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I need to organize a spring bachelor party weekend in the outdoors. Help! While the groom is a huge adventurer, some in our diverse group of friends aren’t so active. You have any trips in the West that meet our needs? OliverSeattle, WA
Looking for a domestic weekend escape with international flair? Pack a bag and head for Miami. The city has a rep for beaches, beautiful people, and wild nightlife, but that’s not all it has. Presenting the top five adventures in Miami. The Party Circuit: Like I said, there’s…
Photo by overdrive_cz on Flickr Brazilian airports currently being upgraded for the 2014 World Cup likely will not be ready in time, according to Reuters. The incomplete projects are expected to…
Photo by overdrive_cz on Flickr Brazilian airports currently being upgraded for the 2014 World Cup likely will not be ready in time, according to Reuters. The incomplete projects are expected to cause…
I'm not ready for the winter to end. What are the best spring backcountry ski spots? Kevin Burlington, VT
I'm going hiking for a week in Iceland this spring. What kind of pants would be right for cold and rainy, but good for dry weather, too? Tom Springfield, VA
My 14-year-old daughter wants to go on an organized bike trip. Which groups are the best? I went with American Youth Hostels when I was young, are they still good? Any other ones you can recommend? -Janice Hastings on Hudson, NY
Obscura Day 2011 Preview from Atlas Obscura on Vimeo. The Atlas Obscura is holding their second annual International Obscura Day this Saturday. Around 100 events will take place all over the world, on every continent. Head to Buenos Aires to check…
Obscura Day 2011 Preview from Atlas Obscura on Vimeo. The Atlas Obscura is holding their second annual International Obscura Day this Saturday. Around 100 events will take place all over the world, on every continent. Head to Buenos Aires to check…
Is there some way to go island hopping in the South Pacific on a boat to go snorkeling? No huge cruise ships. I want a small boat with an emphasis on the water, with a taste of local culture. -Mike Hailey, ID
Photo by fletchy182 on Flickr Adventure travel company Pedalers Pub and Grille has announced plans for their 25th…
I love foreign locales and culture, but don't like the occasional side factors: street crime, food-borne illness, bartering for souvenirs, etc. You have any ideas for great places and adventures that take my preferences into account? Andrew Menlo Park, CA
Courtesy of Amble Resorts Become the first (paid!) intern on Panama's Isla Palenque, future home of the Resort at Isla Palenque. You'll travel, blog, take photographs and film life at the…
South America contains the Amazon, the Andes, 19,000 miles of coastline, and arguably more adventure than any other continent. So where to start? These ten perfect trips, from exploratory rafting in Peru to skiing in Chile to beach-hopping Brazil.
What qualifies an adventure lodge as one of the world's best? Hot tubs and high thread counts, sure. But what sets these ten launchpads apart is access—to remote trails, steep runs, and lonely peaks.
With so many novice adventurers filing suit when something goes wrong, outfitters are shielding themselves behind increasingly dense liability forms. What does the mumbo jumbo really mean? We asked a crack team of lawyers.
If you could put together a list of five must-do national park experiences in the United States, what would they be? ScottGambier, OH
Leo Hoogenboom leads it out. Photo by Barry B. Brown/Coral Reef Photos On the island of Bonaire last week, I solidified my opinion of cold-weather biking: like getting a flu shot or cleaning the toilet, you have to do…
South America contains the Amazon, the Andes, 19,000 miles of coastline, and arguably more adventure than any other continent. So where to start? Try one of these adventure lodges.
The Alto Atacama, Photo by Kyle Dickman Chile is South America's New Zealand, which is to say, it's an adventurer's paradise. And the most popular destination is San Pedro de Atacama, a dusty 400-year old village on the northern edge…
I'm looking for a beach vacation this March with my husband and college-aged daughter either in Mexico or somewhere within decent flight time of Dallas. What can you do for me?JoniDallas, TX
We'll be rafting the Grand Canyon in August and the gear list includes a full rain suit. Any recommendations? Steve Charleston, SC
Last year, four friends of mine and I biked the Allegheny Passage to see the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC. This late winter or early spring, we want to top that by heading out west and backpacking for four to five days in a national park. What is a good location that will have favorable conditions? -Andrew Pittsburgh, PA
My 12-year-old son and I want to start taking exciting and safe adventure trips together. What are some good ideas and places in the United States that are reasonable for older kids and young teens? -Clint Tokyo, Japan
A leather briefcase that’s charmingly old-school while loaded with smart concessions to the modern world.
