A Guide to Adventure

1. Sea Otters hold hands while sleeping so they do not drift apart.  2. Squirrels plant thousands of trees every year just by forgetting where they put their acorns.  3. When male puppies play with female puppies, they often let the female win even if they have the physical advantage.  4. Gentoo Penguins propose to their life-mates with a pebble.  5. Killing a Panda is punishable by DEATH in China. 6. Spiders cannot fly.  7. Japanese Macaques make snowballs for fun.  8. A cat version of the Corgi exists: The Munchkin Cat 9. Dogs' nose prints are as unique as human fingerprints, and can be used to identify them.  10. Butterflies taste with their feet.  11. Leonardo Da Vinci used to buy caged animals at the market, just  to set them free .  12. The Wood Frog , and other animals have the ability to freeze solid in the winter, and thaw in the spring and be perfectly healthy.  ...

Moonshine Falls Area (4 places!) Greenville, Cleveland, SC WILDCAT FALLS : You get two for the price of one here at the Wildcat Wayside State Park. Wildcat Falls are a very popular falls, largely because they are roadside on SC 11 (the Cherokee Scenic Highway). The first falls are in two sections with a 10-foot freefall upstream and the 20-foot cascade down a slab of exposed granite into a shallow pool. About 100 feet to the left of these falls are a number of steps that ascend to a quarter-mile trail to another falls. The trail crosses just above the 10-foot free-fall on a wooden bridge and snakes its way through the woods to a 130-foot waterslide. The photo below isolates the lower portion of the slide. Be prepared to do a little boulder-climbing to reach the base of the waterslide, but please don't attempt to climb the falls themselves. To get here : Stay on RT 276/11 west for about 5 miles past where RT 11 joins RT 276 and look for a pull off (unsigned) on the right (...

Just like any sport, or activity, camping has its own, and sometimes clever terms, by expanding your camping vocabulary you will gain a better, deeper understanding of camping. You will be able to communicate more clearly, and be better prepared on your next trip. You can even impress your friends with some colorful terms while in the bush!  1. Guy Lines – The cables tied to a tent and its stakes, designed to provide tension that adds to the overall stability of the tent. 2. Deadman – When the ground is too soft to stake a tent, campers often bury large rocks or sticks tied to guy lines to pitch the tent safely. Deadman is the slang term for this process. 3. Tent Pad – The tent pad refers to the ground under your tent. It’s distinct from sleeping pad, which is an actual piece of padding placed between your sleeping bag and the bottom of the tent. 4. Freestanding – A term for tents that do not need guy lines. 5. Boxing the Needle – The process of lining up a compass’s needl...

Going hiking in South Carolina during the middle a summer drought, might not sound too appealing to most people. To me, it just means finding a shorter hike with a rewarding destination at the end. Each of these hikes listed below are homegrown, under five miles, and many of them have very easy trails. They also have waterfalls, creeks, and lakes for a way to cool off after or during your hike. Well, what are you waiting for? Follow the trails all the way down to the number one hike on this list!  5. Rainbow Falls Trail-Jones Gap State Park  Marietta, SC The 3.9 mile trail can be somewhat difficult with inclines and lots of rocky paths, but the view of Rainbow Falls is so worth it. Consider camping overnight for even more adventure and more time for exploration. 4. Yellow Branch Falls- Oconee State Park- Walhalla, SC With a 3.5 mile loop to Yellow Branch Falls you can get a prime spot at the bottom of the falls. The view is not only breathtaking, but the...

Nothing quite says summer in the south better than being on a beautiful lake, watching the sunset, with a cold drink (sweet tea for most of us will do) in hand. On a hot summer day, there is no better way to spend the day than fishing, swimming, and relaxing on the lake. Dive into this list of the Must-See Lakes in the South, and plan your holiday vacation southern style! 5. Lake Santeetlah, North Carolina  Tucked away in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, Lake Santeetlah, once known as "Lake in the Sky" has 76 miles of shoreline protected by the national forestry service. Boat rentals are available, in all varieties and sizes. Enjoy a quiet day on a canoe or paddle board, or secure an 8 person deck boat. Primitive and car camping sites are available, so there is a place for every type of camper!  4 . Lake Fontana, North  Carolina Outdoor enthusiasts and thrill seekers need seek no more. Opportunities for adventure abound along the untouched mount...

What better way to cool off on a sweltering summer day than to enjoy thrill of a waterslide? I'm not talking about a backyard slip-n-slide, or the neighborhood pool though. What I have in mind is way more exciting. All across the world - even here in the states - the most intense, and terrifying waterslides can be found. Here are the Top 5 most terrifying water slides in the world!! 5. Tantrum Alley, Dubai  Start off this slide by climbing into the 4-person raft, go through the first tornado to get your speed up. Then there is a downhill drop, followed by another tornado. Add one more downhill drop, and tornado and the slide is over. 4.  Città  del Mare, Italy  We know some of the best stuff comes from Italy, Olive Oil, Wine, etc. So naturally, they said no more sliding into a pool. At this resort, hewed from the rugged and gorgeous Sicilian coast, you can ride a series of waterslides into the very Mediterranean itself 3. Big Thunder, Florida...

Summer time offers many outdoor activities, hiking, swimming, and of course camping. Whether you are traveling to another country, or looking for a new adventure closer to home,  camping is the most affordable and scenic way to spend a vacation. As a regular camper, I am always looking for a new spot that offers something more exciting. Here are the Top 5 most insane and amazing camping spots across the world! 5. Tree Camping, Germany These awesome hanging tents, or portaledges, are the specialty of the Waldseilgarten camping resort in Germany. For roughly 200 dollars a night, the resort will give you an elevated tent high in the trees or on a cliff-side, provide you with all the gear, and they even feed you! 4. The Human Nest, California, USA Treebones Resort in Big Sur, California is a totally unique experience (this one I definitely want to go to) since you actually get to sleep in a human sized bird nest. The structures are built just as a bird would, and to keep the natura...