THE PRACTICALITIES

WHEN TO VISIT

The best time of year to visit is from November-April. More specifically, December-February. During this time, the weather is dry, the skies are blue, and the temperature is perfect! After April, the weather will start to get wetter and hotter! There will be less tourism but summiting a volcano when it’s wet and hot doesn’t sound too appealing to me.

GETTING THERE

Getting to Volcan de Fuego & Acatenango, you must first fly into Guatemala, La Aurora International Airport. Next, I would suggest getting a private shuttle to Antigua. It will take about 2 hours depending on traffic. It’s very important that you give yourself a few days in Guatemala (no matter where that is) to adjust to the altitude. I would recommend at least 2 days before beginning your hike. After booking your hiking tour through a reputable company, they will make arrangements for you to get to the volcanoes to begin your trek.

BOOKING A TOUR COMPANY

There are many tour companies to choose from when booking your hiking expedition, but I would HIGHLY recommend OX Expeditions. We have nothing but good things to say about them!

Within in OX Expeditions, there are a few hiking tours to choose from:

• ACATENANGO DAY TRIP
  • $69/person
  • 12-hour tour
  • Leave around 5am
  • Summit Acatenango & back
• ACATENANGO OVERNIGHT HIKE
  • $119/person
  • Day and a half tour
  • Sleep at base camp in either cabin or tent
  • Summit Acatenango for sunrise (wake up at 3am)
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Breakfast included
  • Back in Antigua by 12pm
• DOUBLE WHAMMY TOUR
  • $149/person
  • Day and a half tour
  • Sleep at base camp in either cabin or tent
  • Hike to Fuego Ridge for sunset and nighttime views of lava explosions
  • Summit Acatenango for sunrise (wake up at 3am)
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Breakfast included
  • Back in Antigua by 12pm

VOLCAN DE FUEGO & ACATENANGO TRAIL OVERVIEW

The hike to Volcan de Fuego & Acatenango is no easy feat. However, if you’re capable and willing, I truly think you’ll look back and think that was the coolest thing you’ve done! The trail starts and ends in La Soledad. And for the next day and a half you will be doing a lot of hiking with little to no sleep and 40% less oxygen. You’ll traverse through the rainforest, the alpine forest, and then encounter a knife’s edge at Fuego Ridge, and 360 views at the summit of Acatenango. If you’re completing the Double Whammy, like us, then you will hike 12.4 miles with an elevation gain of 7,000ft. Phew! But I believe in you!

2 DAY HIKING ITINERARY

OVERNIGHT HIKE PACKING LIST

• >40 L Backpack, Backpack cover
• >4 L Water
  • OX requires each person to carry an additional .5 L for group meals
• Boots with good tread
• Extra set of hiking clothes
• Base layers (leggings, long sleeve)
• Camp shoes
• Long sleeve sun shirt
• Fleece
• Rain Jacket, Poncho
• Puffer Jacket
• Hat, Gloves, Buff
• Headlamp
• Sunscreen, Chapstick
• Toilet Paper, Deodorant, Toothbrush, Toothpaste
• Snacks, Electrolytes
• Emergency blanket, Blister patches, First aid kit, Medicine
  • Can purchase Diamox (altitude sickness meds) over the counter in Antigua
• Ankle/Knee braces, KT tape
• Sleep sack, Pillowcase, Eye mask, Ear plugs
• Portable charger, charging cords
• Cash
  • There are two entrance fees of GTQ50/person at each location (total of GTQ100/person)
  • Tip for guides/porters
  • Snacks & drinks at lunch
• Trekking Poles
  • You can rent these from OX for $5
• Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
  • Given to you by OX to carry in your bag

SHOULD YOU HIRE A PORTER

Hiring porters is a personal choice. We went back and forth a few times deciding if it was the right thing to do, if it was the wrong thing to do, if we felt we needed someone to carry our bags, what if we needed something in our bags, is it rude to pay someone else to carry it for us? Because of this, there was a lot to think about. In the end, Paige hired a porter for the way up. That cost her GTQ200 CASH (roughly $30). Afterwards, she carried her large park (with her small pack inside) on the way back down. In contrast, I opted to carry my 44L pack myself the entire way. I felt confident in my ability to lug it up to base camp.

REASONS TO HIRE A PORTER

• Hiring a porter took a huge load off ascending to base camp. Which in turn, helped Paige complete the Double Whammy Tour. Paige carried 2 liters of water, snacks, and some essentials like sunscreen and Kleenex in her 14L pack. Her porter carried the rest.
• Porters stay with the group at all times. Which means, if you need in your large pack at any moment, you will have access to it.
• Hiring porters does not mean you are weak.
• In fact, GTQ200 is almost double the DAILY wage of the average Guatemalan worker.
• Most porters you will see carrying two-four bags on the way up. It’s quite impressive. Ultimately, this is them choosing to earn more money.
• Moreover, you are helping contribute to the local community by hiring a porter.

FINAL ADVICE

• Slow and steady wins the race! Luckily, the guides do a great job at keeping a steady pace. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, focus on your breathing, and you’ll get to the top!
• Be sure to give yourself a few days in advance to adjust to the altitude!
• Prepare for the hike! Depending on where you live it can be hard to train in high altitudes but making sure you are going on long hikes with elevation gain, walking on an inclined treadmill, and feeding your body nourishing food will help you.
• Bring a buff! You can purchase one for $10 at OX, but the trail is extremely dusty, and we were so thankful to have ours!
• Pack an extra trash bag to collect not only your trash, but trash that was left behind.
• Don’t forget your TP!
• There is no water on the volcanoes, so if you feel 4 L is not enough, bring more, or drink sparingly.
• The mountain dogs are sweet as can be! Kindly, pack a few dog treats for them to enjoy.
• Bring extra snacks if you are hiring a porter. They do receive lunch but would also appreciate snacks if you have some to spare! They are carrying your bag after all.
• In addition, don’t forget to tip your guides and porters! They do phenomenal work.
• Obviously, the main goal of this expedition is to see lava and summit Acatenango, but weather and eruptions can be unpredictable. Make sure you have other reasons for working hard and summiting volcanoes. Otherwise, this will not be enjoyable. Enjoy the hikes, enjoy your group, prove to yourself that you are capable of doing hard things and overall, try and have fun!

Hi! We’re Paige & Adam

Thank you for joining us on this journey! We’re passionate explorers who are dedicated to keeping our bodies moving until we’re old and grey. Through our travel guides and expert travel physical therapy advice, we empower future travelers with the tools and inspiration to embrace adventure every step of the way. Your support means everything. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! Have fun, stay safe, and happy hiking!

The post VOLCAN DE FUEGO & ACATENANGO: A GUIDE FOR THE ULTIMATE OVERNIGHT HIKE appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

But for us to continue to visit these beautiful parks all across America, we must do everything in our power to protect them. Protect the land, the resources, the wildlife, the habitats, the ecosystems, and the rangers who keep it all afloat. We must protect our national parks. And here’s a few ways we the people can do that.

LEAVE NO TRACE

The “leave no trace” principle is the easiest, most common way to protect our national parks. It’s as simple as it states. LEAVE. NO. TRACE. Whether your hiking, camping, having a picnic, just visiting the visitors center, it doesn’t matter, what matters is that you leave no evidence that you were ever there.

GOING FOR A HIKE

Ways to implement the “leave no trace” principle when you’re on a hike is easy. Just be sure to pack out what you packed in. We have seen everything from underpants, sunglasses, gloves, t-shirts, binoculars, plastic water bottles, orange peels, banana peels, and pistachio shells on the trail. The park is not your trashcan.

When it comes to gear, just be sure everything is tucked away in your pack. If the hike becomes too hot and you need to take off a layer, put it in your pack, not on a branch to grab on your way out. When it comes to food, EVERYTHING must be disposed of properly. That includes orange peels, banana peels, shells. Orane peels are often something we see left on the trail as most people think “It’s natural, it’s fine.” But even an orange peel can take up to 2 years to decompose! It doesn’t matter that these items grow on a bush or tree or in the ground. It is most likely uncommon to the area you are in, and many things can happen if we leave food scraps out. One, this will lead to food conditioning in the wildlife. Animals will be prone to invade the trails and campgrounds if they become used to eating human food. This becomes dangerous for the visitors as well as the wildlife. And two, food scraps can lead to unwanted pests, which can eventually lead to invasive species. So please pack out all food scraps!

Always do a double take after taking a break on your hike to make sure you have picked up all of your belongings. And Pro Tip: bring a small bag with you on hikes to pick up trash along the way!

HAVING A BATHROOM EMERGENCY

If you hike regularly, then you have probably had a bathroom emergency as some point on your trails. If you are new to hiking, then you should always be prepared for when nature calls.

To avoid this unfortunate situation, stop by the visitor center or trailhead bathroom before beginning your hike. During your hike, however, when you gotta go, you gotta go. Here’s a few tips for those emergent situations. One, always find a spot at least 200ft from any trail, campground, or water source. If you just have to pee, go about your business and then consider using a pee cloth, instead of toilet paper. This helps reduce waste, is antimicrobial, and reusable!

If you have to go “number two” while on the trail, then again always make sure you are at least 200ft from any trail, campground, and water source. The best practice is to pack your poop out. And in many cases is actually required. You can purchase a WAG bag (Waste Alleviation and Gelling) to help make packing your poop out easier! Or the other option is to dig a cathole. You’ll want to dig a hole about 6-8 inches deep, away from water, poop in the hole, and cover with dirt. If you wipe with nature’s toilet paper, you can bury that in the hole with your poop. If you use toilet paper or wipes, please be sure to pack that out! It can take years for those to decompose.

The easiest way to protect our national parks is by leaving no trace.

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE FROM WILDLIFE

Seeing wildlife during your visit to a National Park is all a part of the experience, but it’s super important that we keep our distance. These are still wild animals.

A lot of parks, such as Yellowstone, are perfect if you’re looking for a national park with wildlife viewing! Because there’s a good chance you’ll see bison, wolves, bears or elk. But if we want to protect our national parks and everything in them, then it’s very important that we keep our distance, or know what to do on a rare occasion of running into wildlife on the trails.

If you encounter an animal on the trail, make sure you know the correct way to respond depending on the type of animal. Check out this post for helpful tips! If you encounter an animal on the road, stop and let them pass. Take a picture if you’d like, but do not hold up traffic. This can be dangerous and lead to accidents within the park.

At the end of the day, we are in their territory. Most of the time, the animals will move on and not think twice. But if we start to invade their space and make them feel threatened, we could be putting ourselves, and them in danger.

RESPECT MOTHER NATURE

We have the privilege to explore these beautiful national parks year-round. They provide the most epic hiking trails, scenic views, jaw-dropping forests, and unbelievable wildlife viewings. But at what cost to them? People trample over the tiny, unseen ecosystems, carve into the outer layers of trees, leave food scraps out that will eventually lead to killing a bear, and drain these areas of their natural resources. So, what are we to do?

Aside from the “leave no trace” principle, and keeping our distance from wildlife, we should also be respecting Mother Nature. That means staying on designated trails, not carving our initials into trees, keeping our hands to ourselves during a cave tour, and only taking home souvenirs from the gift shop. By taking petrified wood, pebbles, fossils, etc., you are only expediting erosion and contributing to the dismantling of the park’s already fragile ecosystem. It’s also illegal, so there’s that too.

We only get one Earth, and we must take care of her.

