Travel The MEGA Travel Thread!

[Care]

Im gonna dump some pics from my most recent Yosemite hike, which was amazing btw. Bumping for now so i dont have to search for this thread

 

[ocean]

^Awesome. Yosemite is gorgeous.

 

[Care]

Clouds rest is about a 14 mile hike from Tioga Road, to the peak and back again. Its quite a bit easier than half dome, and the view you get is even better because you are on the highest peak in Yosemite valley, and because you cant see half dome when you are standing on half dome itself. Clouds Rest is still a strenuous day hike from a remote road though (we only saw backpackers, no dayhikers) so not easy by any means. There is a final staircase up to the summit that is very exposed on both sides, dropping down thousands of feet with only a couple foot wide path. I didnt get any pictures of the dangerous part because I was too scared to take pics, but the last picture is of the ridge leading up to the knife edge, and the summit. The west side of clouds rest is the largest face of exposed granite on the planet, and is a 6000 foot vertical drop to the valley floor. The summit is more than 1100 feet above half dome. Its hard to find words that describe the sense of scale here, the pictures dont do it justice. Im squinting like crazy in every pic because it is insanely bright at 10,000 feet in late July. Im the one in the black hat.


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[Fawkes]

beautiful pics, Care!

i haven't been hiking anything other than Camelback recently, which is a quick but tough and convenient hike. i try to head over after i leave work.

over the Fourth of July weekend, i wanted to take my boyfriend to Havasupai Falls but camping grounds and limited rooms fill up months in advance.

i hope to go soon. i'd also like to check out Fossil Springs which is not too far of a drive from where we live.

i hiking.

 

[Care]

^thanks

Its really nice to live close enough to a place like Yosemite so that I can see such wonderful views without the commitment or expense of camping. I just need a day off. From my house to Yosemite valley is about a 2 hour drive, well worth it. At least 50% of the people I meet in Yosemite are Aussie/Euro/Japanese tourists.

 

[Perpetual Indulgence]

I won't blast this thread with my numerous I am on the edge of cliff I love hiking photos. Most of you have seen my stuff.

biophilia: An appreciation of life and the living world. This is why I enjoy hiking and for the exercise.

I moved to Virginia last year and rediscovered my love of hiking.
2 feet and heartbeat. You can hike.
I like any trail that gets me high....on elevation. I like to climb rocks.
I am not into hikes that I have to camp out on. Camping no longer appeals to me. I did that in my 20's.
The max I can do with the dog is 8 miles. He is 15lbs. I feel bad when I don't take him with me.
I have realized that I prefer hiking in the winter. I recommend these for snow http://www.yaktrax.com/

About 2 months ago, I was hiking after work and I came across a guy who said he got lost. He had the usual backpack and stank of a long term hiker. The trail that I was on is not easy to get lost on. He said he had a GPS and logged 300 miles on the Appalachian trail so far. He said he was in the woods an hour before finding the trail again. This shit did not make sense to me. If I don't see trail markers, I do not continue beyond 15 minutes and I mark trees. I carry chalk. So for the next 30 minutes he is following me talking about how good a shower and a hamburger would feel and did I know where a motel was. What I did know is that I was the only car in the parking lot. Usually, when I come across other hikers they hang back or speed up not breathe down your fuckin neck and talk to you the whole time. Finally, I came to the part where the AT picked up and I showed him where to go. I was worried that he would follow me to the car and ask for a drive into the nearest town....which was not happening. My advice: Jeffery Dahmer was charming. Beware of weirdos and don't hike alone. Of course, I told my husband this and he freaked out. He wants me to carry a gun which is illegal. The day I need to carry a gun is the day I stop hiking. He bought me bear mace.

 

[muvolution]

Honestly, you should consider having a weapon for hiking. I have a Springfield AR-7, which is just a single shot break barrell .22 rifle/ .410 shotgun. You can take small game and it is your best bet in a survival type situation. A shotgun slug would do well on a bear, cougar, etc...

Also useful for dangerous bipeds as well. This gun can be carried legally in many areas because it breaks in half so you put it together with 1 pin, load, and fire. It is a rifle not a handgun, and since it carries disassembled you don't have to get a concealed carry as it is not useful while in half. once assembled, It is a rimfire (small) rifle and a shotgun, two of the most accepted weapons here...

 

[Care]

Just dont hike alone, its better to have people to share the experience with anyways.

