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Beyond The Suitcase: Preparing For A Road Trip

July 19, 2017 By Guest Blogger

Editors Note: Blogger Sara Stringer sent us this post, and given that we’re always up for a road trip, we thought it was a worthwhile read! Leave your summer travel plans in the comments below!

There’s no more enjoyable adventure for many people than a nice, long road trip. The idea of packing your bags and getting away from the routine is appealing, and it invariably creates memories that will provide laughs and tears for years to come.

Getting prepared for the trip is exciting in and of itself. Choosing your lodging, planning your route, and packing necessities for your travels builds a lot of excitement and anticipation. By the time you actually hit the road, you can be almost giddy.

The only thing that could upset the apple cart at this point would be to run into some kind of expensive or inconvenient problem. While some of those things can’t be avoided, others can be prevented very easily before you leave town.

Financial Preparations

The most common financial consideration most people have for a trip is the money for the trip itself. But there are a lot of other things that can come into play financially, and some of them should be handled before you leave town.

Insurance is a common one. It can be easy to forget your payment in the hustle and bustle of getting ready for a trip, and some companies make it very tough to pay quickly. That’s the advantage of websites like acceptanceinsurance.com, which will not only accept your payment online but can also jumpstart your coverage quickly if you’ve traded vehicles just ahead of the trip.

Credit cards are another. Think about opening a new one that’s a better deal. Then call the company and tell them you’ll be traveling so that they don’t block transactions. Also make sure they have your cell number in case there’s some other problem.

Home Preparations

The neighbor kid is mowing and your pooch is safely ensconced at the boarding kennel. Ready to go, right? Not quite.

There are some other things you should do, too. A good old-fashioned light timer isn’t enough security for your home. Think seriously about an alarm system. Not only will it save your belongings, it will also save you money on your homeowner’s insurance.

Secure the house. Turn off the water at the meter, so that any leaks inside the home can only release a tiny amount of water until you’re back home and prepared to react. Make sure that you also turn off your water heater. Unplug expensive appliances in case of lightning. And have the post office hold your mail so that burglars don’t see your box filling up.

Communication Plans

It’s not enough to have a phone and a whole army of chargers. You need to check out your plan. Talk to your carrier and make sure that your travel will move you seamlessly–and affordably–into roaming mode.

Check coverage, too. While most large cities will have sufficient towers for any carrier, remote areas may not. It could be safer for you to get a prepaid phone to use on the trip if one of those will get you coverage in these rural locations.

Have a landline number available whenever possible, and share it with someone back home who also has a landline. During disasters, cell coverage can be lost while wired lines remain intact. It will be easier to check on everyone’s safety if there’s a landline each way.

Travel is a time when we get to escape from all our worries. We don’t need to replace them with other worries, so before you hit the road, be sure you’ve made proper provisions for the things that could trip you up while you’re away from home.

Tips to ride a bike safety for your kids

January 30, 2017 By Guest Blogger

[Editor’s Note: Now that our kids are well on their way to leaving their balance bikes behind and have started mountain biking themselves, we’ve been trying to teach them about bike safety. When Denise emailed us about doing a guest post we figured it was a great opportunity for us to learn something too!]

When allowing your child to ride their bikes, naturally you watch over them and make sure their safe. When children are riding their bikes, they also need the tools to keep themselves safe. Riding a bike is a wonderful experience, great exercise, and a great way to spend your free time; however, being safe when riding is critical to protect yourself and your children from potential falls, head injuries, and hazardous accidents.

Here are some tips to help your child to be bike safe and to remember to obey all the rules when riding their bike.

Helmets

Helmets are important for children when riding bikes. In most states, children under 18 are required by law to wear a helmet; some states are 15-17, and others are all ages. Helmets are very important in a case of falling. Helmets help to protect your head and neck from injuries that could be fatal or cause serious brain and neck trauma.

When deciding on a helmet, make sure to pick an appropriately sized helmet. You want the helmet to fit your head, but not be too snug or too loose. It needs to be comfortable and fit well. A helmet can be the difference between a life-threatening injury.

