Adventure Travel Planning for 2010
December 31, 2009
You’ve had a bit of a break from my blogs but it’s time for me to ramp it up again and start thinking seriously about my 2010 travel goals and my professional goals for this website in 2010. Look for some significant changes in the New Year that I’ll announce early next week.
Meanwhile, I think you’ll be quite suprised by the Economist article which rates countries according to probable levels of social unrest. Those countries with very high levels are ones you might want to rethink visiting, at least in the short term. The countries that might put the ‘adventure’ back in real adventure travel inlude:
- Ecuador (and in theory the Galapagos)
- Bolivia
- Haiti
- Madagascar
- Ivory Coast
- Guinea-Bissau
- Zaire
- Chad
- Sudan
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Moldova
- Yemen
- Tajikstan
- Uzbekistan
- Iran
- Iraq
- Afghanistan
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Burma
- Papua-New Guinea
Most of the countries with a high probability of social unrest are known to you. Less well known are those countries that still have a high risk of social unrest, many of which are or have been popular tourist destinations. Stay a tad more tuned if you plan on visiting one of the high risk countries noted below (only popular ones mentioned).
- Mexico
- Guatamela
- Honduras
- El Salvador
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Argentina
- Venezuela
- Peru (interesting that Colombia is now not rated this high)
- Thailand
- China
- Russia
- Turkey
- Greece
If you’re an adventure traveler but still safety conscious then from the point of view of social unrest only, safe bets are Canada and the United States, Iceland and Greenland, Costa Rica, Brazil and Uruguay, Australia and New Zealand, Botswana, Libya (a surprise to me!), Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Japan, Laos, Bhutan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
I spelled out the countries because the Economist map assumes you’re an expert on world geography and country placement and I appreciate it’s not everyone’s forte.
May this list give you pause for thought as we enter the New Year. Most of us are extremely fortunate through the luck of our birthplace and should we choose to go to a country in trouble it’s usually just a matter of hours or days before we can leave if something goes terribly wrong.
My best wishes for a very Happy New Year and to all my blog subscribers a big thank you! May 2010 be filled with adventurous travel.
Leigh McAdam
Whistler-Blackcomb Skiing
December 22, 2009
- Christmas Season skiing on Blackcomb Mountain
If you’re getting this blog and you’re a skier and you live close to Whistler then I highly recommend including Whistler-Blackcomb in your Christmas holiday plans, even for a day. The skiing is truly outstanding this year, putting the fun back into the sport.
Yesterday it was pouring rain in Vancouver but snowing hard up in Whistler for most of the day. Some hills had accumulations of over 15 inches of powder. What a treat! I just wish I’d been one of those first tracks skiers.
Views from Whistler - Blackcomb
You’ll help keep the winter blahs at bay with a healthy dose of exercise and fresh air. So forget the shopping and get yourself to the mountain. You’ll put a smile on your face!
Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and safe travels.
Leigh McAdam
Some Winter and Spring Travel Ideas
December 17, 2009
If you’re a committed traveller then it doesn’t matter if the economy is sinking and your finances are faltering and the world as you know it is changing. Well, it does up to a point, but you’ll likely still find some way to travel somewhere out of the ordinary or do something out of the ordinary, somehow. Here are some ideas if you just want to go, though much better articulated by the famous Robert Louis Stevenson.
For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.”
- If you have about a month, $3000 (including airfare!!) and a good pair of walking shoes then head to St. Jean Pied du Port in France, the official start of the Camino de Santiago. Start walking and all your problems will disappear – except the pain of blisters and packs.
- Georgia O’Keefe’s big open sky country in New Mexico always beckons. Hike, cycle, ski and enjoy the galleries.
- Moab, Utah is another spot that calls me back time and again. Cold and sunny in the winter, uncomfortably hot in the summer but perfect in spring and fall. Hike or bike magnificent red rock country. Camp, stay at cheap hotels or at one of my favourite inns.
- Baja, Mexico is one of the few places on the planet that I would happily return to every year for a weeks worth of sun and sea kayaking.
