Category: North America

Clip in and climb on!

Red River Gorge is only an hour and a half – two hours away from Louisville by car, so if you’re there, it’s worth a day trip. You can hike, kayak, camp, etc. without having to climb. Since it’s a popular climbing spot, however, I’ll talk about that.

Lead climbing/top-rope climbing is one of my favorite sports, along with tennis and distance running, so after visiting the Gorge, I highly recommend it to others.

The Red River Gorge is a popular spot for lead-climbing enthusiasts to go test their skills on the real rock walls. I’ve had the pleasure of climbing here several times.
If you go to The Red, bring plenty of water, hiking shoes until you reach the pitches, some food (enough until to tide you over until the pizza at Miguel’s pizza/campsite), and if you’re looking for climbers, simply head over to Miguel’s, as that’s where most climbers camp and eat, anyway.

Other than that, bring chalk, as the sandstone is a delight to climb (it’s like velcro for your fingers and shoes), and a guide book. A lot of climbs are intermediate level (5.9-5.10 range) but a lot of them are advanced (5.11 and up) so the guide book will save you a lot of problems. Or, simply check out this website for Red River Gorge route information. Happy climbing!

All opinions are my own.

Los Angeles is the city of angels, Hollywood, palm trees, and most of the world’s source for celebrity entertainment and gossip. Also in Los Angeles is the Avenue of Stars, Griffith Park Observatory, Venice Beach, and the Dolby Theatre, and the Hollywood Sign. You can go into Downtown Los Angeles, or “DTLA” as it is called locally, to enjoy a drink or a dip atop the Ace Hotel downtown, walk around Chinatown, eat at its many restaurants, visit the large, modern, library, or explore the expensive high-end designer stores.

There is a wide variety of things to do in Los Angeles, you’ll have to pick what you want or just go with the flow. Sand and sun is a popular reason to visit, as the beaches are plentiful, with some really great ones to discover.

I do recommend visiting Malibu, for its spectacular beaches, especially El Matador, and its small luxury-resort community. Driving along the Pacific Coast Highway is always pleasant, except when there is traffic. Traffic in Los Angeles can be awful, with standstills for an hour during rush hour/after work in the mornings and evenings, or if there is a crash. Using an app will help you out if you have a smartphone.

It is hard to get around LA without a car, but Uber/Lyft/taxi services are so common, you won’t have a problem.

Los Angeles is an expensive city, however, so be prepared. You can get budget hotels/hostels from $30 a night for a dorm room and also 5-star luxury hotels in this city that will break the bank. Airbnb is popular, especially in Venice beach, for rentals close to the beach.

Good luck, enjoy LA, and take care!

All opinions are my own.

I’ve been to Indianapolis so many times I can’t count for events, to have fun, and to watch tennis matches and hockey games. The Megabus, Greyhound, and Amtrak bus/train stations are right downtown, which all go directly to Chicago and Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

Things to do in Indianapolis:
For a small-town experience, check out the shops, restaurants, and bars in Broadripple (there’s a hookah bar also), on the northeast side of Indianapolis.

If you want to buy clothes, go shopping at Circle Centre downtown or head to The Fashion Mall at Keystone on the east side of Indianapolis, which hosts a SAKS Fifth Avenue store.

For a view of the Indiana War Memorial, take a walk in the American Legion Mall and stop by the fountain.

For cultural fun, visit the Children’s Museum, or the Indianapolis Museum of Art, which also hosts arts and culture events quite frequently. There’s a canal that runs through Indianapolis that is fun to walk alongside, or take a paddleboat.

Though Indianapolis is not a large capital city, it’s a good place to explore for a day or two.

I also highly recommend listening to shows at the Hi-Fi on Virginia Avenue. Checking out Mass Ave is also worthwhile, as there’s a multitude of art galleries, shops, and restaurant/bars to dive into.

The Hi-Fi during an event – image from Google

Gatlinburg was subject to a destructive forest fire in November 2016, but during my visit in 2013, it was intact. I do not know what state it is in currently, but the rest of this post’s information is up-to-date. 

The Great Smokey Mountains are a great place to visit if you like outdoor activities and nature. There are miles of easy to moderate hikes inside the radius of the Great Smokey Mountains, or you can take the Appalachian Trail directly through it and either section hike it or hike the whole length, depending where you start.

I hiked the entirety of the Great Smokey Mountains, and headed north for a few days, totaling 122 miles on foot. It took about a week, but I spent a few days camping in a hot springs resort in North Carolina called Hot Springs, with a population of less than 600 people.

You can buy your food supplies and most other consumer items in Gatlinburg, which also offers log cabins and hotels, if you’re not into camping or hiking. Nearby is Pigeon Forge, which is small and very touristy in feeling, but has things to do to entertain visitors who want to eat out, see the sights, go shopping for knick-knacks and souvenirs, and so on.

If you are into hiking, I recommend going on the Appalachian Trail section inside the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. You have to pay a small fee to be in the backcountry, which you can do online or at the main grounds. More information is available at the National Park Service government website for the Great Smokey Mountains. The views are incredible, with bluish mist rising up from the mountains in the morning and beautiful sunrises and sunsets most days. Be prepared for occasional rain. Also, do not overpack. This is always a good idea, especially if you are backpacking. You won’t need most of the things you carry, anyway.

 

If you’re in Madison, Wisconsin, it’s probably not for a touristic trip, but it is quite beautiful if you happen to want to visit this city in the northern United States.

