Ten best tips for healthy travel

Seana’s Healthy Travel tips

Follow these 10 handy tips to stay healthy while traveling —you’ll feel better and will have more energy to enjoy your holiday!  

by Seana Treavor

Snack Smartly
Bring healthy snacks and avoid the junk. String cheese, fruit, nuts/seeds, veggies and guacamole are all easy to eat and nutritious.  

Hydrate
Take your water bottles with you and refill them often. Avoid sodas which pack unnecessary sugar and can actually be dehydrating.

Stretch
Move frequently (at least a few times a day) and change your seat position. Do some easy stretches for hip flexors, lower back and neck/shoulders. Don’t pass up on those hikes, either!

Protect
Slather on the sunscreen (SPF 30+) at regular intervals to keep skin safe. Wear high quality sunglasses that are rated for UVA, UVB and HEV light. Polarized lenses help cut out glare, also.

Move
Bring sneakers and portables like resistance bands or a yoga mat and load your device with workouts for on-the-go fitness. 

Layer
Get comfy and layer loose, light clothing to avoid chafing and to be prepared for a variety of temperatures.  

Squeeze
Compression socks aren’t just for elite athletes — they’re perfect for travel, and help prevent achy or swollen lower legs.

Eat (mostly) clean
It’s always tempting to indulge when traveling; moderation and portion control is key when yielding to tempting delights.

Sleep
You’ll be more present and will enjoy your time more if you’re rested and fresh for your activities.  Take advantage of the rolling motion of the bus and catch a few naps to supplement your night rest.  

Flex

Having a schedule is a great way to keep your trip organized, but when the timing doesn’t work out, stay flexible and steer clear of the added stress that can come with focusing too much on your trip goals.  Enjoy the journey!

A Tortoise Transformation

By Amber Locke

Something magical and very unexpected happened to me while riding with Green Tortoise Adventure Travel for a weekend trip to Yosemite National Park.  After a single experience with this unique style of travel, I learned exactly why the Green Tortoise is still going strong almost 50 years after pioneering group adventure travel in America.  

Sure, they go to amazing places in their living room-style buses.  Yes, you will come away from the trip with photos of beautiful scenery and incredible memories of your destinations. Of course, the food is fantastic and freshly prepared.  But the real draw to the Tortoise? It's the people.  The personalities you can’t help but fall in love with are exactly the types that will happily hop on a bus and sleep curled up next to strangers for days at a time.  The mystery beforehand of the people you’ll be sharing the experience with is part of the majesty of riding the Tortoise bus.

As a resident of the Bay Area, I ride the train to work and look around at my fellow commuters staring at their cell phones or playing Candy Crush on iPads;  I can't help but wonder why we completely ignore everyone around us.  It’s rare that you see two or more strangers engaging with one another on the morning or afternoon commute that we all seem to share.  I’ve come to see us as jellyfish caught in the same current; all moving in the same direction, yet unaware of our connection.

So, when I boarded the custom-built Green Tortoise coach with 30 strangers, I wondered how this atmosphere would be any different.  Within two hours of the ride, I discovered that it was, in fact, very different.  With chatter coming from everywhere on the bus, I heard someone remark, “I feel like I’m seeing my Australian friends, again.  Like, you’re back from a long trip and we’ve reunited.” (He was a solo traveler from the U.K. and made quick friends with everyone on the bus.)  Most of us were in the same situation -- traveling alone, hoping to see as much as possible during our short vacations and willing to share the sights with the people surrounding us.  Our singularity was actually what allowed us to connect so easily.  

When we arrived in Yosemite (after a night drive), we were no longer solo travelers.  We were a huge group of friends, banding together to form groups to tackle different activities.  Americans, Taiwanese, British, Serbians and many other nationalities were walking together in one of the most beautiful places on Earth; I came to understand that we weren’t so different from each other, after all.  

The Tortoise taught me to have a little more faith in humanity.  I discovered that despite our home addresses, we shared a need for adventure and love for travel that transcends cultures.  Our bus was full of diversity and, to me, that evolved into the most beautiful aspect of the trip. How effortlessly we had formed connections was awe-inspiring.  When the time came, I left the trip with a handful of new friends and I was truly saddened to say goodbye.  We had climbed to new heights together, shared meals in beautiful settings, I’d even taught them how to make s’mores.  In return, they had taught me funny new phrases from their countries and about a newly developed part of myself I cannot explain.

