Hiking Pinnacles National Park in California – 2TravelDads

Hiking Pinnacles National Park - 2TravelDads

Most of the Parks we go to are fairly well-known. I mean, there are only 63 of them, so most are familiar to the masses, but Pinnacles is fairly new so isn’t wildly popular yet. We love to return to Glacier and Olympic and such because we’re so familiar and there is so much to do and see. Hiking Pinnacles National Park exceeded our expectations, so we’re sharing everything you need to know to plan a visit and see what we mean!

If you haven’t heard of Pinnacles, it’s because it’s one of the newest additions to the National Parks. Formerly a National Monument and jointly managed by the NPS and Forest Service, the area was converted to a Park in 2013 giving it more, different funding and programs, and also bringing it to the forefront of many hikers’ and travelers’ minds. Huzzah for the upgrade!

Hiking Pinnacles National Park – Where Is It?

Pinnacles is located between San Francisco and Los Angeles off Highway 101. It’s not exactly sitting on the side of the road so you do need to actually plan for some time in the Park and make sure that you have ample supplies for your jaunt (see below). You can easily add it to a California Coast road trip or make it the start or end of a Central Coast road trip.

Located in the mountains between Soledad and San Benito, California, it borders farm country and the high desert. While it may look out of the way on a map, it’s is only about 1.5 hours from San Jose, or 2 hours from San Francisco.

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Hiking Mount Rainier for Gay Families- 2TravelDads

Hiking Mount Rainier for Gay Families- 2TravelDads

Hiking Mount Rainier National Park is a great summer activity. These are the best hikes with kids or for a reasonable challenge. From Paradise to Sunrise, Ohanapecosh to Lake Mowich, great hiking trails for any skill level can be found at Mt Rainier.

Even though we love going to Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park is one of our favorite spots in the state of Washington. One of the things we love about Mount Rainier is that you can enjoy hiking the North or the South Side and have very different experiences. On the north side there are far fewer people to deal with than on the south side, but on the south side the views all around the mountain are unlike any you’ll see anywhere else in Washington State. When you go hiking in Mount Rainier National Park prepare to find a wide variety of hiking trails for any sort of traveler.

Kid Friendly Tips for Hiking Mount Rainier

We have great tips for hiking in Mt Rainier National Park that are the most kid friendly, easiest, or what you can tackle in a day without being worried that you’re going to die somewhere on the mountain. Whether you want waterfalls, lush forests, or just to go and sit in a beautiful Lodge Mount Rainier National Park has you covered.

Once you’ve gone through our list of recommendations if you have any more please do share in the comments section below. We are always looking for new hikes to go on with the kids, or even just ourselves when we want to do something more challenging.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Washington State Gay Travel Resources

Hiking Palm Springs, California – 2TravelDads

Hiking Palm Springs - 2TravelDads

We love to find places that everybody talks about but nobody knows the cool stuff you can do there.  One such place is Palm Springs, California.  I mean, everybody goes there for a nice weekend or a relaxing vacation, but besides golf, gay bars and swimming pools, what is there?  The ACTUAL Palm Springs!! Agua Caliente Indian Canyons is the reason for the name, and hiking here is awesome!

Have you been to Palm Springs and done the oasis hikes at Indian Canyons or out at the Coachella Preserve and know what we’re talking about?  Been thinking about a visit maybe but didn’t know what to do beyond golf and shopping?  Well, let us give you some motivation to make a weekend trip out of it or at least get you away from the pool for a few hours – try hiking Palm Springs!

Visiting Palm Springs and the Indian Canyons

A two hour drive from Los Angeles, Orange County or San Diego, PS lies to the east of the coastal cities.  You’ll have to pass through Riverside or Ontario, so plan for city traffic on your drive… or you can just take a short flight from any of the Southern California airports.  Actually, most West Coast airports have direct flights into town.

Once you’re in town, drive right through to the end and follow the signs for Agua Caliente Indian Canyons. After about ten minutes you’ll be at the park entrance. Pay your fee and pick where you’d like to begin, then enjoy hiking Palm Springs and all its glory.

