Watersports aren’t always easy to learn, and wakeboarding is no exception. The first few attempts on a wakeboard can be really challenging, but eventually, you’ll find your balance and even learn a few tricks in the process.
This isn’t to suggest you have to learn everything on your own though, but you can definitely master some steps as a newbie and expedite your journey to skillful wakeboarding.
These tips can help you improve the speed of your learning curve and make wakeboarding enjoyable even as a beginner.
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Even though I grew up in Ukraine, I didn’t realize how much natural beauty there is in this country until I started camping. While most tourists like to go to see the cities, local Ukrainians love to camp.
Why? Because it’s generally free.
You might know that Ukraine is not a very rich country, so we Ukrainians derive a lot of pleasure from nature. These 3 awesome places to camp in Ukraine tend to be filled with locals, but hopefully this guide in English helps bring some interested foreigners to my beautiful country.
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Do you enjoy traveling around the country via RV? Do you like going for a quick weekend getaway without having to worry about paying for a hotel room or boarding your pets?
Traveling around the country in your RV is a great way to let loose and explore. But while this may sound expensive and gas guzzling, there are plenty of ways you can decrease your costs as well as your carbon footprint.
Specifically, by using solar generators as your backup energy source. These days solar generators are powerful, portable, and specifically designed for clean energy. Most are also silent, so there’s no noise pollution either!
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We’re all familiar with backpacking, whether we ourselves embarked on a journey or knew a friend or family member who did. Backpacking is a great way to experience authentic travel by really embracing the local culture of a destination.
But what exactly is flashpacking?
Similar to backpacking but with more comfort and opportunities, flashpacking is becoming an increasingly more preferred way to travel.
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Choosing a water filter for your backpacking adventures can be daunting, and here are multiple factors to take into consideration before making your choice.
You’ll need to decide, for instance, whether to buy a plain water filter or a water purifier (there is a difference). You’ll also need to understand how the different water filter types work, in order to be able to pick the one that suits your specific needs.
Last but not least, you’ll need to ensure the water filter you choose for traveling and backpacking is the right fit for your situation (most people want them compact, durable and lightweight).
There are many different types of water filters you can buy for backpacking and traveling, so this is an overview of what they are, when you would use them, and in which situations they’re best suited.
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Regular readers will know by now that I never leave home without my power station. Whether I’m camping, road-tripping, or on a city-break with my laptop and phone, a reliable source of power comes with me everywhere I go.
And it’s not just because I can’t go a day without my phone (though that’s also true!). It’s also the comfort of camping with a running fridge for keeping food; for air-con when you’re road-tripping through the desert, and for being able to power lights for safety.
It’s also necessity when you have to face severe energy shortages, which many countries around the world, especially developing nations, constantly do.
So I’m not willing to sacrifice electricity when I travel – yes, because of the safety and convenience, but also because you simply don’t have to.
My favorite portable power station to date has been the Bluetti AC200 (I wrote this review), which has now been made even more powerful with its latest product update: now the AC200P.
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Australia has a long history of sheep farming, and within 50 years of their arrival in 1788, sheep had become the main source of income for Australian industry.
29 sheep arrived in Australia with the British First Fleet. 230 years later, wool markets around the world are dominated by Australian exports, and our country has more than 27 million sheep; raised largely for wool over meat.
Humble farming has defined Australia for centuries, and sheep are considered the iconic Aussie flock; farmers continue to work sheep stations throughout the country to feed and clothe the nation.
A true-blue producing nation, there are now 85,681 farms across Australia, and many sheep properties invite you to stay; to swap those white sneakers for gumboots and experience country life in a real and authentic way.
One such property is Rathmore, an hour from Hobart in Tasmania’s Central Highlands; a historic sheep property settled in 1828, which is unique in offering a choice of accommodation.
Choose to stay in the beautiful sandstone homestead with the land owners, with grand bedrooms and period furniture, or in the historic shearers’ quarters, recently revived to offer a country experience that is rustic chic.