When I boarded the Green Tortoise coach in San Francisco I never imagined that one weekend would have such an effect on me.  In fact, the next time I stepped onto the Bay Area rapid transit train, I had the overwhelming urge to shout, “Good morning!” to everyone onboard.  I had a desire to gift upon everyone an awareness; we are all searching for the same happiness in life and if we take a moment to connect with the human being next to us, our daily routine would be infinitely enhanced. Perhaps it would change someone's life, as it did mine, by acknowledging that we are here together sharing this community, our one lifetime, our one world.  

Memoirs of a Traveler

Memoirs of a Traveler Laura Casey shares her experience on our 16-day National Parks Loop. A wild symphony. That's what the birds sound like at sunrise on Utah's Great Salt Lake. Foul. That best sums up the odor of the warted, mucky geothermal pools at midday in Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park. Exhausting fun. This is perhaps the easiest description for the on- and off-bus experience on a 16-day Green Tortoise trip through several national and state parks. In mid-July, I joined about 25 other folks, mostly from Europe, hiking in some of the most beautiful spots in the country. Our nights were split unevenly between camping under the stars and sleeping on the modern, relatively roomy bus as it drove us to our next new scenic spot. Aside from California, I hadn't seen much of the West. I longed to see the big skies of Montana, Arches National Park in Utah and the historic Route 66. For two weeks, I was surrounded by teachers from France, the U.S. and Canada. I swam with a German father and his 14-year-old son -- who were on a bonding trip -- in Jackson Lake at Grand Teton National Park. I scrambled up rocks at Arches with accountants from Switzerland and took a jeep tour of Monument Valley with students and high-tech workers from England. We prepared meals together, grilled s'mores around the campfire at night and paired up for hours-long hikes during the day. The connections were almost immediate. On the first night, I shuffled to the back of the bus, where a designated sleeping area doubled as a chill-out lounge during the day. There, I sat next to New York graphic designer Jin Jin and shared her dried mango slices as we talked about the wonderful places we were about to see. Friendship bloomed naturally and quickly. A year earlier, she had taken an epic trip to Alaska with friends. This year, with the Green Tortoise, she found herself camping out most evenings under the stars, something she never before had done. Late one night, she marveled as a family of deer quietly passed through camp in Zion National Park. "When I came back from Alaska, I said it was the best trip," she says, "but when I came back from the Green Tortoise, I felt this was the best trip ever." I couldn't agree more. Laid-back in theory but running more like clockwork, the Tortoise surprised both of us with its depth.  I saw sunrises at the Arches, Great Salt Lake and Grand Canyon. I was in the water almost every day -- I didn't skip one chance at swimming or taking a dip in a hot spring. I marveled at the slim canyon walls at The Narrows in Zion National Park, stopping at one point during the six-hour Riverside Walk hike to watch a yellow butterfly flutter in the sunlight. The advantage of being with Green Tortoise was most apparent in Yellowstone. A dozen of us decided to walk from our group campground at Grant Village through the individual camp sites to Yellowstone Lake. Our huge camp site featured space enough for 25 of us to spread out in almost quiet isolation. In contrast, Yellowstone's general camping area was cramped with buzzing generators and loud campers. Did I find a park to rival my love affair with Joshua Tree? Yes. I think I fell in love with them all. Back in San Francisco, sadly disembarking the bus on a chilly Sunday afternoon, I realized that no matter how I saw those national parks, their beauty would have touched my heart in some way. But this unusual method of traveling the nation's greatest treasures with new friends gave me my epic, unforgettable trip -- foul odors, wild symphonies and all. Courtesy of Laura Casey and the Contra Costa Times

Ultimate Wildlife Encounters!

Ultimate Wildlife Encounters! Get up close and personal with a gentle giant in Baja! Is swimming with gigantic sharks on your "must do" list yet? What if they were docile filter feeders and only ate plankton and tiny fish? The whale shark grows to lengths over 40' (12.2m) long, has an average weight of 20.6 tons, and "might be the largest animal on the planet that you can be close to in its natural environment and not be in any danger whatsoever," says Robert Hueter, director of the Center for Shark Research at Mote Marine Laboratory. These enormous open sea sharks migrate thousands of miles and gather to feast in warm, nutrient rich water for six months. The gentle giants largely remain a mystery, as scientists have yet to discover where they go when they leave their feeding grounds! Fortunately for us, the bay in La Paz, Baja California is part of their mysterious migration route, and is easily accessed by a short boat ride from the city shore. Local tour operators offer inexpensive trips to swim with these rare sea creatures and are experts at spotting them (some companies even hire spotter planes to guide their boats to the whale sharks).* Additional boat trips that leave the bay are also available and offer another incredible opportunity to swim with sea life; snorkeling or scuba diving at the sea lion colony near the islands of Espiritu Santo.  As you don your gear and jump off the boat, playful pups and curious adult sea lions weighing in at 300 kg (660 lb) take a break from basking in the sun and slide into the ocean to swim by and gawk at you.   In this wildlife experience, you'll be interacting with a creature that grows to about 8 ft (2.4 m) long in their natural habitat. During the boat ride, keep an eye out for Mobula Rays leaping up to 6 feet (2m) out of the water in their puzzling but flashy exhibition! The Green Tortoise visits La Paz on the Gold Coast Loop, Baja Whale Watching and the Baja Beach Daze 14 day trips. *Reservations are required. As migrations vary from year to year, it's recommended to check ahead of time to see if the whale sharks are in La Paz bay.

