Sherman's Travel

The Great Barrier Reef’s ecosystem is incredibly rich, and even though you might not be, it’s a world wonder simply not to be missed. Undoubtedly, you’re in for a splurge on the airfare to get Down Under, but, happily, once you touch down, there are plenty of value Great Barrier Reef activities that won’t break the bank. Base your stay, like I recently did, in the well-serviced tourist center of Cairns or on Fitzroy Island, just offshore, and look out for these great ways to encounter the reef on the cheap, along with a couple of budget-friendly lodging options. Read more

Here at SkyMall Tuesday headquarters, we’re no strangers to products that help us heed the call of nature no matter where we find ourselves. Whether you’re stuck on a long road trip, out for a hike, or spending the day on the water, bathrooms aren’t always conveniently located. In the past, this forced people to wear adult diapers, relieve themselves in public, or soil their clothing. Those are hardly appropriate solutions to this all too common problem. If we can go anywhere, why can’t toilets do the same? In these modern times, everything is made to be portable and used on the go. Well, we need something that is used when we need to go! Not surprisingly, SkyMall saw this problem and addressed it head on. Rather than frantically searching for a restroom or seeking out some large bushes, take (waste) matters into your own hands – or bags – with the Biffy Bag.

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With only about six weeks left before the end of the year, it’s time to look ahead to 2013 and the promise of new outdoor adventures. If you haven’t started yet, it’s also probably time to think about the outdoorsman on your holiday gift list. The trouble is, there’s a lot of stuff out there vying for your hard-earned money. Almost every season, new equipment ranging from the essential to the incidental appears in stores and online, and it can be tough to keep up with every new development in outerwear, boots, and backpacks. But since a few pieces of outdoor equipment always help to inspire travel and recreation, I’ve spent some time narrowing down the field. And so for the adventure-seeker you always have trouble shopping for, here’s a short list of gift-worthy gear they’ll be thrilled to unwrap this year.

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The recent headlines over the hantavirus outbreak at Yosemite National Park in California keep getting grimmer. On Thursday, news broke of the third fatality from the rare, rodent-borne illness, which has been linked to some tent cabins at the park’s popular Curry Village.

In addition, park officials also confirmed that the eighth confirmed case of hantavirus linked to the park in recent weeks, which was a mild case and did not require hospitalization, likely occurred not in Curry Village but at one of the park’s high country camps. As a result, Yosemite officials are notifying about 12,000 additional people who stayed in the park’s High Sierra camps this summer, said Kari Cobb, public affairs officer for Yosemite National Park.

So far, park officials have sent more than 3,000 e-mails and letters to people who reserved cabins in Curry Village over the summer and have posted and shared links to FAQs and safety tips about the virus. In addition, various health agencies working on the outbreak, including the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have taken to Twitter and other social media to help get the word out about the outbreak. Meanwhile, all 91 of the “signature” cabin tents at Curry Village, where the majority of infections are believed to have occurred due to a design flaw in the tents that allowed mice inside, are closed indefinitely, Cobb said.

Still, even with all the efforts dedicated to controlling the outbreak, the situation also underscores an important reminder for any travelers who enjoy the wilderness: that as safe and regulated as national parks are, nature always has the upper hand. Read more

Labor Day, the unofficial end to summer (sniff), also offers a great opportunity for an adventure-oriented getaway. But, if you can’t afford (or stomach) shelling out for an evermore expensive airline ticket, or are stressing over spending too much on travel in general, don’t fret. Here are a few timely tips on how you can still score an affordable adventure this Labor Day – or any other time of year.

Hit up a state park. Many of the country’s most popular national parks, such as Yosemite and Great Smoky Mountains, are mobbed over long weekends, but there are scores of state parks that receive a fraction of the crowds and offer excellent programming and events over holiday weekends. For example, activities over Labor Day at various Tennessee State Parks, which will mark their 75th anniversary this year, include a 5K/10K run, ecology and nature hikes, and a Camper’s Night Light Contest for the most well-decorate nighttime campsite. Some states, such as California, also offer a handy link that shows campsite availability over Labor Day. Read more

Checking bags can be a waste of time and money, two things that I simply don’t have enough of when it comes to travel. I always prefer to carry on my luggage, which means leaving behind things like multitools, knives, and other TSA-banned items. That might not seem like a major inconvenience, but when I’m planning to do any camping, hiking, or other adventure activities while on the road, I like to have some basic tools with me. Thankfully, one of my favorite gear companies has a simple solution. Wherever I go, the Gerber Shard Keychain Tool comes with me. It’s tiny, useful, and safe for air travel.

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Were you to plot family camping on a spectrum, on one end there would be traditional camping, with cookware, pitched tents, sleeping bags, and the hard, cold ground. Way over on the other end of the spectrum would be The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe’s Indoor Campout Package, where for a hundred bucks per child, hotel staffers will pitch a 3’ x 5’ tent – equipped with a feather bed and Ritz-Carlton linens, of course – inside your room. Read more

Grab the binoculars and Dramamine: Whale-watching season is gearing up, especially on the West Coast, as the gentle giants slowly migrate from colder northern waters down south for the winter. Here, some recommendations for the best whale-watching tours and spots in North America, plus a newly announced camping and kayaking trip in Argentina that lets you paddle right up to the orcas.

First, a quick heads-up: While it should be an M.O. for any type of travel, there are no guarantees when it comes to whale-watching. Nature can flare up with some nasty waves, wind and fog. You might see nary a tail fin, and you might get seasick as a dog. But those unknowns make sightings even more enjoyable. Up your chances of a good experience by eating a carb-rich breakfast and packing anti-seasickness meds, plenty of layers,  rainy-weather gear and a positive attitude.

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I like camping as much as the next outdoor enthusiast, but sometimes I’m looking for something more noteworthy than hiking by day and a wienie roast at night. That’s why these great fall weekend getaways and festivals caught my eye: They’re all about enjoying the great outdoors, but bring a little something extra to the mix, like great food, music and adult beverages, to boot. Read more

There are two weekends left in National Camping & Great Outdoors Month, and although the whole thing is a not-so-subtle marketing ploy by REI, I’ll take any excuse to encourage people to spend more time in nature.

Same goes for John Ricci, owner of Wandrian Adventures a New York City-based company that’s committed to responsible travel (www.wandrianadventures.com). Ricci has spent many a night under the stars, having explored 44 countries and six continents throughout his adventures.

Here, some insights from Ricci to help novices have a great time in the great outdoors.

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