terrifying volcanic wasteland that serves as the home of evil.

As it happens, Tongariro is actually pretty cold, even during the summer months. Lacing up my hiking boots at 6am with about 100 other trekkers, the morning dew had frozen and blanketed the campervan beneath a thin layer of frost.

"Weird", I thought. "There's not supposed to be snow in Mordor."

Continue reading Hiking across Mordor in Tongariro National Park

Hiking across Mordor in Tongariro National Park originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Best hikes in New ZealandBestHikesInNewZealandChateau TongariroChateauTongariroFreedomtoroamHike the Tongariro Crossinghike+to+mordorHikeTheTongariroCrossinghiketomordorNew Zealand Lord of the Rings TourismNew Zealand travelNewZealandLordOfTheRingsTourismNewZealandTravelTongariro Nationaal Parktongariro+national+parktongariro+national+park++mordor!+a+rugged,+volcanic+laTongariroNationaalParktongarironationalparktongarironationalparkmordor!arugged,volcaniclawhere is MordorWhereIsMordorFri, 10 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vagabond Tales: Swimming with elephants in Thailand]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/09/vagabond-tales-swimming-with-elephants-in-thailand/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/09/vagabond-tales-swimming-with-elephants-in-thailand/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/09/vagabond-tales-swimming-with-elephants-in-thailand/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Anyone who has visited Thailand will recognize the word Chang.

The national beer of Thailand, the over sized green bottles are found everywhere from the markets of Chiang Mai to the bars of Bangkok's Khao San Road. In the Thai language, however, Chang does not mean beer. It means elephant. Hence the ornately drawn white elephant placed prominently on the bottle.

Another Thai word you may be familiar with is the word koh (also spelled ko). Ask anyone who just returned from Thailand about their trip, and they'll rattle the word off as if they're trying to remove a hairball.

"Oh the trip was great. We visited Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Lanta, Koh Mak, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui" etc.

Koh, as it turns out, is not the Thai word for hairball, but rather, it is the Thai word for island.
Put the two together, Koh and Chang, and what you are left with is Elephant Island, a nod to the fact that when viewed from the sea, the island appears to have the same profile as an elephant lying down. Therefore, it should come as little surprise that the lush and mountainous island of Koh Chang is one of Thailand's premier locations for riding elephants.

Though there are many places around the world where you can rest on top of a moving pachyderm, what's unique about Koh Chang is that it's the first place I've seen where you don't just get to ride on top of an elephant, but you go swimming with it as well.

Wait. Swimming with an elephant? This sounds dangerous. They're the largest living land mammal on planet Earth, and you want to go jump into a watering hole with them?

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: Swimming with elephants in Thailand

Vagabond Tales: Swimming with elephants in Thailand originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelbest island in ThailandBestIslandInThailandbudget-travelelephantsKoh ChangKoh Chang elephantsKohChangKohChangElephantsride elephants ThailandRideElephantsThailandswim with elephantsswim+with+elephants+thailandswimming with elephantsSwimmingWithElephantsSwimWithElephantsswimwithelephantsthailandthailandThailand travelThailandTravelvagabondtalesThu, 09 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Stand up paddling with stingrays in New Zealand's Murderer's Bay]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/stand-up-paddling-with-stingrays-in-new-zealands-murderers-bay/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/stand-up-paddling-with-stingrays-in-new-zealands-murderers-bay/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/stand-up-paddling-with-stingrays-in-new-zealands-murderers-bay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Though Captain James Cook was the first European to set foot on the islands of New Zealand in 1769, he was not the first European to "discover it". That honor would belong to Dutch explorer Abel Tasman who sailed past the country while navigating the Southern Ocean for the Dutch east India Company in 1642.

Blown off course by a strong easterly wind, Abel Tasman first sighted the northwest reaches of the South Island of New Zealand and thought he may have stumbled upon the bottom part of Argentina. Confused but intrigued, Tasman decided to make the most of the discovery and arranged an expedition party to be sent ashore to gather fresh water.

Unfortunately, the expedition was met by a band of native Maori people curious of the tall ships which had suddenly appeared off their coast, and after a hostile skirmish which historians have attributed to multiple cultural misunderstandings, Tasman sailed from the area with four fewer men than he had arrived with. As a result of the incident, Tasman saw it fitting to label the area as "Murderer's Bay".

