Adventure

Get Your Adventure On: 5 Awesome Outdoor Activities to Do in the Mountains

Taking a trip to the mountains may not be your idea of a vacation, but that’s because you haven’t thought of all the amazing activities you can do while you’re there. What if there was a slew of activities to choose from in the great outdoors that you weren’t aware of?

Whether you’re bringing the whole family or making it a romantic trip for two, we’ve laid out 5 awesome outdoor activities you need to do before you leave.

Continue reading below to see just how much fun you can have while visiting the mountains.

1. Hot Air Balloon Ride

Hiking a mountain can only get you so far with limited views of the surrounding area depending on where you are. The solution? Taking a hot air balloon ride.

This is the perfect activity to do in the summer when this outdoor activity is most popular. You’ll get a birds-eye view of the mountains and landscape for miles around. Make sure to take your ride at sunset for the most romantic experience.

Not a fan of heights but still want something just as exhilarating? Zip lining could be a great substitute. Take time to learn more about it.

2. River Rafting

River rafting is a great activity the whole family can enjoy. And nothing beats rafting through canyons and valleys, which make for great travel stories.

Depending on which mountain area you’re visiting will determine what kind of rafting you’ll do. While some rivers have half-day adventures, others give you an overnight experience.

Pigeon River, for example, is the third most rafted river in America. It has two sections of rivers to choose from -Lower Pigeon River and Upper Pigeon River.

Lower Pigeon offers Class 1 and Class 2 rapids which aren’t too hard to navigate, making it perfect for families. You’ll still experience some mild falls, though!

If you’re a more experienced rafter, Upper Pigeon River is for you. This section of river features Class 3 and Class 4 rapids.

3. Horseback Riding

Certain mountain ranges like the Smoky Mountains have a lot of ground to cover, making it almost impossible to see everything in a few short days. The solution?

Take to the trails on horseback with no prior riding experience needed. You’ll cover more surface area in a quicker amount of time, and do it in a more unique way!

Most mountain ranges offering this activity have horses who are well-trained and familiar with the trails. This makes it another outdoor activity perfect for the whole family to enjoy.

4. Golfing

Not every outdoor adventure has to be just that – an adventure. If you’re looking for a more relaxing activity, why not take a day to go golfing?

Some mountain ranges have beautiful golf courses overlooking the mountains and beyond, making it the ultimate relaxing golf experience. Not a professional (or even semi-good) golfer?

Don’t worry – there are plenty of mini golf options available, too! Plus, some of these have indoor blacklight courses on rooftops, making it more fun and unique!

5. Clingmans Dome

Let’s go back to basics for our last outdoor adventure with some good ol’ hiking. If you’re staying in the Smoky Mountains, you have to take a day to hike to Clingmans Dome.

After hiking 6,643 miles up, you’ll arrive at the observation tower. This gives you spectacular 360-degree views of the Smokies at the highest point in the state of Tennessee.

If you’re lucky and go on a clear day you can see for over 100 miles!

The hike to the observation tower does get steep, though. While the tower is open all year, the road leading to it closes at the beginning of December.

Keep this in mind when planning your Smoky Mountain trip!

Outdoor Activities You Need to Try

We know these outdoor activities already have you packing your bag. Make sure to keep them in mind for your next mountain trip and pick at least one to put on your mountain bucket list. 

Can’t decide? Do all five and pick which was your favorite!

Want to break into writing about your travel adventures and beyond? Make sure to check out our website. We have tips on everything from content strategy to digital marketing!

Planning a Borneo Adventure? Don’t Pack a Thing Until You Check Out This List of Travel Essentials

Are you thinking about planning a Borneo adventure?

Taking a trip to the adventurous jungle of Borneo requires an extensive packing list. If you’re new to jungle packing, we want to help you put together a list.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to bring to the jungle.

Information on Borneo

The island of Borneo is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Aside from Greenland and New Guinea, Borneo is the world’s third largest island. The Island is divided into three countries, Brunei, East Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Borneo’s has an equatorial climate, which means there’s sunshine year round. The rainy season is from November to January. The northeast experiences monsoon weather during this time of year also.

The dry season typically lasts from May to September. Due to the large size of the island, climate varies throughout the territory.

Whenever you decide to visit Borneo, you could benefit from looking at TripADeal cheap travel deals.

Clothing

As with many islands located near the Ecuador, the climate is humid. For all visitors, it’s recommended they wear clothing that is lightweight and breathable made of cotton preferably.

In the humidity of the jungle, you’ll want to wear clothes that are easy to dry because you’ll be sweating. And you’ll also never know when the rain will come down.

Shorts and t-shirts are appropriate during the day, however, trousers can offer more protection against branches, insect bites, and leeches.

Don’t forget to pack swim trunks and a bathing suit.

Footwear

You’ll need a few different types of footwear. Bring hiking and walking appropriate shoes that are resistant to all types of jungle terrains. You also want to bring slip-on rubber shoes to slip on in the mornings and evenings.

As already established, the jungle is extremely humid, so you need to bring moisture absorbent socks. You might also need to bring leech proof socks.

Medical

It’s not easy to predict if you’ll get sick while on your Borneo adventure, but you should bring some basic medical essentials to treat mild conditions.

Pack over the counter painkillers to treat headaches. It’s also a good idea to bring altitude sickness medication and anti-diarrhea tablets.

You’ll also want to protect your skin from the elements. It’s necessary to pack sunblock for those long hiking trails. Also, pack SPF lip balm, and sunscreen to protect your face.

Additional items you’ll be glad you have are wet wipes, hand sanitizer, and insect repellant.

