Have you ever felt like you just got shot out of a circus cannon? You will if you try snow tubing at a place like Woolly’s Tube Park in Mammoth, California. I was shocked at just how much speed you can pick up on these runs. It’s remarkable. I’ve tubed and sledded before but nothing as cool and crazy as this. Let me tell you, it is definitely an adventure worth trying!
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It’s a bird. It’s a plane! Nope, it’s just another customer having fun at Vegas Indoor Skydiving. You too can feel what it’s like to fly like a bird as the wind whips your face into a permanent smile. But is it safe? Will I be able to fly the first time I try it? What if I get scared? These are all the questions I had when I decided to try indoor skydiving for the first time.
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The ability to travel for pleasure is a total luxury in life. Like me there are millions of people who enjoy the privilege of going on vacation where they can “escape from it all”. These vacations take us to other parts of the country or world where others do not have the ability to enjoy these types of privileges. Often we simply don’t care or don’t bother to think about it. We’re more concerned with pleasing ourselves on vacation. After all, when your sipping a cocktail poolside your more concerned with getting the rest and relaxation you feel you rightfully deserve. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! Everyone needs a chance to unwind and rest and vacation is the perfect place for it. However, it’s a wonderful thing to be able to step outside of your comfort zone and consider learning about the plight of the people whose country you are visiting. Sometimes in the smallest way, you too can become a humanitarian simply while on vacation. And if you do, I guarantee you will have a deeper connection and appreciation for your own life and family and the world around you.
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Fellow hikers and adventurers behold! This is poison oak! For the longest time I had no idea what poison oak looked like. Is it green or red? How many leaves does it have? If my hiking pants touch it, can I get infected? I’m sure questions like these have crossed the minds of many a hiker. Well I’ve finally taken the time to learn about this plant and mainly how to avoid it while wandering through the great outdoors.
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Most people who visit the Grand Canyon are so excited by the parks breathtaking views they forget just how dangerous this place can be. As they peer over the edge of the cliffs from thousands of feet above they’ll innocently question “I wonder how many people have fallen from up here?” The fact of the matter is too many people have perished in the Grand Canyon unnecessarily. Many of these deaths could have been avoided by simply using common sense. However, some deaths were a result of bad luck or bad timing. The Grand Canyon is a beautiful place where you can enjoy a leisurely family vacation or a tough rugged adventure. In either case, there are certain risks you should be aware of in order to keep everyone on your trip safe from harm and avoid any possibilities of becoming another one of the canyons unfortunate fatalities.
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I love avocados! Especially when part of a sandwich, salad, and of course tacos. I had heard that you can sample all kinds of foods with avocados at the annual California Avocado Festival. If your feeling particularly brave you can try avocado ice cream! Well, that sounds disgusting but could be delicious, maybe? At the least it sounded like a foodie challenge I did not want to pass up. Apparently every October the quiet beachside town of Carpinteria comes to life with music and festivities to celebrate the importance of the avocado.
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Are you familiar with the Sierra Nevada mountain range? If you’ve visited Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon, or Sequoia National Park in California, then you should be. Those giant granite mountains you hiked through are a part of the sierras which extend north-to-south about 400 miles and about 70 miles east-to-west. Pretty big, huh? Most people don’t realize they’re in the western part of the sierras when they visit the national parks I just mentioned. Did you know that the eastern sierras may be lesser known but are equally as beautiful as the west? I had no idea either until I was invited to backpack through the eastern sierras via the Treasure Lakes Trail. What resulted was an incredible trip through pristine lakes and beautiful mountain scenery that looked like photos from an outdoors nature calendar.
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Ahoy Mateys! So…Ye want t’ be a pirate aye (or at least be able to sail like one?) Well you can do both at the annual Tall Ships Festival in Dana Point, CA. Every September, the Ocean Institute and the city of Dana Point gives ordinary landlubbers a chance to climb aboard several old-fashioned sailing vessels. If your feeling particularly adventurous you can sail onboard a tall ship during the mock cannon battles at sea or take a sunset cruise. Stroll along the festival grounds where you can meet pirates, enjoy music and entertainment, and shop for unique pirate plunder. Fill up on some tasty festival food and then prepare for the timed cannon blasts off the end of the pier. With so much to see and do, the Tall Ships Festival is a guaranteed good time for everyone. I’ll give you a few extra tips to make your trip even better!
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When summer arrives, it’s time to hit the road and pitch a tent in the great outdoors. So you already have your tent and sleeping bag…you know…the big stuff. But there are a few more items you might want to include in your backpacking essentials kit. These are some of the main items I brought with me on a recent backpacking excursion. I picked them mainly because they were light, compact and necessary for my trip.
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Wow, what a view! Chicago’s skyline is one like no other. From up here on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Tower you can get unbelievable 360 degree birds eye views of the breathtaking metropolis below. There are so many architectural masterpieces everywhere you look. Do you see the tall black building on the right hand side in the image above? That is the Sears Tower (renamed the Willis Tower) that once held the record for being the tallest building in the world. From its’ skyscrapers and beautiful architecture to its’ parks and deep dish pizza, Chicago has always had a unique and interesting personality. Journey with me as we explore some of the coolest attractions in Chicago.
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