Archive for January, 2012

Your Outdoor Adventure

Imagine waking up to clean fresh air bright blue skies and the smell of coffee perking on an open campfire. What better way to start your vacation. Whether you decide to go camping fishing or hiking it will be an activity enjoyed by the whole family or a group of friends or maybe individuals that prefer to spend some alone time. One of the great things about being outdoors is that you can do any of these activities all year long; whether you are enjoying the cold crisp air of the winter mountains or hiking on a trail of your choice or even just taking it easy at your campsite or fishing for your dinner in the warm summer months.
Before you start on your adventure it would be a good idea to make a checklist of things to bring and do so you dont forget anything. Give your self plenty of time to make sure you bring everything that you might need. Plan what kind of meals you will be eating. And dont forget your kids will love helping you make that list and you can be sure that they will have some great ideas of their own. For families bringing small children its always a good idea to include some special games or toys to help keep them entertained while you are hanging out at your campsite. Inviting friends with some camping experience is always a great idea they would probably be able to share some good tips on camping with you.

So next time you find your mind wandering and you are just itching to get going get up and get busy planning your next outdoor adventure.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Miriam Schmitz has recently retired and is currently running a new website called MMS Outdoor Fun with her husband which features quality camping equipment and supplies.This goes along with what the family loves to do.
You guessed itcamping.Check out our camping equipment and camping supplies.com

You Have A Choice Of Mendocino Airports

This article gives you the pros and cons of the airports closest to Mendocino and the Redwood Park area so you can decide which airport is best for you.

Airports Serving Mendocino

The immediate Mendocino area has no airports except the Little River Airport for small private planes. You will need to fly into another city and then drive or take a series of buses to reach the Mendocino coast.

Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport

The nearest airport to Mendocino with commercial service is Santa Rosa’s Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa CA.

Yes that’s Charles Schultz as in Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Charles Schultz lived and worked in Santa Rosa and nearby Sebastopol for more than 30 years.

The Sonoma County Airport also referred to as the Wine Country Airport or Santa Rosa Airport is just west of U.S. Highway 101 along Airport Boulevard four miles north of Santa Rosa. You’ll reach Mendocino in around 2 hours.

Although most convenient to Mendocino Sonoma County Airport suffers from few commercial flights and just three rental car choices. The lack of airline competition often means higher fares.

Horizon Air owned by Alaskan Airlines flies in nonstop from Los Angeles LAX Portland and Seattle. Delta may start service soon.

Alternative Mendocino airports

Most travelers reach Mendocino from San Francisco International Oakland International and Sacramento Airports. These offer numerous choices of airlines and car rental companies. All are around 3.5 hours from Mendocino.

You may also use Arcata/Eureka Airport described below.

Sacramento Airport

Although folks often overlook it when traveling to the Mendocino coast the Sacramento International Airport enjoys important advantages.

Unlike travel between Oakland or San Francisco airports and Mendocino driving from Sacramento International Airport to Mendocino can be much easier. You don’t have to worry worrying about rushhour congestion because you don’t need to drive through urban areas to reach Mendocino. In fact you don’t even drive into Sacramento.

With a metro area population now nearing 2 million people Sacramento enjoys extensive air service including budget airlines JetBlue and Southwest which helps keep the fares of all airlines down.

San Francisco International

With Southwest again serving “SFO” as well as budget airlines AirTran and Frontier San Francisco no longer deserves a reputation for higher fares compared to Oakland.

Although you’ll face some stopandgo driving through San Francisco you may agree that it’s made up for by the scenic drive through Golden Gate Park and over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Oakland International

Oakland International gives you continuous freeway access to U.S. Highway 101 on your way to Mendocino.

You may face congestion though. On weekday mornings you’ll battle the rush hour going toward San Francisco even though you’re not entering the city. On weekend afternoons you’ll battle the rush from San Francisco on other portions of your drive. So try to avoid these times.

Arcata/Eureka Airport

The Arcata/Eureka Airport ACV offers a very scenic alternative to reach Mendocino. Located some 30 minutes from Redwood National Park the Arcata and Eureka Airport gives easy access to awesome local sightseeing.

Moreover taking just 3 hours you’ll reach the Mendocino coast more quickly from this airport than from the Bay Area or Sacramento.

But please don’t be in a hurry. Include one of the most scenic detours in the world the Avenue of the Giants in your trip.

