As much as I don’t want to consider myself picky (can we call me particular instead?), the truth is, I demand a lot from my dinners, especially the ones I cook on weeknights. My ideal dinner needs to be healthy, reasonably easy to make, minimize dishes, AND taste indisputably delicious. Too much to ask? I […]
The post Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry is found on Well Plated by Erin.
There's a growing trend in picking travel destinations based on their outdoor activities. If you love a bit of an adventure, a challenge and the great outdoors, why not make your next trip a hiking holiday to remember.
From the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, to setting your sights on the highest mountain in the world from Everest Base Camp, here are some incredible hikes around the world to put on your bucket list. We've listed some of the best hikes in Europe, Africa, the US, Asia, and Oceana.
And if you aren't a big hiker but love exploring on foot, check out Take Walks. They offer different walking tours across Europe and the US, including major cities like Rome, London, Paris, Barcelona, Athens, New York, San Francisco and New Orleans.
One of the best hikes in Europe, the Tour du Mont Blanc ensures trekkers are in for a challenge, covering 170km and 10,000m of ascent and hiking through France, Italy and Switzerland. The views are breathtaking and hikers can expect to see wildlife such as deer and eagles and take in views of glacial valleys and alpine meadows. Travellers will start in Les Houches, Chamonix which we suggest spending some time in.
RockyPop Hotel is located in Les Houches in the Rhône-Alps Region tucked away from the busy centre, a few miles from the Chamonix Ski station. Guests can relax on the sun terraces and sample French cuisine at the food court and take on some skiing. If they have any energy left after skiing of course!
This famous trek to the highest mountain in Africa is a once in a lifetime experience, taking roughly five to seven days and covering 35 miles. It is on many adventure travelers bucket lists!
Hikers can choose from a number of trails to take on this incredible challenge. Arusha is a gateway to many safari destinations including the Serengeti National Park as well as Africa’s highest peak Mount Kilimanjaro.
Arusha Coffee Lodge is a great place to stay before or after you take on the incredible Mount Kilimanjaro. This stunning lodge offers an outdoor pool and restaurant while rooms offer lovely garden views. Pink Flamingo is another great spot to stay in nearby - featuring an outdoor swimming pool, restaurant and bar to relax in.
The Inca Trail is one of the most incredible and popular hikes in the world with its 26 miles of ruins, jungle and beautiful scenery into the Andes before you get to Machu Picchu. This is where adventurers will be wowed by the beauty of the snow-capped peaks and cloud forest. This is most definitely another top bucket list destination. Look for Machu Picchu tours and tickets here.
Panorama B&B is in the perfect spot, just 200 yards from the town market and walking distance to the train station, so super easy to get to Machu Picchu. Those with a lower budget can consider Hostel Machu Picchu Land B&B which is located near the Machu Picchu hot springs and rooms include a complimentary breakfast.
One of the world’s most iconic hikes, taking hikers across 70 miles over 16 days where they can experience the culture and people of the Himalayas before becoming face to face with the highest mountain on earth.
You’ll need to be fit to take on this challenge, hiking three to six hours a day, so take some down time in Kathmandu to relax once you’ve finished. There are plenty of accommodation options and restaurants to enjoy in the area.
The Life Story Guest House is a great place to stay for meeting fellow travellers and offers comfy rooms in an ideal location with friendly hosts. You are just a few minutes’ walk from the temples here or if you prefer you can hire bikes to explore. Kumari Boutique Hotel is another great place to stay, offering a relaxing and luxurious stay in the Thamel of Kathmandu.
New Zealand is one of the best places for endless, beautiful scenery and incredible diverse hikes and the Rangitoto Island Loop is no exception. This is about 12km long so you can do it in a day from Auckland and once you reach the summit you will have amazing views of the city. Make sure you spend some time in the city which is endorsed for its food, sightseeing and harbour. Look for tours of Auckland here.
The Nest is a stunning, modern apartment set in the North Shore district of Auckland, 10 km from North Head Historic Reserve, 12 km from Sky Tower and 12 km from The Civic. Or for those on a lower budget, Verandahs Backpackers Lodge is a highly rated, environmentaly friendly backpackers lodge. It's got a great location with loads of restaurants and bars within walking distance.
