Active Travel Adventures podcast I Inspiring Multi-Day Adventure Trips Around the World

The Sophie Diaries : May 2021 Join Kit as she explores the incredible landscapes of Northern Arizona!  We hike and/or bike the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff and Sedona.  We boondock in the Cococino and Prescott National Forest.   Follow along as Kit learns how to travel and live in her converter camper van, "Sophie".  Get tips on camper van travel and learn from Kit's mistakes. Support this show at no a...

Hike the red rock canyons of mystical Sedona on today's show.  Learn what you need to know about exploring this stunning landscape.  Join Kit as she hikes these magical canyons with ATA affiliate Wildland Trekking  on their base camp Sedona adventure .  Use Promo Code ATA75 on any multi-day Wildland adventure!  You'll be helping to support the show while saving $$$!  COMPLETE SHOW NOTES   See phot...

Sophie Diaries:  USA Camper Van Road Trip NC>VA Kit heads out on the road again in "Sophie", her 2011 converted Sprinter van. In today's episode, we explore the Appalachian mountain areas of NC, VA and TN. Learn what it's like to take a camping road trip, what Kit has learned, often by trial and error, on how to make the best of the situation in traveling in a van without a set agenda. Links menti...

Grand Canyon Show Notes Kits interviews Mary, a 70 year old woman who has hiked the Grand Canyon down and back 142 times - most recently last November.   Who better to learn the in's and out's of hiking this incredible canyon - in fact, learn great hiking tips in general, from a woman who has hiked the canyon for the last five decades. COMPLETE SHOW NOTES   See important links to hiking the Grand...

There are two segments in today's show.  First we talk about traveling together to Central and South America in 2022, and then we discuss US Camper Van travel in "Sophie", my 2011 Sprinter Conversion.  We head to Hagan-Stone County Park and Hanging Rock State Park in NC before arriving in Roanoke, VA. TRAVEL WITH ME! Since I travel solo, sometimes (frankly, a LOT of times) it gets lonely.   Since...

Hike the Camino de Costa Rica! Part II:  The Logistics Costa Rica has a new long distance trail that runs from the Caribbean (Atlantic) to the Pacific Ocean.  This 16 day,  280 km/175 mi trail takes you through five ecosystems and more than a dozen rural villages not seen by most tourists. In fact, the Costa Rica Camino is helping these locals afford to stay in their beloved home towns because the...

Hike the Camino de Costa Rica! Costa Rica has a new long distance trail that runs from the Caribbean (Atlantic) to the Pacific Ocean.  This 16 day,  280 km/175 mi trail takes you through five ecosystems and more than a dozen rural villages not seen by most tourists. In fact, the Costa Rica Camino is helping these locals afford to stay in their beloved home towns because they are feeding and housin...

Kit interviews Wendy Lee from the popular travel blog  Empty Nesters Hit The Road  about her experience trekking Uganda seeking mountain gorillas, found only in the wild (there are none in captivity).    We learn about trekking for gorillas in Uganda versus Rwanda, when to go, what to wear, how hard it is and what to expect on this engaging interview. COMPLETE SHOW NOTES   See important links to p...

Third annual list of the 25 Best Travel Podcasts to listen to in the coming year. Host Kit Parks showcases the best in travel podcasts.  Learn travel tips, destination and adventure ideas, travel hacks and industry trends and news.  Discover new shows to add to your library. COMPLETE SHOW NOTES   See important links to boondocking sites, photos and more cool info Get FREE Travel Planners for ATA a...

Kit interviews Umberto di Venosa , founder of Follow the Camino , a tour company focused entirely on assisting 'pilgrims' plan and execute their Camino journey.  Umberto gives us expert insight on what you need to think about when planning your El Camino.  These can also be applied to any long distance walk or pilgrimage. We discuss important considerations like: which trail best suits you and the...

Kit brings back Arlis (Baja episode) to tell us about her hiking adventure to Big Bend AND Carlsbad Cavern National Parks. We'll learn what to see and do at these spectacular parks, when to go, and other helpful tips to make your adventure grand. See photos and the complete SHOW NOTES HERE . CONTACT KIT Resources   Promo Codes and Recommended Tour Companies Travel Insurance :   Quickly and easily...

Kit interviews Tracy Pawelski , author of One Woman's Camino and her recently released One Woman in the Himalayas , about her Annapurna Circuit trek in Nepal. Not everything went as planned.  We discuss her trials and tribulations, and how adventure travel in general often goes awry, but that's ok.  The best travel stories come from the unexpected. We learn about the Annapurna Circuit, and hear Tr...