FOLLOW SAFETY GUIDELINES

Before we visit a national park, we always check updates on the National Park Service website. We do this so we can be up to date on the latest trail closures, road closures, restoration projects, wildlife activity, wildfires, etc. The parks do a great job at keeping the public informed with what exactly is happening within the park. The rangers and staff members put a lot of effort into making sure all visitors have a great experience when visiting their national park and the least we can do is adhere to their safety guidelines.

If specific roads and trails are closed, simply do not go on them. If there are barricades preventing you from going all the way out to a ledge, simply stay behind the barricade. And if areas on a trail are closed due to restoration, simply stay on the designated trail.

Ways to protect our national parks can be as simple as reading a sign and adhering to it. They’re there for not only the safety of the visitors but also the safety of the wildlife and ecosystems within the park.

MAKE DONATIONS

The last way to help protect our national parks is to donate our time and resources to them. Currently, our parks are being dismantled for their resources, they’re experiencing major budget cuts, and staff is being laid off. The long-term effects of this could be catastrophic for the National Parks as we know it. It’s now more important than ever that we stand up and fight for these beautiful parks that we get to visit. Here’s how we can help.

DONATE YOUR TIME

Our National Parks are always looking for volunteers. From front desk help to campground clean ups, tour guides, and more. There are never too many volunteers. You can register at volunteer.gov to find work near you!

OR you do little things by picking up trash on your hike, and/or making sure you are not contributing to destroying a bathroom facility. Little things can lead to big differences.

HELP FUND OUR NATIONAL PARKS

If donating your time isn’t an option, consider donating to your favorite park or contributing to The National Park Foundation. You can make a one-time payment, or a monthly payment depending on your budget. No dollar is too small. We can make a difference, and this will help protect our national parks, as well as those who maintain them.

SIGN A PLEDGE

A simple way to help protect our national parks is by signing a pledge. The National Parks Conservation Association has a pledge we can sign that show Americans stand with the parks. That we support the people who protect them, and the history behind them. So, stand with me and sign the pledge today!

PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS

After visiting 41 national parks, I can honestly say that it has changed me. It’s changed the way I view the world. Nature is a part of me, as I am apart of nature. I don’t want to live on this land, but with the land. From the ocean to the forest, to the sky, nature is everywhere and it sure is beautiful. We’ve spent years exploring these parks, and one day we hope to take our kids to these parks. But we can’t do that if we suck these parks of their resources, displace wildlife from their natural habitats, and ignore climate change. We must protect our national parks at all costs. Who’s with me?

Hi! We’re Paige & Adam

Thank you for joining us on this journey! We’re passionate explorers who are dedicated to keeping our bodies moving until we’re old and grey. Through our travel guides and expert travel physical therapy advice, we empower future travelers with the tools and inspiration to embrace adventure every step of the way. Your support means everything. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! Have fun, stay safe, and happy hiking!

The post 5 WAYS WE CAN HELP PROTECT OUR BEAUTIFUL NATIONAL PARKS appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

People from all over come to witness the glorious, majestic, breathtaking views of the Na Pali Coast. From the stunning sea cliffs, the waterfalls, pristine beaches, and lush valleys, the Na Pali Coast is truly something spectacular. I knew that in my precious time on Kauai I had to witness this myself. That’s why I decided to book an epic adventure through Kauai Sea Tours!

THE PRACTICALITIES

WHEN TO VISIT

The best to time of year to visit the Na Pali Coast would be May-September. The water is calmer, which means your chance of actually visiting the Na Pali Coast, entering sea caves, and snorkeling in the coves are much higher! You are more likely to have sunny days, clear blue skies, and warm water!

If you visit from October-April (we went in January) there is a higher chance of rainstorms, bigger swells, cancellations, reroutes to somewhere other than the Na Pali Coast, and a bumpy ride. We may not have entered the sea caves or had a great snorkeling experience, BUT winter season means whale season! So, we did have an epic boat ride while chasing whales.

GETTING THERE

To get to the Na Pali Coast, you’ll first fly into Lihue Airport. From here you can rent a car, take the bus (long wait times), or grab an uber (few and far between). Getting around Kauai is a little challenging, so your best bet is too rent a car! We booked a jeep with a rooftop camper from Kauai Rooftop Campers. You will have to hop on the bus from the airport to get to rental pickup spot. Roughly an hour and a half. After you’ve secured your rental car, the real fun begins!

BOOKING YOUR ADVENTURE

When I’m booking an excursion for my vacation I always look on Viator first! They’re my go-to when it comes to finding the best tours and activities around the area! I’ve booked countless trips through them and have never been disappointed!

Viator has everything from relax and chill to adventurous and thrilling! Me and Paige were looking for excitement! For heart-racing, adrenaline pumping adventure! And that’s when we came across the half day raft and snorkel adventure with Kauai Sea Tours on Viator.

We immediately booked the excursion because it was exactly what we had been looking for! For 6 hours we would be on a motorized raft speeding through the open ocean, chasing whales, snorkeling in coves, checking out the sea caves, and of course admiring the Na Pali Coast. The cost per person was roughly $218. For the experience we had, it was worth every penny!

Book your Kauai Sea Tours Adventure HERE!

If this excursion is a little too intense for you, check out some of Viator’s other options! There are all kinds of tours to choose from!

TRIP OVERVIEW

On the day of your excursion, you’ll meet at Kauai Sea Tours. Here, you will make sure all waivers are signed, you’ll go over safety instructions, and the day’s route. You will also have some time to use the restroom, and I would highly suggest you do so. It’s a long day with no pit stops, if you know what I mean…

WHAT TO PACK

For a trip like this, you don’t need much! Most things are provided for you! And when you’re booking through a reputable company, who does this multiple times per day, year-round, they have everything you could possibly need!

Kauai Sea Tours will provide you with a life jacket, snacks, lunch, water, drinks, all snorkeling gear, and a dry bag if you didn’t bring one. Here are a few things I would recommend bringing.

• SUNSCREEN
• SUN SHIRT
• RAIN JACKET
• HAT (THAT CAN’T BE BLOWN OFF!)
• TOWEL
• PHONE/WATERPROOF CASE/LANYARD
• SUNGLASSES
• DRY BAG

That’s it! Not too much to worry about. Just don’t forget to bring you adventurous spirit and fun attitude!

EXPECTATIONS OF THE NA PALI COAST TOUR

Don’t skip over this section! It is very important to fully understand what you are getting yourself into. This isn’t a fun, little snorkeling adventure for the whole family to enjoy. You will not be sailing off into the sunrise while whales and dolphins swim around you. In fact, you may not even see the Na Pali Coast at all…

THE UNPREDICTABLE OCEAN

Here’s what you need to understand. The ocean is unpredictable. The weather can be unpredictable. Any time you are booking an outdoor excursion there will be factors out of your control.

We did our Na Pali Coast tour during January. The weather and the waves were a huge factor as to whether or not we would see the cliffs or not. Luckily the morning of, our guide told us we would try to make it to the coast, but there was a good chance that on the way back the waves would start to get pretty gnarly. He wasn’t lying. But what that meant for our tour specifically was that snorkeling was a maybe, going into the sea caves was a definite no, and we might have to skip seeing the Na Pali coast if the waves got too intense.

So, for your trip, be prepared for a few things.

One, if the weather is bad the trip could get cancelled altogether. You will be reimbursed if Kauai Sea Tours cancels the tour. Two, you may not get to see the Na Pali Coast. If the waves are too large making it unsafe to visit that side of the island, then your tour guide will reroute you to a safer destination. Three, depending on wave size, you may or may not enter the sea caves. Our waves were 15ft, which meant entering sea caves were deemed unsafe. Four, depending on the season of your tour, whales may or may not be migrating in the area. The best time to see whales in Kauai are November-May. And five, snorkeling may or may not happen. If your excursion is during the summertime I think it’s a pretty safe bet to say your snorkeling experience will be better than ours!

THE INTENSITY OF THE TOUR

The last thing I want to make sure you are fully prepared for is that this tour is a workout! The motorized raft in which you are in is what the Navy Seals use. This raft is fast, bumpy, and makes quick, sharp turns that could easily throw you off the boat if you are not holding on. After 6 hours of this absolutely epic tour, we were wiped! Our entire body was sore from the neck down. You are holding on for dear life the entire time. And while we were loving every second of it, and crying because we were laughing so hard, others were not enjoying it as much…

Before you set foot on the boot, your guide will make sure you are fully aware of everything I am telling you. But it’s important that you listen. If you do not think you are capable of holding on for 6 hours, speeding through the open ocean, and bouncing up and down until your insides feel like scrambled eggs, then this might not be the excursion for you.

If you love scrambled eggs, then I promise you will have the trip of a lifetime!!

THE ADVENTURE TO THE NA PALI COAST

Now that you booked your experience, have everything you need, and are fully prepared for the adventure you’re about to have, let me tell you about ours!

**It’s important to note our tour was in January. The best time to visit would be May-September. That experience will most likely be completely different than ours. Either way, fun as hell!

TO THE NA PALI COAST WE GO

We set out to sea as the sun was starting to make an appearance. The water was calm, the sky was colorful, and the Na Pali Coast was calling our name. The ride to the coast takes about an hour, and what a magical hour it was. Our tour guide, Paul, was having fun in the waves, showing off his boating skills. We took a morning dip in the ocean. And then continued our ride while hundreds of little pink spinner dolphins showed us the way.

As we began inching closer to the majestic sea cliffs, Paul told stories of the Hawaiian culture and what the Na Pali Coast signified to the community. He showed us caves, and beaches, and ancient burial sites.

For the next hour we traveled up the coast in awe and amazement. What a sight to behold! The Na Pali Coast was truly majestic! Paul found a nice spot for us to take a break and enjoy the views. We all excitedly jumped out of the boat and swam beneath the cliffs. This moment for us was one we will cherish forever!

LUNCH AND A SHOW

After the best morning of our lives, we had a spectacular afternoon! Kauai Sea Tours provided us with a delicious lunch, sandwich, chips, and a drink. And because it was migrating season for whales, our eyes were peeled for a spout! We spotted one off in the distance, and off Paul zoomed. To our surprise, there were three males fighting over a female! What a show we got with our meal!

We continued our journey back home and like Paul said, the waves were starting to get gnarly! Paige and I were in the front of the raft laughing so hard with every crash and bounce that the waves brought, but the members of our group in the back of the boat were not having as much fun. They were getting absolutely soaked. So, Pro Tip: sit in the front!

OUR SNORKELING ADVENTURE

The tour is called a half day raft and snorkel adventure. So, I guess I was expecting something a little more exciting. Granted, our excursion was in the middle of January and that’s typically not the best time to snorkel.

We pulled over into a little cove where a few other tour groups were snorkeling as well. We geared up and jumped in. The water was freezing, the cove was pretty murky, and the waves were still going strong. We have lived on Oahu for 8 months at this point, so snorkeling for us wasn’t as big of deal because we could walk across the street and snorkel whenever. But for those that book the adventure solely for the purpose of snorkeling on the Na Pali Coast, then I would highly recommend booking during the summertime! The waves will be calmer, the water will warmer, and the snorkeling location will be different.

Our snorkeling adventure wasn’t all bad though! In the 15 minutes that we swam we did follow a sea turtle and that’s always cool! Once everyone was nice and cold, we hopped back in the boat and headed for home.

