Sometimes it makes sense to bring your pet along on trip. After all, who better to share an adventure with than your furry or feathery best friend? (Also they have a tendency to destroy property when lonely and displeased…)

If you are planning a vacation with your pet, there are some important things to consider:

Tag them: Nothing would be worse than losing your little friend in a strange and unfamiliar location, but if they are found tagged with your cell phone number, you have a much greater chance of a happy reunion.

Call ahead: If you are flying with a pet, the airlines require you to clear it with them ahead of time. They also charge a pet fee which varies and require a certificate of health from a vet no more than 7-10 days old. Make sure to check with any hotels you are staying at for their rules involving companion animals.

Take a test run: If your pet is going to be travelling in a carrier, let him play in it beforehand by putting treats and toys inside. Practice by taking him on short car trips inside the case and reward him after for good behavior. This will prevent a freak out the morning of a trip.

Time it right: If you are travelling during hot months, try to go early or late at night when the heat won’t be as strong. Do the opposite in cold months. If your pet tends to be skittish, try timing it so he’ll be tired while your moving and may sleep through it.

Ice it: Animals need plenty of water, but you don’t want it spilling or splashing around during transit. Freezing water in a bowl for your pet to lick is a good option.

Source: Allure

As much as we try to learn key words and phrases in other languages before going abroad we inevitably find ourselves in a bind when we can’t remember how to say something. Also, there are some languages that are so foreign to us, we can’t even begin to use them without extensive lessons. Kwikpoint has solved this problem with its pocket sized international translator. Instead of offering words, it contains pictures of common items you may need to find or request while travelling. Simply pull out the tiny book and point to what you are looking for!

Kwikpoint

Source: Sherman’s Travel

You may remember this post I wrote regarding travel health concerns. In it, I mentioned Passport Health, a series of clinics all over the U.S. which will prepare you with important safety information as well as immunizations and prescriptions for the destinations you plan to visit. Over the weekend, Will and I paid Passport Health a visit for an upcoming trip. Here’s how it went down:

Hours are by appointment so we were able to set up a convenient Saturday slot. Companions or groups, can schedule a joint visit so we went in together. After the first patient, additional travellers get a discounted fee.

When we arrived, a registered nurse presented us with a booklet, labelled with our names, all about the country we intend to visit. She went through the book highlighting all health concerns and detailing what safety precautions were recommended. She listed out all the shots necessary for the trip and explained the diseases they were for.

Appointments should be made at least 5 weeks before an impending trip but Will and I made ours 6 months ahead so we could split up the shots we needed and have plenty of time to prepare. After administering our chosen vaccinations, the nurse scheduled a follow up appointment with us for the second round. On our next visit, about a month before the trip, we will finish our shots and pick up prescriptions. We will be given required documentation of our immunizations to present when entering our destination country. We’ll likely pick up a couple of small kits, sold at the clinic, which contain recommended insect repellents and non-prescription medications.

We had to pay upfront for our visit, but were given the appropriate forms to submit to our medical insurance company. The office will keep track of all our immunizations as well as send copies to our primary care doctors.

Overall, it was a very positive experience and I recommend Passport Health to anyone planning a trip. I know I will be back many times to prepare for travels ahead!

Passport Health

If you hate lugging around packs of batteries for all your electronic equipment, you might want to get some E-cells. E-cells are rechargeable fuel cells which use the same technology as hybrid vehicles. They can replace most batteries and are particularly good for high drain electronics that constantly need energy replaced. They last longer than traditional batteries and can be recharged over 1,000 times. E-cells can be left in their charger safely for an indefinite period and have no memory so they maintain performance even after repeat charges. They are also 100% environmentally safe to throw away when they finally do expire.

For more about E-cells and for purchase information, visit:

Stowmaster

Source: ForbesLife

Date of trip: June 2007

We decided to plan a trip to Utah after a fellow traveler told me it was his favorite place and looked like no other in the world. We booked our cabin at Zion a year in advance and chose early June to avoid crowds and the intense heat that comes later in the summer. We flew into Las Vegas and drove 2 1/2 hours to the park. The drive was beautiful as deserts turned to mountains and canyons. My parents and my brother Chris joined us.

Highlights:

-Cars are not allowed in Zion from the spring through the fall. A free park shuttle will take you along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and stop at all the main sites and hiking trailheads. The stops include viewing points for The Temple of Sinawava, the Court of the Patriarchs and the Great White Throne, rock formations that I found particularly impressive. You can also check out the Human History Museum or Visitor Center to learn more about the park and plan your activities there. If you are patient and have good eyes (or binoculars) you may be able to spot the famous Natural Bridge on a mountain outside the museum. The shuttle schedule varies, but during the summer it runs from 5:45am to 10pm and comes about every 5 minutes.