Female travelers should be aware of their tampons and pads. They won’t be able to dispose of them while in the jungle.

If you bring them you’ll have to carry them in Ziploc bags until you leave. An alternative for female travelers could be a menstrual cup.

Equipment

Your Borneo adventure will take you to the jungle, and there are no electrical plugs in the jungle. Since you’ll be taking awesome pictures, you’ll want to bring extra charged batteries for your camera. Bring a multipurpose watch you can use as an alarm and has a light.

Photography Equipment

• DSLR camera (Depends on personal preference)
• Camera Lenses
• Waterproof camera bag
• Additional memory cards
• Backup charger or batteries
• Waterproof camera for snorkeling (if applicable)
• Power adapter

Trekking Equipment

• Whistle (in case if emergency)
• Multi-purpose knife
• Camping cutlery
• Torch

Remember that while trekking you’ll want to travel as light as possible. You can always assess the situation and decide what you can leave behind in the lodging.

Miscellaneous

With any trip, you can’t forget to bring your personal documents. Pack your credit card and don’t forget to inform the company you’ll be traveling to avoid your accounts frozen.

Don’t depend solely on plastic, remember that cash is king wherever you go. Try to bring enough currency for the entire trip and only use the credit card in case of emergencies.

Not only should you bring your original passport, but also bring copies of your passport and leave in your luggage. Having copies will speed up the process should your passport get lost or stolen.

Also, bring copies of your itinerary, flight confirmations, hotel reservations, and any others you think are useful.

You need to always be mindful of the environment, so anything you bring into the jungle should leave the jungle with you. Bring plastic bags to store your trash in your backpack and dispose of it after the trek.

Mount Kinabalu

Climbing Mount Kinabalu is a must for any Borneo adventure. It’s Borneo’s tallest mountain, and it’s located in the Malaysian state of Sabah. Visitors often climb to the top of Low’s Peak which stands 13,435 ft.

As you climb any mountain, you should know the weather is not the same when you begin the journey than it’s at the summit. You will need lightweight breathable clothing to start and transition to warm clothing as you trek the mountain.

If you want to climb Mount Kinabalu bring the following:

• Waterproof windbreaker
• Fleece Jacket
• Cap, beanie, head scar, or balaclava mask
• Waterproof Gloves
• Hiking shoes with good grip (it gets slippery)
• Trekking pole
• Disposable Raincoat
• Head Torch
• Water
• Chocolates, nuts, energy bars, any other high energy food

Dress Code Awareness

Whenever you visit a new place, you should always be aware of the dress code the locals go by. In Borneo, the dress code is fairly conservative, especially for females.

It’s important that female visitors keep their shoulders and knees covered. They should also make sure their tops are long enough to cover their midriff. Showing off cleavage should also be avoided.

For male and females who wish to visit a temple, they should wear long sleeves. And it’s also recommended to cover their hair.

The beaches and forest treks are more relaxed on dress code than the villages, but visitors should be respectful when they’re bathing in rivers. For female travelers, they should bring a sarong with them and avoid bathing in just their underwear.

Are You Borneo Adventure Ready?

Don’t forget to pack light breathable clothing on your trip to Borneo. We hope this list helped you with your packing essentials, and you enjoy your trip.

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Crafting the Best Content for an Adventure Travel Blog

An adventure travel blog is a great way to fuel your passion for writing while exploring the world. There are so many benefits, it’s hard to imagine why everybody hasn’t started one.

Blogging is huge business. Although it’s difficult to know the exact number, it’s been estimated that there are currently over 440 million blogs worldwide. With this much competition, it’s no surprise that many get lost in the shuffle.

For an adventure travel blog to stand out, it must constantly feature killer content. Here are a few tips for getting started.

Be Consistent With Your Adventure Travel Blog

While it’s easy to get distracted with planning new adventures, it’s important to stick to a consistent writing schedule. Bloggers who stop posting for months at a time may be unpleasantly surprised to find that their readers didn’t sit around waiting for them. Internet users have short attention spans, and blogs that go stale are quickly forgotten.

Stay Inspired

It’s difficult for a travel blogger to come up with content while sitting at home on the couch. Booking frequent trips keeps you inspired and ensures you will always have new topics to fuel your blogging efforts.

Thanks to the convenient new service Barcelona Transfer QuickTransfer, travel bloggers no longer have to worry about wandering around cities looking for their destinations. This service, available in many countries worldwide, makes it easy to book a car online.

There’s something to be said about the confidence of knowing a professional driver will pick you up and deliver you directly to your chosen location.

Get Visual

Humans are visual creatures.

This is an important key to remember when crafting your adventure travel blog. While visiting foreign locations, always be on the lookout for unique and breathtaking photo opportunities.

When you craft your blog posts, be sure to integrate as many of these photos as possible.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Instead of photographing the same tourist attraction that is featured on hundreds of other sites, find a different perspective. Use candid photos of locals to capture the spirit of the location, play with lighting and angles, and take the time to go off the beaten path.

Integrate with Social Media

Instagram and Facebook are excellent ways to promote your adventure travel blog. This exposes content to a broader audience and allows readers to engage on whatever platform they’re most comfortable using.

An adventure travel blog that has a consistent following is much more likely to thrive.

When your fans are loyal and willing to share your posts, you’ve essentially created a marketing team who is willing to work for free. Keep creating killer posts, and there is always the chance of going viral.

Keep Up with the Latest News

Blogging is a craft that requires equal amounts of passion and technique. Writers who fail to sharpen their skills may find that they fall behind the pack.

Make sure your blog is the best it can be by following the ArticleCity blog for the industry’s best content marketing tips and tricks.