Category Archives: Travel

Top RV Rentals: Oudoorsy “Connects RV Owners With Adventurers”

From a Curbed.com online article:

Outdoorsy RentalsA sleek, converted camper van in Brooklyn rents for $190 per night; a lightweight Cricket trailer by Taxa Outdoors rents for $120 per night out of Denver; In Los Angeles, take a trip in an adorable Bambi Airstream for $159 per night.

Outdoorsy connects RV owners with adventurers looking for a rental. You can search for RVs by location or amenities. All rentals are eligible for a $1 million liability insurance policy, and you pay securely online with access to 24/7 customer service.

Also, when you’re ready to book your trip, pay attention to your base location; rent an RV close to places you want to explore to save money on miles. You’ll also want to read the fine print about insurance, mileage costs, and amenities, as each RV or company can be different.

To read more click on the following link: https://www.curbed.com/2019/8/27/18663035/rv-rental-camper-van-for-rent-usa-canada

Remote Travel: Northern California’s “Lost Coast” Attracts Visitors Who “Hike, Fish & Beachcomb”

From a New York Times article by Elaine Glusac

A view of the ocean from the Lost Coast Trail in northern California. Depending on the tides, some sections of the trail are periodically impassable.CreditCreditAlexandra Hootnick for The New York TimesNow, visitors come to the Lost Coast to hike, fish, beachcomb, bird-watch and scan the ocean for migrating whales in the offshore marine preserve (Ms. Kaai recommended visiting on a weekend, when Shelter Cove’s few restaurants are open). Others come to backpack along the famous Lost Coast Trail-North, a nearly 25-mile beach trek that generally takes three days, requires a permit (free, with a $6 reservation fee) and is subject to tides that periodically make portions impassable.California Lost Coast map by The New York Times

On a deserted beach in Northern California, I mistook a sea lion for driftwood. The Lost Coast is deceiving that way. Wild things appear tame and tame things, like the paved road my family and I took to get here, wild.

In June, seeking immersion in nature, we visited the Lost Coast, the largely roadless shore between the indiscernibly tiny town of Rockport and the Victorian charmer Ferndale, about 100 miles apart by inland roads. Here in Humboldt County, California reaches its westernmost point near a junction of three seismically active tectonic plates. The King Range mountains plunge into the sea, deterring road-builders from continuing State Route 1 along the ocean.

To read more  click on the following link: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/26/travel/northern-california-lost-coast.html

New Books On Hiking: “50 Hikes In Eastern Massachusetts” Lists Boston & Cape Trails

From a BarnesandNoble.com listing:

50 beautiful trails around Boston and the Cape

In this first-edition guide, Madeline Bilis shares her years of outdoors experience in the Boston area, providing 50 hikes for people of all skill and experience levels. While the Berkshires tend to get all recognition when it comes to hiking in Massachusetts, the eastern part of the state is packed with treasures for lovers of the outdoors.

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary 50 Hikes in Eastern Massachusetts book

From the rocky ledges of the Blue Hills Reservation to the sandy stretches of the Cape Cod National Seashore, incredible trails and vistas abound in this varied region. In addition to stunning natural views, you’ll delight in discovering dozens of small towns, cultural attractions, and historical sites during your adventures around Boston and the Cape.

Hikes include:

Noanet Woodlands

Myles Standish State Forest

Great Island Trail

Middlesex Fells Reservation

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/50-hikes-in-eastern-massachusetts-madeline-bilis/1130420101?ean=9781682683521#/

Central Coast Wineries: Laetitia Vineyard & Winery Delivers Quality Pinots And “Sparkling” Views

Boomers visited Laetitia on August 25, 2019:

Laetitia Winery Tasting Room August 2019Laetitia Vineyard and Winery in Aroyo Grande, Ca is known for its respected Pinot Noir and “seven unique sparkling wines”. Santa Rosa-based Vintage Wine Estates recently (February 2019) bought Laetitia for an undisclosed sum. Here is the wineries mission statement as posted on the website:

A deep and abiding respect for Laetitia’s estate-grown fruit is the mark of Eric Hickey’s winemaking. Beginning his hands-on training in the cellar at the age of 16, Eric has lived and breathed Laetitia all the way to the top, where he is now the Head Winemaker and the winery’s President. “I keep it simple,” he says, “and I stay eye-to-eye with Lino (Bozzano) because the interplay between us is what determines the wines’ quality. Everything done in the cellar starts with what we do out in the vineyard.”

We tasted the 2014 Brut Coquard Sparkling wine (rated 93 points). We appreciated its balance between sweet fruit and dry hazelnut. The view from our picnic table north of the tasting room was spectacular.

2014 Laetitia Brut Coquard

Laetitia Vineyard TrailThe property offers a Bocce Ball area to have fun with as you sample their extensive wine flights. Additionally, there is a hiking trail through the 1986-acre estate. Here is a description of the estate from their website:

The Laetitia Estate Vineyards were first planted to grapes in 1982 when French viticulturists found ideal growing conditions in the Arroyo Grande Valley for producing wines of similar character to those of San Luis Obispo Wine Trailtheir homeland in Epernay, France. Nineteen years later, the property would be acquired by Selim Zilkha, founder of a successful wind power development company and champion of environmental sustainability. Between his qualifications in renewable energy solutions and his passion for the pleasures of the harvest, Selim has developed Laetitia into the home of some of California’s highest quality, sustainably-produced wines.

