MORAL COMPASS: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

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Active Travel, camping-glamping, National Parks, Outdoor travel experiences, Outdoors Travel, Road Trips, RV Vacations, Uncategorized

Tracks & Trails Booking 2021 RV Vacations to National Parks in Western U.S., Canada Thru Dec. 15, 2020

October 7, 2020 MoralCompass

Roadbear RV Camper on Route US 89 Kaibab National Forest near Jacob Lake, Arizona. RV vacations are the hottest thing in travel today. Tracks & Trails is taking new bookings for 2021 packaged RV vacations to national parks in the Western US and Canada through Dec. 15, 2020.

GRAND JUNCTION, CO– It is no mystery why RV vacations are the hottest thing going in travel today. They offer the freedom and flexibility of touring the country in a fully equipped and self-contained unit that has everything needed for a perfect vacation. It’s a personal cabin on wheels that allows exploring scenic places where hotels often don’t exist.

This is the allure of RV travel, which is especially appealing during a pandemic, reports Dan Wulfman, Founder and President of Tracks & Trails, whose specialty is packaged RV vacations to national parks in the Western U.S. and Canada.

RV travel allows friends and families to be autonomous and as private as they please while enjoying the freedom of America’s open roads. Time for lunch? Just pull off at the next scenic turnout and open the fridge. Potty stop? Easy. End the day in the natural beauty of a rustic national park campsite.

Wulfman notes that the pandemic is turning millions of non-campers into aspiring RVers, and the trend is exploding. The RV Industry Association found that 20% of US residents surveyed are more interested in RV travel than in flying, tent camping, cruises, or rental stays amid coronavirus concerns.

“But getting in an RV and setting off without a plan can be daunting for a first-timer,” says Wulfman. The insider knowledge of experts can make or break the experience, and choosing your dates 6 to 12 months in advance is now essential. Due to the growing popularity of RV vacations, Tracks & Trails is already seeing shortages of campsites and RVs for 2021.

December 15, 2020 will be the cutoff date for new 2021 bookings.

For those savvy enough to lock in their dates for 2021 now with Tracks & Trails, the traveler’s work is done. The company’s team of expert planners handles all the arrangements that make it so challenging to organize a worry-free 7-14 day, multi-destination RV trip on your own. Travelers work with their T&T Trip Wizard to select one of the 20 carefully-crafted itineraries, decide on the right RV, and pick optional excursions that suit their tastes. The company takes care of the rest: reserving prime campsites, booking guided excursions with trusted outfitters, and preparing the comprehensive documentation which ensures things go smoothly on the road.

FEATURED 2021 ITINERARY:

Mighty 5: Utah & the Grand Canyon is a 13-night itinerary beginning and ending in Las Vegas that visits all 5 of Utah’s national parks – Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches – as well as the Grand Canyon. Each of these parks features fascinating geological formations and extensive hiking trails. Optional excursions include canyoneering, rafting, ATV riding, horseback riding, and Jeep tours. The base trip cost which includes up to 4 people ranges from $8,000 to $10,000 and is available from May 15 to October 15. See: https://tracks-trails.com/rv-trips/mighty-5-utah-and-the-grand-canyon/

Tracks & Trails created the concept of packaged national park RV vacations in 1996, providing personalized, self-drive RV trips to active couples and families from across the U.S. They help people spend quality time together outdoors while exploring North America’s most iconic National Parks and other natural wonders.

For information on availability, pricing, and itineraries for 2021 visit www.tracks-trails.com, email: [email protected], or call 1-800-247-0970.

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Beach destinations, Road Trips

The Wildwoods, NJ Offers ‘Safecation’ Beach Destination

July 26, 2020 MoralCompass

The Wildwoods, NJ – The Wildwoods, NJ has so much to offer, from beautiful free and spacious beaches with plenty of room to spread out and a world-famous boardwalk with lots of fun attractions. As families venture out to enjoy summer vacations, the Wildwoods offer the ultimate ‘safecation’ destination to ensure a worry-free getaway.