Full Story at 2TravelDads

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Sunrise at Bali’s Mount Batur

Mount Batur at Sunrise - Keep Calm and Wander

My adventurous trek to Mt Batur volcano to watch the sunrise was all worth it! 

“Sunrise trek to Mount Batur? Why not? Ok, sign me in!” Those were the words I uttered when a tour agent asked if I’d be interested. Of course, I paid the tour right away without qualms. You see – I love a mountain climb. I always do. At my age right now (I’m not really that old hag yet), I know, I’d be slower than I used to be.

For me, it’s all about proper breathing when trekking/climbing/hiking a mountain. And of course – keeping a distance from the person you are following with. I find that if I hike closer behind someone, I’m pressured/forced to keep up – and I won’t enjoy the journey anymore. So, I want to be the last one in a group.

Mount Batur Volcano Trek Tour

Based in Ubud, I was picked up at my accommodation at 2:15 AM. Then, they served us a pre-breakfast food: banana pancakes and coffee/tea. Right after that, we’re off to the base of Mt. Batur. When we arrived there, two guides met us (a group of 9) and briefed us about safety. They then each gave us a small flashlight for the trek.

At 3:40, we started our trek in the darkness. Under the star-filled skies, the adventurous climb was off to a good start.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Bali Gay Travel Resources

The Hiking Trails of Ontario’s Darlington Provincial Park – Out With Ryan

BLOG - The Hiking Trails of Ontario's Darlington Provincial Park - Out With Ryan

If you’re looking to do some hiking near Toronto, the hiking trails of Darlington Provincial Park are the best place to get outdoors this winter. Located just off Highway 401, and a few minutes from Oshawa, Darlington Park is a lovely winter destination to visit for the day.

I surprised my boyfriend to a little day trip to Darlington to experience the beautiful Canadian wilderness and wanted to point out the highlights from our trip & why we’d definitely come back!

If you ever get a snowy day, definitely bring your snowshoes to the hiking trails of Darlington Provincial Park! We brought snowshoes, but due to the warm weather we had in January, we only got to use them for a little bit.

By Ryan – Full Story at Out With Ryan

Ontario Gay Travel Resources

Lesbian Travel: Kuala Lumpur Hiking Trails – Our Taste for Life

Lesbian Travel: Kuala Lumpur Hiking Trails - Our Taste for Life

If you’re looking for reliable information in regards to hiking the Bukit Tabur West or Bukit Tabur East trails in Kuala Lumpur, you’ve come to the right place. We successfully completed this hike in late 2019, despite warnings online of closures, needing permits and other misleading information. This blog post aims to provide all the accurate information you’ll need ahead of hiking Bukit Tabur, including how to get there, safety precautions, important things to know and more.

Kuala Lumpur Hiking Trails

When you think of Kuala Lumpur, the last thing that comes to mind is hiking and nature. The modern metropolis is famed for its towering skyscrapers, vibrant culture, and religious temples. But on our 3rd or 4th visit to the city, we were keen to discover something new. That’s when our local friend Ben suggested hiking.

As it turns out, there are several hiking trails in and around Kuala Lumpur. Some of the hiking trails are relatively easy and suitable for beginners. Others, like Bukit Tabur West & Bukit Tabur East, are harder and slightly more precarious.

So with this in mind, let’s get to preparing you for hiking Bukit Tabur. We encourage you to read through the entire article, as there’s a lot of safety information in here that you need to know in advance. Stay safe people!

By Charlotte & Natalie – Full Story at Our Taste for Life

Malaysia Lesbian Travel Resources

Views From Vancouver’s Quarry Rock Trail – Keep Calm and Wander

Views From Vancouver's Quarry Rock Trail - Keep Calm and Wander

I did the Quarry Rock Hiking Trail yesterday for the first time. It was a beautiful day – and it’s a weekend, too! That means that hiking trails near Vancouver (reachable via public transport) were, as expected, crowded.

And I survived. Halelu!

