Organized river rafting trips are a good idea for novices and
experts alike. River rafting tours provide all of the equipment,
guidance, and instruction necessary. If the trip covers several
days, the rafting company may provide camping accommodations as
well. Trips are available for rafters of all skill levels, from
beginners rafting for the first time, to skilled experts looking
for the toughest rivers in the country.

River rafting tours are offered on many major rivers in the
country. Trips are available in many different lengths, varying
from an afternoon to a two week trek. River rafting trips
designed for families as well as trips that cater to experienced
rafters are available almost anywhere. While much river rafting
is done in the Southwest, it is by no means the only place for a
river rafting adventure. North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and many
other states have great rivers for rafting.

A couple of well-established river rafting outfitters are Dvorak
Expeditions, California River Rafting Excitement, and the
Nantahala Outdoor Center. All three of these companies offer
great guides, top-of-the-line equipment, and routes on some of
the best rivers.

Dvorak Enterprises was the first outfitter given a river
recreation outfitters license in 1969. Run by the world famous
Bill Dvorak out of Salida, Colorado, this company offers
exciting river rafting trips to visitors in many states
including Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, and Texas, as well
as New Zealand and Nepal. Dvorak Enterprises is known for its
friendly, skilled, and knowledgeable guides.

California River Rafting Excitement is one of the top-rated
river rafting outfitters in the Sunshine State. This company
offers river rafting trips on five different California rivers,
has trips designed for families as well as experienced rafters,
and offers camping equipment for trips lasting several days.

Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina offers a variety of
river rafting adventures on several rivers in the area. The
rivers range in difficulty to accommodate rafters at any skill
level, and Nantahala offers great guides as well as a rafting
school for novices.

River rafting trips are a fun way for adventurous travelers to
unwind and relax. River rafting adventures are available for
rafters of all skill levels, insuring that everyone will have a
good, safe time

Boredom, limited space and overflowing energy are a source of nuisance for a child when in a restaurant – how much more in the narrow cage of a car on a hour-long ride. You have barely left your home when the notorious “Are-we-there-already” starts, sometimes replaced by the equally infamous “How-long-is-it-still-going-to-take” and “I-have-to-pee” (the latter preferrably on highways with no possibility to stop).

So again, the key here is entertainment. It’s more difficult because you have a very limited space in your car and often a very long time to go.

The “surprise bags” described above do a good job also here. In case of a long ride, you can prepare several smaller bags and scatter them in intervals of several hours, thus keeping the excitement going. Be careful with loose plastic boxes and toys, though, they can become missiles heading forward in case of an accident.

Why are kids asking the “How-long?” – question? Well, first of all, because they’re bored and annoyed. But it’s also hard for children to understand a distance of 500 miles or a period of 10 hours. So when you’re planning your trip, just make a simple map for your children, displaying your home, the target and important points in between. Add some pencils or crayons and point out when you’re passing the marking points. This way, your kids have an overview of where you are and adding drawings will keep them busy. Later on, you can put the maps in your holiday album for souvenir. Keep in mind to make a map for each child.

If your child doesn’t mind sleeping in the car, you can consider travelling during the night. That can buy you some peace during the ride, at the cost that you’re tired when you arrive at your destination. If you have a spaciuos car, like a van, you can use some pillows and blankets to turn it into a cozy place.

Entertainment electronics can make your trip a lot easier. A game boy can keep a child occupied for a very long time, and you can even get a small, portable tv / vcr combination for a reasonable price. You can bring your kids’ favourite videos and they’ll probably be fine for the entire trip. When it comes to music, you should consider that you’ll have to listen to it also, so make sure you can stand the constant repetition of child songs. Otherwise, a walkman might do the job.