The Bay of Fires in Tasmania Australia covers 16 miles and takes about four days. This hike has to be done with a guide but is worth it as it takes travellers to beautiful beaches with incredible sea views. Most hikers will start from St Helen’s on the north east coast, known for its game fishing, beaches, scenery and relaxation.
Bed in the Treetops B&B is a truly unique Bed & Breakfast hideaway nestled high on a 37 acre property at the Bay of Fires, situated on Tasmania's North East Coast. Guests also get a complimentary afternoon tea on arrival and wholesome cooked breakfast each morning. If you're traveling as a family, then BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park is a good option with its self-catering facilities and children's play area.
This trek is one of the longest hiking only footpaths in the world and best hikes in the US, taking you through 14 states from Georgia to Maine, over a timeframe of five to seven months! The trek is over 2,000 miles long with the majority of the trail going through the wilderness – definitely one for a big adventurer! Hikers will pass through Ellijay in Georgia, which is endorsed for its mountains, scenery and autumn leaves.
Motels are the most popular type of accommodation in the area, with some of the best options being Comfort Inn & Suites East Ellijay, Ellijay Inn and Budget Inn Top of Ellijay. For somewhere more private and tucked away in the trees, Elegance in the Trees offers a log cabin 24km from Blue Ridge with everything that you need.
Make sure to get good travel insurance before going on any of the above hiking trips. We recommend the hiking specific travel insurance plan provided by World Nomads. This plan was designed to cover hiking from the most intrepid trek to lazy weekend hike. Get more info here.
Functional or stylish? We’ve all had to make that decision before regarding what type of daypack we should get for our next big trip.
While deep down we know we should go for functional, the strong desire to still look good while traipsing through the airport duty free section often over-rides. What ultimately happens is sore shoulders from bad straps and frustration when you can’t find anything in your bag and have to unpack everything just to find your passport!
Luckily, those days are over with a huge range of both functional and stylish daypacks on the market. These daypacks can be used for all sorts of activities, from carry-ons to bags used for your daily commute. You can now look stylish while perfectly carry everything that you need while on the go.
It can be tricky to find a decent daypack though, so we’ve done the hard work for you and asked around to find the top functional & stylish daypacks currently on the market.
Listed in order of price (from lowest to highest).
This one is for the slightly sportier folk. It is one of North Face’s slightly less rugged options. Featuring a FlexVent, suspension system with compression-moulded shoulder straps and a ventilated back pad. It also has a 15” laptop sleeve in the main compartment and comes in a variety of colours and patterns.
Buy on Amazon for $55
This daypack comes in a variety of colours and patterns, from floral designs to two-tone colours. It fits up to 15” laptops and has a spacious interior with various compartments. The padded straps make it comfortable to carry for long periods of time.
Buy on Amazon for $60
This daykpack can easily be used for both the office and exploring the great outdoors. It has a padded back and shoulders, making it really comfortable to wear for long periods of time. It has a drawstring close and buckle-strap for aesthetic purposes. The main compartment is roomy with a padded laptop sleeve and two side pockets. It comes in a variety of colours, including a few fun floral designs.
Buy on Amazon for $77
Chrome bags are built for the road - from city streets to forests and mountains. The Chrome Mazer Vigil is a water-resistant urban expedition pack. It features a padded laptop sleeve fitting a 15" Macbook Pro, if you should feel like working in the woods or to bring it to your (coworking) office. You will also find hidden reflective attachment loops for any extra gear that you carry around. The adjustable ergo straps with EVA back panel make sure that you're comfortable when walking around. We liked the zip at the top, which makes it very easy to access the inside of the bag.
Buy on Amazon for $180
This stylish daypack has three external zip pockets and a spacious main compartment with large laptop fleece-lined padded sleeve. The main section has a drawstring and magnetic closure, and the back and shoulder straps are padded. What’s even more awesome about this daypack is that for every bag bought, a matching backpack will be filled with school supplies and donated to a child in need!
Buy on Amazon for $90
This Herschel pack has a fleece lined laptop sleeve pocket, as well as ventilated mesh back padding, keeping you cool while on the go. The front magnetic buckles give it an old-fashioned rucksack feel, and this one also comes in various colours and designs (including the popular floral design). There aren’t as many compartments as some other bags, with only the main section and one outside pocket.