Drive in

The most popular way to reach the destination, especially in the summer 2020, is via car. Load up and hop in your vehicle and head ‘down the shore!’ Vacationers will know when they are close to the Wildwoods without looking at their GPS – with the sea air, signs and excitement in the air signifying their arrival is near.

The Wildwoods have rolled out the red carpet for vacationers with a fabulous new Grand Gateway, an all-new visitor experience designed to greet all visitors and launch them into vacation mode from the moment they arrive. As they make their way over the bridge and onto the island, vacationers are greeted by a new ‘Welcome to the Wildwoods’ Doo Wop style sign in the shape of a surfboard. With its vivid colors and lighting, it can be seen upon approach day or night, setting the tone for the fun that lies ahead. The new Gateway also features a digital billboard announcing the latest events and information. Visitors will also notice colorful beach ball bollards along the entranceway, leading straight to the world-famous Wildwoods sign.

‘Sparkling’ Hotel Accommodations

Once on the island, visitors may check in to the lodging destination of their choice offering over 8,000 hotel-motel rooms and 3,000 vacation rentals, many of which appear to ‘sparkle’ with Doo Wop themed architecture, décor and bright colors. Inside, social distancing practices, enhanced sanitizing and cleaning protocols are being followed. Hotel and motel swimming pools are following safety practices by including screenings upon entering the swimming pool area; social distancing while in the water and on pool decks, and non-sharing of pool furniture and equipment, except among families and partners.

Beach Therapy

Stretching for five miles across North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest, the Wildwoods beaches are clean and free for all visitors to enjoy. With today’s ever-changing world, we sometimes need a safe escape. The Wildwoods beaches are the ideal location for visitors to clear their minds, escape the chaos, and enjoy the calming ‘Beach Therapy’. Our wide spacious beaches allow plenty of room to stretch out. Beach goers have the option of choosing to enjoy a relaxing day in the sun, or a more adventurous day of activities on the water, such as surfing, boogie boarding, fishing, power boating, jet-skiing, sailing, kayaking, and whale watching.

Boardwalk Fun

Along with our award-winning beaches, another ‘must do’ is our world-famous Wildwoods Boardwalk. Known as ‘2-½ miles of smiles,’ the boardwalk has fun for everyone, whether you’re looking for relaxtion, shopping and dining, or thrills and adventure. Amusement piers, arcades, games, waterparks, shops and outdoor dining can all be enjoyed safely on our boardwalk – with social distancing, facemask requirements and sanitizing protocols in place. For a more peaceful day, take a ride on the 140-foot Ferris Wheel that overlooks the beach and ocean, go for a bike ride, take a stroll, fly a kite, or take a ride on the famous Wildwoods Boardwalk ‘Sightseer’ Tram Cars. For more action and adventure, go on any of the Boardwalk’s world-class roller coasters, take monster truck rides on the beach, or plunge to the bottom of a huge waterslide, and more!

Watch the Tram Car, please!

The Wildwoods Sightseer Tram Cars provide a leisurely cruise down the Boardwalk. First introduced on the Wildwoods’ Boardwalk in 1949, the Tram Cars are an iconic part of the Wildwoods Boardwalk experience, transporting tens of thousands of guests along the two-mile Wildwoods Boardwalk each year. The four original Tram Car trains are some of the oldest, continually operating modes of public transportation in the United States. Today’s Tram Cars are environmentally friendly, running on battery power. Each Tram Car can run for up to 12 hours on a single charge from their 2,000-pound electric batteries.

The Tram Cars require riders to follow social distance guidelines and are employing enhanced sanitizing protocols. Modifications include plexiglass dividers and plastic shields between seating areas; and a sanitizing regimen with quick-drying disinfectant every half-hour. Tram employees are also wearing masks while interacting with visitors and passengers.

