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San Elijo Campground is one of the best beach camping spots on the California coast!  Picture yourself perched up on the bluff, overlooking the ocean, going to sleep with the sound of the waves.  If you’re planning a road trip, or just want a break from the inland heat, here’s everything you need to know about San Elijo State Beach and Campground!

Where is San Elijo Campground

The San Elijo campground is located at San Elijo State Beach, nestled in the coastal town of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, or just Cardiff if you want to sound more like a local.  It’s sandwiched in between the larger beach towns of Encinitas and Solana Beach.  Cardiff is not a large town, it’s mostly residential.  And, the shops and restaurants are actually located in a small cluster on San Elijo Avenue and not on the 101 or Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).  This gives you miles of uninterrupted ocean views!

Beachfront campsites are hard to find in California, but San Elijo has several spots and a few with hookups!

When to Visit San Elijo Campground

Whether you’re coming for a few days to camp, or plan to stay a few weeks, the campground at San Elijo State Beach is open year-round!  The best months for camping along the California coast are July through October.  Then you can avoid the May gray/June gloom we typically experience when the fog rolls in and sticks around almost all day.  And, although the cooler winter months will see fewer travelers, you’d enjoy those months better if you have an RV or other hard-sided vehicle.

Keep in mind, California camping is popular all year round!  So, plan ahead by booking your campsite in San Elijo a few months in advance.  Check out our Road Trip Camping Packing List for a full list of what we bring!

Here’s the San Elijo Campground Map and San Elijo State Beach. Pay attention to where the bluffs and stairs are, as there is no handicapped accessible way to reach the beach from the north end of the campground (left side of image).

How to Book a Campsite at San Elijo Campground

Once you’re ready to book a campsite at San Elijo State Beach, use ReserveCalifornia.com to reserve a campsite.

Not seeing the campsites you want or finding the campground fully booked?  Try logging on at 8am each morning.  This is when changes/cancellations are applied.  And, it’s how we were able to score an oceanfront campsite less than 48 hours in advance!

Lower, Middle, and Upper Sections of San Elijo Campground

Camping is available in either the Lower, Middle, or Upper sections of San Elijo State Beach.  What’s the difference?  The lower section of the San Elijo campground is right near the river mouth, or the San Elijo Lagoon.  It’s the best spot if you want to surf Cardiff Reef.  More on the different surf breaks in a bit.  The lower section is also best for families with little kids who want easy beach access with no stairs.  There is a lifeguard station right here, and there are both oceanfront spots and inland sites.  No hook-ups or shore power.

The middle section lies just north and has both hook-ups and standard sites, but steep stairs to get down to the beach.  However, it’s easiest to get into the town of Cardiff from the lower or middle section, which is where you’ll head for groceries, shops, and restaurants.  The Upper section is high up on the bluff.  So you’ll have incredible views of the ocean and sunsets, but alas, lots of stairs.  No hook-ups here either, but it is a lot quieter.  And fewer kids.  And, good access to Pipes, another great surf break!

Note: During high tide, the middle and upper sections of the San Elijo campground’s beach become almost inaccessible.  The waves often crash right up against the cliffs!  So it’s great for getting out to surf without crowds, but not good for little kids.

Camping along the California coast at San Elijo State Beach means beautiful sunsets, s’mores around the campfire, and being lulled to sleep by the sounds of the sea.

What to Expect at San Elijo Campground

After you check in at the ranger station around 3pm you can be out in the ocean in less than 10 minutes…unless you want to unpack!  Here are the amenities and things you should be aware of at the San Elijo campground:

• Picnic tables, fire rings with grills
• Full hook-ups at some middle section sites (see the San Elijo Campground map above)
•  Tokens are available at the ranger station kiosk for hot showers!
• Bathrooms and dishwashing sink
• Drinking water spigots in front of every other campsite.
• Noise: Ocean waves crashing on the shore can be gentle on some nights and downright mind-numbing on others.  In addition, expect frequent trains.
• Theft: Although we did not experience any, there are signs everywhere not to leave your surfboards or bicycles out.
• Lack of shade: most campsites do not have large, leafy trees, so bring a pop-up, umbrellas, or something to create shade.
• Cement camping pads and sandy sites. Bring a ground tarp/rug/pad to keep the sand and dust from getting unruly!

Camping with Dogs and Pets

We camp all the time with our hound dog, Lucy.  And yes, dogs are allowed in San Elijo State Beach Campground.  However, just as in most State and National Parks, your dog must be leashed at all times.  And, they cannot leave the pavement.

However, if you want to walk on the beach with your dog, head to the south end of the campground, adjacent to Cardiff State Beach, where dogs are allowed on the beach and they can go in the water!   Just make sure to keep them on a leash.

In addition, dogs cannot be left unattended while camping in San Elijo, so make sure you take turns surfing.  Or, it’s cool enough to leave them inside your camper.

You can camp with your pup at San Elijo, but you cannot bring them down the stairs and onto the beach, except by the river mouth on the south end.

Top 5 things to see and do at San Elijo State Beach and Campground:

1. Relax and Enjoy the View

Pack binoculars, a good camp or beach chair, and something for shade. Then, settle in and enjoy the ocean view!  From here, besides surfers, you can spot California brown pelicans and ospreys, and it’s great for whale watching!

2. Surfing or Stand Up Paddle Board

The surf breaks near San Elijo campground are some of the best in San Diego!  There are mostly rocky reef beach breaks, and honestly, most are not suitable for beginners.  The waves often break right over the reef, making the take-off challenging, especially at low tide.

Bring booties if you want to protect your feet. You’ll often have to walk over the reef a bit before you can begin to paddle in some sections. Board rentals and other gear can be found at Cardiff Surf Co or Patagonia Cardiff.

Not only can you check the surf right from your picnic table if you have an oceanfront spot, but lots of campers also put their chairs right up on their table for a better view!

Most popular surf breaks near San Elijo Campground from South to North:

• Seaside Reef: South end of Cardiff State Beach
• George’s
• Cardiff Reef: Far south end where the river flows into the ocean. Popular, and you’re likely to see some local pros in the lineup.
• Traps
• Pipes: Middle section of the San Elijo Campground.
• Tippers: Just behind the Cardiff Kook.
• 85’s/Bull Taco: There used to be an old taco stand and camp store within the park!
• Turtles: north end of San Elijo campground. There’s a paid parking lot, or you can go down the northernmost stairs.

3. Ride Bikes or Run Along the 101- Pacific Coast Highway (PCH)

California’s Route 101, also known as the PCH or Pacific Coast Highway is the best place in San Diego to pedal, run, walk, and soak in the ocean views! Start at the campground and head south towards Solana Beach, Del Mar, and then climb up Torrey Pines into La Jolla.  Or head north and pedal to Encinitas, Leucadia, Carlsbad, and finish up at Oceanside Harbor Village.  You can turn around whenever you’re ready.  It’s 27 miles one-way from Torrey Pines to Oceanside Harbor.

Even driving this stretch of San Diego’s coastline is incredible!

Biking along the Pacific Coast Highway or the 101 rewards you with breathtaking views, especially in the southbound direction!

4. Try Cardiff Crack

No, we’re not talking about the local drug scene, but meat.  Burgundy peppered tri-tip beef to be exact.  Cardiff’s Seaside Market started making what the locals dubbed ‘Cardiff Crack’ in the ’90s.  And, it is definitely worth picking some up for dinner around the campfire one night.

5. Hike the San Elijo Ecological Reserve and Annie’s Canyon Trail

Leave the coast and walk inland to reach the San Elijo Lagoon for some easy hiking along flat trails.  The most popular trail is Annie’s Canyon Trail, where you can slip through slot canyons and scramble up sandstone.  Start on the south end of the campground, crossing the bridge over the Lagoon and dropping onto the trail behind Las Olas restaurant.  Or enter from San Elijo Avenue or in Solana Beach.  Check out All Trails for more details.

The whole stretch of coastline in California’s North County is perfect for beach cruising, and sunset watching.

Last Few Tips for Your California Camping Trip

Ready to go?  Take a peek at our Road Trip Camping Packing List for a list of what we pack!  For this camping trip, even in the summer, plan on bringing layers.  Temperatures vary and it can be quite humid in the mornings and evenings.  So much so that you might think it rained while you were sleeping!

Looking for more travel tips?

• Oaxaca, Mexico Travel Guide
• Cuba Adventure Travel
• Adventure Travel in Spain: Mallorca, the Costa Brava, and the Costa Blanca
• California’s Eastern Sierras and Yosemite National Park

To learn more about what we do on the regular, follow Top Rope Media’s adventures on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

Until next time, happy camping!

– Meredith McConvill

The post California Beach Camping: San Elijo State Beach appeared first on Top Rope Media.

what is changing?

With the rollout of Apple’s iOS 15 update, anyone that uses an Apple product will have the option to select 3 new and different ways to protect their identity online.  First, will be while using email through Apple Mail.  Second, will be entering email addresses to a form or email newsletter opt-in.  And finally the third privacy protection feature can be used while browsing the web.  Below is a breakdown of each. 

1. Apple Mail new privacy protection

 

Once iPhone, iPad and Mac computer users update to iOS 15, they will be asked to choose from 2 options upon opening their mail via Apple Mail:

1. Do you want to protect your mail activity?  Meaning hide your IP address and privately load all remote content.  Or…
2. Don’t protect mail activity.  Show IP address and load any remote content directly on your device.

Basically, Apple’s new mail privacy protection works by hiding your IP address and loading remote content privately in the background. Even when you do not open the email.  This makes it harder for businesses to follow mail activity from Apple mail users.

For email marketers, you will see a higher than normal open rate from anyone that uses Apple mail.  Even if they never open the email you sent them, your mail program may show that they’ve opened it.

2. Hide My Email

 

With the new iCloud+ subscription, at just an additional $0.99 a month in the U.S., users can opt-in to even more privacy features.  One such feature is titled Hide My Email.  And, it does exactly that, allowing you to use a fake email address when you sign up for a newsletter or fill out a form on the web. 

The Hide My Email feature is built into Mail, Safari, and iCloud settings.  It enables you to instantly create a fake email address that will forward to your real email address.  So, email marketers will not know your real email address, unless you choose to share it with them.  

3. iCloud Private Relay

 

In addition, to Hide My Email, there is also iCloud Private Relay.  This functions like a VPN so your IP address is hidden while you search the web.  

iCloud Private Relay will serve as an additional cloaking feature, so all traffic leaving your Apple device will be encrypted.  It will use two separate internet relays so that no one can use your IP address, location, or track your browsing activity to create a detailed profile of you.  iCloud Private Relay is currently still in Beta testing mode as of October 2021. 

What This Means for Email Marketing and beyonD

 

You can begin to see how these changes by Apple will not only affect email marketing, but also your website traffic data, and applications like Google Analytics and Google Ads. 

We’ve already begun to see this with the new Facebook and Instagram privacy policy changes that rolled out this Fall.  If you haven’t read up on the latest, the Washington Post did a great job of summarizing it in their ‘Facebook Privacy Settings to Change Now’ article.  

 

How will Apple iOS 15 affect my email campaigns?

increase in EMAil open rates
 

As we mentioned, emails sent to Apple Mail users that are on your email list will show as opened.  Even if they NEVER opened your email.  In addition, if you use A/B testing, or list segmentation, this will certainly skew your campaign results, automations, and other email sequences.

 

How to cope with inflated open rates?  Well, first of all, look more closely at your email list.  How many people on your email list are actually opening from Apple Mail or an iPhone?  Not sure where to find this?  In Mailchimp, go to Audience -> All Contacts -> Overview.  Scroll down to Top Email Clients.  Here’s where you will see what mail applications users on your list are opening campaigns from.

 

In the example below, 9.8% of users are opening email on their Mac using Apple Mail.  But then, look to the left for mobile opens.  34% are opening from an iPhone.  So combined that’s 43.8%, almost half of your email subscribers.  However, do not discount the other 46.2% of openers.  These potential customers will still continue to give you valuable data!           

