1. Costa Rica - The Pinnacle of Biodiversity
Costa Rica is a shining example of eco-tourism. This Central American gem is home to lush rainforests, diverse wildlife, and a commitment to sustainability. Visitors can explore national parks like Corcovado and Tortuguero, which are dedicated to preserving unique ecosystems. When traveling here, choose eco-lodges and tour operators that prioritize sustainable practices, such as minimizing waste and supporting local communities. Don't forget to participate in turtle conservation efforts, where you can witness the miracle of nesting sea turtles.
2. Iceland - A Natural Wonderland
Iceland's otherworldly landscapes make it a must-visit eco-friendly destination. The country relies heavily on geothermal energy which reduces its carbon footprint. While exploring Iceland, take part in eco-conscious activities like hiking, bird-watching, and soaking in natural hot springs. To minimize your impact, opt for eco-certified accommodations and support local farmers by enjoying farm-to-table dining experiences. The "Leave No Trace" principle is crucial here, as Iceland's fragile ecosystems require careful preservation.
3. Bhutan - Measuring Success through Gross National Happiness
Bhutan, a small kingdom nestled in the Himalayas, places happiness and sustainability at its core. The country focuses on Gross National Happiness rather than GDP. To travel sustainably in Bhutan, join guided tours that promote low-impact trekking, visit monasteries, and immerse yourself in local culture. The government charges a daily fee for tourists, which includes accommodation, meals, and guides, ensuring that your visit contributes to the well-being of the local community and the environment.
4. New Zealand - Nature's Playground
New Zealand's breathtaking landscapes, from rugged mountains to pristine beaches, make it an eco-conscious traveler's paradise. Explore the country's extensive network of national parks and protected areas. Choose accommodations that have received eco-certifications and rent electric or hybrid vehicles to reduce your carbon footprint. Get involved in local conservation efforts, such as volunteering to plant trees or participating in beach clean-ups.
5. Bali, Indonesia - A Tropical Haven with a Sustainable Twist
Bali may be known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant culture, but it's also making strides in sustainable tourism. Stay in eco-friendly resorts and embrace the "slow travel" movement by immersing yourself in the local culture, cuisine, and traditions. Participate in local environmental initiatives, such as coral reef restoration projects or plastic clean-up campaigns. Bali's eco-conscious community is passionate about preserving its natural beauty.
The world offers a multitude of eco-friendly travel destinations waiting to be explored responsibly. By choosing destinations that prioritize sustainability, supporting local initiatives, and adopting eco-conscious travel habits, you can contribute to the preservation of our planet while enjoying memorable and meaningful travel experiences. Let's embark on journeys that not only enrich our lives but also help protect the beauty of our world for future generations to enjoy.
]]>Feeling like this needs to be a blog post of it’s own, but here are a few ideas to get you started:
If my mom looked too close at it, she’d probably cringe and tell me to go wash my dirty backpack. Then I’d try to tell her that it’s not just dirt- it’s a world of memories and places around the world stuck to my bag and coming with me wherever I go.
It’s dirt from Canyonlands National Park when it sat beside my best friend and I as we sat on the ground at the edge of a cliff with our feet hanging off, just staring at the intricacies of the rock with our jaws on the canyon floor.
It’s sand from the beach in Roatan, Honduras. The sand really stuck on there because it sat out on the beach while I swam in the Caribbean Sea in the pouring rain.
I spent a lot of my summer hiking, going for picnics, dropping my backpack to swim in rivers, and running through wildflower fields in the Rocky Mountains. Now I carry the dirt from those places and the memories from those moments with me wherever I go.
On the inside there’s some spilled paint. Now everytime I unzip my backpack to put my laptop, climbing shoes, or clothes for a sleepover inside, I smile and let my mind take me back to those summer afternoons spent under shady trees painting without a care in the world.
Pure World bags are made from 100% Pure Organic Hemp- a material that requires little water and gives back to the Earth as it grows, is durable and high quality so it lasts for the long run, and is biodegradable too.
They are hand-crafted in Nepal with the most established and socially responsible hemp backpack makers in all of Nepal. Click here to learn more about who creates your backpack.
It’s the most sustainable backpack you will ever own.
Every single time I have my backpack on, a stranger stops me to compliment my bag and ask where I got it. I smile from the compliment and the moment of kindness, and they go and buy the backpack they didn’t even know they needed.
Then their bag arrives in the mail and they jump up and down as they count out the pockets, try it on in the mirror, and step outside to take it on it’s first adventure and start crearting memories with their backpack just like I did with mine.
When you click that “place order” button and wait for your backpack to arrive, you should know what this purchase will mean.
This backpack will lead you to new places and give you a gentle nudge towards that life of adventure that you dream about.
You won't be able to look at your backpack without a boat load of happy memories rushing back to you.
You might get tired of the constant compliments you get every time you wear it out in public.
