Our final stretch took uu back into Californai and the mighty Redwoods — we kayaked the crystal-clear Smith River, hiked amongst giants, collected Junior Ranger badges. We ticked off 3 more movie locations As we wound south through Mendocino, Bodega Bay, and finally across the fogged out Golden Gate Bridge and the end of our trip. Two weeks, 2,300 miles - done! We woke at Kamp Klamath to the dawn chorus at 5am and snoozed until the sun came up. I’ve since learned that the Klamath River has recently been restored by removing dams in conjunction with the indigenous people.  Today we were to be immersed in the Redwoods, so many people had told has how wonderful these trees are so we were excited for the day. Not one to do things normally, I had booked a kayaking trip on the Smith River to paddle through these great wonders.  The Smith River is the only river without a dam in California, the water is crystal clear and cold. My favorite type of water! We launched our inflatable kayaks and followed the guide down river, there were a few small rapids to get over. Super fun and no one fell out. Soon, we were joined by a river otter who swam with us, climbed onto the banks and waggled its butt at us. This was so incredible, we are used to seeing the sea otters on the coast so to see a river one was marvelous.  We pulled into a rock in the middle of the river with the opportunity to jump off - i didn’t but of course I got in a swam in the cool refreshing water. Back in our kayaks and we arrived at Stout Grove. Quite a popular grove in the Jedediah Smith  Redwood area so we got some odd looks wandering around in wetsuits and life vests. Seeing the trees with a guide was worthwhile as we learnt a fair amount about the trees and how this ecosystem behaves.  Back on the river and the final stretch to our put in point and we had to negotiate more small rapids and one that was Grade II! It was great fun but H was getting nervous about the massive rapid ahead. We went over it and told him afterwards that it was done and he was do proud! Back at the beach and our Jeep - we dried off, had another tail gate picnic before heading to the visitor center.  The National Park Service visitor centers are worth going to. The knowledge of the rangers is incredible and they will help you find a trail or area to explore that suits your needs. They also run the Junior Ranger Program so H collected his workbook completed it and earned his second badge. We drove along the Avenue of Titans and took a quick walk along the Grove of Titans (there were a lot of people so we didn’t last long). Further along the road that winds through the Redwood Grove was the Boy Scout Trail so we hiked some of this one instead. No boardwalks and a proper trail. These trees are way more impressive than anyone can describe to you, hundred of years old, taller than tall things and doing their bit of the climate every single day.  We returned to camp, lit a fire, toasted marshmallows and popped popcorn and reflected on the incredible day.  We’d earned a lazy start, H even lazier - we were decamping around him and finally had to wake him up by deflating his bed.  Our first stop was the Prairie Creek Visitor Center where H earner his third Junior Ranger Badge. This area is new growth Redwoods so it looks a little different to the Jedediah area, but we weren’t here for the Redwoods. We had managed to get a permit for Fern Canyon so headed for the track to get to this magically place. The NPS website and the guidebook warn that you must have a decent car to get along this route. It is a dust road that winds through the trees and towards the coast before arriving at the trail head carpark. Which was full of Tesla’s and even Cruise America camper!  The Canyon is incredible with a stream running through, it is recommended to take water shoes as sometimes its impassable without them. We managed in our waterproof boots and avoided wading. There are trees to clamber over and rocks to navigate. The canyon is full of life, so green with a variety of plants throughout. Sadly no dinosaurs as this canyon was used in Jurassic Park. Back along the dust track and onwards to the Humbolt Redwoods. This is the first place we actually managed to get a spot in the state park campsite so we we’re pitch amongst these giant trees.  We had another slow start as the pace of life on road has slowed, the sun rose and beamed light between the trees which was spectacular. Our plan was to stay local an the visitor centre was right next to to our campsite. We asked about good places to hike and were given a good itinerary that would take in the highlights of the Humbolt Redwoods whilst also getting off the beaten track. H earner another Junior Ranger Badge.  We drove along the Avenue to Giants that winds through the Redwood grove and found the ‘Founders Tree’ which is massive. We did the classic photo of arms out stretched and could have down with a a few friends to get all the way round. We headed to the Bull Creek trail and did a 4 mile hike through these impressive tress, the first grove we awed at was the Tall Tree Grove - I love the imaginative names here. We barely saw a soul as not many people sway far from the road and parking lots. Our hike took us over streams and up into these impressive towering trees. This area was used as Endor in Star Wars - the boys were way more impressed than me.  We headed back to camp and grabbed our swimmers to cool off in the river across the road from our campsite. We waded and dipped and had the whole river to ourselves. We had a Young Sheldon inspired dinner - spaghetti and hotdogs which is actually pretty delicious. A campfire, more marshmallows and a peaceful night in the trees. As we left the Redwoods behind we really felt like we were on our way home. There was one last things to do before heading back to the coast. There is a famous drive through tree that Grandad and told H all about. The ‘experience’ cost us $15 and despite the guy measuring the height of the car we almost lost a back off the roof and jammed the Jeep into the narrow whole. It was pretty funny but my Dad still owes us $15! H found it hilarious - particuarly as the French man who was deciding whether to take his hire car through took one look at his wife an said “Non” very firmly.  We took the mountain road to back to the coast which was heart in mouth type switch backs and climbs. I almost kissed the ground when we got our first glimpse of the Pacific. Back on the coast road we wound our way to Mendocino and our final camping spot. We headed straight to town and ate an amazing lunch in now of the many independent eateries, this small town is full or independent shops and art galleries.  Our camp was a small campsite with just 4 tent pitches in the woods, the sky was clear and the start shone brightly, we had a relaxing evening around the fire.  Our final non travel day was spent in this pretty coastal town, we spent the day on the beach, walking the cliff paths and mooching around the shops. The coast here is stunning, and the town is at the mouth of Big River. There is a kayaking/canoeing company that you can rent traditional canoes from to explore the river, it looked great but alas we should have booked a while back.  We had a final camp meal sausages - I had the most bizarre conversation with the butcher who had moved to this remote stretch of California from Essex (UK) which explained why the sausages were so good. Our final night camping night was so peaceful with bats buzzy around the camp and I made a point of getting up in the night to see the incredible stars.  Now we really feel like we are heading home as we have one night stop left. Our route hugged the foggy coast, the route twists and turns along rugged coastline and through small coastal towns. Whilst today wasn’t a long drive we decided we want to just get to our last stop as I had booked a lovely hotel with a pool.  Our final stop was a Bodega Bay - famous for being the location of Hitchcock’s The Birds - and we our hotel was The Inn at the Tides. This was a real treat at the end of a long journey. We spent the afternoon in the pool and hot tub, sat on our veranda  and watched the fog roll in. We ate at the Wharf which was originally used in the Birds. The fog really rolled in whilst we were eating and by the time we got back to the hotel to enjoy our complimentary bottle of wine we deemed it too cold to sit out and enjoy the ‘view’. We’ve definitely  lost our British hardiness. On last highlight of the trip was to be on the long drive home. Our route took us towards San Francisco and across the Golden Gate Bridge, in true San Francisco  Bay the bridge was shrouded in fog but it lifted enough to view the bridge. The drive across was not fun, I was in the driving seat and unusually for the US the lanes are narrow - I need to work out how to remove the audio from the GoPro video! Five hours later and we completed the circuit - 2,300 miles completed.