Even though the Arcata Airport has more commercial service than the Sonoma Airport “ACV” suffers from traditionally high airfares. This may improve somewhat when Delta starts service in June 2008. Also rental car prices have been nearly twice as high as those at the San Francisco International.

However if you take in the uniquely “green” culture in Arcata and the breathtaking natural beauty of the area Arcata/Eureka Airport offers a wonderfully scenic gateway to Mendocino and may be worth the extra cost.

Pick the airport that suits your specific desires and needs and enjoy the Mendocino coast!

About the writer:  An extensive world traveler Don Nadeau president of BidOnTravel loves helping people become experts at helping people become experts at Hotwire and Priceline bidding. Learn more about the Avenue of the Giants referred to in this article.

Yosemite National Park Lodging: Its A Family Affair

Yosemite National Park Lodging has earned a reputation as the family destination in America. More than 4 million people visit each year and Yosemite National Park Lodging makes all of them feel right at home. Your family will too. Because Yosemite lodging offers something for everyone! Yosemite lodging gives you an opportunity to experience Yosemite National Park up close and at when the park is at its bestwhich is any time of the year. A park for all seasons and plenty of reasons to visit soon.

Yosemite National Park lodging has comforts conveniences sights and attractions to suit every age and every budget. Snug in your bed or sleeping bag when youre lodging in Yosemite youre a stones throw away from pristine waterfalls granite domes and giant sequoias. Yosemite National Park is a national treasure and Yosemite lodging is a national pastime!

For many visiting Yosemite National Park is a onceinalifetime experience that will never be forgotten. Youngsters experience the wonder of nature for the first time while parents and grandparents reexperience the Park again through the eyes of their children.

Yosemite National Park lodging is especially popular with multigenerational families. One important reason is that the disabled may access Yosemite lodging as well as the Parks sites with ease. Grandparents with special needs who still want to keep up with their active grandchildrenand kids with special needs can keep up with todays active seniors! Meanwhile mom and dad will be able to keep up with the affordable costs of Yosemite lodging. Affordable camping rates outstanding R/V deals and walletfriendly lodges make Yosemite National Park lodging within reach of almost everyone.

Active families who choose Yosemite lodging during the winter months have a wide range of group activities to choose from. Kids 10 or older can join adults in strapping on snowshoes at Badger Pass. The costs are as familyfriendly as Yosemite lodging. For just 3 you can follow a ranger on a guided walk. If youre feeling more independent you can outfit family members in snowshoes for just 10 at the crosscountry center and do your own independent exploring.

Yosemite lodging is so comfortable that you may find it hard to get the kids out of bed in the morning. A good incentive is the fun of photography. In the summer shutterbugs as young as 7 and as old as 12 may join a Kodak photographer for a onehour workshop. Weather permitting kids can head out from at The Ahwahnee Hotel while the grownups retire to their welcoming Yosemite National Park Lodging for a little rest and relaxation of their own.

Yosemite National Park Lodging is welcoming but its not unlimited. Yosemite Lodging for overnight visitors is limited to 1871 campsites and 1632 lodging units. There are also a few R/V camps and horse camps but those Yosemite lodging options can accommodate only about 900 or so additional guests. Visitors seeking prime Yosemite National Park Lodging a particular location special amenities etc. should be sure to make their reservations early so that theyre not disappointed

Yosemite Park Lodging Where Kids Find Their Smiles
Yosemite lodging is what the guidebooks call it but kids call the campgrounds r/v parks and rustic accommodations of one of Americas bestloved vacation destinations a little slice of heaven. And no wonder! Lodging in Yosemite National Park delivers everything a kid of any age could want: a sense of the old a taste of the new and the thrill of something completely unexpected waiting to be discovered. Open the door pull back the tent flap turn in any direction and youre facetoface with one of the worlds most kidfriendly landscapes.

Yosemite lodging doesnt have something that you might expect: reception. As a result its difficult to use telephones and radios and the only place that TVs can be found are at one of the Parks hotels. Fortunately the same thing that makes it difficult to stay in touch with the outside world is what helps kids get in touch with the world around them. Yosemite Park lodging options especially campgrounds and R/V parks help young travelers uncover a completely new definition of fun. Disconnected from electronics and technology they develop an appreciation for nature and nuture the ability to find pleasure in simple thingslingering long after a vacation in Yosemite ends.

