Travelling
There are many people, at different times of their lives, who love to travel. However, there are some who treat it as a hobby and some who just do it to get away from their busy routine and hectic lives. Whatever the reason for taking a vacation, going away for a weekend or making travel a hobby, it most always is a pleasant experience. In some cases, it is difficult for people to decide where to go. It takes time to plan any trip, especially if you are not going on your own.
You have to research the location, climate, whether a visa is necessary or not as well as to find the most appropriate hotel accommodations, entertainment, and various attractions to make your trip interesting. The nuances of travel have increased, but only at the airport. You have to go through the new travel guidelines set in place at the airport since 2001. Aside from this, your travel can be quite an expedition and an interesting one at that. You don’t have to plan your travels for overseas travel. You can travel nationally in a RV, if you have one or you can possibly rent one. This could be quite interesting.
Airline Tickets
When planning your trip overseas or to another state, be mindful that airline tickets go up and down depending on the season and other extenuating circumstances such as high oil prices. You must keep checking to get the best rate, but it is better to buy early than to wait too late, although, most airlines have last minute prices that are attractive. Do some comparison shopping and look for packaged deals to get the most ideal rate. Some airlines will offer you the convenience of paying for a specific seating arrangment and baggages. Check with the airline about their policies before making your flight arrangement. You can save extra on waiting until you get to the airport before you choose a seat. It is really not that big of a deal.
Travel Suggestions
The first suggested place for a secret getaway is the city of Burgundy in France. If you are looking for a way to find some time away from home to relax, this is the place to consider. When was the last time, you went on a vacation and had some fun! Entertainment does not have to be in your backyard. You can find it in some unique places. The best kind of entertainment is the one where you don’t have to worry about the bills and the phone calls. What better way to let your hair down than to visit the city of Burgundy.
When it comes to accommodations, holiday properties in Burgundy have proven to be one of the well served areas in France. There are a wide range of holiday rental properties in Burgundy that include bed and breakfast accommodations as well as four star hotels. The summer months are the longest and busiest so accommodations can be difficult to find. It is best to make advanced reservations especially in the wine regions of Dijon and Beaune..
Visitor Attractions in Burgundy
There are quite a few towns and villages to visit that feature rich history and good examples of renaissance such as Ancy-le-Franc. For those who are passionate Gallo-Roman and Romanesque art lovers, the village of Autun is the second city of Burgundy that hosts the best medieval cathedrals and Roman theaters.
In the midst of the area’s vineyards, Beaune is considered to be Burgundy’s wine capital. If you visit Beaune in late November, you will be able to enjoy a three day wine auction known as Les Trois Glorieuses. Chablis is a village that boasts premium white wine that is economically priced.
Dijon is the capital city of Burgundy where you can walk along appealing streets with their fashionable shops and vast art collection. If you are an avid hiker or biker, you will enjoy the hills of Morvan Massif.
Transportation in Burgundy
Burgundy is located in the eastern region of France. The TGV train from Paris will take you a hour and a half to arrive. The Burgundy climate changes from cold winters to hot summers. Holiday rentals in Burgundy provide the central location from which to do your sightseeing by car or public transportation.
Adventurous
If you are looking for an adventure, you could decide to take a trip to Africa on a Safari. Tanzania offers you the kind of trip that will be unforgettable. Your accommodations could include a private room at the Mount Kilimanjaro foothills in the Olasiti Lodge. On your first day of arriving at the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, you will take another flight to the Kilimanjaro Airport. This is a non-stop flight. You will arrive a little late that evening. Someone will meet you at the airport, if you bought your package through a travel guide company.
The area has an interesting place that you can visit called Shanga River House where the disabled are taught how to make jewelry and craft items made from recycled and local materials. You will be invited to join a cooking demonstration that will follow lunch of Tanzania traditional cuisine. At the same location, you will learn about how the locals cultivate coffee by going on a tour of their coffee plantation.
You get to camp on a private game reserve that spans 45,000 of vast greenery that includes the border of Kenya and Tanzania. It is called Burunge Camp. Enjoy the breathtaking views that accompany this adventure by staying in comfortable tents while on the game reserve. You will get a view of the diversity in the wildlife with its vast vegetation zones, landscape, grassland and woodland. You will get to see a variety of bird species.
After having lunch, you will continue your journey toward the National Park in Tarangire where you will embark on an afternoon of driving around the park for a game viewing expedition. After a full afternoon of discovering the wildlife, you will exit the park from the southern entrance and go back to your lodge, while still enjoying the amazing views during the drive back.
The next morning, you will continue your adventure by meeting with the Maasai and get an inside look of their established traditions. After having lunch, your journey takes you to Karatu to visit the township and then head back to the lodge to relax. A trip like this will allow you to engage in discussions with the local to find out their way of living. You will be enlightened and educated on the culture and how other people live in third world countries.
RV Travel
You don’t have to own an RV to travel and enjoy the countryside. You can always rent one when you feel in the mood to take your next trip. The benefit of going on a RV trip is that you don’t have to plan it. You can be spontaneous. Start out on a weekend possibly and then work your way across country. You can stop along the way at different locations, build a campfire if you want, meet new people and just have fun. An RV allows you to go on a mini vacation with your entire family to break up the mundane routine of your life. It gives you a chance to rest and relax as well as to attempt new things. This could be the most inexpensive way to travel. Most RV owners are hobbyist and adventurers who love the outdoors and don’t mind driving long hours to escape their daily lives.
You won’t have to catch a flight or worry about the hassles with airport security, luggage or long lines. You don’t have to pull heavy bags into hotel rooms nor sleep in a strange bedroom or use someone else’s bathroom or kitchen. Everything is available in your RV. You have the option of cooking or eating out.
