Tuesday, October 13, 2009
This blog has been moved!
Thanks for supporting us here and make sure to change your bookmarks and favorites!!!
Friday, August 21, 2009
New website is on the way!
Our website partners, Newfangled.com, have been working feverishly all summer, do a great job of making our vision a reality. We see this partnership as one that will be prosperous for a long time to come.
We'll be updating you as we get closer to the launch date. Our goal is to have it up and running before the Ken Burns series on the National Parks airs on PBS September 27th-October 2nd.
Hope you've had a great summer! We have!!!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sometimes we do go "the extra mile"
The Duff family was on a custom trip that took them through the Black Hills, Devil's Tower, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. When Mrs. Duff experienced severe symptoms of altitude sickness, we were able to help out with a rearranged route on the fly. Mr. Duff's comments in the survey said it all.
This is going above and beyond for a client - very much appreciated. We will definitely use Tracks & Trails for future trips we may plan for RV vacations.
A big thank you to Karen, the Duff's trip consultant, who was the point person on their trip and made sure that we not only acted fast in coming up with a solution, but was compassionate towards Mrs. Duff's suffering.
We realize that stuff happens on vacation. For those of you that haven't experienced our top drawer customer service, this is a great example of what makes Tracks & Trails great! Not only is it great for our clients and but it's also great to be part of something where we truly care about our folks on the road. We're here to help.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Feedback from client surveys
With the summer season about half over, our clients are starting to send in evaluation forms that cover all aspects of their vacation, especially our quality of service. We learn so much from these surveys, including both the good and the bad of what happened on our clients' vacations. We take all the feedback we receive and pile it back into our systems and processes for creating the best possible vacations for our clients.
I wanted to share one client's feedback we just received. The Poderski's from Florida took a 13 night adventure that covered Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon and Lake Powell in early June:
"I want to thank you for our best-ever family vacation. This was our first RV experience and it won't be our last. I never expected it would be so fun, relaxing and de-stressing.
We are very impressed with Tracks & Trails. Everything you suggested and planned was perfect. At first we were slightly concerned about potentially being "overscheduled". Actually the schedule was the best. What a time saver to have activities lined up ahead. Having everything already set up made the trip more relaxing. I would never try to do this on my own - I would always use Tracks & Trails."
Thank you Robin for such glowing remarks! And thanks to Lisa, the Poderski's trip consultant, for taking such good care of them and helping to create a memorable vacation for client's that are ready to plan their 2010 family vacation. As we get more surveys back from our clients, we share more of their experiences of what it was like to work with us. If you'd like to talk to Lisa or one of our other trip consultants, give us a ring toll free at 800-247-0970!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
A National Park RV Trip in Pictures
So if you want to picture your family taking an RV vacation in one of our fabulous National parks, the Brot's photo albums will show you just what to expect.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Our clients are out there traveling!
In the links section on the left side of our blog, we've just added a link to the Justices' personal travel journal. They are using www.mytripjournal.com to chronicle their adventure this month. They will be heading out this Friday for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
Keep checking back here to see what our clients see and do on a Tracks & Trails National park driving vacation! And we are still talking to folks about trips later this summer and fall as well as in 2010. So if you want to have as much fun as our clients after you see examples of what a great time they have, check out our website and pick a trip that's great for you!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
What we do for you!
Sometimes folks think that all we do is reserve campgrounds. We do so much more than that!
We have been planning RV road trips for over 10 years and know the best places to stay at the right time of year and customized to your family's wants and desires. We work with over a dozen different RV rental companies, over 400 campgrounds and over 300 outfitters so that we can create an amazing once-in-a-lifetime vacation for you and your family.
Above all, we listen. In the planning phase we take into account who you are and what are your interests. Behind the scenes we discuss what would be the best route and what will be the fun experiences you will want along the route. All that information ends up in your Adventure Kit. You'll get tips about traveling by RV, a detailed day-by-day custom itinerary, vouchers for all the components of your trip, hand-traced maps of your route with highlights of things to see and do, and folders of each major destination with our proprietary More Abouts (detailed mini-travel guides) including brochures and magazines of the area (we have tested and researched this extra material so that it is not only informative but relavant to your trip).