New Educational and Service Trips!

New Educational and Service Trips! Combining learning and service with Green Tortoise adventure! We've developed an exciting line of trips especially for students! Our new Educational and Service trips combine educational and volunteering opportunities with Green Tortoise's gourmet camping meals, spectacular sightseeing, and fantastic adventures. These journeys include ecology, environmental awareness, and volunteer opportunities in unique outdoor settings. Some treks afford school groups an opportunity to lend a helping hand and participate in environmental projects or humanitarian services. Others offer college credit through a collaborative effort with Dr. Ken Carloni, a professor in the science department at Umpqua Community College. For more information, check out our new Educational and Service work trips. Be sure to check back often as new trips are being developed and will be ready to take off soon!

Shorter Days + Cooler Weather = SAD

Shorter Days + Cooler Weather = SAD Tips on how to beat the winter blues! Camp on the beach! Warm yourself in Death Valley! Head for open waters! Autumn is upon us and that means shorter days, cooler weather and less opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities. Although there are positive benefits to longer nights, for many people the shortened amount of daylight causes a mood change known as Seasonal Affective Disorder -- or more simply, The Winter Blues. These seasonal blues are temporary and will lift when the days get longer in the spring, but you don't have to wait it out. Here are a few natural ways to beat back that "down in the dumps" feeling: Get thee to a lower latitude. Take a break from winter where the days are longer and warmer. Spend time socializing with friends. Laughter is the best medicine! Increase your activity level. Activity can stimulate your brain to release natural anti-depressants. Cut the junk and eat your veggies. A healthy diet can help regulate brain chemicals. Ready to "bust a mood"? Hop on one of our winter trips: Southern Road trip, Gold Coast Loop, Baja Beach Daze, Death Valley Loop and Florida Sun Escape!

Travel Tips for the Ultra Chic From Our Travel Diva, Ava Adventure travel ... in style! To all the Tortoisettes out there, this one's for you! Naturally you want to look your fabulous self during your ultimate road trip so we're spilling our secrets to help you look like the glamorous road warrior you are. Here are some helpful tips on staying beautiful and comfortable on you next adventure. Dry Shampoo: This is amazing stuff and you just need a tiny bit to sprinkle at the roots. Forget heavy shampoo/conditioner bottles, they will only weigh you down. If you're on a longer trip, consider trial size packets for one time use mid-trip to revitalize those gorgeous locks as well. "Yes to Cucumbers": Makeup removing and cleansing towelettes. These are refreshing and you will smell and feel delicious! Scented dryer sheets: If you need to use clothing more than once (which you should be, we are camping after all!), pack your clothing with some dryer sheets in between to keep your clothes smelling fresh. Roll them up with them after uses. Dry, static hair? No problem - just swipe with one of these and calm those locks down! Cotton knit sundress: is a good staple for your travel wardrobe, especially if your trip offers you a city stop and a night out on the town. A hat: Maybe even two. Keep the sun off your face with a big floppy sunhat; the ones that you can crush without consequence. Also great for bad hair days. Sea salt deodorant: Awesome and natural! Works on everything..underarms, stinky shoes, fabric, etc. Unfortunately it does nothing for those corny driver jokes, ha! Carry minimal makeup: Allow your skin to go Au Natural. Maybe a little tinted moisturizer with an SPF. And don't forget your regular sunscreen which is a must! Burt's Bees lip Shimmer: Fantastic to add a little color and moisture for those pouty lips. A Cotton pashmina: Mine has a million uses ... Sunbathing wrap, shoulder coverup for those sunny hikes or an extra layer around the neck for those chilly campfire nights. With these tips you're sure to be a smash on the trail, in a hot springs or by the campfire. Guys - all you need to do is bring chocolate ... Bars of chocolate to share with the ladies for some instant friends!

