Mammoth Mountain has introduced a new and very affordable option for family fun this summer. The California resort, which is a fantastic destination for outdoor fun all year long, is now offering an “Adventure Pass” for kids under the age of 12. That pass provides a full day of fun for the low price of just $29.
Purchasing the Adventure Pass provides unlimited access to the resort’s climbing wall and newly upgraded zip line, as well as a new bungee trampoline that is scheduled to open soon. Additionally, the pass grants all-day access to the Mammoth mountain bike trails and lift access to the top of the peak too. That’s a lot of fun and excitement packed into one day without a great deal of investment.
The climbing wall is open every day and features numerous routes that range from very easy to darn near impossible. Mammoth staff is on hand at all times to ensure a safe environment as well as to provide support and encouragement. And after they’ve conquered the wall, the kids will be more than ready to take on the resort’s 306-foot zip line, which hangs 25 feet in the air and sails above the scenic terrain near the Adventure Center.
That’s just the start of the fun at Mammoth, however, as the resort offers gondola rides above the Sierra Mountains, shuttles to the nearby Reds Meadow and Devil’s Postpile National Monument, fine dining, shopping and much more. For more information, checkout the Adventure Center webpage and start planning your Mammoth visit.
At 14,110 feet, Pikes Peak is one of Colorado’s “fourteeners,” mountain peaks reaching 14,000 feet or higher. Although not the highest, Pikes Peak is the country’s most visited mountain, with more than a half million people reaching the summit each year. While hiking is how many people choose to brag about their reaching the top of these dizzying mountains, Pike’s Peak is one of only two fourteeners that can be reached via car. You can take the 19-mile Pikes Peak Highway, which offers excellent views and many lookout points. Moreover, there are companies, like Pikes Peak Mountain Bike Tours, that allow you to cycle down from the summit.
A journey to Pike’s Peak, which is over 200 years old, will take you above the clouds, where you can look down over surrounding mountains, the “Garden of the Gods,” and the city of Colorado Springs. Additionally, you’ll be able to check out the historic Cog Railway, the world’s highest cog railroad. Built in the late 1800’s, the train was constructed during a time when people would ride a mule for two days to reach the summit. Wildlife viewing is also an option, and you can see what animals have been spotted that day at the entrance of Pike National Forest. Some common sightings include black bears, ewes, rams, marmots, deer and elk.
To reach the summit in a more adventurous fashion, many visitors also park at the 16-mile marker on the highway, and hike four miles to the top from there. There are also various hiking trails off the road. On the day I went, I chose to hike around the Catamount Reservoir for beautiful lake views and a peaceful retreat in the woods.
For a more visual experience, check out the gallery below.
The Seychelles is a beautiful country of 115 granite and coral islands, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Located 932 miles east of Africa and 1135 miles northeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, getting there takes some work. A transit point for trade between Africa and Asia, the Seychelles islands are known for their pristine beaches and untouched nature reserves that make a visit worthwhile.
The main attraction- No trip to the Seychelles is complete without a visit to the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located on Praslin Island (pictured), this is the only place in the world to find the rare coco de mer palm and home to rare birds such as the Seychelles bulbul, fruit pigeon and the black parrot.What to do- Pristine and uncrowded beaches, some framed by age-old granite boulders, offer powder-soft sands, turquoise waters and good opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, diving, fishing or pure relaxation. Artists’ studios, national reserves, marine parks, water sports, golf, horse-riding and guided nature tours show travelers some of the rarest species of flora and fauna on earth.
Getting there- Air Seychelles is the national carrier, operating non-stop scheduled flights from Mauritius and South Africa (Johannesburg) into Mahé International Airport. Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates also provide flights to various destinations through their hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
Language- Languages spoken in the Seychelles are Seychellois Creole, English and French, all of which share the title of being the official language of government and business. Tourist areas are most commonly English-speaking.
Local currency- The GB Pound Sterling (£), the US Dollar (US$) and the Euro (€) are all accepted, as well as some other major international currencies. Exchanging foreign currency into Seychelles Rupees can only be done at banks, authorized money dealers at the Seychelles International Airport, or with a hotel cashier.
Staying there- A wide range of new and refurbished hotels, Creole guesthouses and exclusive island retreats are currently on 16 of Seychelles 115 islands. Other islands are expected to develop hotel facilities in the near future, which could be good or bad, depending on how one views tourism and all it brings.
Seychelles, with an estimated population of 86,000, has the smallest population of any African state but this week celebrated its 100,000th visitor to arrive in the islands for 2012. Also this week, Air Seychelles celebrated the arrival of its first Airbus A330-200 aircraft, named Aldabra in honor of Aldabra island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Seychelles’ most remote and pristine islands.
Update, July 27th 2012: Quinn and & Co, the firm that handles PR for Etihad, reached out to tell us that Air Seychelles also flies into Abu Dhabi from Mahé.
Earlier this week the National Park Service announced a shift in policy that could potentially allow mountain biking in more of the parks. A new rule, that goes into effect on August 6, will give park superintendents the option to decide if they will allow cyclists access to roads that are typically closed to motor vehicles. Those paths would include fire and access roads that are now only used by the park service itself.
This is welcome news for mountain bikers, many of whom have hoped to ride inside the national parks for some time. But while this new rule does open the door a crack, it is unlikely that many of the superintendents will actually grant access to those roads. The policy does provide for greater flexibility of course, but don’t plan on riding through the backcountry of Yellowstone just yet.
Those opposed to allowing mountain bikes in the parks should rest easy, as the new rules stipulate that mountain bikes would be restricted to fire and access roads only. That means you won’t find them on the majority of hiking trails and any newly created trails will have to be closely evaluated before access to bikes of any kind would be granted.
Cycling on paved roads that are shared with motor traffic has always been permitted inside the parks and that hasn’t changed in any way because of this new policy.
Given the multitude of great options, what national parks would you most like to explore by mountain bike? Personally, I think Big Bend would be fantastic, along with Canyonlands and Arches.
Colorado may be burning, but it’s also blooming. July kicks off wildflower season in the Rockies; in a place of perpetual photo opps, it’s one of the most beautiful times to visit.
Crested Butte’s annual Wildflower Festival is July 9-12, and includes over 80 hikes, 4×4 backcountry tours, and photography, gardening and cooking classes. If you can’t make a trip out, enjoy these photos of Colorado wildflowers at their most photogenic.