360 years later, I ruminated on this violent turn of events while stand-up paddling above a gray stingray languishing in the tidal shallows of Murderer's Bay.

On a brilliantly sunny and calm morning in which it was possible to stare straight through the turquoise waters, I found myself paddling in nearly the exact same spot where Tasman's men had met their fate so many centuries ago. No longer referred to as Murderer's Bay, with the discovery of gold in the region in the 1850's it was prosperously renamed Golden Bay, and the name has stuck ever since.

Located in the sunniest region of New Zealand, Golden Bay is still somewhat of a secret when compared to neighboring Abel Tasman National Park. Although the Tata Islands--rocks that sit just offshore of Golden Bay and are covered in fur seals--are technically still part of Abel Tasman National Park, Golden Bay offers the same South Pacific setting as it's crowded counterpart, yet for some reason there is hardly anybody here.

Except, of course, for me and the stingrays.

Gallery: Welcome to Golden Bay, New Zealand

Kayking the empty beaches of Golden Bay; All photos by Heather EllisonWIndsurfers with a plan for all tidesA colony of black oystercatchers relaxes on the sandspitStandup paddling the empty spits of Golden Bay

Continue reading Stand up paddling with stingrays in New Zealand's Murderer's Bay

Stand up paddling with stingrays in New Zealand's Murderer's Bay originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abel+tasmanabeltasmanbest of New ZealandBestOfNewZealandcampervan+nzcampervannzFarewell Spit toursFarewellSpitToursfreedomtoroamGolden BayGoldenBayNew Zealand campervan travelNew Zealand travelnew+zealand+mapNewZealandCampervanTravelnewzealandmapNewZealandTravelPaddle Abel Tasman National ParkPaddleAbelTasmanNationalParkstand up paddle Golden BayStandUpPaddleGoldenBaystingraySurf Wharariki BeachSurfWhararikiBeachTata IslandsTataIslandstravel New Zealand south islandTravelNewZealandSouthIslandundiscovered New ZealandUndiscoveredNewZealandWharariki BeachWhararikiBeachzealandFri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vagabond Tales: Is sandboarding better than snowboarding?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/31/vagabond-tales-is-sandboarding-better-than-snowboarding/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/31/vagabond-tales-is-sandboarding-better-than-snowboarding/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/31/vagabond-tales-is-sandboarding-better-than-snowboarding/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Contrary to what you may believe, the ocean in Peru is not very warm. In fact, it's not warm at all. It's freezing.

Other than desert outposts in the northern reaches of the country where it's still possible to surf in boardshorts (Mancora, Vichayito, etc.), the Humboldt current--which swings northward from Antarctica--renders the water in Peru so cold that much of the coast is a seascape of lonely gray populated by neoprene-clad surfers suffering from ice cream headaches (surf slang for intense pain in the temples felt when diving beneath a frigid wave).

For this precise reason there was little part of me which wanted to surf in Peru.

But wait, Peru has some of the best waves in the world. Chicama, Pacasmayo, Cabo Blanco? These places are legendary. What's wrong with you?

Standing on the rocky shores of Huanchaco, a beachfront suburb of the colonial city of Trujillo, the thought of removing my warm flannel and thrusting my ceviche-laden body into 51° water held remarkably little appeal. That, and the waves simply just weren't that good. Admittedly, a fair weather surfer I will be.

Having already toured the ruins of Huaca de Sol and Chan Chan, ancient cities of the Moche and Chimu people who began inhabiting this coastline around 400 AD, my wife and I were simply going to have to find adventure elsewhere.

How about sand boarding?

For years I had seen photos of warm-weather renegades riding down sand dunes from Morocco to New Zealand to here on the coast of Peru. Still, I was skeptical. It's sand. Not snow. Or water. How fun can it possibly be?

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: Is sandboarding better than snowboarding?

Vagabond Tales: Is sandboarding better than snowboarding? originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chan ChanChanChanChimu PeruChimuPeruHumboldt currentHumboldtCurrentMoche people PeruMochePeoplePeruperuPeru cold oceanPeru sandboardingPeruColdOceanPeruSandboardingsand board Perusandboard Trujillo Perusandboardingsandboarding better than snowboardingSandboardingBetterThanSnowboardingSandBoardPeruSandboardTrujilloPerusurf PeruSurfPeruvagabondtalesTue, 31 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kaikoura, New Zealand: Surfing, seals, and seafood]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/27/freedom-to-roam-the-coastal-beauty-of-kaikoura/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/27/freedom-to-roam-the-coastal-beauty-of-kaikoura/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/27/freedom-to-roam-the-coastal-beauty-of-kaikoura/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



"The chowder isn't the type you have back in the States" I am warned.