Reflectors

Making sure your children’s reflectors work are important to all children no matter the time of day. Glasses help in the dawn, daytime, dusk, and nighttime riding for vehicles to see the riders clearly. Wearing a reflective sash is also recommended for children since they are smaller than an adult.

Reflectors help reduce the risk of accidents involving vehicles and allow vehicles to move over (if possible) for the riders. Always make sure the reflectors are working and aren’t broken.

Protective Gear

Knee pads and elbow pads are good at preventing injuries when a child is prone to still falling off their bike. Padding helps to protect from scratches and cosmetic damage, as well as contributes to cushion the bones when falling on them. This can prevent future damage done to bones that can cause arthritis and joint pain as they age.

Padding is also great in giving kids more confidence in their riding. When they know that they can fall and it won’t hurt as bad, they are willing to continue trying to ride rather than give up. It’s a great confidence booster!

Proper Bike Size

Children are often riding bikes too big for them or too small. It’s important for your child to have a bike that fits them. Otherwise, riding could be dangerous and a hazard to others. Children should be able to sit

on the seat of the bike with their hands on the handlebars, and the balls of their feet should touch the ground. This is the perfect size for your child.

Those growth spurts make it difficult, but remember you can always adjust the bike seat and handlebar height while they continue to grow. Keep an eye on where they place their feet for times when the seat and handlebars should be heightened to allow for comfortable and safe riding.

Obey Traffic Laws

Make sure your children know to ride with traffic and to follow the stop signs and lights when riding with traffic. Make sure to teach your child the proper hand signals if your country uses them.

Teach children how to use crosswalks with their bikes properly. Make sure they get off their bike, press the button and walk their bike across when directed. This will prevent any accidents involving pedestrians who also make use of the crosswalk and teach your child to be a courteous bike rider.

Night Riding

Make sure your child never rides alone at night. Riding a bike alone, no matter the gear they have with them is especially dangerous. Night riding requires special skill, biking experience, and a lot of multitasking to make sure you and cars are a safe distance from one another.

Night riding can be tiresome for children, causing them to become drowsy. If your child must ride at night, make sure an adult is supervising them.

Respect the Road

Make sure your kids aren’t playing on the road on their bikes. This can be hazardous for approaching vehicles, prevent emergency vehicles from reaching their destination in a timely manner, and could put your child at risk of an accident.

Always make sure your child knows the appropriate places to ride a bike and their boundaries. Busy roadways can be very dangerous for children and can put them in danger of a fatal accident.

Pay Attention

Make sure your kids know not to listen to music or play with their phone while riding. Distracted riding can lead to injuries, falls, and accidents. It’s important to pay attention to your surroundings and listen to anything that may be important, such as a parent calling for you, and the emergency vehicle coming closer, or a tornado warning.

You should also pay attention to young children who may run out in front of you, or a loose dog. These can cause you to lose control if suddenly taken off guard by not paying attention or being distracted.

Talk to Your Child

It’s a great time to sit your child down and explain to them the boundaries of riding their bike and the rules. Make sure they know how to put their helmet on and to wear any protective gear they may need. Bike safety is very important for children to learn, as it helps them as they get older and continue to ride their bike.

Make sure your children know why it’s important to follow the rules, wear a helmet, and ride along with traffic, rather than against it. In some instances, it’s good to set up punishments in case the rules are broken, and they push past their boundaries.

There are many cases where children are hurt due to lack of knowledge when riding or being distracted. Some kids wear helmets, while others don’t and it’s important to keep yourself protected from anything that could potentially happen to you. Make sure to keep your children safe by teaching them how to be safe when riding a bike.

About the Author

I’m Denise and I’m a mountain biker who enjoys cross-country biking all around the world. I worked as a trainer for 6 years before becoming a co-founder of a private biking lessons school to teach people how to properly train and ride bikes to prepare them for cross-country and any activities they want to indulge in. I’m also a co-founder of MountainBikeEZ.

