Guides

Check Out This Proposed Trail Across America!

This epic proposal promises a coast-to-coast trail for the ultimate outdoorsman.

Published

1 month ago

April 19, 2023

Come one, come all, but especially come cyclists and hikers. There is a new project proposal of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), the nation’s largest trails organization. that offers the possibility of the greatest trail in America. For the first time in American history, “The Great American Rail-Trail” will be the longest and most ambitious trail project of its kind. Only the highest trail quality types are suitable for this project. From long-distance cyclists to casual explorers, to runners, all will be able to appreciate the journey set forth by this proposal.

Stretching over 3,700 miles, the trail will reach between Washington DC to Washington state. Foot-based travelers will traverse over 125 existing trails, greenways, and additional multiuser paths through 12 states: Washington D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and finally Washington. At the moment, over 52% of the route is pre-existing.

Criteria set forth by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy demand that a minimum of 80% of the trails are initially separated from vehicle traffic. Eventually, 100% of the trails are expected to be separated. Once the proposal, funding, and expected successes are in place, 90 trails gaps between these pre-existing trail will be completed.

For over 30 years, the RTC has had their mind of this incredible new project. They have worked with several dozen state agency representatives and hundreds (if not thousands) of trail partners to accurately assess and plan out the preferred trail routes.

The trails featured on this national treasure will represent the beauty and trail priorities of the states that contain them and as well as their local jurisdictions that host and maintain them. Plus, this project will be an unbelievable catalyst for local economic development and provide new services and routes for long-distance travelers.

The RTC has partnered with state and local trail officials to define the premier and preferred route for this “first-of-its-kind” trail. A comprehensive route assessment was established after a 12-month long analysis using detailed GIS (geographic information system) database with information from more than 34,000 miles of existing routes. Reviews from 300 state and local trails were explored to plan future trail additions as well.

“We have the chance to create from that vision a national treasure that unites millions of people over thousands of miles of trail… This trail is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide – together – an enduring gift to the nation that will bring joy for generations to come,” stated Ryan Chao, the president of the Rail-Trail Conservancy.

Featured

Don’t Be A Baby When Traveling With Your Baby

Published

11 hours ago

May 27, 2023

Owen Gardocki

Traveling is hard enough, but throw a baby into the mix and your stress increases 10 fold. You remembered diapers, but did you remember diaper cream? Sure you have socks, but did you remember tiny nail clippers? There is just so much to remember. Did you pick the right hotel room? How are you going to carry that car seat? When you sit down to try and plan how to travel with your brand new baby, you don’t do much planning, in fact, you just have a panic attack or six.

Well calm down and take a deep breath because we have an easy to follow guide to help you plan for traveling with a baby the right way.

Check your carry-on checklist

Your carry-on is no longer your carry-on, it’s your baby’s carry-on luggage. Sorry, but your baby needs supplies more than you need that romance novel, so fill your carry-on with all your baby supplies and if you’re not sure what those are, here is a good checklist that we use when we travel: diapers, wipes, tissues, disposable plastic bags (for dirty diapers), an umbrella, a sweater or jacket, first aid kit, drinks, snacks (non-perishable,) spoons, straws, books and toys.

Join a Facebook travel group

The easiest way to travel as a family is to learn from other families who have done it before you. If you don’t have any friends with kids in your personal life than Facebook is a great resource for you. Join a group focused on family travel for all the tips you need or for things you didn’t think of when it comes to your traveling tot.

Bring Ziploc bags and extra clothes. Trust us.

You never know what is going to happen on a plane, but you want to be prepared. It’s a good idea to always bring more fresh clothes and Ziploc bags than you think you’ll need. Your baby will constantly surprise you with how quickly they can ruin their own clothes and Ziploc bags are a great way to keep those stinky clothes out of sight and out of mind. Oh, and you might want to bring yourself a change of clothes too. Babies can make you a mess just as easily as they can make themselves a mess, so if you want to stay clean then you should probably bring something to change into.

Hit the dollar store

Buying a bunch of new things for your child is a great way to keep them distracted on a flight. If they haven’t played with anything before then the odds are they will love it. A toy car or toy wand or even a kitchen utensil will all do wonders for your sanity and their sanity as well.

Keep baby cool

Bring a small fan you can use to keep your baby cool. A lot of car seats just aren’t that breathable and babies can get too hot very easily. A hot baby is a miserable baby and a miserable baby is a miserable you. So if you want to enjoy your trip, then think about packing that fan.

