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.

New West Magazine

by Erik Olsen on

I’ve been a fan of the Western-minded magazine New West since it launched was back when. The articles there range from serious
ruminations on land and water policy to arts, film and
events, to travel. It really is a serious effort
to cover Western news with a depth and thoughtfulness that most of the major daily newspapers miss. And I was quite
happy to learn this morning that they managed to secure some new cash to keep going. The magazine has some heft on its
masthead. it is run by Jonathan Weber, who started the Industry Standard and whose editorial judgment and Western
sensibilities are top notch. So give it a look if you can. And check out their Flickr Stream which features some superb and
mind-blowing photos from the Western states.

The Himalayas' First High-End Resort

by Neil Woodburn on

Anyone who has ever been to the Himalayas knows that its beauty is in its simplicity. 
Far from modern civilization, the Himalayas are a simpler world of Tibetan monks, monasteries, farming
villages, prayer flags, rope bridges and hardly a speck of concrete anywhere.  Visitors have to work hard to get
there and live hard once they’ve arrived, as very few comforts and amenities exist at such high altitudes.

This is beginning to change, however.  The wealthy, who have monopolized certain parts of our planet but have
traditionally been excluded from the Himalayas due to the hardships one might encounter there, can now claim their
little piece of the holiest mountains on this planet. 

In 2001, the Chinese government opened up a Himalayan-endowed section of the Yunnan Province for tourism
development and renamed it, somewhat cheesily, Shangri-La.  Singapore based Banyan Tree Resorts thought it a wise
investment opportunity and proceeded to build a
luxury hotel located 11,000 feet up in the Himalayas that includes oxygen canisters in the minibar. 

Their aim is to capitalize on the “soft adventure” market—people who desire to gaze upon an
exotic landscape that used claim the lives of many who dared venture there, while at the same time, enjoying facials,
fireplaces, wooden hot tubs and internet access.  Banyan Tree
Ringha has all of this and more.  At $400 a night ($395 more than I paid for accommodations in the Himalayas)
guests are pampered, coddled, and protected from the wilds outside their mahogany carved hotel doors. 

While it certainly disappointments me to hear of such luxurious inroads to such remote and exotic places, I have to
admit a little jealousy as well.  Life was tough traveling through the Himalayas.  When I gaze upon the photos
of Banyan Tree Ringha, I soften and relax; it sure is beautiful.  They’ve done a phenomenal job with the
place.  Damn the rich!

 

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.