Backpacking is a combination of hiking and camping. The backpacker carries his supplies and equipment for all of his eating and sleeping needs. The gear will include food, water, and shelter. Backpacking allows hikers to go deeper into remote areas to get away from modern civilization. Backpacking requires you carry your supplies with you and will reduce your speed and less ground can be covered in one day. Backpacking trips are usually a weekend or sometimes longer. If it is longer, planned food and supply drops are worked out in advance so the backpacker won’t be weighted down with a heavy backpack.

In popular backpacking locations, hike-in camps are available. Sometimes a camp is no more than a clearing of level patches of ground. Some are more, with free hiking huts available for backpackers.

Backpackers are always on the lookout for the lightest possible gear to carry. If they don’t carry water, they will carry a filter or purifier to allow them to drink from lakes and streams. If there is water to be found, there isn’t any need to carry several large containers of water. Food is typically freeze-dried and can be reconstituted with hot water. Popular products combine high-energy content wit low mass and volume.

The backpacker’s version of the golden rule is: To have beautiful and pristine places to enjoy, help make them. At a minimum, don’t make them worse. Leave only your footprints behind.

Five favorite U.S. backpacking destinations are easy to find and beautiful to explore.

The Grand Teton National Park. This beautiful national park is found in western Wyoming. Set up as a national park in 1929, it boasts of nearly 200 miles of trails for hikers. The rock formations that make up the Grand Teton area are roughly 2500 million years old and are made from sandstone, limestones, and various types of shale. The rocks also contain volcanic deposits. The vegetation includes beautiful trees that are able to survive the cold windy slopes, such as the Whitebark Pine, Sub-alpine Fir, and Engleman Spruce. Evergreens are more often found on the valley floor and other species of trees, including, aspens, cottonwood, willows, and alders are found around the moist soil near rivers and lakes.

Yellowstone National Park. This Park is located just north of the Grand Teton National Park and is a rich source of trails for backpackers. The park has many of the same species of vegetation and animals. Yellowstone is part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and many animals travel between the two parks. Some of the animals you will see while backpacking in either park are Moose, American Bison, Elk, Black Bears, Mountain Lion, and Wolf. Some of you will be glad to know that although the park has four different species of reptiles, none are poisonous.

Yosemite National Park. Yosemite is located in California at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The park is largely made of granite rock and remnants of older rocks. Ice slopes were created about a million years ago and the movement of the ice masses going down slope sculpted the U-shaped valley that attracts the most visitors. Over three million people visit the park yearly and most are attracted to the giant Sequoia groves that are found there. Many wonderful sites for backpackers to visit besides the Sequoia groves are O’Shaughnessy Dam, Yosemite Valley, Hetch Hetchy Valley, Half Dome, North Dome, Mariposa Grove, and Tenaya Lake. Many beautiful waterfalls also can be seen and enjoyed by backpackers and hikers. Yosemite’s black bears were once famous for stealing food by breaking into parked cars. Once used as a tourist attraction, the park now discourages interaction between black bears and humans. Backpacking is open between late spring and early fall. If you are thinking of an overnight trip into the backcountry, a wilderness permit is needed. Also required, bear resistant food storage.

Mesa Verde National Park. This Park is located in Southwestern Colorado, 35 miles west of Durango. Mesa Verde is Spanish for green table. The park is specifically known for the “cliff dwellings” which were built by communities of people from around 600-1300 A.D. These cliff dwellings are some of the most preserved in the United States and offer a peek at the lives of the ancient Pueblo people. Plan to spend a day or two to thoroughly explore the ancient sites and beautiful landscape.

Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This beautiful park is one of the most visited national parks. Found in both Tennessee and North Carolina it has beautiful slopes and boasts of the quality of the remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture. You rarely find snow in the parks low to mid elevations. Typically snows of an inch or more only happen a few times each winter. In the higher elevations, it snows more often and several park roads may be closed to traffic because of deep snowfalls.

Vacation Ideas

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Vacation Ideas

A beach vacation is something all of us can use, as
it provides time away with the family, friends, or
just that special someone. Beach vacations are also
a great way to unwind from the pressures of life, and
just have a blast.