FINAL ADVICE

• Don’t forget to tip your guides! They’re incredible!
• Choose an adventure fit for your lifestyle. During the winter, this one is pretty gnarly. Are you up for it?
• Don’t forget the sunscreen! Nose and ears people.
• The morning water and sunrise is a magical experience, but the Na Pali Coast is better lit in the afternoons. This may affect what time you want to book your excursion.
• If whale watching is a priority for you, book in the winter.
• If snorkeling is a priority for you, book in the summer.
• Most importantly, stay safe and have fun!

Hi! We’re Paige & Adam

Thank you for joining us on this journey! We’re passionate explorers who are dedicated to keeping our bodies moving until we’re old and grey. Through our travel guides and expert travel physical therapy advice, we empower future travelers with the tools and inspiration to embrace adventure every step of the way. Your support means everything. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! Have fun, stay safe, and happy hiking!

The post THE BEAUTIFUL NA PALI COAST: AN ADVENTURE GUIDE appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

If you’ve never been to Sedona, Arizona then this guide is for you! And if you have, maybe you’ll find a few hidden gems that you have yet to explore!

THE PRACTICALITIES

HOW TO GET THERE

Getting to Sedona, you’ll want to fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Once you arrive, you’ll want to rent a car and drive two hours to Sedona. The Phoenix airport will be the cheapest option, unless your road tripping of course! If you’re looking for a closer airport you can fly into Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. The drive is still about 45 minutes, and the flight will most likely be more expensive, but it does drop your drive time over half.

NO CAR NO PROBLEM

An alternative option to visit Sedona without renting a car would be to book a day trip tour from Phoenix. Arizona Scenic Tours will pick you up from any hotel in Phoenix (within a radius), drive to Sedona, and give you a guided tour around the beautiful city. You’ll see some of the most popular sights, such as Bell Rock, the Capel of the Holy Cross, and cute little Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. After a day filled with sightseeing your guide will then drive you back to Phoenix and drop you off at your hotel. This is a great way to see Sedona if you’re strapped for time and no car.

WHEN TO VISIT

We have visited Sedona in all seasons and honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong any time of year. However, depending on what you’re looking to do will help narrow what time frame is best for you.

SPRING (MARCH-MAY)

The spring season is peak season! During this time wildflowers are blooming, temperatures aren’t too hot, and everything is green! Spring is best for hiking, photos of wildflowers, and a lively downtown. However, the further into Spring you get, the more crowded it does become. All of the popular trails and sights will be packed. I would advise steering clear of those places and finding more hidden gem spots to spend your time. If you want to see the more well-known places I would recommend starting early.

SUMMER (JUNE-AUGUST)

Summer can be great if you don’t want to deal with the crowds. But you will have to deal with the hotter temperatures, and scattered thunderstorms. The mornings (weather permitting) would still be great for a short hike and a beautiful sunrise. But come afternoon you may want to shop or visit local bakeries and coffee shops. The evenings can provide cooler temps and beautiful sunset colors.

FALL (SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER)

Fall would be a close second, after Spring, for the best time to visit Sedona. The temperatures are finally cooling off, the leaves are changing colors, and the crowds won’t be as bad. You may have less time in the day (thank you daylight savings), but the Fall can provide a full day of fun activities, great views, and cozy vibes.

WINTER (DECEMBER-FEBRUARY)

In my opinion, winter is the best time of year to visit. We have celebrated three of Adam’s birthdays in the last 6 years in Sedona come late January. We have never had any issues with crowds; we have most trails to ourselves, everything is green from all the rain, and the snowcapped red rocks make Sedona a sight to behold. The holidays feel magical and the town gives such warm and inviting vibes that make visiting Sedona in the winter our absolute favorite!

SEDONA LODGING

Depending on the kind of weekend you’re looking for, your lodging might look different. If you’re looking for a more relaxed, nature focused weekend, then camping at Manzanita Campground would be perfect! Each site comes with a picnic table, fire pit, and cooking grill. For only $30 a night, you can be tucked away in the trees, listening to the water flow in Oak Creek Canyon.

Or if you’re looking for lodging with 4 walls and extra amenities, then I would recommend Hilton Vacation Club Los Abrigados Resort & Spa Sedona. We’ve always had great luck with them and find them very affordable considering the area! However, there are tons of places to stay while in Sedona, Arizona all with great reviews!

SEDONA HIKING TRAILS

The main thing we’re looking to do while in Sedona, Arizona is hike! Oddly enough, we’ve always visited Sedona in January! And even though the town sits at about 4,350 ft, we’ve always had such delightful weather! The highest peak in Sedona is over 7,000 ft, so hiking in the middle of winter could be cold, snowy, and/or muddy. Just be prepared with good boots, trekking poles, and crampons if necessary. If you’re hiking in Sedona not in the middle of winter, then be prepared with plenty of water. Very few trails are shaded, and Arizona can get very hot!!

Adam and I have done everything between “touristy” hikes to off the beaten path hikes. Easy hikes to difficult hikes. Hikes where we needed to be shuttled, and hikes where we probably needed 4-wheel drive. No matter what difficulty level or crowd level you are looking for there’s something for everyone!

I always advise starting hikes early. One, to beat the crowds. Two, to beat the heat. And three, to watch the sun rise from the mountains. I would also advise checking All Trails before starting your hike so you can double check on shuttle information, trailhead parking fees, trail closures, and trail conditions. It’s always a good idea to download the offline map too, just in case you lose service! Stay safe on the trails and happy hiking!

EASY SEDONA, ARIZONA HIKING TRAILS

MODERATE SEDONA, ARIZONA HIKING TRAILS

DIFFICULT SEDONA, ARIZONA HIKING TRAILS

LOCAL SEDONA, ARIZONA EATERIES

Although hiking is the main thing we are looking to do while in Sedona, Arizona, eating is the second! There are countless cafes, coffee shops, and local restaurants to choose from. We try and go somewhere different every time we visit, but one cafe will always draw us back. And that is Indian Gardens Cafe & Market. No matter what our plans are for the weekend, breakfast or lunch here is an absolute must! The coffee is delicious, the food is fresh, and the pastries are to die for. Not to mention, the staff is great, they provide blankets for outdoor seating, and it’s not located in the middle of town. Please do yourself a favor and make a pit stop here! Some others that are noteworthy are listed below!

BREAKFAST IN SEDONA

LUNCH IN SEDONA

DINNER IN SEDONA

THE FAMOUS SEDONA, ARIZONA ENERGY VORTEXES

People from all over travel to Sedona, Arizona just to experience this one thing, the energy vortex. Scattered across town, multiple sites are known for being a site of powerful energy that promote healing and spiritual growth. Now whether or not you believe in this, it’s important to note that others do! So please be mindful and respectful of those who are practicing mediation or simply having their own experience in these areas of powerful energy.

VORTEX SITES

Where can you find these sites? There are a few different options you could go with. One, choose to hike there! Two, book an excursion. Or three, find a local group who has an outing planned and sign up to join!

LET’S HIKE THERE!

If it were up to me and my experience, I would choose to hike there! There’s a feeling of completion, of doing hard things, a profound sense of accomplishment, and the gratitude towards my body and what it is capable of. I believe all of that will only add to the experience of being in an energy vortex. After making it to one of the sites, be sure to sit with yourself. Meditate, sit in solitude, express gratitude, let go of unwanted feelings, manifest new beginnings, or do whatever feels right to you in the moment. We’ve been to all of these places, and while they may be busy, they sure are beautiful. Try to hike at sunrise or sunset to beat the crowds and make the most of your experience!

BOOK AN EXCURSION TO AN ENERGY VORTEX

If you choose to forgo hiking, book an experience through a company, like Viator! They have lots of great options to choose from!

Sedona Vortex Odyssey-A spiritual and Scientific Adventure is a 3-hour guided tour in which you will learn the phenomenon behind the vortex and how it originated in Sedona, all while being led (by van) to some of Sedona’s most popular sites. Full transparency, we have not taken this tour ourselves, but it is locally owned and operated and has great reviews! We have booked through Viator multiple times and have always had a great experience!

Book this spiritual and educational adventure HERE!

JOIN A LOCAL GROUP

The third option you could do is find a local group who is planning an experience and looking for people to join! You can do this by searching on Facebook or walking into just about any locally owned restaurant and finding their bulletin board which displays activities happening within the area. We were standing in line at the restrooms at our favorite cafe, Indian Gardens Cafe & Market, when we noticed all kinds of fun group activities taking place all over Sedona, Arizona! If we were staying for longer, we would have definitely tried to join one!

Sedona, Arizona is one of our all-time favorite towns! We just can’t stay away. With the beautiful views of the red rock formations, the delicious food at local restaurants, and the energy we feel while hiking the amazing trails throughout the area make visiting Sedona truly the best weekend!

Hi! We’re Paige & Adam

Thank you for joining us on this journey! We’re passionate explorers who are dedicated to keeping our bodies moving until we’re old and grey. Through our travel guides and expert travel physical therapy advice, we empower future travelers with the tools and inspiration to embrace adventure every step of the way. Your support means everything. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! Have fun, stay safe, and happy hiking!

The post SEDONA ARIZONA: A WEEKEND GUIDE TO A BEAUTIFUL CITY appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

If you’re looking for something a little more strenuous or adventurous check out my other Hawai’i hiking blog posts and find a trail that fits your speed!

HAWAI’I HIKES

Before getting into my favorite Hawai’i hikes there’s some things you should know.

• PARKING
  • Parking can be very difficult! Sometimes it would be worth it to Uber because most of these trails start just off a neighborhood, which are already lined with cars. You can be circling for a while trying to find an open spot or may have to walk further than expected.
• SMASH AND GRABS
  • Unfortunately, smash and grabs are pretty common on Oahu. It is very important to make sure that you leave nothing valuable in your vehicle. Some will tell you to leave your car unlocked to avoid a broken window. That choice is yours. We may or may not have done that and allowed someone to steal a cooler, work scale, and home health equipment like gloves and masks, etc…
• HIKING WITH ALOHA
  • Now using this phrase on every hike! Be sure to hike with Aloha. Meaning, be respectful, be courteous, be self-aware. Make sure to leave no trace and no trash. Listen to nature instead of music. All land should be respected but go the other extra mile on these Hawai’i hikes and hike with Aloha.

Now let’s get into it!

KO’OLINA BEACH PARK WALKING TRAIL

If you’re already planning to vacation in Oahu, then Ko’Olina is probably already on your list of places to visit. It’s a great tourist attraction, with hotels, restaurants, gift shops, a golf course, you name it, it’s there. Ko’ Olina Beach Park is the perfect place to be any time of day! Sunrise, mid-day, or sunset. It’s all great!

The trail itself is 2.6 miles long with an elevation gain of only 173 ft. Most likely, you won’t even walk the whole thing. You’ll find a perfect spot in the sand along one of the 4 lagoons, let your kids play in the water, grab lunch at the numerous restaurants nearby, and then find yourself at a gift shop picking up chocolate covered macadamia nuts and an Aloha t-shirt.

HOWEVER, if your goal is to go for a walk, maybe you have stroller, or kids who need to get their energy out, this is the trail for you! Beautiful views, excellent walking path, and a place to cool off after working up a sweat.

MAKAPU’U POINT LIGHTHOUSE TRAIL

If you only have time for one easy Hawai’i hike, I suggest Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail. This trail is perfect for the family! Epic views of Oahu’s southeastern coastline, paved path for strollers and little legs, great potential for whale sightings, and only 2.5 miles with an elevation gain of 475 ft round trip.

