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10 things to do in every city you visit

Jessica Festa — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Climbing, Arts and Culture, Hiking, History, Learning, Scuba Diving, Food and Drink, Camping, Budget Travel

While every city has its own unique landmarks, culture, and sights to see, there are certain general things you can do in any city you visit to make your experience more memorable. To enhance your next trip, take this checklist with you and try to do each of these things in every city you visit.

Sample the local cuisine

One way to really get to know a culture is through the food. It's seriously incredible how much cuisine can differentiate from culture to culture, and how much the way food is prepared and eaten, as well as what the food is, can tell you about a community. When visiting Ghana, Africa, I was amazed at how most of the staple foods seemed to come from root vegetables and were eaten without swallowing and without using utensils. While I wouldn't say fu-fu and banku are my favorite foods, I definitely am glad I tried them and got to see the intense preparation that went into making these dishes. Even if you travel to a western country or a place that isn't too different from your own, try a local favorite or something that the area is known for (it will almost definitely taste better than what you're used to anyway). If you're in Maine make sure to have a lobster. Visiting Naples, Italy? Eat a slice of pizza from its birthplace. Traveling to Australia? Vegemite, Tim Tams, and barbequed meats are definite musts.

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10 things to do in every city you visit originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How much does it cost to travel the world for a year?

Chris Owen — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hiking, Blogs, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Camping

$15,000 is how much, according to travel bloggers Kyle and Briana of RollGlobal.org who traveled to 19 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe, tracking their daily expenses to prove that it is not only possible to quit your day job and travel the world, but it can be affordable, too.

As we see in this infographic, it could have been less too but bad weather put them in a hotel a few nights and replacing some equipment added some unexpected expenses.

by visually.

How much does it cost to travel the world for a year? originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trek the Colombian Andes in El Cocuy National Park with Mountain Madness

Laurel Miller — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Climbing, Arts and Culture, Hiking, History, Learning, Business, Asia, South America, Colombia, Camping, Ecotourism, News, Luxury Travel

Acclaimed Seattle-based adventure travel company and guide service Mountain Madness debuts its newest trip on February 4th: an excursion to Colombia's El Cocuy National Park. Although Colombia is often characterized as being mostly tropical jungle or coastline, the Andean Cordillera Oriental crosses a significant portion of the country. The El Cocuy trip will allow trekkers to explore glaciers, alpine lakes, and remote colonial villages.

Mountain Madness owner and president Mark Gunlogson has years of experience as a mountaineering guide all over the world, and the company is renowned for its reputable and distinctive trekking trips and alpine climbing schools, particularly in South America and the Himalayas. For this inaugural El Cocuy adventure, Gunglogson will lead five other trekkers and climbers as they "explore this area's potential for adventure travel. The team hopes to dispel the myth of danger with travel in Colombia and open up a new, cutting-edge trip."

Activities will include mountaineering, trekking, rock climbing, and cultural exchange, a Mountain Madness hallmark. Check out the company's blog for dispatches from El Cocuy. Buena suerte, team!

Video: How to self-arrest with an ice ax

Trek the Colombian Andes in El Cocuy National Park with Mountain Madness originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trails under attack, organization needs our help, today

Chris Owen — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Climbing, Hiking, North America, United States, Camping, Consumer Activism

Rails to Trails, the nonprofit charged with creating a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines is reminding us that Thursday, February 2 is the day congress begins work on a bill that is bad news for trails, walking and bicycling efforts.

"We anticipated some of the terrible provisions; others were simply shocking in scope and shortsightedness," says Rails to Trails (RTC) in a statement urging us to contact our representatives now, using an online form, and ask that they speak to colleagues on the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee.

"We need those T&I members, in turn, to tell Reps. Petri and Johnson of their support for the amendment. It sounds complicated, but there's no time to waste-we absolutely need all the support we can rally," says Rails to Trails.

Rails to Trails say the bill would:

Eliminate dedicated funding for the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program-the nation's largest funding source for trails, walking and bicycling. (Terrible news, but we expected it.)
Remove the rail-trail category from TE eligibility.
Completely eliminate funding for the Safe Routes to School program.
Eliminate funding for bicycle and pedestrian coordinators at state DOTs.

Continue reading Trails under attack, organization needs our help, today

Trails under attack, organization needs our help, today originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yosemite National Park like you've never seen it before

Jessica Festa — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hiking, Learning, North America, United States, Video, Camping

While most people have seen beautiful photos of Yosemite National Park in California, there's nothing quite like watching the different aspects of a landscape as they shift and transform through timelapse video. Viewers get the chance to see moments that they would usually be asleep for, or that are too quick to be caught by the naked eye, like the Earth rotating over a lush valley, the sunrise as it hits a high mountain peak, shooting stars in a sky unpolluted by light, and the changing of each season. The high-definition film was created by Sheldon Neill and Colin Delehanty, who wanted to show the area in an "extreme way". For more information, visit the Project Yosemite website. To see behind the scenes of the making of the video, click here.