Many of our clients have told us that their Adventure Kit is their "bible" on their trip. That's a great compliment and tells us that between the planning efforts and the Adventure Kit, that we more than earn our extra charge. A Tracks & Trails road trip adventure is self-guided and we do our best to provide you with all that you'll need to have a great trip to a National park, state beach or other amazing destination.
If you have any questions, don't give it a second thought and call 1-800-247-0970 and talk to one of our trip consultants to find out if a Tracks & Trails custom road trip is for you!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Happy June! Summer is here!
We have a number of websites that we check regularly for road closures, construction delays and wildfire updates. While they are too numerous to list here, it's safe to say that we can get the latest information at short notice for our clients while they are in the midst of their trips. Also, each and every RV rental company that we work with provides 24-hour road assistance. So that way, someone is there to help with any problems with the RV along the road.
We also provide assistance with re-routing when necessary. Many of the destinations have remote roadways that can be impacted by weather, rockfalls, flooding and other natural impacts. We can help with changing routes, checking availability with campgrounds or help with notifying excursion outfitters with new information. One thing that is difficult once trips have started is to cancel stuff mid-trip. Cancellation policies kick into effect. This is why we strongly recommend trip insurance for all of our clients. We just had one client who had a child break an arm and this caused a major restructuring of their trip. If it wasn't for trip insurance, they would have lost much of the cost of their trip.
So, as we say to many of our clients (and to those on the road this summer!), "Happy Trails" and we hope to be able to help out if you run into troubles while on a Tracks & Trails road trip adventure this summer!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Progress on bridge near Hoover Dam
The planned completion of the bridge and associated road construction is June 2010. So another year of delayed traffic is ahead of us, but you still get to see the spectacular progress on the bridge and the engineering marvel that is the Hoover Dam.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Tracks & Trails on MSNBC.com!
http://www.wejustgotback.com/default.aspx?mod=yellowstone_bestof
http://www.frommers.com/trip_ideas/family
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30563277/
A big thank you to Suzanne Kelleher for writing the article and getting it published on great websites. Our web traffic doubled yesterday!
Monday, May 4, 2009
It's been a little crazy around here!
We'll be back with some more tips, travel ideas and road information in the coming weeks as we get a chance to come up for a breath or two. In the meantime, there is plenty of availability for that great summer vacation that we can help create and make affordable for you and your family. Great destinations like Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and Yosemite await!!! 800-247-0970!!!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Best prices in the summer for RV rentals
It's not too late to consider a National Park vacation out West. While we are seeing that some popular campgrounds are booked for certain dates this summer, we have had no problem getting rental RV's for our clients. Availability in Canada may be a little dicey during the peak of the summer, but there are still plenty of great dates available for visiting our neighbors to the north. And the exchange rates continue to be fantastic compared to last year.
So give our trip consultants a call toll-free at 800-247-0970 to find a great destination and a great time to save a lot of green with Tracks & Trails!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Looking for ways to save on Tax Day? Take a road trip!
So what does this all mean? If you're from the eastern half of the United States and are looking to create a magical trip to the great outdoors of the western half of the continent, you couldn't pick a better time to travel. Airfares are at the lowest prices they have been in quite a while. Hotel rates in major cities are at bargain rates. Half the adventure of getting to a place like Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon or Yosemite is the first leg of your trip. And with gas prices at a more reasonable level, that's just one more component of your trip that will be cheaper than next year.
And how can Tracks & Trails add to that savings? We research the best deals we can find for RV rentals while maintaining a high level of quality in the vehicles our clients will drive. We look out for our clients to ensure that their expectations are not only met but exceeded. And that means staying within your budget and creating magnificent trips to the most beautiful locales for all types of vacations. Give us a ring toll-free at 800-247-0970 or check out the website to start your adventure!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Great place to watch Old Faithful & a call for photos!