The American road trip is part of the American cultural identify. The open roads, long distances, summer escapes to the National Parks and State Parks, small towns and big cities. Unlike the UK where a two hour car ride is long, here the journey is part of the adventure, Spotify gets loaded, the Yeti is packed with snacks and drinks and off you go! In part one of our 2025 trip we take scenic detours, find hidden waterfalls, and drive the long road north. In mid-June, we embarked on our first major USA road trip, covering over 2,300 miles from our home on California’s Central Coast to Northern California, reaching the top of Oregon, and winding back down the coast. For my dear British readers to put that into context you’d have to drive from Land’s End to John O’Groates two and 3/4 times to get that mileage. Or from my hometown of Basingstoke in southern England to Athens….But the difference is the roads. To travel from Cornwall to Scotland the route involves two A Roads (similar to a Highway - can be single lane in both directions of double lane with a median) and 5 Motorways (similar to a Freeway or Interstate).  From our house we took Highway 1 for an hour, crossed to the Interstate 5 which we followed pretty much all the way to Portland. The I5 and Highway 1 both start on the border of Mexico and end at the border of Canada! Driving is so much easier on the long straight roads of the United States, but veer off the main freeways and there are some exceptionally scenic winding roads too, of which we drove a few on this trip.  I spent far too long planning it, but with 25 years of travel industry experience I like to seek out the extra special spots and have everything planned. Once I realized that state campsites fill months in advance my search for nice places to stay also took way longer than expected. I booked the majority of accommodation in April for a June departure and have learnt we need to start planning a little earlier for the next one. Summer break rolled around and we filled the Jeep with the camping gear and ALL the kit and headed off on our epic trip. We combined nights at motels, hotels, glamping sites and camp grounds with the main rule of if we’re staying one night it was in a place with walls and no tent faffing!  Our plan was to push to the top of Oregon as quick as we could using the Interstate 5 (I5) which is a soulless road straight up the middle of California and Oregon. But as I started planning I discovered there were plenty of side trips off the I5 to relieve the monotony and slow the trip down. We roll at dawn..... First stop, Sacramento. Small person (H) had been learning about Californian history so when he realized we were doing a quick night stop in Sacramento he asked if we could go to Sutter’s Fort, Sutter was taught as a hero of the gold rush in school, and to cut a long story short Sutter’s Fort on educates visitors on how the indigenous population were treated but this hero. H soon realized that history isn’t always taught in the most rounded informed way, every nation has much work to do on this.  I managed to book the worst motel in Sacramento and we had to completely unpack to the Jeep and secure everything safely and sleep with one eye open. We were within walking distance of Sacramento Old Town so we headed there for a quick dinner and look around and watched the historic train pull back into the museum. An early start and we headed to Shasta County, the I5 started to climb and got a little winding, in the distance we could see Mount Shasta with its snow capped summit. We stopped at Lake Shasta for a hike - I’d found the Bailey trail which was an easy trail on a promontory that gave use great vistas of the lake and mountains around us. It was quiet on the trail, we didn’t see another hiker but we watched plenty of people enjoying the lake by boat and quirky houseboats which you can hire to stay on.  We continued up the I5 to our accommodation at Dunsmuir, the Caves Springs Resort. I’d booked a surprise and our first proper night was spent in an Airstream and redeemed myself for the motel. Dunsmuir is located on the banks of the Sacramento River so we went for a short walk to its banks and thoroughly enjoyed watching the river running fast and the sound of flowing water. Where we live most of the river beds are dry, so Northern California is a huge contrast and it was a great live stream. We spent the evening enjoying the live music at Cave Springs, relaxing in Adirondack chairs and playing lawn games. All with the distinctive local smell in wafting through the air - IYKYK!  The next morning we walked to our first waterfall, Hedge Creek Falls is a short drive from Dunsmuir and the short walk takes you downhill to a beautiful waterfall. When we first arrived there was a big group so we carried on the hike down to the banks of the spectacular Sacramento River which was wider and more genteel at this point. Oh how we’d missed green trees and flowing water.  As the group we had encountered arrived at the river bank we headed back and enjoyed the waterfall alone, clambering across the rocks and walking behind the falls. We headed back to the Jeep for our next stop. The temperature was rising and our next detour off the I5 was towards Mount Shasta and a short hike on the foothills, and it was short - after about a mile we decided it was too hot abandoned the route and jumped back in the Jeep. Next stop Oregon…. Within an hour the I5 was descending quickly and we crossed the border into Oregon. We stopped at a rest stop which was also on Oregon Visitor Information centre - I was in my element, I love the publications that visitor centres create - maps, guides, suggested itineraries I had to hold myself back from collecting it all. They really are worth stopping at and speaking to the staff to get some real local information (not like blogs and Instagram accounts wink). We headed to our night stop at Union Creek Resort, just short of Crater Lake National Park. Our lodge was right opposite the Rouge River Gorge, so we wondered over to find an easy walk along a interpretive trail that was a good geography lesson for H. The sound of the rushing water as it get pushed with the gorge and the cool air on our faces was spectacular.  We wondered back across the road and met with our friends who were on a similar route to us, the evening was spent with more Adirondack chairs, a campfire with marshmallows and the Union Creek flowing beside us. Next morning, we were up early as we were pushing through to Portland today. But not before we headed to our first USA National Park - Crater Lake. The road wound up the mountain side to the main village and we parked up, wrapped up and headed to the viewpoint. It was awesome, Crater Lake is the what it says, a volcanic crater that over time the caldera has filled with water. We were at 1,800m (I still don’t speak feet) and the snow was still surrounding the rim, turns out June is early in the season and the rim road was yet to be cleared and open. We walked a short way along the rim, awed at the views, let the boys play in the snow (the nasty compacted stuff that probably fell 7 months ago) and then got back on the road after a mooch in the gift shop and the obligatory purchase of  a sticker and a walking pole badge. Crater Lake National Park We could have taken the quick route to Portland but I wanted to see the waterfalls of the Umpqua River valley. Highway 138 is known as “Oregon’s Highway of Waterfalls” and we could have spent a week hiking and exploring this 137 mile stretch of road. We pulled off the highway to go in search of waterfalls. Our first stop was Clearwater Falls, which is an easy five minute stroll from the car park, these falls were low and wide with fallen trees, vibrant green moss and plenty of fun to be had clambering over trees and rocks. This one is really accessible so does mean its quite busy. We headed to our next stop, Watson Falls. These falls are the highest in the National Forest at 90 metres and its a decent hike to get the the viewpoints, there was a lot of up but the reward of seeing the waterfall and feeling the spray on our faces was worth it. And of course its downhill all the way back to the Jeep.  We were running short of time and wanted to be in Portland for dinner so we carried on along Highway 138 which follows the river, the colour of the Umpqua River is spectacular, a blue like we haven’t seen before and the towering mountains above. As we came to the end of the route we stopped for refreshments at The Steamboat Inn for coffee and pie and to marvel at this spectacular river. We’ve vowed to come back, this is the sort of place we like - incredible scenery, good hiking trails, lots of campsites and barely any people. Then we headed back to the I5 and on to Portland… Part two coming soon...

