Hiking Vacation Tips

budget adventure travel, family adventure vacation

Many uninformed people automatically assume that just uttering the phrases, "adventure vacation" and "budget" do not belong in the same sentence. They think that an adventure vacation means a vacuum cleaner will be hooked up to their bank account and will not stop until their life savings has been all sucked up. Not even close. That legendary vacuum belongs to those posh hotels, which are miles away from any adventure known to man.

An example of a wonderful budget adventure vacation is good old fashioned hiking. Yes, you can go out and buy all the latest high dollar equipment if you like. But essentially all you need is comfortable clothing, comfortable footwear, food, water and a map.

Check out the article below by Alan LeStourgeon for some great tips on hiking through two of the USA's most beautiful national parks, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park. Then you will be ready to get started on the adventure vacation of your life.
Charles Brown

By Guest Author: Alan LeStourgeon

If you are in the mood for a hiking vacation then you will probably want to consider the many trails in either the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee or Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

Of course there are many other parks and trails throughout the United States but these two destinations offer some of the most scenic and majestic mountain vistas available.

Both the Smoky Mountain National Park and Rocky Mountain National park offer different levels of trails for your hiking vacation.

Whether you are taking the family for a casual vacation or are looking for more adventure and exercise in a very strenuous hike, either location can accommodate your plans.

There are more than 850 miles of trails in the Great Smoky Mountains, more than enough to keep you busy for your hiking vacation.

With the miles of trails available, my favorite in the Smoky Mountains is the hike to Chimney Tops. The Chimney Tops trail is a mildly strenuous hike with some incredible views. The last 50 yards is very steep, with a spectacular view at the very top. It is a 4 mile round trip that is well worth the effort.

While the Smoky Mountains are exceptionally beautiful, the grandeur of the Colorado Rockies is unmatched in the continental United States. Majestic snow covered peaks rise out of the plains to reach heights above 14,000 feet in the case of Long's Peak and more than 60 other peaks rise above 12,000 feet.

Within the 416 square miles of the park there are 355 miles of hiking trails. My favorite hike by far is the hike to Chasm Lake at the base of Long's Peak.
The hike is a 9.5 mile round trip that changes in altitude from 9,000 feet to almost 12,000 feet. This is a fun, scenic hike, but it is moderately strenuous, so be well prepared with food and water.

Preparing For Your Hiking Vacation

Tens of thousands of people hike the trails of our national parks every year without incident and a hiking vacation can be an enjoyable and invigorating experience.

However, it is essential that you are prepared for your hiking experience.
This is a no-brainer, but one of the biggest mistakes hikers make is not realizing the total length of the hikes they are on. If the sign at the trail head says that the hike is 4 miles, remember you have to hike back also, making that an 8 mile round trip.

Don't forget food and water. While food is needed on hikes of 3 to 4 miles and longer water is an essential on every hike. Even short hikes at higher altitudes can cause you to get thirsty faster than you would think.

You will also need the proper gear for hiking. I can't stress this enough, hiking boots are an essential part of a hiker's equipment just as a water bottle and back pack are.

Do not try to hike a rocky trail in your tennis shoes. At the least you will have very sore feet and you could twist your ankle, making the rest of your hiking vacation an unpleasant experience, not to mention getting back to the car an adventure. Please get yourself some decent hiking boots. Your feet will thank you!

A hiking vacation can be an exhilarating experience for the serious hiker or for the whole family. You will get to see some beautiful scenery that you just can't experience by passing by in your car or RV.

Plan your vacation, decide on a destination, get your equipment ready and off you go to the great outdoors.

Alan LeStourgeon operates a vacation rental web site where you can find comfortable vacation cabin rentals, recreational and hiking vacation information and information on log cabin decor.
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budget adventure travel, family adventure vacation