A backcountry bike tour of Africa

Imagine - just you and your bicycle traveling thousands of miles together along the dusty roads of Africa. Daniel Gold, one of the writers for GoNOMAD did just that. He was one of many bicyclists putting the pedal to metal... or rather his foot to the pedal, trying for first place at The Tour D'Afrique. I have never been to Africa myself, but I could only imagine the kind of pleasures, sights, and even the pain a bike ride like this could bring. Read on for more of "Cairo to Capetown: Biking Through the Heart of Africa":

The Tour D’Afrique is the longest most grueling bike race/expedition in the world, covering 12000 kilometers (7,456 miles) through Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

In 2006, more than 50 riders attempted the trip from Cairo, and I was one of them.

My uncle, Henry Gold, started the tour in 2003 as a way to promote sustainable transport and introduce adventurous travelers to a continent he fell in love with, a continent that most people would be reluctant to travel through on their own.

Forget the other-worldly landscapes, the wild animals, and the other conventional African formalities. At the heart of every good African story lies the people, the locals, and there were many I met along the way.

Riding through villages, I was usually greeted by singing and smiling children, no matter how impoverished or desperate they looked.

There’s a certain quality of Africa that makes you feel this way, as if you’d subconsciously entered another world and found your senses so overwhelmed that you can’t quite remember what you were feeling.

To finish this article visit GoNOMAD!

Eco-friendly cross-country skiing

One of the best parts about cross-country skiing is the beauty of being out in mother nature, enjoying all that she has to offer. Unfortunately much of this is being taken away due to deforestation, erosion, and construction. We are slowly hacking away at the majestic forests some of us call home. Lucky for you and I, some cross-country ski resorts have also taken this into account and are doing all they can to protect and preserve the environment. An article in MSNBC spoke on this topic and listed areas which are helping our planet. To learn more, keep reading this excerpt from "Cross-country ski resorts go green" :

Part of the beauty of cross-country (xc) skiing is the close connection with nature that this sport encourages. Naturally, xc ski resorts are at the forefront of environmental education and ecologically aware operations. These xc resorts—many of them small family-run businesses, take “going green” very seriously in order to preserve our winter experience.

These small resort owners design and build facilities in an environmentally sensitive manner, manage forest and vegetation and handle potentially hazardous waste properly.

The eco-active efforts of these resorts are not typically huge investments, but xc ski area operators have much to be proud of with many small but meaningful accomplishments. If everyone did their small part in protecting our environment, the problems faced by the world would be reduced.

To read this and other articles visit MSNBC!

Down Under when surfs up, it's time to eat

Ah summer time... when the sun is hot and the living is easy - that's what the Australians are thinking anyways! Right now they are soaking in the suns rays, drinking margaritas on the beach, enjoying their summer vacation, and eating. An article in the New York Times wrote all about the beach food down under, the different places to go, and the dishes to taste. Just a tidbit of "Sydney's beach side cuisine" is below:

“It’s time for lunch,” I say to a friend who had taken the ferry ride from Sydney to Manly with me earlier in the day. Now, if we were back in the United States, perhaps at Jones Beach on Long Island, or Truro on Cape Cod, we would probably gather up our things and head off to some rustic beach shack for a hot dog, a slice of pizza or a lobster roll.

Things are a little different Down Under.

On Sydney’s most famous beach, Bondi, there are, of course, dozens of casual restaurants and cafes, offering up everything from pizza to fish and chips. But on the south end of the crescent-shape beach is one of the city’s most inviting restaurants.

In fact, some of the city’s best restaurants can be found at its beaches, from historic Bondi to upscale Balmoral, ranging from former changing rooms converted into elegant dining spaces to informal street cafes where you can rub shoulders with Nicole Kidman or Hugh Jackman before going for a swim in the roiling surf.

As I sat there recently, taking in the warm summer sun and watching the sailboats glide by in the bay, lingering over a salad of fresh prawns and avocado (23 Australian dollars) while a friend contentedly made her way through an order of fried calamari with chili basil mayonnaise (16 dollars), I had one thought: I won’t be rushing back to Jones Beach this June.

For the rest of this article and the many restaurants recommended visit the New York Times

A glimpse of Texas horse ranchers

If you find the smell of fresh hay, tack oil, manure, and horse some what appealing then a trip out to N. Texas horse country might be for you. In an article on GoNOMAD, they list a whole slew ranches open to horse enthusiasts throughout northern Texas. Visits to these glorious farms allow guests to get an up close and personal look into the lives of breeders, trainers, and horses alike. Here is a short snippet from "Riding into North Texas Horse Country":

A Horse Country Trail Guide provided by area tourism bureaus and Chambers of Commerce lays out an easy day trip into a 912-square-mile area that contains some 300 horse farms and ranches.