When you have to wear a different backpack for whatever reason, you will probably be bummed out knowing it’s not nearly as cute or sustainable as your Pure World bag.
This is what you’re signing up for when you purchase a Pure World bag.
Are you up for it?
Written by @peaceofliv
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Tips:
Note: it will probably be dark by the time you’re hiking down. As cool as it is to hike under the light of the moon, a dark trail + the distraction of looking up at stars without light pollution = a very high probability of tripping and taking a tumble. Be ready to use your flashlight if needed and hike cautiously!
To maximize the moment:
Not a hike, not walking to a destination, just a walk in nature.
Pay attention to everything beautiful around you and also just let yourself feel like a kid again- climb on logs, skip stones in the water, and just goof around with whoever you’re with.
That adventurous life you dream of isn’t far off. Share this post with your friends, and you will have your next adventure planned in minutes.
This life is for living. Go live the one you dream about.
Written by @peaceofliv
Life gets busy and the things with due dates and deadlines quickly take priority over the fun things.
You have to do what you have to do to pass your classes, keep up with work to support yourself, and whatever other responsibilities fill your time, but you also have to remember that “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” If you don’t do the things that fill you up with joy, you will burn out. You will lose motivation and those items sitting on your to-do list will become harder to complete.
When you do activities, see places, and hang out with the people that make you happy, you are benefiting yourself in so many ways. You’re caring for your mental health, restoring your motivation and productivity, and filling your mind with happy memories which you can look back on and smile about.
No matter how busy life gets, never stop doing things just for fun. But for the extra busy times, here are 10 things that will do nothing but bring you joy without taking away from your limited time and energy.
A few weeks ago I was watching the sunset while sitting in the grass at the top of this hill. It was a beautiful night and an even better sunset, and as I was sitting there, I had this strong urge to run down the hill. So I got up and started running down the hill quite literally into the sunset. I didn’t have shoes on and my hair was blowing behind me. I ended up doing it like 5 times because it felt so freeing. It feels like you’re running away from all of your stressors and problems, plus you go really, really fast.
I’d recommend finding a nice grassy hill rather than a sidewalk or street just in case you get going too fast and take a tumble.
Anything you do, you can do while talking to your best friend on the phone.
When there’s no time in your busy day to see your friend's faces and lighten up when they make you laugh, call them.
Whether you’re doing homework, running around the house doing chores, or shopping at the grocery store, take them along with you and make those boring tasks way more fun.
They can laugh with you while you rant and assure you that you will get it all done and be fine. They can remind you of your plans coming up so you have something to look forward to. Even when you're deep in focus and it goes silent on both ends of the phone for long periods of time, it’s your friend so it doesn't matter. It might help ease the stress of whatever you’re doing and help you finish quicker.
Or at sunset, on a trail, during the day, early in the morning- whatever sounds fun to you.
I spent countless nights this past summer biking around at night with my friend, and it was so much fun. The streets were empty, the stars were out, and we just biked around talking and laughing without a care in the world.
Even when we both had long, stressful days, one of us would text “let’s go bike around,” and we would just have fun for a little while before we both went back home and went to bed happy.
Try it out sometime, even if it’s just for 15 minutes.
The sun rises every day.
In other words, while the world is still quiet and most people are still asleep, the sun comes up and the entire sky gets painted.
It is absolutely jaw-dropping and you have the opportunity to see it every single day. Especially as we move into fall and the sunrise is getting later every morning, make it a point to watch it every once in a while.
You can do it however you want to. You can wake up with the sun and get an early start to your productive day, watch it from bed or from your window in your pajamas while enjoying your coffee, go on a sunrise hike/walk, write in a journal or paint while you watch it, or just roll out of bed to see the pretty sky then go right back to sleep afterward.
You have to eat dinner, either way, so make the cooking part a little more fun. Just get together with your friends, cook dinner, sit down to eat together, and forget about everything else for a little while.
You can turn on some music and dance around, catch up on everyone’s lives, and just have a lot of fun doing something you have to do every night anyway. It doesn’t require a lot of planning so it’s the perfect thing to do when you and all of your friends are busy.
Get in your car and go for a little drive. You can drive to your favorite spot, a pretty view, or just drive around with no destination in mind. Roll down the windows, play your favorite music, and just remind yourself how many beautiful places and possibilities there are in this world.
We all have that neighbor who we know nothing about except, well, where they live. When you get a chance, stop and have a conversation with them. A neighbor of mine sits on his porch all day, every day, and a little while ago I decided to stop and say hi. He looked up from the poem he was writing and invited me to sit down with him. In the pauses between his stories from when he was young, he gave me beautiful advice about love, dreams, and never losing passion in this life. It felt like a conversation out of a movie, and I was so beyond happy I decided to say hi.
At school, make a bit of time to have a conversation with your favorite teacher, or maybe the one you’ve never really spoken to before. Reach out to that friend you drifted from or that relative who’s kind of a mystery.
