Tag: hiking

St. John USVI Vacation Guide

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When you think of the Caribbean, the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), with the tagline “America’s Paradise,” might not typically come to mind. If you’re searching for the ultimate beach vacation, look no further. In 2017, the three islands are celebrating  the 100th anniversary of Transfer Day with a USVI Centennial Commemoration promotion of $300 in spending credits to be used on specific activities and restaurants. St. John is the smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands and two-thirds of the island is covered by Virgin Islands National Park, which was the main reason we wanted to visit. It’s one of the lesser known national parks that was on the list for a while. Find out where’s the best snorkeling, hiking, dining and sleeping on the island in our St. John USVI vacation guide.

St. John USVI- for blog post

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Stephanie at A Friend Afar

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Why You Should Visit the Eastfjords in Iceland

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While not the least visited region of Iceland since that distinction belongs to the West Fjords, East Iceland is also a less visited region of the country. Iceland is easily one of the most naturally stunning places I’ve been to and adding a stop in the Eastfjords to our Ring Road itinerary enhanced that beauty. Imagine snow-capped mountains, glistening fjords, colorful towns, the chance to see reindeer and puffins, and hiking opportunities a plenty. Not to mention one of my favorite places we stayed our entire trip: relaxing, peaceful and dreamy Skálanes! Read on to see why Eastjords is a must visit place in Iceland.

Skalanes

Seyðisfjörður in the eastfjords

East fjords town

Seyðisfjörður (say-this-fjur-ther) is such a picturesque town! It is set right on a fjord with snow-capped mountains in the background. It’s architecture is unique in Iceland since it contains colorful 19th-century Norwegian kit timber buildings. The adorable blue church was one of my favorites and I kept picking out which house I wanted to live in. The town is full of artists, musicians and the crafty so there’s plenty to see while walking around! The cozy bistro Skaftfell is perfect for taking a break and getting a feel for the vibe of the town. You can take a ferry here that goes to Denmark via the Faroe Islands. Now that’s on my list of things to do…

Skálanes

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O Skálanes! This “mountain lodge” is set on a private wildlife refuge 19km east of Seyðisfjörður and accommodation is in the former farmhouse set perfectly beside the fjord with stunning views of it and the mountains from your window if you’re lucky. The road to the guesthouse is gravel and accessible for 2WD vehicles until the last bit. Then there’s a place to park cars and then you can hike in the last 4km which is an adventurous and view filled experience. 4WD pickup is also available and can be arranged through the lodge.

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The farmhouse is a cozy, charming place to stay with delicious food served, excellent hosts, two dogs to cuddle and lounge with, and an opportunity for community with fellow travelers in cozy shared sitting areas. There’s also plenty of outdoor seating for enjoying a book, conversation, the birds or just the view. The bedroom was simple but the bed was comfortable and the shared bathroom, common throughout Iceland, was tidy. There’s even a turf-roofed sauna! Talk about relaxation.

Wildlife

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The highlight of our stay at Skálanes was walking up to the birding cliff and seeing puffins! While it’s not a nesting colony, puffins come here to fish so we saw about 7 of them and got to observe them fishing. Also while we were driving the Ring Road through the Eastfjords, there were reindeer signs every so often! We saw two separate herds on the side of the road while driving. You can’t beat seeing two new kinds of wildlife in one region. Thanks, Eastfjords!

Have you been to the Eastfjords in Iceland? Does this post inspire you to add it to your list? We love hearing from you in the comments below?