Ten Things to Bring on an Adventure Vacation

Spring is here and with it comes dreams of warm weather, the promise of summer, and travel to new and exciting places. Preparing for a journey can be daunting at times, so here's a handy list of some items that you may not have planned to take, but probably should.

1. Loop wallet/Money belt – Need we say more about this? Keep your valuables secure at all times with this hidden pouch.
2. Pillow case – Pillows are bulky and can take up a lot of space, but you can bring the case and then fashion a pillow out of clothes. Or, use it to add an additional layer on a questionable offering in your not-so-luxury accommodations.
3. Notebook/pens – Sure you think you'll always remember the details of your trip, but this handy item will guarantee you'll still have the name of that sweetie you met in D.C and are planning to reunite with in San Francisco.
4. Day pack – For those times when you want more than what's in your wallet.
5. Sleeping bag liner – If you've ever been to a hostel besides the Green Tortoise, this needs no explanation.
6. Novel – be it electronic or print, this will help on those long flights when you end up sitting next to someone not particularly interesting.
7. Flashlight/Headlamp – You're snuggled up, ready to snooze and suddenly remember you've forgotten something in your luggage. No worries, you wont be fumbling around in the dark when you have this along.
8. Sewing Kit – Repair a hole in your trousers, the loose button on your favorite shirt, or a rip in your day pack, this kit might just save you more one than it costs! Be sure to include safety pins and a larger needle for bigger jobs.
9. Floss – Not just for your teeth, the super-strong fibers can be used to tied things together or used with a needle for a quick, heavy-duty repair.
10. First aid kit – Treat minor wounds on the spot, blast a hangover headache, or solve an indigestion dilemma without ruining your day. Antibacterial cream, painkillers, bandages, antiseptic and indigestion remedies are among the important items in your kit.

Ready for an adventure, but not quite sure where to go?  Check out some destination ideas at Green Tortoise Adventure Travel, or call 415 956-7500 and we'll be happy to help plan your next holiday!

Spring is for Travel!

Easter Vacation

Still scrambling to make holiday plans?

Upcoming Baja and Mexico Tours: Fri, Mar 29 - Sun, Apr 07 9-Day Baja Tour

It's beginning to look a lot like springtime ...

Hammock swaying in the gentle ocean breeze, hummingbirds hovering over desert wildflowers, warm sea waters bathing you as you go for a leisurely swim ...

Wait, this isn't what your spring holidays will be like?

Well, it can be! The Green Tortoise still has space on the upcoming Baja Beach Daze 9-day trip!

Escape the cold weather, the candy tooth-ache, and the brunch blahs. Come to Baja where the sand, sun, and sea will rejuvenate your spirit and will create memories that will last a lifetime.

You'll meet new friends to have adventures with, share some incredible gourmet meals together and maybe even form some new holiday traditions!

Come by yourself or bring your loved ones ... either way, you'll be following your dreams of travel and adventure!

Contact us and book your spot today - 415 956 7500 Ext 1. We will be happy to help you!

Top 10 tips for Winter Travel

Getting there and away may be more complicated than you imagine during the winter months. Winter storms, ill tempers and heavy luggage stuffed with overcoats and boots are just a few details that can cause delays on any leg of your journey. While many airlines will allow a free change in your itinerary due to weather conditions, the simple task of changing a flight can take an hour or more on the phone. And your new flight may not be so pleasant (think jam-packed with travelers desperate to reach their destination after a canceled or delayed flight).



So why go at all during the winter? Outdoor activities, visiting family or just plain getting out of town can be an alluring reason to travel during the frosty months. If you've decided to take on the challenge of winter travel, here's a few simple tips to help keep your journey a smooth one.

1) Know the weather. It seems simple enough, but check the weather of your destination AND all of your connecting cities.

2) Check your flight status early and often. Also check for notices that the airline puts in their website. Often there are special offers to switch flights well in advance of an approaching storm.

3) Do NOT wait until the day of the storm to switch flights. Be proactive and take care of the details as early as possible.

4) Use the internet to do as much as possible. Wait times on the phone can exceed an hour during foul weather. If possible reserve your seats early.

5) Consider alternate transportation if you cannot reschedule. Trains or buses can be an excellent alternative.

