Cycling tours continue to grow in popularity as active travelers look for new options for exploring the destinations of their choice. It is now possible to travel by bike in nearly every region in the world, and companies like Austin-Lehman Adventures offer fantastic cycling trips on nearly every continent. But peddling across the countryside isn’t for everyone, which is why the company has recently announced that it now offers the option to ride electric bikes on all of their European tours.
While many hardcore cyclists are likely to dismiss the use of e-bikes out of hand, the option does open up some intriguing new possibilities for travelers. Not only do they allow someone the opportunity to enjoy a cycling tour that may not have had the chance before, they also let riders of differing skill levels and conditioning ride together as well. The e-bikes level the playing field to a degree, allowing stronger riders to peddle their traditional bikes while the less seasoned can keep up through the use of their electrically assisted machines.
Austin-Lehman Adventures has announced that they are using a new model of e-bike from a company called Diamant. The aluminum framed bike comes equipped with a small motor that is powered by a lithium ion battery. When that motor is engaged, it allows a rider to pedal faster and further than they could normally. It also comes in handy when climbing hills as well, offering four varying levels of assistance on the slopes. At the end of the day, the batteries are pulled out of the motors and recharged overnight for the following day’s ride.
With e-bike options now available on their fantastic cycling journeys throughout Italy, France, Switzerland, and the rest of Europe, Austin-Lehman is promising to bring the same option to the U.S. in the near future. So if you’ve ever dreamed of rolling through the countryside on a bike tour, but feared you weren’t physically able, perhaps this is the option that you’ve been waiting for.
National Geographic has launched a new iPhone and iPad app that is sure to please travelers visiting America’s national parks. The app offers detailed maps of 15 parks, providing information on places to camp, trails to hike, locations of shops and visitors center, and other points of interests.
The program is apply named National Park Maps HD and it comes preloaded with digital versions of Nat Geo’s excellent Trails Illustrated Maps. The parks that are included are amongst the most popular and beautiful in the entire national park system, attracting millions of visitors on a yearly basis.
Upon launching the app you’ll be presented with a map of the U.S. with a photo representing each of the parks. Simply tap on the park you would like to explore and a detaied map will appear with an overview of the region. Double tapping the screen will allow you to zoom in even closer, showing you all the roads, campsites, and various other points of interest. And if the default maps don’t have the detail you need, HD versions of each of the maps are also available to download inside the app, bringing the zoom levels up even further.
National Parks Maps HD also offers the ability to use your device’s built in assisted GPS to triangulate your location and there is even an in-app compass to help you find your way. You’ll also find an option to place virtual pins on the map to mark your own favorite places and the built in search function allows you to locate anything you’re looking for in the park. The amount of information at your fingertips is fantastic and a real benefit for travelers.
The list of parks included in the app are Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Glacier/Waterton, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Great Smoky Mountains, Mount Rainier, Olympic, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia/Kings Canyon, Shenandoah, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion. If you were to buy each of those maps in paper form, it would cost over $300.
The National Park Maps HD app is available now for $4.99. The universal app is a one time download that will work on both your iPhone and iPad. If you’re planning a trip to one of the above parks in the near future, this would make an excellent travel companion for sure.
Entertainment on the high seas has taken a turn for the better in recent years and cruise ship shows are changing. Cruise lines are adding more options than ever before. The old days of a 70’s Vegas-style revue and bingo as standard fare are quickly coming to a close as cruise lines roll out new productions. A recent USA Today pollvoted Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic as the top ship for entertainment. Other ships, from different lines, are turning out some great productions too as an at-sea evolution of entertainment options continues.Cirque Dreams and Dinner
On the top of any list has to be Norwegian Epic’s Cirque Dreams and Dinner show, arguably one of the best shows at sea. The two-hour set-meal show in the round has set the bar high for entertainment on any cruise line, if not on land as well. The food part, while good, was secondary to the audience-participation show for which video and flash photography were not allowed and that ban strictly enforced. While the company that produced this show is not connected with Cirque du Soliel, comparing the two is appropriate and accurate; the show blows your socks off, over and over again… but two feet away from you.
Blue Man Group
Also on Norwegian Epic, Blue Man Group combines music, comedy and multimedia theatrics in a shortened version of the off-Broadway production that started in 1991. If you have never seen a Blue Man Group performance then to say “silly”, “gross” or “disgusting” would probably turn you off. If you have had the pleasure, you know those things work with this amazingly zany production that leaves you thinking “How did they do that?” more often than not.