Yosemite Park lodging offers something else kids crave: quality family time. With both parents working in many households opportunities for everyone to be together are often few and far between. Camping provides an inexpensive alternative to the vacations many families would like to take but cannot afford. Kids and parents alike enjoy being able to kick back and relax as a family with no distractionsand none of the daytoday problems of home life to get in the way of a good time.

Yosemite Park lodging even makes mom and dad feel like kids again. Carefreeat least as far as money is concerned! You can go the deluxe route when you visit Yosemite of course. But Yosemite lodging is so varied and diverse that almost any family can find a budget friendly optionand a destination that kids can look forward to visiting again and againmaybe even dreaming of the day theyll bring kids of their own..

Yosemite Park lodging is perfect for city kids who may not be used to the wilderness. They can get a healthy taste of the wilderness experience without having to roughit too much. Comfortable R/V parks and campsites rich in amenities and creature comforts make Yosemite lodging a nice place to come home to at the end of a childs busy day.

For kids more comfortable with roughandtumble activities Yosemite lodging is an ideal home base for favorite activities such as biking and river rafting. Horseback riding is especially popular with teens. Guided scenic rides depart from and return to stables in Yosemite Valley Wawona and Tuolumne Meadowseach one in close proximity to different Yosemite National Park lodging choices.

From a childs perspective simple experiences are often the most meaningful Sitting around a campfire is one of the best forms of entertainment that parents and kids can enjoy and an experience to be remembered and savored for a lifetime. Yosemite is the perfect place for young imaginations to soar along with the mountains.

Yosemite Valley Lodging Is A Winter Savings Wonderland

Yosemite Valley lodging is always the in spot because fun is inseason 365 days a year! Californias gift of nature is constantly changing and many love Yosemite best during the warm summer months. In July and August Yosemite lodging hosts families on summer vacations. The park is a happy destination for kids and adults eager to escape the heat by rafting on a river or sitting in the cool shade of giant Sequoias.

But when the weather outside is frightful many people find Yosemite Valley lodging delightful! Because despite the fact that many of the roads in the park close due to heavy snow in winter; Yosemite Valley is open all year long and Yosemite lodging is too.. At 4000 feet Yosemite Valley’s winter temperatures are relatively mild 26 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit even in February. The unpredictable weather makes winter an excellent time for photography in Yosemite Valley. Stormy clouds hang over the cliffs and valley floor like cotton balls creating spectacular shots that make amateur shutterbugs feel like pros.

Theres more good news. Yosemite lodging comes in many price ranges but it is especially affordable during the winter months. Winter is considered offseason and Yosemite Valley lodging costs dip right along with the mercury. In general there are fewer people visiting and roomsespecially during midweekare available on very short notice. This makes Yosemite lodging options a perfect choice for people with flexible travel plans. They can take advantage of lastminute airfare specials and get a great rate on Yosemite lodging.

Yosemite lodging may host fewer human guests than usual when theres snow on the ground but there is an abundance of wildlife to be seen. Deer raccoons coyotes and mule are common. And when winter robs Yosemite trees of their leaves its possible to see bears outside their caves their own version of Yosemite Valley lodging!

You cant say Winter in Yosemite without talking about the winter sports scene there. Elite athletes and amateurs share Yosemite Valley lodging and both groups take advantage of Yosemites deeply discounted winter sports packages that combine lifts equipment rentals and for novices instruction in skiing and snowboarding. The Badger Pass Ski Area about a 40minute drive from Yosemite Valley lodging is California’s original ski area. The Pass’s gentle slopes and the quiet backdrop of Yosemite in winter have made this area a traditional destination for generations of holiday travelers throughout California.

Although most of Yosemite Valleys lodging goes to ski enthusiasts in winter skating under the amazing shadow of Glacier Point and the worldfamous Half Dome monolith has brought winter visitors to the Park for more than 70 years. The outdoor rink at Curry Village is the perfect skating spot on a starry night and inexpensive rentals make it easy to spontaneously join the fun. Or if you prefer settle in beside a crackling fire with something warm to drink and watch the skaters glide by.

Winter in Yosemite Valley is whatever you want it to beas long as you want it to be fun!

About the writer:  Grover Goldpebble a proficient writer writes for www.yosemitepinesrv.com and www.highsierrarv.com. Supplementary editorials that were written by Grover Goldpebble about Yosemite vacation Yosemite National Park lodging has comforts are accessible on the internet.