Great Activities and Destinations for Viewing Fall Foliage

Sep 28, 2011 00:40 - Regina Falkowski | 1,628 views

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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It’s that time of year again. The smell of cinnamon is in the air. The air becomes cool and crisp. Everything from coffee to candles comes in pumpkin flavor. Best of all, the leaves begin to transform and put on a brilliant show of color. Yes, it is autumn, which is by far my favorite season.

I am lucky enough to be living in New England where fall foliage is outside my door every day during the season, but if you are planning on visiting an area where fall foliage takes place here are some great activities and destinations for experiencing the true splendor of autumn.

Hiking in Vermont

Vermont is one of the best places to visit for a hike in the mountains. It’s not called the “Green Mountain State” for nothing. These breathe taking mountains play a major role in Vermont’s tourism. Vermont is a great place for outdoor lovers to get up close and personal with Mother Nature. Best of all many hikes require little or no skill level so anyone can enjoy a nature trek through Vermont’s colorful countryside. 

Horseback Riding in Virginia 

Virginia offers mountain trail riding at its best. Ride through the mountains on horseback and view the vibrant colors across the state. Enjoy miles of riding trails through Virginia during one of the most scenic times of the year. Horseback riding is a great adventure for families and people of all ages. Nothing is better than open skies above, fresh air and a good horse beneath you.

Bike Tour in North Carolina 

Going on a bike tour in North Carolina is a great active and scenic activity for the fall. Pedal your way through miles of roads and trails full of fall foliage. The mountains in North Carolina offer great bike rides with amazing views. Breathe in the crisp autumn air on a North Carolina bike tour.

Camping in New York 

Nothing will bring you closer to the outdoors and the fall foliage than camping in New York. Wake up to the birds chirping and the sun beaming through the turning leaves. You can dabble in any outdoor activity such as hiking, biking, kayaking and fishing since the outdoors are right at your doorstep.

Romantic Getaway in Maine 

If you are not much of an outdoor enthusiast then maybe a romantic getaway in Maine is the vacation for you. View the fall foliage from inside a cozy bed and breakfast or an authentic restaurant serving the fresh autumn harvest. Take a scenic ride through the countryside or relax and read a book under the transforming tree tops.

Whether you want to embark on an outdoor adventure or kick back on a relaxing vacation fall is a great time for any traveler.

» Filed Under Adventure Travel, Destinations | 1 Comment

Things to Consider Before Going Backpacking

Aug 31, 2011 10:43 - magicjohnson | 2,083 views

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Backpacking around the world is a right of passage, like attending a university or going on your first holiday with your friends. It’s a life affirming experience, and one that’ll stay with you for your entire life. In fact with rising tuition fees and the prospect of crippling debts now deterring many from higher education, more and more young people are electing to take an extended period of time out travelling before entering the world of work.

World travel broadens the mind so they say, and while this may be a tired cliché, it holds an element of truth. Nothing else gives one such an insightful outlook and understanding of life as being immersed in cultures totally different from your own. Long term travel is certainly something worth doing, but it does warrant a modicum of consideration before jetting off. What affects your decision to travel?

Money

Can you really afford to go away? This will be dependent on a number of factors including where you plan to go, how long you intend to be away for, what you want to do when you’re away, and whether you are comfortable with working while you travel.

If you plan to backpack around Europe, be prepared to save for a very long time, or fund your trip by working while you’re out there. Conversely, if you are sticking to south east Asian countries which are usually very popular with backpackers then your money will go a long way. Thailand, Cambodia, Loas and Vietnam are all stunning countries that are very affordable.

Work

As I mentioned, in some cases you may need to work to fund your travels. This is an especially pertinent issue if:

-          You are traveling long term (many months at a time)

-          You have saved up very little money to fund your travels

-          You are traveling in expensive countries

Now, you may think that working on your travels undermines the point of going in the first place, but on the contrary, taking out transitory, part times roles can have more benefits than simply keeping your wallet full of the local currency.

Working allows you to make some new friends, provides an avenue to interact with some ‘real’ locals, learn basic foreign language skills and gives structure to your day. So where exactly can you work? Bars and restaurants are a good bet since they’re always looking for additional staff, but other common places to find work are farms or plantations, hotels or even building sites.