When life gets stressful, sometimes all it takes to bring you back to peace is a reminder of how many good people are out there and how powerful human connection is.
Just like the sunrise, this one happens every single day. And even better, there’s a way higher chance you’re awake for this one.
Watch it however and wherever you want. Personally, I have a mini bucket list just for ways to watch the sunset. It’s a list of different places to drive to watch the sunset, hikes to do, and different activities to do during it, like writing, painting, doing yoga, swimming, etc.
The greatest thing about this life and the Earth we live on? It is literally impossible to run out of places to explore.
Even in the area you live, I guarantee there is a boatload of places you haven’t even seen yet, or at least not explored fully.
If there are any places that popped into your mind as you read that, make note of that. Consider making a mini bucket list just for this- a list of places near you that you would like to explore.
A quick google search will lead you to travel blogs and other sources that may give you a few ideas of places to explore.
Go on a walk around where you live and just see what you come across. Take new turns and just keep walking until you come across something new. Even if it’s just a new spot beside the creek you see every day or a new way to get to your favorite coffee shop, it just might make you really happy and give you a new little memory.
There is an endless list of things for you to fall in love with. Even as you sit here reading this, I guarantee you can look around you and count 3 things that make you smile.
When life starts to feel like it’s moving too fast, make yourself slow down just for a moment to notice all the little things that make you happy. If you’re doing homework, don’t forget to light your favorite candle and always let yourself doodle in the corner of your paper. On your study breaks, stare at the sky instead of your phone; take a minute to step outside, close your eyes, face the sun, and feel the sunshine pour down on you; take a quick walk to get outside, see the intricacy of every tree you see, and watch people pass by you to remember how many good people there are in the world that you haven’t even met yet.
There are so many simple things to fall in love with every single day. Let yourself slow down enough to notice.
Written by @peaceofliv
]]>School is starting soon, but that does not mean the flow of adventure has to come to an end. If you feel like summertime is when you thrive and going back to school feels like a real bummer and a half, here are 5 tips that will keep your life exciting, peaceful, and fun, even when you have to go to school.
They are the perfect way for everyone to get outdoors and explore this planet we call home.
Hiking, skiing, rock climbing, paddle boarding, scenic drives, swimming in hidden lakes, and exploring secret spots are just a few ways to get out there.
Whether you have hardly any experience in the outdoors, or day trips are your Saturday tradition, here are some tips that just might make your adventure days run a little smoother.
Check for Any Entrance Fees
From National Parks to your local trailhead- there are a lot of places that require entrance fees. A lot of places don’t, but there are a ton that do. On top of that, some places will only take cash rather than credit and vice versa.
So before you go, just check to see if there are any entrance fees where you are going.
If it is a National Park, I highly recommend you get the National Parks Pass because it will save you a ton of money. For reference, the pass is $80 to get into any National Park or Monument for 1 year while a day pass is around $30 per vehicle. There are also State Park Passes which you should look into getting if you plan on visiting multiple state parks within a state.
These passes will save you loads of money each time you dodge that pesky day entrance fee.
Download the App, “Gas Buddy”
I have saved so much money since downloading Gas Buddy.
This legendary app tells you the gas prices of each gas station. By just looking at a super easy-to-read app, you can easily find the cheapest gas near you and along your driving route.
Pro tip: if you have a longer drive, take a look at the app beforehand so you can plan to fill up in areas where gas is cheaper.
Pack Your Own Snacks and Water Bottle
… and make sure you have plenty of each.
A few years back, my friend and I went on a hike. We woke up with the sun and made it to the trailhead just before 7 AM, thinking we were legends for getting there so early and beating the heat.
We did not, in fact, beat the heat. We also ended up choosing the 11-mile hike as opposed to the original 6-mile one we were intending on.
We were still about a mile away from the peak when we started having to ration our water. You would think this would be a sign to turn around, but we were beyond stubborn and insisted on seeing the peak after making it that far.
It was a stunning hike, but honestly, when I try to remember it I just see the darn water (or lack thereof).
You probably shook your head and rolled your eyes as you read that, but this kind of thing happens far too often. Both of us grew up on hiking trails and even with all those years of experience, we were still left dehydrated, overheated, and being absolutely grilled by our parents as soon as we walked in the door.
The same goes for food. There is nothing worse than being way far out and having a great time, then getting real hungry with no food to eat. You’re in a beautiful place, doing fun things, but your stomach is aching, you get a little lightheaded, and oh man are you hangry.
Even if you don’t think you’ll be out there for that long, just pack some snacks. Take 30 seconds to make a PB&J before you go, maybe an apple, and a bar- or 2, or 4.
Maybe you won’t end up needing it, but if you just tuck it away in that front pocket of your Pure World backpack, you won’t even notice it’s there as you carry on through your adventure.
Check if You Need a Time Reservation
Quite a few National Parks, State Parks, and other areas that monitor who enters the area get very busy, so they require that everyone reserves a time to go.