Bikeability

Bike riding is a favorite pastime and no town seems to do biking better than the Wildwoods. The Wildwoods have coined the word ‘Bikeability’ to capture all of the amazing opportunities for biking. Right now, there is no better way to recharge, get physical exercise and enjoy the beautiful salty air – all while keeping a safe distance from fellow visitors – than a leisurely bike ride. From lengthy and scenic bike paths, to bike lanes along popular roads, to biking along the boardwalk, there are many ways to enjoy the Wildwoods on two wheels.

Cap off your family vacation with a shopping spree in the many shops and boutiques on the Boardwalk and Downtown Wildwood. Don’t forget to wear your mask and stay safe in the Wildwoods.

For additional information about the Wildwoods, visit www.WildwoodsNJ.com or call 800-992-9732.

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Active Travel, camping trips, Driveable destinations, Outdoor travel experiences, Road Trips, Travel gear, Travel Gear, Uncategorized

Stanley’s Shopping List for Road Warriors, Campers as Americans Rediscover the Road Trip

July 23, 2020 MoralCompass

As people feel comfortable taking advantage of summer weather to resume outdoor activities, many Americans are rediscovering the joys of the road trip and camping (c) Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

As people feel comfortable taking advantage of summer weather to resume outdoor activities, many Americans are getting into their car and hitting the road. A recent survey about road trip destinations from GasBuddy shows that 60% of respondent plans to visit friends and family while 38% are opting for the beach or lake, and 24% for a national park. And whether it’s a road trip to visit family and friends, or first-time RV’ers hitting up national parks, Stanley has the gear.

Stanley has created a shopping site of the essentials for “Compact Adventures” with everything needed for road trips to backyard camping – “built for life’s (little, and not so little) adventures and Built for Life”. Here are some examples:

Road Warriors

The best co-pilots create epic playlists, can navigate highway traffic with Google Maps, find speed traps on Waze and keep the snacks coming. The Stanley 7-qt cooler ($50) can do one of those things, but we still nominate it as a perfect ‘front seat’ companion. This bad boy keeps your snacks in close proximity and cool for 27 hours, which is about 40 percent longer than your typical cooler. It also will not judge your singing voice.

Car Cup Compatible? Check. Keeps drinks cold? Check. Straw? Check. Gulp? Check. Closed? Check. Stanley Vacuum Quenchers (20- and 30-oz sizes / $20 and $28) are just about the most perfect drinking vessel for your road trip as we could imagine. This stainless steel vacuum insulated vessel keeps drinks cold for hours (iced for 40 hours!) but the real genius is its 3-position lid that has a rotating cover with a straw opening, large opening for chugging and a full cover top to reduce spills.

RV/Camping

It’s a pot, it’s a frying pan, it’s 4 plates and 4 bowls. It’s your kitchen-in-a-box. Like a Russian Nesting Doll, this is the gift that just keeps on giving. The Full Kitchen Base Camp Cook Set ($80) is a 19-piece cooking set offering all of the convenience of your kitchen into one small package that’s perfect for saving space. It’s saves on space but doesn’t skimp on performance; it’s just a capable as your ‘good’ kitchen gear (for some of you, maybe even better).

Whoever said ‘the fun is in the journey, not the destination’ clearly hasn’t tried to back-up an RV. Assuming your friendship/relationship/marriage has survived the journey, celebrate the milestone with the Happy Hour Cocktail Shaker Set ($35). The MacGyver of cocktail shakers, this all-in-one set features a removable reamer to juice and strain, 2 rocks glasses and a shaker.

‘Eat outside,’ they said. ‘It’ll be fun,’ they said. ‘Everything taste better in the great outdoors…’ Except when you get food poisoning because Karen’s potato salad has been baking in the sun for the past 4-hours. Say good-bye to whatever that ‘film’ is on the macaroni salad they’ve been dishing out for generations, and hello to the Stay Hot Camp Crock ($65). Yes, vacuum insulation keeps hot things hot, and cold things cold, so load this puppy up with chili or gazpacho (which, is basically running salsa, tbh). You can even use it as an ice bucket. Thanks to the durable locks and ergonomic handle, there’s no need to practice your balancing act when unloading the meal.

More at the Stanley website, www.stanley-pmi.com.

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