- Hop in your car, outfitted with snow tires and shovels, grab your downhill and crosscountry skis and plan on 1-4 weeks away depending on where you live and how great the snow is. Drive from town to town, wherever the snow blows you, and try some of those ski hills you’ve only heard about on the Weather Network. A western Canada version was recently profiled though this would also be fun to do in eastern Canada and the eastern US (think Mt. Tremblant, Mont Ste. Anne, Sutton, Stowe, Jay Peak…) or in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho (think Steamboat, Copper, Vail, Aspen, Telluride, Jackson Hole, Park City, Alta, Sun Valley…)
Contact me if you need more ideas but assuming you enjoy some physical activity you won’t go wrong with any of the ones mentioned.
Leigh McAdam
Hiking in Joshua Tree National Park
December 15, 2009
Arch Rock, Joshua Tree National Park
If you’ve made it as far as Palm Springs then plan on a minimum of one day and two – three days if time permits to visit and hike Joshua Tree National Park. This is a gem of a park that draws loads of rock climbing and bouldering enthusiasts. It also as an abundance of easy walking nature trails that reveal the otherwordly landscape of rocks and Joshua Trees. It will take you a full day to do the return drive to Palm Springs and hike all of the nature trails.
Otherworldly rock formations and Joshua Trees
If you have more time then there are additional trails worth hiking that are much longer including the 16 mile Boy Scout Trail, the 7.2 mile Lost Palm Oasis and the 4 mile Lost Horse Mine Trail.
The Joshua Tree, Yucca brevifolia for the plant enthusiasts, is one of the indicator plants that confirm you’re in the Mojave Desert. It survives on little rainfall by spreading its roots in a dense shallow network to collect as much surface water as possible. All parts of the Joshua Tree have been used by the native Chemeheuvi, with its fibres made into mats, baskets and sandals. Ground squirrels, birds and deer eat the blossoms and ladder backed woodpeckers and flickers use the trunks as a nest. Sometimes a Scott’s oriole will hang a woven nest from a limb too.
Joshua Tree
Camping is possible in the park and there are some truly gorgeous campsites that will only cost you $10 per night, though there is an entrance fee of $15 which is good for a week.
Skull Rock, Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree is an excellent place to visit year round. Higher elevations may be cold in the winter months but you can still hike and the sun will likely be shining … and it’s a great place to escape to when the Coachella Valley temperatures start to soar.
Leigh McAdam
Palm Springs money saving tip
December 14, 2009
You will likely need a car if you have flown into Palm Springs. Avoid renting at the airport since taxes are 30%. Instead rent in downtown Palm Springs where taxes are 7% at either Aztec Car Rental or at Enterprise on Indian Canyon Drive. Aztec also has offices in Cathedral City and Palm Desert.
Aztec will also pick you up and drop you off at the airport free of charge!!
Leigh McAdam
Accommodation Options in the Palm Springs Area
December 9, 2009
Palm Springs and the surrounding valley is a mecca for the well heeled LA crowd so as such there are numerous high end options. Only a few of those will be mentioned.
There are three main towns to stay in – Palm Springs, Palm Desert and La Quinta. Palm Desert is the most central of the three and has the finest restaurants and shopping, if that is a consideration. The other item of note is that many of the Palm Springs hotels are on East Palm Canyon Drive so unfortunately some noise escapes into the pool areas making them less than tranquil at times.
If you decide to visit ask for the hotel’s very best rate because occupancy numbers are definately off. Condos are a particularly good deal right now as people who can’t sell are turning to renting for some much needed cash flow. Here is a list of possibilities.
Palm Springs Area
- The Rental Connection They offer condos to vacation homes across the entire Coachella Valley and across all budgets.
- Vacation Home Rentals Rates start at $195 per night and $995 per week.
- The Willow Historic Palm Springs Inn Rooms are $275 and including breakfast. The inn is in a restored charachter mansion that has enjoyed many distinguished visitors including Clark Gable on his honeymoon and Albert Einstein.
- Riviera Resort & Spa You will find mid century modern at this full service resort and rates starting as low as $125 per night with discounts.
- Desert Riviera Hotel You couldn’t ask for nicer or more helpful people running the place. The only drawback is that there is some street noise at times in the pool area.
- The Horizon Hotel This is a mid century modern property with breakfast included in the room rate.
