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).

  1. Mexico
  2. Guatamela
  3. Honduras
  4. El Salvador
  5. Nicaragua
  6. Panama
  7. Argentina
  8. Venezuela
  9. Peru (interesting that Colombia is now not rated this high)
  10. Thailand
  11. China
  12. Russia
  13. Turkey
  14. 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

www.hikebiketravel.com

Posted by Hike Bike Travel | Filed Under Adventure Travel, Miscellaneous travel tips | 2 Comments 

Whistler-Blackcomb Skiing

December 22, 2009

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. Over 8000 acres offer plenty of choice for all levels of skiers. Whistler-Blackcomb has North America’s biggest vertical drop and the longest gondola ride.

whistler Dec. 2009 007 Whistler Blackcomb Skiing

Skiing on Blackcomb Mountain

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.

whistler Dec. 2009 008 Whistler Blackcomb Skiing

Blackcomb mountain skiing

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! Get up here early. In December many of the ski lifts are closed by 3:30pm as darkness comes early.

whistler Dec. 2009 011 Whistler Blackcomb Skiing

Above the clouds on Blackcomb Mountain

whistler Dec. 2009 031 Whistler Blackcomb Skiing

Above the clouds on Blackcomb Mountain

whistler Dec. 2009 038 Whistler Blackcomb Skiing

A cold but beautiful day of skiing at Whistler

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and safe travels.

Leigh McAdam

www.hikebiketravel.com

Posted by Hike Bike Travel | Filed Under Canada, Miscellaneous travel tips, Skiing/snowboarding/snowshoeing | Leave a Comment 

14 Must Do Palm Springs Area Activities

December 8, 2009

You have to get past the miles and miles of shopping malls to appreciate the great things that the Palm Springs area has to offer.

Here is my personal list of 14 Must Do Palm Springs area activities.

  • Visit the Palm Springs Art Museum and admire their blown glass exhibit. Admission is free on Thursdays from 4pm to 8pm.  Otherwise adults can expect to pay $12.50. The permanent collection focuses on international modern and contemporary painting.
IMG 1977 14 Must Do Palm Springs Area Activities

Palm Springs Art Gallery

  • 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.
IMG 1970 14 Must Do Palm Springs Area Activities

Idyllwild area - high above Palm Springs

  • 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 architecturally very interesting.
  • Take a tour of the art galleries in the Palm Desert area. You will find more than 20 galleries to visit with the bulk of them on El Paseo.  Palm Springs has another 10 art galleries so in all likelihood you’ll find something to match your taste.
  • Visit the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge if you enjoy bird watching. Thousands of waterfowl and other birds spend the winter here including American avocets, snow geese, pintails, green winged teals, eared grebes and the Canada geese. The primary purpose of the refuge is to provide habitat for over wintering and migrating birds.
  • 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.

4336914335 163bdd75de 14 Must Do Palm Springs Area Activities

  • If celebrity gazing is up your alley then you can choose from either the Palm Springs Celebrity Tour or the Grand Tour which focuses on the entire Coachella valley. You’ll pass dozens of homes occupied by the rich and famous, past and present including those owned by Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and Walter Annenberg.
  • If architecture is your thing then try a Segway tour with Robert. His three hour citywide tour is offered twice daily (9:30am and 1:30PM) and will set you back $75. He also offers architectural tours on SEGWAYs for $125 though you won’t cover as much ground. Contact him by email at psmoderntours@aol.com or by calling 760-318-6118.
  • Check out the Palm Springs Air Museum where you’ll find the world’s largest collection of WWII planes.
  • Visit one of over thirty spas in the Coachella Valley.  One of the best known is the Two Bunch Palms Spa and Resort which in 2008 was considered to be one of the 10 best spots in the country to relax your mind and body. Sounds good to me.
  • Visit Joshua Tree National Park. 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.
IMG 2159 14 Must Do Palm Springs Area Activities

Joshua Tree National Park

  • Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Adult tickets cost $23.25 each. The first car up is 10am on a Monday to Friday basis and at 8am on weekends and holidays. You’ll rise 8,516 feet over just 10 minutes. Once at the top you can enjoy over 50 miles of hiking and snowshoeing/cross country skiing in the winter months. You’ll also find a cafeteria and a fine dining restaurant on top.

290231390 86b7940661 14 Must Do Palm Springs Area Activities

  • Hikes on one of the more than 140 hikes in the area. The Palm Oasis in Indian Canyon was one of my favourites.
  • If you’re a gardener then a trip to the Moorten Botanical Gardens is in order. The gardens are small but fun to wander through. You’ll see 3000 desert cacti and other desert plants grouped by geographical region. The founders, Patricia and Chester Moorten, collected plants and designed and installed landscapes for Frank Sinatra. Today Clark Moorten is the curator and renowned expert on succulent plants in America. He propagates them and many are available for sale. Admission is only $3. The gardens are open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm but it is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.
IMG 2022 14 Must Do Palm Springs Area Activities

Moorten Botanical Garden

Posted by Hike Bike Travel | Filed Under Adventure Travel, Miscellaneous travel tips, United States | 2 Comments 

Latest Post

Another Free Guide – Cabot Trail Biking Tour Guide

Palm Springs, a desert resort city of 40,000 plus people, is located 100 miles east of Los Angeles and 130 miles northeast of San Diego. It is one of nine cities that make up the Coachella Valley with mountains surrounding it on all sides.

Inside Cabot Trail Biking Tour Guide you will find the following

1. Fantastic scenery, especially along the western coast of Cape Breton Highlands National Park

2. the climb in the afternoon of North Mountain rewards with excellent scenery too

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