Mar 30 2013

Great Hiking Trails In Virginia’s Parks

What You can See Walking the Trails in Virginia

Virginia hiking & biking trails

There are a number of beautiful state parks in Virginia. Many people enjoy taking in the scenery as they hike along the trails. Here are some that you may want to take a look at when you visit the state’s parks.

Alexandria Heritage Trail

The Alexandria Heritage Trail is one of the oldest and most frequently traveled trails in Virginia. The entire trail stretches over 20 miles from Jones Point to the county line. Settlers paved the trail in the late 1600s when they first built their communities.

Most people ride their bikes along the trail, but you can drive your car along many regions of the trail as well.

Baltimore and Annapolis Trail Park

The Baltimore and Annapolis Trail Park is a great place to get exercise and learn more about the area you live in. The trail has been running for more than 150 years. The guides will give you a lot of information about the region’s history.

The trail is 14 miles long. You will start at Dorsey Road and end at Jonas Green Park. The trail passes by two different shopping malls if you want to take a break and pick up some souvenirs.

Anacostia Tributary Trail System

There are many wonderful trails along the Anacostia Tributary Trail System. You can access them from a number of different points throughout Montgomery and Prince George’s County.

Here are several trails along the system that you may want to try hiking on during your trip.

Anacostia River Trail

This trail starts at Baltimore Avenue and ends near Colmar Manor Community Park. You will have the opportunity to take a trip across a footbridge on the Anacostia River. The entire trail is less than 2 miles, but you can take in some of the nicest woodlands along the way. There are restrooms, snack bars and other comforts at both ends of the trail. You can have a relaxed and restful trip along the way.

Anacostia Riverwalk Trail

The Anacostia Riverwalk trail is one of the most popular paths in the Anacostia Tributary Trail System. The trail stretches 12 miles from Benning Rd. to Navy Yard.

The path soon will be extended another 8 miles and will connect numerous communities throughout the county. The path is going to include a number of tourist attractions when it is completed. These attractions will include the Tidal Basins and the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. They will be finished in the next two years. However, the trail is already a popular tourist destination and a great place to hike throughout the county. The trail goes through some of the most scenic woodlands Virginia has to offer.

Virginia has a number of great trails for people who love to go hiking. You should try visiting them during your travels. I recommend visiting the ones along the Anacostia Tributary Trail System.

Attached Images:

About the Author: Kalen loves hiking and exploring different places throughout the United States. He stayed at the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel in Sterling Virginia on his last trek.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/03/30/great-hiking-trails-in-virginias-parks/

Mar 24 2013

Great Places To Hike While Visiting The Grand Canyon

Hiking Trails in the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Southwestern United States. People all over the country make a point to hike on its many trails when they visit Arizona. There are a number of different regions in the park that are worth visiting. Unfortunately, you probably won’t have the time or the stamina to see all of them. You will need to decide which areas are most worth seeing when you go the Grand Canyon. Here are some of the hiking trails that you will want to check out during your trip.

Best Places to Hike in the Grand Canyon

grand canyon trails

southwest canyon trail

South Rim

The South Rim is the most popular part of the Grand Canyon. There are a number of famous points on the South Rim, such as Pipe Creek Vista. The people managing the tours go to great lengths to make the experience fun and exciting. There are regular bus tours and other services worth checking out. This is the first place that many people go to when they are visiting the Grand Canyon. Unfortunately, that also means that it is the most crowded so you may want to start somewhere else during the busiest times of the day.

North Rim

The imagery around the North Rim is just as beautiful as the southern side of the canyon. You will also find that not nearly as many people make the trek up to the northern rim, so you won’t feel quite as crowded. There are also several lodgings near the northern rim where you can go for a meal and a break from the sun. The Kaibab Lodge is one of the most popular places to go when you need something to eat.

South Kaibab Trail

The South Kaibab Trail is one of the most popular hiking trails in the canyon. The South Kaibab Trail runs along a ridge higher up along the Grand Canyon, so you will have a great view of the terrain below. This is a great place to hike year-round. However, you will need to be careful when traveling in the summer. The trails can become very hot and there are few places to escape the bright, desert sun. You should wear a large hat and use plenty of sun protection. You should also bring several quarts of water to keep you from becoming dehydrated.

Enjoy Your Trip to the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon covers nearly 5,000 square miles. You will have a great time hiking the many great trails during your trip. There are many wonderful places to check out, but unfortunately most people don’t have enough time or energy to see all of them during their trip. These are some of the places that I think you may want to look at first.

About the Author: Kalen went on vacation to the southwestern United States. He spent some time in Arizona where he stayed at the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel in Sierra Vista Arizona.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/03/24/great-places-to-hike-while-visiting-the-grand-canyon/

Mar 23 2013

Are ‘Walking Holidays’ The New Cool Thing?

trekking holidays and walking vacations

Active travel is the new adventure travel.

