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An off-the-beaten path itinerary for southern China

Jessica Festa — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Climbing, Hiking, Food and Drink, Asia, China, Hotels and Accommodations, Budget Travel

When planning my trip through China one summer, I decided that I wanted to stay out of the well-known cities and explore smaller villages and lesser known areas where I could find less tourist traps and more cultural fare. While Beijing and Shanghai are both excellent cities to visit, here is an itinerary that will take you off the radar and help you discover nature, minority villages, Chinese traditions, and more. To make planning easier for myself I did this trip through Intrepid Travel, but you can also recreate it for yourself.

First stop: Hua Shan, Ning Ming County

Before coming to China I had been traveling through Vietnam and had entered the country from the Lang Son Province into Guangxi, China. From there you can catch a train or bus via Pingxiang to the mountainous village of Hua Shan, which is located in Guangxi. The journey takes about 2-3 hours.

There is a lot to be experienced in peaceful Hua Shan, which is miles away from civilization, located in the heart of mountains, valleys, forests, and near the Dong and Zhuang minority village. I stayed at a family-run guesthouse called Butterfly Valley, which felt more like a homestay than a hotel, as the family would cook for my group, take us on hikes, and end each night playing Mahjong and singing kareoke with us. It also helps to learn a bit of Chinese as not everyone in the area speaks English.

Take a walk through the countryside and notice the myriad plants and crops, like the gum leaves that locals use to cure a stuffy nose and the various edibles like corn, pumpkin, potatoes, and rice fields. Make sure to visit the minority village, which is dominated by wooden and thatched houses and livestock running around. It's interesting to hear and see the music, dance, and art of the people of the community who are, for the most part, quite friendly and were happy to talk to me via my translator. In fact, the people in Hua Shan in general were very friendly and excited to talk to me. Many of the young girls knew basic English and even asked me to hangout with them to help them practice their language skills. Hiking in the area is also a fun activity, and there are many trails that allow you to explore the various flora and fauna of the area. As the region is completely rural you can literally just wander towards the trees and mountains to find your own paths. If you'd like to see indigenous art, boat trips go out to Mount Huashan where a vivid rock painting of various types of people, animals, and symbols is located. The painting is about 725 wide and 131 feet high, making it a bit of a mystery how it was created.

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Hiking across Mordor in Tongariro National Park

Kyle Ellison — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Climbing, Hiking, History, Learning, Skiing, Stories, Oceania, New Zealand, Hotels and Accommodations

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.

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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.

Continue reading 10 things to do in every city you visit

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Climbing and trekking your way through Czechia

Jessica Festa — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Climbing, Hiking, Europe, Czech Republic

Czechia, also known as the Czech Republic, is a country located in Central Europe that was formed in 1993. While most visitors go to explore the architecture, history, and nightlife of the capital city of Prague, there are actually many outdoor and natural experiences to be had in the region, as well.

For those who love a challenging trek there is Mount Snezka, the highest mountain in the Czech Republic, which is located on the border of Poland. If you want to see some countryside views, small villages, old-world castles, and unique rock formations, the Kokorinsko Protected Landscape Area runs from Melník to Ceská Lípa and offers an unforgettable hiking experience. Moreover, climbers will love bouldering in Petrohrad, the odd rock formations of Adrspach-Teplice Rocks, and mountaineering in the serene natural setting of Kozelka.

To get a better idea of the experiences, check out the gallery below.

Gallery: Trekking and Climbing in Czechia

Climbing and trekking your way through Czechia originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REI Adventures offers winter weekend getaways

Kraig Becker — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

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

Looking to add a little activity and adventure back into your weekends now that the football season is officially over? Then REI Adventures may have exactly what you need. The company, which is the travel arm of the REI gear stores, has introduced several new winter weekend getaways that will get you out playing in the snow this February and March.

These excursions are short - most are just three or four days in length - but pack plenty of activity into the itinerary. Local guides lead groups of active outdoor enthusiasts into some of the more remote, and beautiful winter playgrounds in the U.S., giving them the opportunity to visit those locations at a time when crowds are non-existent.

Amongst the new trips for 2012 is a three day snowshoeing excursion into the Adirondack Mountains, where travelers will stay in a rustic log-cabin while spending a long weekend hiking some of the more scenic trails in the region. Similarly, REI offers a four day snowshoeing trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula during which visitors will trek past frozen waterfalls and visit caves along the shores of Lake Superior. And for those looking for something even more adventurous and active, there is a three day escape to the Catskills to do some ice climbing.

These short, but active trips are proof positive that we don't have to stay inside all winter waiting for the warm weather to arrive. REI Adventures will give you a reason to dig out your warm clothes and boots and head outside for some much-needed winter fun.