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Whether you’re arriving in Dominica by cruise ship, commercial plane, or private jet, this volcanic, rainforest-covered island offers up plenty of ways to simply kick back and relax. It’s Dominica’s adventure scene, however, which makes this a truly unique and rewarding Caribbean holiday.
There’s no shortage of beautiful islands to choose from in the Caribbean, but one gem that is often overlooked in the Windward Islands group is Dominica. Remarkably different than other nearby islands both in terms of culture and natural landscapes, Dominica is finally starting to gain attention as the next hot ecotourism destination.
Having been a filming location for Pirates of the Caribbean, you too can partake in your own exciting adventures including jungle jeep safaris, scuba diving, rowboat river journeys, river tubing, and horseback riding both on the beach and actually in the sea.
Two-thirds of Dominica is covered in rainforest, much of this untouched land home to national parks filled with waterfalls, hot springs, and other natural wonders. While narrowing down the best things to experience in Dominica definitely isn’t easy, here are my top five things not to miss on your next Dominica getaway.
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The Huon Valley has long been a popular day trip option from Hobart. After-all, just a 30 minute drive south of the city and you’ll be at the source of some of the finest food and freshest ingredients in the country.
Apple growers, craft cider makers, boutique winemakers, salmon producers, and other homegrown produce means even many locals make the drive just for lunch.
But this is a region defined by more than just its food excellence, and if you’re visiting the State, the traditional day trip from Hobart won’t even come close to doing the region justice.
Because on top of the apple cider, salmon sushi, and mouthwatering apple pie (trust me, you’ll order two servings), the Huon Valley also serves up incredible natural beauty, and a huge range of adventure. And they serve it to you on a platter!
The Huon Valley is full of beaches, caves, thermal springs, and is the gateway to the southern forests and World Heritage Wilderness Walks. You can explore by jet boat, hang glider, foot, or car, and if you’re hungry inbetween, fuel up on produce from local roadside stalls.
The Huon Valley is not a day trip destination. It’s worthy of far more time. We recommend at least four to five days for exploring the region.
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We’re forced to forgo many comforts when we travel, from familiar food to leisurely hot showers (not every country enjoys a seemingly endless supply of hot water!), and sleeping on a comfortable pillow.
But for all the comforts you sacrifice to hit the road, access to power shouldn’t be one of them. After-all, electricity is one of the most important blessings science has given us!
Power is everything when you travel; keeping your phone charged means communication in an emergency; keeping a fridge going means food for off grid trips, or during a natural disaster / power outage.
Keeping a TV in your van means you won’t kill the family you committed to share a confined space with, and keeping lights charged could save your life during night-time adventures.
But how do you guarentee you have constant access to a reliable source of power? The EB240 is a portable solar power station from MAXOAK which has a huge capacity and load, and is super long lasting for travel in the outdoors, an RV, or even for use as emergency backup power at home.
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I’m often asked what makes a good travel shoe and my number one response is usually versatility. While it would be nice to pack a dozen different pairs of shoes, this is totally impractical when traveling, and in trying to adhere to luggage size and weight restrictions the goal is pack just one or two pairs of lightweight shoes that you can use for a wide range of activities.
Most versatile shoes are lacking in one particular area though, and that’s in being waterproof. Which is important because, trust me, it rains in pretty much every country! Enter Loom.
Loom Footwear has not only created a highly-versatile sneaker, they’ve gone a step further and made them waterproof. Stylish enough for city walking, they’re also great hiking shoes that can stand up to a number of elements.
Both lightweight and comfortable, they’re easy to pack and can worn all day without suffering from sore feet. All of this adds up to Loom waterproof sneakers being an ideal choice for travel footwear.
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Have you ever watched your favorite action/adventure film, like Indiana Jones or National Treasure, where the heroes hop around the globe, following clues and eventually finding the hidden prize?