Active Travel Gains in Popularity

Walking holidays are grabbing the attention of fashion-conscious globe-trotters as a way to combine sightseeing with exercise, while reaching locations that many tour operators simply don’t offer.

In the UK, Get Walking Day has become so popular that it is now Get Walking Week, and urges everybody to get out on foot during one week in May.

But many people will be looking to take their annual summer holiday around that time – making an international walking holiday an ideal option.

Whether you choose to trek the Himalayas, explore the jungles of South America, or check out the wildlife of South Africa, there are plenty of exotic locales to choose from that will offer you the trip of a lifetime.

Popular Destinations

road trip

Find your dream destination

Every continent has its attractions for walking holidays, even including glacier walks in Antarctica.

In Australasia – or Oceania, if you prefer – the epic New Zealand scenery that defined the Lord of the Rings trilogy (and which is doing the same for The Hobbit) has revitalised the country’s tourism sector.

Africa offers leafy wildlife reserves, not only in the interior of the continent, but right up to the coast, with forests a short walk from the beach in some places.

South America has everything from mountain trails to jungle tracks, with Incan ruins the icing on the cake for those with a love of archaeology.

In North America, the Appalachian Trail was brought to global attention by the travel writer Bill Bryson, and is just one of several traditional routes followed by US trekkers.

And across the continuous land mass of Europe and Asia, mountain ranges such as the Alps and the Himalayas make high-altitude walking holidays an excellent option.

The ‘perfect’ destination is a matter of personal taste, but our world offers every conceivable option, from sun and sand to snow and ice, spectacular waterfalls and dense jungle, sun-bleached beaches and desert backdrops.

Get the Gear

hiking boots

Good boots are essential trekking gear.

Depending on your destination, you may need to invest in (or hire) some specific equipment to make sure that your route is accessible, and that you are safe.

The obvious example is if you are trekking at high altitude, where snow and ice are potentially a hazard.

With the right equipment – ranging from warm clothing to spiked footwear – you can keep your grip underfoot, while keeping the cold out.

Similarly, if you are walking in a particularly warm climate, you may need clothing that keeps you cool and protects you from the sun; in rainforests, a waterproof backpack could mean the difference between staying soaked after a downpour, and having dry clothes to put on.

Alongside all of the basics, there are the gadgets that many walkers love to take along with them.

Pedometers help you to keep track of just how many steps you have taken – and, if you know your stride length, how many miles you have covered.

GPS systems can take this a step further, using satellite technology to pinpoint your position to within a metre, anywhere on the Earth’s surface.

Again, it’s a matter of personal taste whether you want to surround yourself with gadgetry, or simply slip on a sturdy pair of walking boots and head out into the wild to get properly back to basics.

Counting the Benefits

The clear benefit of walking holidays is the health aspect – you’re guaranteed to get some good exercise, whether it’s fairly low-impact on a clear hiking trail, or the harder-hitting task of climbing a mountain or clearing your own route through undergrowth.

You may find you save money, especially if you already have all of the necessary equipment for the kind of walking holiday you are embarking upon.

The scenery will change continually throughout your journey – which should make a refreshing change if you’ve previously only been on package holidays where you’re stuck in the same resort or on the same stretch of beach.

And in many cases, you can dictate the pace at which you travel, giving you the chance to spend a little extra time in any particularly spectacular setting, compared with the relentless pace of many driving holidays or coach tours.

Who’s Going Walking?

family hiking holiday

The family that hikes together…

Walking holidays have universal appeal, as you often don’t need any special training to simply step out of your door and go for a hike – and even in snowy settings, walking is often easier than learning to ski or snowboard.

In many cases, hiking – and particularly backpacking – holidays are preferred by younger people, who may be better able to carry any equipment on their backs.

You don’t have to be muscle-bound in order to head out on a hiking trip, however, and many tour operators can help you to get out on foot without having to carry a tent or large amounts of food with you.

For older generations, especially retirees, walking holidays are a chance to catch up on missed opportunities from earlier in life.

If you’ve taken early retirement and are wishing you’d travelled more when you were young, it’s never too late – and a walking holiday is an ideal option if you’re not keen on sailing, skiing or jeep safaris.

Attached Images:

This post was contributed by Shakti Himalaya.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/03/23/are-walking-holidays-the-new-cool-thing/

Mar 21 2013

Urban Trails of America

Greatest City Trails in America

As part of our “America’s Best Trails” series, I’d like to highlight some of our great urban trails in today’s post. So often, when we think of trails, we picture mountains, streams and forests. And that’s a good thing. I grew up in Montana with a wilderness area literally out my front door. That’s where I first developed my love of trails. Back then, it was backpacking trails that drew my interest. Now, although I’m still a huge fan of backpacking and wilderness trails, I also have an affinity for biking on urban trails.