Featured

Vacation Destinations For Large Groups

Published

23 hours ago

May 26, 2023

Owen Gardocki

Going on a trip with a bunch of friends and family always sounds like a great idea until it is time for you to plan the vacation. Do you really want to figure out travel, accommodations, and meals for a giant group? I don’t. I have enough trouble trying to figure out meals at home for myself, let alone an entire group out on vacation.

Some vacations are perfect for large groups, while others just prove to be a giant headache. Traveling with a bunch of people is always a great time though, and if it is your task to plan everything all that stress will truly pay off when you’re somewhere awesome with a bunch of your favorite people.
We’ve decided to make your life easier by taking the stress out of planning the large travel by giving you our favorite destinations we always choose when traveling with a large group.

Maine Windjammer Cruises
Take up to 40 people on a giant sailing ship and you will be sure to give everyone a trip to remember. The Maine Windjammer Cruises offer three-to-six day sailing cruises depending on the weather which is great for groups. On board everyone gets to enjoy delectable fresh baked goods and, of course, it wouldn’t be a Maine company if they didn’t offer their passengers a lobster bake. When you’re done cramming your gullet full of lobster and snacks then you can enjoy your time swimming off the ship or learning how to sail one of these massive ships. Or if you’re feeling lazy, just enjoy the beautiful water and the wildlife that accompanies the unreal scenery.

Busch Gardens
Riding roller coasters is something everyone can get behind and there’s no better place to do that than in the entertainment-filled Busch Gardens. Busch Gardens is great because it isn’t jam-packed like other parks and they offer fantastic group rates. YOu can either ride coasters all day, hit the water park, or if your group is full of energy try to hit both. You can please anyone at Busch Gardens from grandpas to babies with their awesome rides and great shows it is sure to be a hit with everyone in your large group.

Mackinac Island, Michigan
Ditch the cars and head to Mackinac Island in Michigan for a lot of old-school fun that has to be seen to be believed. You and your group will arrive by ferry and can get around the car-free island by carriages or bikes. On this island, you can see beautiful shops and galleries and eat some of the most delicious fudge you’ve ever tasted. Trust us, it’s amazing. Even if someone in your group hates islands, once they taste the fudge they’ll be feeling a-ok. The cute boutiques and shops are guaranteed to keep any group large or small busy for hours and the charm this island holds is absolutely undeniable. Traveling in a large group can sound like a bad idea but if you pick the right destination it will be a trip of majestic wonder.

Destinations

Well-Deserved Vacations & How They Can Positively Affect Your Mental Health

Published

2 days ago

May 25, 2023

Owen Gardocki

A recent survey on how many Americans actually use their paid vacation days shows that only 38 percent use all of those days. In 2018, over 650 million vacation days were unused. Such a huge number is a matter of concern especially that there’s a strong connection between the times you take days off for vacation and the state of your mental health.

It’s easy to understand why a lot of individuals have been skipping out on their paid vacation days. Vacations can be quite expensive and for some, it’s just impractical. Nevertheless, experts say that people should take time off from their daily stressors at work. It is essential when it comes to one’s mental health.

When you take a break from your work, it is important that you maintain your overall well-being. If you are constantly exposed to the stress of work, it is unavoidable that you will suffer negative consequences both on your body and mind.

Taking a vacation will help your body in lowering cortisol levels. When this happens, then stress is reduced and your mental health improves. Vacations also help in replenishing your ability to have creative thoughts. You can daydream all you want and just think of anything that you want to think about.

Another valuable thing that you’ll get during vacation is sleep. Ample sleep is valuable to your mental health. If you sleep well, you will also feel more energized. It means that you will have both the time and the energy for exercise and other physical activities that you may not have tried before.

Statistics show that on average, Americans take 2 “mental health days” annually. But a couple of days away from stressors may not be sufficient for most individuals to be able to fully recharge. This is especially true when the vacation time is spent on accommodating other stressors such as chores and other responsibilities at home or with family.

Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean that you need to stay somewhere luxurious or spend money you don’t have for a two-week vacation. A good kind of break is something that just takes you away from your usual routine. It doesn’t have to be expensive. There are plenty of domestic destinations you can go to that can help your mind and body relax.

Staycations are also a thing these days. You can simply stay at home, sleep, read, or watch movies. It’s not necessary to have a change of scenery. All you need is to be able to disconnect from your daily routine. Taking several days to relax will be helpful for everyone. However, you should remind yourself that you should relax and not take on other stressors during that time.

When you decide to stay at home for your paid vacation days, do not get stressed over the chores or errands. If you like to garden or do some DIY projects, that’s fine. But don’t stress over it. Once any activity becomes too demanding, remind yourself why you’re on vacation leave. Take the time to relax so your body and especially your mind can relax.