The Sweet Side of Sin City

July 14, 2015 By Guest Blogger

Las Vegas is famous for many things, and it often means something different for different people. Some see Vegas as the gambling mecca that it obviously is, while others see it as sprawling party playground where anything goes. Some visitors come for the golf, while still others come for the legendary stage shows and concerts.

And then there are the ones who come for the food.

Las Vegas has claimed its spot as a culinary destination, and rightfully so. The hotels on the strip compete with each other and outdo themselves with decadent buffets and restaurants owned and run by the world’s top celebrity chefs. For foodies, this city has a little bit of everything that you could ever want to see on a plate.

And that includes dessert.

For those with a sweet tooth Las Vegas might just be the city of your dreams. From lavish dessert buffets to decadent ice cream shops and candy stores brimming with your favorite treats, Las Vegas offers a little something for the kid in all of us.

If you’ve had your fill of prime rib and cocktails, learn more about where you can go to get a glimpse into the sweet side of Sin City.

The Cream of the Crop

Since Las Vegas is an over-the-top city, it’s fitting that you can find over-the-top desserts in many of its most famous eateries. At Serendipity 3 at Caesars Palace you can try their Golden Opulence sundae, which consists of many of the things you’d expect in a sundae, as well as 23-karat gold. Yes, you’ll find edible gold leaf atop Tahitian vanilla ice cream, and gold-dusted edible sugar flowers. This treat will set you back a measly $1,000, but you also get to keep the gold spoon and the crystal goblet that it’s served in.

Serendipity 3 has many other desserts on offer that have topped the city’s “Best of” lists, including a frozen hot chocolate and a fried Oreo sundae that kids and adults will both love.

The Candy Shop

If you are a fan of candy stores and want to immerse yourself in the midst of chocolate sweets of all kinds, why not pay a visit to HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE WORLD Las Vegas? With shelves piled high with all of your favorite HERSHEY’S products, as well as the ability to customize your candy bar labels, this shop is a candy lover’s dream come true. It’s also a great place to pick up gifts for those friends and family who weren’t lucky enough to make the trip.

For retro candy choices, try the B Sweet Candy Boutique, and pick up a Couture Pop at It’s Sugar as the perfect accessory for your outfit when you hit the clubs.

I Scream, You Scream

Let’s face it. The temperatures can be on the warm side in Las Vegas, and what better way to beat the heat than with ice cream. You’ll find plenty of ice cream stores here, from simple places to grab a cone to those boasting truly gourmet flavors.

Lappert’s Ice Cream is famous for its smooth ice cream base and the natural ingredients used to flavor it. Think exotic guava, fresh coconut, and macadamia nut for a taste of Hawaii, and other fabulous flavors from around the world. They offer incredible coffee as well.

For a break from the traditional, try Luv-It Frozen Custard, which Las Vegas residents have consistently voted as the best in town for several years.

The Dessert Buffet

If you’re the type who eats dessert first, Las Vegas is your kind of town. If you’re the person who only eats dessert then you might as well move here. Dessert buffets abound here, and the world may never be the same.

Try the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace for cakes, pies, and cookies, as well as tasty mochi, creme brulee, and cinnamon rolls. The Buffet at Wynn keeps things elegant with cake pops and homemade gelato. However, the one that takes the literal cake is Studio B at M Resort. If you visit from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and all day Saturday and Sunday you’ll be overwhelmed by the collection of every single dessert item from each of the buffet options.

And don’t worry, all of these buffets serve real food as well.

Las Vegas. Sin City or Sweet Spot? You be the judge.

Turning a trip into an Indefinite Travel Lifestyle: Antonio & Amanda’s Story

October 7, 2014 By Guest Blogger

Editors Note: There are many people out there traveling – individuals, couples and families. From time to time we like to bring you their stories to serve as inspiration!

For over a year we meticulously planned a bicycle touring trip that would take us from California to Spain in 4 years. A month into our grand journey we admitted to each other that we no longer wanted to do the trip.

The truth was we both wanted something much more. The freedom of the open road, the ability to change plans on a whim and the sense of independence was powerful. We had become addicted to the unknown and our well laid out trip had become a burden.