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

5 Reasons to Stay in Hana on Maui

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When planning our honeymoon in Hawai’i a couple of years ago, I had such a hard time deciding which islands to visit even though we were able to spend two weeks there. We decided on three islands total to give a good amount of time on each island; O’ahu was a given since we were flying in and out of Honolulu from the mainland.  I had a hard time choosing between the Big Island and Kaua’i but ultimately decided on the Big Island because of my desire to visit Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. I also decided I’d save Kaua’i for a future trip. Since it was my first time visiting, Maui also quickly made the list because it’s my husband’s favorite island (side note: Hawai’i is his favorite place in the world- he’s been five times)! But in all the times he visited he’d never been to Hana, so we planned to stay the last couple of nights of our trip on the Eastern part of the island. Here are five reasons to stay in Hana on Maui based on the fabulous experience with our Hawaiian stay:

Road to Hana www.afriendafar.com #hawaii #maui #roadtohana

  1. Hana is most well known because of the Road to Hana, which twists and turns alongside the Cliffside road. Depending on the time of year you’re visiting, the road can get crowded so staying overnight in Hana allows you more time for stops along the way without feeling rushed and limited by needing to turn around and head back.

Red Sand Beach Hana www.afriendafar.com #hawaii #maui #hana

2. Hana has some pretty colorful beaches to visit. Waianapanapa State Park has a black sand beach and freshwater caves to explore. Kaihalulu Beach takes a little more effort to find – a bit of a walk and climbing on rocks-  but you’re rewarded with a gorgeous and unique red sand beach. If you want a more traditional beach that’s good for bodyboarding, Hamoa Beach shouldn’t be missed!

Hana www.afriendafar.com #hawaii #maui #hana

3. I loved the authenticity of the small town of Hana. We enjoyed exploring the  lushness of the countryside. I also liked strolling around Hana, especially the grounds of Travaasa hotel and its gallery shop. We found a Thai restaurant that I still remember being delicious but sadly discovered on TripAdvisor that it has since closed.

Waimoku Falls Hike www.afriendafar.com #hawaii #maui #hana

4. A short drive south of Hana town you’ll find part of Haleakala National Park, with parking and swimming at Ohe’o Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools). There’s also hiking including the Waimoku Falls trail. We loved this hike with its gorge, bamboo forest & eventual waterfall destination. The lushness of the surrounding environment is so refreshing!

Relax in Hana www.afriendafar.com #hawaii #maui #hana

5. The final & perhaps best reason to stay in Hana is just to relax. The pace of life feels slower than when staying at a resort on the island. We rented a house for the nights we stayed, and my husband was absolutely thrilled with our porch. It was so peaceful to lay out there and look out to see the green of the forest and blue of the ocean and sky. I tend to be a frenetic traveler who wants to see and do everything but sometimes its nice and necessary to rest and spend quality time with your fellow traveler(s).

If you’ve been to Hana, add your reasons why to visit in the comments below! If you haven’t, tell us if you now want to go!

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

http://www.AFriendAfar.com
Mt. Pisgah- www.afriendafar.com #mtpisgah #northcarolina

A Favorite Place: Mt. Pisgah in North Carolina

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Mt. Pisgah- www.afriendafar.com #mtpisgah #northcarolina

I have many a favorite place, but one that will always have a special place in my heart is Mt. Pisgah on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. One reason why Mt. Pisgah is so dear to me is that when I was growing up my family often took a trip up to the mountains in the summer to camp since it’s much cooler than back home in Atlanta. I still enjoy camping today, and Mt. Pisgah is somewhere I like returning to over and over again. My husband and I even visited Mt. Pisgah when we got engaged. There’s also an Inn to stay in if camping isn’t your cup of tea and an adjoining restaurant that serves up pretty tasty meals, including mountain trout.

Mt. Pisgah- www.afriendafar.com #mtpisgah #northcarolina

The beauty of Mt. Pisgah never gets old. Gazing out at the Blue Ridge Mountains makes you forget the hustle, bustle and busyness you left behind in day-to-day life and brings you back into living in the present. No dwelling on the past or looking forward to the future but being mindful of the moment, brought back to live in the here and now. Conquering the hike to the summit of Mt. Pisgah makes you feel accomplished but also affords an incredible view that simultaneously makes you feel on top of the world and reminds you of what a small space you occupy in it.

