Yosemite Visit--before booking your hotel and/or before going Posted 03 Sep 2010 by Randi Wade

We went in August 2010, stayed "right outside" the park, in Oakhurst. What we didn't realize at the time was that our hotel was almost 2 hours from the center of the parkl! The winding, steep roads in the park don't allow for over about 30-35 MPH, so it takes a long time. We had only one full day to do only our priorities. It was a full day, but we did everything we wanted to do on our list. One additional note: at this time there is some construction on some of the roads going into the park (like #41, which was our entrance). Find out before booking your hotel where the current construction is because that could add lots of time onto your drive into the park. We lucked out only because our day at the park was Sunday, and they do not do construction on Sundays. (There is a toll-free traffic/construction number for Yosemite, which you can get from a hotel or the tourist information center.) We left the hotel early on the morning of our Yosemite visit because of the long drive, and it was good we did because when we got to the Village, we learned that the parking places fill up early, and we may not have gotten a spot. Also, we learned from a man that people can get so desperate for a spot that a large camper blocked his car in the day before. He had to wait until the driver returned! So, we avoided the lot where the large campers are allowed to park. Also, the last thing we did was park in the Wawana (lower) lot and take the bus up to the (upper) Miraposa Grove lot to see the giant Sequoias. We decided to pay for the tram tour (about $25/person) so that we were guaranteed not to be left by the last bus back down, which left the upper lot at about 6:00-6:15PM. (Otherwise, we were told repeatedly, we would have to walk the 7 miles back down to our car!) Well, on the shuttle tour, at the last 10-minute stop, the tram driver (Bob) left us at the stop!! We had to run down the road, about 8/10 of a mile, to try to catch the last bus before it drove bac...more...

San Francisco (family with teenagers) Posted 03 Sep 2010 by Randi Wade

Went with my family of 4 (2 teen kids) to SF in August. Had a great experience. Here are some of the things we did and enjoyed: Mr. Toad's 90-minute tour (in an open-air vintage car); Alcatraz Tour (bought tickets online before going); walked a lot through Chinatown (discovered an original Banksy (a wall painting by a famous graffiti artist); walked down the steps beside the curvy Lombard St (had a memorable conversation with the volunteer gardener, who is a resident on the street); had breakfast almost every morning at a great place called Posh Bagel (financial district); ate a crepe breakfast one morning (at a place we discovered in the Financial District); bought a variety of pastries to share from Stella's in Little Italy one night (& brought them back to the hotel to enjoy later when we had stomach room!); stayed in a wonderful hotel called The Orchard Garden (great location, beside the Chinatown entrance at Grant & Bush). Tips: check the weather ahead from their local newspaper (www.sfgate.com). We were surprised to learn a week before flying out from the east coast that it is cold in SF in August. We were so glad to have long pants and jackets, which we wore every day. We also rented a car and drove down to Monterey to explore the coast for a couple of days (4-hr drive down), and then drove to Yosemite for 2 nights (about 4 hrs from Monterey and from SF). Will post those tips in another post. Feel free to send me questions, if you have any.more...

The Open Top Bus St Ives to Land's End Posted 03 Sep 2010 by claire southern

If you're staying in or around St Ives I would highly recommend an Explorer day ticket (approx £6 per adult, small kids ride for free) with the local bus company so you can get out and see the wild coastal beauty of the route from St Ives to Zennor, St Just and on to Land's End. From May-Oct an open top double-decker (number 300) runs along this route every two hours and if the sun is out it's utterly an beautiful way to see the area...as well as a lot of fun on the top deck! Stops include Carbis Bay, Lelant, St Ives, Zennor (for the Tinners Arms and access to caostal path), Gurnard's Head Pub (great gastro pub with rooms and lovely garden with access to coastal path), St Just, Sennan Cove and Land's End. You can hop on and off as often as you want in a day.more...

Camping Sydney Posted 02 Sep 2010 by Julia

Lane Cove River Tourist Park for $35 night in North Ryde. 15 minutes on the train into Central is possibly the cheapest way to stay in Sydney. In the National Park surrounded by possums, bandicoots and numerous birds 5 minutes walk to the bus and train for access straight into the city http://www.lcrtp.com.au/more...

