Monday, December 18, 2017

Canadian Rockies Tours

2018 is going to be an exciting year for Bindlestiff Tours, as they are rolling out several new tour products that will be markedly different than the packages they have traditionally offered in the past.  The difference will not be any kind of modification to the adventure style of the tour, but instead will be to a new area.  The newest tour offering from Bindlestiff Tours will be to the Canadian Rockies, leaving from Seattle and touring numerous scenic and protected spaces over the course of seven days.  Throughout the tour as always, Bindlestiff Tours provides everything necessary for a fantastic time, and all a patron has to bring along is their own sleeping bag.  There are six nights of camping and one night in a hostel involved int he tour, which crosses the border into Canada on day one and returns to Seattle on the final day.  Guests can expect days filled with hiking, sightseeing and adventuring and nights camping under the stars in some of the most breathtaking places on earth. There is literally nowhere else in the world like the Canadian Rockies, and the expert tour guides of Bindlestiff Tours will show you through the areas like you were a pioneer exploring the completely uncharted places on earth.

The tour begins in the meeting place in Seattle, and crosses the border into Canada to stop first at Kamloops in British Columbia on day one.  Here you will see some of the most fantastic wildlife on earth, and view cougars, bears and elk in the Thompson River Valley.  You will see the spectacular Bridal Veil Falls, a nearly 200 foot water drop over smooth rock.  Day two takes us to Yoho National Park where you will see the completely clear Emerald Lake before crossing the continental divide into Alberta.  You will see Glacier National Park and Rogers Pass before spending the night in Banff, a fun little town.  Day three brings us to Banff National Park and Lake Louise.  We hike the Plain Of Six Glaciers and then visit Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks.  Here you will be able to get some absolutely epic photographs.  Day four is wildlife viewing and hiking in Icefields Parkway and Jasper National Park, and we camp overnight so as to spend the whole next day hiking in Jasper.  On day six we explore Whistler and Vancouver, and then on day seven it is back to Seattle where the tour ends.

The Bindlestiff Tours tour of the Canadian Rockies is unlike anything else we offer, and allows our patrons to get a sense of something completely different than we have ever offered before.  We have specialized in the American southwestern United States and national parks so that our guests understand that there is a better way to experience these places than looking at them through the windows of a bus.  The Canadian Rockies tour is the same, only offering a different perspective on the open areas of the globe, and the wild adventure that can be had by allowing yourself to escape the city for a while.  Once you have experienced an adventure tour by Bindlestiff Tours, you will never want to do it the old fashioned way again.  The Canadian Rockies are a wild and unexplored place that you can feel at one with nature, and see what the world looks like without the interference of man.  You have never seen a sky at night like these, and we are going to give you seven of them in a row.  When you are ready to change your life, just go to our website for more information.

Friday, November 10, 2017

The Real Grand Canyon Tour

If you have arranged for a vacation to Las Vegas and are considering taking some time out of your trip to visit the Grand Canyon while you are here, it is important that you research the tout company that you will be using in order to make sure they are offering the product that you want.  When tourists exit their plane at McCarran airport in Las Vegas, they are immediately greeted with billboards and advertisements for visiting the Grand Canyon and seeing the "skywalk." While there is surely nothing wrong with this trip, you will probably be surprised to find that the area does not look like you have seen in magazines and on television.  This is because you are not actually visiting the Grand Canyon National Park if you book this tour, and are actually going to a different section of the Grand Canyon that is controlled by local Indian tribes. 

The Grand Canyon National Park is located around 4.5 hours driving time from Las Vegas.  At the park you will find all of the adventure and scenic views that you have seen before, along with the wildlife and plants.  The views are spectacular from the famous lookout points, and you have more than enough to do in the area to spend your entire day exploring.  There is ample hiking and helicopter riding, nature walking and photographic opportunities.  The other rim of the canyon that is being advertised to you in the airport is actually located 2.5 hours away by car, and features a glass bridge that is suspended over the canyon floor.  While this is far from natural, it is an attraction for some.  The problem is that this area of the canyon is not as scenic as the main portion, and there is not nearly as much to do here.  The Skywalk is available, but after you have don e that there is little else to do aside from maybe taking some pictures.  The area is far more brown than green, and has a far different look than the beauty of the national park.

