Where should an outdoorsy couple go on vacation? We are in our mid-20s and enjoy hiking, kayaking/canoeing, easy cycling and good food. We would prefer to go somewhere that is not too crowded/touristy.
‘To hike the 1,003km Bibbulmun Track in Australia’s southwest is to walk through a natural history museum’ https://t.co/qifUYWVbaI pic.twitter.com/RWXavqjm2w
— Geographical (@GeographicalMag) March 7, 2018
I would go to Alaska!!! We flew into Anchorage and then drove down to Seward hitting many spots along the way. We hooked up with Liquid Adventures http://www.liquid-adventures.com/ and did a one day SUP trip into Bear Glacier, check out their website. This is the only place that does this. Then we went with them on a four-night kayaking trip where we didn't see another human for five days. Awesome trip! People are great food was great, and Alaska is amazing!!!
There is a "Martian" holiday destination, open for business on the Wadi Rum desert. :)
The tourists get to live in domes and gaze on a "martian" landscape. You should bring your own potatoes though.
Anyone going? :) pic.twitter.com/CrzfbYAnKU
— Surviving Mars (@Surviving_Mars) April 21, 2018
I would suggest the Swiss Alps in August. They should be easily reachable with a short connection in Frankfurt or another major European city. We recently spent a week in Zermatt. It was packed with all types of hiking trails of all levels; our longest was 21km.
The other great thing is no cars are allowed, so you really feel as if time stops in this place. On top of amazing trails, there are great little places up in the mountains you can hike to for a drink or some lunch. Should you wish to have a couple of days in between hikes you have all the mountains that can be explored via ski lift, loads of spas, great restaurants, and you can even ski in August at the top of the glacier if you're interested. We stayed at Hotel Berghof Zermatt which was perfectly located near the lifts and start of numerous trails.
Kaua'i. Hands down. We are heading there in March. This will be our third trip. Hike the Na'Pali Coast State Park. Amazing. Least touristy of all the Hawaiian Islands. Enjoy!
Costa Rica has everything you could ever want to enjoy in the outdoors. The west coast (Jaco and Playa Hermosa) has some of the best surfing and sports fishing in the world. The east coast is the home of the sea turtles and their nesting areas. There are 9 active volcanoes some of which can be seen at night (La Fortuna). Since Costa Rica is about the size of South Carolina, getting around by rental car is not hard.
Take to the skies for a parasail!
What other adventures will you seek in Costa Rica?https://t.co/PZdzvBjASP
📷: costaricaair
📍: Costa Rica pic.twitter.com/vNT3RMtId6
— Visit Costa Rica (@Visit_CostaRica) April 20, 2018
If you want more solitude, Iceland. Landmannalaugar, Lake Myvatn, Kirkjubaejarklaustur and Skaftafell National Park are just a few places where you'll find great hiking. There are plenty of unpaved backroads for cycling.
The food is very tasty, especially the seafood. There is a newly formed rawness about Iceland that makes it my top pick for active travelers. It seems like it's stuck in a time before humanity developed, and you can sometimes hike for hours without seeing other people. A word of warning: You can drive to many places in a rental car, but do not take the backroads lightly. Plan for drastic shifts in weather.
The swirling of your hand, every paddle stroke, the darting trails of nearby fish swimming, the torpedo-like aura of a dolphin swimming by all spark the blue that many compare to the "Avatar" or "Life of Pi" movies…
You can take a nighttime Bioluminescent Kayak tour in nearby Titusville – friends have told me the location here is brighter than the bio bays in Puerto Rico, which get a lot of tourists. Certain times of year are better than others for viewing (also aim for a new moon for darker skies). Check their website or call for info.
Bioluminescent Plankton @ Night, PlayaLinda Beach, Titusville, Florida. 20 minutes from https://t.co/eMQ2QFUekE pic.twitter.com/zDOVEnVJxG
— TGO Villa Rentals (@tgovillarentals) March 13, 2016
You need to come to Portland!! We are seriously known for the best hikes, the most bike-friendly city, and we have more restaurants per capita than any other city in America (although the food carts are where it's at). We are also known for our countless local breweries and coffee shops if you're into either. We have a beautiful city that is far from crowded or touristy.
You can take day trips to the mountains (year-round snow), the high desert, the most amazing coastline (Haystack Rock, anyone?), the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (the most breathtaking hikes I've ever been on), or even Seattle, which is well worth a visit! Also, the time of year you are looking at is the best time to come.
I'm not just saying Portland because I live here, I think it would be the best for what you are looking for. There's a reason I live here :)