Travel and Leisure Articles

Rivers in Jamaica

There are more than 100 rivers in Jamaica but not all of them have been explored or can be navigated. The most popular of all the rivers to be found on this island are in fact the Great River, the Rio Grande and the Martha Brae River. But other rivers around the island are actually increasing in popularity as well.

The Black River which is the widest of them all is 73km long but only the first 28km can be traveled along in small vessels. Then there is the Rio Minho which is the longest of all the islands rivers and flows south to southwest where it starts at Portland Point and ends up at Carlisle Bay. The major town that is situated on this rivers bank is May Pen, Clarendon. But as well as those rivers that you can see there are a number of underground rivers located in the limestone regions of the island. The main ones of these being the Hectors and Cave Rivers.

Many of the rivers on the island and not just used for pleasure but have other uses as well. The Rio Cob and Milk River are used to irrigate the land surrounding them. Also the Rio Cob is used to produce hydro electricity for the island as well and this also goes for the White River and Rio Bueno. Certainly the Rio Grande is probably a river that many people have heard the name of and this is where one can try a spot of rafting if you wish.

The many colors of this canyon offer the visitor a breathtaking experience that will leave you awestruck at the awesome beauty of the Canyon and its surroundings. The Arizona area where the Canyon is located and is close to the famous Las Vegas and Hoover Dam.

Grand Canyon Tours are run in the National Park and include Horse trail riding, Helicopter flights and white water rafting. The National Park offers a great number of accommodation and restaurants for the individual and family. The Winter season usually welcomes a blanket of snow over the surrounding of National Park village and is very beautiful in it’s natural surroundings.

It is not unusual to see the many wild life in the Grand Canyon such as the soaring wedge tail eagle and Mountain Hawk. Also the Tours that operates through many tour operators, allows you to see the bottom of the Canyon via hiking or horse back where you can experience other types of wild life in the river area.

What Are My Tour Options?

Grand Canyon tours vary from all types of adventure and activities. These include:

All Terrain Vehicle Tour

Bus Tour

Airplane Tour

Hummer Tour

Rafting Tour

Horse Back Tour

and Wedding Tour.

The best way to see the Grand Canyon is via airplane or helicopter before landing to stay at the national park resort. The national park has several places to visit and the tour that you can organize will be able to show you different places around the Grand Canyon National Park.

Class C’s range in side from 22 to 35 feet. With a starting rice, the class is affordable and you can get RV loans from either your bank or online.

That is a good price for a new RV but if that is out of your range, consider looking for a used Class C for sale by an owner. You can save a lot of money this way since private owners are likely to be easier to bargain with.

We met a guy Mike while we were camping in Montana. Mike managed to save over 2000 off what a local dealer wanted for the same make, model and age.

To save even more money get a diesel powered Class C motor home RV. Although you will pay more per gallon at the pump. The mileage you get from diesel will make up for the higher price.

Where can you get a new or used class c mobile home? There are RV dealers who sell new and used RV’s. You can also look online for dealers or go to web pages of RV manufacturers. They generally have lists of authorized dealers.

You can also look for used class C RV dealers in the phone book, hunting, camping and fishing magazines also have classified sections that may list used Class C campers.

When you take a road trip in your class C and stop overnight or for a few days, you will learn that RV’ers in general are very friendly. It doesn’t matter whether you have a pop-up or a luxury motor coach. Staying in an RV park is like living in a small town. Your neighbor in the pop-up may help you tap into electrical hook-ups and you may help him put up his screen room.

Campers in all kinds of rigs live side by side and the experienced Rv’er willingly helps the newbie but you have to take some ribbing.

A Gulf Stream Class C motor home rivals the motor coach in amenities and elegance. Gulf Stream is one of the leading manufacturers of Class C RV’s.

My husband and I love the compactness of our van camper. We really like the RV motor homes Class C recreational vehicles.

If you have never been Rving and enjoy luxurious surroundings, why not rent a class C for your first venture into the RV world.

We are certain that you will love their way of vacationing and will soon be looking for a Class C motor home to call your own.

The best part of Rving is no constant packing and unpacking and you don’t have to eat all of your meals in restaurants.

Welcome to the world of Rving, enjoy many years in your Class C motor home RV.

More about Rving: Pop-up-ing.

Are you a camping freak? Do you go out for camping with your friends frequently? If yes, then you can’t do without campers shoes. Campers shoes allow you to have a great camping experience. This is the reason you should go in for a good pair of campers shoes before even considering going out for camping.