The brunette woman working the oceanfront seafood cart has detected my accent and is concerned I won't like her steaming bowl of mollusks.

"There isn't much cream, just freshly made broth mixed with massive chunks of crayfish and mussels."

Facing the kelp strewn waters of the Kaikoura Peninsula, a popular hamlet on the eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island, this is exactly what I was hoping for: Massive chunks of crayfish and mussels. After all, it's only appropriate for a place whose name literally translates to "meal of crayfish".

Regardless, eating anything else in Kaikoura would just feel wrong, because Kaikoura is not a processed, pre-packaged type of town. It's a place where the smell of sea salt wafts on the breeze and surfers recount that morning's early dawn session. Storefronts advertise seal swimming, whale watching, and guided eco-walks, while local scuba shops display the current water temperature and visibility on outdoor chalkboards adorned in smiling blue dolphins.

This, I realize, is what separates Kaikoura from all of the other adventure destinations and photo opportunities which lay scattered around the South Island of New Zealand. Kaikoura is different from the gorges of Franz Josef glacier or walks such as the Routeburn Track in that it has been a long time since I have traveled through a place that refreshingly feels so alive.

Sure, there are pubs with drink specials and tacky New Zealand souvenir stores like any other tourist haunt in the world, but in Kaikoura there seems to be an intrinsic harmony the town has with nature that gives it an energy not felt in other parts of the country.

Nowhere is this more apparent than ambling over limpet covered rocks beneath the peninsula walkway on Kean Point. Aside from the sandy strands of kelp which give the walk a malodorous yet authentic aroma, the shoreline teems with nesting red billed seagulls and dozens of southern fur seals lounging contentedly on the warm rocks.

Gallery: Kaikoura is alive

Shearwaters rest on a tidal plateau; All photos by Heather EllisonGet off my rockThe early morning beauty of the seaside KaikourasThe Kaikoura Peninsula spread out to the seaA local Kaikoura surfer enjoys an early morning line

Continue reading Kaikoura, New Zealand: Surfing, seals, and seafood

Kaikoura, New Zealand: Surfing, seals, and seafood originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"The Franz Josef Glacier is so singularly beautiful, so beautiful indeed, and centered amongst such vivid, exceptional, and picturesque surroundings that if it were situated in any other country than New Zealand it would have long ago been acclaimed 'The Most Beautiful Thing in the World'"

-E.E. Muir (1929)

Don't look now, but in New Zealand there are currently two icy tongues lapping their way through the jungle.

While we have previously reported on the unique experience of taking crampons and ice axe to New Zealand's Fox Glacier, I'm here to illuminate the other shifting sea of ice that's currently licking the forests of Aotearoa's soggy West Coast.

At 7.5 miles long, Franz Josef Glacier--named in 1865 after the emperor of Austria-Hungary during a time when naming glaciers after nobility was apparently the thing to do--is perhaps one of the world's most scenic crumbling blue spectacles.

While I've witnessed glaciers calving into the sea in Alaska and watched the sun rise over them in Nepal, what makes Franz Josef so unique is the ability to stand in front of a massive sea of ice whilst entrenched in a setting that is literally temperate rainforest.

At Fox and Franz the flora doesn't consist of sub-alpine scrub brush or tundra, but rather, it consists of dense green ferns. The waterfalls that streak down the walls of the vertical canyons are raging in strength due to the 7000mm (273 inches) of rainfall the west coast of New Zealand annually receives, a sum that bests many parts of the Amazon rainforest. On various summer days it's possible to be standing in front of Franz Josef glacier in nothing but shorts and t-shirt, a wardrobe better suited to watching the sunset on the beach that lies just 10 miles to the west.

So why are there glaciers tumbling their way through the jungle in the first place?