A major problem with playing in the car is the very limited space. Toys easily fall down and slide under seats, so you have to stop in order to pick it up again. A tray like the ones used in fast-food-restaurants may help there: it supplies a solid, even surface that can be used as a foundation for eating or as a playground. Childrens’ imagination is still vivid, so a plain plastic tray can turn easily into a setting for the favourite action hero’s next adventure. If you have a family, you should get rid of the idea of having a car to impress and rather trade it for something spacious and comfortable. It might be hard at first, but later on you’ll be thankful for the extra space that helps getting through even a long trip without too much disturbance.

Lake Tahoe camping offers some of the most memorable trails and camp spots in the whole world. The fabulous and powerful mountains of the High Sierras surround one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, drawing campers, hikers and bikers from all over the globe to experience this jewel of a vacation spot. Let’s take a brief look at the hiking and camping in the region:

The Lake Tahoe Rim Trails, north and south, both allow views of Lake Tahoe and Carson Valley. These hikes are both moderate in difficulty, at an elevation of about 8,500 feet.

Marlette Lake is a fish hatchery at an elevation of about 8,000 feet. Hiking up the Spooner Lake Trailhead in the Nevada State Park will take you through lovely, aspen-filled North Canyon to Marlette Lake Dam. This hike is also of moderate difficulty.

The State Lookout hike is an easy one, at an elevation of about 7,000 feet and only a mile roundtrip. The Lookout affords superior lake views through free telescopes and you can take the nature trail which details the history of Lake Tahoe’s famous North Shore. Turn north on Reservoir Drive off off Highway 28.

Another short and easy hike, on Lake Tahoe’s south shore, is the Moraine Trail. Its elevation is about 6,000 feet and the hike is 2 miles roundtrip and fairly flat. It winds through the forest and along the Fallen Leaf Lakeshore and then on into Fallen Leaf Campground. Find it about three miles north of Highway 89 from South Lake Tahoe to Fallen Leaf Road.

This is just a smattering of trail descriptions for you to see some of Lake Tahoe’s wonderful trails. Don’t forget to research the weather and your permits… and that campfires are not allowed.

Happy hiking!

What piece of natural Florida is within shouting distance of Disneyworld, yet worlds away from the ordinary? Where you can travel back in time to the Florida that once was?

Welcome to Wekiwa Springs State Park, near Orlando, Florida.

Springs of Delight

Wekiwa Springs State Park is well-known by the Orlando residents, but it’s a secret to most visitors. Hidden away in Apopka, the Springs are a wilderness wonderland.

The most obvious thing about the park is its main spring and swimming area. The water is crystal clear and makes for some great snorkeling! But it’s a bit on the chilly side, at a cool 70 degrees Fahrenheit year around.

Back in Time

If you want to see what Florida used to look like, before houses and stores and theme parks took over, take a walk on the trails at Wekiwa Springs State Park. There are about 17 miles of trails in the park, so there is plenty of room to roam. You’ll share many of the trails with people on bicycles and horses, but you may find yourself alone much of the time because…

…of the canoes!

Winding Rivers

Canoeing is the biggest draw at Wekiwa Springs State Park. There are miles of river to paddle or to simply float down. The water is clear, the trees make a cool canopy and the sky is blue. You can start at the head of the springs, paddle down the river and then take a shuttle back up to “Canoe Beach” – your starting point.

Campground Tales

There is also camping at Wekiwa Springs State Park, and it’s one of the few Florida State Parks that actually allows pet camping! Not to worry, there is a campground for people without pets, too.

Want to know More?

If you’re planning a Central Florida vacation, consider a side trip to Wekiwa Springs State Park. Get to know the park the locals talk about!

If you are traveling, alone or with your family, it is essential that you get adequate risk cover for everyone. Travel insurance is a must since it covers you for all exigencies during your trip. Having said that, there are some important things that need your attention.

If you are traveling with your family, you should take a family travel insurance plan that covers your spouse and children. In case you have an extended family, you can go for either the extended family plans or the group travel plans. These work out to be far cheaper than individual coverage plans. However, the actual policy that a travel company offers would depend on the number of members traveling with you.