- Alexander Inn This 1950′s hotel underwent extensive renovations in 2008. Poolside suites have 1200 square feet and rates are $185 and up.
- Rendezvous B&B Rooms vary from $160-$240 per night.
Palm Desert and Surrounding Area
The pool area of the Desert Riviera Hotel in Palm Springs
Leigh McAdam
‘Must do’ Palm Springs Area Activities
December 8, 2009
You have to get past the miles and miles of shopping malls to appreciate some of the great things the Palm Springs area has to offer. Here is my personal list on what to do though remember this is largely not on the radar screen of your typical Palm Springs visitor or resident for that matter.
- Hiking tours on one of the more than 140 hikes in the area. Some personal favourites over a short visit were:
1) a 9 mile circular loop with about 2500′ of elevation gain starting in the Indian Canyons near Palm Springs which included the West Fork, West Fork North and Murray Canyon Trail. We were told by the ranger that statistically about 1 in 1000 visitors might do that trail. It is a beautiful trail with gorgeous views of the mountains above Palm Springs plus views below of palm lined canyons. It is well marked but feels remote.
2) the Mirage Trail aka The Bump and Grind out of Palm Desert. This is not a particularly pretty trail though you do get views of the valley. The trail is singularly about getting a quick aerobic workout and up and back can be done in about 1 1/2 hours.
- A visit to Joshua Tree National Park is extremely worthwhile. There are many days worth of hiking if you are so inclined. Numerous 1-2 mile hikes will give you a sense of the area, particularly the Hidden Valley and Barker Dam trails. The rock formations are reminescent of Fred Flintstone country.
- Enjoy a date shake at Shields Date Garden. Then watch a video on the sex life of a date (who knew?) and marvel at the sheer number of varieties.
- Visit the Palm Springs Art Museum and admire their blown glass exhibit. Admission is free on Thursdays from 4pm -8pm.
- Take a trip to the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge if you enjoy bird watching.
- Rent a bike and do the 15 mile loop around Palm Springs. You will pass through 50′s and 60′s vintage residential neighbourhoods which are interesting architecturally.
- Drive up to Idyllwild and delight in the change of environments as you head from desert to ponderosa pine country. There are excellent hikes up here, especially on the ‘Zen Center to Red Tahquitz Overlook’ trail.
- Check out the art galleries and designer shops on El Paseo in Palm Desert.
- And as a nod to golfers enjoy one of the 100 courses in the Coachella Valley.
Joshua Tree National Park
Leigh McAdam
Palm Springs – there is a life here without the golf
December 2, 2009
Palm Springs in December is a welcoming spot. You walk off the airline into an open air terminal with sunshine pouring in….and immediately start stripping since if you live in Canada or the northern US, you haven’t felt such intense sun in many months already. And you’re likely dressed in black. (Keep your sunglasses handy too as you’ll need them immediately.)
There are a variety of accommodation types to choose from within a number of small cities that make up the Coachella Valley including Palm Springs itself, Palm Desert, Cathedral City, Indio, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta and Indian Wells. I’ve probably missed a few too. In my explorations so far I like Palm Springs and La Quinta, both of which are close to the mountains so walking and hiking paths are readily accessible. Unfortunately a car is pretty much a necessity too, given the driving culture, lack of a good and timely public transport system and the distances between towns.
There are plenty of activities apart from golf to keep you as busy as you choose to be. There are 140 hikes within a 70 mile radius of Palm Springs. These range from 1 mile to 22 mile affairs and in fact the hike with the biggest one day vertical in the US is probably here. It is ‘The Cactus to Clouds’ hike with an elevation gain of 10,400′ over 22 miles though fortunately you can take the tram down and avoid much of the descent. Throw in some lazy biking around Palm Springs to give you a feel for the place, a trip out to Joshua Tree National Park to admire huge boulders and high mountain desert plants, some shopping and pool time and your getaway will be over in no time.
However if you have several weeks or months where you’d like to get out of the winter I would recommend considering this part of the world. The Palm Springs area, like so many other spots that were overbuilt, is hurting. There are great deals on long term condo rentals available and more in the next few days on some places to stay if you’re here for a week or less.
Leigh McAdam
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