Continue reading Franz Josef glacier: Big icy tongue of the rainforest

Franz Josef glacier: Big icy tongue of the rainforest originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fox vs. Franz Josef glacierFoxVs.FranzJosefGlacierFranz Josef glacierfranz+josef+ticketsFranzJosefGlacierfranzjosefticketsfreedomtoroamglaciersglaciers in the rainforestGlaciersInTheRainforestNew Zealand glacier trekkingNew Zealand glaciersNewZealandGlaciersNewZealandGlacierTrekkingtrek Franz Josef glacierTrekFranzJosefGlacierwhat is the best New Zealand glacierwhat+is+franz+josefwhatisfranzjosefWhatIsTheBestNewZealandGlacierWed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vagabond Tales: "The Governator is better, yes?"]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/23/vagabond-tales-the-governator-is-better-yes/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/23/vagabond-tales-the-governator-is-better-yes/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/23/vagabond-tales-the-governator-is-better-yes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Crossing borders can always be a bit of a hectic experience. There are long lines, scam artists, customs officials, new currencies, people offering to expedite your visa process for a fee, screaming children, rogue livestock, and occasionally people with guns. Dirty and dingy, border crossings are never the favorite part of my trip.

Luckily, however, I was once aided through a particularly tense border moment by of all things, an American politician. As any American traveler who spends copious amounts of time out of the country will tell you, divulging the fact that you are an American frequently involves being buffeted by a hailstorm of opinions/questions/debate over American foreign policy, war, clothing, oil, health care, politics, and lately, Justin Bieber.

This is because--and excuse me as I fabricate completely random statistics to argue a point--it's becoming apparent to me that about 70% of the globe knows more about American politics than 70% of Americans do.

Evidence? I offer three examples:

-A particularly smelly hitch hiker I once picked up in New Zealand was able to tell me how many seats the state of Hawaii has in the House of Representatives (2).

-The Kathmandu shopkeeper from whom I was purchasing a $1.50 plate of dhal bhat discussed with me the geopolitical ramifications of Hillary Clinton's recent visit to Burma.

-A mate from Sydney writing me to express his concerns about the upcoming vote in Congress to once again raise the debt ceiling.

The list goes on.

Although flashing the blue cover of an American passport will frequently lead to this uninvited political joust, I would like to thank one American politician for effectively waving me across international lines.

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: "The Governator is better, yes?"

Vagabond Tales: "The Governator is better, yes?" originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arnold Schwarzenegger AustriaArnoldSchwarzeneggerAustriagovernatorThe GovernatorTheGovernatorvagabondtalesMon, 23 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vagabond Tales: The strange food of Vietnam]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/20/vagabond-tales-yes-they-eat-that-in-vietnam-that-too/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/20/vagabond-tales-yes-they-eat-that-in-vietnam-that-too/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/20/vagabond-tales-yes-they-eat-that-in-vietnam-that-too/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Apparently, there are no sharks left in Vietnam.

This is not a scientific fact. It's based solely upon the opinion of my dive instructor in Nha Trang, a trendy resort town in southern Vietnam. While you may initially think this is a good thing, the sad reality is that sharks are one of the most threatened animals in the undersea environment and the vast majority pose no threat to humans whatsoever.

The instructor claimed he hadn't seen a shark underwater in over 8 years, a fact which led me to speculate as to why. Was the water warmer? Had their food moved further offshore? Had he just not been looking?

The answer, it would turn out, wasn't as much of a mystery as I was making it out to be.
"Because we eat them all" he nonchalantly mused. "Vietnam, Korea, China, eat all the shark. No more shark."

While I knew that shark fin soup was a much sought after dish in the Far East, I didn't think it had reached such dire levels where a trained professional who goes into the water actually looking for them hadn't encountered one in nearly a decade.

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: The strange food of Vietnam

Vagabond Tales: The strange food of Vietnam originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelare there sharks in VietnamAreThereSharksInVietnamNha Trang scuba divingNhaTrangScubaDivingscuba dive Nha Trangscuba diving in VietnamScubaDiveNhaTrangScubaDivingInVietnamshark fin soupshark finningSharkFinningSharkFinSoupVagabond TalesVagabondTalesweird things to eat in VietnamWeirdThingsToEatInVietnamFri, 20 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The best walk in the world? Tackling New Zealand's Routeburn Track]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/19/the-best-walk-in-the-world-tackling-new-zealands-routeburn-tra/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/19/the-best-walk-in-the-world-tackling-new-zealands-routeburn-tra/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/19/the-best-walk-in-the-world-tackling-new-zealands-routeburn-tra/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



"I keep wondering whether I really like tramping...the cold and the loneliness and the fear--do they outweigh the magnificence, the terrible impersonal glory of the mountains?"