It is more economical to own your RV, but if renting is your only option, that is fine too. You spend so much less when traveling in an RV. You can travel on a limited budget and work within your budget. Most RVs will accommodate a family of four people, which would save considerably less than booking an international trip.
You don’t have to leave your pets behind either. Your pet can go along with you and this will prevent you from worrying about the stress of boarding your pet. Most RV campgrounds will welcome your pet, but you should call ahead to confirm.
There are in excess of 16,000 public and private campgrounds and parks as well as resorts across the United States. Most of them are located in close proximity to prevalent destinations and picturesque locations. Most travel professionals would agree that camping in an RV at a national park is one of the popular trends when it comes to taking a vacation. The setting is safe and serene, which has a widespread appeal to families who are seeking to reduce their stress. If you love nature, outdoor activities and a relaxed atmosphere, you will enjoy this type of hobby. Backpacking, mountain climbing and cross country adventure are some of the activities you can engage in. I addition, you have all the amenities that a hotel would have.
It is interesting to also not that most of the current campgrounds offer various activities and amenities that you can indulge in. For example, some of them are:
- Swimming Pools
- Canoe or Boat Rental
- Game Rooms
- Movie Rental
- Outdoor Movie Theatres
- Fishing
- Biking
- Miniature Golf
- Art and Craft Classes and much more
- Sack Races
- Bingo
- Lazy Rivers
- Water Parks
- Hiking Trips
- Organized Games for Children
- Spa Service
In the local area, you can stay at an RV resort if you are looking for more privacy or to mingle with other adults in a more comfortable location where you do get the use of club houses, restaurants, bars, golf courses, wine tasting, salon and shopping boutiques.
Bigger RV parks will provide calendars for special events or themed celebrations that happen throughout the year. You do have to make scheduled reservations for these festivities. Another benefit of RV traveling is that you get to meet some great group of people that have the same interests as you do. You will definitely form new friendships, which will prove to be helpful upon your subsequent return.
Some campgrounds that are located in close proximity to popular tourists areas will provide convenient transportation if you would like to go sightseeing. By renting a camp site at a popular campground that is within driving distance of your home is a good way to be away from home, yet close enough to reach your family. You can stay for several weeks or months or you can travel to and from the camp site for weeks at a time. It will feel like an extended vacation.
If you feel adventurous enough, you can find some free camp sites in Utah, Texas and California, but of course, you won’t have the amenities that a resort RV campground offers. These are usually public lands that can fit about 10 RVs at a time.
Backpacking
If you love to hike and enjoy the outdoors, backpacking is a sports and hobby that would entice you. It would require physical fitness because the terrain can be challenging. Mount Whitney in Eastern Sierra, California welcomes hikers, but spaces are limited and a permit is required, which is issued through a lottery system and then on a first come basis. You can secure your spot by putting in an application early February, which is the lottery deadline and receive one of the sixty overnight permit or one hundred day hike permit.
These permits are offered between the months of May through November. This area of more than 800,000 acres is located in the Inyo National Forest, which also host other locations for backpacking such as Mono Lake and Mammoth Lakes Basin.
At Schulman Grove, you can test the Bristlecone Pine Forest and take advantage of some of the recreational activities that include:
- Picnics
- Hiking
- Backpacking
- Camping
- Equestrian Use
There are two ski resorts nearby that offer skiing from the alpines as well as snowboarding. It has more than a hundred miles of trails prepared for hiking, cross country skiing and snow mobiles. For a history lesson, backpackers will learn so much from their outdoor experience. Did you know that the bristlecone pine is positioned as the oldest tree in the world and has accomplished a status of vast technical, picturesque and traditional importance? One thing to note, though, is that this part of the forest is only opened during the summertime and closed for the winter.
Once you decide to go on a hiking trip or backpacking, it is suggested that you plan your trip weeks in advance.
Decide whether or not you will be hiking during the day or staying overnight because then you will be able to choose the permit that suits our needs. These permits are specific and can only be used in the manner it was issued. Hike in a small group compared to a large group. It is easier to stick together and not get lost. Be sure to have a map, cellphone and guidebook with you. Each person in your group should have a whistle in case someone gets lost.
Some essential backpacking gears include:
- Boots
- Warm Jacket
- Backpack
- Sleeping Pad
- Small Tent
- Snow Shoes
- GPS
- Water Filters
- Sleeping Bags
- Insect Repellent
- Pantry Outback Oven
- Trekking Pole
- Head Lamp
- Water Bottle Holder
- Lantern
- Flashlight
- Stowaway
- Pair of Glove
Some of these things you can buy locally, but it is best to pack most of them before your travels. Even though, backpacking is not considered by many to be a real sport because there are no winners or losers, it is a challenge and accomplishment to the individual who loves to hike.
Here are some future trips to consider:
From November 9th through 11th, you can take advantage of backpacking in Otter Creek, Monongahela National Forest. The trip will take you up the Green Mountain grade to the camp site. The trail is about six miles back and forth.
From November 23rd to November 25th, you can benefit from backpacking in Walls of Jericho located in Tennessee. You would hike back and forth up the wall to the camp site.
Crater Lake in Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado is a spectacular location to backpack. The trail is well marked and you get to cross the Cascade Creek several times and hike around two large waterfalls. You have the option to fish while you are there.
Conclusion
There are so many things to do and places to go when you love to travel. You get to learn so many things, meet numerous people, have fun, experience new cultures and leave your mark on the places that you travel. It doesn’t matter if you travel by air, by car and RV. As long as you are enjoying your trip, then you can truly say that you are living your life to its fullest.