What if we told you could do that same thing with just your smartphone and a willingness to travel?
Most people think of their smartphone as a gateway to digital entertainment, and with good reason. One of the main selling points you’re only ever a few taps and swipes away from a host of games, taking in the latest VR experiences, indulging in a rapid-fire game of Zoom Poker, or enjoying your favorite shows on one of the top streaming services.
However, just because these are all activities that can be enjoyed from your favorite comfy chair, doesn’t mean your smartphone can’t help you indulge you love of adventure, exploration, and travel.
Enter Geocaching!
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One of the world’s most beloved hiking trails just so happens to end at one of the most famous wonders of the world. While many tourists take the train to the ancient Inca citadel Machu Picchu, it’s the 4-5 day hike along the world-renowned Inca Trail through the Andes that allows you to really embrace the region and its culture.
The Inca Trail’s roughly 26-mile-long trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu will introduce you to a range of different natural landscapes including clouds forests and alpine tundra, passing numerous ancient Inca ruins along the way.
Here are a few of the highlights along your journey.
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Beverages are a big part of the camping experience, and there’s often no better way to quench your thirst than with some delicious libations out in the woods!
Sharing a beer after kayaking, sipping a wine as the sun sets, or passing natural weed around the campfire as you strum the guitar and crack some jokes; these are all camping traditions that make the adventure a memorable one.
But when you’re camping with beverages you can get certain things wrong. As such we’ve put together this handy resource.
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One of America’s greatest natural treasures, Yellowstone National Park was the first declared national park in the U.S. and one of the first government-protected natural areas in the world.
The enormous park covers over two million acres, most of which lies within the state of Wyoming, and with plenty of nature trails and wide open spaces, is the perfect way to enjoy the outdoors while maintaining socially distancing.
Yellowstone’s untamed land is home to canyons, rivers, mountains, and half of the world’s hydrothermal features. Five entrances provide access to nearly a hundred different hiking trailheads and hundreds of miles of park roads. Many of America’s largest animals including bears, bison, and elk can be seen, in addition to Yellowstone’s many iconic natural landmarks.
I hope to inspire you to visit Yellowstone National Park and its surrounds by sharing the park’s most famous natural features and the wildlife you can expect to see during your visit.
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Of all the addictions of modern society, I never fell into any seriously bad vices. Though I am addicted to power. Not the type that ‘goes to your head’, but the type that powers your devices, keeps your light on, and your fridge active!
I’m talking about electricity. I cannot go without it! I want it when I’m camping, when living the RV life, and I want it during a power outage, like when you’re visiting a region with recurrent blackouts, or caught in a natural disaster.
Portable power stations have become my best friend – especially those with clean solar recharge. And my favorite brand MAXOAK has just announced their highest capacity portable power station yet.
Eco-friendly, reliable, cost-effective, and with a continuous 2000W AC Output / 1700Wh capacity, this portable solar powered generator can power 17 devices simultaneously, and is powerful enough to charge a Tesla!
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When we head out to travel the world, most of the time we assume this will involve taking flights. ‘Got your plane ticket? Got your passport’? These are two things that everyone checks.
But taking to the skies isn’t the only way to see the world around us. While you could travel by car, rail, bus, or plane, there are an array of alternative options out there that can give you a unique insight into the culture of the place you’re visiting.
And these modes of transport will be even more memorable than the flight you’ll probably sleep through anyway!
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When I decided to visit Vietnam, trekking and homestay with a local H’mong hill tribe was at the top of my list.
Have you ever traveled to a destination where you felt transformed by the experience? A place so distant from your reality, but at the same time, so connected and simple?
My time with a Black H’mong family in Sapa allowed for total immersion into a tribal culture, while having the opportunity to appreciate little things that we take for granted like a comfortable bed, and a daily hot shower.
My experiences in Sapa are up there with some of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had; while sharing a house with a hill tribe in the mysterious misty mountains of north-western Vietnam.
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Waterfalls are one of the most beautiful creations of Mother Nature. They are often a source of freshwater for local communities, while at the same time, attract tourists for their beauty, which naturally boosts local economies.
World famous for their scenic beauty, prominent falls include Angel Falls in Venezuela, Niagara Falls in the United States / Canada, and Victoria Falls on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Incredible falls are present throughout the globe, and the same is true for India.
A subcontient often considered to be a microcosm of the world, and home to some of the wettest places on earth, India is home to thousands of falls ranging from a few meters to hundreds of meters in height.
Of course, you won’t have the chance to visit every single one, so here we’ve listed 10 of the best waterfalls; the most renowned for their beauty, of which you absolutely shouldn’t miss!
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In recent years, rumors have begun to spread about the existence of a wildlife rich island off the coast of South Australia, in the Southern Ocean / Great Australian Bite.
A natural, rugged island where native animals like kangaroos, sea lions, koalas, and penguins roam freely, through an interior of sand dunes, bush-land, and pink lakes; one surrounded with impeccably clear waters where you can swim with wild dolphins, while feasting on mouth-watering food and wine at the end of the day.
Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island, and while it feels like you’re a million miles from the rest of the world, the SeaLink Kangaroo Island ferry takes only 45 minutes from the mainland.
Australia’s very own Galapagos, this is one of the world’s greatest nature based destinations, and this year is the perfect time to visit!
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From hiking through national parks to experiencing the Alaskan wildlife and wilderness, there are plenty of walking holiday destinations in the USA to consider before jetting off.
Here’s a quick guide to the best locations for hiking holidays in the USA and what kinds of things you can expect from each.
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The popularity of Joshua Tree National Park dates back 10,000 years, back when the Pinto Culture were hunter-gatherers within the region. Cattle rustlers and miners would later move into the area before Joshua Tree would eventually go on to become the outdoor recreation mecca it is today.
Joshua Tree’s otherworldly landscape is filled with billion-year-old boulders and crazy looking Joshua trees for which the park is named. It’s now been 25 years since California’s Joshua Tree became a national park, conserving nearly a half million acres of rugged yet beautiful desert wilderness.
The park has been popularized through its appearance in music videos, iconic album covers, and through big name music concerts, though it’s major draw is its offering of outdoor adventure.
Whether you’re into rock climbing, hiking, camping, or spotting wildlife, Joshua Tree definitely delivers! Read about all the things you can do!
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Backcountry skiing is a fun and exhilarating pastime for experienced skiers who want to experience something new. It combines some of the most exciting, but also dangerous aspects of rock climbing, skiing, and hiking into one adrenaline-packed sport.
In this guide, we’ll go over what you need to start backcountry skiing, how you can stay safe, and where you can go around the world to do it!
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There’s nothing worse than finding yourself without power when traveling. Whether you’re camping, trekking, or in a country where the power goes out every afternoon (3pm on the dot in the Solomon Islands!), these days we need battery life for most things we do.
And that’s where a portable power station comes in, and why it’s so essential to have one for travel; a power source, and way of charging your electronics regardless of whether you’re outdoors, far away from a wall outlet, or caught in a power outage.
The brand we’re reviewing today is the US based MAXOAK Bluetti AC20 Portable Power Station – it’s a lightweight but durable portable generator that is excellent for travel, as well as use as a backup power source at home.
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When you picture Namibia, what are the first images that come to mind? Beautiful landscapes? Red dunes? Diverse wildlife? Beautiful indigenous tribes?
Surprise! Namibia has all of this and much more. If you haven’t yet visited Namibia, it’s time to feel inspired by these 10 photos that will make you want to jump on a plane!
The energy of this place, combined with the unparalleled abundant wildlife, the beautiful and friendly people and the silence of the desert will give you so many reasons to fall in love with Namibia!
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