The hike takes about an hour to hour and a half to complete. Great for a late morning stroll! But don’t forget your sunscreen, hat, and water. You’ll also want to bring binoculars in case you see whales off in the distance! During humpback whale migrating season (November-May), the whales will be very active and the chance to see them are very high!

And of course, you will see Makapu’u Point Lighthouse. This lighthouse was built in 1909 and sits on a 600ft sea cliff. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Molokai and Lanai from here!

This is a must-do easy Hawai’i hike!

MANOA FALLS

Manoa Falls Trail is one of those easy Hawai’i hikes that must be done when visiting Oahu. It’s a popular tourist attraction, so the trail can get crowded! But if you’re wanting to see a waterfall, this is your chance. This out and back trail is 1.8 miles long with an elevation gain of 577 ft.

Before setting off on the trail, you will have to pay a fee to park. Try and arrive early to not get turned around due to lack of parking. There is a visitor center and bathrooms located in the Paradise Park Building near the parking lot. Be warned, the service is very spotty. Try downloading the trail or a map beforehand.

Manoa Falls Trail is relatively easy and can be done with children. Like most hikes in Oahu, trails will muddy. So, be sure to wear proper foot wear . The hike itself is beautiful! Bamboo lines the well-worn trail and lush tropical greenery envelope you as you make your way to the waterfall. Sadly, you cannot swim in this waterfall and there is a barricade once you reach the end. Due to the amount of people and the narrow viewpoint, you will have to wait in line until it’s your turn if you would like to take a picture in front of Manoa Falls. Please be respectful of other people’s time and space but be sure to enjoy the beauty of Manoa Falls.

PU’U MA’ELI’ELI TRAIL

Just north of Kaneohe sits Pu’u Ma’eli’eli Trail. This out and back is 2.4 miles long with an elevation gain of 600 ft. Getting to the trailhead is a little odd, as you will park in the McDonalds parking lot and walk along side of the highway (guardrail in between you and traffic) to reach the trailhead. It’s not a far walk at all and there is a narrow trail to the side of the highway that makes reaching the trailhead a breeze.

I would advise checking the weather to make sure there’s no rain in the forecast as this trail stays pretty muddy year-round. If there was a recent rain it could still be extremely muddy. Just proceed with caution. The trail begins pretty steep and then gradually takes you up and down as you make your way closer to the pillboxes.

Towards the end, you will come across two bunkers used in WWII that are neat to explore, with one being your final destination. You’ll get sweeping views of the coastline and paddlers and boaters making their way out to Kaneohe Sandbar.

All in all, this hike is fairly easy, albeit muddy, but your kids will love exploring the bunkers and the trail is shaded the majority of the time.

WAIMEA VALLEY TRAIL

Another must do easy Hawai’i hike on Oahu is Waimea Valley Trail. Located inside the cultural and ecological nature preserver, Waimea Valley. Upon entering the preserve, you will be required to pay an entrance fee, which varies between adults, seniors, students, children, military, and group prices. If you choose to forgo the hike, but wish to see the waterfall, you can purchase a shuttle for an additional price.

If you choose to hike the trail you won’t be disappointed. You’ll walk 1.9 miles (round-trip) through the rainforest with an elevation gain of 249 ft. The path is paved the whole way, which is great for those with a stroller. At times you will encounter an 8% grade, but nothing too difficult to manage.

The trail will pass by cultural sites, ponds, flora & fauna that are unique to Hawai’i and Hawai’i only. Walking through Waimea Valley will give you an appreciation of the Hawaiian people and their culture. The trail is not only beautiful, but it’s educational as well. With displays scattered throughout the forest with descriptions of the history, plant species, and techniques used by the local people. A perfect trail for the history buff.

And for the sightseeing buff, a waterfall at the end of the trail will leave you speechless. If you’re feeling adventurous, grab a life vest and jump in! The water is cold, but swimming up to the Waimea Falls in the heart of Oahu is a once in a lifetime opportunity that shouldn’t be skipped!

Oahu, Hawai’i has some of the most beautiful hikes in the world and these easy Hawai’i hikes are just a glimpse. Be sure to check out our other Hawai’i hiking posts for even more beautiful views!

Hi! We’re Paige & Adam

Thank you for joining us on this journey! We’re passionate explorers who are dedicated to keeping our bodies moving until we’re old and grey. Through our travel guides and expert travel physical therapy advice, we empower future travelers with the tools and inspiration to embrace adventure every step of the way. Your support means everything. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! Have fun, stay safe, and happy hiking!

The post EASY HAWAI’I HIKES ON OAHU THAT ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

If you are in fact looking to spend a whole day hiking or up for a more exhilarating experience, check out my blog post HAWAI’I HIKES: 6 DIFFICULT HIKES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS. Or maybe you have children and these moderate Hawai’i hikes are a little too strenuous for you, check out my blog post EASY HAWAI’I HIKES ON OAHU THAT ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY.

HAWAI’I HIKES

Before getting into my favorite Hawai’i hikes there’s some things you should know.

• PARKING
  • Parking can be very difficult! Sometimes it would be worth it to Uber because most of these trails start just off a neighborhood, which are already lined with cars. You can be circling for a while trying to find an open spot or may have to walk further than expected.
• SMASH AND GRABS
  • Unfortunately, smash and grabs are pretty common on Oahu. It is very important to make sure that you leave nothing valuable in your vehicle. Some will tell you to leave your car unlocked to avoid a broken window. That choice is yours. We may or may not have done that and allowed someone to steal a cooler, work scale, and home health equipment like gloves and masks, etc…
• DANGEROUS RAINFALL
  • When it rains it pours on the island. For these difficult Hawai’i hikes, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND avoiding going after a heavy rainfall or if you are expecting rain later on. The mountains on Oahu are very steep and because most of the rain stays in the mountains, the trails can be extremely slippery and muddy. The difficult trails are narrow with steep drop offs. With many deaths and frequent airlift rescues reported on these trails, it is better to be safe than sorry. Therefore, just avoid these hikes under rainy circumstances.
• HIKING WITH ALOHA
  • Now using this phrase on every hike! Be sure to hike with Aloha. Meaning, be respectful, be courteous, be self-aware. Make sure to leave no trace and no trash. Listen to nature instead of music. All land should be respected but go the other extra mile on these Hawai’i hikes and hike with Aloha.

Now let’s get into it!

KA’ENA POINT TRAIL

Ka’ena Point Trail starts at the westernmost point on the island that you can go. There is only one highway to get there, Farrington Hwy. You will follow this highway all along the western coast of Oahu, passing through small towns, home to mostly locals. Once you reach the end of Farrington, you can park anywhere along Keawaula Beach. I would avoid parking at the very end, in the roundabout, due to smash and grabs.

Ka’ena Point Trail has multiple options of completion. Round trip, from the end of the Farrington on the West coast to the start of Farrington on the North shore is 10 miles with an elevation gain of 675 ft. However, you can turn around at any point. We decided to just walk to the very tip of the island which was about 6.5 miles long with an elevation gain of 515 ft. There is no shade on this hike, so hiking as early as possible would be best! Dogs are also not allowed on this hike because a majority of it is an enclosed bird sanctuary to the Laysan Albatross.

If you’re a bird guy like me, then making it to the sanctuary is a must! Watching the Albatross in their element was the highlight of the hike for me. And this trail had some pretty epic views too!

PU’U O HULU TRAIL (PINK PILLBOX)

One of the most popular moderate Hawai’i hikes we heard of was the Pu’u O Hulu Trail aka Pink Pillbox Trail. This out and back trail is only 1.3 miles long with an elevation gain of 613 feet. It is a steep climb to the top considering how short of a hike it is. But the views are worth it! The Pink Pillbox hike would be a great hike for those who are looking for something quick and efficient, but one that doesn’t lack epic views!

You’ll begin this hike by parking on Kaukama Rd. From there following the trail is quite easy. It is also a highly trafficked trail, so getting lost shouldn’t be an issue. Once you reach the top you’ll encounter multiple pillboxes, including the famous Pink Pillbox. You’ll be rewarded with 360-degree views of the coastline, Waianae and Nanakuli, and on a clear day, Mount Ka’ala (the tallest mountain on Oahu).

The ridge does get quite narrow and rocky, so if you are hiking with littles (which is doable) just keep an eye on them. I would recommend hiking early in the morning or later in the evening (before sunset). The west side of the island is much drier and hotter, and this trail offers little to no shade. Even though this trail is a heavily trafficked trail, it is a great one and I would highly recommend adding it your list of moderate Hawai’i hikes!

WAIMANO FALLS TRAIL

You can’t go to Hawaii and not hike to a waterfall. It is a must do. There are waterfalls everywhere, but not all waterfall hikes are swimmable. Waimano Falls Trail is one of those great moderate Hawai’i hikes that doesn’t take long to complete, gives you a great workout, and allows you to play in the refreshingly cold water!

This out and back trail is only 2.9 miles long with an elevation gain of 800 ft. It’s technically classified as a hard hike, due to the fact that the majority of the elevation gain happens all within half a mile. However, the trail is short and aside from one steep section, the rest is a breeze.

Before starting the trail, you’ll have to find parking along Komo Mai Dr. It can be challenging because this is a residential area, and cars are already lining the streets. Uber would be a great option as it would drop you off right at the trailhead.

Once you begin the hike, the first mile is pretty laid back. The trail is well marked, plenty wide, and has great viewpoints along the way. You’ll eventually come to a fork in the trail and will want to continue RIGHT to begin your descent to the swimming hole. Here is where the hike starts to get a little more difficult. You’ll encounter that steep descent, some rope sections, and muddy/slippery rocks and roots. But before you know it, you’ve reached Waimano Falls!

THE SWIMMING HOLE

Waimano Falls isn’t a ginormous waterfall by any means, but it’s a beautiful waterfall to spend an hour or so playing in. There are two sections, the top section and the bottom section. The top section where the main waterfall flows into has a large, but shallow swimming hole. You are able to walk right up to the base of the waterfall and get about waist deep. I would recommend bringing sandals/water shoes because it is very rocky.

The bottom section has a much deeper, but smaller swimming hole. And there is a rope swing! We spent about two hours at the falls jumping from the rope swing, swimming, and watching others work up the nerve to jump. It was quite entertaining! The jump is small, but so is the swimming hole. We had a lot of fun here and I would highly suggest taking the plunge before beginning your trek back.

LANIKAI PILLBOX

When researching what moderate Hawai’i hikes were best on the island, the hike that was mentioned the most was Lanikai Pillbox. Everyone raved about how this was the perfect hike to watch the sunrise and get great 360 degrees views of Oahu. It took us 9 months to finally get around to completing this trail, but the reason for that was because most of the “most popular” hikes are usually WAY over-crowded, parking is a nightmare, you may have to make reservations, or even pay a small fee to complete the hike. We tend to stay away from these sorts of hikes. Crowds and parking usually make the hike not worth it. HOWEVER, please don’t let the negatives stop you from completing this hike, because Lanikai Pillbox is totally worth it, and I can’t believe it took us 9 months to understand that!

PARKING

Parking for Lanikai Pillbox is a little difficult. Recently, street parking was no longer allowed, and the best option would be to park in the Kailua Beach Boat Ramp Parking Lot. Or down the street even further at Kailua Beach Park. From Kailua to the trailhead is about a half a mile walk. So, if you are wanting to make it to the top to enjoy the sunrise be sure to give yourself extra time for parking and walking.