The most creative and affordable array of trips we’ve seen in years. Time to pack your bag.
With a little help from the wine industry, a new scanner is currently under development that could allow passengers to take innocuous liquids on airplanes, according to NewScientist.com. Matthew Augustine, a chemistry…
We present our Trips of the Year, everything from whitewater rafting in Siberia to mountain biking in Argentina to the greatest multisport vacation in Alaska.
I've never had an interest in learning to ski, but I loved sledding as a kid. Are there any ski resorts with lift-assisted sledding? Having to walk back up the hill was always the worst part. I heard that some resort in Switzerland has a five-mile-long sledding run. Willy Santa Rosa, CA
Britt, Iowa; RAGBRAI 2010 On July 24, RAGBRAI riders will clip in at Glenwood, Iowa and cycle east through Atlantic, Carroll, Boone, Altoona, Grinnell and Coralville before cruising into Davenport — and the Bix Beiderbecke jazz festival…
Your Challenge: Choosing the right adventure in New Zealand, a place that offers the best of everything. Your Solution: Our heavily researched, carefully formulated, and totally brilliant ten-step plan.
Josh Cox broke his own American 50K record yesterday after winning the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona marathon. His time for 31.2 miles was 2:43:45, three minutes faster than the record…
I'm short on time and cash, and stuck out here on the East Coast, but am looking for a climbing destination on this side of the Mississippi that's equivalent to Liberty Bell. In other words, a fun, multi-pitch rock with a bit of a sense of accomplishment at the summit. What can you do for me? Richard Fairfax, VA
Courtesy of Sacred Rides. Sacred Rides and GoPro Cameras are rewarding mountain bikers for their patience during snowy winter months with a free trip to Central or South America. Enter the Flip…
Copyright Darren Kirby (Darren Kirby) Courtesy of Flickr Dark sky tourism is on the rise, reports the BBC. Light pollution causes astronomical bodies, such as stars, planets and the moon, to be less visible in urban areas.
Cruise ships are for tourists. Real travel is for wanderers who don’t want to just see, but experience something different. Packing and planning take a back seat to learning how to simply be in this game. So leave your guidebook at home, snip the Canadian…
I have a very adventurous ten-year-old daughter and we've been talking about going to Nepal. Any good itineraries? And would the Everest Base Camp trek be appropriate, or would she get more from the Annapurna area? -Dennis Spokane, WA
Rising luggage fees and headaches at baggage claims now prompt many travelers to avoid checking a bag before boarding a flight. Instead, experienced travelers plan strategies to maximize carry-on allowances, including stuffing their jacket pockets full and stretching airlines' rules by bringing a backpack or a huge purse…
I seek wisdom from the experienced Gear Guy on winter clothing layering. I will be hiking up Mt. Washington in January and I am hoping I can beseech your advice on finding the best layering combination (starting with base-layer clothing suggestions to mid-layer clothing suggestion and finally the outer shell layer suggestion). Thank you, exulted Gear Guy! -Nathan St. Louis, MO
Where's best for kayaking or canoeing in Brazil? I like the idea of the Amazon but would also like some beach action. Any tips? -Dave London, England
Courtesy of Navicore on Flickr. Sky and Telescope says that tonight's shower should be the year's “richest and most reliable meteor display,” and estimates that as many as two Geminids may be visible every minute under ideal…
Could floating in a sensory-deprivation tank for several hours be as mind-expanding as a real-life adventure? Our neurological guinea pig is about to find out.
Ride along as an international group of up-for-anything clients gets schooled on tourism's wildest frontier: Afghanistan.
