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The Big Island's Best Hikes For Lazy People

November 14, 2008 at 12:00 PM | 0 Comments

Hikes are pretty much free, so we did a bunch. However, we didn't want to spend too much of our, uh, time budget, so we chose some that were pretty short and sweet. Our primary mission was to see one cool thing and then get back to exploring elsewhere. Here are a few of our favorites:

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A Short And Sweet Hike At Manoa Falls

November 10, 2008 at 11:45 AM | 0 Comments

The upside to the global financial crisis is that forgetting your money woes in Hawaii has become incredibly cheap. Kyle Brown just got back from a budget-minded trip to the islands...

On Oahu, a short drive from Waikiki Beach will transport you to what often seems like a different world. With the famous Diamond Head crater closed for some fixing up during our visit, we were forced elsewhere to satisfy our hiking needs. We were looking for something short and sweet--with a good payoff at the end.

The trailhead to Manoa Falls is just 15 minutes from Honolulu, and it fit the bill perfectly. During our visit, there were plenty of spots to park, although we did have to surrender five bucks to someone manning the lot.

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Weekend in London: Escape to Hampstead

October 16, 2008 at 4:45 PM | 0 Comments

Even in London, it's nice to get out of the city for a while. Forgo the trip to Bath (and save loads on a pre-packaged bus tour or rental car) and hop on the Underground to Hampstead, just outside the city in Camden. Take the tube to the Hampstead stop, after Belsize Park, and the trip couldn't be easier.

We'll warn you that it's home to more millionaires than any other area of the country, but to most of us that just means excellent restaurants, shops and perfectly maintained streets to meander.

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South Africa Field Trip: A Cape Peninsula Tour

September 30, 2008 at 4:30 PM | 0 Comments

Our Southern Africa embed Jill Nawrocki recently ducked out of Namibia for a field trip to South Africa.

We learned our lesson the hard way on the trip to Table Mountain, so when it came time to voyage out to the Cape of Good Hope, we weren't taking any chances. Our de facto tour guide Kev booked us two seats on the Baz Bus tour for R435 ($53) each. The deluxe minibus runs daily tours that include all of the Cape Peninsula highlights, as well as hiking and biking--in case we didn't already get our outdoor fill.

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South Africa Field Trip: Table Mountain

September 30, 2008 at 10:30 AM | 0 Comments

Our Southern Africa embed Jill Nawrocki recently ducked out of Namibia for a field trip to South Africa.

Cape Town may be the second largest city in South Africa, but despite the crowded streets, killer cuisine and unique shops there's still a huge scene for outdoorsy types.

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Labor Day Travel: Whitefish, Montana

August 20, 2008 at 10:00 AM | 0 Comments

Most of Montana's small towns are overlooked by travelers rushing to Yellowstone and the state's other Great Outdoors attractions. Lying right at the edge of the Flathead Valley, with Glacier National Park in the background, Whitefish is one small town that is worth stopping by.

If you're heading elsewhere in Montanta for Labor Day, the weather should be just about perfect this time of year to check out this quaint little valley town for a day. And why not? You've got that extra day. Here's what the Whitefish tourist board has to say about the place:

Ask about any Canadian in Southern Alberta and you'll get some kind of story about their adventure in Whitefish.

OK, not sure exactly what that means, but apparently Whitefish has become Montana's Tijuana. Count us in!

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Hudson Valley Escapes: Ossining

August 12, 2008 at 12:00 PM | 0 Comments

If you only know Ossining as New York's funniest-sounding place, or even if you only know it as the home of Don Draper from "Mad Men," you're missing out on one of the best just-beyond-NYC small towns.

Set right on the Hudson, this quiet village was originally called Sing Sing, but changed its name in 1901 after a boycott of goods made at nearby Sing Sing Prison started to hurt town businesses as well. Today, Sing Sing Prison is still around, and Ossining is a sleepy little village with a quaint Main Street strip surrounded by an impressive array of wilderness.

Everything in Ossining is close enough to find in a quick walk or drive, but what follows are a few of our favorites.

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Active Travel: Training for Your Olympic Dreams

August 11, 2008 at 9:45 AM | 0 Comments

Now that you've earned a gold medal in sitting--for parking yourself in front of the Olympics all weekend--it's time to get moving. You can work on your own dreams of 2012 in London with a trip to the US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte.

Celebrating its second birthday this month, the $38-million facility promotes active and healthy relationships with the outdoors. The center has whitewater rafting and kayaking, hiking and even a climbing gym. Eleven miles of trails for both hikers and mountain bikers surround the central buildings, and there's even an "eco-caching" area for a green-focused spin on geocaching.