THE CLIMB

Once arriving at the trailhead, the ascent begins immediately. Lanikai Pillbox is an out and back hike with a short distance of 0.7 miles. Because there are two pillboxes on the trail you could extend your hike to the second, which would make your hike 1.6 miles total and with an elevation gain of 623 ft. The hike itself will take less than an hour, but the climb is decently steep and can be challenging for kids or for those who don’t hike often.

360 VIEWS

I would highly suggest making the climb before sunrise. Just be sure to pack a headlamp or flashlight! If you get there early, you may be lucky enough to claim a seat on one of the two pillboxes. But if not, there are plenty of areas along the trail that are just as perfect to watch a new day begin. The views are unreal! Not only of the sunrise, but of the Ko’olau Mountain Range, the Pacific Ocean, and the surrounding towns. Watching the early morning rowers, whales off in the distance, the soft glow of the sunrise, and the mountains turn green is the perfect way to start your morning!

Moderate Hawai’i hikes can be over-crowded, but I promise Lanikai is worth it!

KOKO CRATER TRAMWAY

Another “most popular” hike in O’ahu is the Koko Crater Tramway to Koko Head Lookout. This hike is 1.6 miles long with an elevation gain of 912 ft. Hiking to the lookout consists of over 1,000 railroad tie steps that run straight up the side of the crater, which was previously used by the military in WWII for transporting supplies to the lookout. Now, people from all over the world come to Oahu to make the trek up this crater and I would suggest you give it a go as well!

Most of the time we like hiking for the adventure, the views, the conversations, the nature, but sometimes we like hiking purely for the workout itself. And this was one of those times. We arrived at the Koko Head parking lot and were in awe at the stairs that stretched straight up the side of the crater. We started early because there is no shade, and the sun would soon be beating down on us. Within 30 minutes we made it to the top. The hike doesn’t take long, but that doesn’t mean it was easy! Our legs were shaky, our backs were sweaty, but we accomplished Koko Crater, and the views were worth it!

The hardest part may have been the descent. With your legs already tired, the steep grade and gravity forcing you down, it took a lot of control to not go tumbling down the mountain. Accidents and evacuations happen all the time on this hike, so please be careful, know your limitations, and trust your instincts.

HONORABLE MENTION: MOKOLI’I ISLAND TRAIL

Last but not least, Mokoli’i Island Trail is a must do moderate Hawai’i hike! The hike itself is an out and back that is only 0.2 miles, and 206 ft of elevation gain. Incredibly easy right? Wrong. What makes this hike moderate, but not hard is getting there. This trail is located on Mokoli’i Island aka Chinaman’s Hat.

To get there, first park at Kualoa Regional Park at Kualoa Point. Grab your kayak, paddleboard, canoe, what have you, and head towards to the ocean. I would advise going on calmer days for safety purposes. Once you’ve reached the island, about a 15-minute paddle, find a good place to tie up your vessel. Then begin your 206 ft ascent to the top of the island. In all honesty, it was quite harder than I imagined.

Our feet were wet, we were wearing sandals, the gravel and dirt was loose, there were no ropes, we had to rock climb some sections and navigate this “trail” to the top. It didn’t take too long, but it was a little more challenging than the stats make it out to be. However, we would do it again in a heartbeat for views like this! 360-degree views, stunning mountains, and perfectly blue water made Mokoli’i Island Trail one of our favorites yet!

Oahu Hawai’i has some of the most beautiful terrain to hike in with the most epic views! These moderate Hawai’i hikes gave us memories that will last forever and views that will play on repeat in our minds until the end of time. I highly recommend completing as many as you can and experiencing the awe that is Hawai’i.

Hi! We’re Paige & Adam

Thank you for joining us on this journey! We’re passionate explorers who are dedicated to keeping our bodies moving until we’re old and grey. Through our travel guides and expert travel physical therapy advice, we empower future travelers with the tools and inspiration to embrace adventure every step of the way. Your support means everything. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! Have fun, stay safe, and happy hiking!

The post 5 MODERATE HAWAI’I HIKES THAT ARE WORTH YOUR TIME appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

HAWAI’I HIKES

Before getting into my favorite Hawai’i hikes there’s some things you should know.

• PARKING
  • Parking can be very difficult! Sometimes it would be worth it to Uber because most of these trails start just off a neighborhood, which are already lined with cars. You can be circling for a while trying to find an open spot or may have to walk further than expected.
• SMASH AND GRABS
  • Unfortunately, smash and grabs are pretty common on Oahu. It is very important to make sure that you leave nothing valuable in your vehicle. Some will tell you to leave your car unlocked to avoid a broken window. That choice is yours. We may or may not have done that and allowed someone to steal a cooler, work scale, and home health equipment like gloves and masks, etc…
• DANGEROUS RAINFALL
  • When it rains it pours on the island. For these difficult Hawai’i hikes, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND avoiding going after a heavy rainfall or if you are expecting rain later on. The mountains on Oahu are very steep and because most of the rain stays in the mountains, the trails can be extremely slippery and muddy. The difficult trails are narrow with steep drop offs. With many deaths and frequent airlift rescues reported on these trails, it is better to be safe than sorry. Therefore, just avoid these hikes under rainy circumstances.
• HIKING WITH ALOHA
  • Now using this phrase on every hike! Be sure to hike with Aloha. Meaning, be respectful, be courteous, be self-aware. Make sure to leave no trace and no trash. Listen to nature instead of music. All land should be respected but go the other extra mile on these Hawai’i hikes and hike with Aloha.

Now let’s get into it!

KAHEKILI TRAIL

Out of all of these difficult Hawai’i hikes, I would say Kahekili is the most difficult. There are many aspects that can make a trail difficult, whether that is a steep incline, lots of scrambling/climbing, overgrown or muddy terrain, long distances, and/or level of fear due to exposure. Kahekili Trail has it all. This trail was both mentally and physically challenging and it was less than 4 miles long. An out and back trail with an elevation gain of 1,791 ft, Kahekili was no joke.

PARKING & CAUTION

To access the trailhead, you will park just down the road from the Ka’a’awa fire department at the Swanzy Beach Park. You will then walk ~0.3 miles to the start of the trailhead by turning left just past the fire department and continuing on Huamalani St. The trailhead begins between the two houses at the end of the cul-de-sac. Please be courteous as you’re walking directly through a residential area.

There is a sign at the beginning of the trailhead warning you just how dangerous this hike is and how everyday people are being rescued from the Crouching Lion Trail, the connecting trail. When we finished our hike, we saw three people get rescued via helicopter. Therefore, be cautious and be smart. If you are unsure of your ability to complete a hard and dangerous hike, sit this one out. It is important that you are sure footed, won’t become paralyzed due to a fear of heights, and have the strength and endurance to complete this hike. If you feel confident and I didn’t scare you off yet, then you should totally hike Kahekili Trail because it is AMAZING!

THE ASCENT

For the first half a mile you are hiking through the forest ascending towards the tree line. There are already quite a few rope sections, and you will most likely encounter mud even if it hasn’t rained recently. Once making it out of the tree line the real fun begins! The trail will become very narrow and have steep drop-offs on both sides, but the views are incredible! There are about 4 points where you can stop to take a break, catch your breath, and soak the views in without feeling like you’re going to fall of the mountain.

During this mile stretch, there are more rope sections, high step-ups, and lots of scrambling. I felt like the majority of this hike I was on my hands. Using the 3 points of contact method was a MUST during the steep climbs for safety. The hike is difficult but oh so worth it to see views of the Kualoa Ranch and valley, the mountainside, and an ocean that stretches for miles.

SAVE YOUR LEGS

Although the hike does continue on to eventually meet up with the Crouching Lion Trail, I would suggest turning around before descending back into the forest. If you were to complete the trail, the next half a mile to mile is pretty brutal. The trail is very muddy with little to no ropes, the brush is overgrown, and there’s very few “epic” views. The trail descends back down into the forest and there is a small waterfall to see. But, in my opinion, save yourself the time, struggle, and scratches by turning around after finishing the exposed ridge line.

KULI’OU’OU RIDGE

Many Hawai’i hikes can go from sea level to 3,000 ft quickly. But, if you’re looking for something a little friendlier but still packs a punch, Kuli’ou’ou Ridge is the perfect trail!

PARKING

Parking for the Kuli’ou’ou Ridge isn’t too bad. You will have to park in a neighborhood and maybe walk further than anticipated, but you should be able to parallel park somewhere along Kalaau or Kuli’ou’ou Road.

TRAIL SPECS

This trail can be done one of two ways. An out and back with a distance of 4.4 miles and 1,666 ft or a loop at 4.6 miles and 2,211 ft composed of hiking two different ridge lines. (All Trails elevation gain may be a little off.)

We chose to do the out and back because it had rained earlier in the week and the loop offers more of an exposed route which could be a little more dangerous in wet conditions. The trail is very well maintained and has a consistent gradual incline throughout the whole hike. Yes, it is still difficult and has some steep sections with a little bit of scrambling but overall, it is a great trail with great views at the top!

CHALLENGING BUT REWARDING

The reason this trail is difficult is purely because of the incline. There are no rope sections, exposed cliff walks, or an unmanageable distance. The trail itself is really nice and would be great for those looking for something more challenging than they may be used to, with a great reward at the end. With sweeping views over the entire southeast corner of the island, it’s a sight to see, especially early in the day! I highly recommend this difficult hike!

MOUNT KA’ALA

Not only is Mount Ka’ala a must do because of the hike itself, but also because it is the highest mountain on Oahu! What a cool accomplishment to be able to say you hiked the tallest mountain on the island! Mount Ka’ala is a 6.8 mile out and back with an elevation gain (according to All Trails) of 5,311 ft, which is definitely incorrect considering the peak is only at 4,025 ft. I think we clocked in an elevation gain of around 3,500 ft. But regardless, it is a difficult hike!

PARKING

Parking for this trail is a little difficult. It’s kind of a lose/lose. Some say Uber will not drive back the entirety of the road to drop you off at the trailhead, but also this is a popular destination for those smash and grabs. So please make sure to leave your car empty of all valuables. Even things you may not think are valuable, will be valuable to someone else. You have been warned!

CONQUERING THE TALLEST MOUNTAIN ON THE ISLAND

The first mile of the hike is pretty laid back. You’re walking on pavement the majority of the time until you reach the forest. From there you will finally start making your ascent. It does get steep pretty fast. For the next two miles you’ll be in the trees. The bugs are bad, so bring bug spray if you can. You may even see a wild pig or two!

Once you get past the tree line, the real fun begins! For the next mile you will have insane views of the valley, the ocean, and the North Shore. You also get to do some scrambling, which we always enjoy. I would recommend bringing gloves with you. There are quite a few rope sections. You may not need them much going up but coming down we found them to be very useful! This section is a lot of fun, but also probably the most dangerous. There are a few sections where you are on the edge of the cliff. There is a fence and/or ropes to hold on to if needed. But just be cautious of foot placement and you’ll be fine!

INTO THE RAINFOREST

The last mile of the ascent towards the top is what makes this hike really unique. You’ll enter the rainforest. Because this is the tallest mountain on the island, the majority of the time it is covered by clouds. There is a thriving rainforest at the top, Mount Ka’ala Natural Area Reserve. It is a gated section, so be sure to close the gate behind you to keep out any unwanted critters that could affect the habitat. You’ll follow a narrow boardwalk that leads you right to the top of the mountain. If you’re taller, like me and my wife, you may have to crouch most of the time because of the hanging branches, but nevertheless still awesome!

