Maybe it’s a sign of the times or maybe it’s a sign of things to come, but either way it feels good to give back — just ask the 600,000 people who have already signed up for Disney’s volunteer days.
Disney Parks kicked off 2010 with a new promotion: volunteer and get one-day free admission to Walt Disney World. During a press conference today in Orlando, Disney announced that just six weeks into the promotion it already had 600,000 volunteers signed up to give back. Disney is aiming for 1 million volunteers and at this rate, it’s possible their dream just might come true.
The concept is simple:
Sign-up for an approved, one-day community program at the HandsOn Network via the Disney Parks homepage
Once you’ve completed your day of volunteering, you’ll get a voucher for a free day at Disney
Disney started this campaign after a revenue decline of 2% last quarter. Looking for a way to bring more families back to the Magic Kingdom, Disney cooked up this promotion, which benefits both the park and those less fortunate. It’s no secret the parks are pricey, so offering free admission to Main Street USA is a draw for any family looking to save a few dollars.
Rumor has it MTV is moving its popular and controversial show “Jersey Shore” to Miami for its second season, but where will the show put its castmates?
According to the Miami Herald, MTV producers are scoping out hotels in South Beach instead of renting a beach house, a la Jersey Shore, season one. But where does one put “The Situation” and “Pauly D”? What hotel says “Snookie”? I’m actually not sure how to approach this…
So far, many Miami hotels including the Ritz-Carlton and the Four Seasons have rejected the invite to host the castmates. But, others aren’t turning away these raucous guests. The Herald claims The Clevelander, an Ocean Drive hotel that bolts down its beds to accommodate partying guests, and the South Beach Hotel Group, which is known among the party crowd as a ‘crash pad hotel’ wouldn’t mind the Jersey Shore affiliation. And why would they? If the beds are bolted down and the crash pads are stable, why not throw a party worthy of an MTV reality show.
Word to the wise from this hotel reviewer: Claiming your hotel was the spot for season two of the Jersey Shore debacle might not bode well for future reservations. Then again, I’ve never slept in a room where the bed was bolted to the ground.
With the possible exception of beach-goers, very few people want to travel in order to sit. Travel is all about experiencing the best of what a destination has to offer, and in many cases, the best of what a destination can offer is adventure. From mountain climbing to snowshoeing to hill-walking — yes, “hill-walking” is an adventure sport! — here are ten of the world’s best destinations for outdoor adventure.
Now get off your duff and get out there!
Squamish, British Columbia, Canada – Snowshoeing
Discover the outbacks of Garibaldi Provincial Park in Squamish, British Columbia at Elfin Lakes, where a cluster of little lakes reside at 5,446 ft (1,660 m), about 11 kilometers from the trailhead.
We threw on skins on skis and hiked up (and skiied down later, for a great powdery ride out!). For the less initiated, snowshoeing is a fun and easy way to enjoy this slice of paradise outdoors, where the immense expanse of snowy playground past Paul Ridge (the highest point) will turn your dreary winter into a delightful wonder.
The first four kilometers are the steepest, which lead to Red Heather Meadows at (4,757 ft) 1,450 m, but the remaining seven kilometers even out on the plateau of Paul Ridge, leading to Elfin Hut, which is surrounded by mountains on all sides. It’s a glorious experience you wouldn’t want to miss.
Bonus: You can also do this, as a hike, in the summer.
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia – Mountain Climbing
Want to reach the top of the world without climbing Everest? You can, at Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Southeast Asia and the focal point of the Kinabalu National Park, Malaysia‘s first World Heritage site.
The good news is, you don’t need technical skills or gear to climb this mountain. All you need is strong legs and good cardio. We took about seven hours to reach the peak (if you’re really fit, you might get there faster), through what seemed to be an endless set of steps – but this giant jungle trek upward is worth the glorious views that await at Low’s Peak.
The sheer effort will make the experience a breath-taking one (literally), but the exhilaration of reaching the peak at 13,435 ft (4,095 m) makes it all worthwhile.