This is generally super quick and easy to do, simply look up the place you are going to and on the website, it will let you know if you need a reservation and how to make this.
It doesn’t take too much of your time, and you might not even need one at all, but always check ahead of time to avoid getting turned away.
Take a Look at Your Drive Route Before Hand
If you know where your final destination is, I recommend looking at your drive route before you go, even if you know the way without a map.
This might help you avoid areas with construction or times when the road is very busy and has a lot of traffic. This will also help you figure out where you can save money on gas and maybe decide if you need to bring your own lunch or if there’s somewhere you want to stop.
Research All the Cool Places
If you have a place picked out, do a bit of research to find all the cool spots there. It can be a lot of fun to just explore and poke around once you’re there, but in case it is difficult to navigate and you’re not sure where to go, it’s nice to have some background information.
This made my day run smoothly when I was in Death Valley. Before I went, I googled “cool places to go in Death Valley National Park” and looked at a couple of travel blogs with cool photos all over the park. I wrote down my favorites, and when we were driving around I could just take a quick peek at my list whenever we drove passed a turn-off.
Since we only had one day there, the five minutes of research I did helped maximize our time since we knew which spots were cool and could skip over the duds.
Make a (Loose) Itinerary
Once you’ve got a solid list of very cool places make a little itinerary. Even if you are not a planner and prefer to just go with the flow instead of a schedule, still try this.
Use a map to see where these places are and in what order you should go to each place. Make a note of the drive times between each spot. This is definitely important to do before you go because you might not have reliable service once you’re there.
This way, you can still avoid following any sort of schedule but you easily check back to your itinerary throughout the day to see where to go next.
Pack Everything You Need
Whether it’s your favorite post-hike snack or the meds you need, it’s kind of a bummer when you realize you forgot something.
Before you go check once, then check again to make sure you have everything you want and need.
Share Your Plans/Itinerary With a Friend or Family Member
To give everyone some peace of mind, let somebody know where you’re headed.
This is for safety first of all. No matter how much experience you have in the outdoors, it is way too easy to take a wrong turn, end up on a different trail, and suddenly have no idea where you are. This can be scary, but you will take a big breath of relief knowing someone you trust knows where you are.
Plus, when you get home afterward and your psych levels are through the roof because you had the coolest day ever, you are guaranteed to have someone to tell all about it.
Share Your Location
On top of that, sharing your phone’s location with someone you trust is also not a bad idea. This is helpful when you don’t know exactly where you are going. You might tell someone you’re going hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, but it might be tricky to explain exactly where you will be and what trail you will be on.
This is also helpful when you’re driving and aren’t able to text and update someone where you’re at or if you lose your phone.
Note: this will not work when you don’t have service. If you think you’re about to lose cell service, text your trusted person and let them know. Also be sure to change the settings so that it tells them your last known location before you lost service, rather than not showing your location at all.
Day trips are a way to feed your adventurous soul when you have a limited amount of free time. They’re a way to travel without taking too much time off of work or having to plan or spend money on lodging for multi-day trips.
Happy Adventuring!
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Adventure is all around you, every single day. No matter where you are or what you do on any given day, there is always an opportunity to create a little more adventure in your day.
The big adventures- the ones that require a day’s worth of driving or get your adrenaline running- those kind of adventures are great. However, if these big grand adventures aren’t always feasible to work into your hectic schedule, that’s okay! There are so many ways to add extra fun and adventure into your life, even when it feels like the chaos is taking over.
In even better news, once you take the pressure off of only chasing big, wild moments and start focusing on these small changes and little adventures, adventure will start flowing into your life effortlessly.
When 1 hour feels like enough time to feed your adventurous soul, suddenly every day has enough time for a new adventure. When you don’t have to sacrifice your other responsibilities or the scarce amount of time you have, adventures feel easy and stress-free.
Before you know it, you will find adventures everywhere and your life will be full of them and the big, grand adventures will begin to come more often too.
Here are 5 easy ways to bring a little more adventure into your life.
Bucket lists are pretty much just really fun to-do lists. They are to-do lists made up of the places you want to go, cool things you want to try, and the things that make you feel alive.
You can have a bucket list for just about anything- lifelong bucket lists, summer bucket lists, travel destinations, anything.
Make a smaller scale bucket list for adventure days. Places you would like to see that could be a day trip, hikes you would like to do, things you want to try, and maybe even weekend or overnight trip ideas. Do a bit of research on each place or bucket list item you write down so you know exactly what you want to do there, the best time of year to go, how long the drive is, etc.
This way, the next time you have a weekend, day, morning, afternoon, or even just a few hours free, just pull out the bucket list you made and pick something off of there.
If your free time is few and far between, you don't want to waste the little time you have trying to pick something to do and doing the research on it. Have a list ready so you can just pick something off of it and go!
