Adventurous Andrea

The Solo Female Travel Blog

outdoors

4 Global Walking Destinations for All Seasons

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We all have our individual “likes” when it comes to walking holidays.

Some of us love the buzz of being around others, while for some the best thing about taking a walking holiday is the opportunity to enjoy a sense of calm solitude and of being disconnected from the wider world, with our interactions with others limited to meeting local people and engaging in the local way of life.

Even what these look like can differ wildly from person to person.

With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at a number of different walking destinations “for all seasons”. Whether you like to visit a pub at the end of a long day or retire to your own company in a tent in a remote location, it’s all catered for here, and sometimes are available in the same place!

Where should be next on your walking “where to go” list?

1. North Pennines, Northern England

England’s Pennine Hills – and specifically the Pennine Way – offers some of the most famous walking and sights in the United Kingdom.

While their “little brother” the North Pennines is a popular destination for walking for those local to the region, they’re criminally underrated when it comes to how many people visit from further afield and overseas.

One of the best things about the region is how unspoiled and natural it is. The nearby Lake District is beautiful but the fingerprints of its man-made, manufactured elements are easy to spot and can take away some of the charm of the location.

By contrast, the North Pennines’ spreading moorlands and valleys, with miles of rights of way for walkers, give a real feeling of being at one with the world and give you the opportunity to switch off and disconnect. When it’s time to kick back you have the choice of anything from wild camping to staying in one of the many local bed and breakfast establishments, while many of the local pubs offer rooms, too.

2. Black Forest, South West Germany

Germany’s Black Forest region offers something of a paradox as a travel destination.

It’s quaint, calm, and relaxing, while at the same time more often than not will be buzzing thanks to the presence of fellow travellers throughout the year. Although there are miles of tracks in the region that are shared access for walkers, bicycles, and even Segway scooters, you will also find plenty of quieter escapes where you can walk for miles and find nothing but other walkers. You’ll also have the choice of enjoying flatter walking routes or taking to one of the many mountainous trails the Black Forest has to offer.

As well as the beautiful walking location, there are plenty of sights to see, too. The Schauinsland mountain can be walked or alternatively you can take a lift to the top, and there’s a viewing tower and even a hotel on the mountain, too!

The Triberg Waterfalls are undoubtedly worth the walk, while the Mummelsee and Titisee lakes are both tranquil and calming.

Perhaps the best thing about a visit here is that you can combine the escapism of the mountains and the forest with a city break in Freiburg, which is a magnificent place to visit and spend a few days!

3. Australian Alps, South East Australia

While there are still people who can’t quite believe that it snows in Australia, many of us are just getting on with taking advantage of everything the Australian Alps has to offer.

Granted, this region would make any credible list of “countries you’d be surprised you can take a skiing trip to”, but we love it here in the summer when miles of walking and hiking trails and mountain passes become accessible on foot.

The most famous of these is actually named “The Australian Alps Walking Track”, and if you have a couple of months that you can afford to spend disconnected from the world, we would absolutely recommend doing the whole 655km walk from start to finish. If you need to take a shorter trip, then it’s easy to pick up and drop out at various parts of the track, while the region straddles a number of National Parks which themselves offer miles of walking as well as other activities.

4. Tianzi Mountain, Hunan Province, Southern China

During the Chinese winter, the temperatures around the Tianzi Mountain can drop to around 5°C, a lot of the café facilities are closed, and the local shuttle buses around the park don’t run as often as they do during the summer peak.

The winter is absolutely the best time to go there!

Yeah, you read that right. Tianzi Mountain and the whole surrounding region of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is much, much better in the quieter months. The mountains look haunting in the usual mist that appears following rainfall, and while you will still encounter others – plenty of people go there when it’s quiet with the same idea as us! – the experience in the winter vs the summer is like night and day.

The Tianzi Mountain formation is famous for inspiring a scene in the Avatar movie, too, and there’s even an Avatar theme park close by if you want to let your hair down if you’re there in the summer!

Where is Your “Walk for All Seasons”?

Where is your walk for all seasons? Would you gamble on the weather in England, find solitude in China, combine tranquillity with the buzz of the city in Germany, or take on over 650km of walking in Australia? Perhaps you’d do something completely different! Let us know where you’d go and your recommendations for a stunning place to walk around the world. If we haven’t already been you might just be helping us to inspire our next trip!

Adam Sherman is the co-founder of Viakix, an American footwear company built on a passion for recreation and a sporting lifestyle. Viakix was founded on the back of a desire to find and create attractive and fashionable outdoor footwear at an affordable price.