 

 

Where to Shift Focus within your Email Marketing strategy

 

Since open rates are not the only data point you should be looking at, here’s a few other areas to focus on when reviewing your email marketing: 

1. Click Through Rates– Have your click-through rates changed?
2. Total number of Clicks– What does your click count or click map look like?  What items are most important to your readers? 
3. Unsubscribes and Bounces– are these the same as past email campaigns?  Higher or lower?
4. Subject Line and Preview Text- now is really the time to word-smith those subject lines and the preview text, and review your past campaigns to see which ones have performed best!

 

How is Mailchimp Handling this Change to Email Marketing?

 

While everyone is still adjusting to these new privacy features from Apple, Mailchimp has already begun to make changes that will help you dial in your email campaigns.  One of the new features Mailchimp has added to its platform to help you better optimize your email campaigns for success is called Content Optimizer. 

Within your Campaigns, click on View Report, then scroll down to the new Content Optimizer section.  Here Mailchimp will show you how your campaign performed in 4 areas: Skimmability, Text & Visuals, Links and CTAs, and finally, Typography.  From here, you can view a full report on each area, with tips on how to improve your email!

 

more ideas for how to cope with the change

 

Keep in mind, other email clients may soon follow suit with their own privacy protection changes.  So, in addition to focusing on email marketing metrics, now is a good time to review all the potential ways you can distribute your content. 

What do we mean by content distribution?  Here are a few ideas: a blog post shared to Reddit or Medium, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Podcasting…Need a refresher?  Click below to read some of our recent posts on lead generation, sending better emails, and best social media practices.

 

Using Your Website to Generate Leads

Creating Good Content

Lead Generation

EMAIL MARKETING

Send Better Emails

DIY Email Marketing

Social Media

How to Reach Your Audience

Social Media Best Practices

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Planning a visit and searching for lodging or camping in Grand Teton National Park?  Well, we just got back!  And we’ve packed this Tetons travel blog with lots of good tips for how to make your road trip more enjoyable!

When to Visit Grand Teton National Park

Whether you’re planning on hiking, biking, or rock climbing, the best months for camping in Grand Teton National Park are May through October.  Keep in mind though, this is when most families visit, so plan ahead by booking your campground or lodging a few months in advance.  We camp in early spring or late fall whenever possible.

Our well-loved map of Grand Teton National Park. Pick one up at the Ranger Station at either the park entrance or at one of the Visitor Centers.

Winter in the Tetons

Winter is also a great time to visit the Tetons!  Especially if you’d like to see more wildlife and fewer tourists.  In fact, the park is open all year round!  However, heavy snow or icy road conditions could lead to road closures.  In addition, some roads may be closed entirely to motorized traffic.  But, you could make your way through the Tetons in the wintertime by:

• Skiing, whether cross-country or ski touring
• Snowmobiling
• Snowshoeing
• Fat Biking

There are even dog sledding, sleigh rides, and snow coach tours!  However, there are no campgrounds open during the wintertime in the Tetons.  So, make sure you check out both the Grand Teton National Park website and the Grand Teton Lodge Company site if you plan to visit in the winter! 

Before we dive further into the Tetons’ camping and lodging details, one question we are always asked?  Are there bears in Grand Teton National Park?  So we wanted to take a bit of time to talk about what you might see, and how to protect yourself and your family.

There’s plenty of wildlife in the Tetons, just be sure to keep ’em out of your campsite!

Bears in the Tetons

YES!  You can see both grizzlies and black bears in the Tetons.  Bears thrive throughout the park, and so an encounter with a black bear or grizzly bear can happen at any time.  Anywhere.  Bears may appear docile, minding their own business, but can move quickly and can be aggressive.  In addition, black bears and grizzlies can run at speeds of up to 35mph!  If you don’t believe how fast they can move, just check out YouTube or watch this black bear chase a mountain biker downhill in Whitefish, Montana!

Sightings are rare, however, ‘a fed bear is a dead bear.’  Not sure what is meant by this?  During our recent trip through Glacier National Park, a curious 4-year old female black bear began entering campsites at the Many Glacier Campground and stealing food.

Tips on keeping a bear-free campsite and staying bear-aware:

• Use the bear box!  Put all items with a scent in the bear box.  This includes soaps, lotions, sunscreen, even water bottles.
• Do not leave cooking utensils, dishes, or stoves on your picnic table at your Tetons campsite.  It will guarantee unwanted visitors.  And not just a large bear.  Squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, and deer will raid your campsite for any items that look and smell like a treat!
• Carry bear spray at all times.  Especially when hiking or biking.  And, read the NPS Guidelines on how to use bear spray effectively.
• Keep a safe distance from bears if you spot one.  Especially if it’s a mother and her cubs.  300ft. is what’s recommended.  Resist the urge to approach for a better photo.

If are you reading this and you’re already in the park and forgot to buy bear spray, not to worry.  You can buy bear spray at most stores near the park, even the Albertsons in Jackson, Wyoming!

Lucy loves camping and likes to get in the water! However, dogs must be kept on a leash and are not allowed in the rivers or lakes in the Tetons. So she was pretty content to watch from the sidelines. 

Dogs and Pets in the Tetons

The next animals we get asked lots of questions about are dogs.  Yes, dogs are allowed in Grand Teton National Park.  However, just as in all National Parks, your dog must be leashed at all times.  And, they cannot leave the pavement.  So if you want to hike with your dog in the Tetons, plan to hike on paved trails.  In addition, dogs cannot be left unattended while camping in Grand Teton National Park.

Top 6 things to see and do in Grand Teton National Park:

1. Relax and Enjoy the Wildlife

Pack binoculars, a good camp chair, be patient, and settle in to spot elk, bison, moose, and bears. Plus dozens of species of birds and smaller animals. Check out our Road Trip Camping Packing List for a full list of what we bring!

Camping in Grand Teton National Park allows you to get up early or stay past sunset to watch the bison!

2. Drive or Bike the Jenny Lake Loop

Jenny Lake is the best place to find solace and be inspired by the gorgeous Tetons looming overhead.  Even in the summer months, there are not as many tourists in this part of the park.

3. Paddle Oxbow Bend

Oxbow Bend is the perfect place for wildlife spotting while stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, or canoeing.  Put in on the Snake River just north of the Jackson Lake Dam for the easiest and least amount of paddling…let the current take you there!  Make sure you have a lifejacket for each person, both children, and adults!  Check out the Park’s Boating and Floating Resouce Page for outfitters and guides that will not only rent you kayaks or SUPs but also drop you off at the put-in and pick you up at the end.

Kayaking through Oxbow Bend is definitely a highlight of any trip through the Tetons!

4. Take up Flyfishing

Flyfishing is as good as it gets around Oxbow Bend on the Snake River, Gros Ventre River, or on the other lakes and streams that crisscross the park.  Fish species found in the Tetons include rainbow, brown, lake, and cutthroat trout.  Check out the Grand Teton National Park website for all the rules on catch limit, bait, license requirements, etc.

5. Climb the Grand

Grand Teton National Park is named after its tallest peak- The Grand Teton.  There are numerous routes up the Grand, or climb one of its sister summits- like the Middle Teton or the Teewinot.  If you plan to take on any of these routes, you should be an experienced climber or higher a guide.  The best guide service in the Tetons area for rock climbing is Exum Mountain Guides.

On the topic of rock climbing in the Tetons, did you know there is Grand Teton Climber’s Ranch in the Park?  Maintained by the American Alpine Club and numerous volunteers, the Grand Teton Climber’s Ranch is where climbing legends and armchair mountaineers come together.  In communal cabins or dormitory-style living, climbers young and old share meals, beers, and of course their stories of failure and triumph.  And, you can book your stay through the American Alpine Club for about $20/per person between June to early September.

6. Have cocktails at the Jackson Lake Lodge

Visit the Blue Heron Bar at the Jackson Lake Lodge around sunset for some of the best views of the Tetons, and a great cocktail or glass of wine!  Inside the Lodge, you will also find several restaurants, a gift shop, and a lounge to relax and check email- yes, there is wifi here!

Finish off your evening at the Blue Heron Bar at Jackson Lake Lodge.

Other activities to fill your Grand Teton Vacation: 

Mountain Biking or Road Cycling in the Tetons

As with most National Parks, trails are primarily designated for hiking in the Tetons.  However, Grand Teton National Park does have the most paved trails compared to all other National Parks!  You can ride your road bike through the campgrounds, along the main roads, and all the way down to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort!

There are no designated mountain bike trails within the Tetons, however, there is very good mountain biking around Jackson and Teton Pass, which crosses between Wilson, Wyoming, and Victor, Idaho. There is also lift service for mountain biking at Snow King, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and Grand Targhee Resort.  

Swimming in the Tetons’ lakes and rivers

You could swim at Grand Teton National Park, but water temperatures rarely get above 60 degrees!  In addition, the swift-moving currents of the rivers, combined with the cold make it extremely dangerous.  Always remember to wear a lifejacket when you are paddling!  And unfortunately, dogs are not allowed to swim in the lakes and rivers within Grand Teton National Park.

Don’t plan on swimming too long, the water is pretty chilly, even in the summertime!

Where to stay at Grand Teton National Park

Lodges and Cabins in the Tetons

If you do not plan on camping in Grand Teton National Park, you can book a hotel, lodge, or cabin stay through Grand Teton Lodging Company and select one of the following:

• Jackson Lake Lodge– Jackson Lake Lodge is a full-service lodge with a gift shop, bar, restaurants, gas station, and other services. There is no true access to Jackson Lake as this lodge is located on the Willows Flat.
• Jenny Lake Lodge– Jenny Lake Lodge is smaller, quieter, and away from the crowds. Here you’ll find accommodations and a restaurant, along with day picnic areas and access to Jenny Lake.
• Colter Bay Village– The Colter Bay Village area has both lodging and camping, a grocery store, gas station, boat launch, and beach access to Jackson Lake.
• Signal Mountain Lodge– Just west of Signal Mountain, this lodge is located on Jackson Lake and offers both camping and lodging, a boat launch, a gas station, and a grocery store.
• Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch- the last accommodations and services in the Tetons, just before crossing into Yellowstone National Park, is at Headwaters. Here you will also find a gas station, grocery store, and a restaurant.

When camping in the Tetons, make sure you take time to relax along the Snake River near Oxbow Bend after a long hike or kayak!

Best Camping at Grand Teton National Park

All park campgrounds that used to be first come first serve are now available for booking online through Recreation.gov.  There are both standard tent camping sites and those with electric hookups available for RVs.  Here are the campgrounds from the South Entrance of the Tetons to the Northern boundary where you exit the park on the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway and head towards Yellowstone:

• Gros Ventre– Gros Ventre campground is the southernmost campground near Moose Junction and provides easy access to the Gros Ventre River.
• Jenny Lake– The campground at Jenny Lake is near the Jenny Lake Trailhead and Jenny Lake Visitor Center, but not adjacent to the Jenny Lake Lodge. There is a grocery store here as well.  Camping at Jenny Lake will provide you with the closest access for hiking and climbing in and around the Grand Teton.
• Signal Mountain– Camping at Signal Mountain will give you easy access to Jackson Lake, grocery store, boat launch, gas station, and restaurants.
• Colter Bay Village– our favorite campground and the one with the most services is at Colter Bay Village. Camping here gives you access to Jackson Lake, a gas station, grocery store, boat launch, and restaurant.
• Lizard Creek- the most remote campground at the north end of Grand Teton National Park, Lizard Creek Campground has the least amount of services but is located just minutes away from the southern entrance to Yellowstone National Park.  And, it’s also right on Jackson Lake.
• Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch– the last campground in the Tetons, just before crossing into Yellowstone National Park, is at Headwaters. Here you will also find a gas station, grocery store, and a restaurant.