Yosemite National Park like you've never seen it before originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lost on the trail? Satellite tracking system can help

Chris Owen — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Climbing, Hiking, Paddling, Gear, North America, United States, Camping, Cruises, Travel Security

Getting lost on the trail, injured during a climb or into some other unplanned situation can make a great day a lousy one really fast. Adventure travel often takes us to remote places and when accidents happen there might not be a 911 to call or close-by hospital to visit. On their own, travelers often have to make do with the resources at hand. Prepared for anything, some travelers pack registered locator beacons that can make the difference between life and death.

As an integral part of worldwide search and rescue, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operates the Search And Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) System to detect and locate travelers in distress almost anywhere in the world at anytime and in almost any condition.

NOAA's polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites are part of the international Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking System, called COSPAS-SARSAT. This system uses a network of satellites to quickly detect and locate distress signals from emergency beacons onboard aircraft and boats, and from smaller, handheld personal locator beacons called PLBs.

Easy to get, these PLB's start at about $100, worth every penny if lost or stranded with no cell phone signal or help in sight. There are three types of beacons used to transmit distress signals, EPIRBs (for maritime use), ELTs (for aviation use), and PLBs (used for land-based applications).

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Lost on the trail? Satellite tracking system can help originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gadling gear review: Bushnell HD Torch flashlight

Kraig Becker — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hiking, Gear, Camping, Gadling Gear Review

Lets face it, a flashlight is one of the most useful pieces of gear that we can own. Who amongst us hasn't found themselves caught in the dark and wishing we had a bright light to help find our way. Flashlights come in handy around the house, in the car, and even when we travel, and the HD Torch from Bushnell is one of the most versatile and useful of all, even if it does come with a hefty price tag.

Built from lightweight, yet very rugged, aircraft grade aluminum, the first thing you'll notice about the HD Torch is that it feels very solid and tough in your hand. The high quality construction inspires a sense of confidence that this light can take a beating and still be ready for action when you need it, whether that's around the house during a power outage or at your campsite at the end of a long day on the trail.

Cranking out 165 lumens, the HD Torch offers plenty of light when and where you need it, but that level of illumination isn't the only thing that sets it apart from the competition. While the output from most flashlights is round in shape, Bushnell's offering is actually square. The result is a very focused beam of light, that provides more intensity across the length of the beam than most other offerings, which tend to see their light diffuse more on the edges. When I first read about this feature, I thought that it was simply a marketing ploy, but seeing it in action, the square design does indeed make for a more efficient light. It was actually quite astounding to see it in action.

Continue reading Gadling gear review: Bushnell HD Torch flashlight

Gadling gear review: Bushnell HD Torch flashlight originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exploring the diverse scenery of East Java, Indonesia

Jessica Festa — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, Learning, Scuba Diving, Surfing, Photos, Asia, Indonesia, Camping, Ecotourism

The area of East Java in Indonesia is home to beautiful and diverse landscapes that include beaches, volcanoes, mountains, plantations, lakes, natural reserves, and a lot more. There are also many natural, cultural, and adventure activities to partake in, like scuba diving, hiking volcanoes, surfing, witnessing traditional ceremonies, hearing folklore stories, learning the cultivation process of tea, and photographing wild animals like zebras and cheetahs.

To get to East Java you can fly into its capital, Surabaya, via their international airport, Juanda Airport (SUB).

If you'd like to explore East Java from the comfort of your computer chair, check out the gallery below.

Gallery: The diverse scenery of East Java, Indonesia

Exploring the diverse scenery of East Java, Indonesia originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Kyle Ellison — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hiking, History, Stories, Oceania, New Zealand, Camping

"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

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.

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National Geographic and AllTrails.com partner on map website

Kraig Becker — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Hiking, Learning, North America, United States, Camping, Internet Tools

National Geographic Maps and AllTrails.com have announced that they are joining forces to create a new online resource for adventure travelers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The new venture will provide a wealth of information on hiking trails from across the United States, while mixing in elements of social networking and member generated content.

AllTrails.com already sports an impressive database of more than 40,000 trails and a membership that tops more than 200,000 users. Those members rate the trails on a scale of one to five stars, while also sharing their personal experiences and tips from their favorite routes as well. The site includes detailed information on the hikes, such as overall length of the trail, change in elevation, allowed activities (hiking, mountain biking, etc.) and a measure of how potentially crowded it could be. In short, it's a one-stop shop for anyone looking for new hikes in their area or for suggestions for other places to trek throughout the country.