With just a little bit of preparation beforehand, you can maximize the time you have to explore and make your life a little simpler. Have a packed adventure bag ready to go so that you can grab your bag and go when those few hours of available time come up.
Personally, I have one backpack that I use for everything. School, hiking, climbing, sleepovers, and traveling (sometimes as a carry-on, sometimes as a suitcase). It is the definition of a multi-use backpack and I rely on it every single day. So always having it packed with stuff and waiting for one purpose and one purpose only would not work for me.
What I do though, is have a mental checklist of what I need for a day of adventure to make packing quick and easy. The goal is though to be prepared for whatever you’re doing without wasting too much time or energy packing it up. Through trial and error, you will learn what you need for a successful and smooth adventure.
In general, here is what you might want to have in your adventure bag:
Other things to consider bringing:
If it is conducive to your life and the stuff you have, keep your adventure bag packed and ready to go. You will save yourself so much time to explore. If it works better to make a checklist and just pack as quickly as you can, then do that.
Odds are, you spend a great deal of time scrolling on social media, watching TV, or any other objectively time-sucking activities. That’s completely fine, don’t worry about changing that, just do it outside instead.
Instead of laying in bed and scrolling on your phone, do it on a blanket in the grass- in the sun, or in the shade- whatever you prefer.
If you spend time painting, coloring, crocheting, or any hobby like that, consider doing it outside once in a while. Sit beside a creek, at the beach, or in the trunk of your car with a pretty view.
You will be blown away by how much more time you are spending outside with no effort at all. You probably won’t even realize it, but over time you will create so many happy little memories by just making one small change.
Similar to the last one, but if you just switch up where you do your work, you can add more adventure to your life and find happiness in a normally mundane thing.
Whether it’s homework from school, working from home, or anything in between, try doing your work somewhere other than your usual spot.
If the weather allows it, get outside! Work at a picnic table by a trailhead, on a blanket in the grass, at the beach, on a rock by the water, or somewhere in the mountains surrounded by trees and breathtaking views. Find a cute cafe with tables outside or drive somewhere pretty, park, and work from the back of your car with the trunk wide open.
Coffee shops, libraries, parks, a couch beside a window, a patio- it doesn’t have to be anything wild. Just like how sometimes the best memories come from the most unexpected or simplest moments, small changes can have huge positive impacts on your life.
Your well-being comes first and this includes working on your education and working to support yourself. Work must get done, but this life is for living. Even in the busiest, most chaotic phases and moments, find ways to keep living and squeeze every bit of happiness and adventure out of this life.
Driving to and from work and your other responsibilities might be something non-negotiable that you have to do. However, it’s also something with a lot of room to make it fun.
When time allows it, take the long way home. Maybe it's the back roads with less traffic that make the drive less stressful, the road with a better view, or just more time in the car to listen to music and just slow down for a moment.
Maybe your work is on the way to a hiking trail you’ve been eyeing. Pick a day, and just do that hike after work. You probably pass quite a few restaurants and things to do on your way home. Ask a coworker you don’t know super well yet, or call a friend and ask them to meet you there. If it’s on your way anyway, why not add a little fun while still keeping things simple?
This world is for exploring. Get out there and see it and create that life you have always dreamed about.
Use code PEACEOFLIV for 15% off your next Pure World purchase!
Written by @peaceofliv
]]>This weekend we're celebrating World Environment Day which falls on Sunday, June 5th. First being celebrated in June of 1973, this day has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental public outreach and is now celebrated by millions each year.
At the bottom of this blog, you'll find some seriously helpful ways to get active this weekend and create better habits for yourself that will make a lasting difference in favor of our Earth.
Before that, we're going to take a look at some of the massive successes we should be celebrating that we collectively have helped to cause. Our progress can be seen but won't be obvious and enough until the greater half of our society transforms their lifestyles to focus on healing the earth instead of harming it.
The Montreal Protocol was signed in 1987 which was a global agreement to protect the stratospheric ozone layer by halting the production and use of ozone-depleting substances. The ozone layer has healed at a rate of 1-3% per decade since the year 2000.
Astonishingly, an ozone hole still exists today forming every year over Antarctica in the spring and closing as the seasons change as stratospheric air blows in from lower altitudes.
We've restored millions of hectares of land and sea that were previously damaged by our harmful actions. An impressive 15% of Earth's land is formally protected by National Park and other protected areas and 10% of our territorial waters are protected. These percentages are only increasing as the US has declared 26 new National Parks in the past 50 years. Impressively the US is home to 1700 marine protected areas which cover 40% of the country's marine waters.
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Due to the phasing out of lead gasoline and other lead products, the average amount of lead in humans has decreased by 70%.
The strict ban on the whaling industry has allowed the previously endangered humpback whale species to grow to a healthy size. In addition to this, the banning of DDT has allowed many bird species to grow out of the endangered list while we've also seen pandas come off the endangered list due to humans getting their act together.