Camping in the Tetons in a tent is more fun if you’re off the ground! Watch how easy the Yakima SkyRise Rooftop Tent sets up.

Where to Stay Outside Grand Teton National Park

 Planning a trip to Grand Teton National Park but would rather stay close to town?  Look for accommodations at one of the following towns that border the Tetons:

• Anywhere in Jackson, Wyoming!
• Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is technically is located outside of Jackson.  Between Jackson and Wilson.  It’s a great option if you’re visiting in the winter when camping in the park is closed but the resort is still open for skiing and snowboarding!
• Wilson, Wyoming is a small town located on the East side of Teton Pass, just west of Jackson and therefore easily accessible to the Tetons.  There’s not as many accommodations here as in Jackson, but you can expect lower prices. 
• Victor, Idaho is the town located just on the west side of Teton Pass. If there’s not much snow on the ground, Victor would be a great base for visiting the Tetons and the surrounding area. And, you can expect lower prices than Jackson, Wyoming.
• Grand Targhee Resort in Alta, Wyoming is another great resort nearby.  But, keep in mind that Grand Targhee is not only on the west side of Teton Pass, it’s well over an hour away from the Teton Park Entrance.

How to get to Grand Teton National Park

Driving directions to Grand Teton National Park will often take you into the park from Jackson, Wyoming.  Coming from the north?  Well, then you will pass through Yellowstone National Park first before heading south on the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway to reach the Tetons.  There are a few other, smaller roads into the park, but most are quite remote.

The views are stunning throughout the park. From crystal clear lakes to the Tetons’ jagged alpine peaks!

Last Few Tips for Your Tetons Camping Trip

Check out our Road Trip Camping Packing List for a list of what we pack!  For this trip, even in the summer, plan on lots of layers.  Temperatures change rapidly.  Thunderstorms are quite common.  And morning temps can be in the 40s, even in the summertime!  There’s definitely a lot to plan when camping in Grand Teton National Park, so we hope this gets you excited for adventure.

Looking for more travel tips?

• Oaxaca, Mexico Travel Guide
• Cuba Libre
• Adventure Travel in Spain
• California’s Eastern Sierras and Yosemite National Park

To learn more about what we do on the regular, follow Top Rope Media’s adventures on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

Until next time, happy camping!

– Meredith McConvill

The post Lodging and Camping in Grand Teton National Park appeared first on Top Rope Media.

Searching for travel tips on how to bike Catalina Island?  Well from sweeping ocean views to the rugged interior, we’ve packed this blog filled with ideas to get you planning a cycling trip to Catalina!

We’ll review the type of bike you’ll need, what to pack, where to stay, and what to expect. So if you’re up for a challenge, but want the beach time too, Catalina packs it all in.  And, if you’ve ever traveled through the Meditteranean, this part of California will remind you of those hilly coastal towns in Spain, Greece, and Italy!  Bellisima.

Be ready for lots of gravel roads and pedaling uphill as you bike across Catalina Island!

What You’ll Need to Bike Catalina

Bike Selection

To have a great adventure cycling on Catalina Island, you will want to bring your own gravel or mountain bike.  Knobby tires and a squishy suspension will help you absorb all those bumps and broken pavement as you make your way across the island.

No hardtail or full-suspension mountain bike in your stable?  How about a gravel bike?  If none of the above, your best bet is to purchase the widest knobby tires that will fit your road bike and keep the air pressure on the low side.

Pro tip: Bring everything you need to fix a flat, refill your tubeless tires, or adjust your suspension.  There is only 1 legit bike shop on Catalina, Brown’s Bikes, and the likelihood that they will be available on short notice is slim.

For this trip, I rode my gravel bike with a standard crank, 38mm tubeless tires, and ran about 35-40 psi.  No flats, no issues, but definitely wish I had more gears or a compact crank in certain sections.

Bike Rentals on Catalina

Want to rent a bike while on Catalina, take a tour, or shuttle one of the routes?  Here are a few outfitters that can help with bike rentals and tours:

• Catalina Island Company
• Brown’s Bikes
• Bike Catalina
• Catalina e-Bike Tours – island rental e-bikes are not permitted in the interior

Bring your gravel bike or mountain bike and be prepped for lots of bumpy, unpaved roads but spectacular views!

Bike Permits for Catalina Island: Give Back and Enjoy Your Ride

Biking is a great way to see the interior of Catalina!  However, you will need to purchase a Freewheeler Bike Pass from the Catalina Island Conservancy to ride past the gates at either Two Harbors or Avalon to reach the interior of the island.

The cost for an annual membership is $35 for 1 person or $65 for 2 people.  As the Catalina Island Conservancy protects and restores native habitats, including keeping track of all those bison, you can feel good about making the purchase.  Need more reason?  Making this small gift, which is tax-deductible, supports an organization that protects over 88% of the island!

Have a larger group?  You can add on to your Catalina Island Conservancy membership level depending on how many riders are in your group!  Lastly, if you are renting a bike, the rental company should include the bike permit in the cost of your rental.

Bike Fitness

So, this is the area I was lacking in.  Being fit on the bike is different than just having a healthy, active lifestyle.  I surf regularly, run a few days a week, yoga a few more days, but have been slacking on riding consistently.  My 2 days a week of riding were not enough to feel fit for the epic day of riding to Two Harbors and back. 48 miles and 7,000ft of climbing is no joke on gravel roads!

Climbing back out of the interior in 80+ degree weather made for a few rough hours for me, and my adventure partners!  It was like getting off the couch and riding the BWR (Belgian Waffle Ride) Wafer version.  Therefore, I do not recommend attempting this crossing without a bit of cycling fitness.  Other options?  Arrange to have a shuttle meet you, or make a ferry reservation to take you back!

On almost every route there is an opportunity to see bison grazing across Catalina!

What To Pack for Visiting Catalina Island by Bike

Extra Water

There is “water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.”  Meaning you will have gorgeous ocean views on many of your routes around the island, but very little access to freshwater.  Catalina is an arid, low-humidity environment.  Therefore, dehydration and heatstroke or heat exhaustion are always risks. Having a Camelbak is almost essential for the long days.  On a warm sunny day, you can lose up to 1 liter of water an hour just standing still.  Never mind pedaling a bicycle uphill!

When pedaling from Avalon to the Airport in the Sky, you can get by with 2 bottles and easily refill them at the airport cafe.  They also have packaged snacks, and a grill at the airport, along with water for sale.  And if you ask nicely and are buying other items, they may even refill your bottles behind the counter!

When riding in between the Airport in the Sky and Two Harbors there is hardly anywhere to fill your bottles.  Meaning you could be out for 2+ hours without a chance to refill.  Often longer depending on your fitness and how many stops you make to take photos!  So, buy an extra small bottle or two of water if you did not bring a Camelbak and tuck them in your jersey pocket or burrito bag.

On-the-bike nutrition

While Avalon is a quaint tourist town, and they do have a Vons grocery store, there are not a lot of shops where you can buy ride snacks.  Come with your usual nutrition, and for long days, it’s nice to make some PB&Js for the journey.

Helmet

Helmets are required when biking in the interior.  And you’ll be happy to wear it when you see some of the steep dirt sections!

Cycling Shoes for Gravel Riding and MTB

Having clipless pedals, meaning shoes that clip into your pedal, I know, sounds counter-intuitive, will definitely help you get to where you are going faster.  There is a lot of climbing!  Therefore, a flat pedal and sneakers will not work as well but could be more comfortable on the gravel and dirt roads.  And allow you to pack less if you’re camping.

Don’t go this alone. Bring some friends along for the ride to make the long days more fun!

A fully charged cell phone, Garmin cycling computer, and maybe a SPOT tracker

Once you travel a few miles outside of Avalon or Two Harbors, you will begin to lose cell service.  There will be service at the Airport in the Sky, and at the top of some of the climbs, but be prepared to not have any service in other parts of the island.  Especially in areas like Little Harbor or Middle Fork Ranch.

Therefore, make sure your cell phone is fully charged, along with your Garmin, and you could carry an extra power pack to recharge.  If your cell phone tends to die early, put it in airplane mode.  Having a device like a SPOT Tracker or Garmin In Reach can also put your family’s mind at ease.  And make your group feel more comfortable when you’re exploring the interior!

Go Pro, travel camera, or easy access to your smartphone

YOU WILL STOP FOR PHOTOS.  Even if that’s not your thing.  You just can’t help it with the incredible vistas.  And the bison lingering by the side of the road.

Bike repair kit

Extra tubes, bacon strips, CO2 cartridges, hand pump, sealant, whatever you usually take for a longer day on a mountain bike or gravel ride.  If you have a mechanical that you can’t fix on your own, you will have to hike until you have cell service and call Catalina Taxi & Tours or Catalina Island Conservancy Park Ranger to come and rescue you.

Do not depend on a passing car for help.  They can be few and far between in the interior.  We rode for hours without seeing another cyclist or car on the road.

People repair kit

We ALWAYS carry some kind of emergency medical kit for long days in the backcountry.  And biking across Catalina’s interior should be thought of as backcountry.  Especially because if there is an accident, you may be at least an hour or longer before you reach help.

Adventure Medical Kits are our favorite and they have several different types of kits depending on the activity, length of your journey, people in your party, etc.

We often pack a larger kit if we’re carrying a backpack, and a smaller, pocket-sized one if we’ll just be out riding for a few hours with no cell service or shops nearby.  Having items like moleskin, antihistamine, caffeine tabs, band-aids, and adhesive tape can save the day!

Most visitors will begin their Catalina cycling by pedaling uphill from Avalon. Make sure to stop to take in the views!

Bike Routes and Catalina Island Maps

Download the Catalina Island Conservancy Map.  It’s worth taking a look at this before you choose your routes around the island.  You can view all the details, like distances, where to find potable water, camp, or if you are hiking while you’re here, where to hop on the Trans Catalina Trail.  Keep in mind, you can only bike about 8 miles of the Trans Catalina Trail.  It’s designed more for hikers, but more on that later.

Catalina Bike Route #1: Avalon to the Airport in the Sky

Biking from Avalon to the Airport in the Sky is about 10 miles, 1,550ft of climbing, with an average grade of 8.2%.

Depending on where you begin, settle in for a steep, long climb on a paved road for the first 3 miles, taking you up over 1,400 ft.  Then make way for lots of rollers with sections of broken pavement mixed with dirt and gravel.

Although the grade of the road comes down to about 4% on the climbs, it still feels like a trek.  There may be a few cars, Hummer tours, and taxis coming and going from the airport so stay alert as they sneak up quickly!

Keep an eye out for bison and the island foxes as you make your way up to the Airport in the Sky.  Plan to stop into DC-3, the airport restaurant where you can grab burgers, refill water, pick up souvenirs, and try their famous cookies!

Catalina Bike Route #2: Airport in the Sky to Little Harbor

Biking from the Airport in the Sky to Little Harbor is about 6.5 miles with 1,646ft of descending, with an average grade of 5.4% on gravel roads.

From the Airport in the Sky, you will turn right onto El Rancho Escondido Road and take this all the way down to a sharp right onto Little Harbor Road.

Be prepared for mostly packed dirt and gravel, loose in some sections, but easily navigable.  Here at Little Harbor, you find several secluded beaches and Little Harbor Campground.  There are no services, but there is potable water, and there are port-o-potties at camp!

You may also get cell service up on the bluff, just before you descend into camp.  This is also a great place to stop for photos!  We also spotted 2 bison on this route, just off to the side of the road.  You may not see any vehicles at all on this segment.

Catalina Bike Route #3: Little Harbor to Two Harbors

From LIttle Harbor to Two Harbors is where you will begin to climb again.  Settle in for about 850ft of climbing, over 3.8 miles at 4.2% on packed dirt and gravel roads.  You will pass a small bathroom (compost toilet) just outside a farm.  Keep an eye out for bison here as we saw a huge herd on the hillside!  Once you reach the top, with another incredible view, you begin descending again.  2.2 miles, 775ft, with an average grade of 6.5% on the gravel descent.

