Odd But Useful Outdoor Products

Sleeping bag-check.

Backpack-check.

Swedish FireSteel?

In this gadget-crazy world, it's not much of a stretch to find gizmos for your camping trip. They're mostly only available on the internet, but some of them might become available in high-end stores like REI or novelty shops. Since trees and sand dunes don't usually have power outlets, most of these are battery-powered.

I laughed out loud when I saw this one. It's a tent that hangs from a tree.  

http://blog.ziggytek.com/2011/11/20/10-weird-but-useful-gadgets/

What you do is spread it out, anchor it onto a tree and sleep in the bottom. I'm not sure how many people it sleeps or how comfortable it is, but a tent that isn't sitting on the ground doesn't attract all the bugs and snakes a 'regular' tent can. Plus, you don't have to worry about roots poking you in the back at night. Sounds good to me!

Are you a Star Wars or Blade Runner fan? I'm not, but I'd still get some use out of this umbrella.

http://www.networkworld.com/slideshows/2010/030410-gadgets-gizmos.html#slide6

The shaft of this umbrella glows like a 'light saber', giving you light to walk by. It's also a good way to keep track of people like me who tend to wander off when they see something cool in the window of a store.

Have you ever had trouble starting a campfire? Thanks to the Swedes, that doesn't have to be a problem anymore.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/754d/#tabs

This is the Swedish FireSteel. It was originally made for military use, but our friends at ThinkGeek have found a way for 'civilians' start a fire with even the wettest of wood. It works by running the metal blade across a flint at the end of a cable. The spark it creates is hot enough to start a fire and bright enough to be used as an emergency signal. It's about 3.75” long and weighs less than 2 ounces, so you won't have a problem fitting it into your bag. Cool, huh?

I grew up on the beach, so I've seen (and worn) a lot of bikinis. However, I've never seen anything quite like this.

http://www.networkworld.com/slideshows/2010/030410-gadgets-gizmos.html#slide8

The mini-strips this bikini is made of soak up solar power for your iPod Shuffle. Granted, it's not a bikini you can actually swim in. I've also seen velvet or sequined bikinis, though, so that won't be a problem for some people. At least this one doesn't look like dental floss. There's supposed to be a male version coming out that cools beer. Fun.

The OCD among us will appreciate this portable disinfection scanner. 

http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=203075755&c

It's about the size of a cell phone and uses UV light to disinfect up to 99.9% of germs. It's a great way to kill the dust mites that have been gathering in your sleeping bag all winter. If you're staying in a hotel, it does a great job of killing any cold and flu viruses a previous guest may have left behind. It uses AAA batteries and is small enough to fit in your pocket. Neat!

The internet has a funny way of making you want things you didn't even know you wanted! For even more weird but useful gadgets for your vacation, check out ThinkGeek.com

 and NetworkWorld.com. Have fun!

My Scottish Vacation

A view of Edinburgh and the North Sea from the top of Arthur's seat

In 2001, I accompanied a couple of friends on a weeklong trip to the UK. Most of our time was spent in London but, about four days in, we took a short flight to Edinburgh, Scotland, I'd never been there before-I haven't been much of anywhere-, but I'm always willing to try something new. Here, I'm glad I did. We only stayed a couple of days so we didn't get to do everything we wanted, but here are a few suggestions.

-Visit one of the many castles. There are seven different castles in the Edinburgh area, each with its own unique history. We only got to go to Edinburgh Castle, but that was more than enough because this castle is where a lot of the Scottish kings and queens lived. We got to see the Stone of Destiny (http://www.visitscotland.com/about/arts-culture/uniquely-scottish/stone-destiny), where many Scottish kings and queens were crowned. I strongly suggest following one of the itineraries or guided tours to make the most of your time.

-Exploration! Like a lot of historic towns, Edinburgh is very 'compact'-there is a lot to do and see in a relatively small amount of space. There are guided bus tours, but you can still get a lot out of exploring the city on your own. You can drive, but half the fun is walking around and visiting the little shops and cafes. Since they don't have the 'urban sprawl' problems we see here, there is still plenty of room in the area for open spaces. The picture above was taken from the top of Arthur's Seat, a hill (mountain?) that even the least 'fit' of us can conquer. There are 'easier' trails to the top for people who don't want to climb, but we went straight up to the top, As you can see, the view from the top is awesome! The fact that I had to wear a sweater in August was a very welcome change from the 90°F + days here.

-Shopping! I would be remiss if I didn't mention the shopping. Since I couldn't do it justice, here is a complete guide to what is probably my favorite pastime. http://www.edinburgh.org/see-do/shopping/

-Street Festivals! We arrived at the beginning of the annual Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world. It takes place in August of each year and features goods and performances from groups all over the world. We got to hear an a cappella group from Togo (west Africa), watch acrobatics involving a unicycle from a man from Japan and listen to some good-natured heckling from an Australian. I just wish we'd gotten to stay longer because this is the sort of thing I don't get to experience very often outside Atlanta.

And, finally, for what was a rather unique experience-

-Find Your Tartan! According to my aunt (a genealogist by hobby), my family name can be traced back to Scotland. It didn't surprise me since we seem to have a little bit of everything in our line, but it got me interested in finding our tartan. The Royal Mile was definitely one of the best places I could have gone for that because there were quite a few authentic souvenir shops.