It's easy to feel discouraged and feel that this fight to save the climate is hopeless but that is far from the truth, together we have to transform our societies and economies to be more fair, inclusive, and connected with nature.
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Picking an alternative location in a low or shoulder season is in my opinion the most effective way to save money as a traveller. Shoulder seasons are considered the time in between peak season and out of season. Traveling within this timeframe can save you a ton of money and allow you to still enjoy the best things while beating the crowds and often paying less entry fees.
For example, heading to Fort Meyers, Florida in April or May instead of heading to Miami in their peak winter months can save you a hefty chunk of change.
Tools like Hopper and Google Flights can be super handy in helping you find unexpected locations at a cheap cost. Take the time to research and you will be amazed with the offerings and opportunities you will find!
TripCoin is a free app that can help you prepare a budget for your next travel experience and help to keep you on budget. This app also has offline usability making it extremely useful for when traveling in remote areas!
The Corona-Virus pandemic certainly put a wrench in ALL things travel and had harsh implications over the entirety of the planet. Some of the things put into place during the pandemic are being eased out of action while others are here to stay. During these tough times, airlines were doing everything possible to keep themselves afloat. Major airlines made changes to their booking processes that allowed them to be way more flexible than ever before. As we are slowly climbing out of the pandemic, there have been no signs that flexible booking will be taken away.
Taking advantage of the flexible booking that was implemented during the pandemic can be a smart and strategic way to save money on your travels. Booking very far out with a rough idea of where you want to go and when you want to leave and come back can save you a big chunk of change. Due to the newly implemented booking flexibility, you will be able to cancel your flight, modify your dates, or adjust your itinerary until very close up to your departure. You will save money with this strategy because the further out from your departure date you book, the cheaper your booking will be! Plan ahead my friends!
The way that you pack your luggage can save you money in a few key ways. Fitting the entirety of your belongings into your carry on can save each traveler up to $30 on EACH rung of the trip!
If you're traveling with someone else you can fit both of your belongings into one large suit case to avoid having to pay for a second checked bag as they're often not included.
Some airlines such as Delta are experimenting with removing baggage fees in an effort to reduce delays. Frontier Airline has recently reduced its maximum allowed weight for a suitcase from 50lbs to 40lbs. Be aware of these things as there is currently rapid change in the industry and you want to be aware of surprise fees so you can avoid them at all costs!
Where will your next trip be to? Let us know in the comments of this blog post and we will provide you with a discount to PureWorldShop for the entirety of summer '22!
If you're looking to get involved in a unique, effective, and informational way with our community join Earth Week with Pure World through this link https://pureworldshop.com/pages/earth-day
Earth Week with Pure World will consist of daily tips, recommendations, and world-changing ways to get involved. Join our community of tree-hugging individuals this Earth Day because power is in numbers and Mother Earth needs our help.
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The Mental and Physical benefits of getting outside in nature have been studied upon and proven through research. We don't have to do any researching to prove that some of us are stressed out during the work week and need both a mental and physical break from the chaos of our jam-packed weeks. Spending some time exploring and adventuring in nature, or even just plain old relaxing can be wildly beneficial to your day-to-day health. Stick around to see just how.
Before even considering the physical benefits you can gain from being and excercising in nature, it is important to understand the boost in mental health you gain from spending time outdoors. A recent study has shown that men and woman who spend 20 minutes in an outdoor park reported a 64% spike in life satisfaction. Of course these benefits aren't long-term and complete problem solvers, but creating health habits based around being outdoors can seriously have a postivive impact in many areas of your life!
Being outdoors in nature opposed to urban areas has proven to be more beneficial to your happiness. A study had proven that people who walk in wooded areas opposed to city environments felt a more dramatic boost in mood due to natures ability to zap anxiety and worrisome thoughts.
A practice called "forest bathing" which is popular in Japan and gaining traction in the U.S is the practice of spending time in the forest to benefit your own health. Science has proven that spending time in a green environment can lower the stress hormone cortisol.
We dove into how just being in nature can positively effect ones health, just imagine what exercising in nature can do!
While physical activity can help cardiovascular health among many other factors of health, this information is not to discourage you beach bums! Even just soaking up the sun is good for your physical health as the vitamin-D you soak in from the sun can be beneficial to a degree. Strong enough exposure to sunlight can also reduce your high blood pressure.
Outdoor activity as a child is said to increase your eyesight later on in life. Being outdoors can halt the process of myopia which is nearsightedness.
When doing activities outdoors you burn off more calories than you would doing things indoors. When outdoors the body has to work a bit harder to balance CO2 levels and consume oxygen which will require more energy from you. Spending time outdoors can even lead to improved sleep.
The team wants to inspire the black community to spend more time outdoors and change the fact that there is a lack of black people in the climbing industry.
As a celebration of Black History Month, this blog highlights the incredible journey of individuals who are making a difference in not only their respective industries but also in the world.
