This list of the best North American destinations for a walking holiday does not include the long distance trails such as the Appalachian Trail, but rather places where you can base yourself during your vacation and take a series of day hikes.
East Coast Trail, Newfoundland
Not well known the East Coast Trail covers 540 km along the Avalon Peninsula on the east coast of Newfoundland. Although parts are still under construction you will see icebergs along the rugged coastline, historic St. John’s and plenty of sea birds and seals. Everyone talks about the local people with their colourful personalities which enrich the experience. Accommodation in bed and breakfasts.
Acadia National Park, Maine
The second busiest park in the U.S. also offers 125 miles trails for hiking. There is 45 miles of the historic carriage trail system of crushed gravel created by John D. Rockefeller Jr. More traditional hiking opportunities exist at every level from simple rambles to rugged climbs. On a recent visit a park ranger was pointing out migrating birds of prey from the summit of Cadillac Mountain. The area offers plenty of hotels, campgrounds and cabins in Bar Harbor.
Adirondacks, New York State
Located in upper New York State this region offers over 2,000 miles of hiking trails over a combination public and private lands. Many of the trails have significant climbs on rugged trails. The area features numerous campgrounds, cabins and resorts.
Jasper National Park, Alberta
A gem in the Canadian Rockies, stay in the resort town of Jasper. The park offers a great variety of hiking such as Sulphur Skyline with its great views, the more gentle Maligne Canyon, glaciers of Edith Cavell Trail or the easy Old Fort Point Trail. You will likely see some bears, big horn sheep and elk during your visit.
Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite was one of the first wilderness parks in the United States, today offers over 750 miles of hiking trails. While best known for its waterfalls you will also find meadows and ancient giant sequoias. A great reference is The Official Guide to America’s National Parks
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon offers many day hike opportunities. The South and North Rim offer trails with spectacular views of the inner canyon. There are no easy trails into the Canyon itself while the experience will be talked about for years. Guided hikes of various lengths are also available from specialized tour operators
PBS is has a television program the U.S. parks is the book by Ken Burns The National Parks: America’s Best Idea
These six National Parks and one coastline offer some magnificent opportunities for walking holidays in North America.
The Hiking Companion: Getting the most from the trail experience throughout the seasons: where to go, what to bring, basic navigation, and backpacking
Price: $9.95
Pages: 136, Edition: illustrated edition, Paperback, Storey Publishing, LLC
Backpacking and Hiking (EYEWITNESS COMPANION GUIDES)
Price: $13.6
Pages: 256, Paperback, DK ADULT
Originally posted 2009-10-08 17:22:59.
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Known by different names including walking holidays in England, trekking in New Zealand and hiking in Canada or the U.S. this is the ultimate green vacation. A holiday of this type is where walking is the primary reason of the trip.
Many destinations are known for their excellent walking trails including south island of New Zealand, the Canadian Rockies, Appalachians in the U.S., Lake District in England, Swiss Alps, Patagonia in Argentina, Nepal base camp and many others.
No less popular are the many National, state and provincial parks closer to home for those people wishing to reduce carbon emissions, see their own country. This is a less costly option.
You may decide to use a tour company which offers walking holidays, each with its own style and requiring different levels of fitness. Different levels suitable for all ages including families from beginner to expert, from easy walking to hilltop scrambling are available.
Many of the tour operators offer different levels with many departures for families only. If you are single or your partner is not interested in a walking holiday most tour operators have single share programs to reduce costs and the very nature of a walking holiday encourages meeting like minded people
HF Holidays of England has been in business for over 100 years and has its own country homes as a base; Peregrine is based in Australia yet offers walking holidays worldwide and GAP includes more of an adventure travel style and is well known for its South America program.
You may also decide to purchase maps and guide books and along with information on the internet and the assistance of your travel agent create your own walking holiday. For further information see Joy Of Hiking: Hiking The Trailmaster Way
Walking holidays appeal to the person looking for a more active holiday.
Originally posted 2009-08-06 12:15:59.
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Your walking holiday may be planned by yourself or purchased from a tour company specializing in this type of vacation. A common question is which company to purchase your walking holiday with.
Consider the following 7 items when purchasing a walking holiday:
1. Destination – you will not only want a destination that you personally find exciting but you will need to consider any flight or train connections to get you there. Are you looking for something exotic like the Inca Trail in Peru or a more traditional walking holiday in the English Lake District.
2. Years in business – how long has the walking holiday tour company been in business. Companies that have been in business for years have the experience to plan great routes which have been over time by other hikers. This is considered green travel and many walkers are environmentally sensitive, what is the policy of the walking holiday tour company?
3. Variety of walking – consider the level of fitness required on the walking holiday. Some companies only offer one walk each day for everyone and as long as that fits your level of fitness that is fine. Other companies offer easy, immediate and advanced walking so that you are challenged at your own ability and will be walking with other hikers of the same fitness level.
4. Walking leaders – how experiences are the walk leaders and how large is the group size. Can they point out local vegetation or historic sites? Do they know the best lunch and snack spots? Can they find their way? Are they qualified to handle any emergency that may arise during the walk?
5. Accommodation – consider the rating of the accommodation. You may prefer a more rustic type of accommodation and some companies specialize in using basic local hotels while others use 4 or 5 star properties. Which do you prefer? And how close is the accommodation to where your will be walking? How is luggage handled if you are moving from destination to destination?