6) Pack smart - bring your large overcoat on board with you. It makes more room in your luggage for other items, and you'll be prepared for weather when you arrive. You might consider wearing your bulkiest shoes for the same reason . .

7) Take advantage of free luggage services. If your airline offers free checked baggage, great! If not, ask at the gate if there is an option to "gate check" your luggage. The airline may offer early boarding as a reward for this convenient way to offload your roll-away.

8) Be prepared for the delays that may occur. Books to read, games for the kids, meals and/or snacks are all a good idea to bring. Remember you could be "stranded" at an airport for 24 hours!

9) Take your vitamins. Preparing yourself physically for your upcoming travel should be high on your list. Start weeks in advance so your immune system is in tip-top shape by the time your trip comes around. It is flu and cold season after all . . .

10) Inform your family or friends of any changes in travel plans or flight status. No sense in having others worry.

Fit for Travel

Enjoy a Healthier Adventure!

For many people maintaining a steady weight while traveling is difficult -- location changes, sleep pattern disruptions, climate variations, and tempting foods can all help pack on pound after pound during a vacation.

Taking off a week from working out wont break the scale, but any longer than that may allow those dastardly fat cells to set up camp on that flat belly. Here are a few tips to keep you healthier on your vacation and help you avoid bringing back an unwanted souvenir.

1. Rest. Your days can be packed with non-stop excitement, but leave plenty of time to get in 8 hours a night. You'll have energy the next day to experience even more fun!
2. Limit alcohol. Not only are alcoholic beverages packed with calories, but studies show that chemical changes happen in your body that will increase the size of your gut.
3. Water. Water will help you to feel full and might help you eat less. It also has no calories (unlike sugary sodas and "hydration" drinks).
4. Ditch the "All You Can Eat" syndrome. Avoid piling your plate to the sky with food and grubbing down quickly so you can pack in a second helping. Instead think "All You Should Eat" and go easy on the serving sizes.
5. Stay active. During long drives, do crunches, squats, push-ups or isometric exercises (contracting your muscles without moving). Make it a point to walk, hike or swim daily or as often as possible.

Chasing Waterfalls ...

Yosemite National Park in California has the world's highest concentration!

June is a fantastic time to explore waterfalls. Warmer weather and sunny days encourage a dip in the pools below a waterfall, while the water flow is still high enough for some spectacular sightseeing. (The term "fall" is used to indicate a sheer drop waterfall; "falls" is used when there are multiple drops.)

Yosemite National Park in California has a highest concentration of major waterfalls in the world. From any point in Yosemite Valley, you can see a waterfall -- in some places you can view as many as FOUR!

Bridalveil, Vernal and Nevada falls are the most popular, while Upper Yosemite and Ribbon are among the world highest. At 2425 feet (739 m) from the top of the upper fall to the base of the lower fall, Yosemite falls ranks 5th highest in the world!

Waterfalls form by erosion; centuries of fast flowing water carrying rocks and other debris, course along a path causing rocks to flake off and recede. With some of the most dramatic waterfalls, valleys and sheer vertical cliffs were formed by glaciers. The rivers run into these valleys and plummet to the valley floor below creating a breathtaking display.

With two- and three-day tours departing every week, getting to Yosemite is easier than ever -- just hop on one of our Yosemite adventures if you are in San Francisco, or contact us and let us help plan your trip.

Cheap Eats! How to chow down while traveling on a budget.

Boston and San Francisco are bustling U.S. cities, each with a local charm and personality that escapes most highly populated metropolitan areas. Situated on harbors with chilly sea water, they have distinctive skylines and scenic bridges over bays, rivers, and deltas.

Unfortunately they both also have inexplicably high prices during this downturned economy.

So what do you do when you are traveling on a budget and want to chow down on some local food without emptying your bank account and selling off your luggage?

Cheap eats.  Many restaurant-bars run specials on weekdays -- an invitation to fill yourself with satisfying food and socialize with other patrons.  But while $2 Taco Tuesdays are a great bargain, beware of the temptation to wash them down with a couple of drinks.  Beer, wine, mixed drinks and sodas may be especially high priced to offset the food cost.  Plus you may end up spending more than you thought if those tacos are mere morsels that require a dozen to fill you.

A better option is to look further than the popular tourist areas.  Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco for example, is a must see, but eat before you go or you'll be subject to average food at above average prices.  A better bet is to visit "the mission" first where a number of locales serve burritos as big as your head for a fraction of what you'd pay on the waterfront.

Chinatown is another option -- numerous small restaurants offer amazing cuisine for just a few bucks.  Both Boston and San Francisco have a Chinatown, by the way.

