Transportation

Impromptu Road Trip!

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Top Knotch Gear

Road trip across the southwest

In both of our families, September and I are known as adventurers – up for just about anything, the crazier the better. So when September’s aunt & uncle needed their car and dog (the fluffy, enthusiastic pup Raffles) delivered from Sarasota, FL to San Francisco, CA, they called US to make the road trip!

On Saturday, Sep, Raffles and I will spend 6 days driving across the southwest U.S. The trip alone is nearly 3,000 miles and takes over 41 hours… excluding pit stops, detours and must-see sites (which I am a sucker for).

Our itinerary:

  • Day 1: Tampa –> Gulfport, Mississippi (588 miles; 8.5 hours) – Point B on the map above
  • Day 2: Gulfport –> San Antonio, Texas (600 miles; 9 hours) – C
  • Day 3: San Antonio –> Tucson, Arizona (870 miles; 12.5 hours) – D
  • Day 4: Tucson –> Kingman, Arizona (300 miles; 4.5 hours) – E
  • Day 5: Kingman –> Yosemite Village, California (520 miles; 8 hours) – F
  • Day 6: Yosemite –> San Francisco, California (200 miles; 4 hours) – G

We’re stopping at things like the Alamo, Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Park (and if we have extra time, Joshua Tree National Park) but we’ve got some 30 other sites that are off-the-beaten-path…. sites like the world’s largest rocking chair, a 25-ton tiki head and a house made completely of beer cans, that are just too wild to pass up. At Roadside America, we searched for cities on the various legs of our trip to see what bizarre, strangely awesome, roadside sites we’ll pass. There are TONS!

Time will surely be a limiting factor on this trip but we hope to move quickly (seeing as much as we can along the way), so we can gain some free time at the end of our journey to enjoy the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. Neither one of us has traveled the southwest U.S. before and we’re so excited and grateful for this amazing adventure!

Be sure to follow along – we’ll be posting regularly with pictures, videos and fun updates! (Thank goodness for the mobile WordPress app).

ROAD TRIP!

Photo courtesy of DiscoverAmerica.com

Please note: Our online shop, Top Knotch Gear, will be “on vacation” and we will not be processing orders until we return. If you have any questions/requests regarding gear, please direct them to us via email. Thanks!

Categories: Adventure, Backpacking, Extreme Vacation/Adventures, Family, Florida, Hiking, Landscape Photograph, Mountains, Nature, Outdoors, Packing, Parachute Cord, Paracord, Photography, Planning vacation, Rock Climbing, RTW, Survival gear, Top Knotch Gear, Tourist Site, Trails, Transportation, Travel, Travel Photography, Trip planning, Uncategorized, UNESCO World Heritage, World's Largest | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Travel Tip Tuesday!

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Top Knotch Gear

Travel, be it a family vacation, business trip or RTW adventure, has gone digital. Between the internet cafés (which are quickly becoming a thing of the past), 4G and matchbook-sized travel devices, there are plenty of gizmos to keep you constantly connected to the rest of the world on the other side of cyberspace. Mobile apps like Facebook and Instagram are some of the most common – seriously, who doesn’t use them? But have you heard of some of these others? Below is a [truncated] list of the “Ultimate Travel Apps” – a list compiled by CNNGo. I’ve summarized 5 apps that I’d splurge on. To view the whole list, click here.

1) UNESCO World Heritage Location Guide – Over 900 sites all over the world to browse from, this is a great app for those travelers looking for something on the road less traveled. (Don’t worry, all the famous sites are on there, too.)

 

2) mTrip – Great for big cities in Asia (i.e.: Bangkok, Hong Kong… all my faves). It tells you what places you’d enjoy visiting (based on preferences you enter once downloaded) and even lets you send virtual postcards to friends and family! I am a sucker for postcards – physical or digital – so I think this one is perfect.

 

3) Trip Advisor – As small business owners, Trip Advisor is some of the best word-of-mouth advertising we could ask for. Whenever we go on trips (even if it’s just a of couple hours away), we’ll hit up this site for activities, things to do and hotel recommendations. NOTE: In my experience, this site has only been beneficial for places in the U.S. (If you want to check out our business on Trip Advisor, just click here!)

 

4) Tripline – This app lets you document your trip with pictures, notes and a mapped timeline of everywhere you’ve been. You can check in at various places on your journey just by snapping a photo! Then return home and replay your adventures at your next family function.

5) EveryTrail – Perfect for nature freaks and hiking junkies, this app lets you find trips and trails nearest you, allows you to map your route with the phone’s GPS and even find other hikers in your area. You can view stats (like elevation and distance), see pictures of what’s around the bend and search tons of other trips that fellow nature nuts have taken.