Duration

How long do you plan to travel for? There really is no standard period. Long term travel can refer to any length trip from one month to over a year. Some people go travelling and never come back home after falling in love with life as a nomad. Again, the length of your trip will depend on your personal circumstances. Do you have a job? Studies? A partner or family to return to? Maybe you have debts hanging over your head. How long you want to wander the world really is a personal choice.

Destination(s)

This is the fun part! Where are you going to go? Providing you have the time, money and resources as discussed above, the world truly is your oyster. Popular backpacking locations include the whole of Europe, Australia, South Americaand South-East Asia, all which offer rich history and culture, great weather, friendly locals, good food and a wealth of sights to see. This certainly doesn’t mean that you need to stick to these locations. If you have the money, North America, Japan, and the Middle East are also great options.

» Filed Under Adventure Travel, Travel Tips | 3 Comments

Top 8 Stag Weekend Adventures

Aug 30, 2011 10:35 - briannalittleton | 2,003 views

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It can be difficult to decide what kind of adventures to have during stag weekends. After all, you only get one, so you want it to be something you and your mates will remember for the rest of your lives. Since there are loads of different stag weekend adventures to choose from, we’ve narrowed the list down to some of top choices for grooms-to-be. Try one or more of these activities during your stag weekend and you’ll have stories that will last a lifetime.

4×4 Off Road Driving

An off-road driving experience is a great way to have a bit of an adventure on your stag weekend. You and your best men can take off road vehicles over a variety of terrain, through challenging treks, forest trails, and skills courses. Each off road venue offers something different and new, and you’ll come away from the experience with a sense of accomplishment, having conquered the road.

Hovercrafting

Hovercrafting is a fantastic choice for a stag weekend adventure due to its novel nature. It’s not something that everyone can say they’ve experienced before, so why not give the boys an afternoon to remember? Once you’ve got the hang of it, take part in competitions against your fellow stag.

Paintballing

The ultimate stag party adventure, paintballing is a classic good time perfect for stag weekends. Split into teams and get ready to face off against each other. Get pumped and spend a day or a half-day shooting at your mates, playing team building games, and just generally having a legendary time.

Target Shooting

If the thought of paintballing really gets you going, think about how you’ll feel when you and your mates shoot the real thing with a day of target shooting. You’ll be taught how to shoot a variety of weapons, and you even get to take home your target as a souvenir. Manpower and firepower make for a memorable mix.

White Water Rafting

Head to the rapids for a rafting experience you’ll never forget. Add some adventure and excitement to your stag weekend by navigating your raft through the white waters. You and your group will work as a team to try and master the rapids as you head down the river. You may not succeed, but you’ll have loads of fun trying.

Tank Driving

Chances are, unless you have military experience, you’ve probably never had the opportunity to drive a tank. Now, you and the boys can spend anywhere from a few minutes to a full day driving one of these behemoths. It’s an experience that few people can say they’ve had, which makes it tops for stag weekends.

Zap Cats

Thrill seekers and rollercoaster enthusiasts, look no further! Zap cats give you and your mates the thrill of zipping along the water at speeds of up to 50 MPH, and can do 3G in a turn. The zap cats have a power-to-weight ratio that’s more than many Ferraris. An experienced driver will take you and the boys out on the water for an adrenalin rush that will get your heart pumping and give you a stag weekend you’ll never forget.

Golf

If you’re looking for a bit of relaxation and a chance to unwind with your mates after a wild night out, perhaps a round of golf is in order. Play 18 holes at some of the finest golf courses in the World. Or, if 18 holes is too many, 9 hole courses are available as well for an activity that doesn’t fill your entire day.

Whether you choose to do a few of these activities, or try to pack them all into one grand adventure, stag weekends are all about having a time you’ll never forget with your closest mates.

Blake Sanders is a writer at leisure site Redseven Leisure. He specializes in writing articles about stag weekends and bachelor party adventures.

Note: Photo courtesy of artberri, tz1_1zt, bneumann, erikcharlton, video4net, helmacca, alanmckibbin, and jurvetsonm via FlickR Creative Commons.

