Category Archives: Adventure

Grand Canyon Float Tours Are Adventurous Fun

All-day Grand Canyon float tours down the Colorado River are amazing, unforgettable journeys. They’re a great way to kick back and relax, but at the same time they give you a remarkable number of things to see and do. Here’s some info on what you can expect on one of the South Rim smooth-water rafting tours:

Getting There

You’ll be transported to the base of Glen Canyon Dam – the starting point for all South Rim smooth-water float tours. You’ll get there by bus (if you’re on a standard tour) or plane (if you choose the upgraded, deluxe package which also includes a 4×4 Jeep ride to Antelope Canyon). Just seeing the dam looming overhead is pretty awesome – it’s over 700 feet high and 1500 feet wide!

At the foot of the dam, you’ll board your 19-passenger motorized pontoon raft for a smooth, comfortable 15-mile float down the river. The water segment of the trip ends at historic Lee’s Ferry. The entire tour takes 12+ hours, so you’ll definitely be gone all day.

No rapids are involved, so kids 4 and up can participate. These trips are a terrific adventure for families.

The Experience

It’s hard to accurately describe what you’ll see and experience while you’re on the river. No photos or videos can do it justice. Besides seeing some amazing sights (California condors, anyone?), you’ll smell and taste the air of the canyon and the surrounding cliffs. This is the total package when it comes to Grand Canyon tours.

Floating through scenic Horseshoe Bend is one of highlights of this smooth-water rafting tour. This section takes its name from the horseshoe-shape of the river as it winds its way through some pretty amazing rock formations. A lot of folks camp and hike in this area because they feel like they’ve entered another world. This is a quiet, serene place where time flows slowly – its tranquility is the exact opposite of today’s usual hustle and bustle.

People who live in the area call Horseshoe Bend by another name. I’m not sure how it got started, but they call it King Bend. In this section you’ll be cruising down the river at an altitude of 4200 feet above sea level, which isn’t that much short of a mile high.

Colorado River

The river is ancient and has a storied past. For one thing, it’s responsible for carving out the canyon over countless millions of years. Portions of the river are in 7 different states.

You’ll pull over at a sandy beach during your smooth-water rafting trip. Just a short hike away you’ll come onto some prehistoric Native American rock drawings. We don’t completely understand their significance, so you’re free to interpret them however you like.

Float tours last all day, and you’ll want to make sure you get the most out of the experience. Protect your camera/cell phone from getting wet. Bring sunscreen and wear a cap or hat to reduce your exposure to the sun. Bring some extra water and snacks that are easy to carry. Because you could get wet, you’ll probably also want a change of clothing.

Gift Ideas For Boyfriend – The Adventure Lover

If your boyfriend is always on the go and happens to really enjoy outdoor activities such as surfing, camping out, windsurfing, mountain climbing, or exploring exotic spots then he will really love these gift ideas for guys:

The Solio universal hybrid solar charger is both cool and eco-friendly. It has the power to charge your boyfriend’s entire collection of portable and cool electronic gadgets including smarthphones, iPod, PDA, GPS, Bluetooth headset, digicam, different brands of MP3 players, and so on. It’s stylish and very useful for outdoor adventures where a wall socket is not always available. It basically gets its energy from sun and he can even charge this charger (pretty neat huh?) before going out instead of charging all his gadgets at the same time.

Underwater camera is a not new but this Underwater Digital Camera Mask is taking digital photography to the next level. A great gift for guys who love to snorkel or explore the mystery of the sea. This nifty gadget combines swim mask with a 5 mega pixel waterproof digicam to keep his hands free while he swims. It’s submersible up to 15 feet and designed with a crosshair for accurate shoot.

Garmin Forerunner 405 GPS Sports Watch is a great gadget and a sweet reminder to make him exercise on a regular basis. Developed for all kinds of athletes, it’s equipped with a built-in GPS that easily monitors every single move he makes and records important information such as his heart rate, distance traveled, speed, calories lost, and pace of workout. It’s like having a personal trainer less the annoying pep talk.

Why bring bottled water while jogging or mountain climbing if you can carry your water on backpack? This is basically what this outdoor gear is all about. It’s a relatively small knapsack that holds about 70 oz of water and has a plastic tube connected inside it. Every time he’s thirsty, he simply needs to bite and take a sip on the tube. No need to stop just to drink water and it avoids any leaks or damage to your precious H20.

Weather-proof HD Video Camera is great for capturing his adrenaline-pumping activities and even funny moments. Its rubberized casing enables it to withstand harsh conditions without sacrificing quality. This may sound geeky to you but I can’t help but mention that all videos are recorded in 720p HD quality. In short, it’s very clear!

Wireless Weather Forecaster is a gadget that will keep him informed about the latest weather reports in the next 5 days. For many adventure lovers, getting accurate and up-to-date weather info is very crucial for it dictates the flow of activities. It looks like a digital alarm clock but it has the power to display the current temperature, wind chill, humidity, as well as the daily highs and lows of the day.

Atomic Travel Clock is perhaps the best thing ever invented in this world. That is if you ask any traveler who keeps moving from one time zone to another. What makes this high-tech clock special is its ability to synchronize time around the world automatically. No need to adjust your clock to set the right alarm. Standard features include my favorite snooze option, backlight temperature, and date display.

Aquapac Utility Case is ideal for guys who love rafting, kayaking, and other water sports. It’s a transparent waterproof bag that protects all his prized possessions like wallet, mobile phone, credit card, journal, and other stuff. On top of that, this cool case also floats in the event he drops it in the water.

Leatherman Skeletool CX is a lightweight multitool that he must carry every single adventure. It can function as a wire cutter, regular pliers, bottle opener, and even large-bit driver. Regular multitools are quite heavy but this one weighs only 5 ounces!