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Outdoor Afro helps black people across the country who are interested in nature and outdoors to orchestrate meetups and connect with each other.
@OutdoorAfro on Instagram
Black Girl Trekking inspires thousands of black girls and women each year to get outside and connect with nature.
@blackgirlstrekkin on Instagram
The Full Circle Everest Team is constructed of 10 incredible, strong, and inspiring individuals. A group with such unique qualifications, experiences, skill sets, and will to make a difference make them a power to be reckoned with.
@playswithmountains on Instagram
Abby Dione (pictured above) is a key part to Full Circle Everest's qualified team of outdoors people. Abby lives in Fort Lauderdale Florida where she owns and operates Coral Cliffs climbing gym. With over 12 years of experience, Abby has built up an overly-impressive resume including publications in The Alpinist and Rock&Ice as well as becoming a board member for The Access Fund. Some of Abby's most important work has come from something you may expect, giving back to the community she cares about. Abby has taught her skills to thousands of children and younger people at outdoor climbing festivals such as Color the Crag and Flash Foxy. She is a true legend in the making!
James "KG" Kagambi is one of those legendary figures that you're going to see movies about one day. His life story seems unreal, so much experience and accomplishments. James began his guiding career in Kenya. He learned to have a high amount of patience during his time as a grade school teacher, music teacher, and a sports coach. While his days of teaching seem like a lifetime ago, James "KG" Kagambi has been busy honoring his home country of Kenya as he was the first black African to summit Denali and Aconacagua. He is actively involved in training Kenya's mountain rescue teams and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kenya's independence he was a part of the team to bring the countries flag to the top of Mt. Kenya.
@Adreadedclimber on Instagram
Manoah Ainuu is one of the younger members of Full Circle Everest but that does not mean he lacks experience, skill, and determination to make a difference. Manoah hails from Compton, California which compared to the highlands of Nepal is a concrete jungle. Manoah met future member of Full Circle Everest at a climbing gym where the two became friends and began to push each other to exceed their limits in climbing. Manoah has climbed infamous routes such as The Rostrum and Lurking Fear in Yosemite, Liberty Ridge on Mt. Ranier, and the regular northwest face of Half Dome. Noah spends time teaching his skills to the youth in Memphis and Atlanta.
@Fred_climbs on Instagram
Fred Campbell has shown his love for problem solving and challenges ever since he was a kid, excelling on the football field and in the math classroom. He built on these skills throughout college, but an injury on the football field put that part of his career to an end. Since then, Fred has found a passion for all things climbing and he now has 10+ years of experience climbing in the snow, ice, and rocks. His journey has brought him to amazing places such as Killamanjaro, The Alaska Range, The Bugaboos, and more. Fred has spent time teaching introductory climbing classes to the youth in Houston and Seattle.
@Domthesoulifugid on Instagram
Demond "Dom" Mullins has a resume that is as thick as they come. Dom is a combat veteran who served in Iraq as an Armor Crewman. After serving, Dom then became a spokesperson for Iraq Veterans Against The War while also working as a United States Senate staffer on veterans health and education issues. Demond now spends time conducting research on the benefits of outdoor recreation, particularly mountaineering.
@everywhere.rose
Rosemary Saal currently works as a backpacking and mountaineering field instructor. Much of her life prepared her to teach others the ins and outs of mountaineering as she began taking lessons at quite a young age growing up by the mountains of Seattle. It wasn't until 2016 that Rosemary became a licensed instructor but since then she has not missed a beat.
@alldayeddie
Eddie Taylor grew up as a mid-western kid who dreamt of the mountains. He now is fortunate to enjoy climbing of all types. Shared experiences and community building help build his passion for what he does and the goals he sets for himself. Eddie has impressively climbed the dreaded El Capitan in one day and Ski'd down Mt. Denali. When not on the ascent, Eddie works as a high school chemistry teacher as well as the track and field coach.
@thomasdmoore
Thomas Moore probably has the least amount of mountaineering experience on the team, but that does not put him at a disadvantage. Thomas made a life of traveling to different countries and soaking up new cultures, he enjoyed the life he lived. One day during his travels a friend asked him to fill a spot on a Killamanjaro summit attempt and he tagged along with little to no experience. He successfully summited and realized he had a knack for withstanding the rough conditions and here he is today!
These amazing individuals are attempting to do something that only about 4,000 people have ever accomplished. The death rate is higher than most outdoors activities, and those who don't make it often don't even have their bodies recovered. This a cold and grueling task. The average temperature year-round on Everest is an unbelievable 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit. The average person may experience altitude sickness from elevations above 8,000 ft tall. Everest is a whopping 29,032 feet tall. These skilled climbers have to train for years to be able to endure the lack of oxygen at that height.
The Full Circle Everest team is doing this almost unfathomable journey not just for themselves, but to inspire generations of others of years to come. Black boys and girls will read the stories, see pictures, and watch the films of their incredible journey to the top of the world. This adventure will give millions of people the confidence, motivation, and beliefs that they too can achieve their dreams and do extraordinary things in their lives.