You will have to slow to pass through a gate and then descend a bit more into Two Harbors.  Road conditions are packed dirt, gravel, and a bit sandy.  Once again, stay alert as there may be vehicles on the descent!

Once in Two Harbors, you’ll pass the Two Harbors Campground, restrooms, and then the General Store.

When you climb up Middle Ranch Road, prepare for over an hour of uphill. And make sure to say hi to the horses when you pass the ranch!

Catalina Bike Route #4:  Two Harbors to Avalon via Middle Ranch

If you haven’t arranged to stay in Two Harbors, see below for accommodations, it’s now time to make your way home.  Make sure to grab an extra bottle or two before rolling out on those harsh gravel roads!

Climbing out seems exhausting by this point, and at a 6.5% gradient for 2.2 miles and 775ft, it certainly is.  Once you reach the summit, it’s back to descending again into the interior. You’ll descend for about 4 miles, 850ft, and at a 4.2% grade on gravel.  Keep an eye out for island foxes and bison!

As you reach Little Harbor, instead of turning up El Rancho Escondido Road, you will keep going towards the coast onto Middle Ranch Road.  Remember to top off water here if you need to.

The views are phenomenal.  There’s even a lookout off-shoot trail to the East that takes you to a beautiful overlook of Cottonwood Beach and Ben Weston Beach.  Both of these spots are rarely visited on Catalina, and you are allowed to camp here!

Plan on pedaling over some gravel rollers as you turn inland, and then it’s time for the big climb out of the interior and up to Avalon Vista.  This is where it gets warm, especially in the afternoons.  Settle in for about 7 miles, 1285ft of climbing, and at about a 4% grade. 

This was the most brutal part of my day.  But if you have great friends in tow, they will make it less painful.  And give you all their snacks and water!

Once you reach the summit, make a right and pedal past Haypass Recreation Area.  Here’s your next chance to get water.  But you may not need it, as it’s all downhill from here.  The descent is about 3 miles, 1450ft of descending at an 8% grade back into Avalon on the paved road.

More Routes Plus the Trans Catalina Trail

Want more routes?  Search Strava and Ride with GPS to see what other options you can link together.  Keep in mind, for the safety of hikers, and the enjoyment of cyclists, bikes are permitted on about eight miles of the Trans-Catalina Trail.

To get there, ride through town and climb the paved road up towards the Wrigley Mansion.  Just before the scenic overlook, there will be a left onto Renton Mine Road.  Take this to East End Road, and then Divide Road to Dakin Peak (the microwave tower) on the East End.

Having the Catalina Island Conservancy Map in hand, or just take a photo of it, will be helpful to find your way around.

When you ride between Avalon and the Airport in the Sky, you’ll be on some of the only paved roads outside of town!

Travel Tips for Planning Your Catalina Trip

When and How to Travel to Catalina

Most people visit Catalina between May and October when the ferry crossings are plentiful, and you have a better chance of good weather.  Catalina can be accessed by ferry from San Pedro, Long Beach, or Dana Point.

Check out the Catalina Express or the Catalina Flyer to make a reservation.  Boats do fill up in the summer months.

You can also sail to Catalina on your private boat or with a tour, just make sure to obtain a mooring or boat-in camping spot in advance.  Other options?  Fly by private plane or helicopter to the island. 

What You Will See: Nature and Wildlife on Catalina Island

The bison on Catalina is a big draw for many tourists, but there’s also the island fox, rattlesnakes, mule deer, antelopes, and dozens of species of birds, bats, and butterflies!  Read more about the Catalina Island conversation programs.

If you’ll be getting in the ocean, pack a wetsuit for diving and at least a 1mm jacket for snorkeling.  The water is incredibly clear but cold!  Only about 65-70 degrees in the summertime.  You’ll have the opportunity to spot lots of bright orange Garibaldi, California’s State Fish, sea lions, stingrays, and lots more.

Check out Diving Catalina to arrange for a dive trip or snorkel tour.

Make sure you leave some time to recover and soaking in the ocean instead of an ice bath is one of our favs here in Hamilton Cove!

Where to Stay on Catalina for a Biking Trip

There are lots of options for where to stay in Catalina, whether you select a hotel, Airbnb, or camp!  Check out LoveCatalina.com to check rates and availability.  Bike packing and camping on Catalina could be a great adventure.  Just make sure to reserve a Catalina campsite well in advance!

Where to Eat: Dining out in Catalina

• Bluewater Grille
• Steve’s Steakhouse- great fine dining with views over the harbor.  Say hi to Steve for us!
• Cafe Metropole
• Maggie’s Blue Rose
• The Lobster Trap- you can also pick up fresh fish here to go!
• Avalon Grille
• Descanso Beach Club– just north of Avalon, this is a great spot to enjoy the beach, cocktails by the ocean, and a nice dinner!
• Toyon Grille- just next to the Catalina Island Conservancy shop.

Other Things to Do on Catalina

There’s lots of free beach access, but we recommend walking or biking to the Descanso Beach Club, Hamilton Cove, or Lovers Cove to escape the crowds in Avalon.  Bring your snorkel gear as the water is quite clear but cold!

There are lots of campsites available across the island, but be prepared for dirt and sandy spots, and not very much shade!

More Resources to Help You Plan Your Catalina Trip

• Love Catalina Island
• Catalina Above and Below– check out their Instagram images or reach out for Island Tours!
• SoCal Bike Tours: Mountain Biking on Catalina

Want more travel tips?  Read more of Top Rope Media’s travel blogs:

• Backpacking in the Wind River Range in Wyoming
• Camping in Joshua Tree National Park
• Road tripping through Utah’s National Parks
• Driving California’s 395 to Bishop, Mammoth Lakes, and Yosemite National Park

Keep up on our latest adventures by subscribing with your email below, or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

Until next time, happy traveling!

– Meredith McConvill

The post Bike Catalina: Travel Tips for Mountain Biking and Gravel Riding in Paradise appeared first on Top Rope Media.

Oaxaca Mexico Travel Guide for Outdoor Adventurers: The Best Places to Eat, Stay, and Play!

If you’re an outdoor adventurer, this Oaxaca Mexico travel guide will teach you about more than just the best mercados, mole, and mezcal!  You will also learn about Oaxaca’s best places to explore by hiking, biking, and rock climbing in this magical place.  And, all locations are within an hour’s drive of the city center.

Some of the areas we’ll highlight for you include:

• Monte Alban and Mitla, archeological sites that rival Tulum and Chichen Itza!
• Eco-tourism villages in the Sierra Norte
• Hierve de Agua, a petrified waterfall
• Rock climbing in San Sebastian Tutle

Get ready for lots of walking, especially when visiting the ancient Zapotec city of Monte Alban! Get up early and get the entire place to yourself.

The City of Oaxaca

Oaxaca City or Oaxaca de Juarez is located in the center of the state of Oaxaca.  It is well over 5 hours inland from either coast.  And, reachable only by traveling across rugged mountain roads.  I first heard of Oaxaca from friends that traveled for the epic surf breaks near Puerto Escondido, Huatulco, and Barra de la Cruz.  But then, I slowly started hearing more about the delicious moles and the incredible mezcal producers near Oaxaca City.  Finally, I dug into books by Chef Alejandro Ruiz The Food of Oaxaca, and Oliver Sacks Oaxaca Journal.  I learned so much about this unique Mesoamerican culture that flourished under the Zapotec people, that same culture that the Spanish conquistadors tried to obliterate.  I had to come see for myself.

Weather in Oaxaca

Oaxaca City is nestled in between the Sierra Madre and several other mountain ranges and lies at 5,100ft of elevation.  It’s also located in the tropics, at about the same latitude as Belize City.  So, Oaxaca has warm temperatures year-round.  It also has a dry season (October-April) and a rainy season (May-September).  But, the rainy season doesn’t necessarily mean that it rains all day.  Thunder clouds typically begin to form in the afternoon, with rain beginning close to sunset or later in the evening.  We traveled to Oaxaca at the end of May and welcomed the rain to cool off our evenings!

Get up early while it’s cooler outside and explore the older Oaxaca City neighborhoods of Jalatlaco and Xochimilco.

What to Pack for Your Oaxaca Trip

Pack good sandals or sneakers for walking, as you’ll easily get in your 10,000 steps during your trip to Oaxaca!  But, keep in mind, Oaxaqueños are often more dressed up compared to Americans.  So if you want to blend in, think sundresses and capris instead of board shorts.  Leather sandals instead of rubber flip-flops.  Fedoras and floppy hats instead of truckers.  Oaxaca is not on the coast, so the beach vibe is not really present here.

Historic Places to Visit in Oaxaca

As you walk through the cobblestoned streets and into the central plaza of Oaxaca city, the Zocalo, you will feel as though you are in Spain.  And that’s because when the Spanish arrived in Oaxaca in 1521 in search of gold, they made great efforts to colonize the region.  However, their exploitation of the land and its people had a devastating effect.

Spanish explorers like Hernan Cortes irrevocably altered life for the Zapotec people.  And the entire Aztec empire.  Under Spanish rule, historic archeological sites were replaced with Catholic churches.  Many were often built right on top of the ruins.  Oaxaca valley’s social practices, politics, and religion were Europeanized.

So, as we dive into this Oaxaca Mexico travel guide, and sites of cultural importance, keep in mind what the indigenous people of Oaxaca have experienced.

Here are some of our favorite places you can easily explore by foot:

• Barrio Jalatlaco and Xochimilco, the oldest neighborhoods in Oaxaca.  Quieter and charming parts of Oaxaca with colorful homes lining each cobble-stoned street
• Jardin Etnobotanico de Oaxaca, featuring native plants of the Oaxacan region, and available by tour only
• The Church of Santo Domingo de Guzman a Dominican Church that has been fully restored, the interior decorated with over 60,000 sheets of 23.5 karat gold!
• Catedral de Oaxaca, located in the Zocalo

There’s so much to art, culture, and history to be found just walking around Oaxaca city.

Shopping in Oaxaca City

Take your time strolling through the plazas surrounding the Zocalo and Santo Domingo…did I mention you should prep to do lots of walking?  Dozens of carts line the more pedestrian-friendly streets, with vendors selling everything from sombreros to leather satchels.  Beautifully painted pottery and intricately painted wood sculptures.  If you are here to shop, you will not be disappointed.  Bring an extra bag, or ensure your wheelie suitcase has plenty of room!

Keep in mind that these local Oaxacan artisans were hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic.  They depend on tourism dollars.  So please think twice about pulling out your iPhone or camera to capture the gorgeous woven rugs and daily traffic in the mercados, and then leaving without buying anything from the locals.

Here are a few places to spend your pesos:

• Aripo, Instituto Oaxaqueno de las Artesanias
• Estampa Galeria
• La Plaza de Artesanias + La Casa de las Artesanias
• Mercado 20 de Noviembre
• Mercado Organico el Pochote

Other shopping centers and markets outside of Oaxaca City:

Tlacolula Market is about a 35-minute drive to the East of Oaxaca City.  It’s open daily, but triples in size on Sundays.  Head to Tlacolula for your produce, flowers, and food stalls.

Teotitlán del Valle is just across the highway from Tlacolula, and it’s where you will find dozens of traditional master weavers.  Most weaving was done by the Zapotec people on a backstrap loom, which is still used in some locations today.  Rugs and other textiles made thousands of years ago were created with cotton as there were no sheep in ancient times.  Now, most of the weaving is primarily done with wool in Teotitlán del Valle.  And, weavers use natural dyes from plants and flowers to create yellows and greens, indigo for blue, and they get the reds, oranges, and purples from the cochineal insect.