Visitors to AllTrails.com are encouraged to create a member profile, or simply sign-in using their Facebook account, and contribute to the growing community of hikers, backpackers, and other outdoor enthusiasts there. The site automatically recommends trails close to home, and allows users to save routes to your "favorites" lists, while also making it incredibly easy to share those same hikes with others. The site also includes a reputation system that allows members to follow other users whose interests match theirs, while also building a following of their own.

In the weeks ahead, AllTrails will expand their site and introduce a new premium service that will offer exclusive online access to National Geographic's iconic line of maps, including their Trails Illustrated and Topo! Series. These maps are incredibly detailed and are a fantastic resource for hikers and backpackers everywhere. Perhaps best of all however, is the fact that this deal extends to the AllTrails mobile app, granting access to those Nat Geo maps while on the go as well.

There is no word yet on how much the new premium service will cost, or when it will officially launch, but it is likely to be a popular one with outdoor enthusiasts. Nat Geo's topographic data is second to none, and having access to it in a digital format will certainly be a major feather in the cap for the AllTrails website.

National Geographic and AllTrails.com partner on map website originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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America's baddest badlands

Sean McLachlan — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Climbing, Hiking, North America, United States, Camping

One of the greatest things about the United States is its environmental diversity. From towering forests of pine to sun-hammered deserts, from snowy peaks to steaming swamps, this nation has it all.

Some of the most compelling places are also the harshest. Take this view of the sand dunes of Death Valley, taken by talented photographer John Bruckman. This is the worst part of the Mojave Desert--lower, hotter, and drier than any other spot in the country, yet it has a subtle beauty this image captures so well. With the majority of us living in cities or suburbs, these open, empty spaces call out to us.

They certainly do to me. When I moved from the leafy upstate New York to southern Arizona for university, I discovered what people really mean when they talk about America's wide open spaces. They set you free, and they can kill you if you're not prepared, yet somehow their deadliness only adds to the feeling of freedom.

America's badlands remind us that life can cling to even the bleakest of landscapes, that the empty places can sometimes be those most worth visiting.

Gallery: America the bleak and beautiful

America's baddest badlands originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10 best national parks in South America

Jessica Festa — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Climbing, Arts and Culture, Hiking, History, Learning, Photos, South America, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Camping, Ecotourism

In South America, there are myriad diverse landscapes, unique flora, and endemic fauna to experience. With so many destination options on the continent, however, it can sometimes be hard to decide exactly where to go. National parks can provide beautiful and educational experiences in nature and, depending on where you visit, you can experience enormous glaciers, white sandy beaches, tropical rainforests, gushing waterfalls, jagged limestone cliffs, and hot thermal springs, sometimes all in one place. If you love birdwatching and wildlife viewing, South America is also home to many rare species that cannot be found anywhere else, like the giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands or the spectacled bear in Peru. To help you plan your next trip to South America, or just to give you some inspiration from nature, check out the gallery below.

[Photo by Samuel Rochas, Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA-3.0]

Gallery: Best National Parks in South America

10 best national parks in South America originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tips for road-tripping with your dog part 2: tips from commenters

Elizabeth Seward — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, Learning, Stories, North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Camping, Budget Travel, News

I recently published a piece here on Gadling titled 10 tips for road-tripping with your dog. Somewhat chronicling my experience with hitting the road for 38 consecutive days with my 6 month old puppy, I thought through what made the trip work for me and compiled those thoughts into 10 tips for those of you enjoy the open road alongside your pooch. Luckily for me and all of our other readers, many of you chimed in, as requested, with your own tips through the comments. I was excited to read so much useful advice from those of you who are road warriors and dog lovers. So excited, in fact, that I felt a part 2 to my first piece was in call for... and so, here you have it, a list of additional tips for road-tripping with your dog, courtesy of the typing hands of Gadling readers who comment.

Continue reading Tips for road-tripping with your dog part 2: tips from commenters

Tips for road-tripping with your dog part 2: tips from commenters originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Weekend trip from Sydney, Australia: Pambula

Jessica Festa — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, Paddling, Scuba Diving, Surfing, Food and Drink, Oceania, Australia, Hotels and Accommodations, Camping

Pambula is located on the Sapphire Coast of Australia and is a great weekend getaway for people who want to get out of the big city of Sydney for a few days and explore nature. The name Sapphire Coast stems from the areas clear, sparkling oceans, which you will be able to experience first-hand through adventure sports like surfing, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, and diving.