What lies out of view behind miles of fences and inside cavernous barns is one of the country's most concentrated horse-breeding areas, a place where an ancient pursuit of perfection is tackled before the second cup of coffee.

At stores along back roads here, you can buy everything equine -- including every potion ever invented to get a reluctant horse to stop chewing at itself (my no-nonsense favorites: No Chew, Chew Stop and the appetizing McNasty).

The horse people came for the soil -- loamy earth that drains well because of its nature and the cant to the land. It is considered ideal for running horses. "They can run on that soil and how it feels on their hooves doesn't ever change," says Kim Phillips, vice president of the Denton
Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Horse Country Trail guide lists 19 farms and ranches.

To view the rest of this article visit GoNOMAD

Budget hotels in Texas

Looking to get away?

How about getting FAR away, where the only means to your destination is by plane? Well if this sounds like a good way to escape everything, maybe you should look at Travel + Leisure’s 2008 list of most remote hotels. Author Jeryl Brunner discusses twelve of these isolated get-a-ways that offer a fit to any persons needs. Accommodations rang from camps, to tents, chalets, or protected glass lagoons. Depending on what type of wild (or relaxing) excursion you have in mind, there is something out there for you. Below is a part from his article "Hard-to-reach spots that are well worth the schlep":

Although it may take several airplanes, a boat, a train, a bumpy Jeep ride, or a long hike to reach a desired hotel, more travelers these days are willing to go the distance. Why? "It truly makes you feel that you have accomplished something just by taking the journey and going out of your comfort zone," says Philippe Kjellgren, president and co-founder of Kiwi Collection, a luxury-resort network. "You’ve earned your stripes when you arrive."

And once visitors do finally reach these remote spots, what awaits are some truly extraordinary travel experiences: face time with a gorilla, camel trekking in the desert, or drinking tea with a family of Mongolian nomads.

To meet our ever-growing desire to stray where few have gone before, developers are seeking more expansive projects, taking us beyond the limits of land and earth. This spring, there are plans to begin build the first pull-out-all-the-stops seven-star underwater hotel, Hydropolis, in Qingdao, China. Another is in the works in Dubai. And for a truly stellar experience, "Galactic Suite" is a hotel in space that its founders say could be open by 2012 (price tag for a three-day stay: $4 million).

To read on, visit Travel+Leisure

Taos calls all skiers and snowboarders alike!

Despite the hopeful looks of spring arriving soon this February, the wintry weather outside tells a different story. Twenty degrees is a far cry from flower blossoms and green grass! I suppose I can't retreat the skis to the basement just yet... there will be plenty of skiing to do after this snow storm is over. The east coast is not the only place that has been fortunate enough to have decent winter weather. The Midwest has been slammed this year with more snow than they have seen in years. GoNOMAD writer Steve Perez was fortunate enough to catch a taste of that fine snow. He had the chance to visit Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico which he described as "a magical place where Old Europe mixes it up with the Wild West." Though despite the name however, Taos Ski Valley isn’t ONLY for skiers, just this past year, the once traditional skier only mountain, opened its doors to snowboarders too. This is just a clip from his article, "Taos Ski Valley Opens Up For Snowboards":

Taos Ski Valley Inc., owners and operators of the West's most challenging slopes, remains founding family owned. It is managed by Blake's children and grandchildren. Founder Ernie Blake died in 1989.

The rates remain reasonable, (by ski resort standards) every meal is served up "family style." Staff members pride themselves on learning all they can about their guests -- not just their names, but their personalities, preferences and special needs.

Snowboarders Excluded Until Now

One such tradition held during ski season at TSV was just that. It's been strictly skiers only, snowboarders need not apply. While "boarders" continued to overtake resort after resort in the U.S., TSV remained one of the lone holdouts among U.S. winter resorts.

So, traditionalists experienced a bit of a jolt when the ski valley's owners decided that it was time to join the new millenium.

As of March 19, 2008, the Taos Ski Valley will become snowboarding country as well.

To finish the article, please visit GoNOMAD!

Holi Festival, India

Around the world certain occasions are celebrated in different ways. While glancing through the Boston Globe Traveler I found one that would put some literal meaning to Cyndi Laupers song "True Colors." The Holi festival, known to the people of India as the commencement of the spring season is celebrated by singing loudly, dancing, playing games, letting their hair loose and showing their crazy selves. Below is a piece from the article:

Holi is a colorful festival – literally. On “Phalgun Purnima,” toward the end of February or beginning of March each year, revelers gather in the streets to celebrate the blossoming of spring by dousing one another in colored powder and water. Men and women flood the streets and mingle freely, a rare event.

“Holi festival has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of ‘good’ over ‘bad’.”

For more information check out the Boston Globe

Spring is here!