Our favorite weaving family was that of J. Isaac Vasquez.  The family’s workshop and gallery, The Bug in the Rug, showcases the beautiful work of master weavers.

The village of Teotitlan del Valle has a long weaving tradition that dates back to Prehispanic times.

Best Places to Enjoy the Local Cuisine of Oaxaca

By the time we landed, we already had extensive lists curated from friends of all the chic Oaxacan restaurants, mezcalerias, and quaint cafes.  Oaxaca’s food scene is outstanding, and often the main reason people visit the city.  The agricultural crops that remain a staple of the oaxaqueños cuisine are tomatoes, corn, beans, chilis, and squash.  Most of which are still farmed in the same way as they were were thousands of years ago.

Be bold and try new things!  Did you know there are over 7 different types of mole?  Also be sure to try the Oaxacan cheese, chocolate, and chapulines (aka deep-fried grasshoppers)!

Best Oaxacan Restaurants:

• Ancestral Cocina Tradicional: simple but delicious rustic outdoor patio dining, tucked away in Xochimilco neighborhood
• Boulenc: the best spot for takeaway croissants, cafe, or head a few doors down to their outdoor patio for a full meal
• Casa Oaxaca: by Chef Alejandro Ruiz, features beautifully crafted Oaxacan cuisine, and rooftop dining with a view of Santo Domingo
• Guajalote de Oro: a cozy bar with good apps and cocktails
• Hotel Los Amantes: best mezcal cocktails, full menu, rooftop dining with a view of Santo Domingo
• Las Quince Letras: traditional Oaxacan cuisine
• Los Danzantes: outdoor courtyard dining with delicious traditional Oaxacan food served beautifully
• Pitiona: Great cocktails, exceptional menu, and rooftop dining with a view of Santo Domingo

Outdoor dining can be found throughout the city, with Boulenc being one of our favorites for frothy cups of chocolate con leche and delicious almond croissants!

Best Mezcal Distilleries in Oaxaca

Save at least 1 day to explore the mezcal distilleries outside of Oaxaca city.  These can primarily be found in one of 2 areas: Santa Catarina Minas, just south of Oaxaca City, and Santiago Matatlán, about an hour east on the way to Mitla.  Santa Catarina Minas and Santiago Matatlán combined are home to over 500 mezcal distilleries or palenques!  

A common question we heard at mezcal tastings: What’s the difference between tequila and mezcal?

In case you too are wondering the same, mezcal and tequila are both produced from the piña or heart of the agave plant (named due to its shape- like a pineapple after the long, spikey leaves are removed.)  Tequila is primarily produced from the blue agave, whereas mezcal can be produced from over 50 different species of agave.  Furthermore, the piña from the blue agave used for tequila is steamed or baked in an oven before being distilled in copper pots.

However, a traditional mezcalero will roast the piñas in an open pit dug into the earth and lined with wood and charcoal, which helps give the mezcal its smoky flavor.  Then, once the piña is mashed, mezcaleros will ferment and then distill the spirit in everything from copper pots to clay pots or wooden barrels.  There is so much more that goes into mezcal production, and most palenques will offer a tour!

Once outside the city, farms with neat rows of newly-planted agave dot the landscape.

Our favorites mezcal distilleries or palenques in Oaxaca:

• Gracias a Dios
• Real Minero
• El Rey Zapoteco
• Lalocura

But, if you don’t have a car while traveling in Oaxaca, here are the best places in Oaxaca City to sip mezcal.  Also, keep in mind, most restaurants carry a variety of local mezcals and offer delicious mezcal cocktails with each meal:

• In Situ Mezcaleria, tiny mezcal bar with hand-picked mezcals to taste, no cocktails
• Selva
• Mezcaleria Los Amantes

Mezcal can be enjoyed on its own, or mixed into a fruit-forward cocktail like here at Los Amantes.

Adventures Outside Oaxaca City

Our favorite part of visiting and then creating a Oaxaca Mexico travel guide was to be true to our passion!  So of course we adventured outside the city for more than just mezcal!

Archeological Sites and Natural Wonders in Oaxaca Mexico

Most of us learned about the Mayas, Incas, and the Aztec civilizations in grade school.  But there were also several other societies that flourished in Mesoamerica before the early explorers arrived.  The Zapotec civilization was among them, and between 700 BC to 1500 AD they lived throughout the Oaxaca valley.  Below are several of the areas where you can explore and learn more about the Zapotec culture.

• Monte Albán is just 6 miles from the city center to the west and yet feels like another world.  One of the earliest settlements of Oaxaca.  Monte Albán is 2.5 square miles and contains a vast network of terraces, plazas, and grand staircases. (Yes, you can still climb most of them.)
• Yagul, one of the most studied archeological sites in Oaxaca. Located east of the city near rock climbing, hiking trails, and caves with gorgeous views of the Oaxacan valley.
• Mitla, the 2nd most important archeological site in Oaxaca.  Settled later than Monte Albán and nestled within the pueblo of San Pablo Villa de Mitla. Just east of Yagul.
• Hierve de Agua, while less of a site of archeological importance, Hierve de Agua is a natural wonder.  There’s a ‘petrified’ waterfall with warm, thermal pools at the top along with an extensive irrigation system and terraces thought to have been developed by the Zapotecs more than 2,500 years ago. Hierve de Aqua lies east and up into the mountains from Mitla.
• The Tule Tree, thought to be the widest tree in the world, with a trunk larger than a giant Sequoia!  About 5 miles from the city center, in the pueblo of Santa María del Tule.

Come prepared for lots of walking to fully explore sites like Monte Alban, which is over 2 square miles!

Oaxaca’s Rock Climbing Areas

I would not adventure to Oaxaca solely to climb.  But, if you happen to be coming down, check an extra bag with your sport climbing gear.  You will be pleasantly surprised at the quality of the routes!  In addition, the access to most climbing areas is within 20 minutes of where you park your car.  And, there is a guidebook available at the local climbing gym, Muro Mondragon, in San Sebastian Tutla!

As with most rock climbing in tropical regions: prepare for overgrown trails, mosquitos, and respect the local farms you have to pass through to reach your climbing destinations.  Here’s what’s located within an hour of the city:

• San Sebastian Tutla, here you will find over 50 routes, with a few easy climbs rated at 5.8 and 5.9.
• La Meca, just east of San Sebastian Tutla, with a few routes that go at 5.11a and up.
• Yagul, the development here is not as well-documented, but again, hard sport routes.  And located close to the archeological site.

Steep sport climbing dominates the rock climbing scene in Oaxaca, so if you have the gear, and are comfortable leading at 5.10a and up, bring it!

Hiking and Mountain Biking in Oaxaca Valley

Our most exciting find while traveling in Oaxaca?  The interconnected network of eco-tourism villages or pueblo mancomunados in the Sierra Norte.  Situated at over 10,500ft, these tiny villages are self-governed and provide access to activities like hiking, mountain biking, zip-lining, along with beautifully rustic accommodations.  Waking up in a small cabin in the cloud forest, surrounded by chirping birds and tropical ferns is definitely special!

In addition, you can book a guide (highly recommended) to help you navigate the poorly-signed network of trails that connect each village.  We also discovered more information about the pueblo mancomunados trails and guiding services through these blogs:

• Everything You Need to Know About Hiking in Oaxaca
• 10 Outdoor Day Trip Adventures in Oaxaca

There’s plenty of hiking trails and rock climbing within an hour of Oaxaca City!

Oaxaca Mexico Travel Guide: Things to Do Before You Leave

1. Brush Up on Your Spanish

Unlike traveling to the more touristy areas of Mexico, not as many people will speak English in Oaxaca.  So, familiarize yourself with some simple Spanish words and phrases.  We use Duolingo every day!  It’s free to download to your phone, and you will learn quickly with just 10 minutes of practice a day.

2. Pack Your Passport, Sentri, or Global Entry

Make sure you have a valid passport.  And your Global Entry or SENTRI card.  If you are within a month or two of the expiration of either your passport, Global Entry, or SENTRI, reapply before you leave.

When driving outside of Oaxaca City, be prepared for lots of small winding roads and plenty of farm animals often grazing just off the pavement!

3. Buy Auto + Travel Insurance

If you will be renting a car in Oaxaca, book directly with a car rental agency like Eurocar or Avis.  Avoid using sites like Kayak or Expedia.  Then, if you need to make a change, you can avoid the incredible price-haggling at the counter.  Why get the insurance?  Because your U.S. or Canadian car insurance will not cover any accidents or theft in Mexico.  And you can be arrested if you get in an accident and you do not have insurance, even if it’s not your fault.

In addition to car insurance, purchase flight insurance if you’re not 100% certain of your plans.  This can be added to your ticket price through airlines like Volaris or AeroMexico.

4. Check With Your Bank + Cell Phone Carrier

Your Visa and MasterCard should work just fine in Oaxaca.  And, often your cell phone carrier will have a Mexico plan you can opt into for the month.  This includes talk, text, and data for your cell.  However, to avoid any extra charges, or have a hold placed on a credit or ATM card, check in with your bank, the main credit card you will use, and your cell phone carrier before departing.

Sometimes you will need to turn on roaming to allow for connection to Mexico’s cell carriers, Telcel or Movistar.  In addition, check to make sure the place you are staying at offers wifi.  Then, you can connect easily to send emails or browse the web.  Do not expect speedy service for video downloads and video chats, and be prepared to not have much service once you leave the city.  Especially in the mountains.

There’s such intricately detailed woodwork hand-crafted by the Oaxacan people. Support their efforts by bringing home a few unique pieces!

5. Exchange Dollars for Mexican Pesos

Unlike the more popular tourist destinations like Cabo or Cancun, American dollars are not widely accepted.  Be respectful of the culture and currency, and exchange at least $200 dollars for pesos before you leave.  You’ll need it for the taxi ride.  To tip your hotel staff.  To purchase anything at a local market.  Once you arrive in Oaxaca, you can visit the Casa de Cambio and exchange more money as needed.  There is a Citibank and Santander right downtown, but these will only be good if you want to use the ATM.

The exchange rate between the Mexican peso and the U.S. dollar is about 20 to 1.  It does fluctuate, so check out the current exchange rate before departing for Oaxaca.

Oaxaca Mexico Travel Guide: Final Thoughts

We hope this Oaxacan travel guide inspires you to visit this magical place instead of a more well-trodden part of Mexico.  Want more travel tips for Mexico?  Read up on Valle de Guadalupe, Rosarito, and Ensenada.

How about Cuba?  Check out our blog on traveling to the land of Classic Cars, Cigars, and Rock Climbing.

Road trips and camping?  Here’s the rest of our travel blog posts.

Until next time, adios amigos!

Meredith McConvill

The post Oaxaca Mexico Travel Guide for Outdoor Adventurers appeared first on Top Rope Media.

Baja Mexico Travel Guide: Tijuana, Ensenada and Valle de Guadalupe

Seeking adventure south of the border?  Well, our Baja Mexico Travel Guide covers everything from your border crossing in Tijuana to Rosarito, Ensenada, and then inland to Valle de Guadalupe! We’ll take you to our favorite spots for street tacos, cervezas, and incredible Baja wines.

In addition, we’ve also included accommodations, activities, and tips for driving throughout the region.  So, let’s vámonos!

5 Things to Do Before You Go

 

1. Practice Your Spanish

 

As with traveling to any foreign country, you should familiarize yourself with the local language.  Yes, many people will speak enough English to help you out.  And you can use Google Translate.  However, if you’re traveling off the beaten path, you may not be as lucky.

Therefore, we use Duolingo daily to keep us speaking Spanish on the regular.  You can download Duolingo for free to your phone, and learn quickly with just 10 minutes of practice a day!

 

Ordering street tacos and cervezas in Baja will be much easier if you speak a little Spanish!