REI Adventures offers winter weekend getaways originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How hikers in the Tarkine Rainforest can help save the endangered Tasmanian devil

Jessica Festa — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Hiking, Oceania, Australia, Ecotourism

Visitors to the Tarkine Rainforest in Tasmania, Australia, can now help save the endangered Tasmanian devil. Scientists have set up 45 motion-sensitive cameras along the trails and are asking hikers to help them to collect data and track local populations of the marsupials.

Right on the Tarkine Devil Project's mission, it states they would like to "actively engage the broader community with the research. We will offer a direct hands on experience with the science via Tarkine Trails infrastructure, walks and custom built experiences".

While for a long time there was speculation about whether Tasmanian devils even lived in the Tarkine, there is now proof. What's really amazing about the discovery is that the Tarkine population seems to be void of the common facial tumor disease that causes most Tasmanian devils to starve to death, presenting a unique opportunity for researchers to learn more about the disease and to breed healthy devils.

If you'd like to sponsor a camera, click here for more information. To learn more about the project itself click here or check out the video above, which is part information, part guided tour as you get to experience the beautiful scenery of the Tarkine Rainforest in Australia.

How hikers in the Tarkine Rainforest can help save the endangered Tasmanian devil originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gadling gear review: Nikon CoolPix AW100 camera

Kraig Becker — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Climbing, Hiking, Paddling, Scuba Diving, Skiing, Surfing, Gear, Gadling Gear Review

Buying a digital camera is no easy task these days. As cameras have grown in popularity, the market has become flooded with dozens of models, all with a dizzying array of features and specs, and few ways to distinguish one from the next. Aside from minor variations in shape and color, most of them all look about the same, and it is difficult to know which one is the best fit for each of our individual needs. That simply isn't the case for the new Nikon CoolPix AW100, which not only has a unique look, but an identity all of its own. This is a camera that is built for travel, and will have a great appeal to adventure travelers in particular.

After removing the AW100 from its box, the first thing you'll notice is how solid it feels in your hands. The ruggedized body conveys the sense that this is a camera that can take a lot of punishment, which makes it a great option for those excursions that take us to the far flung corners of the planet. The AW100's tough shell keeps it waterproof to 33-feet, while allowing it to withstand temperatures down to 14ºF and survive drops up to five feet in height. Those qualities alone help to set it apart from nearly any other digital camera on the market and make it an attractive option for scuba divers, climbers, skiers, and other outdoor enthusiasts who demand a high level of performance out of their gear.

Don't let this camera's rugged body fool you however, because under the hood, it has plenty of brains to go along with its brawny exterior. This CoolPix features a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor that not only takes fantastic photos, but also manages to capture video in full 1080p HD as well. It has a vibrant 3-inch screen, an easy to use (and understand!) interface and Nikon's new Action Controls, which make the AW100 a snap to operate, even while wearing gloves.

Continue reading Gadling gear review: Nikon CoolPix AW100 camera

Gadling gear review: Nikon CoolPix AW100 camera originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:00:00 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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Number of permits for Yosemite's Half Dome could be cut

Kraig Becker — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

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

The number of permits available on a daily basis for Yosemite's popular Half Dome hike could be reduced in number starting next year - if a National Park Service proposal goes into effect. The move could be made in an effort to make the hike up the iconic mountain less crowded, and therefore safer, following the death of a hiker this past summer who fell while descending on the steep slopes.

The Half Dome hike is amongst the more popular attractions in Yosemite, despite its strenuous and daunting nature. The trail to the summit is 8 miles in length and wanders up the side of the massive rock slab, requiring hikers to use metal cables to help stabilize them both on the way up and down. It can be a treacherous walk, particularly if bad weather sets in, and traffic jams, like those seen in the photo to the right, are not uncommon along the way.

Last year, the Park Service began requiring a permit for the hike, limiting the number of people on the trail to just 400 per day. That was way down from the 1200 that it would sometimes see on busier days before the permit system went into effect. Under the new proposal, which is currently open for public comment, the number of permits issued would be reduced to 300, cutting crowds even further.

Cutting back on the number of people on Half Dome will have the added benefit of helping to protect the environment there as well. Large crowds can have a adverse effect on any ecosystem, and by reducing the number of visitors, the region is more likely to stay protected and viable for future hikers to enjoy as well.

We'll have to wait and see if the number of permits available does indeed get cut for 2013, but it almost seems like a foregone conclusion at this point. All around, I think it's a good move, although travelers will have to plan further ahead if they hope to hike Half Dome.

Number of permits for Yosemite's Half Dome could be cut originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australia rail travel a bargain for backpackers

Chris Owen — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hiking, Australia, Transportation, Budget Travel

Queensland Rail Travel (QR) provides Urban and Interurban rail and bus services throughout South East Queensland in Australia. Looking to deliver a greater number of international tourists to the state's regional tourism hotspots, QR is offering special savings for overseas backpackers who want to travel between multiple locations

"Backpackers travel to several different locations up the east coast and this new offer gives them the flexibility of being able to move from point-to-point in a quick and convenient way," Queensland Rail Travel general manager, Max Kruse said.