Kingston, Ontario, Canada – Camping and Canoeing
Nature-lovers will not miss the chance to camp and canoe in the summertime. Be it swimming in lakes, enjoying a campfire at night or sleeping in a tent outdoors, you’ll get an unforgettable taste of nature at Frontenac Provincial Park, located in southern Ontario about 40 kilometers north of the historical city of Kingston.
Rent a canoe, paddle out into the interiors, portage to one of the 48 interior camp sites, jump into the lake waters, or hike any of its 160 kilometers of trails. We recommend the Little Salmon Lake Loop, which is about 15 kilometers and takes about three to five hours. Outdoor enthusiasts will have a field day in this beautiful national park.
Sydney, Australia – Mountain Hiking
Australia isn’t just home to the koalas and kangaroos – it also houses The Three Sisters, a three-mountain range in the scenic Blue Mountains, 50 km from the city of Sydney. Legend has it that three beautiful sisters were turned into stone to protect them from harm. But the witch doctor who was supposed to transform them back into human form died, leaving them in permanent structure forever.
To get the best views of The Three Sisters, take the Scenic Walkway, a two-kilometer hike on boardwalk through the rainforest. Ride down the steepest incline railway in the world – it’s almost vertical in direction! The 415 m descent takes you through a cliff-side tunnel into ancient rainforest. From there, explore the Scenic Walkway, or find your way to the 1,000 steps that will take you to Echo Point, where The Three Sisters sit.
Vermont, United States – Alpine Skiing
Why let all that snow go to waste in the winter? The heavenly mountains of New England, USA, offer multitudinous slopes that are a skier’s haven.
For the “best powder,” we love Jay Peak in Vermont, which claims to accumulate more snow than any other ski resort in the East. With 50 miles of trails on 385 acres serviced by seven lifts and the most recommended glade skiing, what more can you ask for?
Pro tip: Go off the wider trails and glide through the glades at Jay Peak, which offer great depths of snow for those who love their pow’.
Phuket, Thailand – Scuba Diving
Sun worshippers will discover a tropical paradise on the island of Phuket, Thailand, where spectacular surfing, snorkeling and diving await those who seek the secrets of the deep.
Besides a flamboyant nightlight at Phuket’s Patong Beach, Asia’s most popular beach destination offers lush white sands along palm-lined beaches as well as world-class diving in the Andaman Sea. Many travel adventure outfits in town offer scuba diving courses and PADI certification.
Book your scuba trip via speedboat to the surrounding islands (we loved the beautiful, clear waters around Phi Phi island), don your diving suit and enter the unparalleled underwater world beneath.
Canmore, Alberta, Canada – Backcountry Ski Touring
For those who can’t get enough of winter, take skiing one step further and head out into the backcountry of the Canadian Rockies, where unspoiled wilderness and untouched powder snow await – minus the cost of lift tickets.
Near the town of Canmore lies the Wapta Icefields, a magnificent stretch of nature that spans many miles north along the continental divide from the Lake Louise area. The Icefields house vast glaciers, easy peaks and warming huts along the way.
If you’re a beginner, the four-day ski traverse run by Yamnuska Mountain Adventures is the perfect outfit to offer an experience in classical ski-mountaineering.
Koh Samui, Thailand – Kite-Surfing
Instead of diving down deep into the sea, take to the skies instead with kite-surfing at Koh Samui, Thailand.
Rather like a parachute jump in reverse, get harnessed to a parachute before being gently released into the air from the back of a speedboat, and remain attached for the duration of the ride.
At Lamai beach, its kite surf center features an outer reef which creates a natural barrier against waves. This ensures that the waist-deep water remains flat and the bottom is soft sand as well.
Check out Kiteboarding Asia, whose schools are certified by the International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO), at Lamai or Chaweng beaches.
Cumbria, Lake District, England – Hill-Walking
For a postcard-perfect encounter with nature, England’s largest national park – Lake District National Park – is a walker’s paradise, flanked by gorgeous mountains and beautiful lakes.