Buy on Amazon for $100
This Swedish daypack was designed to work well for both Nordic escapes and city galivanting – while still looking stylish. The interior laptop pocket will fit a 13” laptop and there is a big exterior pocket that will hold a decent amount of goodies to save you rummaging in the main compartment. It comes in petrol blue, blue, and black.
Buy on Amazon for $219
This backpack features a funky square look and comes in a range of bright colours – don’t worry, they also have the generic black and grey if that’s more your vibe. There is a laptop sleeve in the main compartment, along with a document sleeve. On the outside there’s a small external pocket where you can store your other goodies.
Buy on Amazon for $115
If you’re all about living the minimalist life then this daypack is for you. They come in either black, navy, or white. While it looks super basic from the outside, it’s not lacking any features. It is built from 500D Cordura and lined with water-resistant YKK zippers. Overall it can carry 18 litres, and can fit a 15” laptop in its internal sleeve.
Buy on Amazon for $120
For travelers that travel with a lot of equipment - this backpack was made for you! Not only is this backpack weatherproof and comfortable to wear, but its aesthetic versatility is hard to match. The expandable design offers storage to hold 2 DSLR camera bodies with 3-6 lenses. The padded laptop sleeve can hold laptops up to 16" and there are 3 Flexhold Dividers that can be used to protect drones, lenses and cameras. There are also many exterior and interior pockets to carry all of the other small things that you take with you.
Buy on Amazon for $289
Travel tip shared by Bridget Langer for Travel Dudes
Functional or stylish? We’ve all had to make that decision before regarding what type of daypack we should get for our next big trip.
While deep down we know we should go for functional, the strong desire to still look good while traipsing through the airport duty free section often over-rides. What ultimately happens is sore shoulders from bad straps and frustration when you can’t find anything in your bag and have to unpack everything just to find your passport!
Luckily, those days are over with a huge range of both functional and stylish daypacks on the market. These daypacks can be used for all sorts of activities, from carry-ons to bags used for your daily commute. You can now look stylish while perfectly carry everything that you need while on the go.
It can be tricky to find a decent daypack though, so we’ve done the hard work for you and asked around to find the top functional & stylish daypacks currently on the market.
Listed in order of price (from lowest to highest).
This one is for the slightly sportier folk. It is one of North Face’s slightly less rugged options. Featuring a FlexVent, suspension system with compression-moulded shoulder straps and a ventilated back pad. It also has a 15” laptop sleeve in the main compartment and comes in a variety of colours and patterns.
Buy on Amazon for $55
This daypack comes in a variety of colours and patterns, from floral designs to two-tone colours. It fits up to 15” laptops and has a spacious interior with various compartments. The padded straps make it comfortable to carry for long periods of time.
Buy on Amazon for $60
This daykpack can easily be used for both the office and exploring the great outdoors. It has a padded back and shoulders, making it really comfortable to wear for long periods of time. It has a drawstring close and buckle-strap for aesthetic purposes. The main compartment is roomy with a padded laptop sleeve and two side pockets. It comes in a variety of colours, including a few fun floral designs.
Buy on Amazon for $77
Chrome bags are built for the road - from city streets to forests and mountains. The Chrome Mazer Vigil is a water-resistant urban expedition pack. It features a padded laptop sleeve fitting a 15" Macbook Pro, if you should feel like working in the woods or to bring it to your (coworking) office. You will also find hidden reflective attachment loops for any extra gear that you carry around. The adjustable ergo straps with EVA back panel make sure that you're comfortable when walking around. We liked the zip at the top, which makes it very easy to access the inside of the bag.
Buy on Amazon for $180
This stylish daypack has three external zip pockets and a spacious main compartment with large laptop fleece-lined padded sleeve. The main section has a drawstring and magnetic closure, and the back and shoulder straps are padded. What’s even more awesome about this daypack is that for every bag bought, a matching backpack will be filled with school supplies and donated to a child in need!