Annapurna Circuit Trekking (Thorung La Pass 5416m) Posted 01 Sep 2010 by Karchung Lama

The Annapurna Circuit trek is a dramatic trek around the mighty Annapurna range, a journey that is regarded as one of the top ten walks in the world. The 222-kilometre Annapurna Circuit trek, of the Annapurna massif offers a unique insight into the physical and cultural diversity of Nepal. From Kathmandu we traveled to the road-head at Besishahar and then started the Annapurna Circuit trekking. The trek follows the Marsyangdi rice paddies, terraced fields and Hindu villages under the shadow of the Annapurna and Manaslu ranges. As we ascended, the valley becomes narrower, waterfalls plummet from high above, and the scenery gains a rugged alpine appearance. The trail soon bears west behind the Annapurnas, to enter a Trans-Himalayan region populated by people of Tibetan origin, whose prayer flags, mani walls and monasteries are constant reminders of their Buddhist culture. From Manang we undertook the challenging crossing of the Thorong La (5416m) this is the heart of the Annapurna Circuit trek and links the Marsyangdi and Kali Gandaki Valleys. At the top of the pass we majestic mountain views and then descend to the holy temples at Muktinath, before dropping to the valley floor at Jomsom. We then passed through the world's deepest gorge cutting between the peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri and on to the hot springs at sub-tropical Tatopani. The final climb of the trek takes us to Ghorepani, where we enjoy more magnificent views of the Annapurnas. The Annapurna Circuit then descends to the road head, where our transport waited to take us to the beautiful Pokhara to complete this memorable trek.more...

Gothenburg for the weekend! Posted 31 Aug 2010 by Courtney Gloyn

I went to the relaxing city of Gothenburg this weekend. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of a typical European city then this is a nice choice. We stayed in 'Barken Viking' which is a really unique place to stay, friendly staff and reasonable prices. Its a converted former merchant sailing ship that is over 100 years old. The double room rate is 1500SEK per night, check availability as summer can be busy and it is closed for other times during the year. Easy city to cycle in with heaps of cycle ways. We went to the big theme park for a few laughs one of our days, then we went out on a boat to some of the islands. The big theme park is called Liseberg (www.liseberg.se) Göteborg (as its spelt in Swedish) is located on the west coast of Sweden well within a bus ride of some spectacular fishing villages of the Bouhusland coast. island to visit by short ferry ride are öckerö and marstrand, both are within an hours bus ride from central göteborg. It is a city where you can just wander through the streets or jump on the tram. It's got pretty good shopping and since it is a traditional shipping port, the sights to see along the water are great.more...

Hiking Easter Island Posted 26 Aug 2010 by David Stanley

Ask me which Pacific island has the most to offer hikers and I'll probably answer Easter Island. Here on an island 11 km wide and 23 km long you'll find nearly a thousand ancient Polynesian statues strewn along a powerfully beautiful coastline or littering the slopes of an extinct volcano. The legends of Easter Island have been recounted many times. What's less known is that the island's assorted wonders are easily accessible on foot from the comfort of the only settlement, Hanga Roa. Before setting out see the sights, however, visit the excellent archaeological museum next to Ahu Tahai on the north side of town (the term "ahu" refers to an ancient stone platform). Aside from the exhibits, the museum has maps which can help you plan your trip. Details of specific hiking routes are on http://www.easterisland.southpacific.org/island/hikingguide.htmlmore...

Hvaring it! Posted 26 Aug 2010 by Sophie Tanner

If you go to the gorgeous island of Hvar then make sure you take the little taxi-boat across to the tiny island of Carpe Diem.more...

Platypus canoe tours Posted 26 Aug 2010 by Olly

Go canoeing on a beautiful mountain lake in the Otway National Park to see Platypus in the wild. Platypus are one of Australia's iconic creatures and this trip is something you'll never forget. Check out details here: http://www.responsibletravel.com/Trip/Trip102063.htmmore...

Fossil hunting Posted 23 Aug 2010 by Anne Williams

Really great afternoon on the beach in Peacehaven for anyone with an interest in local geology or with kids who are dinosaur obsessed, organised through discoveringfossils.co.uk The fossil hunt begins with a demonstration of some of the fossil collected from the chalk over the years, including ammonites, echinoids, starfish and sponges. Then an introduction to the local geology – how the rocks were formed, what the prehistoric environment was like, and what the fossils reveal about life. All tailored to who is in the group. Lots of kids in our group who were all fascinated. The trip down Friars Bay Steps to the beach is a bit of a hike, but you are then taken to the beach and given an introduction to where to look and how to extract specimens from the loose boulders. The next couple of hours are spent exploring the beach in search of fossils with Hammers and chisels!more...

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