Where in the World Wednesdays - Disney Fantasy, Water and Scouts Instead of a Destination... Oh My

It's Wednesday, and now the second Wednesday in a row with a missing "Where in the World Wednesday" feature... for shame on me.  I just returned from a week in the woods with my sons and our Boy Scout Troop, and try as hard as I could before leaving to make sure the blog was up and running while I was gone - I got many other features scheduled to post on time, but I failed to get the "Where in the World" features done.  But I saw this fun article this morning on the Disney Parks Blog and decided to share it instead, as it relates very well to my week last week.  Just as the Disney Fantasy provides many different ways to get wet - the Adult Leaders at camp last week had a LOT of fun, providing many different ways for both youth and adults to get wet.  Even though camp itself was very dry this year (we had only 15 minutes +/- of rain the entire week... typically it will rain at least 3-4 different times throughout the week, sometimes hours at a time) - the buckets were dumping, water guns were shooting and the hoses were squirting!  We had a LOT of fun!  


This was my fifth year of heading off to Summer Camp, and quite honestly, it is just about my favorite outing of the year!!  (It even gets right up there with trips to Disney Destinations!!).  Yes, I'm 41 years old and I LOVE going to Summer Camp.  So much so, that not only do I GO to camp, but I lead and direct the entire thing for our Troop.  And for our Troop, that is no small undertaking.  The average size of a Boy Scout Troop is around 30 boys - ours has 158 registered Scouts.  The average contingent going to Summer Camp is about 18 boys.  We took 103 plus - get this - 46 full week adult leaders, and 8 partial week adult leaders.  That's huge!!  Our contingent alone took up more than half of the available seating in the Dining Hall each meal that we ate at (there are two servings, A and B - we eat during the A meal).  The camp accommodates about 550 youth and adults each week over the 9 week Summer Camp season, and here we were more than 25% of the entire camp during our week there.  


Needless to say there is a LOT of preparation that goes into moving a contingent of that magnitude.  Months of pre-registration, paperwork, cross-referencing and data gathering take place before anyone sets foot in camp.  Merit Badge classes to be registered for, Health Forms to collect and triple check, Special Dietary needs to be submitted to the Dining Hall staff, tent configurations, various Adult Leader roles to assign, and so much more!  But you know what, that's very much like what happens when you call a Travel agent or professional to help plan that special family vacation or your Group's Travel arrangements.  Organization and attention to detail are key.  Not everyone is up to the challenge, nor wants to worry about planning all of the details, and would rather just turn it all over to a travel professional.  And I could be just that person for you - or someone you know who's looking to plan that special trip.  


I'd love it if you would check out my website, or if you don't need assistance at this time, refer someone to me who you know that does.  Just as I LOVE getting 150 people to Summer Camp each year... I'd love to help you or your family or friends get to their next special destination!

Where in the World Wednesdays - Destinations to Explore Before Leaving this Life

Redwoods National & State Parks – California

Located along the northern coast of California, between the city of Eureka and the Oregon border, the Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) – comprised of Redwood National Park  and California's Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek Redwoods state parks, the combined RNSP contain 133,000 acres and are located entirely within Del Norte and Humboldt Counties.  Together the four parks protect about 45% of all remaining old-growth coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). These trees are the tallest and one of the most massive tree species on Earth.

Found within the ecosystem of the RNSP, a number of threatened plant and animal species are preserved – species such as the Brown Pelican, Tidewater Goby, Bald Eagle, Chinook Salmon, Northern Spotted Owl, and Steller's Sea Lion.  In 1980 the park was designated as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.  The National Park itself is located about 260 miles north of the city of San Francisco, and about 300 miles south of Portland, Oregon.