Nine hundred miles in, five days on the road, and we arrive in Portland (although not our turnaround point). A day in a city gave us a bookshop, donuts, and a no car day before the road took us to Astoria, our turn around point, and the rain-soaked Oregon coast. Goonies nostalgia, stunning coastline, driftwood forts, off-grid peace, and an almost flooded tent. Part two of our roadtrip was as unpredictable as the weather! We’d made it to Portland, the most northerly city in Oregon. 900 miles from home and five days into our trip. We had seen so much that it felt like more than five days!  I had booked the Moxy Portland as its a central hotel, a short walk to downtown and had a great triple room. As a family of three we often feel like we are in rooms too big but here they have double rooms with a bunk over the top. Moxy hotels are known for being modern and functional, the room was small but with enough space for our bags and us. No fridge but a good sized bathroom - and a white noise machine to drown out the sound of the city.  We finally had a no car day which was much needed. Portland is a very cool and compact city. Our main draw was Powell’s World of Books, a book store that spans a whole block. We spent two hours browsing the mx of new and second hand books and each bought a good selection. This place is so huge that it can be a little overwhelming, my advice would be to be prepared, and make a list of what you are looking for, authors you enjoy or genres. I had listed a few in GoodReads but came out with a difference selection. They had a good local author display so I chose a few based in Oregon.  We then explored the city on foot, finding the famous Voodoo Donuts and eating at one of the many food truck plazas that are around the city. The afternoon was spent at the Oregon Museum of Science and Innovation (OSMI) which had a Jurassic World Lego Exhibition and lots of hands on exhibits which made the 10 year old very happy. Dinner at a food hall and refreshed ready for the next leg. Our next stop was Astoria, and our turnaround point. As we snaked along the Colombia River the rain fell and it fell just like a British summer holiday. We were back on the coast (or mouth of the Columbia River). Astoria is a small maritime town with an abundance of history and the location of a few famous movies. We had lunch at the Astoria Brewing Company looking out at the river. Refueled our first stop was the Maritime Museum which told the story of the town and its connection to the coast, the shipwreck exhibition was really interesting as was the coastguard area. I was pleasantly surprised to find a large area devoted to the indigenous communities of the Pacific North West, whom I feel are not yet included or celebrated in tourism as much other another nations do.  Then the excitement of the afternoon - in search of the Goonies house and the county jail. The approach to the house is very well done - this is a neighbourhood where people live so there are lots of signs with ‘Hey Guys’ and lines from the movie to ensure visits are respectful and not annoying to the locals. Fish and chips and chowder for dinner and we are ready to rejoin Highway 1 and the journey home - with our winding route along the coast this is still 1,000 miles away. Our first stop was just outside Astoria and Fort Clapstop, here Henry earned his first National Park Service Junior Ranger badge and we all learnt a lot about he Lewis and Clarke expedition that bought early explorers across from the east.  Next stop was another Goonies location, the Ecola State Park looks out along the Oregon coast and we got a taste of the spectacular scenery that was ahead of us. Below is the expansive Cannon Beach and Haystacks Rocks, better know as the Goonies Rocks (sorry if you’ve not seen this movie - the references will end soon!). We did a short walk here before heading down into Cannon Beach which is a beautiful small coastal town with cafes and restaurants, gift shops galore and plenty of places to stay overnight. After a lunch at one of the many bakeries we walked down to the beach, which is wide and wild and we walked towards to Goonies Rocks. Along the way we encountered a drift wood fort, complete with a secret note from whomever built ‘Eagles Nest’ and people practicing for a sandcastle building competition.  We continued towards our first campsite, with a stop off at the Tillamook Creamery for ice cream, this is kind of like going to Cadbury’s World but think ice cream, cheese and butter. We wound our way along Cape Meares, found a secret beach and the Lost Bay Tunnel and finally arrived at Hart’s Camp at Cape Kiwanda. Tonight is our first under canvas so we made camp, ate dinner and then strolled along the beach before snuggling up in our sleeping bags. The Oregon coast weather in June is decidedly  British - unpredictable  with the chance of downpours and sunshine.  Because of my rule of no one night camping we had another car free day. We woke to rain thundering down on the tent and as I unzipped the tent I came across a flooded porch. The rain abated enough to get breakfast but we were soon retreating to a coffee shop to shelter. Oh how at home we felt! In between the showers (downpours) we explored Cape Kiwanda, climbed the foreboding sand dune and ran back down it. The beach here is stunning and covered in drift wood, you are allowed to light fires on the beach but it was a bit wet for that. We walked along the beach, explored some rock pools and enjoyed the wild coastal views. We did have to retreat to the coffee shop again to avoid the rain, life’s tough! The rain held off enough to enjoy the sunset before another early night to avoid the chill.  The following day was due to be a long one on the road and packed full of stops. Not my first choice but a lack of available accommodation meant it had to be this way. I can not emphasis enough how booking early is required in the US for the popular spots.  We woke again to heavy rain which was only due to get worse so we did out best to get the tent packed up keeping as much dry as possible and then hit the road. The rain just got worse and worse. Our first stop was Depoe Bay, where on good days you can see whales from the shore - today was not one of those. Rain and heavy seas stumped that plan. There is a small museum where the stories of the whales and sharks are told, its a good place to spend on hour to learn about the ocean.  Back on the rainy road and we stopped at points along Cape Perputua. First stop was Devil’s Churn where waves are pushed up a narrow inlet and crash into the air. We watched from the overlook but it was too wet and slippy to take the path down.  At Captain Cook point the rain had abated so we pulled in and took a short walk down to Cook’s Chasm, a another inlet with waves crashing in. On the same rocky outcrop is Spouting Horn, a sea cave with collapsed roof that as the name suggests spouts water - but only at hight tide. Thor’s Well is a sink hole close to the shoreline but it was too wet and slippy to get to it.  Our final stop for the day was the Oregon Dunes, and we took a walk across the dunes to the sea. This is an expansive area with lots of opportunities for hikes and ATV usage. To be honest, we were all done with the wet day and just wanted to get to out accommodation.  And our lodgings for the night redeemed the day for us! I had hoped to do this section slower but I had struggled to find accommodation. I had found the off-grid  Beach Overlook on Hipcamp and this was just what we needed. A hut on a cliff top in private land, we wound down backroads to get there and settled in quickly. We explored the grounds and then clambered down to the deserted beach for an evening stroll. We had an early night as the rain started again and were refreshed for the next day. The day started with an outdoor shower and a last wander around this peaceful place. Today was our last in Oregon and the coastline came out to WOW us. Rejuvenated by blue skies and the sun we contented south on Highway 1.  