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Castle Rock Trail, Big Bear

Are you a family of rock climbers and hikers? Then a great hike starts at Castle Rock in Big Bear. Plan to spend the day and bring lunch and snacks in your backpack. The hike begins at the Castle Rock trail head and turns and ascends up routes called Taj, The Murder Hole, Timeline and Crocs in the Moat. The rock climbing involved will not be good if you have young children. Parents of older teenagers will not only challenge their outdoor skills but their teens as well. Be sure to bring the proper safety equipment and take a rock-climbing course before you head out. The view from the top of the lake below is well worth the work to the top. If you time it right, you can plan to eat your lunch when you reach your goal at the top. Nothing beats such a spectacular view as you rest and prepare for your descent. Or you can bring lightweight camping gear and find a safe place to stay the night. Be careful to secure you food properly for protection from bears and wild animals.

Cozumel, Mexico for the Fall

A recent post offered a fantastic travel deal to Conzumel, Mexico. If you have never been, this area is a favorite tourist spot for visitors who want to visit Mexico. It is located near to the Mayan ruins and has numerous resorts to stay at. Make sure you book an excursion to the ruins regardless of where you stay, as it's well worth the trek to see the ancient site backed up against the ocean. Be very discerning on which tour company you select to visit the site. Tour groups with older buses may have malfunctioning air conditioning, and you do not want to spend too much time on a hot, sweaty bus. Also, remember you're in Mexico, so stay close to your tour group and don't wonder off the site for your safety. You really should consider an all-inclusive resort so you feel more comfortable and can spend time on private resort areas and beaches. Do remember that you should not drink the water even when offered in bottled containers. It's not worth any negative outcome. And don't forget ice cubes can have the same effect. Conzumel is a vast beautiful beach-front area and guarantees great sun and fun when it starts to cool down here in the states. Highly recommended for an economical trip to a southern, warm location. 

Occidental Grand Conzumel

Occidental Grand Cozumel
Cozumel
From $67 pp/pn (52% Savings)
Nestled in a secluded nature preserve on the southern side of Mexico's famed Cozumel Island, the Occidental Grand Cozumel will make you feel like you've stepped into your own private hacienda by the ocean. With only 251 rooms, this exclusive all-inclusive luxury resort is located on a private section of Cozumel's finest beach, Playa San Francisco. Book your trip today by contacting Elisa Taylor at etaylor@worldlesstraveled.com. Dozens of other great fall specials are happening! Ask Elisa what's available. You would be pleasantly surprised at the deals!!

 

Kid Friendly Tide Pools, California Coast

MacKerricher State Park (near Fort Bragg) -- Drive north past Mendocino and you'll eventually hit MacKerricher State Park, which is a seaside campground. The campground is very nice with wide spacious sites. It is far enough out of the city to make you feel like it's authentic camping and sits within yards of the beach. Hike down to the beach and you will find some tide pools loaded with sea life, from sea urchins to tiny crab. The pools are far enough back from the crashing waves that little ones can gaze to their heart's content and not be threatened by stray, big waves. Bring a small Pacific Coast marine life book to help identify the various occupants of the tide pools to teach your little ones proper names and identify the seaweed and critters. The northern coast is much cooler, so bundle up in wind breakers and sweat shirts so you don't get too cold. Sunny days will bring warmth, but not enough to leave your coats home. In late summer, fog will regularly set in.

Natural Bridges State Park (near Santa Cruz) -- This tide pools are located up on the rock ledges of the beach's end. The pools are left behind at low tide where pools of water settle into the natural spaces between the rocks and fill with sand and silt. All kinds of sea life swim and crawl around the pools. Parents can lead kids out in tennis shoes to protect their feet from the jagged rocks to view the marine critters in their natural habitat. The beach is close by to enjoy an afternoon picnic or play in the sand. Again, the waves crash far enough back to protect kids from being hit by a stray crash.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (near Half Moon Bay) -- This big park is 30-acres of natural sea life to explore the sea life living among the cracks and crevices. Sea lions fans may even spot a few of the mammals lying lazily out in the sun. In the spring, you may even spot a calf with its momma. Plenty of space to explore and see all of nature in its natural habitat. Check out the crabs, sea slugs, sea urchins and numerous fish swimming about. It's a beautiful spot for the whole family to enjoy and very safe for young children.