In case you have missed out on an extended plan, do read the offer document carefully and check if your family members are included in the plan. Since the insurance companies look out for ways and means for offering less for more, it is up to you to ensure that you have adequate insurance and that you have seen and checked the fine print in the offer document, something that most of us miss to do.

To ensure that you are getting value for your money, read the exclusions, restriction clauses carefully. Some of the common exclusions are sporting risks like bungee jumping, mountaineering etc, recurring treatments, particular age groups and specific cases of pregnancies. The standard policies also exclude use of alcohol and drugs, any terminal illness not reported at time of taking the policy, self-inflicted injury, AIDS etc. If you are a sports freak, please have a look at the extreme sports insurance cover. Though the premium will depend on the activities included and the provisos, it will cover you while you enjoy your favorite sport. However, check for the exclusions here also.

If you have read these terms and conditions carefully, it will help you if you need to file a claim. Since the insurance company looks for smallest of the reasons to disqualify your claim, it is in your interest to know what is covered and what is excluded and also the correct procedure for making a claim. Be sure that you send a completed claim form along with all the relevant receipts including medical reports, police reports etc to ensure that your claim is processed in your favor. Since the insurance company will look out specifically for false and misleading information, the exclusions and also the paperwork submitted with the claim, it will help if you have read and understood all the procedures beforehand.

Misfortune can strike anyone. Even a seemingly innocuous activity like camping can turn dangerous since you are staying outdoors and there may be wild creatures in that part of the country! Hence it is better to be safe than to be sorry afterwards. If you are a frequent traveler, you can opt for an annual plan. And if you travel once in a while, you can take the temporary policies that cover you for the duration of your travel. Whatever the case, it is prudent to be insured and wise to know the details of your policy.

One thing many parents want their kids to experience is culture in other countries. One way to ensure that they are able to do this is to take them on vacations to these other countries. Through adventure vacations, you can have all the planning done for you. You only have to show up at the designated time and place. Here are a few family adventure vacations that will ensure you and your family have a wonderful time.

Go to Peru and follow in the footsteps of the Incas. Prices are about $2595 per person, and includes 13 nights in hotels or lodges, 12 days of multi-activity and sightseeing including easy trekking. There are a lot of things included in a package like this. You will get a professional English-speaking local leader, internal flights and associated airport transfers, and all land transportion involved in the itinerary. There will be hotel, hostal, hacienda and jungle lodge accommodation for a total of 13 nights.

A guided sightseeing tour of Cusco and a tour on horseback of some of the sights near to the city are also included. All rafting equipment will be provided along with professional English and Spanish-speaking river guides, trained in first-aid, swift water rescue and C.P.R. If you care to participate, mountain bikes, bike gloves and helmets will also be provided. A guided tour is provided at Machu Picchu and the entrance fees at Machu Picchu are also included. Meals are provided, except for some lunches and dinners.

If you want your children to experience a different culture, but can’t afford to go out of the country, you might try taking them out west, to experience life back when it was simpler. This trip can cost around $2795, and includes 2 nights in hotels, 5 nights in cabins and 7 nights camping, 13 days multi-activity and sightseeing including easy trekking.

You will have a professional local driver/guide, all land transport involved in the itinerary, including a 2-day rafting tour on the Colorado River and jeep tours above Telluride and at Monument Valley. You will go to National parks, where the entrance fees will be paid for. You will have hotel accommodation in Denver and in Las Vegas, 5 nights’ campground cabin accommodation, and 7 nights’ camping in tents. This also includes campground fees and all equipment (not personal equipment).

Most meals are included, with the exception of dinners on Days 1, 2, 5 and 14, breakfast on Day 2 and lunch on Day 2. You will be enjoying the great outdoors while riding around a working ranch on horseback, jeep and all-terrain vehicles. Sleeping under the stars and singing songs around campfires never sounded like so much fun.