-Zion is a hiker’s paradise and there are trails of all levels in the park. If you are not the athletic type or are short on time, the Weeping Rock Trail is the shortest in the park at a half mile round-trip. It takes you to a beautiful hanging garden caused by springs that drip continuously down the steep rock face. Another relatively easy and popular trail is the Emerald Pools Trail which leads to waterfalls that form pretty pools. The falls can be powerful or weak depending on the water level during the time you visit. It is just over a half mile on a paved trail one way to the Lower Pool. The trail gets more difficult to the Middle and Upper Pools.

-The Narrows is a moderate hike to and through Zion’s famous slot canyons and it is widely considered the best hike in the United States. It offers a truly unique and stunning perspective of the park, but does require some advance preparation. Most people who hike The Narrows do a bottom up day hike to Orderville Canyon. This takes at least 4-5 hours. A through hike from the top to bottom can be done in about 12 hours or with an overnight camp out but requires a permit. Checking the weather forecast before heading out is necessary as rain could cause a flash flood in the canyon and leave you trapped with no escape. I strongly recommend renting the appropriate socks, shoes and walking sticks from Zion Adventure Company right outside the park. Much of the hike requires walking in water on slippery rocks and having waterproof footwear and an adequate stick to keep your balance is in my opinion worth the $17/person rental fee. I also encourage hikers to start early to avoid crowds and the heat of midday. All that said, as long as you take the necessary safety precautions, hiking The Narrows is a rewarding and beautiful experience you will never forget.

-The Red Rock Grill is Zion’s only restaurant other than a small a la carte cafe. Although it is casual, dinner reservations are required and worth it as the dinner is very good. Another meal option is the Zion Pizza and Noodle Company right outside the park. The Springdale shuttle will drop you off right in front of it.

-Entering or leaving Zion through the East entrance is a must so you can drive along the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. The scenic byway travels over six switchbacks and through two tunnels blown into mountains. It offers some of the most dramatic views in the park. Vehicles 7′10″ wide and/or 11′4″ tall or larger require an escort through the tunnels and will be charged a $15 fee. There are many places to pull out on the road for pictures including a stop for the Checkerboard Mesa, a giant rock face with carvings on it resembling a checkerboard. Right outside the second tunnel is the Canyon Overlook Trail, which is not too difficult but is steep and has some uneven terrain. The scenery here is absolutely beautiful and if you are lucky you might even see some bighorn sheep!

Like so many of the national parks in the United States, Zion is truly a treasure. There are few places you can visit that will leave you so impressed with nature’s power and beauty. It is important for me to add that respect for that power should be upheld at all times. Whenever hiking, even on the easy trails, it is vital to protect yourself by wearing adequate gripping footwear as well as a hat and sunscreen. You should always carry sufficient water and snacks. Stay on trails and follow all park rules. Every year, people die from preventable accidents. Make sure you play it safe and trip to Zion will be fun and memorable experience.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Zion Links:
Zion National Park Official Site
Zion Lodging and Dining Reservations Site
Zion Adventure Company
Zion Pizza and Noodle Company

I just returned from a great trip to Zion National Park in Utah. You can read all about it in My Adventures and see pictures on my Photos page or by clicking into the album through one of the images posted.

GoCar Tours offers three wheeler car rentals equipped with a “tour guide” GPS system. As you drive around the city, sights are pointed out and the car will tell you what you can see by taking various turns. In addition to the coolness factor…who doesn’t want a talking car….GoCars are also a practical and easy way to navigate city streets because of their small size. You can go at your own pace and stop where you want to stop. The tour includes over 50 historical points and landmarks and is offered in 5 languages. GoCars are currently available in San Francisco and San Diego and will be very soon in Miami. Tours begin at $44 for an hour and go up to $150 for a full day.

If you’re thinking this is an isolated trend, Gaperguide began renting dashboard “tour guide” GPS systems this month at $35/day for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

Now if only they could parallel park and get me coffee…..

GoCars

Gaperguide

Source: Budget Travel

Knowing the customs, taboos and etiquettes of a foreign country are just as important if not more than knowing where to go. Culture Smart guides published by Kuperard will teach you all the ins and outs of your destination so you can feel confident talking to the locals and avoid putting your foot in your mouth. Books are available for over 40 countries and are small enough to tuck into a pocket to reference on the go. Although they have been published in Britain for years, they have only recently been released in the U.S. and Canada and can be found in most bookstores.

Culture Smart Guides

Source: ForbesLife

Now you can have a cold drink or even ice cream no matter where you might find yourself! Coolers are ok, but all that ice leaves things wet and messy. Engel has created portable fridge/freezers perfect for keeping food cold or frozen while on a road trip, camping, a boat trip or even just a picnic. They are easy to clean and store and run efficiently on minimal power. They can plug right into your car but are also compatible with solar panels or generators. Price ranges from $399 to $1,149 depending on size.

Engel Portable Fridge/Freezers

Source: ForbesLife