International visitors who have a valid hostel or backpacker card can save up to 40 per cent off the normal rail travel fare for point-to-point journeys on Queensland Rail Travel's long distance services.

"Queensland Rail Travel's network provides the gateway to all the tourism hotspots including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, the Whitsundays, Townsville and Cairns," said Kruse.

Continue reading Australia rail travel a bargain for backpackers

Australia rail travel a bargain for backpackers originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:00:00 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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10 luxury hostels from around the world

Jessica Festa — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, Food and Drink, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, South Africa, Cambodia, Thailand, Italy, Spain, United States, Australia, Argentina, Colombia, Hotels and Accommodations, Ecotourism, Budget Travel, Luxury Travel

While many people think of hostels as run down hotels with cramped rooms and few amenities, there are many properties that can actually make you feel as if you're staying at a resort. For those who want comfort on a budget, here are 10 excellent luxury hostels from around the world.

Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel and Resort Cairns
Cairns, Australia

Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel and Resort in Cairns is without a doubt one of the best hostels I have ever stayed in. And if you're looking for something a little more luxurious than your average youth hostel, this is an excellent choice. Rooms offered include 4,6,8,10-bed dorms, 4 & 6-bed deluxe dorms, 6-bed all female dorms, and private rooms. The accommodation has a resort-type feel, with balconies, a lagoon-style pool with a waterfall and palm trees, a makeshift beach with volleyball nets, and even gym access. They also have swanky nightclub that often hosts theme parties and hot DJ's.

Continue reading 10 luxury hostels from around the world

10 luxury hostels from around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barefoot Kilimanjaro trekkers complete climb

Kraig Becker — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Climbing, Hiking, Africa, Tanzania, News

Last week we told you about a group of climbers from South Africa who were attempting to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa, without wearing shoes. Over the weekend, these barefoot adventurers completed their climb, but not without overcoming plenty of challenges along the way.

The team, which calls itself the Barefoot Impi, made their final push to the top of the 19,340-foot Kilimanjaro early Saturday morning. Setting out from the Kibo Huts, they trekked for more than four hours before reaching Gilman's Point, one of the more famous landmarks on the way to the summit. At that point, they had walked barefoot for hours in below-freezing temperatures while dealing with steep slopes littered with loose volcanic scree. The next stage of the hike wouldn't be any easier however, as two feet of fresh snow had hit the top of the mountain a few days ealier, and they had to make the rest of the climb in icy-powder - sans shoes.

Eventually they did make it to the top, and all five members of the team who had set out on this barefoot quest managed to complete the trek without any kind of natural or artificial protection on their feet. That's a fairly remarkable accomplishment considering the temperatures and surface conditions they had to endure to get there. You can read all about their final day on the mountain in a blog post here.

As we mentioned in our original story, this charity climb was undertaken to raise funds for the Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town, which is one of the first of its kind on the entire continent. No word on whether or not the Barefoot Impi team reached their fund raising goals, but clearly they were successful on their venture to scale the mountain.

My feet hurt just thinking about it.

[Photo courtesy BarefootImpi.org]

Barefoot Kilimanjaro trekkers complete climb originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: From steel town to scenic city

Jessica Festa — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, History, Learning, Food and Drink, North America, United States, Nightlife

While many people still visualize Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to be an old steel city, the hilly town has certainly changed a lot in the last 30-40 years. My first impressions when arriving were that the lit up hillsides, public art, modern architecture, colorful bridges, scenic rivers, diverse restaurants and lively club scene made Pittsburgh seem a lot more eclectic and trendy than industrial. If you're visiting Pittsburgh, here is a guide to help you navigate the best the city has to offer based on your preferences.

For a mix of history and food

Visit the Strip District. The area was home to many industrial innovations (it's where Andrew Carnegie began doing business in the iron and steel industry) as well as a once booming produce industry, a legacy that can still be tasted through ethnic food shops, cafes, markets, and restaurants. Use Penn Avenue as your main focal point, and veer off as necessary. Make sure to stop in the Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. for traditional Italian groceries and natural alternatives to processed cheeses, sauces, soups, and meats, as well as Mon Aimee Chocolat for unique varieties of organic and artisanal chocolate. For those who love vino, Dreadnought Wines offers glasses and accessories as well as specialty wines and educational classes, like "Cooking with Wine" and "High Brows and Low Brows- Can You Taste the Difference?". A stop in Penzeys Spices is a delight for the nose as visitors can walk around and sniff the many herbs and seasonings out on display, as well as ask questions about the products and get free recipes. Want to educate yourself on the city's history and culture? A visit to Senator John Heinz History Center allows you to explore Pittsburgh's past and present through six floors of exhibits on local sports, companies, heroes, innovations, artifacts, and more. My favorite parts were sitting in an old-fashioned trolley and walking through a life-sized replication of a traditional early-1900's home.