-Charles Brusch, Poet-

14 miles is too far to walk when you're on vacation. And in the mountains. And carrying a pack. And with your wife, who, to be fair, is a trooper.

14 miles in a day is brutal, but to turn around the next day and repeat the same thing is just stupid.

This, however, was the only way I was going to hike New Zealand's ultra-popular Routeburn Track. This past year Lonely Planet listed the Routeburn Track as one of it's top ten treks in the world, and the heavily trodden track has seen it's annual numbers climb to over 13,000 walkers per year.

A sub-alpine pass which links the lush Hollyford Valley with Queenstown's Lake Wakatipu, the Routeburn track was historically used as a trading route for native Maori moving precious pounamu--greenstone--from the quarries of Martin's Bay to villages further inland. By the 1870's European prospectors realized the strategic importance of the Routeburn Track as a way of crossing the Southern Alps en route to Fiordland, and the steady stream of visitors was on.

Now, as one of New Zealand's 9 "Great Walks", the greenstone traders and early explorers have been replaced by Gore-Tex covered tourists carrying carbon fiber walking poles.

Nonetheless, like many uber-popular trails the world over, the Department of Conservation limits the number of people who can through-hike the 20-mile route by only providing 50 beds in each of the 4 backcountry huts scattered along the trail. During the summer months, the no-frills huts (mattresses and gas stoves are provided) run a pricey $40 US per person/night and reservations are absolutely crucial.

How crucial you may ask? Well, the Milford Track just down the road is already booked for the entire year, and the next available beds on the Routeburn Track weren't for another month.

"Except", chimed the ranger at the National Park office, "for a two-bed opening on Sunday which just opened up. I suggest you take it."

Gallery: The beauty of New Zealand's Routeburn Track

Lake Mackenzie as viewed from the trail574 ft. Erland FallsHarris Saddle shelter--A welcome respite for weary hikersKea, the world's only alpine parrotA hiker takes a moment to enjoy the surroundings

Continue reading The best walk in the world? Tackling New Zealand's Routeburn Track

The best walk in the world? Tackling New Zealand's Routeburn Track originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best hikes in the worldbest walk in the worldBestHikesInTheWorldBestWalkInTheWorldfiordland new zealandFiordlandNewZealandFreedomtoroamhiking in New ZealandHikingInNewZealandhistory of the Routeburn trackHistoryOfTheRouteburnTrackNew Zealand by campervanNew Zealand travelNew Zealands ebst hikesNewZealandByCampervanNewZealandsEbstHikesNewZealandTravelRouteburn trackRouteburnTracktrek New ZealandTrekNewZealandThu, 19 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vagabond Tales: Nobody plans to visit a hospital in Uruguay]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/17/vagabond-tales-nobody-plans-to-visit-a-hospital-in-uruguay/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/17/vagabond-tales-nobody-plans-to-visit-a-hospital-in-uruguay/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/17/vagabond-tales-nobody-plans-to-visit-a-hospital-in-uruguay/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



About the last thing that anyone wants to have happen on their vacation is to end up in the hospital. This much nearly all travelers can agree upon.

What's even more fun is ending up in a hospital in a country that speaks a foreign language, realizing your vocabulary doesn't yet include the translations for words such as "syringe", "infection", and "spinal tap".

Luckily for me I found myself in a hospital in a country where I actually do speak the language (Spanish) and I didn't need any of the aforementioned words listed above. Also, perhaps even luckier is that I wasn't actually hurt, but instead was simply in search of some prescription drugs.

Allow me to explain.

Punta del Este, Uruguay is a South American beach oasis that's part South Beach and part Las Vegas. Furthermore, it's safe to say it's one of the premier party spots for global jet-setters who may be interested in obtaining some prescription drugs for a big night out.

It also just so happened to be the beach town that my wife and I found ourselves in on our honeymoon when we realized the Xanax she had been packing for the trip home was actually long-expired and completely ineffective, and we had 21 hours of flying coming up before we were safely back home in Hawaii.

