Stevie Holmes asked:


I keep getting asked for good ideas for travel gifts, having done a lot of travelling myself, and knowing a lot of people who frequently go away for long stretches, I think my friends think I’m an authority on it, and to be fair I’ve started turning my travels into my art so maybe I need to slow down!

Having myself received an abundance of mosquito nets, sun cream, soft toys and guide books, all of which have been given through love and gratefully received, I bought myself something a bit more special for our last trip to Utah!

I found this lovely little jewellery designer called Scarlett based in Brighton who has made a silver traveller charm which is designed to fit onto the drawstring of a rucksack. There’s also a bracelet version and key ring.

What’s lovely about the idea is they all have symbols of travel and good luck on them, so they become sentimental to travel, I know mine has and I won’t go anywhere long haul without it! There’s even a symbol to remind the owner to stay in touch with friends back home.

I don’t think they have an actual shop in Brighton, but they have their pieces in other jewellery shops, but you can buy online now (I bought mine over the phone). Personally I think they make a really unique gift, much more interesting than a mozzie net and not ‘climate specific’ either so you aren’t running the risk of buying it for one journey only.



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Ryan Hutchings asked:


Moab, Utah is one of the most unique locations in the world. Thousands visit this hot desert every year on sightseeing tours, annual events, vacations and sometime out of pure curiosity. The fact still remains that Moab is a destination that stands out above the rest. Here are the top places to go and the top 10 activities to do while in Moab.

When you begin to map out the various activities and destination that the Moab area has to offer, you find that the list keeps going and going. Many people are already aware (or have heard) of some of the main attractions: annual Moab Jeep Safari/Convention, Arches National Park- including Fiery Furnace and the famous Delicate Arch, Canyonlands National Park and the Slickrock Bike Trails. Familiarity with Moab comes from both the Hollywood scene as well as the recreation/vacation industry. Moab’s unique landscape and scenery has also been the desired location and focus for many Hollywood movies including: Stagecoach (1939), Rio Grande (1950), Warlock (1958), The Comancheros (1961), Cheyenne Autumn (1963), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1963), and parts of more recent films: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1988), Thelma and Louise (1990), City Slickers II (1994), and Mission: Impossible II (2000).

Either way, Moab continues to grow in popularity around the world. Here is a comprehensive visitors guide to visiting Moab, Utah.

Where to go in Moab

Moab is one of the few places that offers multiple National Parks and State designated recreational areas within a short radius. Below is a short list of some of the most popular places to visit while in Moab, Utah.

Arches National Park- One of the most recognized and well-known desert landscapes in the world. The classic red rock arches, fins and natural rock sculptures dot the entire National Park area.

Slickrock Bike Trail- Moab has long been referred to as the “mountain bike mecca” of North America. The Slickrock Bike trail is anything but “slick”, as this trail curves it’s way through the sticky red rocks of Moab making for some very fun and intense mountain biking.

Colorado River- The mighty and famous Colorado River winds its way right through Moab on its way down to Lake Powell and eventually into the Grand Canyon. A small highway follows the Colorado River for a beautiful, scenic ride. You will also see the many riverside ranches and southwest lodging destinations along the way.

Hole in the Rock- Not too far out of downtown Moab, you can visit “Hole in the Rock”. A house completely carved into a stone mountain, this tourist attraction in always a hit.

Canyonlands National Park- This is the second National Park that borders Moab. This destination is a little different in nature, as it spans a large area that, for the most part, has no direct roads into. There are plenty of trails and other options to view the National Park (air, river), but worth the views.

La Sal Mountains- Moab is also surrounded by a beautiful mountain range called the La Sal Mountains. Snow-capped mountains, forest trails and wildlife are all abundant.