Hairspray Royal Caribbean brought a shortened, 90-minute version of the Broadway musical to sea in 2009 on board then the largest cruise ship in the world, Oasis of the Seas. The show takes us back to 1960’s Baltimore, where the 50’s are out and change is in the air. Heroine, Tracy Turnblad, has a passion for dancing, and wins a spot on the local TV dance program, “The Corny Collins Show.” On a three year run with an option for one more, the Tony ward winning musical has all the high-energy numbers and is offered several times during a seven-night cruise. Savy booked passengers book seats in advance on Royal Caribean’s website to insure admission.
Chicago:The Musical
Also on Royal Caribbean, this Broadway musical made it’s at-sea debut on new Allure of the Seas in the ship’s 1300-set Amber Theater. Set in prohibition-era Chicago and based on actual crimes from the era this one is a satire packed full of singing, dancing, glamor and glitz. Also available for booking in advance of sailing,
OceanAria Aqua Show
Royal Caribbean brings an ancient underwater civilization to life from the deep below the new ship’s AquaTheater. Dancers soar above the crowd as performers execute stunning high dives into the theater’s deep pool, all while colorful back-lit fountains provide a synchronized backdrop of mist, rain, and streams.
Punchliner Comedy Clubs Carnival Cruise Lines goes fleet-wide with this concept on all ships by year’s end. Located in the ship’s aft lounge, each Punchliner Comedy Club will offer guests loads of laughs with five 35-minute shows on multiple nights during each voyage, with at least two comedians performing each night. The two early-evening shows offer fun for the whole family while the later performances will feature adult-oriented comedy. Guests can also get rockin on a Carnival cruise with superstar Karaoke.
The Golden Mickeys
In addition to deck-side AquaDuck onboard roller coaster, Disney Cruise Line’s new Disney Dream features this 50-minute live musical show, a tribute to the musical heritage of Walt Disney. Set up like a real awards show, red carpet interviews are conducted with audience members prior to the show then Disney fans get a full dose of just about every Disney character on the roster. First introduced on Disney Wonder in 2004, this is an updated, re-energized version, sure to please anyone so hooked on Disney stuff that they took the cruise in the first place.
Disney’s Believe
Also on new Disney Dream, “Believe” is a a love story between a father and daughter with a bring-along-the-Kleenex Disney-style message. Along the lines of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, “Believe” was a joint effort with Broadway director Gordon Greenberg, choreographer Patti Columbo and writer Kirsten Childs, as well as Disney’s creative team. The quick-moving show involves a father who overlooks his daughters birthday and the Genie from Aladdin who takes him through a series of shorts from classic Disney films aimed at transforming him to someone who believes in the magic of love.
Vroomn
Yes, they still do have production shows made especially for cruise ships. Carnival Cruise Line’s “Vroom” is one of the best featuring highly choreographed rock standards with an array of special effects. Showing ships including Carnival Splendor, just back from repairs after last year’s onboard fire knocked her out of service, this one gets rave reviews.
Illuminations
The only ship at sea with a planetarium, Cunard line’s Queen Mary 2 features three shows in a partnership with the American Museum of Natural History’s Hayden Planetarium. Harrison Ford narrates “Search for Life” in collaboration with NASA that explores the role of water as one of the necessities for life as we know it. “Cosmic Collisions” narrated by Robert Redford, launches passengers on a trip through space and time to explore the cosmic collisions and hypersonic impacts that drive evolution of the universe. “Passport to the Universe”, narrated by Tom Hanks, reveals the wonders of the universe on an exhilarating flight into the Orion Nebula, deep into intergalactic space.
The Appalachian Trail is considered one of the crown jewels of long distance hiking. The route, which runs for nearly 2200 miles, stretches through 14 states between Maine and Georgia and takes most hikers months to walk end to end. Along the way, they find dense forests, crystal clear lakes, and stunning mountain views that are incomparable in the Eastern United States.
For most of us, hiking the entire length of the AT just isn’t possible however. We have jobs, families, and various other responsibilities that prevent us from getting away for months at a time. But thanks to Kevin Gallagher, we can all finally get to experience the trail in all of its glory. Kevin spent six months hiking the Appalachian Trail and has produced the following video, which is aptly named Green Tunnel. The stop motion film was created from photos taken along the route and strung together to give us a sense of what it is like to hike the AT. The result is that we can cover the whole trail in just under five minutes.
Warning: Watching the following video may cause your feet to get itchy and could possibly result in the purchising of a new set of hiking boots. Gadling can not be held responsible for such side effects. Thank you.
You’re a packer, hiker, camper, flier or photo freak so “Alaska” you’re good with, “Adventure you’re fine with too but the word “Cruise” sends your brain into unpleasant places. Travel to you might be getting to interesting places you have never been or returning to awesome memories once again. On your own. With good gear. You choose Independent over guided when you can. Adventure activities turn you on.