Just thought I'd share a picture from a wonderful trip to our country's first National Park. We are in the process of redesigning our website and we're looking for great photos! If you have recently traveled to the national or state/provincial parks of the western US & Canada or Florida, please send them to us. To share your great shots, comment on this posting or send us an email through Contact Us on our website.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Affordable family vacations, part 2
Even when you rent an RV, we’ve found it to be more economical and affordable than renting a car and paying for hotel rooms and all those meals out. On a recent trip to Florida, 2 nights hotel, transportation, and one day at a theme park including all those meals out, cost us over $700. After we picked up our rental RV, our costs dropped to less than $250 per day, including transportation, a place to sleep, food and gas. It left money over to do really cool things like take a surfing lesson, visit a hospital for rescued sea turtles and go snorkeling. The kids remember these activities and talk about them more than their day at the theme park.
If you’re willing to rough it more, and rent some tenting equipment, it gets even more affordable, but you’ll want to go in the best weather months. Many outdoor sporting goods stores like REI and MEC (Mountain Equipment Coop) offer gear rentals, as do many Outdoor Programs in universities. If you own some of the gear, you can ship your equipment via UPS to meet you in your gateway city. (You’ll need to have a very clean camp stove and don’t even think about shipping the gas for it.)
More tips to save money?
- Try traveling in the early season to a summer destination park, before summer peak travel and prices hit. You’ll have fewer crowds, but you might have to put up with some inclement weather. Or go over the winter break to places like Death Valley or Joshua Tree National Parks. It’s prime season there, but demand for RVs is lower, and so are the prices.
- Don’t plan on driving, and driving, and driving. Pick a couple of key parks and stick to those, spending multiple days in each. You’ll really get a feel for the park and it will allow you to take in the ranger programs, films, campfire talks, etc, and just hang out fishing or playing in the creek or ocean for a day.
- Pick a couple of exceptional activities to do, ones that will really be highlights. Our boys still talk about the whitewater trip from 2 years ago, where we dropped into the Big Kahuna wave, with Gabe (then 4) hanging “face” in the front of the raft. What fun!
- Even visiting out of the way places can be memorable. The date farm outside of Death Valley is a good example – almost 3 years later, the $4 date milkshakes are still a topic of discussion, and the boys wonder when we can go back there, along with the hot springs soaking in Yellowstone (which was free).
- Let’s face it, when you live in a city, there are plenty of great places to eat out, so why spend your money and your time in line, waiting for food that isn’t that great while you’re on your vacation. Try a campfire cookout instead. It’s inexpensive, a great way to spend time with your kids in a positive way (rather than trying to corral them into table manners in a hotel dining room), and fun. From starting the fire together, to sticking a hot dog or marshmallow on a stick, to burning the paper plates in the fire, there’s something everyone in the family can do.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Affordable family vacations, part 1
Looking for ways to have a great affordable family vacation? Over the year, we've taken a lot of trips and some of our best vacations are the ones where we camp, either taking our own equipment or renting an RV when we arrive. Those trips have also been some of the boys' best memories, from seeing elk walk through our campsite to splashing in the creek next to the camper to having hot chocolate inside the RV after a very wet and chilly hike in the rainforest (where the youngest one fell in the creek).
What makes it so affordable? It's a combination of things:
- Hotels in many areas have a legal maximum of 4 people per room or do not have rollaway cot options, which means for a family of 5 or more, you're looking at paying for 2 rooms. The average price of a hotel room is now $100, and that's not in the peak seasons or in the national parks. In the popular areas like Jackson, Wyoming, even the least expensive hotel in the summer can be over $150 per room.
- Then there's a rental vehicle cost, which can run you up to $75-$80 per day for a minivan that can hold your family plus all your bags.
- Meal costs can be very expensive as well. The lodges within the national parks have several dining options, but they are all costly. Even if you plan on taking a cooler and eating lunch out in a picnic area or on the trail, you'll still need to have dinner and some sort of breakfast at the hotel. Dinner entrees in the park lodges' dining rooms can start at $20, with very limited choices for kids. Kids are almost always hungry and when you start having to buy those in-between meal snacks, drinks, etc., these costs definitely start to add up per day. Prices outside the park in the adjacent communities are high too. The quality of food can vary wildly as well. We like to eat out on our trips a few times, and we don't mind paying for good food, but it's hard to pay high prices to mediocre food day in and day out.