Explore three amazing African countries by foot and safari jeep on today's episode. In addition to a typical jeep safari, we hike and track game with an expert guide in Botswana, and also paddle the delta in a traditional dug out canoe.  The tour even heads to Zimbabwe to see Victoria Falls! We explore South Africa and Cape Town and seek the Big 5, and learn that it doesn't take very long with the...

076 Hike and Kayak Iceland! Kit interviews Brad about his amazing Iceland adventure where he hiked the rugged landscape to see waterfalls and cave dwellings, he glacier hiked in crampons, and kayaked among icebergs in this land of Fire and Ice.  It's a magical adventure travel destination you're sure to add to your Bucket List! Here's the link to more details and photos about today's episode and b...

Today we conclude the "Sophie Diaries" about what it was like to take a six week road trip during the pandemic this summer. Kit makes it out west, hikes and bikes historic trails like the Natchez Trace, the Trail of Tears, the Pony Express and Route 66 as she covers her road trip from North Carolina to Wyoming - with an unexpected and abrupt ending. Learn what it's like to travel now, what she's l...

Kit continues her multi-state camper van road trip during the pandemic.  Learn what it's like to travel now, what she's learned and some cool places she visited that you may want to add to your future travel list. SHOW NOTES : https://activetraveladventures.com/ roadtrip / CONTACT KIT Resources   Promo Codes and Recommended Tour Companies Travel Insurance :   Quickly and easily compare rates and p...

What's it like to go on a road trip during the pandemic?  In today's show, Kit and her camper van 'Sophie' take to the road to find out.  You'll learn what went right and wrong on her trip, and lessons learned.  You'll hear about some amazing places to explore, especially State Park gems, as Kit works her way West from NC on her six week adventure. SHOW NOTES : https://activetraveladventures.com/...

The 'Summer of Kit' road trip in 'Sophie', Kit's new-to-her converted Sprinter camper van concludes, but she forgot about lack of internet access to produce new episodes while she traveled.  Today we discuss the new schedule. Be sure to check in with Kit to let her know how YOUR summer went during this crazy time! CONTACT KIT Resources   Promo Codes and Recommended Tour Companies Travel Insurance...

Is Contact Tracing the way to open up travel again? Explore the pros and cons of contact tracing and exposure notification, and how it may help us travel again in a Covid world. Today's Bonus Episode brings Mary Charleson from CarryOnQueen.com and FiveMinuteMarketing.com and Barbara Cameron of BarbaraCameronPix.com. We define contact tracing, the differences between manual and digital tracing, the...

Roundup Interview with Adventure Travel Industry Leaders Bonus Episode #6 In March 2020 at the beginning of the lockdown, Kit interviewed three industry leaders to find out what was happening on the ground, how they were dealing with the crisis, and what advice they would give us adventure travelers.  Today's show is a follow up three months later to see what they've learned, what they expect we w...

072 Adventures in Morocco : Marrakesh, Chefchaouen, the Sahara & Atlas Mountains and more! Our visit to Morocco today focuses on the exotic culture as well as hiking in the Atlas Mountains. We take a camel trek in the Sahara Desert.  We visit Marrakesh, Chefchaouen, Casablanca, and Berber villages.  We take a cooking class, take a night street food tour, explore a Kasbah, watch craftsmen make thei...

The best way to see Scotland's bucolic countryside is on foot!  Savor Scotland's most popular long distance trail, the West Highland Way!  This 96 mile trail starts in Glasgow and finishes in Scotland's adventure capital, Fort William. Kit even walked the Kelvin Way from Glasgow to the start of the trail in Milngavie. Stay in medieval villages each night and walk the rambling countryside trail, of...

The best way to see the highlights of Jordan is on foot!  Hike Petra and Wadi Rum in Jordan, camp Bedouin-style in the desert away from the tourists and under a canopy of stars, ride a camel through the desert, visit Mount Nebo and Amman, and learn why Jordan is the friendliest country in the Middle East! We cover: When to visit Jordan Things to do and see in Jordan How to dress in Jordan Safety i...

Kit Parks interviews three top adventure travel tour industry leaders about how they are coping with the coronavirus pandemic and its effect on the travel industry, how they are handling upcoming and future travel bookings, postponements and cancellations, what silver linings they've discovered, their outlook for the future and what travellers can do to help their favorite tour companies get throu...

Have an amazing vacation in Banff Canada!  Hike, bike, and paddle in one of Canada's most scenic destinations.  Soak in a hot tub while you watch the incredible night sky!  Learn tips from a local on this podcast episode, download the FREE Banff Travel Planner and get more information and see pics on the website. We cover: When to visit Banff How to get to Banff Things to do in Banff Guided hiking...