The Rocky Mountaineer

There are a handful of world-famous train rides you ought never miss in your lifetime. The Rocky Mountaineer is one of them. The train takes visitors through some of the most beautiful and pristine wilderness in the world to a number of destinations, including Banf, Vancouver, Calgary, Whistler and others. Train rides in general are the fabulous attraction for true "armchair" travelers who want to ride through a spectacular view and use their binoculars to see things as amazing as salmon swimming upstream to spawn to viewing any number of wildlife in their natural habitat. If you would like to see some videos of the train excursions, click here. You can book an entire package including airfare and accommodations at your destinations through our services at World Less Traveled. The fall season is approaching fast and many rides will show off some incredible fall scenery. 

Last-Minute Summer Escapes

August is winding down and Labor Day is just around the corner. If you’ve been itching to get away on a quick trip, now is the time. Here are three great weekend escapes if you live in the greater Sacramento area and you don’t want to travel more than three hours either by road or air.

San Diego (one hour, air) – What’s not to do in San Diego? You have the ocean and great regional activities to enjoy. The world-famous San Diego Zoo and Sea World are located here. If you have small children, you can always enjoy Lego Land, and if you travel by car or rent one, you can drive a little over an hour north back to Disneyland in Anaheim. Spend the day on the beach or take a boat ride around the harbor to enjoy the ocean air or fish. Venture down to La Jolla and shop in some of the cute beachside boutiques or enjoy one of the great restaurants along the beach with a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean.

Santa Cruz (2.5 hours, car) – Another fun beachside town to enjoy the shopping, local seafood cuisine, or beach fun. You have, of course, world-famous Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk, which just finished a major facelift on many of the buildings and rides. Enjoy the old-fashioned carousel or the rickety Big Dipper Roller Coaster – both are old-style amusement park treats. Don’t forget to enjoy a few fatty calories with the corndogs or ice cream cones. You can also catch a train ride through the redwood forest to the boardwalk at the Roaring Camp Railroad in Felton. If you would like to stay in a more upscale area to spend the night, you might head about 10 miles up the road to Capitola and make reservations at the Capitola Inn. Capitola is another seaside village that contains dozens of boutiques to shop or spend the day at the beach.

Willets (3.5 hours, car) – Willets is a nice town on the edge of the redwoods and makes a wonderful launching point to hike and picnic in the redwoods or take the Skunk Train to Fort Bragg. You can leave your car in Willets, travel through the redwood forest to Fort Bragg, stay the night, and return the next day or you can stretch it a few days in Fort Brad and enjoy the beach. Midway on the Skunk Train, they stop at an open-air market where you can eat and shop. You might consider a bed and breakfast in Fort Brag since most of the hotels are nothing more than hotels with few amenities. You can also camp in Willets at the KOA and catch the train no more than a mile up the street and only do the mid-way trip and return that day to your campground.

Travel Deal - Sandals Escapes

For a limited time only, enjoy one of the best travel values ever–the lowest airfares combined with our greatest savings, an incredible air-inclusive package for four-paid nights to Sandals Grande Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas or six-paid nights to Sandals Royal Bahamian, Nassau, Bahamas. Known for their supreme service, mesmerizing ocean views, spacious and luxurious accommodations, sophistication, gourmet restaurants and romantic settings, Sandals Royal Bahamian and Sandals Grande Emerald Bay are the perfect destinations for a memorable vacation. To book your vacation, send an email to Elisa Taylor at etaylor@worldlesstraveled.com. 

Most Interesting Tourist Towns

What constitutes a "tourist town"? A tourist town must derive the majority of its revenues from tourists. The local economy is typically driven by tourist dollars, and therefore, the majority of activities surrounding that town involve tourist fun. Like all things in life, not all tourist towns are created equal. Here are some unique and interesting tourist stops to consider on your next trip.