It was simple, we wanted a lifestyle that would allow us to travel…indefinitely. We wanted a life of adventure. So we through the plans out the window and slowly turned our dream trip into a dream life.

So how do we do it, travel indefinitely? Some people think that we are wealthy or that our parents regularly restock our bank accounts. That’s certainly not the case.

Bicycle touring had taught us a lot about living simply. This is the main reason why we can maintain this lifestyle.

On average, we live on less than $10 a day per person. It’s not very difficult, traveling by bicycle is much cheaper than backpacking. Obviously there are no bus tickets to buy but more importantly, it opens doors. Invitations to stay the night in peoples houses or offers for dinner are a regular occurrence while we are on the road. Of course we do not rely on roadside hospitality, we carry a tent and stove which allows us to camp and cook our own meals.

Along with our simple lifestyle we also work regularly. A few years ago we started to scuba dive. When we decided to turn our trip into a lifestyle we thought what better way to support ourselves than to find jobs doing something we love. So we spent the last year investing in our scuba diving training, completing our divemaster course in Belize and instructor course in Honduras.

Not only is it a job that allows us to dive for in some of the most beautiful dive sites, it is something that we can do all over the world.

Currently we are living in Panama, in a small town called Santa Catalina where we are working as scuba diving instructors. These short breaks to work are a great way to get to know a place, not just pass through it. It’s a pause that most travelers we meet either couldn’t afford or simply don’t have the time because they have to get back to work.

An infinite travel lifestyle isn’t for everyone. We dont have a house, secure jobs, car or huge bank account. Most days we don’t even know where we are going to sleep at night. What we do have is freedom, something we value more than anything.

You can follow Amanda and Antonio’s adventures at : http://www.cyclingelmundo.com/.

Tempting Tenerife – What’s Not to Like?

September 28, 2014 By Guest Blogger

Over the years, Tenerife has developed a reputation as a place for holidaymakers seeking blazing sunshine and a party atmosphere. While much of Tenerife’s pull on tourists has been the beautiful climate and fantastic nightspots, it has so much more to offer if you take the time to explore the island. Take a look at the following ways you can get the most out of a trip to Tenerife.

Visit the Ancient Dragon Tree
No trip to Tenerife would be complete without experiencing the Ancient Dragon Tree. It is often referred to as the oldest tree in the world, with many locals believing it to be 1000 years old, but more accurately thought to be around 650 years old. Hire a car for the day and visit Icod de los Vinos to see the tree, and while you are there take in the Church of San Marcos and the Artlandya Doll Museum.

See the Highest Peak in Spain
Mount Teide is the highest peak in Spain, 3718 metres above sea level. An active volcano, Mount Teide is an impressive sight when viewed against the bright blue skies of the island. If you don’t fancy climbing in the mountains, you can still appreciate the beauty of the Teide National Park, a World Heritage Site filled with some incredible animals and plants. The stunning volcanic rock patterns and formations are worth the trip alone.

Experience the Local Cuisine
You may be familiar with traditional Spanish food, but Tenerife has its own unique twist with some African influences. There are plenty of general restaurants catering to tourists, but try to seek out the more traditional restaurants with a local flavour if you really want to experience the regional cuisine . Many dishes will include local fruit, vegetables and fish, grilled to create a lighter meal which suits the warm weather. Make sure to try plenty of Tapas and the Papas Arrugadas potato dish, famous within the region.

Have Fun at the Carnival
If you can make it to Tenerife in February, make sure to take part in the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The people of the island are known for their warm, friendly nature, so be sure to mingle and make plenty of new friends. The carnival is known around the world and features lots of musical entertainment, dancing and a big parade. Prepare a fancy dress costume in advance if you really want to fit in.

Get Out on the Water
Surrounded by water, it is natural that tourists to Tenerife have plenty of options when it comes to water-based fun. You can charter a boat for a day out at sea, take a Submarine Safari and go diving in the Atlantic Ocean, swim in the rock pools at Garachico or look for whales in the surrounding waters. If you prefer to stay inland, there are plenty of water parks for some family entertainment in the sun, with Siam Park being the best known.