NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

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Visiting our national parks is a priority for us. We enjoy the scenic beauty and abundant wildlife they provide. Nature revitalizes us.
https://www.nps.gov/

 

 

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & RECREATION

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Just as we love our national parks, our state parks are close and provide endless opportunities to escape the urban sprawl, take a deep breath, and relax.
https://www.parks.ca.gov/

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 JAMES KAISER TRAVEL GUIDES

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These are the best travel guide books I've ever read! I'm hoping he'll continue to write additional guides for our national parks and other countries.
https://jameskaiser.com/

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KAYAK

There are many websites which will help you find good prices for airline tickets. Kayak has been my default site for years. I don't make reservations on Kayak though. Once I locate the best price, I go to the airline website because I've found it easier to deal with reservations and cancellations directly with them.
https://www.kayak.com/

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AIRBNB

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This is the best site for lodging, especially if you want to save on hotel costs and live like a local. It's a great way to meet locals as well.
https://www.airbnb.com/

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SKYTRAX

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When choosing between airlines, I use the ratings and reviews on Skytrax to help determine which airline to use.
https://www.airlinequality.com/

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UBER

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We use Uber instead of taxis or car rentals when we only need to get across town. We also use it when we get lost on public transit and need to get to our destination. Wherever you keep your travel notes, it's a good idea to keep destination addresses in there as well.
https://www.uber.com/

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 GOOGLE TRANSLATE

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An invaluable tool to install on your smartphone. You can download an entire language dictionary to access offline, and can even take photos of written text to have it translated for you.
https://translate.google.com/

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 DUOLINGO

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A friend introduced me to a free online language learning application, Duolingo. While I still research a few words and phrases on my own, this application really makes me feel like I can understand the language. You've got to remain diligent in your lessons, but the results are good.

https://www.duolingo.com/

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 UNIT CONVERTER PRO

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I use this smartphone application to determine current currency exchange rates.  It also comes in handy for measurement conversions, like kilometers to miles, feet to meters, kilograms to pounds, or ounces to liters.
http://www.unitconverterpro.com/

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 GOOGLE MAPS

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This is our primary smartphone application for getting around the country, whether by foot, public transportation, or driving. It even saved us once when the bus routes from Venice changed mid-day!

I also use Google Maps when searching for lodging, as they tend to have a more comprehensive selection. Simply enter a city or town, select Nearby, select Hotels nearby. You can also type “bed and breakfast” after selecting Nearby.
https://www.google.com/maps/

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MOOVIT

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There are occasions when Google Maps doesn't work so well with public transportation. One instance was Rio de Janeiro. When that occurs, Moovit fills in nicely with up-to-date information.
https://www.moovitapp.com/

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ALLTRAILS

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Of of the best hiking trail websites I've found. They can help you find great hikes and show you trail maps all over the world! Creating an account is free, although they do have a subscription model for additional services they provide.

https://www.alltrails.com/

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SNORKELING REPORT

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Just as AllTrails can help you find the best hiking, Snorkeling Report can help you find the best spots for snorkeling worldwide. They have detailed information, and often include photos so you can see what's in the water.

https://www.snorkeling-report.com/

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TRIED AND TRUE ITEMS WE USE

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1. Tilley hats - their broad brim hats offer great protection from the sun, air ventilation, are collapsible and easy to pack, waterproof, and come with a lifetime guarantee.

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2. Osprey packs - both our travel day pack (Daylite Plus Daypack) and our day hiking backpack (Talon Pro 20) are Osprey brand. Tough, durable, comfortable, compartmentalized, and water resistant.

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3. eBags Carry-on luggage - expandable, rugged, and well designed. Some of their carry-on bags also contain backpack straps. We've been using the Mother Lode Carry-on rolling duffel for years! The wheels have traversed dirt, rocks, cobblestones, sticks, etc. without a scratch.

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4. Kuhl Liberator Convertible Pants - comfortable enough to wear anywhere, these pants are nice enough to wear to a concert and rugged enough for hiking. They also convert into shorts, also good for swimming.

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5. Teva Sandals - great for hiking in relatively open and dry areas, sightseeing, and most importantly wading through water with jagged surfaces like rocks, coral or seashells.

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6. Repel Plant-based Insect Repellent - no Deet, which can stain clothing and harm you if ingested. Tested and approved in the primary rainforests of Costa Rica, Tanzania, and Sumatra without a bite on us. And we accidentally walked around without any repellent just to ensure there were actually blood-thirsty mosquitoes. :-/

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7. Alba Botanica Hawaiian sunscreen - SPF 45, water resistant, biodegradable, and contains no oxybenzone or octinoxate which can harm coral reef environments.

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8. REI Sea to Summit clothes line - it packs small and light, and has rubber beads to hold clothes in place without the use of clothes pins. And it has hooks so you can easily wrap it around anything.

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9. Laundry bag - some people forget that they'll have dirty clothes when they travel. This also doubles as a great laundry basket once you've washed and folded your clothes.

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AIRPORT SECURITY, VACCINES & HEALTH

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We've been members of the United States Global Entry program for over a decade. It gives us TSA Pre-check status for domestic flights, allowing expedited security checks. And it grants us the ability to bypass U.S. Customs and Immigration lines when re-entering the country.

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Our health care provider uses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website to determine any vaccines and medications we may need prior to our travels to a specific country. Their website also provides tips for staying healthy while abroad, recommended health items to pack, and any health related travel notices.