Our story is a rather complicated one, but learning those details is half the fun. If you're curious about your family, check out

Scots Connection (http://www.scotsconnection.com/default.asp?) and Tartans of Scotland (http://www.tartans.scotland.net/tartan_info.cfm@tartan_id=1189.htm). The one shown here is (one of) ours.

Like I said before, I couldn't possibly do Edinburgh justice in this one article. Check out http://www.edinburgh.org/ to plan your vacation! 

Best Water Parks

Do you and your family want to keep cool in the summer, but are tired of the community pool? Maybe you don't live near a beach or a pool, so your only relief from the summer heat is a lawn sprinkler or hose. Maybe your community is like mine and doesn't want you to even do that because of water use restrictions. So what can you do? If you're already going on vacation anyway (or want to take a day trip), you can stop at a water park. If you're not familiar with them, they are usually tourist attractions and consist of several water slides, pools and other water-related rides. They are can be a lot of fun for the whole family, even if you don't actually want to get wet. If you're not sure where you can find one, here are a few suggestions I have picked up over the years.

Myrtle Waves-Myrtle Beach, SC. As South Carolina's largest water park, this attraction has over 30 slides and activities for the whole family. If you want a thrill, they have several 'tube slides' (basically an enclosed water slide), including the Turbo Twister. This is a 10-story-high, 50-feet-per-second tube slide that is not for the faint of heart! If you want something calmer, there are rafting rides and wave pools. There are even some attractions set aside just for small children and their parents. For the safety of all guests, the park is staffed with over 100 licensed and trained lifeguards. The website is http://www.myrtlewaves.com/home.aspx, and you can buy advance passes online.

Six Flags White Water. This Atlanta-area water park has an insane amount of rides and attractions for everyone from little kids to wild thrill-seekers. The Captain Kids' Cove has games just for kids, and there are several wave pools for people who just want to relax. For the thrill-seekers, there is the Dragon Tail, which is a three-slide 350-foot drop. Whoa! Of course, there are plenty of rides in between. There are 20+ rides in all, so you won't get bored! The website is http://www.sixflags.com/whiteWater/index.aspx.

Dorney Park & Wild Water Kingdom. This attraction in Allentown, PA is a double-header-two parks for the price of one. There are 4 play areas specifically for kids, as well as 22 water slides, 2 'lazy rivers' (float in an inner tube while the water takes you around the park) and 2 huge wave pools. You can rent equipment, as well as renting entire cabana areas for picnicking and family reunions. The website is http://www.dorneypark.com/.

You can search for a water park in your area at http://www.waterparks.com/, as well as find safety tips. One big tip I have is to wear sunscreen, especially on your face and shoulders. The sun's rays reflect off of the water, so parts of the body that are above the surface are at a higher risk of sunburn and other sun-related damage. Each water park has its own rules and ticket specials, so check out the website for details. You can usually save money by buying passes in advance, which makes it easier to plan your next vacation. Have fun!

Ways to Save Money on Travel Expenses

I'm not sure about anyone else, but I like to travel. I like to go on vacation with friends and family to visit relatives, go to specific tourist attractions and just relax. However, my budget hasn't been very, um, accommodating when it comes to 'extras' like holiday trips. As much as I'd love to go see people who live far away or just take in a mountain sunset with my husband, I can't afford it. Given the current economical conditions, I know I'm not alone in this. But how can you still take those trips and stay within a reasonable budget? Never fear, I've found some ways to plan a vacation without taxing your wallet or mental health!

The first thing is obvious-create a budget for your trip. This is where advance planning comes into play. Figure out where you're going, how you're going to get there and what you will do once you reach your destination. That's really the only way you will know how much to save for. Make sure you account for expenses such as baggage checking costs or other fees. If you are going to another country, also consider currency exchange rates. That way there will be fewer unpleasant surprises when you get there.

Staying with friends and family works fine for a short visit but, if you are planning on staying a for long time or going places where you don't know anyone, you're going to have to find someplace to stay. Travel sites such as Expedia or Priceline are very helpful in that you can find lower rates on hotel rooms than you might otherwise. However, your social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) can be even more helpful because a lot of hotels, travel agents, etc are starting to advertise 'deals' only on those networks. Some even offer 'package deals'-a discount if you also book your air travel or car rental with them. Traveling during the 'off-season' can save you a lot of money on airline tickets and hotels.

One of the biggest expenses of vacations is the meals. Sites such as Groupon or Living Social can help you get discounts on restaurants and other things to do while you're on your trip. Also, the concierge at the hotel can tell you of local deals and suggest inexpensive activities. It also helps to book a suite with a kitchenette so you can prepare your own meals, thus saving money on restaurants.

Speaking of travel, drive if possible. Depending on how many people are going with you, airfare costs can mount up quickly. However, if driving isn't possible, you can often find decent prices and information about airfare from travel sites, social networking sites or sometimes from the airline's website itself. If you end up driving, take the rising costs of gas into account.

Hopefully now you will be able to plan your next vacation without having to break the bank. It's good to get away, but even better to save money while doing it!