Top 10 Activities In Moab

Because of all of the designated outdoor recreational areas, Moab arguably has the best variety of outdoor activities in the US. The most common activities are:

1. River Rafting

2. Mountain Biking

3. Hiking

4. Rock Climbing

5. Off-Road/4×4

6. Canyoneering

7. Street Biking

8. ATV/Motorcycles

9. Scenic Flights

10. Horseback Riding

All of these activities are offered by adventure companies and outfitters located in the town of Moab. Without previous experience in the area, is it always recommended that visitors use the local guides and services for not only safety reasons, but also to maximize your experience in the area.



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Travel Guru asked:


Ski Resorts for Beginners

Breckenridge

Breckenridge’s Peak Nine training area is one of the best in Colorado for novices and those with intermediate skiing skills. The very smooth, dry snow makes perfecting parallel turns easy, and the high-speed quad chair life means more time to practice and less time traveling. Breckenridge also provides challenging ski slopes for advanced skiers. Many local hotels provide ski-in and ski-out access to Breckenridge’s trails.

Buttermilk

Buttermilk took top honors last year in SKI Magazine’s ranking of ski schools nationwide. Buttermilk is part of the Aspen ski resort network, and is ranked second (after Snowmass) as the nation’s best ski destination for families. Classes are small, and the 200 instructors offer personalized instruction designed to get novices on the slopes quickly and safely. All 43 runs are easy enough for beginners, and once you get out of the glut of beginners at the bottom of the slopes, the well-kept trails offer scenic beauty and excellent skiing.

Copper Mountain

Copper Mountain is a perennial favorite, also located in Colorado, and offers some of the lowest-priced packages to be had in the Rockies. Long, wide novice trails occupy the west portion of the resort, and progressively more difficult skiing can be found in the eastern half. Located near Vail, Copper Mountain shares the high country’s superb snow conditions and provides adequate if not spectacular lift access.

Crested Butte

Crested Butte Another superb Colorado beginner’s venue, features long, smooth, well-groomed runs on which to practice parallel turns and other skiing techniques. Crested Butte, recently the host of the U.S. Extreme Skiing Championship, offers advanced skiing and 150 acres of novice terrain. You can find discount accommodations and even free skiing at specified times. A popular resort for skiing holidays.

Deer Valley

Deer Valley Utah is another location that features smooth, well-groomed, open ski slopes and runs that offer beginners a lot of choice without pushing them past their limits. First-time skiers will delight in Wild West, a beginner’s-only area, free from the unexpected assaults of hot-dog professionals. Deer Valley reportedly offers the best food and customer service in the Rockies.

Mount Snow Vermont

Mount Snow Vermont is reportedly the best Eastern venue for skiers who want to move up from novice to professional skill level. With a wide choice of rapid lifts on its gentler trails, Mount Snow clearly values the beginning skier, and the excellent cruising runs will keep more advanced skiers happy as well

Northstar-at-Tahoe

Northstar-at-Tahoe California offers a wide range of ski slopes for the novice and intermediate skier. The terrain is primarily intermediate, and the lower runs are as good as any in the West. For novices who still fear lifts, Tahoe offers a conveyor belt modeled after airport conveyors, called the Magic Carpet, that will whisk them up the slopes without causing a panic attack. Tahoe also has slopes for more advanced skiers.

Park City Utah

Park City Utah is large enough to offer an opportunity to all levels of skiers, from the first-timer to the advanced. The 3,100 feet of vertical drop makes it seem like an advanced skier’s resort; the large network of open intermediate runs provides a venue for the intermediate skier, and the addition of several new lifts make even the central runs accessible to beginners. Other good beginner’s resorts include Snowmass, in Colorado, which features a Treehouse Kid’s Adventure Center and the Elk Camp Meadows training center. Or visit Steamboat, high in the Colorado Rockies, famed for its welcoming, down-home atmosphere and 164 trails which cater to everything from the novice to the professional. For Vermonters, Timberline features 1,000 vertical feet of runs and one long beginner’s trail. Upper Midwesterners can ski Welch or Afton, in Minnesota. Afton is reported as less pricey, but Welch offers better beginner’s slopes. The lifts at Welch are a little slow and cranky, but the slopes are groomed more often.



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