- Entertainment costs can sneak up on you. If you go to a theme park like Disney, you can spend up to $90 per person per day just for admission fees. Even with the multi-day tickets, it's still a heck of a lot of money. For as little as $20, you can get a multi-day pass to a national park, where there are multitudes of things to do. Take a hike, have a swim, climb around on some rocks, take part in a ranger program, soak in a hot spring, build sandcastles, watch for wildlife, build a campfire and roast marshmallows. They're all free once you get inside the park and you can do them all over the course of a few days. You can also sign up for guided activities like rafting, horseback riding or bicycling, but you're not committed to doing something every day, over the course of a week you still haven't spent that much on entertainment.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Yosemite valley report
There also is a report from the NPS that a sizable rock fall has occurred. According to the NPS, "The southern portion of the Mirror Lake Loop is closed due to a rockslide. (Access to Mirror Lake and Snow Creek Trail is still available, as usual.)".
As always, if you are concerned about conditions at any of our popular destinations during the time of your planned vacation, just give us a call. Trip consultants are standing by!!! 800-247-0970!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Education outdoors and the National Parks
From park-based curriculum (Kindergarten to High School) to distance learning information to suggested reading lists, nps.gov offers a wide variety of resources that are free. Families can create a number of lesson plans for all of their children that learn primarily at home. And this is a fun way to combine schoolwork with vacation. Many parks have Junior Ranger programs as well.
Remember that Tracks & Trails can help with creating this one-of-a-kind trip! Whether it is RV-based or by rental car, we can have you staying in a National park campground or in a park-based lodge so you are close to all the action and activities.
Can't make it to the great outdoors this year? Try becoming a WebRanger on-line! You can play more than 50 games while learning about the National parks.
Monday, March 23, 2009
New travel insurance coverage
What's new from Travel Guard is that they have announced coverage for involuntary termination or layoff. All four of their core plans now include this trip cancellation coverage. They require one year of continuous employment with the same employer and doesn't have limitations on your departure date.
We have been hearing that many folks have either postponed or canceled their summer vacation plans due to uncertainty about the future with the economy and their jobs. We hope that the announcement of this new coverage will help those feel more comfortable with starting the process of planning a great summer vacation to our National Parks in the western US or Canada. As always, if you have any questions for us at Tracks & Trails, give us a call on our dime at 800-247-0970.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
It's not too late to book your Spring Break vacation!
Central Florida and the Space Coast - This trip starts in Orlando and heads into Old Florida where cool springs flow into rivers that are lined with mangroves, and are home to alligators, river otters and all types of birds. You'll visit the oldest European settlement in the United States at St. Augustine, and then tour the modern technology at the Kennedy Space Center. Get active with kayaking to see manatee and dolphins, try surfing, or just grab a boogie board and play in the surf.
Tucson, Tombstone and the Sonoran Desert - This trip is perfect for spring break (we have clients there right now). Visiting Tucson and the surrounding area will give you a taste of the wild Sonoran Desert, home of the giant Saguaro cacti. Family-oriented museums feature everything from outdoor wildlife to missiles to the world's largest outdoor airplane display. Wandering movie sets, visiting Tombstone, "The Town Too Tough To Die" or going underground at Kartchner Caverns round out the adventures.
San Diego, Palm Springs and the Anza-Borrego Desert - This is a perfect mix of city adventures & wilderness for those who want a taste of both. Start with visiting parks like Legoland and Seaworld. Spend a day at the San Diego Zoo & Wild Animal Park, then try surfing, kayaking, boat touring and bicycle riding. Head into the largest state park in California, amidst the desert where you can hike or tour by jeep. Pass the Salton Sea (before it shrinks) enroute to Palm Springs, where you can ride the Aerial Tram through 4 climate zones. Return to Los Angeles for more theme park action, or simply to fly home.
Give us a call before it's too late! 800-247-0970!! We can make that last-minute trip happen!!!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Yosemite camping reservations and the Ides of March
And it was the date where campsites in Yosemite National Park are available for another 30 day reservation window, five months in advance. That means that you now can make reservations up to August 14, 2009. This rolling five month window continues throughout the year and March 15th is one of the most popular dates for making reservations due to the peak of the camping season in Yosemite.