Camping include several activities such as fishing, hunting, canoeing and sightseeing. These are just some of the activities. There are several activities that require you spending good time on your feet such as hiking the trails or hiking from your tent to the car. For all these activities, you require a good pair of camper shoes. Without camper shoes you can injure your feet or even damage them.

Remember that a good pair of campers shoes are a must have when you consider spending some time with nature. All campers shoes are not created equal. Hence, prospective campers require to be careful when shopping for camping footwear. First and foremost, you need to consider the kind of camping activities you will be involved in during your camping adventure. If you are simply going to be walking around the campsite, then a pair of light weight, comfortable campers shoes will solve the purpose. You can also purchase a shoe that is mid-rise or high style. The higher top will let you keep dirt and sand out of your shoes. It provides additional stability that is required badly for uneven ground.

There are people who are interested in going for long hikes along riverbeds or streams. There is nothing wrong in it. However, you require water-resistant shoes. Here, water-resistant does not simply mean ‘waterproof’. Here water-resistant implies that the shoe will actually resist water but it is not impervious to water itself. You must be aware of the amount of discomfort one may face due to cold and blisters due to wet feet. Hence, it is necessary to keep in mind that the campers shoes you purchase are water-resistant if you consider going out on a water adventure.

In case, you are going to be walking along rocky trials or climbing along jagged rock surfaces, then campers shoe with a steel shank will best suit your requirements. Rocks are beautiful to look at but abusive for your feet. A steel shank has the tendency to absorb energy and protect your feet. This will also keep you comfortable and pain-free.

In case, you plan to walk along well marked and well traveled paths and a rocky trial, campers shoes with a steel shank will be not be able to save your feet. You should opt for a light weight shoe. This will be inexpensive for you and protect your feet well.

Never, ever settle for cheap quality campers shoes. Cheap quality campers shoes may be lighter on your wallet but tend to damage your feet in due course of time. These campers shoes are not durable and do not withstand problems faced by campers during camping. Try to find out campers shoes that are really worth spending your hard-earned money on and let you enjoy your camping experience.

You can visit some of the best online companies in this regard. These companies will provide you affordable deals.

What could be more charming than looking out into a backyard and seeing a wooden picnic table out there, covered in a red and white checked cloth? Picnic tables are the backyard accessory that just won’t go out of style, and for good reason. After all, without your wooden picnic table, where would you gather with family and neighbors to enjoy time together during those impromptu neighborhood barbeques, and where could sit around with your friends and enjoy the nice weather while keeping an eye on the kids running back and forth across the yard? A picnic table may not actually add property value to your home in dollars and cents, but it adds sentimental value and togetherness time that can’t be quantified in cold, hard cash.

The design of picnic tables has not changed much over the years. The standard table is made of some kind of wood - either natural pine wood or wood that is stained a deep red. The table top is made up of two or three long planks of wood, depending on how deep the table is. Benches line each side of the table for side by side seating. The average picnic table seats three or four on each side - more if the sitters are kids. Of course, you can find longer and shorter picnic tables, including ones that are designed for private meals - picnic tables built for two.

If you want a wooden table like a picnic table, there are a few different ways you can get one. First of all, you can simply buy one from a shop. Home improvement stores, hardware stores and even some department stores all sell picnic tables that are ready to be transferred to your backyard and put to use that night. Of course, if you are the handy sort and want to save a little cash, you can build your own picnic table.

Building your own picnic table isn’t the most challenging project around, but it is not for beginners, either. You’ll need to secure the wood, measure it and cut it, sand it down to get rid of those splinters, stain and seal it to protect it from the elements, and then of course assemble the table. There are tons of plans online for building all different kinds of picnic tables, and there are also lots of books you can get in the library to guide you through the process.

My first high altitude experience was going to the top of Mount Shasta (14,179 feet) in California. My head was pounding like someone was knocking on a door, and this continued for hours. After I made it to the summit and began to descend, the pain went away. This is a clue to the primary treatment for any altitude related problems: go lower.

High Altitude Illnesses

Here are the three most common illnesses caused by altitude:

AMS or acute mountain sickness: Common when going above 10,000 feet (3000 meters) without proper acclimatization. Symptoms include headache, nausea, weakness, shortness of breath, vomiting, and problems sleeping.