We stopped for coffee at Port Orford and discovered a beautiful beach, we could have happily stayed here all day. We admired the view, drank our coffee and headed off the our first stop - the Natural Bridges. The bridges are a series of collapsed sea caves with clear blue water lapping through them. We spent some time at the viewpoint and started along one of the unofficial trails the guide booked warned us about - it wasn’t long before my fear of sheer drops sent us back. We could see people on top of the bridges - gulp! Our final stop was at Whaleshead Beach where we had out tailgate picnic. The rocks apparently resemble a whale - not sure I would have known that without a guide book! The tide was out so the rocks where exposed and there were rock pools to discover, the beach went off into the distance as far as the eye could see. Today really was making up for the washout of yesterday.  Our final push and we crossed the border back into California and arrived at Kamp Klamath. Luckily it was warm and sunny as we had some seriously wet kit to organize before we could make camp. There was a lot of faffing but we were now ready to explore the Redwoods. See part three for the journey through the Redwoods

Our post Christmas and New Year trip this year took us with friends to Monterey (where we pretty much did the same itinerary as last time ) and as they headed to the airport we crossed California to Yosemite National Park. The plan was swim in the sea in the morning and play in the snow in the afternoon. But, alas, weather had other ideas. Monterey was too cold and rough seas for a dip, and the winter snow was yet to arrive in Yosemite. Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View We made a quick stop in Mariposa, a true wild west style town and spent some time in the gem shops and refueling (both the car and us). From here, the road climbed towards Yosemite National Park climbed and wound its way through the mountains, we leveled out as the road hugged the banks of the Merced River. Soon enough we were at the gate (having missed the sign for the obligatory photo) and found ourselves in the awe inspiring Yosemite Valley.  Within just a few short miles El Capitan was towering above us, as were the Bridalveil Falls, here we stopped for a short walk to the bottom of the thundering falls and we felt the spray on our faces. This is one of the easy trails in the park as it is asphalt all the way to the bottom and has step free access.  We continued on the one-way road that loops through the park that took us to the Yosemite Valley Lodge.   At one point we were driving on the left because you are supposed to, as a Brit this sent a wave of panic that after a year of driving on the right I had go it wrong!  Bridalvail Falls The Yosemite Valley Lodge is located right in the middle of Yosemite Valley and is really tough to get a room there most of the year, we got lucky by coming in the winter. The rooms are clean, comfortable and functional - they could do with being updated but the trade off is the location. Our room had an obscured view of Yosemite Falls through the trees. Within the lodge complex is a General Store where you can pick up supplies and a choice of eateries for all budgets a canteen style restaurant, a lounge bar with snacks and the Mountain Room a proper restaurant with prices to match! We settled in, had our dinner and played games in the room.  The next day we were excited to start exploring the park even if it was a little rainy - nothing these Brits and good waterproofs couldn’t cope with. As ever with a trip to a National Park, the best place to start is at the Visitors Centre. We drove around Yosemite’s one-way system to discover that the village (where most of the park amenities are)  is a short ten-minute walk from our lodge. We bought to obligatory sticker, walking pole badge and map (waterproof was advised) and asked for suggestions of hikes. We chose a short one to start us off but when I realised how short it was we reassessed and decided to link two together. So we walked from Ahwahnee Meadow to Mirror Lake. The route started on the wide bike path which is great for getting round the valley on two wheels but a tad boring to walk on.  We soon veered off onto a proper trail that gained a little height and took us through sequoias, massive granite boulders and below towering mountains. Eventually we arrived at Mirror Lake. The peaks were shrouded in cloud which made for an atmospheric view but not the full mirrored image of Half Dome you often get. We admired the view for a while willing Half Dome to appear from behind its cloud  and eventually took the asphalt route to Curry Village. We were following a thunderous creek, fast moving water due to the current rain. As we arrived back in Curry Village the rain really was coming down. We caught the free shuttle bus around to Yosemite Village within minutes. We stocked up on supplies and headed to our lodge for an afternoon sheltering from the rain, playing games (highly recommend the National Parks version of Yahtzee, organizing photos and relaxing. The next day, we woke to heavy rain and decided to not do a big hike and took a short walk to Yosemite Village. Here there are two museums that kept us out of the rain for a while. The Yosemite Museum shares the history of the indigenous people that call this land their home and we spoke to a ranger who had worked for National Parks Service  for 35 years. In his current role he engages with communities that are underrepresented as park visitors to showcase that the parks are for all.  He also gave us an insightful lesson how how the mountains are formed in Yosemite.  We then went to the Mountain Center to learn more about the conservation efforts to protect the park, the geology and, most interesting to me, the history of climbing. The Ansel Gallery is also here, we had a quick look but were wet, tired and had an 11 year old in tow. A quick lunch and shuttle back to the hotel to escape the rain, we expected and afternoon of snuggling down and a lot of reading. But at around 2pm the snow started to fall. We quickly put on all our layers and waterproofs and headed out. We walked the paved path to Yosemite Falls and the snow was starting to settle. So we continued over to the meadows, crossed a bridge and followed a snowy trail along the Merced River. The snow was getting thicker by the time we arrived back at the lodge. We were soaked so rested until dinner. We had a warm chilli at the lodge before answering dozens of games, reading and drying out our kit. Overnight the snow had kept falling so we woke to the winter wonder land we had wanted. We walked to the village and decided to give the try trail to Vernal Falls, which can get pretty slippy, so took the shuttle to Happy Isles. The trail follows the river and rose quickly. It was a stunning view down the gorge back towards the valley. The snow was falling from the trees as it thawed and we kept getting icy snow dumped on our heads. The path kept rising and the snow was becoming slushy and slippery, we didn’t quite make it to the bridge as we were sliding around a bit and confidence was going downhill too! We took another of the shuttle buses to Degnan’s Kitchen for a warm bowl of soup before walking back to the lodge. Half Dome was finally out of the clouds and looked spectacular dusted in snow. After a rest we drove out to El Capitan and spent some time under this magnificent rock face. I had become quite obsessed with wanting to see El Cap since watching Free Solo, and now want to return to climb just a tiny little part of it.  