Unfortunately, the summit is anticlimactic. You’re surrounded by trees, so you don’t have the great views like you did at other sections of the trail, BUT you just summited the tallest mountain on Oahu Island and that’s pretty awesome!

MOUNT OLYMPUS (‘AWA’AWALOA)

Before moving to Hawai’i and doing any research on Hawai’i hikes, I had a buddy tell me I had to conquer Mount Olympus. He said that it was the best hike on the island but not for the faint of heart. So naturally, I had to check it out for myself. He wasn’t lying. Mount Olympus was challenging but very rewarding in more ways than one.

PARKING

Finding parking for Mount Olympus couldn’t be easier! The trailhead starts in Wa’ahila State Park. There is a really big parking lot, so as long as you get there decently early you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a parking spot! Wa’ahila State Park is absolutely stunning and reminded me a lot of Washington State. Even if you’re not completing Mount Olympus you should definitely visit this park for a picnic or shorter stroll.

THE MUDDY CLIMB

Mount Olympus, or ‘Awa’awaloa, is a 6 mile out and back with an elevation gain of ~2,000 ft. Again, our specs were different than those listed on All Trails. Nonetheless, the beginning of the hike is fairly easy and great for those with kids. The trail starts just off the parking lot and for about half a mile you’re walking on a very wide path in the forest. You’ll eventually break off to the left where things will start to get steeper and rockier. I think this section is still doable with kids. It’ll just be a little slower going. After about an hour of hiking you will come to your first viewpoint. If you are hiking with children, this is where I would suggest you turn around. From this point on, the hike gets steeper, narrower, and much much muddier.

The rest of the hike is a steady climb towards the top. Although, it is insanely muddy! Luckily, the trail wasn’t super narrow that we feared slipping and falling. We ended up embracing the mud and had a really fun time climbing towards the top! You will eventually reach the Kolowalu junction and can choose to turn around here if you’d like, continue to summit Mount Olympus.

In order to summit the mountain, you will encounter a more exposed and narrower trail. There are also many rope sections which can be difficult due to the steep grade. You will get muddy, no doubt about it. So, for those of you who like to hike in white Nikes, this may not be the hike for you… or your shoes. After climbing and clawing your way to the top you are rewarded with 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains, the Manoa and Palolo Valley, and Diamond Head Crater.

A fantastic hike packed with adventure, scenic views, and a great challenge! Highly recommend!

MOUNT OLOMANA (THREE PEAKS)

All of these Hawai’i hikes are difficult for different reasons. Mount Olomana (“Divided Hill“), aka Three Peaks, is difficult for many reasons. The elevation gain, the upper body strength needed to do countless rope climbs, and the mental fortitude needed to psychologically overcome this hike.

Mount Olomana is another hike in which many people have succumbed to death or injury. It isn’t a joke. This hike is cruel and should only be completed by experienced hikers. Like all other difficult Hawai’i hikes, if it has just rained or is going to rain, PLEASE avoid this hike! The majority of the trail is exposed and at some sections you are completing a technical 4th-5th class scramble. However, if you’re capable and willing to complete this hike you won’t regret it!

PARKING

There is no parking at the start of this trailhead, and you will be required to walk about a half mile to find parking. Some suggest parking at Maunawili Valley Neighborhood Park, I however wouldn’t suggest that. There are multiple signs stating you will be towed if you are not using the parking lot for the park itself. We parked along Auloa Road and didn’t have a problem. However, there are not designated parking spaces, and your car must be COMPLETELY off the road/sidewalk. Again, there are multiple signs saying you will get a ticket if you violate those rules. In fact, we saw a cop issuing many tickets to the vehicles that were even slightly parked on the sidewalk. I’m pretty sure they camp out there knowing this is an issue. Therefore, maybe uber to the trailhead, or park at your own risk.

GETTING TO THE TRAILHEAD

After finding legal parking, or catching an Uber, you will have about a half mile hike to the start of the trailhead. You’ll walk along Auloa Road towards Kalaniana’ole Hwy. From there you will take a right onto Loop Road. You’ll follow this Road until you meet the start of the trailhead. This is also the entrance to the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club, so be mindful of the coming and going traffic and avoid walking in the middle of the road.

You have now reached the start of the trailhead and are met with an ominous sign letting you know that there have been many deaths on the trail and to hike at your own risk.

PEAK 1

Honestly, from the start of the trailhead to the first peak isn’t that difficult or scary. There is one section where you have to do a vertical rope climb, and then at the summit of the first peak you will be exposed to the elements and steep drop offs. But getting to this first peak is only difficult because of the elevation gain. The majority of the time you are in the trees trekking towards the summit.

This section of the trail was mild-moderately trafficked. There are some big step ups and a little bit of scrambling, but overall, not too bad. Once you reach the summit the view is incredible! And if you decide to turn around at this point, which most hikers do, you’ve still completed a great hike with a great reward of a view of the second and third peak and surrounding mountains. Turning around after the first peak would be a great hike in itself and one I would highly recommend!

PEAK 2

As I said, most hikers stop after reaching the first peak. If you are not comfortable with heights and/or narrow trails on a mountain ridge with steep drops offs, now would be the time to turn around. If this doesn’t bother you, then keep trekking towards the second peak.

I personally didn’t think the trek from the first to the second peak was physically challenging. The hardest part is being completely exposed to the elements, walking on a narrow ridge line, and finishing with the exposed rope climb to summit the second peak. So, mentally it is a little more challenging if you have to overcome that fear of heights. But if you’re up for the challenge and you’re a confident hiker then I think summiting the second peak is totally doable for you!

You are again met with 360 views, just like the first peak, but this time you get to look back on what you’ve already completed which was a cool experience!

PEAK 3

Here is where things go from a physical and mental level of moderate difficulty to an extreme level of difficultly. Summiting the third peak is where accidents happen. Where people have fallen to their death. Please do not take this lightly. If the weather conditions are not *perfect*, if you physically or mentally are not in the right space then please turn around. The last section of this hike takes immense concentration, foot/hand work, full body strength, and both physical and mental endurance. Now is the time to decide to continue on or turn back. We continued on…

It was a decision that we didn’t take lightly. We went into this hike not knowing if we would complete it in its entirety or not, we wanted to make a game time decision, see how we were feeling and take things one step at a time. We both felt great and were ready to tackle the third and final peak.

At this point, the traffic was non-existent. We didn’t know how many people were in front of us and we couldn’t see anyone behind us. This allowed us to take our time and ensure proper footing and hand holds. You will be met with many rope sections at this point, some of which you will you have to put your full body weight into. Just pray those ropes are tightly secured! Especially during the initial 70 ft rope repel to start your descent towards the third peak. Throughout the rest of the hike from peak two to peak three you are walking along the narrowest ridge line, holding onto rocks and ropes for dear life.

Fortunately, I was able to finish the hike in its entirety which was an incredible experience! Being able to look back at the other two peaks to the North, see the Ko’olau Mountain range to the West, and the vast blue Pacific Ocean to the East was an incredible view that made the hike worth it in so many ways!

KNOWING YOUR LIMITATIONS

My wife on the other hand didn’t finish. We ended up running into those who were now on their return from the summit, and a large group had snuck up behind us. With about 10 people on a ridge where only one person can fit comfortably, she was a little shaken up. She no longer felt comfortable and sure footed and decided it was best to stay put and allow me to finish. I think that was a great decision for her knowing what the weight of continuing on a hike when mentally shaken up can cost people.

If you ever don’t feel confident in your ability to continue on it is perfectly acceptable to turn around and try again another day. You should be proud of whatever you can accomplish and take solace in the BREATHTAKING views you’ve already witnessed!

HONORABLE MENTION: KAMAILE’UNU RIDGE

Kamaile’unu Ridge holds a special place in my heart. It was the very first hike my wife and I completed after moving to the Island. It was also the mountain that sat in our backyard. So, for 9 months every day we looked outside and thought to ourselves, “We climbed that, b****”, which is pretty cool.

PARKING

Getting to the trailhead was easy for us because we just had to walk half a block to get there. But for those who don’t live at the base of the mountain you will most likely want to Uber there. Like most Hawai’i hikes, parking and break-ins are a constant battle. If you’re lucky enough to find a place to park, great! But on the flipside of that you may get your window smashed…

FROM MAKAI TO MAUNA

Once you’ve arrived at the trailhead, you have to find the start of the trail. The majority of this hike is overgrown. Therefore, navigating on the “trail” is very subjective. Just start climbing. For a little over a mile, you will climb up 1,587 ft. This out and back is a scramble towards the top, with overgrown brush, jagged lava rocks, and steep step ups. I would highly recommend starting early because there is no shade, and the rocks can get very hot throughout the day. Once you make it to the top though, the view of the valley is just incredible! Our first real hike from Makai (sea) to Mauna (mountain) was breathtaking.

You can continue on this hike towards the taller peaks, which I would recommend doing! It flattens out for a little while before climbing straight up again but you will be rewarded with more awesome views of the valley and surrounding mountains.

SHORT, STEEP & SWEET

The reason I decided to include this hike under difficult hikes is because of the incline, navigating the trail, and the amount of scrambling needed to be done. Kamaile’unu Ridge is a really short hike that offers stunning view of Waianae Valley but navigating this trail and the elevation gain make it a difficult climb. It’s short, steep and sweet!

These difficult Oahu, Hawai’i hikes are some of the best hikes you will do in the country! They are unbelievably challenging, both mentally and physically. Yet, they also feel like an adult jungle gym with the rope climbs and scrambling. These hikes are not for the weak and if you really want to push yourselves give these a go! Just please whatever you do, lead with caution, safety, and that Aloha spirit. Have fun out there, friends, and good luck! Aloha!

Hi! We’re Paige & Adam

Thank you for joining us on this journey! We’re passionate explorers who are dedicated to keeping our bodies moving until we’re old and grey. Through our travel guides and expert travel physical therapy advice, we empower future travelers with the tools and inspiration to embrace adventure every step of the way. Your support means everything. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! Have fun, stay safe, and happy hiking!

The post HAWAI’I HIKES: 6 DIFFICULT HIKES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

Just like with any job as a therapist, you will not be allowed to practice without an active license. This means that for every state you are currently working in you MUST have your license up to date. Additionally, if you have other licenses in other states that you plan to return to, you must keep these licenses active as well. So, let’s dive into everything it takes to managing licenses in each state as a travel therapist!

UNDERSTANDING THE LICENSING PROCESS

If you’re unfamiliar with how initial licensing occurs, please reference THE PT COMPACT- HOW TO GET LICENSED IN UNDER 10 MINUTES. This post covers the difference between getting licensed via examination versus endorsement. This post also mainly covers the PT Compact and how licensing under the compact works.

Now that we’re up to date on how to obtain an initial license in a state, let’s talk about managing licenses in each of those states. 

A LICENSE IS EXPIRING… NOW WHAT??

So, let’s lay out a scenario to give a real-life example of how this process works. Let’s say I obtained my initial license via examination in Missouri. After passing the NPTE, filling out the initial license, and paying all necessary fees, I was granted a Missouri PT license. WOOHOO! 