As you test out your skills on the world's largest artificial whitewater river, you'll be able to walk away with an increased knowledge of rafting, no matter what your experience level. After working up an appetite, there's even the River's Edge Bar and Grill, where you can enjoy a locally grown meal. You may not be ready for 2012, but at least you'll have fun.

Related Stories:
· US National Whitewater Center [Official Site]
· Active Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: US National Whitewater Center]

Hiking Fire Island's Sunken Forest

August 6, 2008 at 11:00 AM | 1 Comment

Spending a leisurely weekend out of Manhattan on New York's Fire Island is a bona fide perfect summer escape. Another added getaway once you arrive? Sneaking away from the busy beach and trekking to the Sunken Forest, one of the last remaining maritime forests on the Eastern seaboard.

You'll travail a 40-acre mess of roots, twists and turns that have been weathered and beaten by storms, saltwater and over 200 years of sea love. Conveniently, there are also handy wooden boardwalks that wind throughout the forest. There are also free tours of the forest by Fire Island National Seashore guides throughout the summer.

A fun fact to impress your guide with? The Sunken Forest isn't actually "sunken"--it appears to be below sea level but is actually just surrounded by dunes on all sides. Keep your eyes and cameras open for cool ecological mash-ups of holly, sassafras and shadblow.

[Photo: grimmsaurora]

Active Travel: Alaska by Foot

August 4, 2008 at 11:31 AM | 0 Comments

You know you've thought of taking an Alaskan cruise before, but let's face facts: It may not be the ideal vacation for the under-50 crowd. That's where Backroads comes in. On a six day hike along the Inside Passage, you'll cover the same turf the cruise ships do--but you'll miss out on the shuffleboard tourney.

The tour starts in Juneau, where you'll hike through spruce forests and take in the Gold Creek. The next two days take you to Skagway where you'll watch your back for moose and grizzlies and rest your feet on the White Pass and Yukon Railway, one of the steepest in the world.

The hike ends in Glacier Bay with a short cruise through the heart of the park--guess you can't completely avoid the water. The tour runs about $2,500 per person and includes all meals except one and your lodging every evening.

Related Stories:
· Backroads Tours [Official Site]
· Alaska Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: vonlohmann]

Celebrate the Midpoint of the AT with the Half-Gallon Challenge

August 3, 2008 at 2:40 PM | 0 Comments

We're not sure we're up for hiking all 3,500 kilometers of the Appalachian Trail, as a handful of people do every summer, but there is one AT-related challenge that we'd be willing to attempt. A three-minute bit on NPR this morning tipped us off to the Half-Gallon Challenge, which occurs a few miles from the midpoint of the trail in Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Gardners, Pennsylvania.

Tradition dictates that thru-hikers - people going the full distance between Georgia and Maine - drop by the park's small general store and purchase a half gallon of their favorite ice cream. Then, while sitting on the shop's front porch, the hikers must eat the entire half gallon within a one-hour time limit. Successful eaters earn a souvenir wooden spoon and a belly ache. Those who fall short just get the belly ache.

Hikers say that the challenge is borne from the taboo on talking about yummy but unavailable foods while on the trail, pointing out that a conversation about cheeseburgers only makes the evening's inevitable ramen noodles taste that much blander. By overindulging in a treat like ice cream, one's cravings are put into context for the duration of the trail. And besides, if someone who is hiking nonstop for two months can't enjoy a nice ice cream binge, what hope is there for the rest of us?

Related Stories:
· The Big Chill on the Appalachian Trail [NPR]
· The Half-Gallon Challenge [fastpacking.de]
· Hiking Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Chris' Travelogue]

Hiking Israel: The Arbel Cliffs

July 31, 2008 at 1:00 PM | 0 Comments

One of Israel's most scenic attractions, the Arbel Cliffs, rise 400 meters above the Sea of Galilee in the northern part of the country. The steep climb up to the highest peak--Mount Arbel--is worth it for the panoramic views of the countryside below.

And like most places in this country, there's some history when you get to the top. The Arbel Fortress, an ancient three-story castle, is carved into the face of the mountain and features a maze of connecting cliffs and caverns.

Check out Mount Arbel now, before part of it is turned into--and we're not kidding--a golf course.

Related Stories:
· Israel Parks Authority [Official Site]
· Hiking Israel: Hezekiah Tunnel [Jaunted]
· Hiking Isreal: Masada [Jaunted]
· Israel Travel coverage [Jaunted]