I picked this one up from a great Web site on he National parks called Park Remark, and this could be a cool event for folks who love both art and the National Parks. The Autry National Center is currently hosting a cool-looking exhibit called “Yosemite: Art of an American Icon“, which features lots of paintings of, you guessed it, Half Dome and El Cap and the whole Yosemite Valley….sans traffic clogged roads, smog and fat kids holding their wieners…the BBQ kind, I mean. You can check out the exhibit website to see what it’s all about. It’s actually quite well done with audio narration around some of the many prints and paintings on display. Bierstadt is covered, but oddly, I saw no Ansel Adams…I’m guessing those photos were either too expensive to get or they couldn’t get permission because an Adams exhibit is already on the road somewhere.
Camping Mattresses
Camping, when done properly, shouldn’t ever be uncomfortable. Those unprepared, however, can suffer quite terribly.
When I first began myself, I had a thinly pressed sleeping pad through which I could feel every rock. Sleep was fleeting and painful and the following day was spent shaking out the kinks in my neck and my sore back.
Today, there is simply no excuse for this; there are just too many good products out there. Most of my camping nights are now spent on a marvelous Therm-a-Rest – a lightweight blowup mattress which is perfect for backpacking. It is less than an inch thick but somehow manages to absorb the painful ground so that you don’t have to.
I used to think this was the very best camping product out there for a good night of sleep until one evening in Joshua Tree a friend showed up with an air mattress the size of a proper bed. It came with a portable pump and in no time he was asleep in his tent as comfortably as though he were at home.
The Aero Sport All-Terrain Raised Bed with Dual Power Pump (photo above) is the Cadillac of such mattresses. Like regular beds, it comes in twin ($130), full ($150) and queen ($170). It takes just two minutes to inflate to a luxurious 19 inches thick. All you need is 600 thread count sheets and a duvet and the Great Outdoors will be meowing like a pussy cat. REM sleep here I come!
GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of October 15
Last day of the work week has arrived and I’m ready to hit the town, but the week would not be complete without Gadling’s Take Five. So, I offer you these tasty little finds you may have missed and then I’m hitting the road. Have fun!
5. Antarctica: The Land Waaay Down Under:
I envy Erik, I envy Carolyn Swindel and anyone else who’s been to Antarctica and for good cause. (Always for good cause.) In this blurb, Erik touches on his travels to the land waaay down under and points us to Ms. Swindel’s details on the incredible icebergs and nature to be found in Antarctica. Read it and you’ll be just a tad envious too.
4. No Fly List Exposed:
Mmm… Having once worked in an environment that dealt both with a list similar to that of the No Fly list and the general public I understand the frustrations among innocent Americans. Not that it is too surprising, but in this piece I point out the 60 Minutes episode that calls out the many, many, glitches in the system. It is pretty upsetting even if your name isn’t Robert Johnson or John Thomas.
3. Milk Bombs on Planes:
If your a traveling breast-feeding mum you may have come across some recent challenges with airport security, but if there is a will there is a way. When Iva puts her feelers out there we soon discover ways to get that non-toxic breast-milk on board thanks to some clever readers. Check it out.
2. Parks in Winter:
Winter is more than a month away still, but the temperature is still dropping and making some national parks less desirable to visit. Erik turns the beat around so that all parks don’t get left out in the cold and names about seven worth parading through during the winter.
1. Removing the “Ugh” from Ugly Americans:
Why don’t we just remove the “Ugh” from all nasty travelers? Wouldn’t that be great?!? Until then we should ALL take a look at this piece helping to rid the world of the culturally Ugly American. And I really do insist on ALL nationalities reading this piece. I’ve met some so-so travelers from distant places before and thought they were pretty ugly if not nastier.
On the Road: Yellowstone Report
Yesterday while Erik was busy typing up this great summary of National Parks to check out during winter, I was more than likely uploading my very own photos from America’s most well-known park – Yellowstone. I’m no National park geek, but having done several over the last two weeks it is pushing me to want to see them all. Yes, I’m finally beginning to understand the beauty and wonder Erik has so often mentioned in his park promoting. Anyhow, I won’t go largely into detail here on my day parading around the park snapping photo after photo of falls, wildlife, geysers and frozen snowy plant life. For the most part I found visiting Yellowstone at this time of year chilly, but incredibly awe-inspiring.
During the summer I’m told about 97% of Yellowstone’s annual visitors flood the park making major attractions like Old Faithful extremely difficult to view. On the flipside, I hadn’t one problem clearly seeing the geyser push 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of water from the Earth’s core into the air. I stood there waiting with numb finger tips and the wind ripping through my jacket joined by about 30 other people (nothing in comparison to the 25,000 who may show up during summer) who shivered and wished for the show to begin so we could all retreat back into our warm vehicles. Once Old Faithful had done it’s thing I took off and started heading back into Jackson wishing I had more time to see all the geysers and all the park had to offer. The park rangers noted too much interest is invested in Old Faithful and that Yellowstone has much, much more to offer visitors who place loads of time into their stay. Loads of time is exactly what I did not have, sadly. In addition to lack of time, we found several roads were a bit too icy for our vehicle (unequipped with snow tires) to travel down safely or during late night hours with all sorts of wildlife all over the place. In brief, Yellowstone is an awesome choice for winter if you can stand the cold temps, but after looking at Erik’s piece, I’d have to say some of the other parks could very well give Yellowstone and her Old Faithful a run for their money.
Great American Road Trip Redux
Just before making this post, I decided to check how many times we’ve used the term “Road Trip” on gadling. So I decided to do a search and so many results came up, that I lost count at 40 or so. Well, here’s another. But let me say up front that this is a particularly good road trip entry. Or at least, the article that I am referencing is particularly good. It comes from our friends at Worldhum and was penned by co-founder Michael Yessis. Yessis attests that we are in the midst of a new road trip era, with more people hitting the road than ever before, and doing so imbued with the ethic of finding something out there, call it freedom, call it a break from the tedium of a desk job, call it love for the open road or a passion for fried food. Something is making us hit the road.
Yessis hit the road with his dad, a la Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, and perhaps it was this trip that made him aware of his own road trip fever…or perhaps he is right, and there is something happening here. Take, for example, Oprah’s recent gallivant across the nation with her best friend (and a score of cameras and crew). Or take Rocketboom babe Amanda Congdon who, after being abruptly fired from her sit in front of a map job has taken to the road with AmandaAcrossAmerica, a site chronicling her own cross country journey. Of course, then there is RoadTrip nation, the TV show, book and (soon, right here!) podcast with one of the founders. I could go on, and Yessis does so in his article, which I suggest you check out…check out, perhaps, before planning your own Great American road trip.