 

2. Pack Your Passport, Sentri, or Global Entry

 

Traveling in Baja Mexico comes with a few challenges.  But first, make sure you have a valid passport.  And your Global Entry or SENTRI card.  If you are within a few months of the expiration of either your passport, Global Entry, or SENTRI, reapply before you leave.

What are the benefits of registering for Global Entry or Sentri for travel to Mexico?  If you drive, you can use the Sentri lanes when crossing back from Mexico into the U.S.  If you fly, you can use TSA-Pre.  This can translate into a big time saver if you’re driving or flying home on a busy day.  How big?  10 minutes to cross the border vs. 3 hours stuck waiting in line!

 

3. Buy Travel Insurance

 

This blog is geared to those driving across the border from either San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, or Tecate border crossings.  And, when we drive to Mexico, we always get auto insurance for our car.  Why?  Because your U.S. or Canadian car insurance will not cover any accidents or theft in Mexico.  And you can be arrested if you get in an accident and you do not have insurance, even if it’s not your fault.

Therefore, we use Baja Bound as it’s simple, easy, and inexpensive to pick up car insurance for Mexico for both short and long trips!

If you’re flying, you can always purchase travel insurance to cover your entire trip.  In addition, this can be added to your ticket price through the airline you’ve booked, like Volaris or AeroMexico.

 

4. Check With Your Bank + Cell Phone Carrier

 

Most Visas, Mastercards, and cell phone carriers will allow you to continue using your cards and your cell phone plan while in Mexico.  This includes talk, text, and data for your cell.  However, to avoid any extra charges, or have a hold placed on a credit or ATM card, check in with your bank, the main credit card you will use, and your cell phone carrier before departing.

Often you will need to turn on roaming to allow for connection to Telcel or Movistar.  In addition, check to make sure the place you are staying at offers wifi.  Then, you can connect easily to send emails or browse the web.

 

Make sure you have pesos on hand, especially at street taco carts!

 

5. Exchange Dollars for Mexican Pesos

 

Before we roll out, we always make sure to have some Mexican pesos on hand.  Typically $20 U.S. worth or 400 pesos.  Why?  First, and most importantly, you will need to carry cash to pay tolls on the drive south. 

If you are driving south from San Diego to Ensenada on the toll road, which is significantly faster than the free road (more on this in a bit), you will need about $10 US to get there.  The toll plazas will take American dollars, but do not expect to receive change in U.S. dollars.  And, wait for them to give you a receipt before you drive away.  Lastly, do not expect a friendly smile if you roll up with a $20 or larger bill.

The exchange rate between the Mexican peso and the U.S. dollar is about 20 to 1.  It does fluctuate, so check out the current exchange rate before leaving, and try to pick up some pesos before you go.

 

Driving to Baja Mexico

 

Crossing the U.S. – Mexico Border

 

From either the 5 or 805 South, you can reach the border and enter Tijuana.  You’ll need to head further inland if you want to cross into Tecate.  The border wait times on the U.S. side are fairly short.  Unless it’s a Friday afternoon or holiday weekend.  In addition to driving, you can also walk across the border into Tijuana fairly easily.  And, this would be the preferred method if you are only visiting Tijuana, as you can hop in a cab after crossing to take you just about anywhere in TJ.

As you drive across, you will pass through 2 checkpoints, and then enter onto a highway in Tijuana.  99% of the time you will not be stopped, nor need to show any paperwork as you cross.  However, if you do get directed into Secondary, a secondary screening, follow the officer’s directions of where to park and remain in your vehicle until given instructions.  

Once you successfully cross the border, getting out of Tijuana can be challenging.  Therefore, map your route to your Baja destination in advance.  And pay attention to the highways you will need to exit onto after you cross the border.  Having a navigator in the car is also quite helpful!

If you are heading into Tijuana proper, bound for Revolucion Boulevard, or the Zona Rio, you will exit quickly onto the streets of Tijuana.  However, if you are heading towards destinations such as Rosarito Beach, Valle de Guadalupe, or Ensenada, you will stay in the 2nd from the right lane and follow signs for Playas de Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada or 1D, the Ensenada Cuota (toll road).  Upon exiting, the highway will take you west and slightly north, along the border wall.

 

As you cross the border into Mexico, make sure you already know which roads you need to take to reach your destination.

 

Visiting the U.S. – Mexico Border Wall

 

If you’ve never seen the U.S.- Mexico border wall, this is where you’ll first get a good glimpse of it.  Many who travel with us have taken photos of the border wall from the back seat of our car as we wind through TJ, but keep in mind, that this is not a tourist attraction.  And, there is absolutely no room to pull over on the road to Ensenada.

If you want to see, touch, and take photos in front of the U.S.- Mexico border wall, plan a side trip before crossing to Friendship Park in Border Field State Park on the U.S. side.

Back to driving!  Within minutes of driving alongside the U.S.-Mexico border wall, you will climb a small hill, and on the descent, there will be a fork in the road.  You will stay in the right lane, and head for Rosarito, Playas Tijuana, and Ensenada.  After a few minutes, there will be another slight turn to take the toll road, Ensenada Cuota, the 1D.  Unless you are bound for Playas Tijuana, take the toll road.  The coast will then come into view and you will begin the journey south, finally!

 

When packing for your trip to Baja, think casual, and be prepared for lots of walking.

 

What to Pack for Baja Mexico Travel

 

Besides the passports and pesos, what else should you pack for your Baja Mexico trip?  Well, if you’re camping, Clam Beach or Playa Saldamando are the best spots!  Also, you can refer to our Camping Road Trip Checklist for a printable PDF of what to pack!  Here’s a quick list of other essentials:

• Flip-flops: nothing fancy, you may end up walking on dirt or gravel roads, or leaving them on the beach when you swim
• Board shorts and bathing suits
• Jeans, the sweatpants look is less popular here
• Hoodie or sweater, it gets chilly in the evenings, especially along the coast
• Everything you need for surfing, including surf wax. Surf shops are hard to come by in Baja.
• Leave all the fancy jewels at home.  Expensive purses, big diamond rings, and even flashy cars indicate that you are indeed a tourist.

 

6 of the Best Places to Explore During Your Baja Mexico Trip

 

In this section, we’ll cover our favorite spots to eat, stay, and play in Northern Baja.

 

1. Tijuana

 

Tijuana used to be a very popular destination for those under 21, or for tourists looking to snap a photo with the donkey painted like a zebra on the corner of Revolucion Avenue.  However, nowadays, there is less foot traffic crossing for cheap tequila, vanilla, Kahlua, or Mexican blankets.

Instead, more visitors are crossing to enjoy the hottest new restaurant by Chef Javier Plascencia, or take in a Tijuana Xolos Futbol match, aka soccer.

 

Some of our favorite stops in Tijuana:

 

• Caesar’s: A stop along Revolucion is not complete without a cocktail or legit Ceasar salad prepared tableside at ‘the home of the Ceasar salad’
• Las Ahumaderas: aka Taco Alley, made famous by Chef Anthony Bourdain. Come hungry, and with lots of pesos!
• Verde y Crema: Located on Revolucion, a favorite place for tapas and Baja wines
• Border Psycho Brewery: Great craft beer selection. Not to be confused with Border X Brewery, which is in Barrio Logan.
• Cafe Saverious: The latest creation from Chef Javier Plascencia
• Telefonica Gastro Park: The best eats and drinks all in one hip spot!
• Sospeso: The best coffee roaster, and off the beaten path, so they cater more to upscale Tijuana residents than tourists

 

A bit hard to find, but worth the trek to Las Ahumederas for some of the best street tacos in TJ.

 

2. Rosarito Beach

 

As you begin your journey south you’ll pass Baja Malibu, home to a great surf break, and then reach the first touristy beach town of Rosarito.  Take one of the last exits in Rosarito, and from here you can see the Rosarito Beach Hotel towering over the coastline.

In Rosarito, you will find a nice section of shops, bars, beach clubs, and restaurants!  Besides bars serving up margaritas, chips, and guac, there is a fantastic steakhouse, El Nido that we stop at any time we’re in town.

 

Rosarito Ensenada Bike Ride

 

Another reason we travel to Rosarito each year?  The Rosarito Ensenada Bike Ride!  This is not a race, although years past may have proven otherwise when I was in ‘race shape’.

Rosarito Ensenada is a 50-mile fun bicycle ride.  It begins in Rosarito, and makes its way south along the coast, then turns inland to climb El Tigre, and finally descends down into Ensenada.

At the finish line, you are treated to a fiesta with food, music, vendors, and of course your finisher’s medal.  Then, once you can’t drink any more Tecates, catch a ride back to the start, or to your accommodations, with a taxi or shuttle driver.

We often have someone in our group who does not want to ride, so they’ll drive to Ensenada and meet us at the fiesta to shuttle us back.

The Rosarito Ensenada bike ride is classified as moderately difficult, but we have friends who have ridden it on mountain bikes, beach cruisers, and some carrying a full cooler of beer!  It’s typically held twice a year, in May around Cinco de Mayo, and then again in September.  There’s still plenty of time to register!

 

Hanging out after a surf session at Baja Malibu, waiting on my tacos and Tecate!

 

3. Popotla

 

A quick drive south on the free road from Rosarito is a little artisan area called Popotla.  Here you will find our favorite market, Mercado Del Mar.  They have some of the best selections of tequila, mezcal, and local Baja wines in their almost hidden wine cave.  We think this setup dates back to the years of prohibition!

Popotla is also a great place to stop if you want to purchase clay pottery, tiles, or have iron or woodwork done.  In addition, the small fishing village, Puerto Popotla is still just as charming as ever.  More so than its infamous neighbor, Puerto Nuevo.  Why?  You can still find fisherman pulling their small boats right up on the beach!  And, you can purchase fish right off their boat.  They’ll even prepare it for you if you want to sit at one of the small tables on the beach and enjoy a cerveza while you wait!

To get here, make a right under the large white arch, just south of Baja Studios, where the Titanic, Pearl Harbor, and the new Point Break were filmed!  Dining in Popotla includes Tapanco, another incredible steakhouse, and then TrentaQuattro, a pizza place with tables right on the ocean.

 

The coastline of Baja is 760 miles long, so be ready to spend lots of time outside watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.

 

4. Las Gaviotas and Puerto Nuevo

 

Las Gaviotas

 

Not a town in Baja Norte, but Las Gaviotas is often where we stay when we head south of the border.  Why?  Las Gaviotas is an ex-pat community of dozens of Spanish colonial-style homes, complete with security, a private beach, pool, jacuzzi, and a stellar surf break.  You can find oceanview homes for rent on Baja Pro, Airbnb, or Vrbo.

A bit further north from Gaviotas, another great spot to rent a home or condo is at Club Marena!  And, as you may have guessed, there’s a great surf break right out front near K38!  Got questions about accommodations or safety while traveling in Baja?  Email us!  We stay in Baja several times a year.

Pro tip: Leave your pets at home.  The downside to Gaviotas and Club Marena is that you cannot bring pets unless you are an owner, or get the owner’s permission.  So, Lucy has to stay home.  But, the convenience of staying in a 3-bedroom house on the beach in Baja with friends, often for as little as $100/night?  And you can walk to surf every morning and again at sunset?  We’ll take it.

 

Puerto Nuevo

 

What once was a small fishing village where California spiny lobsters were brought up by the boatload, Puerto Nuevo is now more of a tourist trap.  There are still several restaurants that serve lobster, plus lots of souvenir shops.  But honestly, we have spent more time in the newly installed Calimax up the road from Puerto Nuevo as of late.  Pro tip: This Calimax is definitely one of the largest grocery stores on the coast between Rosarito and Ensenada!

 

With so many options for accommodations with an ocean view, like here at Club Marena, it’s worth spending a night or two.

 

5. Ensenada

 

Continuing south on the 1 from Puerto Nuevo will bring you to the port of Ensenada.  If you need a bite to eat on the way, want to stretch your legs, or hop in the ocean, stop first in La Fonda.  This 1970’s era hotel, bar, restaurant, and beach break has hosted everyone from high-end Hollywood celebrities to van-life surf rats.