Every state has its own rules on when their licenses expire. For Missouri, their PT licenses expire on even years on the last day of the month that the licensee was born. That’s on January 31st for me. For most states, their licenses expire every 2 years. However, each state will have its own rules on exactly which day the license expires. This info can be found in the rules, regulations, and laws of each state.

So, January 31st, 2024 rolls around, what options do I have for what I could do with my Missouri license? I could renew my license, let it expire, or in some states, you can make it “inactive.”

OPTION 1: RENEW YOUR LICENSE

For initial licensing, you must fill out an entire application. This typically includes several forms about your personal demographics, school and work history, jurisprudence exams, and paying the appropriate fees. Every state is different with the cost of these fees, which range from <$100-$500+. The cost of these licenses will be directly mentioned on each state license application. Additional costs may also include forwarding your NPTE scores to each state board, verifying other state licenses, notary services, and sending transcripts from your school to the state board. As you can see, this can be a lot to handle and, not to mention, costly. Luckily, as a traveler, most travel companies will reimburse you for initial licensing fees or renewal fees.

As for renewing a license after the 2-year active period, there is much less to do than the initial license described above. For most states, it’s just a matter of sending in your payment to cover the renewal fees. Again, the cost of renewal varies from state to state. This cost may be the same as the original license fee or may be slightly less. But, as long as you make the payment before your license expires then renewing is as simple as paying renewal fees! And unlike initial licensing, there is no delay in this license getting processed. Whenever they receive your payment, you’re license is renewed for the next 2-year licensing period. BOOYAH! However, you also must remember to keep up with all necessary continuing education units required for each state. More on this later.

OPTION 2: LET THE LICENSE EXPIRE

If you accidentally let a license expire, meaning you did not make attempts to pay the renewal fee before the expiration date, then that license will no longer be valid. If payment for renewal is not received before the expiration date then you will not be legally allowed to practice in that state. 

As a traveler, sometimes you’re going to a state to work for 3-6 months and then you leave. There have been multiple occasions where I’ve gotten a license in a state and I have no intentions of returning to that state for work again. It is in these circumstances that one may purposely let a license expire. In those cases, if you were to let the license expire, you would have to go through the entire initial licensing process to re-obtain a license in that state. Thus, I always recommend that if you have ANY intentions to return to a state that you’re already licensed, then you might as well just renew it versus letting it expire to save you the time and energy later. 

OPTION 3: MAKE YOUR LICENSE “INACTIVE” (WHEN AVAILABLE)

There are a select few states where there is an option to put your license in an “inactive” status. In these cases, these states will not require the typical renewal fee each renewal period like an active license. And unlike a license that you let expire, upon activating your license again, there are fewer hoops to jump through. This may mean no jurisprudence exam is required and no full application paperwork process.

Instead, an inactive license could just be reactivated with the normal renewal fee, and boom you’re back into active status. Not many states offer this option. Thus, if there is a state that you may plan to return to in several years but don’t want to pay the renewal fees, it would be beneficial to see if that state offers an “inactive” license status.

WHAT ABOUT COMPACT PRIVILEGES?

Each compact privilege is valid as long as your home state license is active. For me, my home state license is in Missouri. I currently have compact privileges in North Dakota, Colorado, Georgia, Texas, and Washington. As stated before, I have to renew my Missouri license every 2 years at the end of January. Thus when I renew my Missouri license, I will also have to renew each compact privilege that I still need. The process to do this is just as simple as obtaining the initial compact privilege. Go onto the PT Compact website and purchase the compact privilege that you need. Each renewed compact privilege is valid as long as your home state license is active. For those that are not renewed or re-purchased, those are now expired and no longer valid.

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS 

Another consideration for managing licenses as a traveler is continuing education units (CEUs). You’ll find that most states require up to 30 hours of CEUs per renewal period. Most states have renewal periods every 2 years, as previously stated. Some states will require CEUs in different categories or delivery methods. This means some states require a certain amount of CEUs in person vs online courses vs other methods (CI, journal club, publishing papers, etc). This is up to you to read through each state’s rules and regulations to determine what they require.

I’ve found that most states are pretty similar. However, some require up to half of your CEUs to be at a live in-person course. I have typically taken one in-person course, like Rocktape or Dry Needling, per renewal period. Each of which satisfies a large majority of the 30 hr requirements. **FYI- With each in-person course, you must verify that this course qualifies for CEUs for each state you need. You can do this by asking the course instructor or reaching out to the appropriate person in the state board.

As for the rest of the CEUs, I usually complete online Medbridge courses. Medbridge is an incredible place to get some relevant up-to-date, evidenced-based CEUs. They have courses in a variety of categories and topics covering multiple settings in the therapy fields (ortho, acute, etc.).

I also love MedBridge for their HEP platform, which has great descriptions and pictures of a large variety of exercises that you can print or send (email or text) to patients, and quickly integrate descriptions into your documentation. So, if you’re looking for a great CEU and HEP resource, you can use my link here to save $150 on your initial annual Medbridge subscription fee!

CEU AUDITS

Be sure to keep track of your total CEUs and keep the certificates of completion saved. Each state has the right to audit you and check to see if you completed the required CEUs. Thus, if you do not have the proof of completion your license may be suspended until proof of completion is submitted.

KEEP IT ORGANIZED

If this all sounds like a lot to keep organized, IT IS!! Thus, I highly recommend keeping an ongoing document or spreadsheet with all the necessary info. Be sure to list each current and past license, renewal/expiration dates, and required CEUs, with a running tab of CEUs completed/needed. The more you travel and the more often you move, the crazier this list will get. So, start it early and don’t let it get out of hand!

FINAL THOUGHTS ON MANAGING LICENSES

Managing all the licenses that compile as you travel can be a daunting task. But if you keep things organized from the beginning, it can be easy. Just keep tabs on all upcoming expiration dates and decide whether you will need that state license in the future again or not. If not, let it expire and move on. If yes, pay the renewal fee and ensure that you’ve completed the necessary CEU requirements in case you get audited. Keep it simple and keep it organized! You’ve got this!

If you have any further questions or insights for managing licenses as a travel therapist, please comment below, contact me through my website, or direct message me via Instagram.

The post A SIMPLE GUIDE TO MANAGING LICENSES AS A TRAVEL THERAPIST appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

HAWAII APPLICATION

First things first when applying for travel contracts is to make sure you can get that state’s license in time. Some jobs are willing to wait for the license to come through, but just to be safe it’s better to already have the contract underway when applying for your next contract.

After changing plans from Alaska to Hawaii, I knew a potential set back in securing a Hawaii travel position would be the fact that I didn’t already have a Hawaii license. Hawaii is not a part of the compact so you must file for a full state licensure. Luckily for me, the Hawaii licensure is one of the shortest and easiest applications I’ve applied for! However, that doesn’t mean it has the quickest processing time.

I was told repeatedly by my recruiter that it would take a bit of “pestering” to get the Hawaii state board to process the license quickly. Since I had a job on the line, I did not mind doing that at all. I updated the board every step of the way. I made sure to email when all appropriate forms where in the mail or important documents were being sent via email.

Unfortunately, the biggest hang up with getting the license approved was needing licensure verification from every single state that I currently or have ever been licensed. Fortunately, many of the states I’ve worked in have been compact states and don’t fall in this category. But even still, that required 6 other states to then send Hawaii a licensure verification or provide instructions on how to verify online myself. This was a tedious process, especially when each state has different rules.

As tedious as this process is, the other states processed things fairly quickly for me and I was able to get a Hawaii license approved and issued in 2-3 weeks. I was originally told to expect 6-8 weeks. You never want to be overbearing when reaching out to state boards for “expediting” your license, but I’ve found that establishing a line of communication early on and letting them know that you have a travel position lined up soon has helped me get most licenses processed much faster than the expected timeframe.

WHAT NEXT?

So, you just got hired for your first Hawaii travel therapy contract and secured your Hawaii license, now what? Do you ship or rent a car? Do you rent a furnished or unfurnished apartment? Should you ship all your belongings or check multiple bags on your flight? What is going to be the most cost-effective strategy? These are all great questions to be thinking about! We didn’t have anyone telling us what the best solutions were. But that’s why I’m here, to help you so you can go into your Hawaii travel therapy contract with excitement instead of stress.

RENT OR SHIP CAR

As soon as I signed my Hawaii travel therapy contract, I started looking at what the best option would be as far as having a car on the island. Because I signed a home health contract I HAD to have a vehicle. That was non-negotiable. I looked into the cost of renting a car for 6 months. The total was near $7000. Ouch. It would have been nice to put miles on someone else’s vehicle, but I couldn’t afford that. Luckily, we were living in California and to ship a car from Long Beach, CA to Honolulu, HI was around $1,500 (one-way). There are a few different companies you could go through, but we ended up booking through Car Shipping Hawaii.

A FEW THINGS TO BE AWARE OF WHEN SHIPPING A CAR:

SHIP YOUR CAR FOR SURE

Working with Car Shipping Hawaii was such a great experience for us! We had absolutely no problems and they walked us through every step of the process. I would highly recommend using them! Shipping our car to the island was a no-brainer. The total cost will be about ~$2,500 (it’s cheaper to ship back to Cali).

WHAT TYPE OF HOUSING SHOULD I RENT?

Oh, the dreaded housing search. This is our least favorite part about signing new travel therapy contracts. Packing up our belongings, finding a new temporary house that is within our budget, reasonably close proximity to work, and makes us feel safe is a lot harder than it seems! Especially when you have to commit to a place before you really get to see it or the area it’s in. This is ultimately one of the big reasons why we purchased our RV, “Georgia”, three years ago. It gave us some sort of stability through this dreaded process. Yes, it’s fun to live in new homes, but sometimes those homes can be cockroach infested, have bad landlords, make the commute to work extra-long, or out of budget. Check out my blog post TRAVEL THERAPY HOUSING PROS AND CONS for more insight. So, what should you do in Hawaii?

UNFURNISHED APARTMENT

The main benefit of renting an unfurnished apartment is that it is going to be the cheapest option. I would hope because there is nothing in it. We played around with the idea of this. We could save more money by signing a 6-month lease on an unfurnished apartment with a full kitchen, bath, gym, pool, extra amenities. The downfall is we would have absolutely no furniture. No bed, couch, tv, pots and pans, kitchen utensils, washer/dryer, you name it. However, we were planning on bringing our backpacking equipment: blow up mattress and sleeping bag. Maybe we could get away with no bed??

The average monthly cost of an unfurnished apartment that we were seeing were around $900-$1,200. There are companies on the island that will rent furniture month-to-month. If you do the bare minimum, you were looking at around another $300/month. Now you’re at $1,500. You can find furnished apartments and not have to sleep on a mummy mattress for $1,500/month. Thank God!

FURNISHED APARTMENT/AIRBNB

Luckily, there are quite a bit of furnished apartments on Furnished Finder, as well as great options on Airbnb. I found that Furnished Finder had cheaper options month-to-month vs. Airbnb. The average cost of a furnished apartment varied depending on location but ranged anywhere from $1,000-$3,000/month. Obviously, there are some really nice homes you could stay at if you wanted to ball out, but I think most of us are going to look for budget-friendly options.

Another thing to consider is are you looking for a shared house or a separate unit? I travel with my wife, and we have done shared housing before, but for an extended period of time we find we will pay extra for privacy. If you are traveling alone, then a shared housing unit really isn’t too bad for cost of living in Hawaii (we just lived in California and Washington, so our “too bad” is relative).