For donations to the Full Circle Everest team use the link below.
https://www.fullcircleeverest.com/support
]]>Learn about the positive effects that setting goals, creating a vision board, and manifesting can bring to your life!
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You could probably have seen this one coming. Motivational posts and this piece of advice go hand in hand, but why should you actually listen? How will setting goals get us on track to have the most productive year to date?
No matter where you are currently in life, you can use goals to keep you focused, productive, and efficient. Whether you are a college student who is chasing after those Deans List Honors or you are a parent of three children trying to work remotely during a pandemic. We've gotchu!
Daily goals
Weekly goals
Long term Goals
Vision boards are used by people all over the world to assist them with clarifying, concentrating, and maintaining focus on specific goals.
So why should you create one?
What making a vision board can do for you:
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Last weekend my girlfriend and I decided to take a trip to a small surf town in Mexico called Puerto Escondido. We had been planning to go on vacation for months but never got around to booking the tickets - first bad decision! The prices were a bit higher than what we had seen during the weeks prior, and it seemed like every time we returned to google flights the prices increased.
It was getting down to the deadline and the best deal we could find was through kiwi.com. This was our second bad decision. Kiwi.com is a third-party travel booking service that seemingly strips flight tickets from the airlines of their warrantees and traveler protections and then resells the tickets bare. If you’re going on a simple flight it’s no big deal, but if you are going to a place with no direct flights you should probably reconsider.
Our very first flight was canceled which caused our next two flights to be missed and Kiwi claimed zero responsibility for helping us get to our destination. You need to upgrade to some sort of protection plan. This is not the case if you purchase directly through the airline though.
Ultimately, we had to buy new tickets which then had a layover in Chicago. That plane was of course delayed which made us just late for the next flight and when we arrived at check-in, it had already closed. We tried explaining that the online check-in site was down but that didn't matter.
After a day of failed travel attempts, we felt defeated and were stuck in cold Chicago. “Alright you two, let’s go. The flight is delayed. I’m going to escort you through security”. It was a Christmas miracle! All hope was restored! But delayed it was, so delayed that the pilots had been on duty for too many hours and could not complete the flight - canceled. Damn! It was now 6am and we were deboarding the plane and going back into the Chicago airport terminal.
VivaAerobus is a Mexican Airline, and about 95% of the travelers on the flight were Mexican people who were returning to Mexico, so no announcements were made in English. Eventually, from a crowded counter, operated by one overwhelmed airline representative, I was handed two replacement tickets. This time the tickets did not say Mexico City but rather Morelia. We assumed that after arriving in Morelia we would be given tickets to continue onward towards our final destination: Puerto Escondido, but we were wrong.
In a small jet, we flew to a city we had never heard of to find out that there were no flights that went to Puerto Escondido. The best we could do was a plane to Mexico City the next day. So we spent the night, went back to the airport, flew to Mexico City, and then onward to Puerto.
When it was all said and done, Morelia was a beautiful town that we wouldn't otherwise get to see, Puerto was incredible as expected, and we only got food poisoning once.
Moral of the story?
Sometimes travel isn't as glamorous as it looks.
- Jack Flynn
]]>Pure World is launching another full-sized backpack in The Woodland bag. This bag was designed through teamwork between our CEO Jack Flynn and our talented suppliers in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The largest Pure World hemp bag of all time. The Bermuda Blue Duffle is perfect for commuters of any type. With a spacious main compartment and 3 additional front and side pouches, the Bermuda Blue duffle will keep you organized throughout your travels.
Including colors from our previous Bermuda blue collection, this newly designed duffle is a late addition to that collection. Fashionable, durable, and sustainable Pure World is proud to bring this product to our website. Believe it or not this is our third attempt at producing a duffle bag and are finally happy enough with it to bring it to sale.
Like we said, a bag for everybody! Pure World is glad to add our 4th mini-bag to our catalog. About half the size of our full sized bags, The Oasis mini backpack is great for adventures of any size.
While naming The Oasis mini, we were inspired by the baby blue piece of fabric and thought that gave off the illusion of an oasis in the dessert.
The Long Beach purse is Pure World's first officially released purse. This purse can be styled in a handful of ways and is rumored to actually increase the amount of money you have in it the longer you wear it!(we are kidding)
Inspired by the warm, clear, blue waters of Long beach, CA this 100% hemp purse is durable and fashionable and will get you and your belongings where you.
Along with our Long Beach Purse, The Daisy May purse has just a few obligations : Enhance your adventure, make you look cooler, get you and your belongings to the final destination.
Last but not least, The Daisy May purse is priced at $35.99 and is our last product to add to The Winter Collection. Toss it over your shoulder and get your adventure on!
Use this link to browse the collection - https://pureworldshop.com/collections/december-2021
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