For a list of businesses in the Strip District, click here. To keep up to date with events in the area, click here.

Continue reading Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: From steel town to scenic city

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: From steel town to scenic city originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A photo tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Brazil

Jessica Festa — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, Learning, Photos, South America, Brazil, Ecotourism

Brazil, a diversely landscaped and picturesque country in South America, is the home to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. While beauty isn't necessarily a requirement for being added to the list, you will see in the gallery below that many times these sites are absolutely breathtaking.

While not every UNESCO World Heritage Site in Brazil is on the list, you will be able to explore:

Brasilia- This capital city was created in 1956 and was planned in such a way that every element of the city is constructed in a harmonious design.
Brazilian Atlantic Island: Fernando de Noronha- This island features more tropical seabirds than anywhere else in the Western Atlantic and its waters are an important breeding place for various marine mammals, tuna, sharks, and turtles.
Central Amazon Conservation Complex 1- This is one of the most bountiful places on Earth in terms of biodiversity and is also the biggest protected area in the Amazon Basin.
Cerrado Protected Area: Chapada dos Veadeiros- This site plays an important role in preserving the biodiversity of one of the oldest and most unique topical ecosystems, the Cerrado.
Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia-This was actually the original capital of Brazil from 1549 to 1763 and was also the first slave market in the New World.
Historic Centre of the Town of Diamantina- This colonial village sits in the midst of rocky mountains and blends into its untamed landscape. Another reason for addition into the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, according to the official website, is because "explorers of the Brazilian territory, diamond prospectors, and representatives of the Crown were able to adapt European models to an American context in the 18th century, thus creating a culture that was faithful to its roots yet completely original".
Historic Town of Ouro Preto- This town was founded in the 17th century and was a major focus during the gold rush and 18th century golden age. Today, much of the cities past still remains through its architecture.
Iguaçu National Park- Here you will find one of the most picturesque and astonishing waterfalls in the world. The area also features many "rare and endangered species of flora and fauna".
Pantanal Conservation Area- This site features four protected areas, myriad wild animals and diverse flora, and one of the biggest freshwater wetland ecosystems on Earth.

[flickr photo via markg6]

Gallery: UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Brazil

A photo tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Brazil originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Franz Josef glacier: Big icy tongue of the rainforest

Kyle Ellison — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hiking, History, Learning, Stories, Oceania, New Zealand, Ecotourism

"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.

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Climbers attempting Kilimanjaro barefoot

Kraig Becker — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Climbing, Hiking, Festivals and Events, Africa, South Africa, Tanzania

A team of South African climbers has traveled to Tanzania, where they hope to climb Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain on the African continent, without wearing shoes. Over the next few days, these barefoot adventurers hope to scale the mountain in an effort to raise funds for a children's hospital back home.

According to the group's website, the team of five climbers, and their support crew, arrived on the mountain yesterday and started their ascent. Early on, they passed through a pine forest, which provided a soft surface for their bare feet, but as the day wore on, they entered a tropical rainforest, where the trail gave way to gravel instead. While that proved to be a more challenging surface to hike on, they still managed to reach their first camp without too many problems.

In the days ahead, things won't quite be so easy however. Today, they'll leave the forests behind completely and move into the alpine marshlands of Kilimanjaro. That zone is punctuated with lush grasses and strange plants, which, aside from a few thorny bushes, shouldn't offer too much of a problem either. After that, it is on to the alpine desert, which is much rockier and harder to walk on, even while wearing boots. The final push to the summit will include plenty of volcanic scree, not to mention snow and ice. The cold temperatures on the final approach to the 19,340-foot summit may actually numb their feet from the pain - that is if they don't lose a toe or two to frostbite first.

In order to make this barefoot climb, the team has established a set of rules that will govern their approach. Those rules dictate that they must walk or climb every meter of the mountain without wearing any kind of artificial or natural substance on their feet. Furthermore, they pledge to walk each day between their camps in this fashion, although it seems likely they'll put on some comfy slippers when they reach their end point for the day.

By undertaking this trek, the team is hoping to raise funds for the Red Cross Children's Hospital in South Africa. 100% of the proceeds generated from the climb will go to that organization, which is one of the first of its kind in Africa.

Having climbed Kilimanjaro myself, I can't imagine attempting it without shoes. My feet hurt at the end of a long day as it was, and that was while wearing a good pair of hiking boots. Going completely barefoot seems crazy to me, and I'll be incredibly impressed if they actually make it.

Climbers attempting Kilimanjaro barefoot originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:00 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).

Continue reading Lost on the trail? Satellite tracking system can help

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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