Guides

How To Pack Your Backpack

Whether you’re a first-time camper or an old vet, use these tips to properly pack your backpack so you can hike to your destination quickly and comfortably.

Published

3 months ago

February 27, 2023

Loren Thorn

When you’re about to head out on a camping trip the most important thing you can do is pack your backpack and pack it correctly. When you’re on the trail you will be thanking yourself after you have packed your bag correctly.

But if you have packed a little haphazardly then half way through trekking to your destination your back will hurt and your ears will hurt too from all the pots and pans that you left to clank over and over again with each and every step you take. You don’t want something to poke you in the back, and you don’t want the weight unevenly distributed.

Whether you’re a first-time camper or an old vet, use these tips to properly pack your backpack so you can hike to your destination quickly and comfortably.

BALANCE YOUR WEIGHT

If your backpack is not balanced then your back will start to hurt wherever the majority of the weight lies. Or, even worse, you could fall down a hill when you take an awkward step because when the weight is unevenly distributed it could swing one way and lead to you losing your footing.

Start by putting the heavy items close to your body while making sure that nothing hard or pointy will be jabbing your back all hike long. Think about making a barrier of soft stuff all along the outside of your backpack with the hard stuff in the center.

KEEP TRAIL NEEDS EASILY ACCESSIBLE

If you pack up stuff that you are going to want to use on the trail just make sure you won’t have to completely unpack your entire pack just to get it. Don’t jam your water bottle on the bottom of your backpack underneath your camping stove. You don’t want to have to unpack everything every time you need a drink.

Keep sunscreen, medical supplies, snacks and headlamps in places that you or a friend can get to quickly and easily. Think of everything you might need and keep it in a convenient place so you’re not spending your whole camping trip regretting not being able to get to necessities like your sunscreen.

CHECK THE FORECAST

Before you leave, make sure that you check the forecast so you can properly prepare for your hike ahead. If it’s going to rain halfway through your hike then you’ll want to be able to quickly be able to grab a raincoat. If it’s going to be super hot then you’re going to want to keep your sunscreen close. Knowing the weather will lead you to know how to pack. Knowing how to pack is the best way to pack for a trip successfully.

STORE YOUR FUEL SAFELY

If you are bringing liquid fuel on your trip then make sure it is sealed and it is packed somewhere safely where it will not open up during your hike. The last thing you want is to be covered in liquid fuel on your hike because even if you don’t catch yourself on fire you still will not enjoy the smell. Trust me.

Destinations

All-Inclusive Resorts Outside The Caribbean!

Published

12 hours ago

June 5, 2023

Owen Gardocki

When you think of all-inclusive resorts you automatically think of the Caribbean and Mexico, which makes sense. Most of the all-inclusive resorts are centrally populated in the Caribbean and Mexico, but there are some other regions that offer excellent resort experiences in less than ordinary places.

All-inclusive resorts are great if you want to stay on a budget, be completely pampered and have a low-stress vacation. Why not veer off the beaten path and try one of these less than ordinary resort locations and expand your vacation portfolio.

Morocco

When you think of Morocco, you don’t necessarily think of all-inclusive resorts but this area is a hotbed for these luxury resorts. Check out the incredible deals offered up at resorts in Marrakech and Agadir, some featuring fun activities like water parks. Many of these resorts don’t offer alcohol since they are located in an Islamic country. You can have plenty of fun without booze, so give the magical country of Morocco a chance.

Arizona

Arizona is the destination of dude ranches and wellness retreats, so find your happiness in the desert. Surrounded by sand is the norm for all-inclusive resorts but most of these have an ocean with the sand, not Arizona. The desert makes an incredible backdrop for some of the world’s best dude ranch experiences. Come to Arizona dude ranches to ride horses, hike and enjoy nature while relaxing on a ranch.

Arizona is also famous for its wide variety of wellness resorts that range from spas to yoga retreats. Let your mind and body enjoy a vacation while you spend a week on a wellness retreat.