Half Dome in the snow We then hopped on another shuttle to Cathedral Beach and walked back to the car. The scenery was amazing. Cathedral rocks towered above us as we stomped through the snow in amongst the trees. We stopped to admire the view of Cathedral rocks and El Capitan from a meadow with a bridge over the river and followed the road back to the car. Back at the lodge, there were snowball fights and our final how the day was done. On our last day and after packing the car up we drove around the valley loop. The sun was shining and the snow on the mountains looked spectacular. We stopped at El Capitan and then at the meadow overlooking Yosemite Falls to take our final photos. We made a quick stop at the visitor center to pick up the obligatory Junior Ranger badge, this is such a great program for small ones and not so small ones (me!) to learn all about the parks from the communities to the geography and how to protect them. A must for any trip to a park.   Our final drive took us out of the park via Tunnel View, we stopped for a quick photo. This was the first place for days that we had experienced a crowd and almost did’t get spot to park. I then t drove the winding mountain road to Wawona, I have an irrational fear of sheer drops especially  on mountain roads so it is far better for me to drive and stare at the tarmac and let the boys enjoy the view. At Wawona we wandered around the Pioneer Village and learned the history of the early pioneers. This was an unexpected stop but well worth it, I am in awe of how these people travelled across this landscapes in the 1800’s. From here we got back on the road and headed home through the Sequoia National Forest and across the boring Central Valley to the Pacific Coast and home. We will return in the warmer months and embrace to crowds.  Travelling in Low Season There are so many reasons travel in low season, lower prices, easier to secure accommodation less people and less crowded trails . Overtourism (too many people visiting one place at one time) is  increasingly and issue for many national parks and schemes such as timed tickets in high season have been withdrawn in the last few years. Be aware that there isn’t as much open in low season , many of the eateries (particularly in Curry Village are closed) so a little bit of planning is required. Make sure you read the park newspaper provided at the gate as this has what’s open listed or download the National Parks Service App.   Planning your time in Yosemite National Park We only scratched the surface of Yosemite as only the valley was open at this time. My top tip would be utilize the shuttle buses throughout the park. Leave your car at the lodge or your campground and hop on the free buses that stop at many of the trail heads. This also reduces carbon emissions in the park, you’ve come to a precious place so be mindful of your impact.  Use the National Parks Service app to decide on what you want to do, visit the Rangers at the visitor center who will advise on conditions and what you should do, give them as much information about your abilities as you can so they match you with the best trails and experiences. If they are running, take part in a ranger led activity and defiantly do the Junior Ranger Program ! If you do need to go in the summer, plan way ahead and book accommodation/campgrounds as soon as it opens up. The campgrounds book up as soon as bookings open so make sure you have a recreation.gov  account and download the app so you are always logged in and ready to book wherever you are the day the campgrounds release. All this information is on recreation.gov Prebook any tours , in the summer you can do a intro to climbing, kayak on the river and take guided photography courses. All of these will book up.  And finally, practice Leave No Trace or leave it better than you found it.

Tucked away on California's Central Coast, Morro Bay is a quaint seaside town, a haven for wildlife with a working harbour. We headed to their hidden gem on our first day trip, exploring Highway 1.  Morro Bay: Spot the Otter I’ve worked in the travel industry for many years, and many UK-based tour operators that sell a Highway 1 California Road trip will skip from Santa Barbara to Monterey with a stop at Pismo or San Luis Obispo to break the 4-hour journey. For this reason, I have never heard of Morro Bay. The classic coastal route through Big Sur has been disrupted since 2014, which does explain the detour. But what happens when you slow down, turn off, tune in, and drop down to the coastal route? Living just an hour south of the rugged Big Sur coastline, we were eager to explore. The Big Sur road runs between Morro Bay and Monterey, and after excited stories about wanting to visit Monterey for the mesmerizing marine life and dramatic coastlines, some friends suggested we check out Morro Bay , as it's easily done on a day trip. So, the first weekend as Jeep owners, we headed up Highway 1. This stretch is mostly US Route 101, it's a 4-6 lane highway and quick to get the 65 miles up the coast. It’s midwinter, so it’s chilly but pleasant enough for us newly arrived Brits!  We parked on Embaracado, right behind the stores and boardwalk that runs the length of this quaint fishing town. There weren’t many people around, but as we opened the doors, the first thing we heard was the boisterous barks of the sea lions, a cacophony in this otherwise quiet town. We crossed the road, and we were met by a beautiful vista across the bay to the famous Morro Rock. Right in front of us were three sea lions basking on the rocks!  Instantly, we knew this was our sort of place: clapboard buildings with independent stores, art galleries, and watersports and whale-watching providers. Cafes and ice cream parlours are dotted along a boardwalk, overlooking the bay towards a sand spit and rock in the distance. A raft of sea lions were basking out on a pontoon, and an abundance of seabirds took refuge at the sand bank across the water.  We meandered through the town, browsing the galleries and came across the local birding society kiosk. They shared insights into the bird life in the bay, the best place to spot the otters and learned of conservation efforts in this delicate ecosystem. We were told the best spots to see otters, and as we headed towards the wharf, we spotted our first one - and what a sight it was, lying on its back, relaxing in the winter sun.  Morro Bay has an active fish industry, and we were directed up to the wharf for the ‘best fish and chips in town’; as a British family, the best fish and chips are a continent and ocean away. We were pleasantly surprised by how good the fish and chips were - proper chunky chips almost like home. There are plenty of places to get fish-and-chips or chowders on the wharf. We ate at L’il Hut and will be back to try them all. As we ate, a crazy spectacle happened in the harbour behind us: a fishing boat came in; suddenly, the back of the boat was swarmed with sea birds, and the leftover guts were fought over; even a seal came into the action!  Fueled and ready to explore more, we walked out to the famous rock and past a disused energy plant, which gives Morro Bay its tagline of ‘Three stacks and a rock’. I was pretty excited to see a sign for a group of cold water dippers that meet regularly in the bay and more excited to see them in the water - at home if I’m going anywhere near water, I pack my kit, but alas, today I was without—an opportunity, and as it turns out a rare one, missed.  The walk out wasn’t far and we were treated to our first raft of sea otters, they were lying on their backs, rolling merrily in the sea kelp. We sat on the rocks, a respectable distance from them, and spent a while silently observing the otters. A few dodgy GoPro-through-the-binoculars pictures later, and I was set on upgrading the camera kit. Further on, we rounded the bottom of the rock and out to the sea wall. Waves crashed over the rocks as the harsh Pacific Ocean was kept from the sanctuary of Morro Bay harbour. Pelicans were perched on the far rocks, ready to go fishing for their supper. Across the water is a natural sandbank that makes the natural harbour of Morro Bay. As we headed back, we briefly stopped at the main beach, where the surf was up and the wind was strong. We strolled back to the car, with the obligatory stops at an ice cream parlour and a surf shop, and headed home with the intention of returning (with better camera equipment next time!).