Getting in

When I went, I took a Premier Motor Service coach bus from Sydney Central Station right to Pambula, which takes about 6-7 hours. Another option is to take a Regional Express (REX) airline to Merimbula, which is also on the Sapphire Coast and only about 10-15 minutes away.

Where to stay

While there are a few hotel options in Pambula, my recommendation is to check out the Holiday Hub Beach Resort. What's great about this accommodation is that it has something to offer every kind of traveler. For people who are looking for luxury and comfort, the resort offers villas, apartments, and cabins with full linens, televisions, and kitchens, as well as an on-site spa and heated pool. When I stayed here I chose the more rustic option of camping out right next to the beach in a tent. At night, my friends and I would roast marshmallows over a camp fire, play games, and stargaze while in the morning the salty sea air and scratching of kangaroos trying to get into our food would give us a unique wake up. While cabins and villas range from $100-$220, you can get a powered camping site for about $40-$70 and a tent for around $40. The tents are a decent size and you can comfortably fit 2-3 people inside.

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Weekend trip from Sydney, Australia: Pambula originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh Ranger! ParkFinder guides you to public parkland

Jeremy Kressmann — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Climbing, Arts and Culture, Hiking, History, Camping, Internet Tools

I often forget the amazing wealth of national parks, hiking trails and historic sites within easy access of my home. For instance, did you know there's 260 sites within 100 miles of Brooklyn, NY? In fact, iPhone users can now find out for themselves just how many great outdoor sites are near their hometown using a great smartphone app called Oh Ranger! ParkFinder.

The American Park Network, a publishing company that creates visitor guides for national parks, is behind Oh Ranger, a searchable database of outdoor activities ranging from cycling to historical sites to camping to bird watching. In addition to their free web database, they've released Oh Ranger! ParkFinder for iPhone and iPad Touch, a fantastically useful mobile extension that makes it easy to track down your favorite activity at a park near you. Once you've downloaded the app, you can easily search for parks based on favorite activities, search for a specific park, or use your iPhone's location to find sites nearby.

Whether you're a die-hard outdoor lover or simply looking for some great weekend or daytrip getaways, Oh Ranger! Parkfinder is a nifty, convenient way to find it. You give it a try for free by downloading from the iTunes app store. Although there's not yet an Android version of the app, the Oh Ranger website utilizes the same park database.

Oh Ranger! ParkFinder guides you to public parkland originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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8 best coastal walks from around the world

Jessica Festa — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, Africa, Europe, North America, Oceania, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Camping

There's nothing better when traveling than exploring a beautiful city coastline. Not only do these treks give you access to unique landscape and picturesque beaches, they also help you stay in shape while on the road.

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, Australia

When I lived in Sydney, Australia, this was one of my favorite ways to spend a sunny day. Not only do you get to explore the beaches of Bondi and Coogee, but also Tamarama and Bronte. The walk is not all beach, as you will also pass through local communities, parks, and a cemetery littered with palm trees while also seeing unique rock formations and jagged cliff faces with contrasting colors and shapes. At the end of the 4-mile walk, which includes some challenging uphill sections, reward yourself with a dip in the ocean or a brew from the adjacent Coogee Bay Hotel's beer garden.

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8 best coastal walks from around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10 tips for road-tripping with your dog

Elizabeth Seward — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Stories, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, United States, Camping, Middle East, Central America, Caribbean

There are rules for the road and there are rules for the road if you're on the road with your canine friend and so, I present to you, 10 tips for road-tripping with your dog. My husband and I returned to Austin a few days ago after spending 38 days straight on the road. It was just us, our new loft-bed-outfitted minivan, and our 6 month old puppy when we took off from our house on November 21st. This was our first time taking our dog, Fiona, out of town. She had never spent more than 30 consecutive minutes in the car prior to this trip and we weren't sure how she'd take to the road. Fortunately for us, she seems to have taken after us. Apparently a bit of a wanderlust herself, little Fiona braved the road (and the cold snow for the first time) during those 38 days. She turned 7 months old and then 8 months old while we were, largely, living out of our van. She did so admirably and I have come home with 10 solid tips for those of you who love road-tripping but also prefer to take your dog with you when you travel.

Gallery: Dog on a Road Trip

Continue reading 10 tips for road-tripping with your dog

10 tips for road-tripping with your dog originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vagabond Tales: The lure of Baja's Scorpion Bay

Kyle Ellison — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Surfing, Stories, North America, Mexico, Hotels and Accommodations, Camping

"Rich man or poor, surf star or surf bum, Baja all equally humbles us. Baja does not care." -Anonymous-

From the dusty confines of an open air Mexican cantina, a sunburnt American man gnawing on a $4 breakfast burrito managed to ruin my day in a single breath.