We were lucky enough to make about half of the outstanding requests for reservations for our clients yesterday. Based on our past experience, getting half is great! And for those clients who did not get reservations, we have other favorite campgrounds that are just outside of the park that are beautiful and not quite so crowded. Yes, they'll miss camping inside the park and they will still be close enough to enjoy one of the most popular national parks in the USA!
This is one of those reasons why our trip proposals have approximate prices. Many times, particularly as it gets closer to the summertime, campgrounds have booked up for the season (or at least when you want to travel). And, pricing is usually different from one campground to the next. So, when we have to rearrange your planned route due to a campground change we do our best to minimize any impact on the overall cost that we include in proposals. We know how sensitive everyone is to vacation costs and please know that we do our best to ensure the total cost of your trip will be at or lower than your quoted cost.
If you have any questions about booking your Tracks & Trails vacation or would like to know more, just give us a call at 800-247-0970 and talk to one of our knowledgeable trip consultants.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Arizona Fly-fishing Spots
by Ann Proctor
We get tons of requests to make special activities or excursions part of great family vacations. One the most popular is fly-fishing and the level of experience of our clients is from "never done it but want to try" to "I'm an avid fisherman and want to go to the best spot on my trip". We have many outfitters that can provide a unique, western fly-fishing experience in great mountain locales, but we'd thought we'd share some cool spots in Arizona that may tickle your fancy.
The Grand Canyon State is home to 85 species of fish that inhabit more than 300 cold-water streams and 100-plus lakes and reservoirs. Ah, the choices! These Arizona locations can be accessed from our popular Canyon Country or Desert Southwest trips that can be customized for you by Tracks and Trails. Like reviewing a new restaurant, picking a favorite fishing hole is mostly subjective, but it’s hard to argue with these recommendations:
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Hellooooooooo Canada!!!!
We are seeing the availability RVs drying up around the end of July and beginning of August, but there is plenty of opportunity to take a fabulous vacation at a 20% discount when compared to last year. The currency exchange rates are still VERY favorable for Americans wanting to travel to Canada and we have the itineraries made just for you!
Check out the Northern Rockies & Western Canada region on our website. There are a bunch of great reasons (other than the cost savings) to travel to Canada this summer:
- The pace is a little bit slower.
- It's a lot less crazy.
- We have access to high quality RVs.
- It's less commercial than its southern neighbor
- There are unbelievable destinations like Lake Louise (see the picture) and Tofino.
- You get to see glaciers in the summer & majestic fjords on the Pacific Ocean.
- It's less crowded.
- And more!!!
Friday, February 20, 2009
When to take that summer trip? JUNE!
And while some RV rental companies have fixed seasonal rates throughout the year, some companies let their rental rates "float" with demand. So, all we can say to you, is if you are thinking of taking that National Park RV vacation with Tracks & Trails, book sooner rather than later in order to get the best deals that are out there. We pass on these types of savings to you when we can get them, so give us a call now (800-243-9490) because availability is starting to dry up as we speak!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
It's confirmed - Las Vegas is a bargain!
Hotel rates are the lowest we've seen in years. Our favorites for families are on the Strip and include the MGM Grand, The Excalibur, Mandalay Bay and The Bellagio. You'll also find airfares at real bargains. We encourage you to check with your favorite airline to find the best deals or use your frequent flyer miles. The local ecomony in Las Vegas is suffering with high real estate foreclosure rates and high rental vacancies so their economy is looking for anything that can help!
We hope that this information helps in creating a wonderful family vacation and keeps it affordable and in your budget!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Yosemite National Park reservation window
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Why travel domestically? Better yet - why not?
Of course, we'd like to see many folks without passports see the great outdoors in our National Parks. We asked many times to help create a special vacation for families and friends that want to experience more that our country has to offer. And many of our clients live in areas that are different in topography, history and climate than the most popular National Parks such as Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Glacier National Park or Olympic National Park.
And you can still get some international flavor at our favorite vacation spots! Since these destinations are known internationally, you can rub elbows with many tourists from overseas. And luckily, many will speak English so that you can share your experiences during a ranger talk or just talking with your neighbors in the campgrounds. Last time I was in Yellowstone, one of our camping neighbors was from Vancouver. They had camped all over in their RV and it was great to listen to their experiences.