It has been estimated that old-growth redwood forest once covered nearly 2,000,000 acres of coastal northern California, but unfortunately through decades of unchecked logging throughout the latter 1800’s, more than 96% of all old-growth redwoods have been removed.  Nearly half of the redwoods that remain are found in Redwood National and State Parks. The parks protect 38,982 acres of old-growth forest.  While you might not yet have personally visited the natural wonders of the RNSP, more than likely you have encountered these majestic trees on tv or on film.  The RNSP has been the featured backdrop in many major motion pictures, including “Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi” where it played a major role as the forest home of those lovable Ewoks, who lived on the Forest Moon of Endor.  Additionally it was featured in films such as “Jurassic Park: The Lost World”, “Time of the Titans”, “Dinosaurs Alive!” and most recently in “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”

While the state parks have front country campsites that can be driven to, the federal sections of the park do not.  Hiking is the only way to reach back country campsites within the national park portion.  Front country campsites are found at Mill Creek campground in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park; in Jedediah Smith campground in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park;  in Elk Prairie campground and Gold Bluffs Beach campground in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.  Combined there are a total of 351 campsites available. Other than camping facilities, lodging is not directly available within the borders of the RNSP, but nearby communities to the south, north and east provide ample accommodations.

While the parks are more sedate than other national parks, RSNP does provide various recreational opportunities.  Back country camping is by permit only and is only allowed in designated sites, but access to the back country is highly regulated to prevent overuse. Therefore camping in the back country is limited to five consecutive nights, and 15 nights in any single year. As with any habitat that is home to bears, proper food storage is strongly enforced, and hikers and backpackers are required to take out any trash they generate.

With nearly 200 miles of hiking trails in the parks, park guests will find an abundance of up close and personal opportunities to discover these natural wonders.  But be forewarned, some temporary footbridges are removed during the rainy season since they would be destroyed by high streams. Throughout the year, trails are often wet and hikers need to be well prepared for rainy weather. Additionally, mountain biking and horseback riding are popular but only allowed on certain trails. Kayaking is popular along the seacoast and in the various rivers and streams, and both kayakers and canoeists frequently travel the Smith River, the longest remaining undammed river left in the state of California.  

Fishing is a favorite pastime in the parks and is best in the Klamath and Smith rivers.  Salmon and steelhead, a highly prized species of rainbow trout are common catches in the parks.  A California sport fishing license is required to fish any of the rivers and streams.  Hunting is not permitted anywhere in the parks, but is allowed in nearby National Forests.

The RNSP offers three different visitor centers where park guests can obtain general information, as well as guided nature walks.   For more information about the RNSP area, or to explore the possibility of creating your own vacation memories in or near this majestic playground in America’s portfolio of National Parks, don’t hesitate to visit my website, or call 855.776.1733.  

Where in the World Wednesdays - Destinations to Explore Before Leaving This Life

Yosemite National Park – California

Yosemite was established as a National Park back in 1890, though parts of it were set aside for preservation and protection as far back as the 1860’s when Abraham Lincoln was residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  The park itself contains more than 800 miles of hiking trails and 300 miles of paved roads within the approximately 1,189 square mile park (about the size of the state of Rhode Island) – and about 95% of the park is designated wilderness. 

Yosemite ranges in elevation from 2,127 to 13,114 feet and boasts five major vegetation zones: chaparral/oak woodland, lower montane forest, upper montane forest, subalpine zone, and alpine.  Of California's 7,000 plant species, about 50% occur in the Sierra Nevada and more than 20% within Yosemite, and Yosemite boasts about 160 rare plant species.

Highlights within Yosemite Valley, the parks central area where the majority of the park’s established camping and lodging facilities are located include numerous waterfalls (Yosemite Falls being the highest waterfall in the nation), as well as a variety of well-known mountain formations popularly documented in famed photographs by noted photographer Ansel Adams, such as Half Dome, and El Capitan – the largest single granite rock on the planet.

Activities abound within the park, for naturalists and adventurists alike. Hundreds of miles of hiking trails, as well as nearly 20 miles of scenic Class IV rapids for white water rapids enthusiasts. The moderately strenuous Mist Trail offers a close-up look at Vernal Falls, a 317-foot waterfall on the John Muir Trail, as well as Bridalveil Fall, a 620-foot waterfall.  The John Muir Trail itself works its’ way through 211 miles, and up to 11,000 feet in elevation.