"It's been surfable every day until you got here" he smugly mused, a dribble of hot sauce inching down his chin.

We had just driven 20 hours through the desert, and we'd gotten completely skunked. We knew the outlook wasn't looking great, but completely flat and unrideable wasn't the end result we were anticipating.

In fact, before we undertook the arduous and systematic task of loading up the caravan back north of the border with gallons of water, camping equipment, emergency medical and mechanical supplies, cases of Tecate, and all other Baja desert essentials, we knew the surf was only going to be about knee high at best.

The models were showing an outside chance a swell might still develop, however, and we decided to roll the dice anyway and make the bone-jarring haul through the Mexican desert.

Apparently, we had failed.

Such is the lure of Scorpion Bay, Mexico, however. A well-known spot on any surfer's lifetime or annual checklist, dedicated wave-hunters continue to make the pilgrimage through the desert to the sleepy little fishing village of San Juanico for a shot at what many deem to be the perfect wave.

Whether it's offering up ankle biters or overhead, the wave at Scorpion Bay can be appreciated and experienced equally by everyone from full time professionals down to the regular guy just searching for a taste of endless desert perfection.

Notoriously a fickle wave prone to long flat spells, the gamble always hangs in the air as to whether or not to gamble on the journey, knowing that if you stay home, it could mean missing that connection from 3rd point all the way into town. Experience, however, tells you that realistically it probably won't play out that way.

It's that slight percentage, however, that constantly keeps people coming back.

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: The lure of Baja's Scorpion Bay

Vagabond Tales: The lure of Baja's Scorpion Bay originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Largest urban park in the contiguous U.S.A planned for Chicago

Elizabeth Seward — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Climbing, Hiking, North America, United States, Camping, Ecotourism, News

The Green Urbanist recently reported plans for the constructing of the largest urban park in the contiguous United States. Claiming Chicago as its home, this park project is reported to have $17 million in backing from the state of Illinois. The project aims to convert 140,000 acres of both under-used and post-industrial land into a public recreation zone. These acres lay along Chicago's southern rim. The working title for this park? The Millennium Reserve.

In an effort to preserve the Lake Calumet area, the Illinois Governor, Pat Quinn, is hoping to add private funding to the project. The Millennium Reserve, if followed through with, will create hundreds of jobs and boost the local economy. While I love the idea of making use of land that is no longer in use, I hope the plan includes keeping at least a few of those charming post-industrial buildings around. I can imagine them now, gleaming from their renovations and welcoming park visitors with maps, information, and restrooms while stilling nodding to the area's past as a historical token immersed in the to-be beautiful terrain.

Continue reading Largest urban park in the contiguous U.S.A planned for Chicago

Largest urban park in the contiguous U.S.A planned for Chicago originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Freedom to roam: New Zealand by campervan

Kyle Ellison — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Oceania, New Zealand, Hotels and Accommodations, Camping, Budget Travel

Well. It's official. For the next three months I am officially living in my car.

No, this vagabond hasn't fallen on hard times (yet), but rather, I am going to be embedded in the back of a 1995 Toyota campervan in the magnificent country of New Zealand, where, for the record, summer is just beginning.

While this isn't my first campervan endeavor around "The Land of the Long White Cloud", my first visit was as a single, immature 22 year-old fresh off of university touring the country with two other reckless American counterparts. Three boys, three surfboards, one decrepit 1988 Toyota Hiace, and the open road beneath our tires. It was the epitome of freedom.

Five years later, the circumstances of my New Zealand campervan expedition are decidedly different. Still immature but now a happily married 27 year-old, the reality of this contrast was brought to my attention at a supermarket where I had purchased some groceries five years prior. Gazing down at the black conveyer belt at my current purchases, I realized the 12-pack of beer and surfboard wax had been replaced by a 12-pack of toilet paper and 200 thread count sheets.

So why would a struggling, married travel blogger scraping to pay off student loans decide to up and move his wife to live in a van in a foreign country? Because in a land as scenic and rife for exploration as New Zealand, there is unfinished business to be taken care of.

So why buy a van? Why not just rent a car like most other vacations? Because even though buying a vehicle is an enormous layout of money up front ($4000 cash. Ouch.) you start recouping that money the minute you set out on the road. In the end, with a little cunning and a fair bit of luck, touring New Zealand by owning your own campervan is the undisputed most economical way to experience the somewhat pricey country.

Continue reading Freedom to roam: New Zealand by campervan

Freedom to roam: New Zealand by campervan originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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