About the last place in the world that you want to be is on a cruise ship. The idea of herds of people bellying up to the buffet, playing bingo or climibing a simulated rock wall make you laugh outloud. You’ll catch dinner, look to the stars at night for entertainment and do a real mountain if given half a chance.
Still, cruise vacations have become more popular than ever and major cruise lines are looking for ways to make their line unique. You could care less.
Some build new, larger ships packed with more onboard programming no one passenger could possibly take advantage of. So what? You hate them.
Others focus on their existing fleet, refining what they do with a keen eye on what their target passenger is looking for, molding what they do to match. Again, give you a home where the buffalo roam and you’re in heaven.
But wait.
Now there is new InnerSea Discoveries, an up-close personal adventure experience that just happens to travel on water.
A tiny, 2-ship cruise line, InnerSea Discoveries does what they call “un-cruises”. In their inaugural season which starts in May, the line will do Alaska Adventure cruises for up to 49 passengers (that’s forty-nine, not 4,900) that are about as far away from the big cruise ship experience as you can get and still be floating.
Actually, the floating part, in this application, can provide a better travel experience than even the most adventurous independent traveler could get.
“The great success of the Ultimate Adventure proves there is a real demand for this type of active adventure in Southeast Alaska,” said Tim Jacox, of InnnerSea Discoveries. “People are choosing to spend two weeks exploring the remote wilderness-places they’ve never heard of-and that’s the beauty of it. It’s unrushed, uncrowded and truly unbelievable.”
First difference: No Internet. This will knock out about half the regular cruising public. You? Mr.Ms Adventure Traveler person? No big deal.
These handy-sized ships visit ports that big ships can’t get to, stop along the way were big ships can’t go and see wilderness big ships and the hordes of people on them scare away. In fact, the line’s Green Guardians program requires their small groups of passengers to “leave only footprints behind” while drinking in nature and it’s wild inhabitants.
“We believe it is a privilege to explore the world’s natural wonders, step ashore in remote destinations and meet the people living in these breathtaking wilderness environments. While employing sustainable travel principles and management practices to ensure we are responsible stewards of the environment is a core part of our business, we also strive to leave a positive impact on the people and communities we visit around the world. InnerSea Discoveries’ office and vessel personnel support the following organizations with donations or volunteer time.” says the line’s Green Guardian pledge.
Each trip, starting at $1795 per person, is different too with a choice of personalized Alaska Inside Passage itineraries featuring a 7-night Juneau to Ketchikan Eastern Coves or a 7-night Ketchikan to Juneau Western Coves sailing. Ultimate adventurers can combine the 2 cruises into a 14-night round-trip cruise from Juneau or experience 900-miles of the Inside Passage on a 14-night cruise between Seattle to Juneau (or reverse).
Unlike massive cruise liner sailings, most of what would be called “shore excursions” and carry an extra fee on big ships is included in the price.
Whale-Watching? You are in a small ship that can get up close. No charge.
Kayak Adventure? They have plenty for everyone. Free.
The ship’s kayaking fleet includes Looksha T and Manitou II kayaks, Surftech Softop and Stand-up Paddle Boards, Black Diamond trail compact trekking poles, REI EcoSensitive, lightweight and kids daypacks. If overnight-camping they provide the tent or forest service cabin, sleeping bags, food/drink, binoculars, cooking supplies, walking sticks, backpacks and a radio to stay in contact with the ship.
There are optional expedition activities available varying from “LeConte Glacier Floatplane Tour” ($200) to “Whale Island Overnight Camping” ($150). All are rated from 1 to 3 on an activity level scale with 1 being excursions that require basic physical fitness and 3 being excursions that require exertion, agility, sure-footedness on hikes and/or stamina for the most challenging workout.
No, the normal cruise ship passenger would not be along for this ride.
On board there are things to do, but not like the big ships. That’s not what this is all about.
No big pool:You were just in the ocean in a kayak or snorkeling or doing a polar bear swim.
No tight schedule: They pride themselves on flexibility and stop for a pod of orcas or some bubble-feeding humpbacks.
No formal night: It’s casual all the way here with more of a explorers-come-back-to-basecamp feel aboard ship.
No rock-climbing wall: You just climbed up the side of a mountain if you wanted to.
Retuning from the wilderness, passengers will find adequately appointed cabins feature Queen or twin beds, private bath with shower and a view window. Most are double occupancy but each ship has solo cabins as well. Meals include a healthy menu featuring locally-caught seafood . You may have had a hand in dinner earlier in the day. A hot Espresso, coffee, tea bar is open 24-hours a day too.
But here, the ship is a place to come back to, like a base camp from which the few along for the adventure return to at night. In this application, a floating camp makes sense to even the most hard-core travelers. Small ships sail up close to glaciers, whales, signts and sounds that people can not get to on foot or big cruise ships would scare off if they could even get close enough to see.