Urban Trail Attractions

Mount vernon trail in washington dc

Mt. Vernon Trail

So what do urban trails have to offer, you ask? I’m afraid I’d be typing all day if I listed every one of the benefits of urban trails. But a few of the urban trail attractions include:

  • healthy & environmentally friendly commuting
  • a great stress reliever in an otherwise hectic life
  • fantastic coffee shops
  • wonderful microbreweries & local pubs
  • incredible bookstores
  • magnificent people-watching opportunities
  • tranquil parks & greenways
  • riverside and stream-side sojourns
  • restaurants galore

Examples of the Best Urban Trails

Here are some examples of fun towns with fantastic urban trails:

Orlando – West Orange Trail
New Orleans – Tammany Trace Trail
Atlanta – Silver Comet Trail
Washington D.C. – Mount Vernon Trail
Philadelphia – Schuylkill River Trail
Dallas – Trinity River Trail system
Denver – Platte River Trail
Des Moines – Racoon River Valley Trail
Los Angeles – Huntington Beach Trail and other beach trails
Spokane – Spokane Centennial Trail

 

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/03/21/urban-trails-of-america/

Mar 18 2013

50 Best Trails in United States

Greatest Trails in America

hikers on colorado's glenwood canyon trail

Glenwood Canyon Trail

What are the best United States trails? I need your help in compiling that list. Although I don’t know exactly what trails to include, I do have a good idea about the criteria for selecting America’s greatest trails. Here are some of the trail qualifications I’m looking for:

  • destination trail – the trails must be worth traveling to and maybe even planning an active travel vacation around. So as a result, the best trails must be:
  • long trails – Who would want to travel halfway across the country to ride on a 3 mile trail? I’m thinking the best trails must be at least 20 miles long in order to make the best trails list.
  • accessible trails – In order to qualify as one of the U.S. best trails, the trail must be accessible by the general public. It must have at least one trailhead that is either near a large population center, can be reached via some sort of mass transit or public transportation system or is linked to other trails. It could be an urban or rural trail, as long as it’s relatively easy to reach.
  • multi-use trails – Paths that qualify as the country’s top trails must accommodate a wide range of personal transportation vehicles. So we’re not talking about bike trails or hiking trails but also recumbent trails, tandem trails, inline skating trails, equestrian trails, Trikke trails, running trails and more.
  • versatile trails – The best trails are the trails that can be used by everybody, no matter their age, ability, disability or shape. These trails aren’t just for the robust 5%, although they would love these trails also, but for people of all ages, shapes, sizes, interests and abilities.
  • scenic trails – This is the most difficult one of all because “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” So rather than trying to find a single definition of beauty (because there isn’t one) we’ll strive for a variety of scenery from urban to rural, from plains to mountains, from tree-lined trails to wide-open trails.
  • interesting trails – We will look for historic trails, scientific trails, nature trails, park trails and educational trails. Once again, each person has their own definition of interesting, so we’ll look for a wide variety of trails that suits a diversity of interests.

As you can see, this is a pretty major undertaking. So we could use your help. Please read the criteria (or is it criterion?) listed above and send your America’s best trails suggestions via the comments below.

SaveSave

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/03/18/50-best-trails-in-united-states/

Mar 15 2013

Trail Flashlight

Why a Flashlight on the Trail?

A flashlight may be the most undervalued yet often invaluable item to include with your trail gear. Although I don’t pack a flashlight on every trail trip, I’ve been extremely fortunate to always have a flashlight when I truly needed it on the trail. Here are some real-life examples of when I’ve needed a flashlight on the trail:

camping flashlight

Dorcy flashlight for trail

  • Trail tunnels – On both the Route of the Hiawatha Trail and the C&O Canal Towpath Trail, a flashlight is a must for the extremely long tunnels. (Although I just heard that the C & O trail tunnel is currently closed.)
  • Night riding – Never recommended, night-time bicycle rides are sometimes a necessity. Once on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail in Pennsylvania, I ended up riding for two hours after sunset. It wasn’t fun, but I’m glad I had both a handlebar-mounted light and a headlamp.
  • Trailhead camping – Despite my preference for hotels and bed & breakfasts, I occasionally pitch a tent before or after a multi-day trail ride or hike. In those instances, it’s nice to have some lighting for both the tent and for nocturnal wanderings.

Flashlight Recommendation

I recently had the good fortune to test the Metal Gear XL-M Extreme 618 Lumen LED Flashlight by Dorcy. Now that is one bright flashlight. I wish my bike-mounted lights were that bright. It would come in handy on my morning coffee sojourns.

Dorcy flashlights are not only bright, but they’re also quite durable and efficient. Dorcy carries a complete line of flashlights for all your home, trail and camping needs. Some of my favorite Dorcy products include their LED Camping Backpack Flashlight, their Submersible Lantern Series and their LED Headlamps.

I highly recommend that you have some type of flashlight available every time you venture out on the trail. You never know when you’re going to need one, and you’re better safe than sorry. Not only are flashlights great for seeing things in the dark, they’re also great for being seen. Fortunately, when you’re on the trail, you don’t have to worry about being struck by a car, but it’s still nice to be visible.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2013/03/15/trail-flashlight/