Cambria, a quaint town on California’s Central Coast, offers a laid-back break on this stunning coastline. This seaside village boasts stunning natural beauty, a beautiful town with unique shops and places to eat, and a relaxed atmosphere.  Our Spring Break mini road trip took us to Cambria, I hope you enjoy our itinerary. Whilst the weather wasn’t on our side, we enjoyed our few days exploring a new area and making a list of more adventures to have close by. Cambria Village – A Treasure Trove of Local Finds We arrived late afternoon on a Tuesday and drove through Cambria Village. This small town has two main areas—East Village and West Village—and we stopped in the West Village to grab a coffee before heading to our hotel.  The Cambria Roasting Compan y had a good selection of speciality coffees. Right next door is the tourist information centre (and the more you read this blog, the more you will know how I love a TIC), where we spent a good 15 minutes chatting to the lady and getting ideas on what to do for our few days. We could have filled a week with all of her ideas!  Then we wandered along the street and soon discovered that many of the shops remain closed on Tuesdays! So we ducked in a few and decided to pop back another day.  Oceanpoint Ranch on Moonstone Beach – Coastal Bliss So we headed to Oceanpoint Ranch , a good choice on Moonstone Beach. This location is great, you can walk to a small beach along a pathway through the grounds and across the road are some trails and great viewpoints along the coast. Moonstone Beach has black sand and rocky outcrops and is known for its smooth, colourful moonstones that wash ashore.  We spent some time getting acquainted with the hotel. There is a pool and games, including corn hole, lasso, and shuffleboard. Gas fire pits with Adrionak chairs add to the laid-back atmosphere. We then took a stroll along the boardwalk, taking in the views and the sound of the crashing waves and ate at Moonstone Beach Bar and Grill . We were there on a fairly chilly April evening, arrived early and had to wait for a table. This place is popular, but they have a seamless system to manage the queue. And wow, its worth the wait! We sat with a view of the ocean and ate locally caught seafood, drank good wine and amazing desserts. We needed the walk back to the hotel! But alas, the Pacific weather was not going to give us a Pacific sunset.  Hearst Castle – A Glimpse into Opulence The following morning, we took a short drive and a trop back in time at Hearst Castle. We booked our tour in advance, then parked up and took the bus up the winding road.  Once home to William Randolph Hearst, this place it extravagant. It resembles an Italian village and church and it full of European artworks, manicured gardens and opulently decorated rooms. And two of the most amazing pools I have even seen. Both the indoor and outdoor pools resemble Roman Baths, outdoors there are panoramic views of the surrounding landscape are simply magnificent. And the indoor pool is gold gilded and has incredible acoustics. Elephant Seals at San Simeon – A Natural Spectacle Next stop and a short drive along the Pacific Coast Highway took us to San Simeon, home to the incredible elephant seals. The beach is full of them. It is the younger ones at this time of year, so it is a noisy (and sometimes smelly) spectacle. We watch them bask in the sun, fight with each other and roll around in the waves. This coastline has such incredible marine life!  Ragged Point – Breathtaking Coastal Views The Pacific Coast Highway is currently closed not far from here, so we continued almost as far as we could: Ragged Point, home to the Big Sur Viewpoint and a lovely stop with a cafe, motel, and gas station.  The road winds up high onto the cliffs to get here; it's a slow but scenic drive (more scenic for passengers, the driver's eyes should be glued to the road!). Stopping at Ragged Point allowed us to all enjoy the beauty and have a pit stop. It was windy on this day, so we took some photos and hopped back in the Jeep for the journey back to Oceanpoint Ranch. Cambria village and dinner at Linn's As we missed out on open shops just a few days before we headed back to Cambria to enjoy the art shops and local souvenirs. This quaint town has so much to offer and is full of beautiful artists.  One of the more famous spots in Cambria is Linn’s Pie shop. A local institution, it is is known for its delicious food and olallieberry pie, (no I don’t know how to say it either). We had another great meal of local pie sitting under a range of old bicycles. This place had a great atmosphere, again get there early it filled up shortly after opening.  We spent our final night at Oceanpoint Ranch around the campfire making s’mores! We’ve fully embraced the American culture.  Morro Bay…again On our final day, we headed home and as we had visitors from the UK we wanted to show them Morro Bay. We love this place and enjoy the laid back atmosphere, the almost guaranteed spot of otters and the Fish and Chips - us Brit’s can’t go without this on a seaside trip!  Whether you're seeking relaxation, adventure, or a bit of both, Cambria is a great place to visit. There are lots of hotels and a few campsite so no matter how you like to travel there is something for everyone. I’d highly recommend adding Cambria and San Simeon to list of places to visit on the Central Coast, there was so much more to do, I know we will return.

We returned to Monterey for a post Christmas visit, we pretty much did the same itinerary as last year: https://www.justadventure.uk/post/monterey-bay-in-winter  but with the addition of heading down the Big Sur road. This is a classic California road trip. The whole stretch has been closed since 2023 and was due to reopen in March/April 2026 and before I got a chance to write this blog the road reopened early! I would say hurry, get out there before the next landslide but in real life I am a sustainable tourism consultant and just wrote this piece: https://www.justtourism.co.uk/post/highway-1-through-big-sur-is-back   It is the 1st January and a overcast cool day in Monterey, the road won’t be too busy in low season will it? We set off after breakfast with a side trip to Laguna Seca racetrack as our guests love motorsport. I genuinely thought this was a local race track not some world famous track in many a racing game! So we spent some time exploring the track and teh famous corkscrew. This became unexpected highlight of the day.  Our first stop was due to be Point Lobos State Park, but alas the car park was full and cars were lined along the road. So we pushed on to our first pull in at Garrapata, the pull in was pretty much empty (perhaps we’d skipped ahead of the ‘bubble) so we spent some time wandering the cliff top trails and enjoying the views. We were on the back end of some big storms so the waves were crashing and a deep blue colour.  From here we carried on the Bixby Bridge, the oldest bridge on the road and apparently one of the most photographed. We took the obligatory photos and continued on, shortly after we found the Littel Sur Bridge that was actually more impressive than Bixby, bit alas the pull in was full so we had to carry on. As we rounded the corner we found a viewpoint with lots of places and amazing views up and down the Big Sur coastline. The weather was closing in so we carried on to the next stop. We’d planned to drive as far south as McWay Falls, on the expectation that the falls would be thundering due to the rain we’d had but as the road rose out of Big Sur village the fog and mist rolled in as did the rain so we made the decision to turn back and have some lunch in Big Sur village. The Pfieffer Sur State Park is here but we missed the turning point and were all pretty hungry. So we stopped in Big Sur village for a tailgate picnic, only to be told we were on private land and to move on. All packed back up and at the first pull in we ate our picnic in the rain. As with the California central coast, the weather can turn in an instant. We were cold and wet so took the slow drive back to Monterey. Bypassing the planned stop at Carmel as it was even too wet for us Brits to hit the beach± We will return to this road as it is now reopened, and I will take my own advice and try and do it slowly! And hopefully see those azure blue waters this coastline is so famous for!