Mt. Pisgah- www.afriendafar.com #mtpisgah #northcarolina

 

 

 

 

 

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Shot of the Week: Arthur’s Seat in May

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Shot of the Week-Arthurs Seat in May-www.afriendafar.com #scotland #edinburgh #arthursseat

My sister and brother-in-law took a two-night trip to Edinburgh, Scotland from England last weekend. One of their favorite activities was the hike to Arthur’s Seat, the highest point in the city and a dormant volcano, that affords fabulous views of the surrounding area. When I saw this photo on Scott’s Instagram feed, I knew we had our Shot of the Week! Yellow gorse and other spring flowers are in full bloom in May and the colors are just spectacular.

Meagan Martz at A Friend Afar

Meagan grew up in the North Georgia Mountains and spent her first trip abroad in Italy. She’s been traveling all over the world ever since, learning Spanish, Japanese, and Thai. She travels for the food, the culture, and the history.

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Camping Out West in the US

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TOP 5 NATIONAL PARKS FOR CAMPING OUT WEST

I grew up camping with my family and enjoy being in the great outdoors, hiking, viewing wildlife, and stargazing. I have a National Parks of the West guide on my bookshelf that I peruse often for inspiration. If you’re planning your next adventure, don’t miss these top 5 National Parks for camping out west!

Camping Out West

Grand Teton

Grand Teton

I loved that everywhere you go in Grand Teton National Park you see the Tetons mountain range. Our first night we stayed at the Gros Venture campground, which does not accept reservations, but there were plenty of sites still available even though we arrived late.  We also stayed at Jenny Lake and woke up early for the breakfast boat tour to Elk Island from the Colter Bay Village Marina, which should not be missed. Camping when you fly to your destination presents a unique challenge, but when one in our party lost their luggage, we found out the hard way that sleeping bags are available for rent at some of the campgrounds.

Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is one of the most popular parks in the US and is pretty darn fantastic. I will forever remember a comment by a British woman in the bathroom in one of the campgrounds as we were getting ready. She said that if she was American she’d never leave the US because of all the natural beauty there is to see. It has stuck with me because it reminds me to balance my desire to see the world with taking advantage of seeing my own country. I’ve stayed at Grant Village, Mammoth, Canyon and Bridge Bay campgrounds but Mammoth stands out because the elk graze near the sites. Bridge Bay was also a favorite because of its proximity to Yellowstone Lake. Beware of the bears and do bring bear spray!

Zion

Zion National Park

Zion National Park was one of my top Utah parks to visit. We stayed at the South Campground near the entrance to the park.  There are a few cottonwood trees in some sites but it is in the desert.  One of the most famous hikes in the park is The Narrows, where you’re hiking on a riverbed with the canyon walls on both sides of you.  It’s pretty spectacular and worthwhile even if you can only do a section of it.  Walking sticks and shoes for hiking in the water are available for rent at the general store near the visitor’s center.  If you want a challenge hike and you like heights, don’t miss Angel’s Landing Trail which includes the Walter’s Wiggles switchbacks.

Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon

Hoodoos, the limestone formations in Bryce Canyon, are majestic and make for a unique, fun hiking experience a Navajo/Queen’s Garden Loop. The 18 mile scenic drive is perfect if you are short on time but want to see all that the park has to offer. The two campgrounds, North and Sunset, are both near the visitor’s center just after the park entrance. The stargazing is spectacular- I even saw the Milky Way!

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon

I haven’t been to the Grand Canyon since I was twelve years old, but I’m putting this one of my list for nostalgia’s sake. And it’s the Grand Canyon!  I do remember being amazed by the canyon and my favorite activity was a rafting trip we took on the Colorado River.  I hear that Mather Campground is a nice option and accepts reservations depending on the time of year.  I’m hoping to go back in the near future and tackle hiking Bright Angel Trail to the bottom of the canyon. [Photo: Laura Brown]

If you want more inspiration, also check out a few more national park posts: National Parks & Seashores of the East, 2 National Parks of the West to Visit, and National Historical Parks. Also take a look at the Find Your Park site for stories and more about all the parks nationwide!

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

http://www.AFriendAfar.com