Brazil

Brazil has enough coastline for all the world’s resorts but they keep there’s more spread out. These resorts are very similar to the ones you would find in the Caribbean but these are often more remote. The average guests at these resorts are Brazilian families as it’s harder for foreigners to reach remote locations. Check out the Northeastern region of Bahia for the most spectacular resorts.

Tennessee

When you think of luxury all-inclusive resorts, that last place you think of is Tennessee, but this landlocked state has one of the world’s top resorts, the Blackberry Farm. The 4,000-plus acre farm is the ultimate luxurious resort where all the meals are cooked using ingredients from the far and are masterfully prepared by the top shelf chefs. Enjoy horseback riding and hiking in the glorious backwoods of rural Tennessee. Who knew that Tennessee had such class?

Texas

Much like Arizona, Texas has plenty of dude ranches and wellness retreats, but they also have some fun ones on the coast. These resorts tend to shy away from the all-you-can-drink party vibes and lend themselves to the tranquil, relaxing vibes instead. You may not find unlimited booze here but you will find peace and quiet, which are often harder to obtain than adult beverages.

Explore your world and find where you are happiest, and revisit that place as often as possible. Everyone has his or her own idea of a perfect vacation, just make yours a reality.

Guides

The Many Benefits (And A Few Downsides) Of Traveling After A Breakup

Published

21 hours ago

June 4, 2023

Owen Gardocki

Obviously, breakups can be devastating. And when you’re that low, it’s hard to imagine even leaving the house, let alone going on vacation! But there are actually a lot of great benefits of going on a solo vacation after a breakup. Obviously, there are a few downsides as well. But for the most part, taking that time for yourself to explore and reflect can be just what the doctor ordered when you find yourself depressed and lonely.

Here are all the things you’ll learn when you travel after a breakup.

YOU’LL LEARN TO LOVE YOUR OWN COMPANY

One of the hardest parts about being recently single is the sudden and dramatic increase of time spent by yourself. When you were in a relationship, it seemed like your entire life revolved around time with your partner. So the transition can be tough and being alone can drive you crazy at times. But forcing yourself to travel in those moments helps you make the transition into being comfortable alone much faster. Because you have no choice! You don’t even have friends around to keep you company.

You’ll be eating alone, sleeping alone, and doing every other activity in-between alone. It’s a trial by fire, but when you make it through you’ll be more confident and comfortable with yourself than you’ve been in a while.

YOU’LL MAKE FRIENDS YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE

Sure, going on vacation with a partner can be wonderful. But you’re unlikely to connect with any strangers or make any new friends on a couples vacation. Which is fine, of course. But making new friends and interacting with locals can be a very enjoyable and fulfilling part of a good vacation. And when you’re vacationing alone, you almost need to make new friends and make a few connections to make sure you don’t go crazy!

Plus, meeting new people, especially while in a different country, can really open your mind to new experiences and perspectives. And sometimes that’s what a great vacation is all about.

YOU GET TO BE SELFISH

When you’re in a relationship (at least a healthy one), there’s going to be a lot of compromising. You’ll have to go to all kinds of events and watch all kinds of TV or movies that you would never waste your time with but you do anyway because your partner really wants to. But after a breakup, that all goes out the window! And you get to be as selfish as you want and only do the things you want to do. It’s the best part about a breakup.

Now just consider how great that kind of selfishness is on a vacation! Most vacations are chock-full of activities every day. And now you don’t have to cater to anyone else’s needs and wants! It’s all about you, baby. So do exactly what you want to do. Even if it’s nothing at all.

YOU’LL GET YOUR GROOVE BACK

As we alluded to at the beginning of this article, a breakup can cause some serious depression, loneliness, and maybe more importantly, some serious self-doubt. Much of those post-breakup days are spent wondering what you did wrong and if anyone will ever love you again. It’s a terrible place to be and it can be very difficult to break out of.

But going on a solo vacay can help you regain your confidence and relearn how to trust your gut as fast as possible. You’ll be the only one making any decisions, and even if you make a few wrong ones, no one has to know but you. And, for the most part, that’s the best way to regain confidence in yourself: decision making. Trust me, after relying on only yourself for a week or two, you’ll return home more confident than you’ve ever been.