Already posted this in another thread but ill post it here too. Its 6 images photostiched together into a panorama.

 

[Perpetual Indulgence]

If it comes down to not hiking or doing it alone...I take the latter. The most I am gone is 4 hours and if I am alone I stick to trails I am familiar with. My husband found me a man to hike with and I have found a few people but they are not as consistent as I am which is why I took up running in the woods. That will take me less than an hour. So I text my husband before and when I get back to the car. The solution would be for him to get his ass out there with me!

Being the photojunkie I am....

Peaks of Otter Bedford, VA. Almost 4000 feet above sea level. Elevation gain 1340ft

 

[alasdairm]

if golf is "a good walk spoiled", hiking to me is a missed opportunity to golf

alasdair

 

[Perpetual Indulgence]

^oh shit have you been talking to my husband?
That is precisely his attitude and where he is at when I hike Sunday mornings.

 

[Care]

Going to Sequoia National Park this Saturday with the fam. Pics incoming.

@ alasdairim... There is much more to hiking that just a walk. There is something spiritual for me about getting out in nature and seeing the world the way it has always been (however i suppose mountain dwellers like yourself get plenty of that already). Thats something that golf doesn't offer, although I do love me some golf.

 

[ChemicalSmiles]

looking to explore some NC hike spots.

 

[Perpetual Indulgence]

^^off the Blue Ridge Parkway

 

[queenbee1127]

What to do in VEGAS...

...obviously, there is more than enough to keep me busy in Vegas for three days, but I want BL's help!!!

I will be in Vegas the weekend of the 18-21 of August, with four girlfriends. We are staying at the Wynn Encore, and I have no idea what to do while we are there!!!

I have done some minor research online and I know that we want to see Wolfgang Gartner @ Surrender inside the Encore on Friday the 19th, but other than that, our agenda is pretty open. I have read a lot online about VIP services that allow you to skip the line, get guaranteed entrance etc...and I think these sound like a good idea - are they? I've never been to Vegas before, so I need a little help. We are also contemplating paying for bottle service one night, just for the experience.

Any club recommendations/activities/restaurants, helpful hints, etc....are much appreciated!!!! We are open to just about anything and everything.

Thanks BL

 

[mikemikenj]

Def get those tickets for Wolfgang ahead of time. And VIP services don't always work. The word VIP is used about as much in Las Vegas as the word LOVE is by 14 year olds. Clubs print it on their free promotional passes, VIP hosts use it for everything that they do, and people absolutely love to believe that they are more VIP than the next guy.

Purchasing passes to skip lines through major retailers can usually help things, but don't exactly expect the red carpet to be rolled out: You often will still wait 15 minutes or longer.

Is it worth it to reserve the bottle service, eat a good meal, and maybe ride around in a limousine with your friends? Absolutely. I recommend PURE, XS, and the bank @ the Bellagio. Great clubs. Went a year ago.

Hope this helps

 

[Fawkes]

awesome! i go to Vegas several times a year due to it's close proximity. i'm guessing you're staying at Encore (Wynn and Encore are two separate hotels). which is a great location and a lovely hotel.

another hotel you might want to check out is the Cosmopolitan. i've been finding it's sort of where the younger Vegas tourists hang out. it's absolutely beautiful and i've seen a number of shows in their ballroom (The Black Keys, The Strokes). if that's your bag, check their concert line-up. if not it's still really nice to go to for shopping, eating and gambling. they have an allsaints there which is a really cool shopping place and also a burger joint called Holstein's that make these SUPER delicious alcoholic shakes. i haven't been into their nightclub (which is also a dayclub) Marquee, but it's always hoppin'.

a restaurant i like to visit is Todd English's P.U.B. it's located in Crystals near Aria which is a very upscale shopping/hotel spot. always nice to window shop there. anyway, it's Irish fare, but they have these lobster rolls that are DEVINE. plus, if you drink a pint in 7-seconds you get it for free or something.

for shopping The Forum Shops in Caesar's is always a good stop. if you go, i would HIGHLY recommend you visit Agent Provocateur for super sexy under-things. it's expensive, but at the very least leave with a pair of fish net hold-ups. best EVAR! either way, there are plenty of high-scale and affordable shopping places.