Buy on Amazon for $90
This Herschel pack has a fleece lined laptop sleeve pocket, as well as ventilated mesh back padding, keeping you cool while on the go. The front magnetic buckles give it an old-fashioned rucksack feel, and this one also comes in various colours and designs (including the popular floral design). There aren’t as many compartments as some other bags, with only the main section and one outside pocket.
Buy on Amazon for $100
This Swedish daypack was designed to work well for both Nordic escapes and city galivanting – while still looking stylish. The interior laptop pocket will fit a 13” laptop and there is a big exterior pocket that will hold a decent amount of goodies to save you rummaging in the main compartment. It comes in petrol blue, blue, and black.
Buy on Amazon for $219
This backpack features a funky square look and comes in a range of bright colours – don’t worry, they also have the generic black and grey if that’s more your vibe. There is a laptop sleeve in the main compartment, along with a document sleeve. On the outside there’s a small external pocket where you can store your other goodies.
Buy on Amazon for $115
If you’re all about living the minimalist life then this daypack is for you. They come in either black, navy, or white. While it looks super basic from the outside, it’s not lacking any features. It is built from 500D Cordura and lined with water-resistant YKK zippers. Overall it can carry 18 litres, and can fit a 15” laptop in its internal sleeve.
Buy on Amazon for $120
For travelers that travel with a lot of equipment - this backpack was made for you! Not only is this backpack weatherproof and comfortable to wear, but its aesthetic versatility is hard to match. The expandable design offers storage to hold 2 DSLR camera bodies with 3-6 lenses. The padded laptop sleeve can hold laptops up to 16" and there are 3 Flexhold Dividers that can be used to protect drones, lenses and cameras. There are also many exterior and interior pockets to carry all of the other small things that you take with you.
Buy on Amazon for $289
Travel tip shared by Bridget Langer for Travel Dudes
The Montane Future Lite Hoodie is a lightweight, down hoodie that’s insulated with 750 fill power HyperDry RDS-sourced down. It has a what manufacturers now call an “under-helmet” hood that’s thankfully tighter-fitting than the Godzilla-sized helmet-compatible down jacket hoods of yesteryear which were designed to fit over climbing helmets. Designed for fast-paced activities like hiking …
The post Montane Future Lite Hoodie Review appeared first on Section Hikers Backpacking Blog.
Congratulations to all of the incredible 2019 finishers out there! Whether it is your first thru, or you’ve added another notch to your long-distance-backpacking belt, your accomplishment deserves to be celebrated. We’ll do our part by showcasing finishers throughout the season. This post contains finishers whose photos were received by October 15th.
Whether you’re NOBO, SOBO, flip-flopping, or completing your thru-hike after years of section hiking, we want to feature you. Send your finish photo along with trail name, ...
The post Congrats to These 2019 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers: October 10 – October 16 appeared first on The Trek.
Congratulations to all of the incredible 2019 finishers out there! Whether it is your first thru, or you’ve added another notch to your long-distance-backpacking belt, your accomplishment deserves to be celebrated. We’ll do our part by showcasing finishers throughout the season. This post contains finishers whose photos were received by October 15th.
Whether you’re NOBO, SOBO, flip-flopping, or completing your thru-hike after years of section hiking, we want to feature you. Send your finish photo along with trail name, ...
The post Congrats to These 2019 Pacific Crest Trail Thru-Hikers: October 10 – October 16 appeared first on The Trek.
Dear Thru-hiker,
We were heroes. We were the people that your local newspaper writes articles about and people make documentaries and write books about. We stood on the top of mountains liked we own them because for those six months we did. We owned the earth beneath our feet. Those narrow dirt, rock and root trails, were our hallways. The forest was our home. The dirt on our skin was our battle armor.
Then you came home, ...
The post A Letter to the Post Trail Thru-Hiker appeared first on The Trek.
It’s spooky szn! What better time to think about which Appalachian Trail haunts scare me the most? Because I’ll admit, I can be a bit of a wuss sometimes. I always thought thru-hikers were the toughest of the tough, that nothing could scare them. How else could you manage such an endeavor? But that can’t always be true. The reality is, you have to be scared in order to be courageous. Being brave isn’t being fearless, ...
The post Spooky Season on the AT: My Top 10 Thru-Hiking Fears appeared first on The Trek.