It's been well documented here on Gadling that many people frequently cope with a fear of flying in their own personal ways, and the seriousness of this situation was not to be taken lightly. With the issue of the expired Xanax making itself known, we were really reduced to only two options: buying a used car in Buenos Aires and driving back to California without being kidnapped by FARC rebels in Panama's Darien Gap, or finding the nearest hospital and getting another prescription whipped up and bottled with our name on it. Stat.

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: Nobody plans to visit a hospital in Uruguay

Vagabond Tales: Nobody plans to visit a hospital in Uruguay originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fear of flyingFearOfFlyinggoing to the hospital while travelingGoingToTheHospitalWhileTravelingHawaiiparty capitals of the worldPartyCapitalsOfTheWorldprescription drugs for flyingprescription drugs in UruguayPrescriptionDrugsForFlyingPrescriptionDrugsInUruguayPunta del EstePuntaDelEstetravel Urugaytravel with a fear of flyingTravelUrugayTravelWithAFearOfFlyingUruguayvagabondtalesXanax for fear of flyingXanaxForFearOfFlyingTue, 17 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Growing on the edge: Wine tasting in the southernmost wine region of the world]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/16/growing-on-the-edge-wine-tasting-in-the-southernmost-wine-regio/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/16/growing-on-the-edge-wine-tasting-in-the-southernmost-wine-regio/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/16/growing-on-the-edge-wine-tasting-in-the-southernmost-wine-regio/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



On a morning in which I had no intention of drinking alcohol (yes, morning) I somehow found myself having a glass of what has officially been called the best wine in the entire world.

This is what happens when you take road trips, you stumble upon things. In this particular instance I happened to stumble upon a region I originally had little intention of exploring, only to find out it's one of the most notable up and coming wine regions according to those in the know.

At 45°S latitude, the Central Otago region of New Zealand is officially the southernmost wine region on planet Earth, geographically besting out the wine regions of Chile by a fairly healthy 8 degree margin. The only reason I happened to drive through Central Otago is because of a free campsite located by a nearby river, but after walking through the front door of Aurum Winery at a liver-shaking 10am, an unplanned afternoon of viticulture was suddenly thrust upon me.

Lucie, a French woman with a charming French/Kiwi command of the English accent and the principal winemaker for Aurum, informed me that although Otago receives a healthy dose of winter, during the colder months the grapes are still sleeping and won't freeze until temperatures of -20°C (-4°F). Seeing as Otago will only reach around -10°C (14°F) during the winter, the grapes are able to continue their growth before budding sometime during the spring.

Frost, Lucie admits, is definitely a problem once the grapes have formed, and wineries in the Central Otago region employ frost-fighting wind machines to project warm air layers onto to the fragile crop. Seeing as Aurum was voted as the best winery in New Zealand by the Corporate Events Guide for the past 2 years running, an award that Lucie admits is a bit like David versus Goliath (Aurum only puts out a modest 4000 cases/year), it's apparent they have a handle on what they're doing down here in Otago.

Gallery: Wine tasting Central Otago New Zealand

Alpine flatbread and chardonnay at the Gibston Valley cheeseryRieslings growing in the New Zealand sunVineyards of Central OtagoBBQ barrel at Wild Earth wineryFresh olive oil at Aurum

Continue reading Growing on the edge: Wine tasting in the southernmost wine region of the world

Growing on the edge: Wine tasting in the southernmost wine region of the world originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aurum winery New ZealandAurumWineryNewZealandbest wines of New ZealandBestWinesOfNewZealandCentral Otago New ZealandCentral Otago pinot noirCentral Otago wine tastingCentralOtagoNewZealandCentralOtagoPinotNoirCentralOtagoWineTastingFreedomtoroamGibbstonnValley winery New ZealandGibbstonnvalleyWineryNewZealandsouthernmost wine region in the worldSouthernmostWineRegionInTheWorldWile Earth winery New ZealandWileEarthWineryNewZealandwine tasting New ZealandWineTastingNewZealandMon, 16 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Freedom to Roam: The Southern Alps by helicopter]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/13/freedom-to-roam-the-southern-alps-by-helicopter/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/13/freedom-to-roam-the-southern-alps-by-helicopter/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/13/freedom-to-roam-the-southern-alps-by-helicopter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



No, the Southern Alps aren't in the south of France or Italy as the name may lead you to believe. Rather, they are 12 time zones away in a remote corner of the Pacific Ocean and form the spine of the rugged South Island of New Zealand. Home to National Parks such as Mt. Aspiring, Mt. Cook, Arthur's Pass, and Fiordland, the similarities to their European counterparts are so similar, however, that when hiking amongst sections of the Southern Alps you could swear you were outside of Chamonix, France.