All around the world, there are literally hundreds of
places that you can choose for your beach vacation.
You can choose from beaches in the United States, or
choose to go overseas to more tropical climates and
romantic beaches.

Those of you who are looking to get away with a husband
or wife, would find the Maui to be the perfect beach
vacation. Located in Hawaii, Maui is one of the most
romantic beaches in the world. Also well known for
honeymoons, Maui offers you plenty of breathtaking
beaches with plenty of other things to do as well.

Another well known area for a beach vacation for
couples is the Virgin Islands. The Virgin Islands
have been a popular vacation spot for many years,
offering couples the chance to get away from it all
and just spend some well deserved and well needed
time together.

For a family beach vacation, there are many places
you can go. One of the most popular is California,
as there are many other things to interest the kids
as well. There are several beaches in the state,
with Huntington beach and plenty of attractions as
well, including Sea World and the San Diego Zoo.

When you choose the perfect beach vacation, you
need to choose a spot that will cater to who you
are taking with you. Couples wouldn’t want to go
to a family resort destination, while families
wouldn’t want to go to a couples resort that offers
plenty of romance.

No matter where you decide to go, you can rest
assured that there are plenty of locations for you
to choose from. You can search online using a
search engine, which can help you locate deals that
are simply too good to pass up.

Before you decide to rush off to your beach vacation,
you should plan first. Decide on where you are
going, research your destination spot, and make
sure that it offers something for everyone. Beach
vacations are truly inspiring, although it also
helps to have other activities available as well.

Once you plan your beach vacation very carefully,
you’ll be more than ready to take off to your
destination and relax. You’ll enjoy yourself much
better if you plan carefully, which will also help
to remove a lot of the stress that can be involved
with planning for a beach vacation - or going on
your destination unprepared.

Vacation Ideas

When it comes to go on your beach vacation, it can
be very hard to pick a destination. There are many
places you can go, whether you want to explore the
beaches of Hawaii or just play golf in Georgia.
Below, you’ll find 9 ideas to help you decide on
where to go for your vacation.

1. Hawaii resort

You can choose to put your frequent flier miles to
good use and take a beach vacation on the island of
Hawaii. Here, you can relax on the beach, swim in
the ocean, play golf, and even indulge in one of
the many innovative spa treatments. Hawaii enjoys
some of the best weather in the world - making it
a great choice for your beach vacation.

2. Golf and Beach in Georgia

Popular among the East Coast, the Cloister at Sea
Island in Georgia offers you 54 holes of championship
golf, sandy beaches, and a wide array of things for
you to do.

3. Oahu beach vacation

At the Kahala Mandarin Oriental you can expect to be
pampered like never before. You can visit the spa,
take scuba diving classes, or choose to swim it up
with the dolphins. The resort is conveniently
located 15 minutes away from Honolulu and Waikiki
Beach.

4. Virgin Islands vacation

At this vacation destination you can enjoy blue
waters and sandy beaches. The Ritz Carlton, and
St. Thomas resorts offer you the best of luxury
hotels during your beach vacation in the Virgin
Islands.

5. Half Moon Bay California

Located just 30 minutes by car away from San
Francisco, the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay is a
quick beach vacation away from the normal busy life
of the city.

6. Luxury Beach Resort of Bermuda

Two hours away by flight from New York City,
Bermuda is a quick and ideal vacation away from the
East Coast. Ariel Sands offers you 47 guest rooms
with gourmet food and breathtaking views.

7. Romance and seclusion in Jamaica

With unique rooms and splendid views of the
Caribbean, gourmet cuisine and amazing beaches,
The Caves resort in Jamaica helps to set the beach
vacation mood like never before.

8. Lakeside Resort Georgia

Near Atlanta Georgia, the Lake Lanier Islands offers
a golf course for golf lovers and a waterpark with
several water rides, slides, and water attractions
the entire family will enjoy.

9. Family fun in Hawaii

The Kona Village Resort in Hawaii offers you
several vacation activities that include snorkeling,
kayaking, sailing, volleyball, tennis, fishing,
scuba diving, and glass bottom boat tours.

Vacation Ideas