Last tip: Make sure you’ll actually be able to use your smartphone or mobile device where you’re traveling. Just because you have lightning-speed service doesn’t mean you’ll be able to catch a signal in all corners of the globe.

Safe travels!

Categories: Accessories, Adventure, Around the World, Asia, Backpacking, Beach Snoballs, Communication, Europe, Explore, Gear, Hiking, Nature, News, Outdoors, Paracord, Photography, Planning vacation, RTW, Top Knotch Gear, Tourist Site, Trails, Transportation, Travel, Travel Tips, Trip planning, UNESCO World Heritage, World Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Travel Tip Tuesday!

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Top Knotch Gear

We’re back! After a brief hiatus to handle a family emergency, we’re back in Florida.

This week’s Travel Tip Tuesday is all about how to save money WHILE TRAVELING. So you’ve already hit the road, you’re on an adventure and you want to be sure you stay within your budget. The tips below will help effectively budget your money and not go broke while traveling.

How to save money while traveling:

Forego fancy restaurants – Utilize the local markets and vendors to make your own food or eat the street food (which is MUCH cheaper than restaurants, usually). That being said, you’ll want to navigate street foods carefully and have anti-diarrhea pills handy.

Save the souvenirs – My first trip to China, I bought 3 tea sets (I’m an impulse buyer) without factoring in that China was only the first stop on my itinerary. The lesson: Buy souvenirs and ship them home or stick to smaller items that you can easily put it your pack and carry with you (jewelry, magnets, etc.)

Tipping – An easy way to save money while you’re traveling is researching local customs to see if tipping is necessary. In the U.S., we tip for everything but in some cities in China, it’s rude to tip. Do the research and you may be able to save a chunk of change.

Taxi Troubles – If you can get around without using a taxi, do it. If you can’t, try to negotiate the fare before getting in. (If you’re a woman, fight hard. There are many countries that will try to take advantage of you if you’re a foreign woman).

Exchanging Money – Exchange money for the currency you want BEFORE you get to that country. Don’t exchange at the airport and if you use a kiosk, don’t forget there are fees. I like to use ATM’s… but watch out… there are international and bank fees that apply to ATM’s, too.

Tours and Tickets – This is my weakness. It’s so tempting to book every boat charter, snorkeling trip, zip line and caving tour out there but these activities will drain your bank. Set a budget and stick to it. Or investigate what the tours do (where they go, how they get there, what’s included) and do some of the same activities on your own.

For more tips and tricks to saving money while overseas, check out AirTreks Travel Blog.

Categories: Adventure, Alcohol, Around the World, Asia, Asian Food, Australia, Backpacking, Bracelet, Camping, Caving, China, Circumnavigation, Climbing, Europe, Explore, Extreme Vacation/Adventures, Food, Fresh Food, Gear, Globetrotting, Hiking, Jewelry, Nature, Packing, Planning vacation, RTW, Seafood, South America, Top Knotch Gear, Tourist Site, Trails, Transportation, Travel, Travel Tips, Trek, Trip planning, Vegetarian, World Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Islands for Everyone!

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Top Knotch Gear

As cabin fever sets in and winter blues hover in the air (unless you live in Florida, no winter blues here), why not take yourself on a tropical getaway? Say, to an island that’s perfect for your personality?! CNN Go has put together a list of islands that are perfect for all kinds of people – nudists, families, loners, lovers…. you name it. Here are some of the findings:

World’s Best Islands For…

Naughty Nudists
Rab, Croatia – The birthplace of skinny dipping where clothing is optional. There are 3 different nude beaches where all of your parts can get some Vitamin D.

Nature Nuts
Sark, Channel Islands – It’s here, off the French coast of Normandy, that you can see the Milky Way nearly every night. There are no street lights or headlights because cars and bright lights are outlawed – perfect for stargazing space freaks (like me)!

Family Frenzies
Oahu, Hawaii – I’ll admit, the thought of visiting an island where are bunch of kids are running around is a turnoff to me. But Oahu is a great destination for families because of all the activities to keep young ones entertained – things like surfing school, giant mazes and water slides.

Lusty Lovebirds
Lizard Island, Australia – Between the 24 private beaches, the torch-lit dinners at the resorts and the Great Barrier Reef, this island is sure to make sparks fly. I know it’s going on our itinerary…

Laid Back Loners
Ogasawara Island, Japan – Traveling solo isn’t a bad thing, especially if you enjoy the quiet of being one with nature. South of Tokyo, this island has few inhabitants and a ferry is the only means of connecting the island to the “real world”… otherwise, you’re on your own! (Bring your survival bracelet!)

