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Happy New Year (and Decade)!
Wow, that past decade was something, wasn't it? And even though we know that everything that was a problem on December 31 is still a problem on January 1, there is always the feeling that this next year (or decade) gives us a new opportunity. So what are your resolutions, or, if you don't make resolutions, what are you looking forward to next year? We posed this question on our Facebook page and would love to have you add your thoughts.
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Your winter vacation
Now that the holidays are over, don't you need a vacation to recover? Of course you do, so here are some suggestions.
1) If time and money are short, check out Paddling the Okefenokee. There are some great prices on airline flights to Jacksonville and we guarantee that the Okefenokee is different from any place you've ever seen. If you're a bird watcher or just enjoy seeing unique plants and animals, this is the trip for you. If you prefer hiking to paddling and also enjoy camping under a star-studded sky, then Hiking Joshua Tree is another excellent choice. And if one of your New Year resolutions is to try something completely new (always a good one), try Rock Climbing and Yoga in Joshua Tree to find out how amazing your body truly is.
2) If your idea of a winter vacation requires sun and beaches, then consider Sea Kayaking the Caribbean if you enjoy beach camping and kayaking. If you like beds and doing lots of different activities, including swimming in cenotes and seeing ancient ruins, Mexico's Beaches, Castles, and Caves is unlike any other Mexico adventure trip (just FYI - the violence we hear so much about in Mexico has not touched this area). And again, airfares to St Thomas and Cancun are still quite reasonable.
And finally, if you love dogs, then Dogsledding in the Northwoods has a special danger: we know more than one woman who quit her job and started her own sled dog kennel after just one trip.
All these trips are guaranteed to go, so pick your vacation and sign up today!
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Will you give us some input?
If you are willing to share your opinions and perspective about what you are looking for in travel, would you consider joining our Participant Advisory Group? It would entail talking with me once or twice a year and responding to an occasional email, and unfortunately does not include an all-expenses paid retreat on a remote Caribbean island. We are looking for women who have never traveled with us as well as those who have. If you are willing to consider it, send a no-commitment email to marian@goodadventure.com with Advisory Group in the subject line. And thanks!
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Baggage fees
If you don't fly frequently, you may be surprised by how much baggage fees have risen, including charges for the first bag. And these fees are not apparent when you book your ticket. If you choose your flight on price alone, make sure you understand what those fees will be. In a further wrinkle, many airlines now charge more if you pay the fee at the airport instead of when you check in online. For a complete listing of fees, check out this chart on Kayak .
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Advice on buying trekking poles
We are huge fans of trekking poles for any hiking or backpacking trip. The two most common questions we get are 1) what kind should you buy? and 2) can you carry them on to an airplane?
There are so many trekking poles and such widely varying prices, how do you choose? First of all, if you are an avid hiker and you intend to keep hiking and/or backpacking for years, then the advantages of the more expensive ones are totally worth it. Even if they cost say $120, if you hike for another 10 years, that is only $12/year. More expensive ones tend to be lighter, collapse into smaller pieces, are easier to adjust, and have ergonomically correct handles.
However, for the more casual hiker, these may not be worth it. I was once guiding a trip where 4 women independently showed up with the same poles and I thought there must have been a sale at REI. But no, they had all bought their poles at WalMart for under $20 and the poles worked just fine during the trip. So for less expensive poles, make sure the grip is vertical instead of like a cane (these put way too much stress on your wrist. Also make sure they are collapsible or they won't fit into your suitcase, and 3 pieces are much easier to adjust than two pieces. And while it is a matter of personal choice, I greatly prefer anti-shock poles (they give a little when you lean on them). We thoroughly review how to use them correctly on all our hiking and backpacking trips and have found that with very few exceptions, women love them once they get over the initial awkwardness of using something new. And particularly for women with any knee issues - which is almost all of us over 50 - they will make a huge difference.
So can you carry them on an airplane? Maybe, sometimes, depends on your TSA agent, but personally I would not try it.
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Book of Interest
Women in the Wild, True Stories of Adventure and Connection, edited by Lucy McCauley is one of the best books I've picked up in ages. It is an anthology, including pieces by known and unknown writers, and often excerpts of longer pieces from books or articles. The editor has done a truly outstanding job of picking excerpts that can stand on their own as satisfying writing, and of choosing excellent writing. And the common theme, about women's connection with nature and the opportunity that travel brings us to renew that connection, should strike a chord with many. Women really do travel for different reasons than men, particularly in the natural world, with connection being much more important than conquering. Choosing adventure is much more about learning about ourselves than it is about competing with others.
At the end of the introduction, the editor warns us that reading these stories may bring up feelings of restlessness, and then shares something a friend once told her: "envy is a wake-up call, a message to stop ignoring the soul's deepest longings".
My wish for all of us is to be in touch with our soul's deepest longings, and to find more and more ways to incorporate them into the life we choose to live.
Happy New Year!
Marian, for all the guides at Adventures in Good COmpany
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