Best Camping and Hiking Spots in Big Sur California

If you are planning a camping  and hiking trip out West, there are very few destinations as stunning as Big Sur in northern California.

Located along Scenic Highway One, about 150 miles south of San Francisco, Big Sur is one of Northern California’s most popular destinations for hiking, camping and a variety of other outdoor activities.  Whether you choose to hike the many trails located in Big Sur’s back country, dance amongst the great Red Woods or attempt to reach the cool fog-covered beaches, you have a great many options to choose from.

When it comes to packing for your trip, what are the essentials and what can you leave behind?  Where you plan to camp in Big Sur will make the difference.  Streamside camping is available in the Big Sur Valley, while ocean view and bluff camping is available in the southern end of Big Sur.

Here’s a guide outlining the basics that you will need for your trip, from sleeping bag and air mattress, to the right tent and backpack.

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Choose Fiji Over of Tahiti To Save a Bundle

An exotic South Pacific vacation is at the top of most of our dream vacation lists. Having spent time in both Tahiti and Fiji, I can tell you without hesitation,”Go – these destinations will knock your socks off”.   The islands are every bit as enchanting and sensual as the pictures would have you believe!

Two concerns typically hold us back; the long flight and the expense.  While there are few solutions to making the flights seem shorter, there is news on the pricing front.  Earlier this month the Fijian government devalued the Fijian Dollar by 20%.  Today the US Dollar will buy you 2.24 Fijian Dollars (more than double), while Tahiti uses the Euro for its currency -  1 Euro will cost you $1.32 in US Dollars.  The US Dollar will definitely bring you far more luxury buying power in Fiji.  Couple the falling rate of the Fijian Dollar with  the declining number of tourists taking extended vacations this year, and the scene it set for some dramatic pricing initiatives.

In years past Tahiti took the top limelight for exotic luxury resorts and private island retreats, but Fiji has been introducing ultra luxury resorts of their own in recent years.  Names like Jean-Michel Cousteau, Vatulele, Nukubati, Castaway, Namale, and Nukubati Island Resorts (just to name a few) all have the WOW factor.  A quick search on Expedia for availability in Fiji in late June (enter Nadi as the destination) revealed lots of hotel rates in the $50 – $300 per night range.  A similar search in Tahiti (with Bora Bora as the destination) showed most rates in the $600 range.

So the moral of this story is be aware of foreign exchange rates and travel where your dollar will purchase ultra luxury at a great price - in this case say Bula to Fiji!

Route I-95 and I-75 Road Trip Helpers

I’ve just done the winter escape road trip run from New England to Southern Florida and back, and couldn’t have lived without the terrific website I95ExitGuide.com.  This wonderful guide tells you about all things related to Route I-95 from beginning to end, and every exit in between.

I began by checking the weather all along the route in order to decide which days to travel on.  Next I used the mileage calculator to decide how many miles (hours of driving) we would do each day.  Then I could check the exits in the areas we wanted to stop to find the names of all hotels and restaurants.  I ended up printing out a list of hotels at each area we planned to stop in, so we could decide which exit would suit our needs the best.  The I-95 Exit Guide also enables you to check gas prices all along the route, has road construction warnings, an RV Parks directory , list of outlet shopping malls, rest areas and even theme parks in case you’re traveling with the kids.  In other words…. everything you’ll ever need to know about the route before you leave home.  This site is an invaluable resource for road trip warriors heading south for some sun and fun – check it out http://www.i95exitguide.com.

AND for those of you heading south from Michigan, you’ll be happy to know there’s a new I-75 Exit Guide as well.

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