Just remember, kids love to learn about different ways of life. Whether that means visiting another country or just going to a different state, they will come away with a lot of knowledge about the places they have been and things they have seen. Not only that, they will have had fun in the process. They will look forward to that “What I did this summer” essay when school starts back up!

A camper jack is the perfect addition to a pull camper. Anyone who has ever tried to load a camper onto a truck with a this type of jack can attest to its ability to simplify the whole situation.

Camping is a great way for families to spend some quality time together and because of high airplane ticket prices, more and more families are choosing to do more economical vacations like camping. Some families choose to camp using just tents and sleeping bags, while other families would rather drive their truck and pull a plush camper behind them. The more wealthy campers own large RVs that they use for their camping adventures.

The trouble with camping in a tent is that you are always exposing yourself to the elements. So if it is raining, you are likely going to get rain in your tent. Your clothes will get all wet and you could end up having a horrible trip. One advantage to this type of camping is that it is the most economical.

Camping with an RV and camping with a trailer are pretty similar, except that RVs are usually priced significantly higher than a pull camper. A downside to having a pull camper is that you are going to constantly be attaching and detaching the camper from your truck every time you stop to spend the night somewhere. That is where the camper jacks come into play.

With the help of a camper jack you will be able to simplify the process of connecting and disconnecting your camper from your truck. Most camper jacks can handle up to 1000 pounds, they contain bearings and gears that help to optimize the easy of use. These 1000 pound capacity jacks are considered the basic jacks that even the smallest of campers could use to help with transferring.

For larger jobs you can find twice the capacity in heavy duty camper jacks. These jacks hold up to 2000 pounds. This type of jack is best used for larger campers and for campers that need to be hoisted significantly off the ground in order to attach it to a truck.

Rieco Titan manufactures some of the top camper jacks including both the basic jack and the heavy duty jack. If you are in the market for a camper jack, make sure and take your time researching the jack. You can do your research online or by calling the local parts stores. After your research is complete you will have a better idea of how a camper jack works and who offers the best prices. The Internet is also a great source for purchasing your jacks.

Recreational vehicles have been gaining popularity in recent years. As more families are making an effort to spend more quality time with each other, camping is an excellent way to do that. There are many different options available on campers. You can travel with many of the comforts of home. It is helpful to know the parts on your camper. The more familiar you are with your camper the more comfortable you will feel in it.

There are four main areas of your camper to explore. They are the parts on the outside, the parts used in maintaining your camper, the parts needed for driving, and the parts located on the inside of your camper.

Camper/RV Parts: Outside

Awnings and screens for windows, patio and door. These help to shade your vehicle provide airflow and keep bugs out.
Other transportation means, bikes, carriers, and scooters.
Water storage and waste collection tanks, these are manual fill and empty on most campers.

Campers/RV parts: Outdoor Cooking

Charcoal, wood, and gas needed for campfires.
Barbeque stand, and grill racks to cook food in the fire.
Chairs, tables and tablecloth.
Pans, paper plates, silverware and cups to eat with, some people go with paper ware to burn and others with reusable plastic.

Camper/RV Parts: Gear

Backpacks, tents, binoculars, compass, and maps of the terrain.
Lanterns, coolers, toiletries, and sleeping bags.
Bug repellant and first aid supplies.

Camper/RV Parts: Maintenance

Electrical wires, batteries, extension cords, converters and chargers.
Sanitation purposes such as replacement parts, and tank emptying supplies.
Freshwater system such as replacement parts, filters, converters, and pumps.
Extra fluids for engine such as oil, and gas.
Heaters and parts.
Jacks, leveling supplies, stabilizing jacks, and tie downs.

Camper/RV Parts: Comfort

Sleeping bags, pillows, extra blankets, and an air mattress.
Toiletries, dish soap, and large bucket or container to use as a wash bin.
Lighting supplies such as lanterns, flashlights, and candles. Don’t forget extra batteries and lighting fuel!
First aid supplies in case of injury.
A few towels for swimming and showering. Wash clothes for dishes and hands.