5 Things to Consider Before Buying an RV

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Thanks in part to the Baby Boomer generation, recreational vehicles (RVs) are selling better than ever — But retirees aren’t the only ones enjoying the convenience of taking their house on vacation with them. In fact, a large part of the recent surge in popularity can be attributed to first time buyers, with the average age of RV owners now falling solidly to 45.

But an RV is a commitment, with a high depreciation rate that makes it difficult to sell if you change your mind. For that reason, it’s important to take time to think things through before finalizing your purchase. Here are a few considerations for any potential RV buyer. 

Cost to Buy

Affordability is a big issue with RVs, but you can find a model that fits your budget. Although higher-end RVs cost in the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, there are options like pop-up campers, travel trailers, and teardrop trailers that can be a great introduction. Before you start shopping, use an RV payment calculator to determine the type of RV you can afford. 

Cost to Maintain

The expense doesn’t stop once you’ve purchased your new vehicle. You’ll pay a site fee when you vacation in it, whether you’re staying at a campground or on the beach. You’ll also need to pay to have it repaired and maintained before taking it on the road and each year, you’ll need to take steps to winterize it. 

Storage

If you’re fortunate to live in a home with a large enough driveway, storage may simply be a matter of parking your RV and covering it. However, many homeowners’ associations prohibit this type of parking, so it’s important to check first. Otherwise, you’ll be forced to pay for storage at a cost of $30 to $100 a month or more. 

Use

Once you’ve set your budget for an RV, it’s time to consider the type you need. Will you be camping out for a week at a nearby campground or heading to the nearest theme park? Determine what amenities you’ll need during your trips and choose an RV that will be comfortable throughout each of them. 

Driving and Setup

Driving an RV isn’t for everyone, especially if you choose a Class A or Class B model. You may need a special driver’s license to drive a larger RV, depending on the regulations where you live. Most importantly, though, you’ll need to be honest about whether you or someone in your family is comfortable driving long distances in this type of vehicle. Once you arrive at your destination, you’ll need to set up the RV, including hooking up electricity and water at your site. You’ll also need to dump your waste tanks, which is a process, so make sure you’re prepared to handle that before making your purchase.

An RV can take its owners on years of exciting adventures, offering a consistent, comfortable experience wherever it goes. But it’s also important to be fully aware of the expense and responsibilities that come with ownership, since RVs can be difficult to sell without taking a loss. Before making your purchase, fully research what you can expect to avoid any surprises.

5 of the Worst Mistakes You Can Make on Your first Camping Trip

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Camping is an adventure and everyone should go on at least a few trips of their own. However, the problem with not having any prior experience is that you would probably end up making some pretty big mistakes. In order to help you avoid at least some of them, here are five of the worst camping mistakes that newbies often make.

Underestimating the Importance of the Dry Bag

The dry bag is where you are supposed to store your food because keeping them anywhere else is just an invitation for wild animals to come and explore what you have. What most new campers don’t know is that even stuff like insect repellents and soaps can attract animals, so they are supposed to go in the dry bag as well.

Not Bringing Your Own Portable Toilet

If you don’t like the idea of getting out of your tent in the middle of the night and trying to find your way blindly towards the place where everyone is supposed to pee or poop, then you just have to bring your own portable toilet. They can be installed right inside the tent and can handle a decent amount of human waste before needing to be emptied in the morning – or at your convenience.

Trusting the Weather

The weather can change anytime out in the woods and irrespective of what the weather station might be predicting, you just can’t trust the weather unless you are experienced with the local conditions. Pack and carry all your raingear, just to be safe.

Not Bringing a Repair Kit

Tents have a tendency to develop unexpected leaks and this can happen even if you just bought it. To avoid being in a situation where it’s raining outside, and you are trying to avoid the drops that are leaking into your only shelter, bring a repair kit with ropes, a sewing kit, duct tape and maybe even a few metal pole sleeves to manage a bent pole situation. Check out My Family Tent for reviews of the best six-person tents.

Packing Insufficient Food

Food, water, and shelter are the basic requirements of human life, and when you are camping, you will learn to appreciate the civilization that we live in and take for granted. Any one of a thousand things can stall your planned trip and you need to be prepared for that. For example, a day of heavy rain can force you to camp and wait for the entire day instead of moving on as you had planned, or someone could get injured or sick and you may need to take an extra day or two to let him/her recuperate. In these situations and all the others, food is the most important resource. Pack more food than you need when you go camping.

Now that you know, hopefully, you won’t be making any of these mistakes at least. As a general rule, never camp too far from your home or the car if you are relatively new at camping, and when you are at a public campsite, try to follow all the rules carefully because they are there for a reason.