HAPE or high altitude pulmonary edema: Rare below 8,500 feet (2,500 meters) More common with younger (under 18) hikers and persons who have had the problem before. Symptoms develop 24 to 60 hours after arrival at high altitude, and include coughing, shortness of breath, weakness, headache, rapid heart rate, and progress to constant coughing, bloody sputum, fever and chest congestion. Crackling sound in chest, resting pulse rate of 110 respirations per minute, and respirations over 16 per minute are early signs of HAPE. Death is usually within 12 hours after coma starts.

CE or cerebral edema: Less common than AMS or HAPE, but more dangerous. Rare below 11,500 feet (3,500 meters). Symptoms include increasingly severe headache, instability, mental confusion, hallucinations, loss of vision, facial muscle paralysis, loss of dexterity, restless sleep followed by coma and death.

High Altitude Tips

Many people have reported better performance or less altitude sickness when using Ginkgo Biloba. In Ecuador we drank “mate de coca” (tea of coca leaves) before going to 20,600 feet on Chimborazo. Coca leaves are nothing like the cocaine they are processed into, and have been used for centuries to help people function better at high altitude.

The other thing you can do to feel better when you are high in the mountains, is to breath more. Surprisingly, there doesn’t seem to be a survival mechanism that makes us breath more deeply at altitude. We tend to continue our shallow-breathing habits. So consciously try to breath more.

Climbers who intend to travel at high altitude should ask a doctor about the latest recommendations for medicines to take. For backpackers and others who primarily pass through high altitude for short periods of time, aspirin will help most headaches. The primary treatment for all altitude problems is to go lower. Often a descent of just 2,000 feet will resolve any problems, but in general, just keep going lower until the problem is resolved.

Swelling of the fingers is common at high altitude as well. This requires no treatment, and will usually go away when you descend. Increased gas and flatulence is a problem at altitude as well. Eat fewer foods that cause gas to avoid this problem.

Another thing to remember is that the higher you go, the worse your ability to digest food gets. Try to stick to easy-to-digest foods like simple carbohydrates while you are above 10,000 feet.

Dehydration can cause headaches and other symptoms similar to high altitude illnesses. Often water supplies are rare or inconvenient at altitude (setting up the stove to melt snow repeatedly). Add to that the fact that you won’t feel as dehydrated in the cooler air, and it is easy to forget to drink enough. At least start fully hydrated before going high up, and have your water bottles full.

The last few years that I lived in the Los Angeles area, I spent most of my free time in the mountains. Usually it was the Santa Monica or San Gabriel Mountains, but I also enjoyed the San Jacinto and San Bernardino Mountains. They were my cure-all for work related stress, city traffic and the need for fresh air and exercise. Because the Santa Monicas were closer to my home in the South Bay, I spent more time there at first, especially for mountain biking and after work hikes. But as I got into longer hikes, backpacking, and especially peak bagging, the San Gabriels became my favorites. Anyone who doesn’t like living in the crowded big city of greater L.A., just needs to look up to the hills, where a whole different world awaits.

The main trail in the Cucamonga Wilderness is the Middle Fork of Lytle Creek Trail, which is accessed from Interstate 15, via Sierra Ave. I had hiked the trail numerous times, including my first solo overnight backpacking trip. Wanting to share this beautiful area with others, I organized a number of backpacking trips in the area. To me, any hike is better if it involves a mountain summit, so the first one was supposed to be a trip to Mt. Baldy. I figured this would be a nice overnight trip, especially because it would avoid the crowds on the normal Baldy routes that start in the Baldy Village area. Of course it would be a lot longer, but that is the purpose of a backpacking trip, something longer than a day hike. The trip would be about 28 miles, and was planned for December 8th and 9th, billed as the last backpacking trip before winter.

I was listening to the weather reports, and keeping an eye on Baldy as well. From the second floor windows of my house in Torrance, I had a great view of the summit, to check on snow conditions. Yes, there is snow in the mountains in L.A., and there is even a popular ski resort on Mt. Baldy. There had been some snow visible there already, but as the weekend approached, I was happy to see that it had all melted. Maybe others were wiser than us, but Frank was only other person to sign up for the trip. I hadn’t met him yet, but we were both on the Pacific Crest Trail email list and he responded to my invitation. Frank had previously thru-hiked the PCT, from Mexico to Canada, and as that was one of my dreams, I was looking forward to meeting him and talking to him about hiking the PCT.