As you continue south, you’ll see and smell the fishing port of Ensenada.  In addition, you will find the famed seafood market stalls where Chef Anthony Bourdain dined on the best fish tacos on the planet!  Bring your appetite for fresh octopus, oysters, and ceviche that taste as if it were pulled from the sea that morning.  And most likely, it was.

Don’t forget to pair your meals with local craft beers, or wines from Mexico’s wine country a few miles away in the Valle de Guadalupe.  Here are a few places to get you started in Ensenada:

 

• Cerveceria Agua Mala is a cleverly designed brewery housed inside shipping containers! And, their menu is inspired by Chef Drew Deckman (see below for more on Drew’s place in the Valle!)
• Wendlandt Cerveceria is located not far from Agua Mala, you’ll find both a brewpub and tasting room
• Ophelia’s is a beautiful little artisan-styled restaurant serving local everything
• Cafe Toya is located in the same parking lot as Ophelias and a great place for a coffee or pastry
• Tacos Lily has the BEST Fish tacos at Mercado Nergo, where inside you can also buy fresh seafood
• La Guerrerense, just a few blocks away from the Mercado, this taco cart is anything but ordinary. At the helm is Sabina Bandera, a world-renowned creator of extraordinary seafood dishes!
• Hussong’s Cantina, the oldest bar in Baja, is filled with locals and tourists alike!

 

Bring your appetite for seafood to Ensenada, and try new things from each stand!

 

6. Valle de Guadalupe: La Ruta Del Vino

 

I wrote an entire blog on why I love Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe.  I travel here more often than I visit any other wine region combined.  Why?  For the same reasons, I visit the rest of Mexico.  The winemakers and restauranteurs are humble, inviting, independent, and unique!

As you rumble down the washboard roads, often following a handmade sign that, hopefully, directs you to the vineyard of your choosing, you may begin to question if this was a good idea.  Sprawling hills covered in grapevines roll out before you.  Tiny taco stands along with those selling fresh local honey, avocados, and olives dot the main roads.

But then, you turn into a dirt parking lot and stroll up to a gorgeous oasis in the cactus-studded desert.  Think Palm Springs mixed with the Rioja region of Spain.  Mid-century modern and minimalist architecture combined with farmhouse chic.  Wild Baja, somehow tamed in neat rows of olive groves and cage-free piglets in the Campestre.  The Valle de Guadalupe is the finest farm-to-table you could imagine.  Perhaps the envy of U.S. restauranteurs and hoteliers who have been trying and often failing to master this simple yet elegant experience.

 

The rustic entrance to Chef Javier Plascencia’s Finca Altozano in Valle de Guadalupe does not prepare you for what’s to come!

 

Getting There: Driving to Baja’s Wine Country

 

To get to Valle de Guadalupe, start your journey inland from the coast at La Misión or La Fonda.  Or, head northeast out of Ensenada on Route 3.  You can also begin your journey in Tecate to reach Valle Guadalupe.

 

Where to Eat in Valle de Guadalupe

• Fauna at Bruma Think organic luxury with Chef David Castro Hussong creating sophisticated dishes with local ingredients.
• Finca Altozano A Chef Javier Plascencia establishment…order anything off the grill!
• Deckman’s en el Morgor Michelin Star Chef Drew Deckman creates a one-of-a-kind meal in a farmhouse setting.  Even the kitchen is outside!
• Cuatro Cuatros Overlooking Salsipuedes Bay, Cuatro Cuatros wins for the best place to surprise and delight your eyes…and your palate.  It’s also a great place for date night!

 

Wander around most restaurants in the Valle and you will find the farm where they grow almost all the grapes for wine, livestock for meat and dairy, and all the produce that you’ll be enjoying at lunch or dinner.

 

Where to Drink Wine in Baja

 

Baja’s wine country is now home to almost 200 wineries!  Here you can treat your palate to the finest Nebbiolo, Syrah, Chenin Blanc, or Cab Franc.  Winemakers here can comfortably go head-to-head with the great vineyards of Napa and Bordeaux.  Here’s a very small list of where we typically stop to sample Baja’s finest wines:

• Vinos Paoloni at Vila Montefiori
• Vena Cava
• Adobe Guadalupe
• Mount Xanic
• Casa Magoni

 

From wine tasting to meals, you’ll be dining al fresco. Come hungry, and try a few new things from each menu!

 

Where to Sleep in the Valle

 

Planning to stay in Valle de Guadalupe for a couple of days?  Road trips can always be extended, and there are plenty of beautifully crafted villas, B&Bs, and uniquely designed living quarters that will make it easy to say yes.  Here are a few we love:

• Encuentro Guadalupe
• Casa 8 at Bruma
• Adobe Guadalupe
• Agua de Vid

 

Resource Guide: Baja Mexico Travel Made Easy

 

We hope this gives you lots of ideas on how to visit Baja for a day.  But we recommend lingering a bit longer.  We’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible, so we’ve included even more resources below!

Surfing: Want more tips on surfing in Baja?  A must-read is The Surfer’s Guide to Baja by Mike Parise.  

Rock Climbing: We have also found great rock climbing in Baja! The two spots we love are Valle Azteca, near La Misión, and then the climbing and camping at Guadalupe Canyon Oasis.

Border Crossings: What You Can and Cannot Bring Home from Baja

 

Want to read more about visiting Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe?  Our latest blog has all the details.  And here are a few articles we love:

• Your Next Big Mexico Trip is a Drive Across the Border– Conde Nast Traveler
• An Unexpected Wine Sanctuary in Baja California– New York Times
• The West’s New Hottest Wine Region is South of the Border– Sunset Magazine

 

Loved this and want more travel tips for road trips and camping?  Check out the rest of our blog posts.  Until next time, adios amigos!

Meredith McConvill

The post Baja Mexico Travel Guide: Tijuana, Ensenada and Valle de Guadalupe appeared first on Top Rope Media.

What are Instagram Reels?

 

Instagram Reels are short, 15-30 second videos that function similar to Tiktok videos.  And, this is why dozens of Tiktok celebrities have started using Instagram Reels to share their content.  So if you want to keep your TikTok channel going, but grow your Instagram followers, Reels are the way to do it!

What kinds of Reels can you create?  And which ones will get the most love?  We’ll tackle all of that in this blog!  First, here’s an example of a Reel we helped to create with our friends at Frank Subaru:

 

Videos with animals are definitely some of the top watched Reels, and we had a lot of fun putting this together!

 

What Can You Do with Instagram Reels?

 

Instagram Reels are more entertainment-focused than Instagram Stories.  In Instagram Reels, you can:

 

• Combine several video snippets, editing just the part of the video you want to feature
• That pop/snap outfit change? Yup, you can do it with Reels
• Overlay a soundtrack, and select the specific section of a song you’d like to feature
• Add in text and special effects that fade in and out at certain parts of the video
• Make it look as though you are pointing or revealing the text in your video
• Publish your Reel directly to your main Instagram feed, or just save it to your Reels section
• Generate more views, reach, and engagement than with Instagram Stories!

 

Taking a step back, if you are just getting started with taking photos or creating videos for your brand’s Instagram feed, read our blog on how to use Photos + Videos to Market Your Business!

 

Where Can You Find Instagram Reels?

 

Below is what someone’s account looks like that is using Instagram Reels.  On Kendall’s profile page below, look for the blue Follow button. Once you find that, you will see her Highlight Circles – Yoga, Important, etc.  Not familiar with how to use the Highlight Circles?  More on these in a minute!

 

 

Below them, you will see a row of icons, the grid icon, and then the video/play button.  This is where to find Reels that a particular account may have.  So, from left to right on this profile below you see Posts (the grid icon), Reels, IGTV, and Images that they are tagged in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rewind: Creating Instagram Story Highlight Circles

 

 

So, if you weren’t yet familiar with Instagram’s Highlight Circles, this is where you can save your Instagram Stories!  Instead of them disappearing 24 hours after you’ve uploaded them, Instagram Stories can live on in one of your highlight circles.  A nice benefit, and something that’s not easily visible on your Profile Page with Reels.

 

 

Below, we’ve created themed highlight circles for our Instagram profile page to showcase some of what we do on the regular: Surfing, Cycling, Digital Tips, Photoshoots, Give Back, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not sure how to get started with saving your Instagram Stories to a Highlight?  Create a few highlight circles based on the different categories or features of your brand or product.  Then, create the cover graphic easily in Canva!

 

Need another example?  We just created Highlight Circles for one of our latest clients, the Colorado Mountain School.  Now their profile page pops!  And, visitors to the page can easily identify what courses they offer.  Not even dear Kendall (TikTok and Insta-famous celeb above) has done that.​

 

 

 

Back to Instagram Reels and How to Create One

 

1. Select Your Video or Take a New Video

 

To get started creating your first Instagram Reel, click the plus sign or Create button in the upper right corner of your Instagram Profile.  Select Reel.  Now, either record your video by tapping the Play button at the bottom of your screen, similar to recording an Instagram Story.

Or, piece together different videos you already have saved in your Camera Roll.  If you’ve ever wondered how people create those Reels where it looks like they ‘pop’ or snap into a new outfit, it’s right here!

Make sure you use a tripod to keep your phone steady, and once finished recording, trim and line up your videos to create a seamless transition when pieced together.  And, be patient.  Those first Reels may take an hour to record and edit!

 

Keep in mind, vertical videos will perform best.  And, those that are clear and in focus.  Other suggestions on videos to create?

 

 

• A fun how-to video to teach someone how to use your product
• Videos that share beautiful scenery, mountain top views, crystal clear lakes, etc.
• Exercise videos, but make sure to ramp up the speed to make it more fun! (read below on how to do this)
• Anything with your pets!
• An outrageous or daring video… Brands like RedBull are geniuses for creating those POV mountain biking videos!

 

 

How long can your video be?  You can record or add videos to create an Instagram Reel that is 15 to 30 seconds long.  To get started, select the length you would like your video to be on the left-hand side of your screen.  If you want specific help creating your own fabulous wardrobe change video, here’s one of our favorite tutorials!

 

 

 

 

Exercise videos or how-to videos are great for Instagram Reels, just remember to increase the speed so you can fit more in and make the video more fun to watch!

 

2.  Adding Music to Your Instagram Reel

 

 

Tap the musical note to add music to your Instagram Reel, or use the original audio that’s in the video.  Select by artist, theme, song title, etc.  Keep in mind the music will be played throughout all video snippets.

 

Not finding the music you want?  Based on your country of origin or the type of Instagram account you have, there may be some permission issues.

 

For example, an Instagram Business Account may not have access to as much music as an individual account due to Instagram and Facebook’s licensing agreements.

 

3. Change the Speed of Your Video

 

At this step, you can either slow down or speed up your video.  Speeding it up to 2x or more may be helpful if you’ve recorded a long how-to video!  This will also allow you to add more video snippets to your Reel.

 

 

 

4. Add Text and Effects to Your Reel

 

Just like with Instagram Stories, you can overlay text and add effects to your Reels.  However, to ensure your Reel gets shown to the most users, keep the text to a minimum and avoid covering up the image or video. 

 

In addition, have you ever wondered how people get that text to fade in or pop up so that it looks like they are pointing to it in the video?  It’s at this step!

 

Be patient as it may take a while to add in your text.  Click ‘Preview’ to view your video, and then the Text icon to create your text.  First, type in your text and style it.  Then, select the duration for which you want the text to appear.

 

Narrowing down the amount of time your text appears on the screen will make the text fade into the shot, and then fade out when you select it to end.  Keep doing this for each piece of text you want to use. Creating a video where you’ll be pointing to the text?  Make sure you drag the text to the right area so the effect you want is achieved.

