Paradise or Purgatory?
|
|
|
|
PLANNING YOUR VACATION OR TRIPThe importance of timing your visit to the season... You traveled 300 miles to a hot, cracked, empty, lifeless barren desert. Your friend Joe spoke of its lushness - claimed it was paradise on earth! What happened? It's an Outdoor Adventurer's door to hell - arriving at your destination to find an unattractive, either too hot or too cold sprawl of land. From the Voice of Experience, you can avoid a similar disaster by simply taking time to collect information about your destination before setting out on your adventure. One thing you'll want to consider is the timing of your visit. The seasons play such an important factor in how our world looks. A Texas park may be breathtaking in spring, then turn to desolate desert within a few short weeks. Small waterfalls can dry up overnight; trees can shed their leaves from one week to the next, once-rampant streams can dissipate to little more than floating vapors.
Other things that can effect the prolificacy of an area are recent hardships of Mother Nature such as drought, brutal winds, an excess of rain and pestilence. It's also the reason why we have bumper crops of an item one year, then a shortage of the same item the next. So as we can see, the world is like a colossal carousal, spinning through the seasons of the year. If Joe and his family visited the Ozark Mountains in spring it's going to look totally different when November rolls around. Of course, this example is just about a no-lose situation because the Ozarks are quite beautiful during both these seasons! However, when State Parks and national recreation areas become the focus, the situation can change dramatically.
- Contact the nearest State Park in the area you will be visiting to get the latest information on things such as climate, wildflowers, migratory animals, waterfalls, rapids, and snowfall. Don't be shy about asking detailed information, such as the current temperature, humidity, or mosquito concerns. - Search for information on the web. You can check current gasoline prices for most states on the web by using an online search engine. Simply type in the state's name followed by 'gasoline prices'. - Check the humidity of your destination. If it's extra humid along the coastline, the mosquitoes will be thick. If you live in the southern states and plan to visit one of the cooler states, such as the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, pack layered gear. Since you won't be acclimatized to the cold, or the high altitudes, not only should you plan for added warmth, but nourishment as well. Allow time once you arrive for your body to adjust to the elements. - Watch or listen to the news for any fires that may be burning in the area that you intend to visit, as well as blizzards and other potentially severe storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes. You can just about bet that the southern states will be bubbling hot during summer. - Road construction can add hours to a journey, and that 'bump, bump, bump' gets old after a while. Try to pull up info on the net, or call the state hotline. The number is generally listed in your road atlas. - The local Chamber of Commerce (of your destination) can provide you will a variety of valuable information, such as local conferences or pageants that may effect your visit. - Recognize that some destinations may be susceptible to change, such as coastal areas during hurricane season. - If you plan to stay overnight, book your room in advance. It's one thing that you can control.
|
|
|
    |
|||