We met at the Lytle Creek Ranger Station at 8:00 on Saturday morning, where we got our needed permit, and were planning on taking my car from there to the trailhead, a few miles east of there. As Frank was putting his gear in my car, he realized that somehow he had forgotten his sleeping pad. I had a couple of extra small pad pieces that I used for double thickness under my hip and shoulder, so suggested that he could use those, instead of driving to the nearest Wal-Mart to buy a new pad, which was probably 45 minutes away. In the interest of saving time so we would still be able to reach our goal for the evening, Frank agreed with my plan. Our goal was to camp someplace along the section known as “The 3 T’s”, which are Thunder Mountain - 8587 feet, Telegraph Peak - 8985 feet, and Timber Mountain - 8303 feet. We started up the Middle Fork Trail, which climbs steadily up to Icehouse Saddle, which is at 7580 feet. Here is a major trail junction, with one trail going up to Cucamonga Peak, one up to Ontario Peak, another going to The 3 T’s, and a fourth one going down Icehouse Canyon.

As we hiked, I was enjoying getting to know Frank and hearing about his Pacific Crest Trail hike. We were about the same age, so it encouraged me to think there was a chance for me to do it as well, even though I was over 50. However, I hate being cold and wet, so when Frank told me about the ice cold river crossings in the Sierra Nevada, I wasn’t sure that I would be able to do it. There were soon other things to consider though; we needed to find a camping spot for the evening. For some reason, I wanted to camp on a peak, so we had three options, one of The 3 T’s. The summit of Thunder Mountain isn’t on the trail, and I don’t even remember if we took the side trail up to it, but we decided to go on to Telegraph Peak - besides it was higher - and higher is cool to a peak bagger. Somewhere on our way to Telegraph, we were surprised to encounter snow, which wasn’t supposed to be there.

My house faces the southwest side of the mountain, which is clear of trees (hence the name Mt. Baldy) and was clear of snow as well. We were now on the northeast side and in the trees, and there was hard and icy snow on the slopes and on the trail. Of course neither of us had crampons or an ice axe, because I had said we didn’t need them. When we got to the summit of Telegraph Peak, there was snow all around. We finally found a small bare spot of frozen ground, but at least there was no snow. I think Frank spent one of the worst nights of his life that evening, trying to sleep on frozen ground with two small foam pads under his hip and shoulder. It wasn’t just a bad night’s sleep, I don’t think he got any sleep; he was so cold and uncomfortable! In the morning, it didn’t take us long to decide to call off the Baldy summit attempt. The trail was very icy, and on a steep slope. We had tried going up on the bare ridge to avoid the icy snow, but that didn’t continue long - soon we were back on an icy trail. We agreed that is was best to call off the summit attempt and head back down to the car.

We of course made plans to try it again in the spring, but Frank wasn’t able to fit it into his schedule. On a second attempt in the summer, the problem turned out to be a lack of water, but I, along with my friend Jady, made it to the summit, while two others decided to turn back. Jady and I finally found water at the lodge at Baldy Notch on the way to the summit, and enjoyed a nice lunch there on the way back. It’s a great overnight trip, just be prepared for snow and ice in the wintertime and bring lots of water in the summertime.

When it comes to Montana fishing guides, it’s very easy to find one who will assist you in finding the top fishing locations in Montana.

Obviously, if you’ve never been here before, you will want to hire a guide for this, because otherwise you will probably spend your entire trip looking for a hopping fishing locating, and by the time you find it, it’s time to go home. Fortunately, finding a guide really isn’t very difficult.

When most people here the word Montana, fishing generally isn’t the first thing to come to mind. they think about the no speed limits, maybe picture cattle farms, but most aren’t aware of the spectacular scenery that Montana offers.

Whether you want to visit Glacier National Park, the northern part of Yellowstone, etc, there are some incredible outdoor opportunities here for fisherman the world over.

The reason for this is quite simple: the state offers more than fifty nine thousand miles of streams and rivers, which is one of the most in the continental United States. If you can’t find top fishing spots from this selection, you just aren’t trying hard enough.

If you do plan on going fishing in Montana, one of the kinds of fishing you will no doubt try is fly fishing, because this is hands down the most popular form of fishing in the state.

As I advocated earlier, at least for your first couple times out, taking Montana fishing guides on your trip is essential to helping you find the best locations. This isn’t necessary, but is something that will probably cut down on your learning curve of the area.