 

Also, keep in mind that if you are going to feature your Reel in your main Instagram feed, make sure you select a good Cover image!  And, confirm the graphic overlays and text you’ve added will fit nicely inside the main feed ‘window’ by selecting the crop for your cover image.  You can do both of these things right before you post your Reel.

 

 

Adding text and music to your Reel can help you better tell your story!

 

5.  Touch Up

The Touch-Up feature allows you to ‘touch up’ content.  So, smoothing skin tone or making a landscape appear more attractive.  You get the idea.  Just don’t get carried away and make your images and videos look fake and inauthentic! 

 

6. Timer

The Timer feature in Instagram Reels allows you to set a timer for 15 or 30 seconds if you will be recording your Instagram Reel right then and there.  There’s even a countdown timer that gives you 3 seconds to get prepared to record!

 

 

 

 

 

Why Use Instagram Reels vs. Instagram Stories?

 

Why use Instagram Reels over Instagram Stories in your digital marketing strategy?  Why not try both?  I boil Reels down to Instagram’s answer to TikTok, and a way of keeping more users on the platform, and for longer periods of time.

 

 

So, if creating and editing videos is something you or your team enjoys and has time for, add Reels to your marketing strategy!  It could be a great way to have your content viewed by a larger audience!  And, keep people more engaged with your brand.

 

 

Whether it’s swimming laps in an alpine lake or teaching someone how to make your famous enchiladas.  Showcasing an epic descent in the backcountry or teaching someone how to build out their camper van.  Whatever you choose, create video content that is fun and enjoyable for your viewers.  But, remember to stay true to yourself and to your brand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Downside to Instagram Stories and Reels

 

If you find it stressful to create a video, and even uploading images to Instagram Stories seems overwhelming, this may not be where you want to spend your time.  Instead, you may get more bang for your buck on Facebook, or with email newsletters. Blog writing or podcasting.

 

 

There are so many options these days when it comes to reaching your target audience.  So, pick the digital marketing tools that work best for your business.  Got a question about where we recommend you start?  Drop us a line!

 

 

Summing Up Instagram Reels

 

All that being said, the more people you reach with Reels, the higher your Instagram follower count and engagement may be.  Want to learn more?  Hootsuite ran an experiment earlier this year to test out whether or not Instagram Reels significantly increased their follower growth and engagement.

 

The results?  Both follower count and engagement did go up, but not at a rate much higher than before they began posting Reels.

 

Want to get more digital marketing tips?  Browse the rest of our blog posts or sign up for our monthly newsletter!  Until next time, happy adventuring in the world of Instagram,

 

 –  Meredith McConvill

 

The post Instagram Reels vs. Stories: How to Create and Which is Better appeared first on Top Rope Media.

Lastly, as there’s limited cell service within both parks, we’ll tell you where you can find that coveted WiFi.

The History of Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon

First things first, a bit on Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon.  As we descended down the curvy road, often sandwiched in between giant granite walls, we were awestruck at the size and scope of both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Being avid adventurers and rock climbers, we couldn’t quite understand why the park felt empty.  How did we even manage to find campsites in the middle of summer?  If you’re wondering why you haven’t thought to visit yet, here are some other fun facts about each park you may not know:

Sequoia National Park

• Sequoia was the 2nd National Park established in 1890, right after Yosemite National Park
• Comprises over 400,000 acres and includes the highest point in the lower 48 states, Mt. Whitney.  Looking to hike, climb or simply visit Whitney Portal?  Well, you’ll access Mt. Whitney from the west side of the park, off the 395.  Therefore, check out our blog on the Eastern Sierras which includes Mount Whitney, Yosemite National Park, and the Mammoth Lakes area.
• Home to the largest tree on Earth, the General Sherman tree
• Both the Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail pass through Sequoia National Park
• More bears are spotted in Sequoia National Park than in Yosemite!

Kings Canyon National Park

• Also established in 1890, but Kings Canyon was originally named General Grant National Park
• Encompasses a glacier-carved valley that’s 1 1/2 miles deep and covers over 460,000 acres with several 14,000ft peaks!
• This makes it one of the deepest canyons in the U.S. with walls rising almost 8,200ft. from river to rim
• The number one cause of death in both Sequoia and Kings Cayon?  Drowning.  Why?  The rivers may look inviting, but swift currents and hidden objects can be hazardous.  Be careful when wading out into the river, especially with little ones!

Where to Stay in Sequoia and Kings Canyon: Camping, Lodges, and Cabins

Camping in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park can be competitive!  However, with a little bit of planning, you can grab a beautiful camping spot with a river or lake view.

Lodges and Hotels in Sequoia and Kings Canyon

Looking more for the conveniences of home while visiting our National Parks?  Well, there are campgrounds close to markets, restaurants, wifi, and flush toilets!  Need a bit more comfort?  Then you could book a spot in one of several lodges or cabins through Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon.

These include:

• John Muir Lodge
• Wuksachi Lodge
• Grant Grove Cabins
• Cedar Grove Lodge
• Hume Lake Christian Camp
• Montecito Sequoia Lodge
• Stony Creek Lodge

Pro tip: Although travel times on the map look close, you’ll be driving along winding mountain roads.  This means tight turns, switchbacks, and large drops and gains in elevation throughout both Sequoia and Kings Canyon.  Therefore the 22 miles to Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon could take over an hour.

So, save the hours of drive time and stay inside the park.  Pay a bit more for either a lodge, campsite, or plan to disperse camp near the park boundaries if you have an RV or self-contained van.  Haven’t planned or packed for a road trip in awhile?  Check out our road trip blog for checklists of everything you need to stay safe and comfortable!

Camping in Sequoia and Kings Canyon

Where should you start when searching for a campground?  Recreation.gov.  All campgrounds within both Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park can be booked through  Recreation.gov.

Each campsite will have your standard amenities:

• Fresh drinking water, water filling stations
• Fire rings (make sure to get a campfire permit – it’s free and easy, plus a good reminder to soak, stir and feel!)
• Paved roads (no 4 wheel drive needed)
• Picnic tables
• Bear boxes for food storage
• Compost or flush toilets
• Dogs are allowed at your campsite, and on paved roads and trails only

Camping and Tent Choices for the Sierras

After much research, we decided to outfit our 2020 Subaru Crosstrek with a 3-person Yakima SkyRise Rooftop Tent.  Why?  Well, we had another car camping tent, but with the length of time on the road, the ease of packing up, and the chance to sleep up, off the ground, we opted for a rooftop tent.  In addition, keep in mind, this is bear country.   So while we enjoy watching wildlife, it’s from a safe distance.  Even if that means just 6 feet off the ground from a black bear.

After 20 years of camping on the ground, the rooftop tent was more comfortable, took 6-10 minutes to set up, and provided better airflow.  In addition, we could level the rooftop tent out quite easily with a few adjustments to the way the Subaru was parked, or with leveling blocks.

Other great selling points for us? The ease of install!  Watch our video to see the setup before we placed it on our roof!  Lastly, in addition to the 2.5″ mattress pad that comes in the Yakima SkyRise rooftop tent, we could leave pillows, sleeping bags, reading lights and extra blankets in the tent when we folded it up for travel!

Bears and How to Store Food Properly at Your Campsite

So now that you know there are black bears in Sequoia and Kings Canyon, get educated before your trip on bear encounters and what you should do if you see a bear.  At your campsite, you must lock everything with a scent in your bear box.  This means all of your toiletries, utensils, hand sanitizer, sunblock, even lip balm.  Therefore, everything that a bear might confuse for food, to no only keep them out of your campsite, but also for their protection.

Not to worry, the bear boxes at your campsite will have more than enough room for everything.

Are you planning to disperse camp?  If so, we suggest you buy a bear box or bear canisters at REI, and learn how to hang your food.  Think its only bears that will sniff out your greasy camp stove?  Well, we’ve had all sorts of animals invade our camp.  Deer, goats, chipmunks, marmots, and raccoons!  Some during broad daylight, and while we were sitting at the campsite!

Best Campgrounds in Sequoia and Kings Canyon

Here are some of our favorite campgrounds within both Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park:

Lodgepole Campground

At 6,700 feet of elevation, the Lodgepole Campground in Sequoia National Park is cool, even in the summertime!  Other sticking points:

• The popular hiking trail leading to Tokopah Falls starts right from the campground
• Lodgepole campground has both a Market and grill, plus a Visitor’s Center
• Pay showers
• The campground is situated along the Kaweah River, so easy-to-enter swimming pools to cool off in
• Bathrooms with several stalls, running water, and flush toilets!
• Rock climbing nearby at Tokopah Dome and the Watchtower
• Wifi available nearby at the Wuksachi Lodge

Upper Stoney Creek Campground

A bit further north, the Upper Stoney Creek Campground is at 5,200ft of elevation. It’s a much smaller campground than Lodgepole so it’s quieter and more remote.

More reasons to stay?

• Close to Stoney Creek Village, which has a market, gas station, and a small lodge.
• Wifi is available for free at the market!
• Close to the northern end of the Sequoia National Park boundary
• Rock climbing and hiking near the campground includes Little Baldy, Big Baldy, and Chimney Spire

Princess Campground

Looking for camping close to or within Kings Canyon National Park?  Or with lake access nearby?  Well, Princess Campground offers all of that, and it still feels quite remote!

Here’s more:

• Begin the descent down into Kings Canyon easily from camp
• Open meadow with easy hiking trail loop
• 3 miles drive down to Hume Lake
• A few miles to Grant Grove, home of the General Grant tree
• Grant Grove Village is also nearby, which has a large market and gift shop, restaurant, Visitor’s Center, and free wifi!

Hume Lake Campground

I think we might have saved the best for last as Hume Lake was by far our favorite campground on our trip through Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon!  Here you’ll find everything listed above, plus you’ll be nestled on Hume Lake- where you can swim, fish, kayak or SUP ’til your heart’s content.

Of course, here are all those reasons we would choose Hume Lake campground again on our next visit:

• Bathrooms with running water and flush toilets
• Easy access to Kings Canyon
• Hiking trails include an easy one that circles the lakeshore
• Rent sailboats, SUPs, kayaks and canoes nearby
• A half-mile from the Hume Lake Christian Camp, which offers a restaurant, snack bar, market, gift shop, and a gas station
• Paid wifi is available at Hume Lake Christian Camp (the best wifi we found in the park!)

Disperse Camping

Disperse camping has become more common as travelers take their families on the road for vacations closer to home.  Traveling in an RV or self-contained vehicle like a camper van?  If so, you’ll have a much easier disperse camping experience.  However, keep in mind you’ll need to find National Forest land, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), or an unsigned dirt road where you can camp for free.

For example, both Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon park boundaries border both National Forest and wilderness areas.  However, if a ‘No overnight camping’ sign is posted, be respectful.  Understand the local rules for the area you’ll be driving through.

One last point on disperse camping.  In most cases, you cannot have a fire, especially during the summer months.  Being smart about where you camp, and being sensitive to the environment where you tread will help keep disperse camping options open for everyone.  Get more disperse camping tips from Dyrt.  

Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon Park Resources

Park Maps

Are you looking for a map of Sequoia National Park or Kings Canyon before you book camping?  Well, whether driving maps or hiking trails, the National Park Service SEKI page has it all.

Park Weather

Weather in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks can change rapidly and vary by over 30 degrees on some days!  Why?  The weather is very different at the bottom of Kings Canyon Road at 3,000 ft of elevation than at the top of Mt. Whitney or some of the other park peaks that are over 14,000 ft.  In addition, park campgrounds are also at very different elevations.

Therefore, take the weather at Sequoia National Park into account when reserving a campground.

Got Questions on Where to Hike, Climb, or Camp?

Leave us a comment or contact us directly.

Searching for more travel tips? Check out our blogs on the Wind River Range in Wyoming, or road-tripping through the Eastern Sierras along the 395!

Thanks for reading,

Meredith McConvill

The post Camping and Lodging in Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon appeared first on Top Rope Media.