It's well known that the original Maori name for New Zealand is "Aotearoa", a phrase which literally translates to "Long White Cloud". Seeing as the Polynesian triangle only has a few mountains tall enough to ever receive snow, it's understandable why a narrow, snow capped mountain range could be construed as being a long white cloud. (The only other mountain in Polynesia outside of New Zealand which regularly sees snow is Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii, a name which literally translates in Hawaiian to "White Mountain". See a trend?)

Aside from providing a picturesque backdrop for the majority of the South Island, the Southern Alps are also home to the majority of the outdoor activities in the country, which is really saying something in an outdoor haven such as New Zealand.

When it comes to the Southern Alps, even though you can hike your way through them, ski your way down them, jetboat their rivers, and fish in their lakes, the undisputed best way you're going to actually SEE them is by getting up on top of them. Unless you plan on climbing 12,316 ft. Mt. Cook (Maori: Aoraki, "Cloud Piercer") and are a whiz with crampons and an ice axe, your best bet is to get beneath a set of rotating blades and take a helicopter to plop you down on top of them.

That's what I did over Mt. Aspiring, and in all seriousness, it was one of the best things I've ever done.

Gallery: Mt. Aspiring National park by helicopter

Waterfall tumbling from Mt. AvalancheThe pilot Nick puts some perspective on the emptinessA remote glacial mountain lake beneath Mt. AvalancheHelicopter perched on Mt. AltaLake Wanaka from above

Continue reading Freedom to Roam: The Southern Alps by helicopter

Freedom to Roam: The Southern Alps by helicopter originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelBest New Zealand adventuresBestNewZealandAdventuresfreedomtoroamLake HaweaLake WanakaLakeHaweaLakeWanakaMt. Aspiring helicopter toursMt.AspiringHelicopterToursNew Zealand helicopter toursNewZealandHelicopterToursSouthern Alps helicoptersSouthernAlpsHelicoptersWanaka HelicoptersWanaka scenic flightsWanaka sightseeingWanakaHelicoptersWanakaScenicFlightsWanakaSightseeingFri, 13 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vagabond Tales: Lunch on Guilty Beach, Cambodia]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/12/vagabond-tales-lunch-on-guilty-beach-cambodia/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/12/vagabond-tales-lunch-on-guilty-beach-cambodia/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/12/vagabond-tales-lunch-on-guilty-beach-cambodia/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Lunch on Guilty Beach was a tough meal to swallow.

If you look on a map of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, you'll find beaches such as Victory Beach and Independence Beach, but you'll find no such place as Guilty Beach. Regardless of what a map might say, unofficially, every beach in Cambodia is Guilty Beach.

Guilty Beach is not just a Cambodian phenomenon, but rather a global destination that can be found along coastlines the world over. It's in Los Cabos, Mexico, in the shadow of the famous Cabo arch. It's in Jaco, Costa Rica, backed up by sagging palm trees and world class surf. It's in Asilah, Morocco; it's in Mabul, Malaysia. Guilty Beach is every beach in the world where those unfortunate individuals living well below the poverty line--many of them children--work the beach in the hope of squeaking out much less than a living; most likely, they're just trying to make that night's dinner.

While beach merchants and scam artists can often be viewed as hawkers selling goods you would never want, Guilty Beach, Cambodia is thusly labeled because here it is different. Children don't prod you to buy some fake sunglasses--they simply ask for a bite of your food. Men don't sell knockoff jewelry for extra beer money. Rather, children sell bracelets while carrying their infant brother in their arms because their parents are too sick, or worse, dead.

Guilty Beach is thusly named because I no longer want that $2 plate of fried noodles, or that $1 can of beer. How can I accept that $2 plate of food when I just told an 11 year-old girl I didn't want her $2 bracelet? Then to eat it in front of her, as her eyes fail to flinch from the fried fare before me.