Directions: Vancouver to Deep Cove by Bus

Start from the Waterfront Metro Station. Find the way to the water taxi / ferry that will take you to Lonsdale Quay. There’s a ferry every less than fifteen minutes, so you don’t have to wait long. When you get off at Lonsdale Quay, take the 239 bus that goes to Phibbs Exchange bus loop or Capilano University. Get off at Phibbs Exchange bus loop and transfer to bus 211 or 212. The last stop is at Deep Cove. Once you arrive, follow most of the crowd or find a sign that points you to the Quarry Rock trail. This trip should take around 40-50 minutes.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Vancouver Gay Travel Resources

 

Hiking With Kids at Zion National Park – 2TravelDads

Hiking With Kids at Zion National Park - 2TravelDads

Zion National Park is known for its epic hikes and canyoning routes, but it’s also full of fun hiking trails that are great with kids too! By now you’ve seen that we really love Zion; we found that the scenery paired with the activities make for a perfect family vacation destination. And that’s what we’re talking about here: best kid friendly hiking in Zion National Park.

If you are looking for epic views or easy strolls, there are plenty of kid friendly hiking options in Zion. You truly don’t have to over-exert yourself (or your kids) to experience and appreciate the best of what Zion has to offer. These are our top picks for families and safety tips for some kid friendly hiking in Zion National Park.

HIKING SAFETY IN ZION

We always start here because it’s easy to get right into the hike info. Here’s what you need to know to be prepared for hiking in Zion National Park:

  • Know the details of your hike – distance, elevation gain, estimated time
  • Bring more water than you think you’ll need – we do 1.5 refillable bottles per person
  • Bring enough snacks to equate to a meal
  • Don’t rush kids on rocky trails

By Rob Taylor – Full Story at 2TravelDads

Utah Gay Travel Resources

 

The Georgia Waterfall Trail – 2TravelDads

The Georgia Waterfall Trail - 2TravelDads

Okay, we made this name up, but it’s a thing now. There are so many breathtaking waterfalls in North Georgia, we need to share how you can easily visit as many waterfalls as fit into your travel schedule. We’ll start in the east and head west as we go, but you can plan your adventure however you like.

We stayed in Clarksville, Georgia for our most recent trip around North Georgia. It’s a cute town right at the edge of the Appalachians and is perfect for a homebase for a North Georgia outdoors adventure.

The first of the Georgia waterfall trail that we’re directing you to is Toccoa Falls. About twenty minutes from Clarksville, the town is small, but cute. Toccoa Falls itself is actually located on the campus of an evangelical Christian college, but all are welcome to visit the falls. There is an entry fee for non-students and non-alumni, but it’s only a few dollars and to get to do a nice, short hike and enjoy the falls, it’s worth it.

By AUTHOR – Full Story at SOURCE

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Hiking the Hoodoos in Bryce Canyon – Free Wheel Drive

Bryce Canyon Hoodoos - Free Wheel Drive

A hop and skip distance away from Zion is Bryce Canyon. Well, just under a two hour drive time. And it’s our second park of the Mighty Five.

A short two hour drive East we find ourselves in a dramatically different landscape. At a much higher elevation the nightly temperatures were well below freezing. Sick and tired of shivering at night and dealing with frozen food we caved in and spent a night in a motel before heading into the park. Only our second time crashing in a motel on our entire trip. After a night of lazy TV watching we made our way to the entrance of Bryce Canyon. Here the landscape is unlike anything we’ve encountered yet.

Bryce Canyon is not even a canyon, but a series of natural amphitheaters that have these crazy looking rock features called Hoodoos. These Hoodoo rock features were created not by a river, but by ice cracking the rocks apart and exposing the colorful sedimentary rocks underneath. Hoodoo type formations can be found all over the world. Another famous area with Hoodoos is in the Cappadocia region of Turkey where people carved houses into the rock formations.

When you arrive in Bryce Canyon you are on top of the Paunsaugunt Plateau looking East where the land descends in a series of steps known as the Grand Staircase. The Grand Staircase steps down through Zion, Vermilion Cliffs, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, and finally The Grand Canyon.

By Laura and Camrin – Full Story at Free Wheel Drive

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