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A Guide to Touring Wineries in Italy

Aug 29, 2011 16:40 - Kathy Bechtel | 1,452 views

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As a professional tour guide my job is to scout out locations for active bike, hike and ski tours that take you to the best local wineries in Italy. Finding wineries to visit that reflect the culture and traditional wines of individual regions is my goal; our preferred producers are off the beaten path, small, and family operated, using varietals little known outside the region. Check out my list of the Top 10 Undiscovered Wines of Northeastern Italy to get a feel for what you can discover on a visit to these wine regions. Here are some tips based on my travels, for those of you who want to do some exploring on your own!

1. If you are serious about finding small, family run producers, do your homework.

Using wine guides such as Slow Foods, Gambero Rosso, and the internet can help you identify some of these, and learn a little about them. Get their names and street addresses. Keep in mind if you want to taste, you are looking for the cantina. In some cases, the cantina is located at the vineyard, but not always.

Another good place to start is with the Strade del Vino, or Wine Roads, in Italy. These are official routes located in wine regions all over the country. We often incorporate these into our bike, hike or walking tours, and there are plenty of wineries all along these routes to visit. They are well marked, and wind their way through the vineyards of a particular region. This link will bring you to a list of all of them, by region.

2. The local tourist office is a great source of information.

They will have maps and someone who speaks english that can recommend a route. Just take care to check the hours; they are not always open every day, and often only in the mornings.

Wine tasting in Soave

3. Have a GPS, AND a really good map.

If you bring your own GPS, make sure it is loaded beforehand with the appropriate maps; your US based GPS may not carry maps of Italy. Don’t rely on internet access in your hotel in Italy to download the maps the night before – my experience is that WiFi there is not particularly reliable. Also, even the best GPS can still lead you astray, especially in some of the rural areas, or during a cloudy day. So don’t become totally dependent upon them – know where you are, and where you are headed.

4. Route numbers in Italy are hard to read, and not always easy to find. Know your route by names of towns.

I note the name of the town I’m headed to, and a couple of major towns between your current location and your destination; then follow the signs to the towns you know are in the right direction. This is when a map, and, even better, a traveling companion that can read a map, come in handy.

5. Larger producers are located along the main streets through the towns, along the base of the hills.

If you are just looking to taste a few wines, and feel most comfortable with someone that speaks english, these may be best for you. They are very easy to spot, with large signs, a big building and parking lot.

Novaia winery in Valpolicella

6. Smaller producers are located higher up in the hills, be prepared for narrow roads and lots of turns.

They are located in private homes, and they are going about their daily business, not waiting around for customers to arrive. Many do not speak a lot of English, but all seem very happy to introduce me to their wines when I stammer out my few words of Italian. Approaching one of these for the first time can be a bit intimidating, but well worth the effort when you get a chance to connect with a family who has been doing this for generations.

7. Be aware of the hours of riposo.

After 12pm, and before 4-5 pm, most businesses in Italy close. You won’t be welcome between those hours. Some smaller vineyards I’ve found are only open in the morning.

8. Buy something – even if it is their cheapest bottle.

They often charge 10 euros or so per person for a formal tasting. When I drop by alone, I am not charged as I usually buy something. They have a price list you can ask for, so you can plan what you would like to purchase. These families aren’t making an exorbitant living producing wine, and I like to do what I can to preserve and support their businesses. When we visit one on our Italiaoutdoors tours, we usually buy several bottles or even a case, which we taste later on with the group.

Vineyards outside of Bolzano, Alto Adige, Italy

9. Learn to spit.

You are driving in an unfamiliar area, up some challenging roads with some aggressive local drivers. You don’t need to finish off that fourth ‘taste’ of an Amarone with 18% alcohol, even if it is fantastic.

10. Don’t plan on buying cases to ship back.

Shipping to the US is quite expensive – 17 to 22 euros per bottle of wine. It doesn’t make sense to ship home a case of that 5 euro bottle of basic Bardolino, but perhaps that case of 20 euro Amarone might make sense! Check beforehand whether your state in the US allows delivery of alcoholic beverages to homes; not all do (I live in Massachusetts, and FedEx will not ship wine to homes here), and I’d hate to pay shipping in Italy just to have it turned away. An enoteca (wine shop) with a relationship with an importer here in US might have a way to deliver it to your local wine shop.

For those of you who can’t quite make it to Italy, check out some wine tasting tours that are offered elsewhere.

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8 Tips for Taking Better Travel Photos

Jun 8, 2011 10:20 - Daniela | 1,107 views

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We all have seen great travel photography: those photos of people and places that seem to transport us to where they were taken. Travel photography is a skill and an art that I am passionate about, and something at which I am always trying to improve. Over the years, I have learned some guidelines that have helped me take photos that tell their stories effectively.