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: Lunch on Guilty Beach, Cambodia

Vagabond Tales: Lunch on Guilty Beach, Cambodia originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cambodiachild beggarschild beggingChildBeggarsChildBeggingSihanoukville CambodiaSihanoukvilleCambodiathird world child beggingThirdWorldChildBeggingvagabondtalesThu, 12 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vagabond Tales: How to roast marshmallows over an active volcano]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/10/vagabond-tales-how-to-roast-marshmallows-over-an-active-volcano/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/10/vagabond-tales-how-to-roast-marshmallows-over-an-active-volcano/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/10/vagabond-tales-how-to-roast-marshmallows-over-an-active-volcano/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



This may sound strange, but one of my favorite aspects of international travel has to do with liability, or rather, the lack of it.

Although the age of personal responsibility seems to have gone the way of the cassette tape and litigation is now just another part of business, believe it or not, there are still a refreshing amount of countries out there where common sense and an acceptance of the risks involved are all that are required for most activities.

This is why you won't see many people roasting marshmallows over slow-moving lava at Kilauea National Park in Hawaii, but you certainly might see the same at a place such as Volcan Pacaya, an active volcano in central Guatemala where I once dined over the 1500 degree Earth.

Set just outside the colonial outpost of Antigua, a town whose cobblestone streets bustle with Spanish language immersion students feasting on flan and savoring fresh local coffee, Volcan Pacaya has been actively erupting for the past 47 years. The undisputed highlight of the Pacaya Volcano National Park, roasting marshmallows over the active eruption has for years been a cheap thrill of travelers scaling the side of the mountain, and seeing as you could never get away with something like that back home in the US I was understandably keen to try it.

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: How to roast marshmallows over an active volcano

Vagabond Tales: How to roast marshmallows over an active volcano originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelAntigua Guatemala travelAntigua Guatemela hikingAntiguaGuatemalaTravelAntiguaGuatemelaHikingbest Central American hikesBestCentralAmericanHikesclimb Volcan PacayaClimbVolcanPacayaGuatemala active volcanoGuatemala volcano trekkingGuatemalaActiveVolcanoGuatemalaVolcanoTrekkingrosting marshmallows over a volcanoRostingMarshmallowsOverAVolcanovagabondtalesVolcan PacayaVolcanPacayaTue, 10 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Adventure Vacation Guide 2012: Chamonix, France]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/10/adventure-vacation-guide-2012-chamonix-france/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/10/adventure-vacation-guide-2012-chamonix-france/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/10/adventure-vacation-guide-2012-chamonix-france/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



There is a stark difference between "adventure destination" and "adventure capital" in that adventure capitals offer some sort of adrenaline rush 365 days a year. A prime example of this never-a-bad-time-to-be-here type of adventure capital poised to be hot in 2012 is the legendary town of Chamonix at the base of France's Mt. Blanc.

Summer and fall seasons turn Chamonix into one of the world's most renowned mountaineering and rock-climbing destinations, and the epic treks departing from the Chamonix valley include the eight-day Tour de Mt. Blanc and The Haute Route, which was recently listed as one of Lonely Planet's top 10 treks in the world.

Or, for the best view of anywhere in the valley, the skies of Chamonix are dotted with the colorful confetti of paragliders blissfully hucking themselves off of craggy alpine peaks.

In the winter and spring months, the valley offers some of the best skiing found anywhere in the Alps, with the 2100m (nearly 7,000 ft.) vertical run of Les Grand Montets and the off-piste Vallee Blanche serving as the pinnacles of winter adventure.

After a slow start to the winter season where the resorts were essentially devoid of snow (late-season mountain biking!), the Chamonix Valley was just graced with enough record-shattering snowfall to once again postpone the start of the season due to white-out conditions and avalanche danger.

Plus, with the Euro plummeting against the dollar amidst European debt fears, 2012 is shaping up to be an all-around good year for outdoor adventure in the French Alps.



[flickr image via rachel_thecat]

Adventure Vacation Guide 2012: Chamonix, France originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best hiking in the AlpsBestHikingInTheAlpsChamonixhike Mt. BlancHikeMt.Blancparaglide ChamonixParaglideChamonixrecord snowfall in ChamonixRecordSnowfallInChamonixSki ChamonixSkiChamonixThe Haute RouteTheHauteRouteTue, 10 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST