The Hottest Wine Travel Destinations In The US

Wine is one of the great joys in life, and a lot of the people who enjoy drinking it also love seeing where it comes from. Since vineyards and wineries are often some of the most attractive places in the world, traveling to sample, buy, and enjoy wines is a terrific way to spend a relaxing vacation (it's also a great wine lovers gift for weddings!). For American lovers of the grape, some of the world's finest wine travel destinations can be reached without the need of a passport.

Finger Lakes (New York)

Upstate New York is hiding one of the country's most promising tracts of wine country. Although it's little-known in the rest of the country, there are more than a hundred wineries in the Finger Lakes region. The area is particularly known for its fine Rieslings, although it also produces complex vintages like Teroldego and Grüner Veltliner. With beautiful hiking opportunities and some top notch restaurants, a trip to the Finger Lakes area will be immensely rewarding for wine enthusiasts.

Orlando (Florida)

While the grown-up fun of wine-tasting parties isn't the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of Orlando, this part of Florida is surprisingly well-stocked when it comes to superb vintages. Although there's not a lot of native wine produced in the area, the steady influx of tourists through Orlando has given rise to some very refined treats for the discerning palate. Sample fine wines straight from the cask at Highball & Harvest or pick out some hard-to-find boutique wines at the Eola Wine Company. Orlando also boasts some exceptional restaurants, and of course the Disney attractions in the area make it an ideal destination for family trips.

Mendocino County (California)

The heart and soul of California wine country, Mendocino county is home to more than fifteen thousand acres of thriving vineyards. With exhilarating seaside views close at hand and crowding rare, Mendocino is the perfect retreat for the privacy-minded wine enthusiast. (Visitors should keep in mind that the area is short on accommodations, though, so renting a car is a must.) With some of the world's finest Pinot Noir, Mendocino tastings are typically memorable affairs. Forward-thinking wine fans should definitely stop by the Frey Vineyards in the Redwood Valley to sample some delicious organic wines.

Of course, experienced wine travelers often jet off to destinations all around the world, and through the years a well-traveled connoisseur of fine wine may visit dozens of countries. Those who start their wine travel careers in the United States have plenty of sights to see before they ever book an international flight, though! So whether you're planning a trip for yourself or taking the advice of the Home Booze Gear site and gifting, any of these make a great getaway for wine lovers.

Becoming A True Hero

Adventure travel means so many different things to many different people. To the isolated individual from the U.S. Midwest who has never left their home town, traveling to a different part of the country would suffice for adventure and travel both. To the seasoned adventurer or world traveler, adventure travel means doing something that will make for great stories at a later date.

I would definitely consider myself in the latter group of individuals, but I started in the first group over a decade ago. When it comes to adventure travel, I want to do something that I can brag about later. Honesty is the best policy, right? From my point of view, it is all about good stories and collecting experiences for when I am old and can no longer do such crazy things.

To help pass the time in your old age, allow me to proffer a few interesting adventures for you to notch into your travel belt. Firstly, if you consider adventure to mean strenuous activity that gets you in the Active Zoned area, then you absolutely must become a true hero. Thankfully, the world has an authority to crown heroes among men in the modern age!

Enter, the Great Wall Of China. The wall of legends. We all knew you could see it from space when we were in school (sadly, this isn't true.) What does this have to do with becoming a true hero? Heroes require a great test or strength or athletic ability, after all, a hero is someone who is above the average mortal.

When you arrive at Ba Da Ling to see the Great Wall in all her majesty, you may notice an interesting placard upon the stairs. The quote of Chairman Mao Zedong that reads “A man is not a hero, if he has not conquered the Great Wall.” As you look up the steep wall that climbs Ba Da Ling mountain, you can clearly see station towers every so far where archers may have been placed in ancient times.

Heroes were called upon to defend the wall and guard for invaders. These heroes had to be able to run from tower to tower as defense was needed. Starting from the bottom you can request a card for this journey. Each tower you make it to along the Ba Da Ling route will net you a stamp on your card.

You may stop at any tower and call it quits, but you will not be given the reward mantle certificate of becoming a true hero unless you make it to the top of the mountain, the high tower in that stretch of the wall. Don't be surprised when it takes you all day, and really tests your athleticism and endurance.

If running the same wall that individuals before you have crumbled before on a quest to become a hero of the middle kingdom isn't an adventure for you, then I suggest fox hunting in the forests of South Korea, with a traditional short bow. Of all of my adventurous travels over the years, these two stand out as being, without a doubt, the most demanding of my body but rewarding to my spirit.

Four Beautiful Flatwater Paddling Destinations

Flatwater paddling or racing (also known as canoe sprinting) is an outdoor sport practiced on calm beds of water such as lakes or rivers in which the athlete or athletes depending on certain variables, race a canoe or kayak across the length of a course. Flatwater paddling competitions began in the mid-19th century and has since then become a favorite recreational and competitive sport among men and women alike.

If you are an avid flatwater paddler and are looking for some place new and exciting to practice or maybe you are just beginning to take an interest in being a bowman there are many places to that have the perfect locations for just that.

Loon Lake

Loon Lake which is located near Millinocket, Maine is a bit off road so although accessible by vehicle it is great for a quiet and peaceful boat ride. The shorelines are varied with marshy areas, rock outcrops, coves and beautiful white pines that strategically overlook water. This beautiful location is ideal for a day trip or even camping and provides many options to explore the shoreline when you are not busy paddling.

Cedar River Flow

Lake Pleasant, New York has a beautiful location for not only flatwater paddling but also wilderness camping and hiking. Cedar River Flow has a certain wild character that will leave you breathless with its wild life and cool, clear mountain water this is definitely a location you want to paddle through.

Colorado River

Many say that paddling down the Colorado River right below Hoover Dam is an easy yet beautiful, unique way to enjoy the canyons, wildlife and wilderness of this beautiful area. Although this can be completed in twelve hours many people choose to take a few days being as there is so much to see and explore.

Waldo Lake

Near Odell Lake, Oregon is Waldo Lake which is one of the highest, largest, deepest and clearest lakes in the area. This unique location is not fed by inlet streams but by precipitation and underground springs making it a nearly sterile and crystal-clear option.

So depending on where you live or even where you wish to travel beautiful flatwater paddling locations abound. Make sure before traveling to check the local weather in the areas you wish to paddle as well as any local contacts that may be able to provide useful tips and pointer enabling you to get the most out of your flatwater paddling experiences. And remember, you can take your iSUP with you when traveling. So, pack up that cheap inflatable stand up paddle board that you read about on Andy's Best SUP Reviews and have some fun out there.

Netbook or Full-size Laptop for Travels?

For a while one thing that I struggled with was what type of computer to travel with on my trips. Since I do all of my work online (and I can do it anywhere), then I definitely need to have something with me on trips.

Initially, I was carrying an old Sony Vaio laptop with me. It was large and dreadfully heavy. It gave me lots of backache on my walks in the airport and to hotels.

So, then I got myself a little netbook. Why? Because it is small and light. Guess what? That screen is teensy! And it was the slowest computer known to man. It really did not meet my needs at all in the long run.

I've also tried just using a Kindle Fire. That browser is quite terrible - always crashing.

For now, I'm back to using a laptop. In the future though, I hope to upgrade to a Macbook Air since they are super lightweight. I'm sure my back will thank me for it!