Okay, it is not here yet, but if you are in or around the New England area this March you can catch a glimpse of spring at the 2008 New England Spring Flower Show from the 8-16 at the Bayside Exposition Center in Boston from 10-9pm. The show which is claimed to be the start of spring for the near 100,000 "winter-weary" visitors holds several different exhibits, competitions, and lots of entertainment. Here is a piece from the article:
The show is now in its 137th year and has grown to be the third largest flower show in the world.

This year’s theme, Rhapsody in Green, will be interpreted by over 35 landscapes and informational displays. Both the musical and ecological aspects of the theme will be explored in gardens featuring green roof technology, low-water and water-reuse gardens, recycled materials, as well as a central exhibit featuring a stage for live musical performances throughout the show.

Over 200 vendors will offer the best selection of plants, seeds, flowers, garden tools, outdoor furniture, landscape services and structures, and garden-related gift and artwork in the Northeast.

The free lectures and demonstrations at the Flower Show provide a wealth of information and cover a wide range of topics.

To learn more information on this event, make sure and visit the Mass. Horticultural website

Horseback riding in Chile

A new article posted on GoNOMAD, gives a firsthand account of the country of Chile and the excitement of horseback riding along the ocean. Here's a brief clip:

Castro is the shabby, colourful capital of Chiloe, two thirds of the way to the southern tip of Chile. Chiloe is a fertile archipelago. The Chilote are an independent island people. They fish and farm, and live in shingled houses. Chiloe boasts an array of wooden churches, many over two hundred years old, which are UNESCO world heritage sites.

After two hours, having dropped off all the locals, we arrive in the bleak, soggy hamlet of Cucao, and stop outside a sign reading “Parador Darwin.”

The driver offers to book us in there for lunch. Our companions head towards the entrance to the National Park. A sign near an abandoned wooden house says: “Horses for Rent”. We decide to seek out some horses and a guide.
We are directed across a marsh to a small house where Nelson, a handsome, quiet gaucho type, tells us he has three horses and needs to borrow a fourth.
Nelson, accompanied by a stray black Labrador and his mongrel, leads us through the deserted village, down a path through wind-covered dunes.

The icy Pacific wind hits us as we get our first glimpse of the ocean. The sky has cleared to cobalt with splashes of foamy white clouds.

To finish this article check out GoNOMAD

Love is EVERYWHERE!

Every February 14th, the country celebrates the name of St. Valentine by exchanging candy, flowers, and gifts between loved ones.... or that is how it is supposed to be. So while searching online I found a perfect article for today, the Most Romantic Travel Destinations! This site offers several sights that lovers should be sure not to miss! Here are a few:

Secluded Romance in Molokai, Hawaii

The romance of the Hawaiian Islands is hardly a secret, yet Molokai, Hawaii's fifth-largest island, remains virtually tourist-free. A little patience is required on the island whose informal motto is "Slow down: you're on Molokai," and the destination is surely not one for hardcore partiers or nightlife junkies. It's perfect, however, for honeymooners and romance seekers.
Guests can enjoy a taste of the paniolo (cowboy) lifestyle with a ride around the ranch property. Another famous Molokai activity is taking a Molokai mule ride down the cliffs that descend into the village of Kalaupapa with breathtaking views out over the sea

Long Walks on the Beach in the Bahamas

Are you looking for some serious alone time with the one you love? The Bahamas' Out Islands of Exuma and Eleuthera get my vote for the perfect romantic getaway. Head to Exuma, a long chain consisting of 365 islands, the vast majority of which are uninhabited. You can charter a boat from the capital of George Town (try Off Island Adventures, at http://www.offislandadventures.com/) and have them drop you off at a secluded cay — now you can spend the day at your own private beach. Some of the cays are little more than a long stretch of sandbar; the setting is completely peaceful and isolated — you're surrounded by clear water as far as the eye can see.
If you're looking for a more luxurious retreat, try Eleuthera. This 110-mile long fishing island is famous for its lovely pink sand beaches, dramatic cliffs, and sheltered coves. Eleuthera, a former exclusive retreat that's been off the radar for many years, has been bouncing back with new resorts.

Off-Season Romance in Boston

Boston is beautiful any time of year, but a mid-winter getaway to the historical city can be an extra-special trip. With the annual throngs of tourists usually not arriving until March or April, Boston in wintertime can be a magical, cozy place. With or without snow on the ground, the crisp, cold air; the exquisite architecture and storied buildings; the beautiful neighborhoods and public spaces; and the old city charm provide a singular backdrop against which to smooch, snuggle, or otherwise canoodle with your loved one.

If these ideas spark a flame, be sure and check out the rest of the destinations, on MSN Travel.

When in doubt, go for a trip!