If you have the time, seek out the restaurants near the colleges and universities.  Pricing and portion size will likely be scaled to fit the college-sized budget and appetite.  If your hostel or hotel has a refrigerator, save half your meal for the next day . . . unless you can eat it all on the spot, that is!  

As always a little research goes a long way.  Websites such as chowhound, Yelp, tripadvisor, and urbanspoon have numerous suggestions and reviews from users that have discovered food nirvana and want to share their knowledge.

If you don't have time to get online, try these local favorites:   Galleria Umberto (Hanover st North End, Boston) stuff yourself with divine pizza and other Italian specialties for under $5.

El Farolito (Mission district, San Francisco) for burritos as big as your head -- and other Mexican fare. 

Happy travels and Bon Apetit!

To get to Boston and San Francisco, check out our USA Expedition Cross-Country Adventure. See both coasts and everything in between on this trek across America! Happy travels ... and Bon Apetit!

Helpful Travel Tips -- Plan now to make your adventure go smoothly!

Traveling is an exciting and wondrous activity! Each day is filled with the opportunity to experience new surroundings, cultures, and people. It stimulates our minds and touches our hearts in ways that our every day life cannot.

But as with most things, there can be a downside. The logistical challenges of getting ready for your adventure can be overwhelming. This is especially true if you are combining destinations or if you are planning on participating in one or more activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking or hiking. While most outfitters provide gear rental, you will still need to pack some essential elements to make the most of your vacation.

The following are a few pointers to steer you in the right direction when faced with the daunting task of filling your empty suitcase with all the right things.

1. Identify the area(s) that you are traveling to and do a quick weather pattern search on the internet. Is it likely to rain during the time of year you are going? Will the sun be high in the sky threatening sunburn? Will it be humid and will insects be an issue? Take the answers into consideration and set aside the appropriate gear to protect yourself from the environment you are forging into.
2. Plan on filling your luggage last and making small "piles" of your things first.
3. Your first pile should be items that you cannot live without on a daily basis. Medications, nutritional supplements, etc.
4. Next up are items that you need, but can be purchased anywhere, eg toothpaste, lotion, and other toiletries. If you cannot buy these items where you are going, you'll have to put them in the "Can't live without" pile.
5. In the third pile, you'll assemble your "can't do without" wardrobe. Start with the items that are absolutely necessary to endure the success/safety of the activities during (for example: rain gear, bathing suit, hikers, sun hat, etc).
6. Your last pile will be your daily clothing. Choose items that are multi-use and can be worn in a variety of situations. A collared sun-protection shirt is a good example of this. It can be worn hiking as well as to dinner. And while jeans may be a standard dress item for you, consider bringing a lighter weight pair of pants that will dry fast, weigh less, and double as dinner wear for a night out. Apply these same multi-use principles to your footwear, too. For a longer trip try not to bring enough outfits for two weeks. Instead, pack for a week and plan on washing your clothes when needed.

Now that you have assembled your piles, it's time to start loading your luggage. You should have a scale handy to weigh your checked bag. Nobody wants to be the person on the floor at the airport re-organizing their life at the check-in counter. Weigh as you pack and allow 0.5 lbs for a variation in scale weight. If you are using older luggage or have overstuffed your bag, consider securing a strap around it to help the poor zippers hold in the contents. It's a small investment of your time that might prevent your bag from bursting during transit and spilling all of your things onto the conveyor belt at baggage claim. You also will want to place some identifier on the outside of your bag such as a brightly colored ribbon, some colored tape, etc. This will help you spot your luggage in the sea of black bags at the luggage carousel.

Hopefully these tips have broken down the daunting task of packing for an adventure trip into small, easy to manage sections. While packing for a trip still remains a chore, using these easy steps will ensure that your pre-trip preparations go more smoothly.

Travel safely and have a blast!

Spring Break Vacation in Baja California, Mexico

Green Tortoise Adventure travel offers spring break trips to a remote beach camp in Baja California, Mexico. There you can enjoy kayaking, snorkeling, horseback trips and fishing excursions - all led by locals from the area with generations of experience! A truly magical beach offers solitude and relaxation that's a short walk away from the exciting activities.

Click here for Baja trip details!

For more than 35 years, The Green Tortoise has traveled to unique vacation destinations with adventure, fun and friendship at the core of every trip at a fraction of the price you'd pay for other "all inclusive" tours.

New lifelong friends on an incredible journey!

Fantastic gourmet food, transportation and camping expenses are included in each and every trek!