Monterey Bay was high on the list for a must visit, we’d avidly watching the BBC’s Blue Planet Live filmed from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and many other wildlife documentaries that showed this special home for marine life. Monterey Bay is a popular stop on the Highway 1 road trip, even with the route via Big Sur closed its a quick detour a few hours south of San Francisco. And rightly so, the town is a vibrant tourist town, with two distinct areas, scenic coastlines and magnificent marine life. Fisherman’s Wharf is a historic wharf that now has an abundance of tourist shops, restaurants, and whale-watching operators. The Monterey Peninsular Pedestrianized Trail links the Wharf area with Cannery Row. This area was once the area where sardines were canned - it literally does what it says on the tin! It is now a hub of tourism activity with plenty of hotels, restaurants and shops and the famous aquarium. We checked into our hotel early and wandered down to Fisherman’s Wharf where we mooched in the shops and had a look at the whale watching companies. January isn’t the best time for whales but the whale watching operator I had already scoped out as being the most ethical was offering free trips if no sightings, plus their sightings list was not lacking in content! So we made a quick decision to book the afternoon sailing. Stomped to the hotel, collected another layer of clothing and headed back to the wharf. We sailed out into the bay towards Monterey Canyon, an amazing habitat for an abundance of marine life, including whales. It was a bright, sunny winter day, and the waves rolled big. We were on a catamaran, so the rolls didn’t feel too big. As we approached the canyon, we saw distant blows from the whales, so we knew we would get some sightings.  We were soon near a pair of humpbacks that would rise to the surface before plunging into the depths. We were with Monterey Whale Watching , one of the few operators that take science seriously and have biologists on board (read more on their website). We kept our distance from the whales, and our crew predicted where they would rise again, and we often corrected. This meant we had much time with the whales before they disappeared into the deeps. We were also lucky to spot a minke and finn whale pop up in front of us. These were rare sightings at this time of year, and we got very lucky with the fin whale as we were sitting at the front of the deck when it popped up in front of us!  Between whale sightings, we saw sea birds, jellyfish, and seals splashing around in the sea. We returned to shore mesmerised by the life in this small but mighty section of the Pacific Ocean.  After a short wander, we took our tired selves to a seafood restaurant on the wharf and enjoyed a meal of locally caught seafood and an obligatory margarita. After a nights sleep we rose early to ensure we were at the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium for opening, which lived up to its expectations, for now I will share some photos and write an indepth review soon. On our last day we took the winding road home. We decided to do the 17-mile drive along the coast to Carmel. The drive hugs the coast between Pacific Grove and Carmel with rugged coastal scenery, white sand beaches, and a forest with The Lone Cypress being a highlight. The scenery changes and there is plenty of wildlife to see with pelicans, seals and otters spotted along the way. The route ends just outside of Carmel which is a pretty seaside town, we spent a few hours on the white sand beach before jumping in the car and heading back home.  There are 15 points to stop at on the drive (yes, that's a lot!), and we soon realised we were hopping out of the car a lot more than we would like. There were plenty of people cycling the route, it's mostly flat along the coast and various options to shorten the route, we would hire bikes next time! Or choose fewer stops and do some walking between them, or stop at one of the beautiful beaches to make a day of it. Starting and stopping the way we were was not for us! The route ends just outside of Carmel, a pretty seaside town. We spent a few hours on the white sand beach before jumping in the car and heading back home.  We chose to visit in the low season (over the school winter break) as hotels are cheaper and it's less crowded. This was a good time to go if you’re not too worried about it being warm. I am sure we will go back over the summer for a comparison.

A Brits Eye View of adventures in the USA A Pacific Sunset at our local beach My Just Adventure webpage has been pretty dormant lately, and it's pretty hard to lead walks in the Chilterns when I’m in California. After a few months of not knowing what was going on and awaiting the ever-elusive posting notice, it finally came through in September. Sorting the adventure gear out, getting all the British mud and grime off boots, bikes, and wetsuits (and sorting the house) we set off for our three-year adventure in California in November.  And now we are here, an outdoor-loving British family, wide-eyed and ready to explore in the rugged beauty of California's Central Coast. For those new to Just Adventure, I'm Emily, a military spouse of many years; this is our 8th posting in 14 years! In the UK, I’m a qualified hiking leader and often led groups of female military spouses on walks in the beautiful Chiltern Hills (where the RAF HQ and UK Space Command HQ). My passion? Wild swimming - I LOVE cold water, hiking, mountain biking.  Given the chance, I’ll throw myself at most soft adventure activities - being outdoors and challening myself is good for the soul! I’d recently started indoor climbing and need to find a way of doing more of this.  As soon as we arrived, we discovered the Central Coast's dramatic beaches, and the base we posted to has some incredible beaches that only those with base access can get to. But alas, no swimming. It's a world away from the Thames, where the worst thing might get you in a biting midges or a branch you can’t spot in the murk! Here, signs warn of Great Whites and strong currents. The waves of the Pacific exhilarates and humbles.  It is just as frigging cold, though, as my feet will attest!  The first few months have been a whirlwind of admin and exploring. We’ve found some incredible marine wildlife at Morro Bay and Monterey Bay, discovered the small towns and cities from here to Santa Barbara and to Paso Robles, hiked some beautiful trails, spent a weekend in Las Vegas and bought a Jeep for that authentic American adventure! Sadly, my hiking leader qualification isn’t recognised here, so I’ve decided to pivot my website and blog about our adventures in the USA! Join me as I navigate my way around the great outdoors of California and beyond. Welcome to the new look of Just Adventure…

Walking and hiking in nature are great ways to explore the outdoors, but why hike in a group in an area with well-trodden paths and plenty of guidebooks and websites with routes to follow? Here are Just Adventure’s five reasons why hiking with others can enhance your time outside. Being in nature: It is proven that spending time in nature is great for physical and mental health. Hiking through a forest, over hills and being outdoors has numerous advantages. It is fun! Being in a group and meeting new people makes the walk more enjoyable. Chatting and walking make the miles pass much quicker. Encouragement: Hiking in a group can encourage you to push yourself further and improve your fitness. The support of others can help you to literally reach new heights (although fairly small ones in the Chilterns). Make new friends: The shared experience of exploring the outdoors can bring people closer together and foster new friendships. Learn new things: Walking with a leader brings you knowledge of the area, whether that's the route, the flora and fauna or the history. Often, members of the group have knowledge of birds, wildflowers, and so much more. Join me on a walk in The Chilterns; I plan the route, choose the best routes and the best coffee and cake stops, and know a shortcut if needed!