So, if you don't have a passport and are considering a trip to the western USA (including New Mexico!), we say "why not?". (FYI, we do our best to pass on any great deals that we can find for you!)
Monday, February 9, 2009
Summer Vacation vs. Spring Break
Our initial observations are that folks are forfeiting their family spring break vacation and using that part of their annual budget for their summer vacation. So far, we are seeing that there are fewer clients planning spring break vacations this year. We are also seeing that the average cost of our clients' summer vacations is higher than last year. And our clients are still taking RV trips to stunning destinations like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons or Yosemite. They are also heading to western Canada since the the exchange rate is so favorable compared to last year. And we have some clients that are taking advantage of using an SUV or minivan rental and staying in unique lodges or hotels.
If you are looking to get maximum value for your family vacation dollar this year, give us a call toll-free (800-247-0970) and talk to one of our experienced trip consultants. They'll help with creating a great vacation that will fit into your budget.
Friday, February 6, 2009
New United baggage shipment program
We try to keep you informed of useful travel tips when we hear about them and here's a good one!
If you are looking to ship your luggage ahead and you are flying United, the airline has just introduced Door-to-Door Baggage service in conjunction with FedEx. This particularly works with bulky luggage items such as skis. They have a special introductory offer where you can save up to 45% on this new service. Check out this link to United's website.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Go West Summit travel conference
This is a great opportunity to get updates on what's new at many destinations that we recomend to our clients. We get ideas for new itineraries, evaluate new excursions and find out about little out-of-the-way activities that enhance your travel experience. This summit was the 20th annual conference. As you can imagine we have much to share and include in our itineraries for the future. Be looking here for information about some of the new, fun stuff that we will be including in our vacation packages based on what we learned this week!
Here's one tidbit: Did you know that the largest flamenco school in the United States is in Albuquerque? Check out the website of The National Institute of Flamenco. At Go West, we were treated to a performance by nine of the institute's members at the Albuquerque Art and History Museum. Just fantastic! For more on Albuquerque, check out www.itsatrip.org!
Stay tuned! More to come!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Update on availability of campgrounds and RV's for the summer
We are already seeing limited availability of campgrounds along the California coast around the Fourth of July holiday. We expect to see a continuation of the trend of vacationers staying closer to home, so it's not surprising to see California campgrounds booking up (there's a ton of people living in California!).
So far we are still seeing good RV availability with many companies - even in Canada (where the exchange rate still offers a 20% discount for US travelers!). And we know that this will change soon, particularly around major holidays (Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day) and major events (Calgary Stampede, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Burning Man). We do our best to keep a calendar of major happenings so that we can steer you around the big crowds. Don't procrasinate if you have plans for a great National Park vacation! Now is the best time to plan!
If you call us today (800-247-0970), one of our trip consultants can help you with finding that out-of-the-way, off-the-beaten-path destination, fun activity or campground that will make your vacation!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Calling all Wildlife Seekers!!!
If one of your main objectives while on vacation is to view wildlife, here are some of the top National Parks to consider visiting, along with the types of wildlife you are most likely to see there:
Glacier National Park, Montana. Best for: Grizzlies, mountain goats, elk, and deer. Unless you’re ready to get up close and personal with one or more of the resident grizzlies, don’t come to Glacier National Park. And though not likely, be prepared for encounters with wolves, mountain lions, and mountain goats. For the most wildlife encounters, do something that visitors usually don’t: Get out of the car and take a hike! More than 730 miles of hiking trails offer opportunities to see animals in the wild. Paddle the North and Middle Forks of Flathead into the heart of the wilderness where you’re likely to see mountain goats from the water.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Best for: Elk, wolves, bison, and deer. Yellowstone is home to more than 30,000 elk, 3,000 bison, 2,000 mule deer, and hundreds of grizzlies, moose, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope. The park is home once again to gray wolves, who were absent for more than 60 years due to extermination by park rangers, but are now considered a valuable component of the ecosystem. Get up early and head to the Lamar Valley, where elk herds graze under the watchful eyes of the wolf packs who prey on them.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Best for: Bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, and marmots. Bighorns are well suited for the steep and rugged environment of the Rockies. In the summer they spend a lot of time around the Sheep Lakes. There is a special Bighorn Crossing Zone on Highway 34. Hike the Milner Pass trail to the edge of the Crater, where you’ll find them in their Alpine setting. The curious Rocky Mountain marmot and coyotes can be found in the park’s forests, large, open meadows, and Alpine tundra. Best seen at dawn or in the late evening are the park’s more elusive animals: mountain lions, bobcats, and elk.