Sage Restaurant in Aria also has an absinthe bar which looks really cool but i've not had the opportunity to check it out.

some good clubs/lounges:

The Mix at Mandalay Bay (this is a lounge but it's on the top floor with great views that overlook the whole city)
Ghostbar on top of The Palm's (also more of a lounge, but with awesome views. The Palm’s is always a fun place to gamble)
LAX at Luxor (your typical club, but the only time I’ve been in it was absurdly packed. they have a number to get on the guestlist [702.262.4529] which we did and got in pretty quickly.)
i've been to The Cathouse inside Luxor and it was really small and pretty boring
Haze at Aria looks really, really amazing
Rain at The Palm's resident DJ is Paul Oakenfold on Saturdays

are you going with a group of girls? normally you can go to the front of the line and the bouncer will let you in if you're a group of pretty girls dressed to kill. the lines for popular clubs get crazy long.

a lot of the hotels have pool parties; the most (in)famous being Rehab at the Hard Rock on Sunday’s. The Hard Rock is off the strip so you’ll need to taxi it over there if you want to check it out. but again, they aren’t the only hotel to offer this.

are you interested in shows? THE best show i’ve seen is The Beatles LOVE. my second favorite is Peepshow with Holly Madison and third was Crazy Horse Paris which is more of an artsy cabaret.

if you have a question about a club or restaurant, go to Yelp (you can get the app if you have a smart phone) and look up what the reviews say. Yelp has never steered me wrong.

also, don't forget to check out your hotel's pool!

i look forward to other's responses. Vegas is always changing so it's always nice to know what others like. (i'll be back mid-September myself. )

oh, oh, oh! The Peppermill! definitely go to The Peppermill for breakfast at least once. it is worth the wait.

like The Peppermill, The Double Down Saloon is also a local favorite (though i've never been). i've actually seen it a few times on the Travel Channel. apparently the drink to try is called Ass Juice. :D

 

[queenbee1127]

MikeMike - I sort of figured the "VIP" ticket thing might be that way. I just want to skip the outrageous line, I'm not looking to be treated like P. Diddy or anything But that is great to know, I will definitely be encouraging my friends to scoop up some tickets ASAP.

As far as restaurants, my friends mom is the one taking us - she's actually going with her new husband as a "honeymoon"- and she's pretty cool so she will be treating us to dinner every night. She's into cuisine and fine dining so I imagine we will hit some really cool places but I want to try the places you recommended Fawkes! At least for lunch/snacks anyway.

Shopping and gambling aren't too high on my list, just because I don't have buckets of cash to spend, but I've budgeted about $200 per day on drinks/clubs/food etc... because I'm not paying for hotel, flight, dinner every night and whatever else my host picks up the tab for. Do you think that is reasonable or should I plan on more?

We definitely plan on hitting the pool, I hear the Encore has a great day-club pool party type of event going on on the weekends. I've been working on my tan

Last question - as far as dress codes: I know some clubs are more relaxed than others but the point is to go out looking pretty nice and definitely dressed to impress. I'm not worried about myself, I treated myself to a few new outfits to make sure I'm dressed appropriately but I'm starting to worry about the girls I'm going with and whether or not they will be prepared for this type of dress code. What is it like?

 

[Fawkes]

i think $200 per day is more than enough to get one person by. and yay, on being treated to fine dining every night! Vegas has some VERY good restaurants (i'll have to ask my boyfriend which ones we've eaten at and get back with you). drinks in the club are expensive, but it's never too difficult to chat up some guy and have him buy you a drink or two.

also, several casinos have cheap drinks (if you gamble, play $0.25 slots if you wish, you're drinks are normally free) but many times i'll grab a drink at one casino, in my hotel store or in a convenience store and carry and drink it anywhere. i don't think it's technically legal any longer, but cabbies have no issue with you drinking in their cab.

oh, speaking of cabbies... if you take a cab anywhere, they CANNOT pick you up on the street. you must catch a cab at the nearest hotel's cab stand.

i would recommend you're entire party be nicely dressed. i don't think a club would refuse a woman unless they tried to come in in sneakers and denim bermuda shorts or something, but everyone you'll see taking advantage of night life will be dressed to the nines so your group would probably feel more comfortable if they were dressed similarly.

during the day, if you're planning to walk around some, wear comfortable shoes and light clothing because it is the desert afterall.

 

[Max Power]

it's never too difficult to chat up some guy and have him buy you a drink or two.

women. 8(