In the end, we went with a furnished beach front studio condo for 6 months at $1,400/month. The apartment complex comes with a pool, small gym, full kitchen (we will have a full-sized fridge which we are very excited for, RV’ers IYKYK). Because we could only move in on July 1st, we still needing housing for 19 days.

Finding housing for that long was turning out to be VERY expensive. I mean its Hawaii, if it was cheap everyone would be here all the time. But we found the cheapest option was to book 1 month on Furnished Finder in a shared housing unit. We have a private bedroom/bathroom and share the kitchen with one other person. There are other tenants, but they have a separate floor/shared living space. And honestly, we are loving it. The tenants/landlords are kind, there are fruit trees in the backyard that we can help ourselves too, we stare at a beautiful mountain out our bedroom window, and we’re just across the street from the beach. For 19 days, $1,200 was manageable.

HOW DO I GET MY STUFF TO HAWAII?

You’ve landed the job, got your license, you shipped your car, you have your housing figured out, now you just need to get there! But how do you pack for 6 months and how do you get it there? Fair question. We struggled with this one because we are both over-packers. If you don’t have too many things and live out of one suitcase you can just skip this part, it’s not for you. But for my over-packers, keep reading.

Honestly, I didn’t even look into what the cost would be like to ship your things via UPS or USPS. I figured those rates would be astronomical. We booked our flights through Southwest, which means you get two free checked bags, a carry-on, and a personal bag. That’s already 4 bags per person! However, don’t get carried away and go over that 50lb weight limit on the checked bags because that will be an extra $100/bag. I would suggest purchasing a luggage weight. It helped us tremendously. We were able to pack our bags to the tenth of a pound and didn’t have to deal with the frantic last-minute “stuff clothes in your carry-on” situation.

Alright, you know you can have two large bags and two smaller bags, that’s still not a whole lot of space for the over-packer, especially when you want to take camping gear, hiking gear, snorkeling gear, and paddleboards. Yes, we could just rent some of those things in Hawaii, but at the rate at which we will be using said gear just doesn’t make sense for us. But also, the rate for each additional checked bag is $125. Getting to Hawaii is adding up quickly and I don’t really want to spend all my money on getting clothes there. I laid out everything I wanted to take and quickly realized there was no way I could take all that. After sifting through and removing more items about 5 separate times I finally could fit what I needed for my Hawaii travel therapy contract.

OUR TRAVEL NECESSITIES

We ended up spending $250 on two extra checked bags. That’s 10 bags total. Honestly, it’s still probably too much and we could have made 8 bags work, but you know, we’re over-packers, it’s what we do.

IS THERE MORE?

Everything I’ve said up until this point are really big items to cross of your list for getting to Hawaii for that travel therapy contract. You will definitely come across smaller expenses you may not have been prepared for, but it happens. You don’t have any food or condiments, so you are starting fresh there. Because Paige doesn’t have a car, she has to get a bus pass which is $80/month. If your car isn’t in Hawaii yet, you may need to rent a vehicle for a while. And I’m sure more unexpected expenses will pop up, they always do. Is it all worth it to be living in Hawaii for 6 months? Absolutely!!

As I said earlier, everyone has a different experience and will do things differently than I did. We planned our entire trip in under two weeks, not because we wanted to but because we had to. I’m sure there are more cost-effective ways to do things and by all means comment below and let future travelers know! If you have any other questions regarding the process of getting to Hawaii for a travel therapy contract, please contact me here. Goodluck and be sure to follow me on Instagram for some epic Hawaii adventures. Mahalo!

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THE PRACTICALITIES

HOW TO GET THERE

To get to North Cascades National Park, you can fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, rent a car, and then drive 2.5 hours to the park. Or you could fly into the Bellingham International Airport, rent a car, and drive 2 hours. Either way, it is important to have a rental or your own vehicle to get around.

WHEN TO VISIT

The best time of year to visit is going to be in the summer. By this time most trails/roads will be open. Campgrounds will be operating. And businesses will have switched from winter hours to summer hours! However, visiting in the summertime does bring the risk of forest fires.

FOREST FIRES

Forest fires can wreak havoc in places such as the North Cascades. For safety reasons, for both people and nature, fires can cause road, trail, and park closures. Therefore, trying to plan around a forest fire is nearly impossible. If this happens to you, don’t fret. Washington is home to multiple beautiful National Parks, an epic coastline, and national forests with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. So, I promise changing plans would not be the end of the world!

Just before our planned trip to the Cascade Mountains, there was a large forest fire. It closed a lot of the main roads, the popular hiking trails, and access to some of the beautiful lakes. However, there was still a lot we could do! We decided to continue on with our trip. We knew that we wouldn’t get to see everything we wanted to but were fortunate enough to see a majority of it!

HIKING IN THE NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK

North Cascades National Park is separated into three sections. Theres the North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Chelan Lake National Recreation Area. Because of how large an area the National Park and Recreational areas take up, there are an endless amount of epic hiking trails. But if you’re not sure where to start, I would highly suggest hiking the Cascade Pass & Sahale Arm Trail. This hike is 11.6 miles long with an elevation gain of 3,963 ft. It’s quite the trek; however, if you’re looking for a short, less intense, but very rewarding hike, you could hike just to the Cascade Pass on this trail. This makes the trail only 7 miles long with an elevation gain of 1,784 ft. 

CASCADE PASS TRAIL

Throughout the Cascade Pass Trail, you will hike switchbacks through the forest, hike on the edge of a mountain side, passing over centuries worth of rockfall and scree fields, witness incredible glacier views, and hear squeaks and squeals from the neighborhood pikas.

Once you come to Cascade Pass, a vast breathtaking opening between two mountain ridgelines, you can choose to continue on the Sahale Trail or go back down the way you came. We decided to continue on. From there it’s a rock scramble to the top of Doubtful Lake. Adam was on a mission to dive into as many Washington lakes as possible. So, he made his way down to the lake to add another one to the list. While I admired the view from the top. (Adding another ~500 ft of elevation gain wasn’t on my list for that day). 

The great thing about hiking is you can turn around at any point. Completing hikes is always satisfying and we would’ve loved to finish the Sahale Trail and make it to the summit of Sahale Glacier, but we had a long way back to our campground. We felt incredibly satisfied with the hike we had just done. And we knew that the Cascade Pass Trail would forever hold a spot in our top 5 favorite hikes of all time!

*NOTES* 

ADDITIONAL HIKING TRAILS

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to hike all the trails we would’ve liked to with the forest fire closures and the amount of time we had; however, we have so many trails on our list and hopefully one day we’ll get to go back and complete them. But for now, you can hike them for us! Be sure to let us know in the comments which ones we must check out for next time!

CAMPING/OVERNIGHT STAYS

CAMPING/BACKPACKING

There are many ways to stay overnight in or near North Cascades National Park. First off, you can camp. There are a handful of campgrounds spread throughout the park. We decided to stay at Newhalem Creek Campground. The sites were incredibly spacious. Each spot was tucked in a rainforest like setting, and had the sound of the roaring Skagit Creek to soothe you to sleep. Prices can range from $24-$75 depending on group size and location of the site. This campground was in a great location! Just down the road from the Visitor Center and other popular points of interests. A lot of the campgrounds will close in the off season, so be sure to check their schedule ahead of time. If you’re still interested in camping during the winter, you can also backpack by obtaining a permit which can be purchased year-round.

AIRBNB’S

If you’re not interested in camping, there are a lot of unique Airbnbs to rent out in the area. Because my parents were meeting up with us the next day, we decided to forgo camping and book a treehouse in the woods. From the park it was about an hour drive, but it was well worth it! This rustic treehouse is nestled in the woods, has a pond with a waterfall, a bathhouse, and makes for the coziest overnight stay. I highly recommend staying here!

ROSS LAKE RESORT

If you would like to visit the North Cascades and enjoy an epic stay inside the park, you could plan ahead and try and stay at Ross Lake Resort. But fair warning, this resort books up FAST and has a waitlist. With only 15 cabins overlooking the lake with the mountains in the background, Ross Lake Resort makes for a beautiful destination getaway!

FOOD & DRINKS

Unfortunately, access to food and drinks inside the park is fairly limited with most restaurants being in the little towns outside of the park. When we visit National Parks, especially the ones that are a bit more remote like North Cascades, we expect this to typically be the case. Therefore, we normally pack our own food for at least breakfast and lunch. However, it is nice to get a filling dinner somewhere else, if possible.

RESTAURANTS

For dinner, we decided to travel back West on Hwy 20 to Marblemount. This is a little town about 20 minutes outside the Western entrance of the park that thrives mostly on tourists, as it’s the nearest place for food and gas services. The choices were few, but we decided to stop in at the Upriver Grill & Taproom.

As the gateway to the “American Alps”, this mountain-themed restaurant offers a diverse dining experience with a menu that caters to all tastes, from hearty comfort food to locally sourced PNW specialties. For those looking for a drink, you’ll find a large selection of local draft beers, craft cocktails, and an extensive whiskey collection. Dining is available both indoor, at the bar, or on the outdoor patio (we love an outdoor patio), where the furry friends are allowed (added bonus). So, whether you’re fueling up before your park adventures or celebrating after a day of exploration like we did, the Upriver Grill & Taproom is a great place to enjoy the flavors and spirit of the Pacific Northwest.

If you don’t stop in at Marblemount, you’ll have to keep traveling further West and stop along the way in Rockport or Concrete, other small towns off of Hwy 20. If you happened to be exiting/enter from the East side of the park, the closest town with restaurants will be Mazama and Winthrop, which are much further from the main areas of the park. Again, when in doubt, plan on bringing your own food. Otherwise, you may have to drive a decent way to get your belly full!

NORTH CASCADES WILDLIFE

National Parks are a great place to search for wildlife! Each park is home to hundreds of different species of wildlife. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see a handful of them. We were very lucky on our short trip to the North Cascades National Park! So, keep your eyes peeled and your senses alert because you never know what you might see in the North Cascades National Park. 

POINTS OF INTERESTS

North Cascades National Park has so many great sights to see! Whether you’re in the car driving, walking across a suspension bridge, or admiring a beautiful lake, the park is packed full of stop-worthy destinations.

LAKES

• BAKER LAKE
  • OUTSIDE OF THE PARK BUT DEFINETLY WORTH SEEING
• DIABLO LAKE
• ROSS LAKE

WATERFALLS

• LADDER CREEK FALLS
• GORGE CREEK FALLS

STOPPING POINTS

• GORGE POWERHOUSE
• NEWHALEM – NORTH CASCADES VISITOR CENTER
• SUSPENSION BRIDGE TO TRAIL OF THE CEDARS
• WASHINGTON PASS OBSERVATION SITE (EAST SIDE OF THE PARK)

As short as our trip to the North Cascades National Park was, we sure did have an epic adventure! We would love to go back again and hike more scenic trails, visit Ross Lake, and check out more of the park that was closed due to the fire. But for now, we will remember this park as a truly magnificent National Park not only in Washington, but in the world. Be sure to check it out yourself and let us know what your favorite part was! You can also check out our Washington Page for more fun and epic adventures in Washington! Have fun and happy hiking!

Hi! We’re Paige & Adam

Thank you for joining us on this journey! We’re passionate explorers who are dedicated to keeping our bodies moving until we’re old and grey. Through our travel guides and expert travel physical therapy advice, we empower future travelers with the tools and inspiration to embrace adventure every step of the way. Your support means everything. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! Have fun, stay safe, and happy hiking!

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