Of course, you could just go yourself with a fish finder GPS system, and that can be just as effective, so it’s really a matter of personal preference. Of course, if you are a beginner fisherman, you might want to take out a guide for the simple fact that they can also help you improve your technique, in addition to finding the best fishing spots.

What kind of fish can you go after? While there is a nice variety of fish to target, largemouth is probably the most popular, and therefore you might want to plan your trip around them.

Before you go, call ahead and find out the kind of lures to use, swivels and lines to make sure of, etc. Also find out the best time of year to go, because depending on the season, the fishing opportunities vary tremendously from place to place.

Also, consider taking Montana fishing guides with you at least for the first day or two, which can help you catch more fish much faster.

Want to know a secret? There’s a State Park and beach in South Florida that no one seems to know about.

Beautiful surroundings, a gorgeous sun-splashed beach…that you might just have all to yourself.

Where is this secluded Florida park and beach? It’s actually within easy reach!

Introducing…

…John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. It’s a little-known gem north of Singer Island and south of Jupiter Beach on the Atlantic ocean.

This totally amazing Florida state park boasts a tropical dune trail and a beautiful beach. Urban sprawl hasn’t reached here so the beach and the park is quiet most of the year. You might not even see anyone else!

The Park’s Interesting Past

The beach has some interesting history, dating back when it was called Air Force Beach during World War II. What is now Palm Beach International airport was an Air Force base back then. Apparently servicemen threw some pretty wild beach parties, so it was (unofficially) named Air Force Beach!

Some time later, John D. MacArthur bought the land, wanting to keep a pristine part of southern Florida safe. He donated the land in the 1970’s and the park (named after him) publicly opened in 1989.

Barrier? What Barrier?

MacArthur Beach State Park is located on a barrier island, which is long and narrow, separating the mainland from the sea. Although condominiums and hotels have taken over many of Florida’s beautiful barrier islands, not this one - it’s still “au naturale”!

Be on the Lookout For…

…Sea turtles! Rare species of sea turtles are known to nest here, including the endangered loggerhead and the much rarer leatherback. You probably won’t see the turtles themselves but you might see evidence that they have been around. If you’d really like to see the turtles, there are ranger-led walks in May and June. Make advanced reservations through the office — these tours are popular.

You might see some roseate spoonbills at the park. Huh? Roseate spoonbills are fascinating birds; their feathers are rose tinted (”flamingo pink”) and the end of their bills are spoon shaped.

Birding tours are also occasionally available, for the ornithologically inclined.

Beaching It!

The most amazing single thing about this glorious Florida state park is that very few people come here. Possibly because there are loads of public beaches just to the north and the south, MacArthur Beach State Park is quiet. Serene. And you are likely to have the two miles of sandy beach all to yourself!

Swim the waters, snorkel the reef or even try one of the park’s surfing clinics — the beach holds all kinds of possibilities!

Want to find out more about this hidden gem (and see photos) located in South Florida? Check out:

For those who is not old enough to notice, tourism has taken a turn for change since the first world war. You will find that many people have gone from domestic travel to international travel. There are a lot of people who would like to see the entire world. You will find that within your sphere of the world, you will be able to see a lot of things that are local to you, as well as, places that are seas away. You will also want to keep in mind that there is a new trend in tourism and that is known as eco-tourism and it happens to be the way that you can see the world, but not leave traces of where you have been. It is very important that you use eco-tourism to preserve the integrity of the history and culture behind each city and location that you travel to.

You will want to keep in mind that eco-tourism has become something of a big thing since the 1980’s. Everyone is trying to use eco-tourism in their holiday vacations because it will allow you to see many beautiful things all over the world, but it will also help preserve the same sites for your future generations to enjoy. You will want to make sure that you keep eco-tourism in mind so that your children will be able to share the beauty of the world with their children and so on.

There are many facts to find when you begin your search on eco-tourism and the ways that you can learn to help the earth is something that you will find remarkable. You will find that there are many international travelers that will try to think about what they do to the earth and the integrity of the culture and history that they become a part. It’s like going to a museum, but the paintings are so fragile and beautiful that they need to be untouched. It is the same way that you will need to approach things like the dessert or the rainforest. You can not make any major economic changes to any area that you visit.

You will also find that this time and age you are able to use products and avoid using products that will help you to think about the earth. This means that you need to get an ecological vehicle to drive, and you will also need to think about all the chemical products you use and the damage that they are doing to the earth.