I would like to share the guidelines with you below.

Learn the Rule of Thirds

The first thing that a photographer, painter or anyone who is concerned with composition needs to learn is the rule of thirds. Basically, the rule divides the canvas into three equal sections across horizontally and three equal sections vertically, resulting in a rectangle made up of nine sections.

Once you have these divisions in your mind, you need to focus on the image’s four intersections (marked red in the image). These are the spots you should place your subject. If you are not able to place an image exactly at an intersection, you should try to place vertical subjects along the vertical divisions, and horizontal subjects along either of the horizontal divisions.

Following the rule of thirds works because people’s eyes naturally go to these areas of a photo or picture. Furthermore, placing your subject at these intersections allows your photos to flow naturally.

Be a Tripod

Digital cameras are great. They are inexpensive, easy to carry and allow you to take and store thousands of photographs. However, not everything is positive about these small devices; being inherently unstable, they have been the cause of many a blurry photo.

Traditionally, a photographer had to hold her film camera up to her eye to take photos. This gave the camera a third point of contact, the other two being the photographer’s hands, which helped stabilize the camera as the photo was snapped. This is no longer the case with those digital cameras that have had their eyepieces replaced with viewing screens.

Now, to avoid taking blurry shots, you need to pay attention to how you are standing and how you are holding the camera. First of all, you need to ensure that your legs are wide and stable. If possible, it is always a great idea to lean against something as you are taking a photo. Next you need to make sure you are holding the camera securely so that it is not shaking. You do this by tucking your elbows into your sides, which is the exact opposite of what many elbow-flapping digital photographers tend to do these days.

Remember, the more secure your camera is, the clearer the photo will be.

Change your Perspective

When people first get a camera they generally all take the same kind of shots by standing upright and simply taking pictures of what is directly in front of them. This produces staid, boring pictures. What you want to do when you are traveling is not to take the same-old tourist photos that everyone else is taking. No, what you to do is find new perspectives.

As you are considering a shot or even when you are taking them, move around, lay low on the ground, get up high, get close, back away. By lying low, you can really show a subject’s height. This is a great way to have your subject fill the canvas.  Conversely, going higher, allows you to give your photo more depth and perhaps take in more of the scene. Bring your camera close to the subject to pick up more of your subject’s detail, and, finally, back away to put your subject in more context than you otherwise would be able to.

I know that it can be embarrassing lying on the ground to take photos, but I promise that once you do it a few times it will become second nature and, really, your portfolio will thank you for it.

Follow a Theme

I love following themes when I am taking photos. A portfolio of vacation photos can be made up many themes such as a night out, the beach, craftsmen, and transportation. For each them I try to get at least three types of photos: a general shot of the entire area, a close up of something that represents the theme, and a shot of no more than a few people or items. Once you start trying to represent your themes in at least three ways like this, a whole world of possibilities will reveal itself to you and your camera.

Keep heads free

This is a simple guideline that we all miss from time to time. Simply put, when taking a photo of someone, make sure your perspective does not have a pole or tree or something else growing out of his head. Change angles if need be.

Keep your camera with you

Always carry your camera with you and always be ready to take photos.  Considering that taking digital photos is free, there is no reason you should not be taking hundreds of photos each day. Even professional photographers go through thousands of shots to find a few pictures with which they are happy. So please do not assume you got the perfect shot with the first take.

Be Aware of the Light

Wake up early to take advantage of morning light’s warmth and beauty.  Next time you are up and out early in the day pay attention to the light. You should notice that colors are redder and shadows more pronounced than they will be later in the day. Another benefit to waking early is that tourist spots are normally less crowded at this time.

The midday and afternoon sun is the one to avoid when taking photos as it produces a harsh light that washes out details, colors and shadows.

Bringing with it its own cool colors and shadows, the twilight of the evening is also a great time to take photos. For practice try taking photos of the same subject at different times of the day. That should demonstrate to you natural lighting’s impact on the quality of your photos.

Remember, these guidelines are just that, guidelines. Go out there and experiment. Have fun and take as many pictures as you can. With time you will find what works for you, develop your own style and build a collection of travel photography you can be proud of.

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