What are some good places to "escape" Los Angeles without having to go too far? -Susan Los Angeles CA
Photo Courtest of Flickr Three South Pacific teenagers were recently found after 50 days adrift in an isolated stretch of ocean, almost 900 miles from where they were lost, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. The Tokelauan boys, of the Atafu…
The following dispatch is from extreme kayaker, Ben Stookesberry, a member of the First Ascent kayak team. They are currently on an expedition in Africa to make a first descent of the Lukuga…
If you had three to four days to hike Belize, which area would you choose? -Cindy Evansville IN
The following dispatch is from extreme kayaker, Ben Stookesberry, a member of the First Ascent kayak team. They are currently on an expedition in Africa to make a first descent of the Lukuga…
For all the allure and mystery of the Himalaya, perhaps the mystery of the Yeti stands out. And one man, Mike Allsop is doing his best to keep the mystery alive. Mike, a pilot for Air New Zealand, has visited Nepal many times and summited Everest in 2007. Like…
The Mountains of the Moon (called the Rwenzori by the native people) literally inspired our expedition when planning began six months ago. Before friend and trip advisor Dr. Jessie Stone first mentioned the Rwenzori, I had little…
What are some great outdoor activities I can do while I'm living in Istanbul? The only things I know of are running and swimming in the Bosporus. How about diving or snowboarding? -Lauren Istanbul, Turkey
Seven years ago, Florida resident Hitesh Mehta embarked on a journey that took him through 46 countries in six continents. The purpose of his trek? To find the world's greatest ecolodges–places where tourism and sustainablility combine to create one-of-a-kind, environmentally friendly vacations. The result?…
I'm going to Vancouver for a week on business and would like to peel off for two to three days of being outdoors. Any suggestions for a fit gal who likes to be outside, but has to be back and in a cocktail dress by seven o'clock each evening? -Mathilda Dallas, TX
Why It’s CoolIn both modes, the Outlander is exceptionally clean and stable, thanks to Osprey’s trademark burrito-wrap pack bag: Foam-stiffened sides envelop (and protect) any load, so there’s no slop. » It’s trek-ready, with a zip-away, fully adjustable harness (padded hipbelt and shoulder straps). Go ahead, haul 50 pounds. Bonus:…
MULTISPORT MAW This rolling expedition duffel could eat two pony kegs. I dumped loads of gear into the 6,100-cube behemoth for kayaking and glacier tromping in Alaska and still had plenty of room. Osprey’s inventive exoskeleton design features a flexible Delrin rod that acts as a shield while forming the…
Why It’s CoolI thought of the Gear Logic as a rolling footlocker with a waterproof bottom “drawer” just big enough for my test cargo: a pair of full-size hiking boots and Tevas. Oh-so-niftily, I could pull out that bottom compartment and—voilà—a tote bag. I could also jettison the tote bag,…
ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE MINIMALIST This 3,150-cube carry-on’s built like a wolverine: compact, rugged, and toothy—colossal five-inch wheels bite into most any surface and prevent payload rollovers. During a rain-racked week in Chiapas, Mexico, the water-resistant boot bin sequestered dank footwear while the muck-shirking polyurethane exterior was easy to wipe off. Inside, uncomplicated…
Always in a hurry? As with many carry-ons, stashing this ten-inch-deep roller in overhead bins is fast and simple. Unlike with many, extracting it is just as quick: A strategically placed bottom handle puts an end to frustrating yank-athons. The Vienna is a petite 2,150 cubes, yet its compression-strap…
SLICK AND UTILITARIAN Fully rotating handle for ergonomic towing; adjustable, ventilated, zip-away backpack suspension for off-road jaunts; detachable day bag with shoulder strap for town tours? Check. This carry-on-legal, 3,200-cube convertible provided all and more during five days in Belize. Sliding the surprisingly svelte main bag—compressed via four straps—into overhead…
Rainforest explorers and Weather Channel illiterates, take note: The aptly named WeatherShed defies the elements. It’s roofed with a rubbery topside fabric, sealed with a water-resistant zipper, and finished with a bathtublike plastic bottom. The duffel yawns open like a doctor’s black bag, exposing a 4,100-cube interior that isn’t…
A thermomolded plastic shell surrounds three sheets of eggcrate foam to keep your bike safe. Interior tie-downs guard against nicks and scratches. bikeprousa.com…
This world beater survived a 20-bag squashfest trucking over 13,000-foot passes in Bhutan, never blowing a seam or busting an axle. The kicker? Back home, we marveled that fragile, wooden treasures from the world’s last Buddhist kingdom made the journey unscathed. The cavernous 8,360-cubic-inch interior has upstairs and downstairs…
