Traveling and Vacations Tips

Posts Tagged ‘hiking’

An adventure travel vacation is a great way to explore your world. Join a group of fun people who share your interests as we go on a day hike in the Alps. Enjoy a little taste of Switzerland.

Up, Up, and Away

After consuming a hearty breakfast, we depart for the trailhead. It’s close to our conveniently located inn, so we take a leisurely stroll – greeting friendly locals and shopkeepers along the way.

We board a bright red cable car that whisks us soaring above the valley to a far away peak. One of your companions excitedly nudges you, “Look, marmots!”. We gaze at a trio of cuddly creatures staring back at us from the rockface – so close we feel we could reach out and touch them.

We disembark at a solid rock and timber mountain station – now peaceful, this station hosts a clattering mass of skiers during the winter season.

Clean Mountain Air and Emerald Lakes

Breathing in the fresh mountain air, we set out on our trail. Carpets of wildflowers surround us. Gentle cows graze the alpine grasses – serenading us with a cheerful tinkle of bells. Hiking here is so refreshing.

A meandering path leads us through hillocks of glacial moraine, now cloaked in a splendid green, to the edge of a startlingly beautiful emerald lake. The nearby mountains reflect on its surface.

We make a brief stop to admire this natural jewel. Some of our group rambles around the tiny lake – others lay back and enjoy the serenity.

Hiking Amongst Towering Peaks

Our trail continues along a high mountain valley bordered by towering snow-capped peaks. Beautiful Alpenroses form a lovely rolling heath. We tramp across a small snowfield – its coolness underfoot contrasts with the glorious warmth of the alpine sun.

We spy a cairn ahead with the familiar red-and-white trail marking painted on one of its rocks. Rounding a corner we spot our lunchtime destination in the distance – a solid Berghaus growing out of the surrounding rocks.

Lunching on the Sonnenterrasse

As we settle ourselves on a rustic, sun-drenched Sonnenterrasse, a tantalizing smell of frying onions and sausages greets us. Lunch is hearty mountain fare – plates heaped with Rosti mit Spiegeleier und Speck (a wonderfully golden, crispy fried potato pancake with egg and bacon) – served by a flaxen-haired girl in a traditional, powdery-blue farmer’s smock.

We wash down our delicious lunch with bottles of local beer and gaze out across a massive glacier winding its way down between two peaks and glistening in the sunlight.

Stunning Views

Well sated, we regain our trail and soon find ourselves breaking out onto a sloping hillside – affording us stunning views of the valley far below. We see a tiny hamlet across the valley, its sun-burned houses and barns surround a central church spire. A massive mountain rears up behind this peaceful scene.

Slowly dropping down a gentle path, we enter a straggle of dwarf pine. We’re greeted by a pungent fragrance that reminds us of the cleanliness of this wonderful habitat. The afternoon sun is gaining strength and it’s a perfect time for us to enter the cool loaminess of the lower forest. We follow the edge of a cascading glacier-fed creek – its frostiness refreshes the air around us.

Warm Sun and the Smell of Hay

We clatter across an ancient wooden bridge – its surface well worn by generations of cows being driven to Alpine meadows. In the lower pastures, local farmers are harvesting the hay with large wooden rakes. A comforting, sun-rich smell of dried grasses greets us.

Off to the Konditorei

The relaxing smell of hay and the warmth of the sun has put us into a peaceful, lazy mood. We beeline to the nearest Konditorei to debate our biggest decision of the day – is it to be the daintily glazed apricot torte, the decadent chocolate mousse with lashings of whipped cream, or the traditional (and oh so tasty) Engadiner Nusstorte.

We relax in a cozy nook and relieve today’s experiences.

Relaxing Back at the Inn

We amble back to our welcoming inn – a great time for relaxed exploration of the local shops. Back at the inn, some members catch up on reading in the inn’s glorious wood-paneled library – others send postcards or nap in the warm afternoon sun.

Later, we’ll watch as the sun paints the mountains with golden color. An adventure travel vacation in Switzerland is a fantastic experience.

Tomorrow, we set off on another lovely adventure.

So you want to take your kids camping just like you did as a child with your parents of grandma or grandpa. Opps the camp ground they took you to is now condos on the lake .

Let assume you are new to camping but you have some experience as a child. You will need to become familiar with camping gear. If you have a friend that camps a lot you can go with them to learn the basics.

Ah go with a friend and show him he is smarter then me not a chance. For I would never hear the end of it.

The first thing you will need is some type of shelter for you and the kids.
Then you will need some thing to sleep in a sleeping bag and something to cook with. Pots and pans portable barbecue hey I know how to use that. Already you are on the road to your first camping trip.

What Gear Do I Need?

Most first timers start out with a tent. The first tent should not be to expensive but it should provide good shelter in the wind and rain. With all the models out there spend some time looking them over do not get one that requires a masters degree in engineering to set up. Stay to the basic needs as you get more experience the tent can be given to the kids as you will upgrade to a fancy one.

Remember you are camping on a budget no use in spending thousands of dollars for all the gear only to find the wife , kids, or your self hates camping. The tent should shield you from bugs sun and the rain.

More than 600 easy to do money saving tips in the 10-Minute Tech The Book.

There are bugs our here in the wilderness so be ware. The tent should have a good screen to keep the little varmints out and yet be easy for the kids to open.

The tent will be some place to sleep and store your cloths. If the weather turns bad them the kids can play or read in the tent under supervision. It is nice to sleep under the stars but you will have to get a tent sooner or later.

So choose one that has enough room for you and the family and all the gear you will want to put in the tent while you are out swimming. Your tent should cost between 100 to 200 dollars depending on the style you pick for your family

If you want to sleep in a tent or under the stars up should have some type of padding The ground is not comfortable to sleep on. You will find padded mats made from plastic with air bubbles, vinyl cover stuffed pads and the good old air mattress.

I prefer the air mattress as it also doubles for the family to float around on the lake. If you go with the air mattress remember you will need a pump to blow them up a large foot pump works best.

Sleeping bags

If you are like most people you will be camping in the summer and early fall so do not buy a sleeping bag rated for -20 weather this will just be extra money that could be use for some thing other thing you will want.

The light rectangular sleeping bag will do If you and your spouse want to sleep in the same sleeping bag just zip them together and you will have one large sleeping bag. Do not forget your pillows but if you do roll up your towels they can make not a bad pillow.

Be sure to have at least two ground tarps at least the size of the floor of your tent. Place on down on the ground then set your tent on it. The second one may be used as a shelter above the picnic table.

Campground Cooking

All of use love the smell of food cooking outside whether it is at the camp ground or in the backyard. If you barbecue a lot at home you all ready have the basic now how to camp cook. Most public camp grounds and private camp ground will have a picnic table and a cooking pit at each camp site.

Take a portable grill with you and you will feel right at home. Pick up a gas stove and a set of pots and pans and you are ready to be a camp chef, remember a coffee pot as the nearest coffee shop may be 20 or so miles away.

Depending on you level of cooking skills you will now be able to prepare meats as if you were at home.

When shopping for gear go to the local big box store as they will carry every thing you need. Some will have tents set up if so climb in ask yourself is this roomy and will every one fit in comfortable. along with all the stuff you will take with you.

If the tents are not set up mark out a piece of the floor at home with tape this will be the same size as the floor of the tent call a family meeting and get every body to lay in the tape lines you laid down is it the right size? If not reassess your needs.

That’s it…you are that much closer to have a fun camping trip for all!