Everglades National Park, Florida. Best for: Alligators, crocodiles, manatees, turtles. The last remaining everglades in the world, this park is truly a unique environment. Almost completely submerged beneath water; even deer and bobcats have adapted to the semi-aquatic environment and can be seen wading in the water foraging for dinner. You can boat or paddle the waterways where you’re likely to see alligators, deer, herons, and numerous turtles. Try the half-mile long Anhinga Trail, where saltwater meets fresh. You’ll find a staggering variety of fauna. You can bike the 15-mile, paved Shark Valley Tram Road, where you’ll see alligators, deer, herons, and turtles.
Whichever park you choose, encounters with animals in the wild are bound to be a thrill. You will be entranced with their beauty and grace, and their ability to survive, against all odds, in the modern world. Tracks and Trails offers trips to all of these National Parks – the wildlife awaits!
Friday, January 16, 2009
A Collection of Intriguing Adventures
Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie looking for your next “fix” or a discerning traveler searching for that “once-in-a-lifetime” experience that will become the highlight of your entire vacation, here are a few destinations that are "off-the-beaten-path" that we include in some of our custom itineraries:
Pacific Tree Climbing Institute, Eugene, Oregon. If you are inspired by new experiences, this belongs on your “must do” list. Ascending into the canopy of an old growth forest is not only an adrenaline high but a journey of the spirit. It offers an exciting and peaceful place to experience life in a timeless setting. The tree you climb is specially chosen for your experience, ranging from 250-300 feet tall. You can even spend the night aloft in a hammock, hearing the call of owls, and waking to mist in the treetops. No prior climbing experience is necessary; ascending the tree is comparable to hiking a mountain with a day pack. See this on our Touring the Oregon Coast trip.
Soaring Tree Top Adventures, Durango, Colorado, boasts the largest, highest and safest zip line canopy tour course available, with over a mile and a quarter of ziplines through alpine mountains, aspen forests and across the beautiful Animas River. Opened in 2008, the fastest and most thrilling soaring run spans 1,400 feet, almost tripling the length of its predecessor of 560 feet! Located on 180 private acres, this thrilling day-long, eco-friendly adventure lets you glide through old-growth Ponderosa pines with the help of friendly Sky Rangers (guides) who assist you at every tree. If you take our one of our Colorado trips, you can check out this activity that will make you scream like you're on a roller coaster!
Fossil Butte National Monument, Kemmerer, Wyoming. Some of the world’s best preserved and abundant fossils are found in the flat-topped ridges of southwestern Wyoming’s cold sagebrush desert. Visit on a Friday or Saturday in the summer and you can hike to the fossil research quarry and collect fossils with a paleontologist. This is a rare opportunity to experience the thrill of seeing a fossil revealed after being buried in stone for 50 million years. All fossils remain in the monument’s museum collection for scientific study, but you can watch lab personnel prepare a fossil, and they will field your questions as well. We can create a custom trip so that you can get to see this unique find for the fossil hunter in your family!
For devoted animal lovers, the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, 5 miles north of Kanab, Utah, (two hours’ drive from Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon North Rim) is worth a visit. More than 2,000 rescued animals reside in this sanctuary in awe-inspiring Angel Canyon, waiting for you to lavish them with attention. An additional option, you can stay overnight in one of the on-site cottages or cabins, or in your RV. If you take our most popular trip in 2008, you'll go right past the sanctuary.
These are just examples of the tons of information that we give you in your Adventure Kit when you take a Tracks & Trails driving adventure. We've either done the sightseeing to these great destinations or our clients have told us from their own exploring. Either way, there is so much to see in the Western US/Canada and Florida, that we can schedule either downtime, tons of activities or a little of both.
Look for more out of the way destinations next week!