American Coastal Bike Rides

by Karen Walrond on

Thinking of dusting
off that two-wheeler this summer?  If so, then you might as well make the effort count:  CNN.com is featuring some of the
best bike rides in America, offering breathtaking coastal views.  The article, which covers places from Corpus
Christi, Texas to Lopez Island, Washington, includes additional tips for planning your biking vacation, including items
which make each ride special, which side of the road affords the best views, duration of each trek, as well as who to
contact for more information.

Great information if you intend to make like Lance Armstrong this holiday
season — without the speed, the competitors, and, well … France, I guess.

Ten Off-Season Jobs

by Erik Olsen on

Stellar Magazine, one of my favorite online
adventure mags, has gone a fine
feature on off-season jobs. No, this is not about how to be a data entry clerk or an accountant with a small
tractor parts company. These are the kind of jobs you can get your teeth into. Jobs like tennis pro, exotic dancer
(just don’t get your teeth into one of the dancers…that’ll lead to a law suit) and river guide.

Yes, they
mention office worker..why, I don’t know, but we forgive them. But I like the idea here mucho. After all, you gotta make
some dough when you’re not skiing, and what better way to beef up your cash reserves than exotic dancing…? These jobs
pay well…unless you work around the Duke campus, of course. (OK, bad joke!)

Falling Waters Adventure Resort

by Erik Olsen on

Consider the yurt.

It is not the most common
form of housing in the United States. And last I checked REI doesn’t sell a Gortex yurt, but there is something to be
said for this for type of housing. First of all, it’s pretty interesting-looking. Second of all, it’s fun to say. After
that, well, I’m sure there’s more.

But the reason I bring up the whole yurt thing is that you can rent your
own yurt at Falling Waters
Adventure Resort in North Carolina. Located adjacent to the Nantahala Gorge, which we’ve blogged about for its outstanding whitewater
rafting, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, the resort here offers yurts galore for your
sleeping pleasure. The resort is located near the Appalachian Trail, Bartram Trail and several others in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. You can get your own tricked out yurt for about
$81, some have phenomenal views and all are close to some of the most epic outdoor action on the East Coast.

So there you go: have a yurt and a smile.

Fat Tire Fun at St. Helens

by Erik Olsen on

Outside the
state of Washington, Mt. St. Helens is generally known for its
smoldering crater, the place where on May 18, 1980, a mountain blew its top, sending millions of tons of earth and ash
into the sky and nearly halving the size of the mountain. The volcano there remains active, and draws both scientists
and gawkers to the rim, where you can gaze down on the growing dome that may some day (perhaps soon!) explode again.

But for those in the know (and some of them are my friends) St. Helens is also a mountain biking Mecca, a
place to ride epic single track for hours without encountering another soul, and where you can set up camp in the
shadow of a volcano.  Mountain Biking Magazine has a piece on the trails and sites
around St. Helens that’s worth a look by fat-tire fanatics in search of killer rides not far from a metropolitan area.
Seattle is a mere three hours away and Tacoma is almost within riding distance.  Several of the old trails remain
closed to bikers because of eruption concerns, but others like the Lewis River Trail are open and inviting. Interested
in learning more? Then check out the site put together by the Forest Service, which owns much of the
land around the mountain and has updates on where you can ride, hike and camp.

Spring Break Adrenaline Ideas

by Adrienne Wilson on

If the extent of your thrill-seeking is wild nude nights on the beach when the waves are crashing pretty rough
and the tide is high, splashing around with drunk college buds when you know you could eventually be swallowed up in
one gulp, then look away now. Fine Living may only feature three picks for spring break
this year, but they guarantee you’ll get a rush out of doing at least one. Their picks for an heart-pounding,
unforgettable spring break – backcountry skiing in Montana, ultimate extreme adventures in Las Vegas
(includes bungee jumping, rock climbing, glider plane soaring, etc.) and learning how to make it in the wilderness with
skills taught by U.S. Special Operations veterans at a survival camp in North
Carolina. Sounds like a racy way to spend your time.