With 2,292 square kilometers of vast beauty to explore and admire, the hiking options are endless. We suggest a hike to Scafell Peak. At 3,210 ft, it is the highest mountain in England and a popular spot for hill-walking, as the British call it.
For the more adventurous, take the more challenging route at Helvellyn. The narrow ridge of Striding Edge will raise your heartbeat in more ways than one.
Queenstown, New Zealand – Bungee Jumping
Who would have thought that jumping off a bridge with a long elastic cord tied to your ankles can be considered fun? In Queenstown, New Zealand, somebody evidently thought so – and promptly catapulted this city to fame with this thrill-seeking activity. This person was AJ Hackett, who opened the first commercial bungee jumping operation from the Kawarau Bridge (43 m high) over the Kawarau River in 1888.
For your personalized experience, you can choose from a number of options: topple over backwards; forwards, with another person, spin, or somersault. You can even choose to bob above the water, touch it, or even be fully immersed! Not for the faint-of-heart.
Kimpton Hotels is always looking for ways to spice up the party. From the leopard print robes and funky pj’s that hang in their closets, the Kimpton brand is known for its saucy elegance that graces the rooms. To help set the mood, Kimpton also hosts nightly wine hours in the lobby of their hotels (all things point to a happy traveler so far) but the newest addition to Kimpton’s wine hour comes with morals: Starting this month, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants will introduce their “Wines That Care” selection.
Yes, the wine is still free for guests who want to kick back in the lobby with a glass of red or white, but now every sip goes to a good cause. Kimpton will feature a different winery each month that has commitment to environmental preservation and sustainability including:
Barefoot Wine (Modesto, CA): Each year more than 25,000 beaches in the U.S. are closed or posted as unhealthy. To remedy this, Barefoot Wine and Surfrider Foundation encourage local residents to volunteer at cleanup and restoration events across the country to help make these beaches “barefoot-friendly.”
Hayes Ranch by Wente Vineyards (Livermore, CA): This 127-year old winery features a progressive Farming for the Future program that enhances the vitality of the soils, creates a balanced, sustainable ecology, minimizes water use and reduces non-organic wastes.
Banrock Station (Australia): Named one of the world’s most powerful wine brands in the annual “Power 100” list of the world’s top wine and spirits brands, this company was recognized for its extensive commitment to global conservation with generous contributions to 60 projects worldwide including the preservation of native ducks in New Zealand, Flamingos in Kenya and the re-introduction of otters in Holland.
Walnut Crest/Emiliana Vineyards (Chile): As the number one seller of bottled wine in Chile, this winery was the first to earn the International Standard Organization 14.001 certification, which acknowledges the vineyard’s high production standards and constant concern for the environment.
A Sunshine State vacation can be a luxurious splurge, but it can also be quite a steal if you know how to save money on your travels. Here are some tips for saving money on your next Florida vacation.
Plan a spring or fall visit
Most vacationers come to Florida in the summer (when families travel during school breaks), or the winter (when folks venture south for a bit of Florida sunshine). That means you’ll find the best Florida vacation bargains during the so-called shoulder season: in April and May (between Easter and Memorial Day) or September and October (between Labor Day and Thanksgiving).
As proof, consider this: In May 2010, a room at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside goes for about $170 per night. One month later, you’ll pay more than $200 per night during summer vacation.
Head to a lesser-known beach If a Florida beach vacation is what you desire, step off the beaten path for cheaper accommodation and food options. A rental home that sleeps six in popular Panama City Beach costs more than $1,200 per week during the shoulder season each fall. But 90 minutes east in Apalachicola, a comparable beach-front home costs less than $800 for the same week.Are there more attractions, restaurants and souvenir shops in Panama City Beach than Apalachicola? Yes. But if you plan to spend your time lying on the beach and relaxing in your rental, you will save hundreds by going to a less popular destination. Plus: fewer folks jockeying for beach space and for table service.