IT’S EXPENSIVE AS HELL

And now it’s time for the negatives of traveling alone after a breakup. I’m sorry! I promise I’m not trying to bring you down, there are just a few important negatives that are worth mentioning. Like that fact that traveling alone is a lot more expensive than traveling with a partner. All of a sudden you’ve gotta pay for 100% of everything? What the heck is that?!

But this isn’t that hard to avoid. Just be smart about your choices. Find some cheap airfare and lodging. And look into visiting places in their off-season so the prices won’t be too jacked up. You can still make it happen, I promise!

A LOT OF THE FUN OF STAYING IN A FANCY HOTEL DISAPPEARS

One of the best parts of traveling with a partner is getting to enjoy all the extravagant luxuries of a fancy hotel together. Wearing the robes, ordering the room service, taking advantage of the free couples massage. Getting to laugh and make jokes to each other while you enjoy the amenities make it all the more fun.

But, unfortunately, it’s just not as fun when you’re by yourself. Frankly, it’s a little depressing. It’s almost like, “What’s the point?” Ya know? But here’s the twist… you ‘ll save a lot of money by not bothering with the fancy hotels! See, I twisted it! It’s actually a positive!

Featured

Prepare Yourself Accordingly For High-Altitude Vacations

Published

2 days ago

June 3, 2023

Owen Gardocki

Some of the most amazing and breathtaking vacation destinations out there are at very high altitudes. That’s why they’re such great vacation spots! Amazing views of nature! Whether the nature is covered in snow or various greenery, the sights and sounds of high-altitude towns and cities are always worth it.

But that high altitude can really cause problems for you if you’re not careful. So you definitely want to be properly prepared so your vacation isn’t ruined just because you’ve never been that high above sea level before. Luckily for you, I’m about to go through everything you need to know to make sure your high-altitude vacation goes off without a hitch.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Seems easy enough, right? You should do this before every vacation. But specifically, when it comes to high-altitude destinations, you’ll definitely want to look into what other people have experienced while being in that city, enjoying its various sights and hikes, or even just flying into the airport. Let other people’s experience be your guide!

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE YOUR TRIP

There are a lot of medications out there that treat altitude sickness, but many of them require a prescription. So be sure to sneak in a quick visit to your doctor before you go. If medication isn’t your thing (and we wouldn’t blame you), there are also plenty of natural remedies that can help. Specifically, things like ginger tea and lavender oil can be very helpful.

DON’T PUSH IT

If you’re anything like me, you always try to make the most of your vacation and end up completely exhausted by the end of it because it was just non-stop activities. But you have to be careful and take it easy when in high altitudes. Especially in the first few days as your body acclimates to the change. So if you’ve got plans of taking a big hike, save it for the backend of your trip.

MAKE SURE YOU’RE IN SHAPE

Well… at least as in shape as you can comfortably get. Don’t get me wrong, even the fittest person in the world can still come down with a bout of altitude sickness. But it also should be easy to believe that the better shape your body is in, the better chance it has to stay healthy during an aggressive altitude change. Not to mention, if you’re taking a vacation in a high-altitude spot, you’re probably about to do a lot of hiking!

STAY HYDRATED

Duh. You should always stay hydrated. Your body constantly needs water, dummy! But high altitudes can definitely lead to dehydration. And, in case you didn’t know, dehydration is bad for your body! And this doesn’t just apply to the days you’re actually on your trip. You should do a little prep work and try and drink more water than usual in the weeks leading up to your vacation as well.

TAKE IT EASY ON THE ALCOHOL

This is a tough one, I know. What’s a great vacation without some alcohol?! But, you have to be really careful with your alcohol intake while in a high-altitude location. Alcohol can contribute to dehydration no matter what altitude you’re in. So it’s probably a good idea to not double down on your chances of getting dehydrated. A few drinks are fine but don’t overdo it.

EAT!

Our bodies tend to burn more calories when in high altitudes. And this can obviously be dangerous as you’ll need that extra energy to continue to enjoy your vacation. So go crazy! Eat more than usual and just load up to make sure you have the proper energy levels. You’re welcome!