As you exit Laetitia, a “San Luis Obistpo Wine Trail” sign explains just how dynamic this wine regain is.

Edna_Valley_at_Sunset Wikipedia Commons

Boomers

 

 

http://www.nadiawines.com/resources/wine-club/wineClub1463612468573cf43430aa61.09541936.pdf

Future Of Camping: Rivian Electric Adventure Vehicles Feature A Unique “Pull-Out Kitchen”

From an InsideEVS.com article:

Rivian Electric Adventure Vehicles Functional Pull Out Kitchen close upRivian has demonstrated a fully functional, pull-out kitchen that fits into the tunnel and will be a fantastic asset to people who enjoy camping. At first, we thought this might just be a gimmick, but the automaker has clarified that the optional add-on will be available for purchase. To top it off, a tent fits right in the electric truck’s bed.

Rivian refers to its upcoming vehicle lineup as “Electric Adventure Vehicles.” Its first two offerings will be the R1T electric pickup truck and the R1S electric three-row SUV. Since the company has fully revealed itself, there has been a regular influx of information supporting the “adventure’ theme.

Rivian Electric Adventure Vehicles Functional Pull Out Kitchen

 

To read more click on the following link: https://insideevs.com/news/366546/video-rivian-truck-cooking-wild/

Top Travel Destinations: Ancient History Of Girona, Spain Attracted Tourists For Centuries

From a Los Angeles Times article:

Parts of the Roman wall that remain from the first. The medieval wall that was built on top of it and on which you can circle much of the Old Town. The 11th century cathedral, which has the widest Gothic nave in the world. The near-pristine 12th century Jewish quarter, from which a thriving community was driven in 1492. The Arab baths, a symbol of the town’s early Muslim inhabitants. The marks left on buildings by cannons from Napoleon’s army. The bridge built by Gustave Eiffel in 1876.

The western bank is edged with houses, red and russet, yellow and gold. Beyond lies the Old Town, with its plazas and arches, towers and churches, cobblestoned streets, shadowy stairways and wild green gardens trying to prove real every romantic vision you ever had about historic Spain or Europe for that matter.

To read more click on following

https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2019-08-23/spain-game-thrones-barcelona-day-trips-girona-monserrat

Top RV Campgrounds: Silver Falls State Park In Oregon Is “A Standout Scenic Treasure”

From the Oregon State Parks website:

Silver Falls State Park RV CampingPeople call it the “crown jewel” of the Oregon State Parks system, and once you visit, you know why. Silver Falls State Park is the kind of standout scenic treasure that puts Oregon firmly onto the national—and international—stage. Its beauty, boundless recreational opportunities and historic presence keep it there.

Waterfalls:  Where else can you walk behind a waterfall? Check out the famous South Falls and see what a 177-foot curtain of water looks like from behind. It’s part of the Trail of Ten Falls, a spectacular, nationally recognized hiking trail that weaves through a dense forested landscape. The trail passes a series of breathtaking waterfalls along a rocky canyon, and descends to a winding creek at the forest floor. This 7.2 mile loop is considered to be a moderate hike, with an overall elevation change of 800 feet.  Several connecting trails with separate access points make shorter routes. For everyone’s safety— absolutely no pets allowed on the Canyon Trail.  Pets on leash are allowed on all other trails.

Silver Falls State Park RV Camping map

Boots, bikes, paws, hooves: The park offers more than 35 miles of backcountry trails for mountain biking, hiking or horseback riding (see guided ride info below).  Bears and cougars live in the more remote park areas.

To read more click on the following link: https://oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/silver-falls-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=OR&parkId=402235

Stories From The Road (Trip): “Big Bend Country”… “The Wild West Of Texas”

From a National Review Magazine online article by Heather Wilhelm:

Big Bend CountryTry to get to Big Bend National Park, a stunning mix of ecosystems perched on the Rio Grande. Sure, you can fly into El Paso — and then you’ve still got about 300 miles left to go. No matter which way you approach the heart of West Texas, it’s a long haul. (Well, unless you have a private jet. But then you’d be missing half the fun.) 

As the writer S. C. Gwynne has pointed out, the American frontier didn’t end in California, but in the wild west of Texas. On the way out to Big Bend country, through hardscrabble landscapes, breathtaking canyons, and vast swathes of open sky, you can see why.

If you take my preferred route — it’s longer than necessary, on purpose — you’ll stumble across the former home of Judge Roy Bean, the hard-living, saloon-dwelling, 19th-century “law west of the Pecos,” who kept a black bear as a pet. You’ll pass through Marathon, a one-horse town with an impossibly lovely hotel — the Gage, built in 1927, famous for its White Buffalo Bar.

To read more click on the following link: https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2019/09/09/the-great-american-road-trip/