Virginia City, Nevada -- This old gun-slinger and gambling town is located just east of Reno. Fans of the old west and ghost towns will like this one. It contains several blocks of 1800s ramshackle buildings loaded with old-fashioned fun, dry goods, homemade goodies, and plenty of gambling. The kids will love the train ride through the old mining hills, and the folks will enjoy the gambling. Unlike places like Vegas, the town is not R-rated so kids can freely enjoy the food, salt-water taffy, and old west toys. No matter what, don't miss the train ride, especially in spring time when it's still green.

Main Street Disney (Anaheim, California and Orlando, Florida) -- Yes, this seems strange to call this a tourist town, but it's truly a town within a town. Main Street Disney is a mall-like area found outside of the theme parks. It continues the look and feel of the theme parks, but you don't have to pay to shop or visit. They do offer small-time rides that cost extra, Disney-themed shops galore, and dozens of fine restaurants and cafe. In some cases, the food outside of the park is far superior and worth the departure. You can buy many souvenirs you could not purchase inside of the theme parks, and if you happen to forget to buy something while in the parks, you can easily shop here. 

Kenny Bunk Port, Maine -- Without a doubt, the vacation escape of the Bush family is a tourist and beachfront town. This sequestered bedroom community is a beautiful vacation getaway that sits right on the Atlantic Ocean. You can rent a hotel room from any of the various lodges along the beach or stay in the small town. It offers typical tourist gift shops, art galleries, and eateries. It's not more than a few blocks big, but it makes an excellent escape for the upcoming fall leaf peeper season. It's beautiful, quaint and quiet. 
 

Indian House Restaurant, Alaska

 

As most people know, ambiance does not always determine quality of food. This theory proved true about the Indian House Restaurant located along the Seward Highway on route from Anchorage to Garwood. What the restaurant lacked in ambiance, it made up for in view. Sitting along the shore of the Turnagain Arm, the restaurant overlooked the tidal body of water to provide a specular view of it and the mountains surrounding the water. The view provided majestic scenery to admire, because inside of the restaurant it was a basic, old diner replete with steel padded chairs and old tables. Of interest, though, were the dollar bill and coin collections stuck on the upper walls. When asked, the waitress noted those were old table tops kept as souvenirs to decorate the walls. What made the Indian Restaurant so worth the stop -- other than that view -- was the incredibly fresh seafood filleted that very day. The cod fish and chips were unreal and tasted perfectly fresh as part of the morning catch; but it was the crab legs that were tender, perfectly sweet and succulent. Every mouth-watering taste just made you crave more. The halibut and salmon also perfectly fresh were said to be just as taste satisfying and fresh. So next time you visit Anchorage, take the 30-minute drive up the Seward Highway and stop at the Indian House Restaurant. 

 

Three Reasons Why You Should Visit Yosemite in 2011

It's August and summer is nearly over. What is unusual in California right now is that the state had a late, wet year. So, this makes for some pretty interesting results in Yosemite National Park. If you have not yet visited the park or would like to return, here are three reasons why this is the year:

Snowcapped mountains -- hard to believe that in August the mountains would still be snowcapped, but they are. The Sierra Mountain Range at the higher elevations is shockingly still generously covered in snow. So not only do you get to see the majesty of El Capitan or Half Dome, but the surrounding mountains still have late snow glaciers covering the shaded and northern exposures. It adds a little extra beauty to the region at an unusual time of year.

High-Flow Waterfalls -- while most of the time in late summer the famous Bridal Veil falls slows to sometime a dull roar, this year not so. The falls are still blasting at full release due to the late snow melt. So you can hike up to the falls, but like you might be prepared in spring time when the snow melt first begins, you should bring protection from the water pouring onto the trail. You don't want to hike soaked to the bone. You will only feel uncomfortable and chafe.

Lots of Water in the Rivers and Streams -- the snow melt has once again affected the volume of cubic feet of water flowing through the rivers and streams. In a typical month of August, many streams begin to dry up and rivers water recede. Not this year, the rivers and streams are flowing at full bore. These make beautiful sights to behold. You can take endless pictures and explore and swim, but also be careful. High river flows create sometimes deadly currents that can cause drownings. Don't underestimate the power of the water current if you're swimming or rafting.