Many walking holiday tour operators offer a single share program so that if you are traveling alone you can save on the price by sharing with another guest.
6. Meals – which meals and snacks are included in the base price. Food can be expensive in destinations such as Switzerland. If not included be sure to visit a grocery store on arrival to stock up. In addition some walking holiday tour companies have a welcome or farewell cocktail or wine party and other extra inclusions.
7. Local transportation is transportation from the railway station or airport to your accommodation included or can it arranged easily. Also are local buses or chartered coaches used to take you to the start of the walk each day.
In addition some most companies will have requirements regarding the insurance coverage.
The cost of walking holidays to a similar destination will vary between walking holiday companies but is usually a result of the quality and inclusions of your walking holiday.
Originally posted 2009-09-15 17:36:59.
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One of the most interesting hiking trails in the world, the historic Chilkoot Trail is a challenging 53 kilometer (33 mile) long hike up 3,500 feet. The Chilkoot high mountain pass is located in the Coast Mountain range between Dyea, Alaska and Lake Bennett, British Columbia.
Originally this trail was used by the Tlingit natives for trade. On August 16, 1896 a gold nugget was discovered in Bonanza Creek in the Klondike and the rush was on. To get to the gold over 100,000 prospectors sailed to Skagway, Alaska and hiked loaded up one of two routes. The White Pass trail (nicknamed dead horse trail) is today a railway line.
In hiking up the Chilkoot Trail, the prospectors were required to carry sufficient supplies to support themselves for a year, generally 900 kg of food and equipment. At the top of the Chilkoot Pass the North West Mounted Police (forerunners of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) checked to ensure they had the required amount. It could take the prospectors over three months to move the supplies from cache to cache.
The goods carried included 350 pounds of flour, 150 lbs. of bacon and 100 lbs. each of beans and sugar, sleds, stoves, medicine, picks, shovels, etc. It was said that if you stepped out of line along the trail, it could take as long as half a day before someone would let you back in line. Along the sides of the trail, even today, are littered rusting equipment the prospectors left out of exhaustion. Of the 4,000 who actually discovered gold, only a few hundred ultimately emerged rich.
However today it is a rewarding experience for many hikers. You can plan the hike yourself and obtain the required hiking permits. There are also tour companies you can get the permits and handle the logistics.
The trail can be hiked in either direction, but almost every one chooses the west to east option, and for a good reason. Leaving from Skagway puts the steepest part of the trail, the Golden Stairs, on the uphill side. This is the quarter mile section where you climb over 1000 vertical feet. The weather on the Chilkoot can be seriously bad, by starting at the coast and working inland, most of the wind and rain rolling in off the Pacific will be at your back.
The character of the Chilkoot Trail changes along the way, first it climbs steeply from sea level at Skagway to the pass, and then descends only slightly over to 2,000 feet at Bennett Lake.
On the return you may continue your visit of Whitehorse and the Yukon or take the restored White Pass & Yukon narrow gauge railway down to Skagway. This railway was completed in 1901 and today is used mainly by cruise passengers for day trips. In fact it is the busiest tourist railroad in the world today.
People hike the Chilkoot Trail for the history and the natural beauty. Are you up for this challenging hike?
Chilkoot Trail: Heritage Route to the Klondike
Price: $18.96
Pages: 182, Paperback, Lost Moose
Originally posted 2010-02-02 17:40:59.
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Imagine staying in a villa or apartment on a working winery in the hills of Tuscany. You look out the window and see the workers in the vineyards. As a part of your walk go for a wine tasting, the wines of Chianti will definitely be on your dinner table.
There are two areas for your walking holiday in Tuscany. In the Chianti area stay in the town of Greve, located about mid way between Florence and Siena with frequent bus service. Your walks will take you along country roads passing vineyards, olive groves and stone villages such as Montefioralle and Radda. The small quaint village of Radda, in particular has some great cafes for a lunch or dinner stop.
There are walks are available in both directions from Greve. There are a number of trails and country roads, not always with signs so a map or guide is a must. An excellent reference is Walking and Eating in Tuscany and Umbria:
How far you hike each day will be determined by the number of wineries you visit along the way. At dinner head into Greve and the Coop grocery store, and cook in your villa. There are many restaurants surrounding the town square as well to sample the Italian cuisine.
Another fun area for a walking holiday is nearby and just to the west in San Gimignano. A pedestrian friendly (no cars allowed) mountaintop town with 13 towers remaining from the medieval times it is busy with shoppers during the day, however at night you have the town to yourself. As you explore the town visit the old walls, the cathedral and weekly market.
You will start your walks by heading downhill from San Gimignano to the village of Certaldo in one direction or the Roman town of Volterra in the other direction. The walks in this area will take your 3-4 days. Use the local bus service to get to the start.
Avoid the hot summer months a time your walking holiday in Tuscany for May/June or September/October harvest season.
Great walking routes, wonderful food, the Chianti wines, stone villages and the wonderful scenic hills of Tuscany all make for the best walking holiday ever!
Walking and Eating in Tuscany and Umbria: Revised Edition
Price: $13.6
Pages: 416, Edition: Rev Sub, Paperback, Penguin (Non-Classics)
50 Hikes In & Around Tuscany: Hiking the Mountains, Forests, Coast & Historic Sites of Wild Tuscany & Beyond
Price: $11.53
Pages: 288, Paperback, Countryman
Originally posted 2009-10-14 17:22:59.
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