There are two lakes in Madison, which you can drive in between to reach the city from the highway, which is a very nice view. Downtown Madison is walkable, with stately architecture and friendly people. Walk around the University of Madison and see the sights, or simply walk around Madison in general. I like being by the lake, because the views are lovely and the old homes surrounding it are quaint.

I stayed in the Hostel International Hostel Madison, while I was there, and it was very pleasant. It’s like being in a home of your own, with a fireplace and piano and colorfully painted walls. The benefits are that you have a kitchen and it is quite inexpensive. I recommend staying here if you’re a backpacker or simply don’t want to pay for a hotel.

 

All opinions are my own.

 

Florida has so many beaches due to being a peninsula on the southern coast of the United States, with three of its edges surrounding by salt water. The fine white beaches are an attraction for many, many tourists.

It should also be noted, Florida is also the destination for many older people in the U.S., either as time-shares, vacation homes, or simply a place to spend the rest of their years. Siesta Key is one of these places in Florida, offering sunshine and sand year-round.

During my visit in December of 2012, it was colder than I expected, with temperatures in the 60s and nippy breezes blowing in from the Gulf of Mexico waters.

Siesta Key is known for its stretches of fine sandy white beaches, and you will not be disappointed. The water can be a little cold in the winter, however, so be warned, it is not the best time to go swimming.

The rest of Siesta Key is hard to get to without a car, although there is a bus system. I recommend a car to get around, because of the sprawling nature of this city.

I stayed in a condo a few minutes walk to the beach, but there are plenty of hotels nearby the beach, also, and you can always find listings on Airbnb.com.

Other than the beaches, there was really not so much to do in Siesta Key, but the beaches do not disappoint.

All opinions are my own.

Chicago is a global city with picturesque skylines of its high rise buildings and a beach alongside Lake Michigan. It can be somewhat chilly due to the harsh lake winds, even in the warmer months, so dress accordingly.

I recommend going to the popular touristy areas, like seeing the Chicago Bean, strolling down the Magnificent Mile for a look at clothes and other shops, and taking a visit to the beach/boardwalk on Lakeshore Drive along the edge of Lake Michigan, if you’re just in Chicago for a day or two.

Chicago is also host to many world-known musical acts and theatre showings, which you can catch playing at many of its venues. One thing about Chicago is that while you can take the El trains around the city, they are often somewhat crowded and often smell bad due to the number of homeless that ride the trains daily. Unlike Europe, the trains are not as popular a transit option for the majority and are less taken care of by its passengers. This can depend on the poverty of the areas the trains go to, however.

Another thing I recommend doing in Chicago is taking an Uber/taxi instead of trying to rent a car for yourself, if you’re only visiting a few days. Parking is expensive, ranging from roughly $15-30 an hour unless you have a discounted voucher from a business you’re visiting, and there are plenty of taxis/Ubers/Lyfts around for hire at a low fare.

It is well worth visiting the museums in Chicago, as well. The Children’s Museum, Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art are some of my personal favorites.

Hotels in Chicago range from modern hostel rooms to expensive luxury suites. There is a wide range which you can choose from, or you can pick from Airbnb.

Enjoy Chicago.

As always, opinions are my own.

This photo pretty much sums up everything you might imagine Miami and Tampa to be.

Visit Miami or Tampa to find stretches of white sandy beaches, lively nightclubs, sprawling urban and commercial areas, and plenty of hot sunshine. You might be amazed at how much Spanish is spoken if you are not from the region.

Miami and Tampa are both known for their beaches, which are sometimes crowded in popular areas. They are fairly close to one another by car or plane (only a few hours drive and a shorter flight). I went from one to the other on Spring Break of 2009 with girl friend, and it was quite a popular destination for college aged students. I wouldn’t go again, however, during that time as it was not my scene.

If you want to avoid crowds, don’t go during the busy season which typically lasts from March through August. A car is definitely needed to get around.

All opinions are my own.

Located in the northern area of California, the California Redwoods are truly majestic and a sight to see. If you have the time, spend a few days in this area, because while a day trip will allow you to see the old-growth forests, the surrounding towns are good spots for booking a pleasant retreat.

When I stayed in the Redwoods (way back in 2007), I had a room in a rustic wooden house in the mountains about an hour or two away from the Redwood forest itself, with a vegetable garden on the premises and an open-air hot tub on the wooden deck. It made for a beautiful few nights spent underneath the stars, which were plentiful and highly visible.

These ancient trees are not to be missed, if you are planning a trip to Northern California. Alternatively, it is worth the few hours drive up from Los Angeles, although you would need to rent a car for the quickest travel.

Ojai, California is a beautiful small town located in between Ventura and Santa Barbara in Southern California. The population is about 8,000-10,000 with a few main streets. It is mostly surrounded by mountains. One cool thing about Ojai is that the mountains are situated in a different orientation than most other mountain ranges, which the locals say gives the town special energies for art and healing.

The location for the US blockbuster film, Easy A, Ojai is mostly a spa-resort town for those wanting to escape the traffic and bustle of the Los Angeles metropolis and surrounding areas.

Some fun things to do in Ojai:

You can take a short 2 mile hike amongst the mountains, lined with orange orchards, and look over the valley in some areas.

Visit the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa for some rest and relaxation.

Watch the annual Ojai Tennis Tournament, held in the end of April.

Walk around the quaint streets (Ojai is easy to get around on foot, but renting a car will make getting around elsewhere much easier, for example, if you want to reach the beach from Ojai).

If you visit Ojai, prepare for sunshine and a small-town luxury resort atmosphere. A great day-trip from Los Angeles or surrounding areas, or perfect for a weekend or a few nights before moving onwards.