The coach interiors are custom built into a lounge style setting - single travelers and families alike interact with each other since they are seated facing each other. While the destination is the highlight of the trip, the journey becomes an unforgettable experience as well!

You'll have the trip of a lifetime, and will come away from your spring break refreshed and ready for the next adventure - plus you'll have a whole group of new friends!

Reserve your spot by calling Mac at 415 956 7500.  See you on the beach!

Whale Watching in Baja Mexico!

Sit back, stretch out, and watch the the cactus-covered landscape go by! Perfect for Baja lovers, whale enthusiasts, and all Green Tortoise adventurers alike, this once-a-year special tour combines all the highlights of our 9- and 15-day trips plus the best spots for mind-blowing whale watching!

This affordable Baja adventure is a whale of a deal! It's also spacious! We're limiting this unique south-of-the-border tour to 25 people, which means a lot more room for you! It also means there's limited space, so why not book today?



Get all the details on the Baja Whale Watching Special page on our website. And be sure to check out some up-close video footage from this unforgettable camping trek on our You Tube channel!

Give us a call at 415 956 7500 (ext 1) for questions or to reserve your space today.

Can't join us in February? Check out our selection of Baja California Adventures happening on or around Spring Break

Looking for a unique Valentine's day idea?

I used to dread traveling on buses travel and viewed it as just a mode of transportation until I took a trip that would forever change the way I felt about bus travel. It was on a Green Tortoise "Western Trail" trip that went from San Francisco, down the coast to Los Angeles, over to Las Vegas and back to San Francisco.

The insides of the Tortoise buses have all been custom built and instead of conventional bus seating there are couches, dinettes and even overhead bunks to sleep in. The style of travel is different - it's social, activity oriented, alternative . . .and incredible fun! You share a trip on a bus where you can sit next to and across from other travelers . . .well, that creates a unique group dynamic - in a very short amount of time you feel like you've been hanging out with your new friends for ages.

Since it's not a "point a to b" type of trip you end up in "off the beaten track" areas that you've never heard of. Camping and cooking outdoors are the norm in beautiful settings by the ocean . . . in the mountains . . . in a national park. And when we stop there are choices of optional activities like backpacking, horseback riding, hiking, whitewater rafting, jeep tours, kayaking . . . or just plain ol' relaxing!

On the Western Trail trip we toured the gorgeous coastline of California, got serenaded by the bus driver who sang and played blues guitar by the campfire, kayaked in San Simeon cove, watched the bronzed beach bunnies in Santa Monica, scrambled rocks in Joshua Tree National Park, then hiked in Zion after partying all night in Las Vegas. WOW. My muscles (and liver) still ache from the memory of it all!

The trips are nothing short of amazing - the camaraderie, exotic and stunning scenery, the physical exertion of a hike in a magical setting . . . somehow it all feels like I'm home when I'm on a trip, like I was meant to be there traveling among my new friends. And yes, in a magical moment that was created 7 years ago on a Green Tortoise trip . . . I met the love of my life! (who happens to be snoring right now as I romantically envision our meeting) In the travels I've done on these trips, I've met many people who I now consider to be lifelong friends - and I have met couples who have fallen deeply in love, become engaged, gotten married and some who have had children - all after meeting on a Green Tortoise bus!

Of course there are the spontaneous "vacation romances" that are pretty regular, too. . .

Over the Valentine's day weekend, the budget-priced adventure will be from San Francisco to Death Valley (and back of course!) It's a perfect alternative for single folks and couples alike . . . where else can you be guaranteed to sleep with someone on the first night, after all!

http://www.greentortoise.com/adventures/death.valley.national.park.html

The Green Tortoise is based in San Francisco, California and has been in business for over 35 years. They operate 9 full size, customized coaches on budget adventure camping trips to Alaska, all through the United States, in Mexico and Central America.

http://www.greentortoise.com/adventure.travel.html

415 956 7500 ext 1

Call and get on the next adventure!

Traveling on a budget in Baja California, Mexico

Foodie on the Road says "Try the Comida Corrida in Loreto!"

Once again it's the season for Baja travel, eating, and enjoying life with friends and family! There's no better way to explore local Mexican traditions than a comedor (restaurant or eatery) that offers comida corrida -- a small meal of several courses. Generally the menu varies from day to day and there are usually only three or four choices.

Our pick in Loreto, Baja Sur Mexico is La Vina, near the center of town on Colegio. The food is always fresh and lively and is prepared with a homemade style by Senor Angel. The portions are generous and at 50 pesos per meal (about 4.50 USD). You'll leave feeling full without emptying your wallet!