Camper/RV Parts: Things You Don’t Need!

Appliances are a luxury when you are camping, not a necessity. You may want to bring a radio for weather updates.
Computer and accessories.
Cell phones are nice to have but most likely it will not have a signal.

Camping can be a great adventure. If you try to only bring the things you need, you will have less interruptions and more time enjoy the outdoors! Always let someone know where you will be camping in case of emergency. Stay safe and enjoy your Camper/RV!

What to do and what is the easiest science fair project? Picking a topic for easy science fair projects is a huge deal for a kid, no matter what the age. There are so many different topics and ideas for all grades; you can find a great one for any child, with almost any interest!

When thinking about easy science fair projects, take into consideration your child’s interests, does he or she love birds, or hate them?

Science fair projects are easy If your child loves the topic so if your budding young scientist loves the outdoors, hiking, camping, and nature, then you might want to consider projects that relate to that. “What is Lightening” is often fun for the child whose imagination is often captured during thunder storms. Depending on the time of year, your child could build his or her own snow gauge and use it. Making a barometer is often a favorite, too.

For older children it is a bit harder. Learning about the body and how it works is something that a lot of children like to do, considering at that age many aspire to be doctors or nurses – learning about the cardiovascular system is educational, and making a scale model of a heart can be tons of fun. Also, learning about blood and studying blood related diseases is very popular, you just might surprise yourself and find that it is in fact easier that you think.

For the little computer whiz in the family, there are hundreds of easy science fair projects that tailor to their interests. In most large bookstores there is a section on building your own robot, and some are rather cheap (The robot, not the books. Although if you shop around you might find that the books are cheap too). A small, electronic gadget that your child has made is something that they will always have, and it will help build confidence in them that they can do something important, involving what they love.

A classic, but still a fun and easy activity, is making a model of the solar system using fruit – orange for the sun, apple for Mars, etc. The local library would have tons of information on this subject – just make sure there is no Pluto, who is not considered a planet anymore, but a piece of something that got caught in our solar systems gravitational field.

Projects with magnets are a favourite – making your own magnet is a very inexpensive and simple project that looks impressive. Your child could study the effects that magnets have on seedlings and their growth, or on healing.

As a parent, I am sure you want to help your child as much as possible to complete their science project – but remember that it is their project, and it is not your place to do their work for them, no matter how much you might want to.

The days of packing 60+ pounds in your 6000 cubic inch pack for a 5 day getaway are gone (or at least they should be). The days of lightening up your pack are here. So what is “going light”? There are varying opinions of lightweight backpacking. To some, a 35 lb pack is going light because they previously had a pack that weighed 70 lbs! To others, 35 lbs would be like hauling gold bars in your pack. For some, going light means sacrificing comfort and spending a month’s paycheck on ultra light gear. We don’t want to define what is or is not ultra light backpacking. Our 10 tips are basic ideas to help anyone lose extra weight in their pack regardless if you have a 60 lb pack or a 20 lb pack. These helpful tips and hints can be used for long 14 day trips or short day trips.

Here are 10 tips to help you start your journey to the light pack.

1.Start with the 3 heaviest items you’ll carry. Tent, sleeping bag and pack. If your tent, sleeping bag or pack are more than 5 years old, there’s a very good chance you’ll be able to shave 2-5 pounds off each one without sacrificing comfort or function. If you need to upgrade all 3, plan on saving up to 15 lbs.

Healthy target weights for your 3 heaviest items while backpacking from May to September.
a.1 person tent: sub 3 lbs.
b.2 person tent: sub 5 lbs.
c.30 degree down sleeping bag: 1.5 to 2.5 lbs.
d.3000 to 4000 cubic inch pack: 2 to 4 lbs.