Party Peeps
Ibiza, Spain – Yes, the same Ibiza that J-Lo sings about. Known for its sweaty summer raves, there are tons of clubs with head-throbbing trance music if you’re looking for a party scene-getaway.

Movie Star Madness
St. Barts, French West Indies – Pretty, posh and full of paparazzi, this is THE island for celeb sightings. It’s also a gorgeous place with white sand beaches, just like in the Hollywood movies.

To read about the other island recommended, check out CNN Go’s article.

Happy island-hopping!

Categories: Travel, Adventure, Globetrotting, Outdoors, Backpacking, Nature, Transportation, Love, Family, Photography, Travel Tips, Summer, Plants and Flowers, Tourist Site, Explore, Top Knotch Gear, Landscape Photograph, Travel Photography, Planning vacation, Trip planning, Nude Hiking, Naked Hiking, Naturalist, Ocean, SCUBA Diving, News, RTW, Around the World, Nude Beach, Celebrities | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Around the World for $100,000

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Top Knotch Gear

The Chinese are generally known to be frugal and modest, so it’s quite a surprise to hear that a 66-day luxury trip around the world sold out in just 13 SECONDS! The trip costs [a mere] RMB 660,000 – over $100,000 USD. The 11-person tour is organized by Ctrip – a Chinese travel agency conglomerate. (Tip: book airline tickets through them when you’re in China – they’re much cheaper than the usual travel agencies/airlines).

The “world tour”, China claims, is the “ultimate travel experience.” The itinerary looks something like this:

Australia + 24 days in South America + a cruise to Antarctica + North Africa + Europe + a 10-day cruise through the Med + Paris + Finland + Dubai + India + Hong Kong.

They’re flying first-class to all of their destinations, staying at the most high-end and posh hotels, and only participating in luxury-related activities. Read the article at CNN Go here.

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I think this type of “tour” is an embarrassment for China. Not only is it ridiculously expensive given that the price tag is 8-10x that of the average annual Chinese salary, but I think it’s extremely homogenous, limited, and narrow-minded. Don’t get me wrong, people are absolutely free to travel however they please and by whatever means they desire but don’t call this the “ultimate travel experience” globetrotting tour of of the world when you’re only going to a fraction of it. (These are my personal thoughts only and do not reflect those of CNN Go or Ctrip.)

Categories: Adventure, Airplanes, Around the World, Asia, Australia, Europe, Explore, Extreme Vacation/Adventures, Globetrotting, Hong Kong, India, RTW, Shanghai, South America, Summer, Top Knotch Gear, Tourist Site, Transportation, Travel, Trip planning, World Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Plug this into your GPS…

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Top Knotch Gear

Categories: Adventure, Asia, Australia, Backpacking, Circumnavigation, Europe, Explore, Globetrotting, Hiking, Nature, Outdoors, Pinterest, South America, Top Knotch Gear, Tourist Site, Trails, Transportation, Travel, Travel Tips, Trek | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Biking from Bangkok to Singapore

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Top Knotch Gear

Nathaniel James Moody is an adventurous British expat who biked over 1,500 miles (about 2,500 km) from Bangkok, Thailand to Singapore. After Moody, a teacher stationed in Bangkok, bought a mountain bike from his friend, he was inspired to put it to good use as part of his healthy living lifestyle changes. From pedaling around the city to short day trips, Moody could not get enough of his bike. He then set out to plan a trip from Bangkok to Koh Lanta (over 500 miles) but when the Thai schools were shut down for an extended period of time due to the massive flooding, Moody re-routed his plans for an adventurous trip from Bangkok to Singapore via Malaysia.

Why do this? It’s all for the charity, “Life for Thailand” – a children’s home for disabled Thai children.

Moody’s trip took him 30 days total – 17 solid days of hardcore cycling through country sides, busy cities and villages averaging 90 miles (145 km) each day! Moody says that he’s not “that fit” and has never been a cyclist, he just enjoyed riding bikes as a kid. But he shows awesome motivation, perseverance and dedication to a good cause to ride across 3 countries! Read more about how he prepared for his trip and some of the challenges he faced along the way here. And be sure to check out his website!

Below are all pictures taken directly from CNN Go’s article on Moody. Click the pictures to be taken to the site.