Consider a vacation home or condo At first blush, a rental home or condominium might seem like a more expensive choice for a Florida vacation, but it can be a money-saving decision. The biggest benefit to renting a home is that you have a full kitchen. If you choose to buy or bring groceries and prepare meals in your rental, you can save hundreds of dollars in restaurant bills over the course of a week. (Other potential benefits include a private pool, a garage, laundry facilities, your own yard, and a little elbow room between you and your nearest neighbor. Some of these rentals are pet-friendly, so you can also save money by bringing your dog or cat, rather than boarding them.)
Further, many rental homes sleep six or more people, so your party may be able to share one rental rather than have multiple hotel rooms. Both HomeAway and VRBO both offer a search of Florida vacation rentals, or check with the visitor’s bureau in the city you plan to visit for a list of local vacation rental Web sites.
Pick up restaurant and attraction discount books You’ll find racks of free tourism booklets in the lobbies of hotels and restaurants and at Florida Interstate rest stops. While they might look like junk, you can save 10 to 50 percent at attractions such as the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, Butterfly World in Coconut Creek, or Gatorland in Orlando by clipping the coupons inside.
You’ll also find Florida motel discounts, restaurant coupons, and souvenir freebies in some of the magazines. An online search for the attraction name followed by “coupons” might yield similar discounts that you can print at home and bring with you on your Florida trip.
Look at package deals Just as bundling your cable and Internet saves you money, booking a vacation package can get you deep discounts on a hotel or rental car.A quick search of AOL Travel for vacation deals in your desired Florida destination will give you many options for the cheapest airfares and a variety of different lodging choices, all for one discounted price.
Pro tip: check the rates on the hotel or rental car’s Web site before you book a package. There are travel booking services out there that actually mark up these combo deals.
Fly into secondary airports Several smaller airlines have moved into the Florida market by calling some secondary airports home. Want to travel from Detroit to Tampa this spring? A flight on a major carrier will cost you about $265. But drive an hour to depart from Toledo, Ohio, and Allegiant will fly you direct to St. Pete-Clearwater International, about 30 minutes from Tampa, for $140.
To save money on food in Florida, ask the locals where they eat. You might discover a treasure, like a $3.49 pressed Cuban sandwich in Tampa or a bucketful of fresh raw oysters in Orlando.
Eat like the locals To save money on food in Florida, drive away from the beachfront property and ask the locals where they eat. The bell staff or housekeepers at your resort are often a great resource for this information. You might discover a treasure, like a $3.49 pressed Cuban sandwich at the Interbay Meat Market in Tampa or a bucketful of fresh raw oysters on the concrete bar at Lee and Rick’s Half Shell Oyster Bar in Orlando.
Shop right for souvenirs When you are in need of T-shirts, postcards or other Florida trinkets from your trip, you can save money on souvenirs by passing up the souvenir shops. Instead, head to the nearest Walgreens, CVS, Walmart or Target. These mass market retailers know that their Florida customers include many tourists, so they offer local souvenirs at discount prices. You will find Mickey Mouse stuffed plush at the Walmarts in Orlando and T-shirts emblazoned with South Beach sunsets at the Walgreens in Miami.
Get outside What makes Florida the most visited state in the union? The weather! So get outside on your vacation and save money on free or cheap Florida activities. The most famous free attraction in Florida is the beach, of course. But you can also camp, hike, kayak, and cycle in Florida state parks for very little money.
Pack a picnic lunch and drive just 30 minutes from Walt Disney World to spend the day hiking 23 miles of trails at Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont, where the entrance fee is $5 per car. Or bring your fishing pole and pay $4 to cast your line into Tampa Bay from the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers, south of St. Petersburg.
Save on theme park admissions If you plan to visit one of Florida’s famous theme parks, research the various tickets available before you leave home. You will often find the best deals online, in advance. For example, if you are going to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or SeaWorld Orlando, you can save $10 off the cost of an adult admission simply by buying online before you get to the park. Also know that you get more for your money if you plan to visit the theme parks for more than one day. A one-day ticket that gets you in to Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure costs $109. Plan to stay two days, though, and your ticket cost drops to $67.50 per day.