2. When you come back from your trip, look at what you did and didn’t use. If you didn’t use the item, consider taking it out. After a few trips, you’ll realize what you keep taking and don’t use. The next time you go out, leave the item out of your pack. It may take awhile before you’re comfortable leaving certain items at home.

3. I learned some very bad packing tips from my Scout Master. Scout Masters are the worst packers. Iron Griddles, 32 oz. can of syrup, firewood, you name it and the Scoutmaster will pack it. They misunderstand the scout motto “Be Prepared”. If I wanted to always be prepared, I would be packing a defibrillator. Being prepared for every possible situation while backpacking is impossible. We’ll leave this up to you to decide what your “prepared” comfort level is. If you need to take a defibrillator because it makes you feel prepared, then I suggest just car camping and you can take whatever you want.

4. Planning your trip ahead of time helps you determine which items you need to bring or leave at home. Is there food, water, shelter or fuel where you’re headed? If so, consider leaving items you know you can buy or get along the way. Case in point. We went on an overnighter back in May up Logan Canyon in Utah’s Cache Wilderness. We left at 6:00 pm on Thursday and we were back at work by 9:00am the next day. My pack base weight, that is the weight of my pack without food and water, was about 13 lbs. My overall weight after food and water was 20 lbs. Six pounds of this weight was about 3 liters of water. Water is 2.2lbs per liter. The hike wasn’t too bad, only about 2 hrs. When we reached our camp, there was a stream about 100 yards away. I looked at my Nalgene bladder and it had about 2.5liters of water left out of 3. Why did I just haul 5 extra pounds of water up the trail when there was a water source 1 minute away and we followed a stream the whole way? If I would have looked at the map, or asked the area expert hiking with us if there was water on the way or at the camp, my pack would have been almost 30% lighter. Bringing along an Aquamira (1oz), MSR SweetWater Filter (11 oz) or some other type of filter/purifier would have made my hike that much more enjoyable.

5. Dry camp vs. wet camp. A dry camp is when no water is available. A wet camp is when a water source is available. If your camp is dry, you might actually save weight by not using dehydrated food. If you’re just going to add water you carried from the bottom to your dehydrated food, you might as well bring whole foods. Plus, the food will taste better and it won’t give you gas.

6. Backpack with your brain. Before I started backpacking with my brain, a friend of mine invited me on a 4 day trip into Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon. I have no idea how much my pack weighed, but I do remember it being pretty heavy. I also remember eating a can of peaches and warming up a can of prepared chicken noodle soup. Food and water can turn a 20lb pack into a 40lb pack. Water weighs 2.2 lbs per liter and food can weight just as much. Dehydrated food is a great way to save weight if you have a water source to boil water. Some meals don’t even require boiled water which means you can leave the stove and fuel at home. The meals taste great too. Mountainhouse, Backpacker’s Pantry, Richmoor, Natural High, and Alpine Aire have done a great job perfecting the science that goes behind dehydrated food. The only time I get to eat Thai Satay with beef is when I’m at 8000 feet.

7. Multi-use gear. Have you ever considered using your bandana as a pot lifter or first aid sling? How about that down jacket as a pillow? Your trekking poles as tent poles? Underwear as a prefilter? You get the idea. Many items in your gear arsenal can be multipurpose in function.

8. Share the load. How many tents does it take to sleep 3 people? Three if you’re camping with 2 other men. One if your camping with 2 other women (make that one sleeping bag also). If you’re backpacking in groups, which is much more fun, you can share almost everything! Items to share: water filters, stoves, tents, matches, toothpaste, camp soap, fuel, sunscreen, first aid kits. If one person is taking an item that everyone can use, leave yours at home.

9. Entertainment. Leave your ipod, ibook, and iEspresso at home. You are hiking at 10,000 ft to get away from all that. Buy the compact binoculars if you must bring them. Bring a small digital camera and leave the Cannon Digital Rebel at home.

10. Buy a pack with less volume, then you’re forced to leave items out.