How to Write for a Blog, E-newsletter, and the Internet

When was the last time someone send you a link to their travel blog . . . and you actually enjoyed reading it? Did you read it to the finish?

While there are many good blogs out there - and a few really great ones, the truth of the matter is that the internet is innundated with wordy, difficult to read blogs that fail to capture attention.

Here are a few tips on writing for the internet that will make your blog, newsletter or internet article stand out, drive traffic ro your site, and ease the eyestrain of your readers:

Content on the Internet has to be easily scannable. Thanks to the Internet and broadcast media, people have far less patience and tolerance for large blocks of narrative text. When you create new Web text, make sure it's "chunked out" (broken into smaller blocks of text separated by a break) or "chunked down" (shortened).

Explain your points in short paragraphs. Short paragraphs are easier for the reader to follow. No one likes to look at a long block of solid text. Three, four or five sentences are usually enough for one paragraph.


Use the traditional newspaper structure of "inverted pyramid" writing. Like newspapers, the Internet should be a fast read, involve a lot of content and catch the reader's attention. Make sure your five W's (who, what, when, where, why, and also how) are close to the top. Details of lesser importance should follow, from general to specific (that's why the pyramid is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom). The idea is this: Even if the reader only reads the headline, they should have a good idea of what the article is about. And if they read only the first few lines, they should have a very good idea of the main points in the article

Here is an example of our Green Tortoise Adventure travel newsletter: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1101592235017/archive/1102949516783.html

Try to use keywords so the search engines can find the article. Also link to our own website with the proper landing page - the page that contains more information. The more keywords, the better. That's because search engines – the “publishers” of the internet - have “spider bots,” which crawl all over the internet looking for just the right websites to recommend to every person who enters a word or phrase in a Search box. The best keywords are ones that are most likely to be used in a search engine and picked up by a "spider bot."


So now, cute and catchy titles are out because the "spiders" don't recognize cute and catchy; they want short and precise titles using those keywords that also must appear over and over in an internet article. Synonyms are out - it's now all about keywords! This is how the people who are out searching for articles on the internet are matched up with the articles an author wants them to read.


When designing the layout, keep in mind the "f shaped" eye pattern that internet users utilize. Click here for examples of this study:
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/reading_pattern.html

The F pattern's implications for Web design show the importance of following guidelines for writing on the web:

Users won't read your text thoroughly in a word-by-word manner. Exhaustive reading is rare, especially when prospective customers are conducting their initial research to compile a shortlist of vendors. Yes, some people will read more, but most won't.


The first two paragraphs must state the most important information. There's some hope that users will actually read this material, though they'll probably read more of the first paragraph than the second.


Start subheads, paragraphs, and bullet points with information-carrying words that users will notice when scanning down the left side of your content in the final stem of their F-behavior. They'll read the third word on a line much less often than the first two words.


So now what are you waiting for? Start composing your blog and live your dream!

Shaunna
http://www.greentortoise.com/adventure.travel.html

A Perfect Bus Trip to Yosemite

From cascading rivers and thundering waterfalls to the legendary granite faces of El Capitan and Half Dome (pictured), Yosemite National Park is a nature lover's dream. Walk on wooded trails, visit the alpine lakes and meadows of the high country, and hike through an ancient grove of Giant Sequoias, the largest living things on earth (and, having sprouted 1,500 years ago in some cases, also some of the oldest)!

On Mondays through September, the Green Tortoise will trek to Yosemite, California's first National Park and one of America's favorites. This is the perfect three-day, four-night trip to take if you've never been on the Green Tortoise and want to get a sense of what a longer adventure trip is like. The cost includes all camping fees, the park entrance fee, and all but one meal. Weekday Yosemite bus tours leave Monday evening and return early Friday morning, giving you three full days to enjoy the bounty of the park and the eastern Seirra.

Can't get out of work that long? We have the solution! Join us for a weekend escape you'll never forget -- twice each month we travel to the park as well. Weekend adventure bus trips depart on Friday evening for two full days in Yosemite, including a day in the valley and another in the picturesque high country with a walk amongst the ancient Sequoias. We'll drop you off in San Francisco in plenty of time breakfast before heading back to the "real world."

We've included our full list of departure dates here. You can also visit our website for more details about our Yosemite adventures: http://www.greentortoise.com/adventure-bus-tours-california.html

Or call us at 415 956 7500 and chat with us!