Isn't it fun when you just get the chance to get up and go? An unplanned trip brings all the same joys and excitement of a planned one, but this one happens out of the blue! Over my Christmas break I had the chance to do one of these unplanned trips myself so they're fresh on my mind. If you are like me and get excited by these last minute adventures I've found an article for you. National Geographic posted this on these sudden journeys. In the article they list 25 stories from people who found themselves in this position. Below is my favorite story:

Two Quick Tickets To Madrid, by Mel White

Samuel Johnson wrote that nothing concentrates a man's mind like being told he is to be hanged in a fortnight. And nothing concentrates a traveler's mind like opening an envelope and suddenly realizing he's lost 30,000-plus frequent-flier miles because he—that would be me—just plain forgot that they were going to expire the previous week.

Frantic calls to airline. First person says, essentially, "Tough luck." Second person says, "Let me talk to a supervisor," and then returns to say, "We'll let you buy some of them back." Third person is very nice and says, "I tell you what: If you want to book something today, we'll just pretend the miles didn't expire." (A rule of life for everyone, not just travelers: When calling an 800 number at a giant, faceless corporation, if you don't get somebody sympathetic at first, hang up and call back. Repeat as many times as it takes.)

At that point I'd been trying for years to get some travel publisher to send me to Spain, the number one country on my wish list. There'd been a couple of mild expressions of interest, but nothing had happened. So, with the airline staffer's offer, I'm thinking, "The hell with it, I'm going."

Suddenly I'm booking two tickets to Madrid. We're off for ten days in May, wandering through Extremadura and Andalusia, visiting the "white cities" and the Costa del Sol, sampling vino tinto and tapas, for what turned out to be one of the best vacations of my life. Maybe even, in fact, my new favorite country.

After the trip, I'm home three weeks and a travel editor calls to ask if I'd like to do a story on the Costa Brava. And so it goes.

If you are interested in reading more of these journeys, go to www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler

An eco-friendly alternative to your vacation

Just as the weather was starting to look like spring in Massachusetts, a nice cold front has moved in to remind us New Englanders that it is still in fact winter. So as the cold wind howls outside my window, I turn to my computer to find a nice warm place to mentally vacation to. During my search I found in a New York Times article a new program called Seacology which satisfies those who are looking to see exotic parts of the globe as well as help give back to the place which you visit. Each Seacology expedition is chock-full of cultural experiences. If this sounds like something that might interest you please read this clip:

Seacology, a Berkeley-based nonprofit organization seeks to preserve island environments and cultures by providing services in exchange for local conservation efforts.

As exotic destinations become more commonplace and travelers seek out more unusual and broadening experiences, nonprofit groups are responding. By promoting and helping to organize eco-tourism, nonprofits benefit by raising awareness — and money — for their causes. The draw for travelers? Gaining access to places that they wouldn’t be able to get to otherwise.

Duane Silverstein, executive director of Seacology, said, “These people are looking for two things: access to unique areas that most tourists can never visit, and a way to improve the quality of life of the people and places they do visit.” This year, the group opened its fund-raising expeditions to the public for the first time. These trips visit project sites in remote places like Fiji, where the group built a kindergarten in return for the establishment of a 17-square-mile marine reserve, and Tonga, where a floating medical clinic was set up as incentive for the creation of a nature preserve.

To read the rest of the article and more about Eco-Tourism go to http://travel.nytimes.com

Hello Fellow Bloggers!

To start I would just like to say hello to everyone out there and to say a little about myself - I am currently a junior at the University of Massachusetts and I am majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management. I have many interests ranging from sports such as swimming, rugby, and soccer to interesting foods (I am always up to trying something new!), my big dogs, and of course I love to travel! I have been lucky enough to travel to parts of Europe, Australia, and throughout the USA. My goal here as an intern is not only to find interesting articles for you to read but to also educate myself further about different aspects of travel. I hope you enjoy reading my blog. Happy travels!

Welcome to the New Travel Reader Blogger, Megan

We have found a new blogger to put up daily posts on Travel Reader. She is Megan Cross and a student at UMass. Watch this space for new travel posts from GoNOMAD and around the web.

Just published on GoNOMAD: Sports fanatics in Rome live the life of their team. Read about the Eternal City's passion for sport in a new article on GoNOMAD.com.

"Alessandro sits with his head buried in the pages of the Corriere dello Sport waiting for the barista to bring him his gran caffé. AS Roma play Catania at the Stadio Olimpico in less than five hours and he can’t wait for the match.

"Roma is my life, my passion", he says. "It's football, football, football. You can see how important football is to the people here by walking down the residential streets on a Sunday afternoon."

"When the match is on, the streets are deserted. All you can hear are the televisions behind the shutters tuned to whichever match is on." The coffee at Sant Eustachio is some of the best available in Rome and at times it can be difficult to get through the door as locals and tourists alike compete for the little room there is at the bar."