You will want to make sure that you ask your tour company if they visit the actual national park or another are of the canyon as part of the tour you are booking.  While it is always great to visit any area of the Grand Canyon, seeing the part that is famous is probably going to be something you want to make sure you are doing.  You can contact Bindlestiff Tours to provide you with real Grand Canyon National Park tours here. https://www.bindlestifftours.com/package/grand-canyon-overnight/

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Zion Canyon Is One Of The Most Popular Parks

There was a time only a few years ago when the national parks located in America's southwestern region were struggling to get visitors.  When they were created by the Antiquities Act, the culture of the country was quite different and families spent far more time together and outdoors.  A popular family trip would be to drive to visiting national parks, and it was one of the aspects of life in America that was seen as patriotic.  The parks were created for everyone, and visiting them in order to witness first hand the beauty and majesty that the country holds was a privileged to all people in the country.  Over time people became more content to spend time indoors on computers, and as a result the interest in national parks began to diminish.  Over time the tourism numbers at national parks got low enough that some politicians began to consider no longer providing federal funding for the upkeep and staffing, choosing instead to turn the parks over to the states.  This would almost assure that the parks would be sold off for private development, as state budgets also did not have enough funding to cover the expenses.  As a last ditch effort before considering such extreme measures, the decision to attempt to boost tourism through advertising was made.  A campaign designed to raise awareness of the beauty of the national parks was put out, illustrating that they were closer than you think and you can drive to them from cities like Las Vegas in bout one-half a day.

Because the campaign was successful and raised the desire of American citizens to visit the national parks, the ones closest to the cities became more popular than others.  One of the issues surrounding tourism at national parks is that they are not located very close to major hubs where airlines can fly in and out, leaving you with two real choices in the southwest.  This choices of starting cities are Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, and Zion Canyon National Park is far closer to Las Vegas than any park is to Salt Lake City.  This created a unique situation where the large numbers of tourists who frequent Las Vegas began allocating a day or two out of their vacation to visit a nearby national park.  Because Zion was so much closer than all the rest, Zion became far more popular than them.  The situation now stands that while other parks have seen boosts in visitors and are doing better than they were before, Zion is actually needing to consider methods of reducing traffic and congestion.  Waits for some shuttles have now seen times of more than three hours, and parking in the lots is now at a premium.  The best method of seeing Zion during your next Las Vegas trip is to book a tour provided by Bindlestiff Tours.  Their Zion tours are packed with adventure, and you will never forget the beauty of Zion.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

National Parks Near Las Vegas For Tours

Las Vegas is a wonderful city for tourism.  It has been a fixture for the last 100 years as far as a place to go to enjoy yourself, and offers entertainment for nearly anyone at any price.  The one thing Las Vegas is less well known for is outdoor activities, and even though many tourists are only thinking about casinos, there are actually quite a few hiking and outdoor activities that can be had within only a short trip from the city.  While Red Rock Canyon is the most obvious because it is within only a few miles of downtown, there are actually quite a few national parks within a few hours drive from the city.  Death Valley is very well knows as a destination to travel to from Las Vegas, primarily because those coming from California will actually pass parts of it on the way.  While some might never think to stop because they have heard it is just a big area that is dry and hot, Death Valley National Park is actually one of the most unique and diverse climates in the world.  It should be experienced by anyone interested in extreme weather, and how plants and animals adapt to extremes.  It is far from desolate, and the residents have created modifications over thousands of years that allow them to thrive in the extreme heat with little water.

Zion Canyon National Park is only 2.5 hours drive from Las Vegas, and presents one of the best experiences in the American southwest for hiking and sightseeing.  The canyon is absolutely breathtaking, and you will find it hard to believe that you are such a short drive from the city lights.  Angel's Landing is some of the best hiking in the United States, so if you are an avid hiker or just a casual tourist who would like to see the unspoiled beauty of Zion, book a trip during your next vacation.

Additional parks that are within a 4 hour drive or so are Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon.  Antelope Canyon is also in the vicinity of these other parks, but needs a guided tour and good weather to be visited.  All these national parks have their own unique aspects that are totally different.  Bryce has hoodoos that are not found at any of the other areas, Monument Valley has one of the most dramatic landscapes on earth and the Grand Canyon is considered a wonder of the world.  These are all within a few hours drive of your hotel room in Las Vegas, so why not tour some National Parks on your next vacation?

If you are interested in touring National Parks from Las Vegas, it is best to let a professional company lead the way.  You get to rest during the driving portions of the trip and are shuttled to the best areas of each park to explore and hike.  Contact Bindlestiff Tours to find out more.