Lodging within the Yosemite Valley includes hotel accommodations, tent-cabins and traditional campsites.  The beautiful and majestic Ahwahnee hotel, constructed in 1927, is a master showpiece of stone and native timber, with heart-stopping views and breathtaking public spaces.  Winters at the Ahwahnee are a glorious experience, especially during the holiday season when the lodge features its’ beloved, traditional, Bracebridge Dinner, which dates back to the 1930’s, and features Old English Yuletide cheer. 

For more information about Yosemite, or to explore the possibility of creating your own vacation memories in or near this crown jewel in America’s portfolio of National Parks, don’t hesitate to visit my website, or call 855.776.1733. 

Where in the World Wednesdays: Destinations to Explore Before Leaving This Life

So way back in January, I thought about starting a new feature about destinations.  It never quite got off the ground as I tried it once, and never got back to it.  But in thinking over what I've been doing, and what I'd like to do, I decided it was time to mix things up a bit, and add in to the mix.  So the shuffling process began last week when I decided to stop doing "Wordless Wednesdays", and instead, moved the wordless photo feature to Fridays with the renamed, "Featured Foto Friday". In doing so, it freed up Wednesdays for what I truly do hope to be a new regular feature here in stopher's stuff - "Where in the World Wednesdays: Destinations to Explore Before Leaving this Life."  

Let's face it, we all have bucket lists for our lives, and many of our lists include places to see or explore.  Many of us are stuck in the same rut of going to the same place for vacation year after year.  I grew up doing that, as my parents would take us to the same mountain resort community for a time of fishing, horseback riding and just enjoying nature.  I have family and friends who return to the exact same place year after year... some have been doing so for 50+ years; I also have family and friends who mix it up and like to explore new places every time they go on vacation.  Everyone's different.  Some own cabins or beach houses, some own timeshares, some own nothing and always look for something new.  While there is nothing wrong with returning to places that feed our soul, or bring joy and happiness - the world is truly FULL of wonderful locations.  Many of which are, even in the 21st century, still somewhat remote and full of beauty.  As I continue to research and share about destinations, I will touch upon many that I have been to personally, and others that are on my own bucket list.  When appropriate, I'll add my own photos, when it's somewhere I haven't been, I'll add a photo or two that I secure someplace else. I hope you enjoy this new feature, and please, comment and share it with your friends.  

The Columbia River Gorge – Oregon & Washington

Separating the states of Oregon and Washington, along the trails that Lewis & Clark explored more than 200 years ago when they first saw the Pacific Ocean, lies the great Columbia River Gorge.  This 80-mile-long gorge passes through the Cascade Mountains, and is one of the most dramatic destinations to explore in the Pacific Northwest.  It was designated by Congress as the first of America’s National Scenic Areas in 1986. 

The mountains as seen from inside the Skamania Lodge
 on the Washington side, spring 2009

The river itself is about a mile wide, and is flanked by the majestic volcanic sentinels of Mount Hood on the Oregon side, and Mount Adams on the Washington side.  It is the only sea-level passage through the Sierra and Cascade mountain ranges, and therefore has served as a major transportation corridor for centuries, and was the final passage along the “Oregon Trail” for pioneers seeking a new life on the western frontier.

Multnomah Falls, from my spring 2009 visit

Throughout the gorge, along the banks of the river on either side, travelers will find charming towns and villages, as well as bountiful farming communities and vineyards.  Hiking and biking trails abound, providing access to many of the beautiful waterfalls found along the Historic Columbia River Highway along the Oregon side of the river.  Multnomah Falls is the most spectacular of these waterfalls, and is the second highest year-round waterfall in the nation with a 620 foot drop, second only to Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park in California. The gorge is home to the greatest concentration of waterfalls in North America.

In addition to a number of charming resorts and inns along the river, the Columbia River serves as a wonderful destination experience for river cruising passengers.  There are a couple of different lines providing exceptional service for guests, especially during the splendors of the fall season when the foliage is at its peak and the wineries are at their peak of production. 

For more information about the Gorge, or to explore the possibility of creating your own vacation memories along the Columbia River Gorge, don’t hesitate to visit my website, or call 855.776.1733.