Photo from CNN Go

Photo from CNN Go

Categories: Adventure, Asia, Biking, Charity, Cycling, Donation, Explore, Gear, Malaysia, Nature, Photography, Singapore, Thailand, Top Knotch Gear, Trails, Transportation, Travel, Trek, Trip planning | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

CNN Travel’s Guide to RTW Trips

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Top Knotch Gear

Just today, CNN Travel posted an article from the Lonely Planet on how to plan a trip around the world (RTW). We’ll summarize the main points from the article:

  • Book a RTW ticket stopping at major airports (because the more obscure locations cost more)
  • All travel must be completed in a year and no backtracking with a RTW ticket
  • Think about what you want to see, do your research and consider weather in your plans
  • Cost of the RTW ticket is based on total distance and number of stops (number of countries)
  • North America and Europe are the most expensive while Asia and South America are the cheapest

Overall, the article isn’t bad for as vague as it is. It’s a good start for anyone who has ever considered doing a circumnavigation. For us, these tips are a little too broad. We want to leave our timeline open and we hope to use other means of transportation (freighters, walking, boats, bikes, etc.) And who knows? Maybe we’ll end up living in Hong Kong for a couple of years while we’re abroad – we don’t know. But we want to have the world at our fingertips – everywhere to go and all day to get there.

Another HIGHLY RECOMMENDED resource is the Rough Guides book to your First Time Around the World. It’ll give you more info on RTW flights, budgeting, weather, etc. – a more detailed version of CNN Travel’s article. Check it out!

Great book for travelers planning a RTW trip!

Categories: Adventure, Airplanes, Backpacking, Circumnavigation, Explore, Globetrotting, Top Knotch Gear, Transportation, Travel, Travel Tips, Trip planning, World Wonders | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Travel Tip Tuesday!

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Top Knotch Gear

It’s Travel Tip Tuesday again! And today’s topic: GERMS ON AIRPLANES. 

I am a self-professed germaphobe. I’m not nearly as bad as Howie Mandel or even Jack Nicholson in the movie, As Good As It Gets (i.e.: bringing my own flatware to restaurants) but things like door knobs, public transportation and handling money really bother me. Confined spaces are the worst – elevators and airplanes …. yuck! But below are some tips on how to nix germs on airplanes…. great tips for travelers!

A disclaimer: Germs are everywhere and are unavoidable (sadly) BUT there are ways to reduce your exposure to germs that cause sicknesses (colds and flu).

  1. Drink water – keeping your body hydrated is an easy way to keep your body healthy. It also flushes “toxins”.
  2. Use hand sanitizer – it has to go in your carry-on anyway, so it’ll already be close by on the plane. Use it!
  3. Use sanitizing wipes – wipe your tray table, arm rests and any button controls before you use them – the airlines aren’t as thorough when cleaning the plane as you think they’d be and germs can definitely be found on the tray tables that EVERYONE uses.
  4. Use nasal spray – it will keep your inner nose moist while you breathe in all of that filtered, dry air and will reduce the amount of sickness germs from getting further into your body.
  5. Air flow – direct those overhead air things away from your face …or at least in front of your face, so it blows any germs away from where you’d inhale them. Germs thrive in dry air (aka: at 30,000 feet where you fly), so you’re more susceptible to colds and the flu.
  6. Wash your hands when you get off the plane – you’ll probably have to pee after your plane ride anyway, so B-line to the bathroom and wash your hands (with soap!)

Germ Survival Guide

Categories: Adventure, Airplanes, Backpacking, Outdoors, Packing, Survival gear, Top Knotch Gear, Transportation, Travel, Travel Tips, Trip planning | 2 Comments

10 Extreme Adventures!

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Top Knotch Gear

Back in September, MSNBC Travel did an article on 10 extreme adventures – everything from shark bating to helicopter safaris! How many of these crazy vacations would YOU take?

10 Extreme Adventures:

  1. Go shark-bating (we don’t support this one*)
  2. Dive in an exosuit
  3. Go drag racing
  4. Take a helicopter safari
  5. Rescue training school
  6. Bulldoze something
  7. Go street-luging
  8. Drive a tank
  9. Try stunt training
  10. Fly a MiG over Russia

Go street-luging!

Take a helicopter safari!

*After researching some pictures to accompany MSNBC’s list, we were really turned off by shark-bating. We learned that there are some French Islander fishing techniques that use live dogs as bait – the pictures are very sad and we do not support these practices. What are your thoughts?

Categories: Adventure, Africa, Airplanes, Animals, Backpacking, Beach, Explore, Extreme Vacation/Adventures, Family, Florida, Helicopter Safari, Law Enforcement, Nature, Ocean, Outdoors, Planning vacation, Police, Russia, SCUBA Diving, Sharks, Summer, Top Knotch Gear, Transportation, Travel, Travel Tips, Trek, Trip planning, United States, Wild | Tags: , , | 2 Comments

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