Slow travel is a trend that was gently gaining pace in the years before COVID abruptly stopped travel and has accelerated at speed since the world reopened. Lockdowns made people think about how they travel and the effect on our planet. Many of us enjoyed the slow pace of life that is now being transposed into travel habits. It's time to get on-board with this trend - I’ve found textbooks and academic papers dating back to 2010 - a slow uptake for a slow trend, perhaps? I’m writing this sat on a train heading for a weekend in the Brecon Beacons. The journey is as much a part of the trip as the walking days ahead. As soon as I got on the train, I plugged my headphones in and listened to two podcasts—something I rarely would find the time to do at home. I’ve also hand-written three blog posts, read a book and listened to music. I’ve enjoyed the changing scenery sweeping past the windows as I leave the hilly Chilterns and thunder through the flat part of England before getting excited that I have left the country and entered Wales next to the River Severn! I’ve been mesmerised by the juxtaposition of the quaint Birmingham Moor Street station and New Street, which are mere paces apart but divided by decades of architectural design. People still want to travel, yet travellers are conscious of the carbon benefit of not going anywhere for almost two years. Add to that the travel chaos we saw at airports over the summer and the intrepid travellers who want to see the world differently. The CBI identifies slow travel as an opportunity for tourism. They suggest 60% of travellers are willing to take fewer trips that last longer, and 40% of Uk travellers want their tourism spending to have a positive socio-economic impact. Slow travel is about the journey, using slower forms of transport - trains, bus, bikes, feet! A trip to a European destination can combine the annual city break with beach time or an adventure in the Alps, whilst seeing parts of France you would never have noticed from 20,000ft. A train connection can mean enjoying a local meal in a new destination and experiencing a new town or city. Once we grasp that the journey is not just a means of arrival at a destination; significant strides will be taken in changing travel habits. Slow travel goes beyond how the traveller arrives and consumes tourism products. Slow travel links with the fundamentals of regenerative tourism. You are immersed in the destination, and there is more time for a food or art experience and spending time with local musicians or storytellers. Tourism spending is spread beyond the typical stakeholders. Tour operators are responsible for embracing this trend, not just to reach their net zero targets but to build resilience into tourism and build back better. Some are promoting this trend head-on. Byway was born during the pandemic, only using train travel and market less known destinations - they’ve even partnered with Intrepid and Exodus to use rail journeys instead of flights. Undiscovered Destinations have a series of by-rail tours - all the way to Morocco or Georgia! Product development is vital in ensuring the slow travel trend can grow and here are my top tips: Can you arrive at the tour's start point by train or ferry? Product managers often check flight schedules to determine the tour's start and end days. Now is the time to start checking rail routes as well. Communicating the reasons for a random day of the week start may be necessary for nudging clients onto a train - low-cost airlines may get you there every day, but Eurostar/TGV may not. Make stopovers easy Trains may need an overnight stop to make a connection. Find a local host that can facilitate a locally run hotel close to the train station, and suggest a restaurant or local experiences if time allows. Show options available on trains Overnight trains and ferries can be either a sit-up seat, an en-suite cabin, or anything in between. Pricing will vary depending on the comfort level, and many people may need to learn that trains can be more comfortable than a cramped low-cost flight. Possibly, because of how bad the reputation of train travel in the UK is! Build slow travel into a long-haul itinerary Many tours will be long-haul, and taking the train may be impossible. In these cases removing internal flights and taking a train will have a similar outcome. For group tours, check your date scheduling. Can you link tours together if people want to stay longer, and can a train be taken if the start and end points are different (reread points 1-3!). Get the word out and sell it! The most important part of getting people off the aeroplane and slowing down! Sell the benefits of arriving slowly - less stressed before the holiday starts, more immersive experience en route and possibly even a price saving (a quick check of Easyjet to Amsterdam in May v Eurostar - £170 for the flight, £118 for the train!). If you are committed to sustainable, regenerative tourism and want to reduce your carbon impact, then slow travel is a trend you need to jump on quickly. Contact emily@emily-bailey.co.uk if you would like a product review and suggestions on how to slow down your itineraries.

What do we mean by regenerative tourism and how is it different to sustainable tourism? Is it just a buzzword? Does it co-exist with sustainability? Whilst the phrase ‘sustainable tourism’ has become commonplace, what do we truly mean by this? If we purely sustain, all we do is stop things from getting worse than they already are! We’ll sustain current emission levels, use the same amount of water and energy, leave the same amount of waste and plastic pollution, and the same small sector of the host population will reap the economic rewards. A shift towards regenerative thinking across the tourism sector would be seismic and overwhelming task for many destinations and businesses. As sustainable tourism practices become more mainstream, the adventure and eco-tourism sectors will lead the way and advocate for regenerative thinking in their sustainability plans. Indeed, many will have been incorporating these ideas into their responsible ethos for many years. Regenerative tourism pushes the boundaries of sustainability, it's not instead of but means tourism is no longer a silo but working with and for the host destination. Destinations ebb and flow through the tourism life cycle, but with regenerative thinking from tour operators, destination management companies (DMC), and organisations, this seismic shift might be possible. The periods of decline will decrease, but we must ensure tourism products are regenerative. Regenerative tourism is the shift within tourism to ensure tourism can flourish within Planet, Place, and People concept. Creating net-positive tourism experiences will ensure that nature and culture are preserved, and the host economy thrives beyond the traditional tourism stakeholders. When designing tourism products and experiences, we often think straight to the environment, yet cultures and economies need to see a net-positive effect of tourism. Especially in the wake of COVID-19, a return to business as usual is not a resilient method for host communities. Regenerating the environment This is an endless discussion, so I will try and be brief. Working with accommodation that has incorporated circular economies such as water reuse, composting, and off-grid energies build resilience and often has economic benefits as well. Staff get reskilled in new technologies, and bills reduce. Nature is tourism's biggest asset and must be looked after for the world's survival. Wildlife, biodiversity and habitat loss can be attributed to tourism; awareness is growing that the industry needs to be partners in reversing the issues often accelerated by unstainable tourism growth. Championing local experiences and collaborating with local suppliers to ensure no damage is done and areas are regenerated will mean visitors come for years to come. Rewilding land and sea and working with tourism suppliers with scientific projects as part of their experience will enhance any tourists' experience. Regenerating communities and the economy Host communities need to see regeneration in the post-COVID tourism world. The host community must be involved in tourism planning. New experiences involving local musicians, artisans, and food producers will boost the economy and bring tourism spending to people who may not consider themselves in the industry. Regenerating cultural heritage Cultural events should be for locals yet attract tourists; tourism needs to be authentic to ensure a positive experience, so if these cultural displays are only for tourism, resentment levels will be high. Heritage attractions can be bought to life by locals sharing their experiences and knowledge. Engaging the whole community in tourism will ensure a sense of place. Now I know this is hard for a tour operator to achieve, but choosing DMCs wisely and discussing product development with them can open many opportunities. The question to ask here is, ‘Can my DMC sell this experience locally?’ if yes then it is more likely to be authentic and of benefit to the community. Regenerative tourism could be seen as another buzzword, but its concept goes beyond sustainability. If a business is doing good for the planet and its people then businesses will attract customers, employees and investors with a similar ethos. With tourism on the uptick after the COVID-19 pause, now is a time to build back better. This year's World Tourism Day theme was ‘Rethinking Tourism’ - if we all come up with a new idea to build a regenerative future, tourism can sustain at a better level than it is now. If you are a small tourism business and need guidance on starting your sustainable tourism journey, want to incorporate regenerative concepts into your plans or need so help to hone in on what you want to achieve contact me at emily@emily-bailey.co.uk