Archive for the ‘Travel Articles’ Category

Winter Airstream camping, Mt. Baker

March 15th, 2013 Lauren Bethel

This story was published in a different form as an assignment for the MatadorU Travel Writing program.

Mount Baker, in the Northern Cascades, is one of the snowiest places in the world. In 1999, Baker’s ski area set the world record for recorded snowfall in a single season: 1,140 inches. In early February 2013, my boyfriend Dane and I set out for Mt. Baker with our camper and good friend Chad in tow. The Airstream was loaded with food, beer, and snowboarding gear, fueling our mission of exploration and potentially making this our local mountain. It resulted in my favorite ski experience thus far, and a sense of truly getting to know Mount Baker. <

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Tags: Baker, Mt Baker

Aussie Birds

March 2nd, 2013 Lauren Bethel

I’m no ornithologist – although I often wish I was better at identifying birds – but I seem to have regular interesting avian encounters. On Australia Day (26 January) three kookaburras, the most iconic (and raucous) of Australian birds made an appearance at our house. Here’s Maureen having a chat with two of our friendly visitors.

Then this past weekend I was at a country outdoor wedding near Hepburn Springs, about 120km out of Melbourne. As I le

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Tags: Birds

London is the Best European City for Two Years

February 26th, 2013 Lauren Bethel

London is without a doubt the representative of Europe and is still the best European city to visit. The capital city of the United Kingdom and England was named the easiest European city to travel around in for two consecutive years by travel advice firm, TripAdvisor. It also earned accolades as the most exciting and second least friendly in the whole of Europe. However, it has also been voted as the most expensive European city

Survey Results

TripAdvisor’s survey results was taken from 3,523 correspondents which includes 778 British and European tourists. According to TripAdvisor spokeswoman Emma OBoyle, the survey is based on the observation of tourists. <

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Tags: Best European, Best European City, City, European City

A feel for the fabric of life

February 19th, 2013 Lauren Bethel

Dolma, who started Dickey Orphanage, wears a bandigan / Picture: Stephen Scourfield

There is a life in this small piece of woollen fabric. There is a place in its colourful stripes. A person in its oily, smoky scent. And a moment shopping has led me to discover both of these.

It is not a usual shop.

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Tags: Life

Top tips for a fine old time on the Hunter wine

February 14th, 2013 Lauren Bethel

ITS amazing what you remember after a day on the plonk.

While in the Hunter Valleys Pokolbin area recently on a GoDo.com.au and travel.com.au holiday, I drank in the knowledge of viticulturalists, cellar door managers and wine buffs alike on a tour with Bradley Garretts Hunter Valley Vine Link.

Even after imbibing at several wineries, I managed to come away with gems of quaffing advice, the good oil on specific drops, and fascinating insights into the wine-making process.

Here are a few tips:

Use crystal ones as they roughen the texture of the wine and release the flavour.

Those with a large surface area are best (even though competition glasses are smaller).

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Tags: Hunter, Hunter Wine

Beginner’s guide to Japanese onsen

February 12th, 2013 Lauren Bethel

Of all the ways to relax in the cultures around the world, Japans tradition of the onsen (温泉, hot spring bath) might be my favorite.

As such a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of hot springs. Where theres a hot spring, theres probably an onsen, and they come in a myriad of shapes, sizes, and types. True, all onsen share a few aspects: individual shower stalls around the walls of the room, and one giant central, communal bath. Most all are marked by the kanji 湯, the hiragana character ゆ, the symbol ♨, or a combination of the three. Beyond th

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Tags: Onsen

Hitting the Slopes with Bolle Ski Goggles and Gordini Gloves

February 6th, 2013 Lauren Bethel

When hitting the ski slopes and showshoe trails for a multi-day adventure in Park City, Utah, I gave a new pair of Bolle Monarch goggles and Gordini Sensor Zip gloves a 3-day tryout.

As a travel gear blog editor who stays in warm climates most of the time, I dont get many opportunities to layer on the winter ski gear. So it was fun pulling out some oldies but goodies from the storage bin and also giving some brand new items a whirl. on three of the top-ten ski slopes in the USA.

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Tags: Gloves
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