It looks urbane, but it’s a tough guy on the road. This rolling duffel’s cross-woven monofilament fabric and beefy zippers shrugged off punishing loads and transits on a surf-and-turf ramble in Mexico. Though I regularly threw my 200 pounds on the brute to zip it up after overstuffing…
TOP TREKKING TAKE-ALONGThe load-compression scheme on this 5,100-cubic-inch convertible hauler progressively cinches your stuff, trash-compactor style. The Waypoint’s cushy handle and hidden suspension kept it streamlined and obedient during an eight-hour layover in Frankfurt. When the road ends and the trail begins, deploy the real-deal adjustable suspension and turn this…
NO SWAG LEFT BEHINDPack the swim fins, for the cavernous XL Traveler can swallow gear up to 34 inches long. The tele-scopic handle swivels to your liking, and a front pocket holds the quick-grab stuff as you roll up to the check-in counter. On a Panama dive trip, the drop-bottom…
From Big Agnes’s outdoor-inspired travel line comes the redesigned Stagecoach, a virtual amphibian and, of the bags tested, hands-down the best hauler in the muck, slush, and rain. The 3,300-cube small is pictured, but it comes in medium and large as well. Thanks to its nylon-laminated membrane and welded…
Slick Packaholic Scads of apparel, triathlon gear, souvenirs for the family…this wide-body, 6,447-cube roller rocked for weekend warrioring. A shiny vinyl sheath gives this tank a clean urban aesthetic that also toughens its skin, all wrapped in external load-cinching straps. We loved the voluminous, 18-inch-wide main compartment and mesh compression…
CARRY-ON CHAMPHere’s a carry-on that hauls like a suitcase and scoots like a wheelie. The 3,112-cubic-inch interior assimilated a week’s worth of traveling essentials for Caribbean island hopping. Close the telescopic handle and stake out your turf in any overhead bin. With water-bottle holders and a headphone port, the zip-off…
Leave it to messenger monarch Timbuk2 to devise an ingenious shoulder-bag-cum-suitcase. I toted this 1,521-cube carry-on for a month in the Philippines, where it functioned as my ad hoc office while holding backup clothing in case my checked luggage went missing. Three organizational compartments have various zippered sleeves,…
VERSATILE CARRY-ON Packed tight and smart, this trim 1,831-cubic-inch carry-on had just enough real estate for a weeklong jaunt in Trinidad. While I was scouting hotels in Port-of-Spain, the Wapack’s supersmooth polyurethane wheels and telescoping, ice-pick-style aluminum handle made it easy to weave through chaotic crowds without whacking anyone. In…
BIG AND SMART This extra-long, 5,400-cube roller easily accommodated everything for a week of diving in Bora-Bora. All of the well-built details that define Swiss Army’s luggage are here: The extra-large in-line skate wheels are the smoothest around. The fully rotating, cork-gripped, aircraft-grade aluminum handle is the trickest setup I’ve…
Long, trim, well-built, and without an ounce of excess flab, the Swerve manages large loads elegantly. Inside is 5,800 cubic inches of uninterrupted space, which was more than enough to cram all my dive gear, clothing, and personals for a month in the Philippines. Exterior compression straps ratcheted the…
DOUBLE-DUTY HAULER Mountaineering boots, crampons, ice ax, backpack, and so much more gear for a climb on Mexico’s El Pico de Orizaba were gobbled up by this simple yet ingenious two-for-one luggage solution. Fully loaded, the 7,300-cube monster rig rolls like a stalwart SUV with a cargo box up top.
TAKE IT ALL If you can’t fit it in this dual-compartment, 7,690-cubic-inch beast, you don’t need it. On a weeklong mountain-bike tour in South Dakota, we designated one compartment “clean”—for fresh laundry and camera gear—and stashed everything else, from helmets to a couple of tires to a 12-pack, in the…
Smart organization, cush protection, lightweight but durable construction, agile road manners, and a mod aesthetic—this one’s a greatest-hits compilation. We love its over-and-under footlocker design: fancy duds and unmentionables in the basement; in the roomy loft, footwear, bulky outdoor apparel, and camera gear (secured with a zippered mesh divider…
Your wish—sturdy backpack, civilized wheelie, suitcase-style interior—is this bag’s command. The versatility of this carry-on-compliant hybrid was welcome during a couple of weeks of Greek-island hopping. Pack the 3,060-cubic-inch Cross Roads in your sleep; its undivided main compartment and front-panel pockets make the procedure blessedly simple. When cobblestone gave…
MOST WEATHERPROOF While I was stranded at Denver International Airport during the blizzard of ’06, this 4,600-cubic-inch hauler sat for over an hour in a slushy puddle. But my stuff stayed dry, thanks to the Cargo Hold’s compression-molded plastic underbelly and PU-coated nylon fabric. And when canceled flights meant trudging…