Why You Need to Visit Oklahoma

Destinations, North America, Travel Blog - Ross French - May 15, 2014

It’s springtime and your backpack has never looked more appealing. Winter has decided to take a break for most of us and now it’s got you thinking of the places left untraveled. To quench that travel thirst, there is no time like the present than to see what is going on in Oklahoma. Now before you get incredulous, hear me out. Oklahoma has got a lot of cool things going on, and not many people are in on it. So do yourself a favor and forgo the cliché vacation spots and give the Sooner State a whirl. Here are a few reasons that will make you purchase your ticket faster than you can say the state capital.

Oklahoma City Thunder
OKC are arguably the best young NBA team within the league. Made up of a team with great work ethic and good hearts OKC has done many charities and is a pillar of their community. Last year Kevin Durant even put up $1 million to donate to the Oklahoma tornado disaster. Now that’s a class act. Fun fact, Oklahoma City Thunder made it to the NBA Championships a mere 3 years after moving from Seattle. They had one of the youngest team to compete in the finals, ever. Currently they are duking it out with the LA Clippers in the playoffs with their star player Kevin Durant being named MVP. Seeing them in action during the playoffs alone should make you want to take trip to Oklahoma, like yesterday.

Wildlife
Oklahoma boasts an incredibly diverse terrain. Lakes, prairies, mesas, and the like are abundant and are guaranteed to take your breath away. Plus this would be a great time to polish those photography skills you’ve slightly abandoned due to working so much. Dust off your camera and be one with nature in Oklahoma. If you want to do more than sightsee, there are a ton of wilderness activities for you to enjoy. Fishing and hunting are two popular pastimes in the Sooner state. Be sure to check out the Wildlife Department to get the ins-and-outs of everything you will need to know on regulations. Rare animals also call Oklahoma home. Creatures such as the roseate spoonbill, purple gallinule, and white ibis all reside in this wondrous place. I don’t know about you, but nothing beats being able to tell friends you have seen animals that they could not have even dreamed up. It will definitely give you a good story to tell down the road.

Local Events
You can explore local Oklahoma events and get the amazing opportunity to be part of something bigger than yourself. You can learn a great deal about the Native American history of Oklahoma. Packed full of festivals, dancing, casinos, and a variety of lodging, this is an experience you and your travel mates will be sure to appreciate. Not only are there wonderful cultural activities, but also Chickasaw Nation is a popular venue to see some of the most treasured artists perform in addition to the local talent. Their event calendar is always bursting at the seams so you can never go wrong. There is no doubt that you will find some grand adventure to take part in at Chickasaw Nation.

It’s that time of year where the traveling bug is at it again. You do not want to stay in the same place and who can blame you? The weather has stopped being bipolar all over the country for the most part. It’s time to spread your transient wings and find a new place to explore. Oklahoma is a great state, though at times it can get a bad rap. Underneath it all there is so much to see and do. It is home to one of the best NBA teams in the country. The natural beauty of Oklahoma cannot be compared, as its geography is very diverse. The local events are infused with its rich Native American culture and you can get a sense of the State’s immeasurable history. Traveling to Oklahoma is a decision you will not soon regret as it offers a different and unforgettable experience that you could not get anywhere else. Lastly, Oklahoma is the home state of Brad Pitt; need I say more?

Wildlife in Florida

North America - Ross French - December 14, 2013

There are lots of reasons people head to the Sunshine State for their holidays from the great beaches and stunning attractions to the good old fashioned southern style comfort food. But there are a whole host of amazing wildlife and rare inhabitants to be discovered here too.

FL Waters are filled with bottle-nosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Photo Credit

If you fancy exploring Florida’s wilder side, then here are some great places to nature’s curiosities in their natural habitats.

Big Cat Rescue

There really isn’t a better place to encounter nature’s biggest felines that the Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida. The park aims to protect lions, tigers and other exotic cats from being held in captivity or being otherwise mistreated.

Big Cat Rescue sanctuary in Tampa, FL. FLICKR Photo Credit

Only a 30 minute drive from St. Petersburg, a trip to the huge cat sanctuary is definitely worth it. You’ll see a range of cats from leopards and tigers to bobcats and lynx. Unlike a zoo, the sanctuary prides itself on being an educational experience for all visitors. You can also take guided tours of the sanctuary, including a night tour – a great way to see these fascinating animals in the wild.

Manatee Springs State Park

Northwest of Orlando is home to Florida’s hotspot for wild Manatees. These curious looking sea creatures tend to populate the area in winter, swimming up from the cooler Gulf of Mexico into the warmer headspring.

Manatee just chillin’ in Blue Spring State Park FLICKR Photo Credit

You can dive in for a closer look at these coy sea creatures otherwise you can stay on the viewing platform, or take a ride out in a boat. Usually joined by perch, turtles and flounder, there’s plenty of marine life to discover here.

Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge

June and July is the perfect time to visit the 20 mile stretch of shoreline to see loggerhead turtles nesting and laying hundreds of eggs on the beach. You can join a three-hour guided tour of the beach to learn more about the habits of these fascinating creatures.

A sea turtle egg looking like earth rolls along the beach FLICKR Photo Credit

It’s also likely that you’ll see up to four other species of these prehistoric creatures. Up to 18,000 of the creatures have been known to inhabit the shoreline for nesting between May and October.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Located near Cape Canaveral and only a stone’s throw from the Kennedy Space Centre, this protected refuge is home to Manatees and sea turtles, as well as American alligators, bald eagles and 15 endangered species.

The ideal place for wildlife spotting in this 220 square mile area is the Black Point Wildlife Drive – a seven-mile route which takes you through a range of environments, allowing you to stop and take a closer look at the wildlife.

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Street Art in Montreal: Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Mural

North America - Ross French - August 21, 2013

Guest Post via @belizeadventure

Montreal is one of my favorite cities. They throw good parties, the food is delicious, the culture is interesting, the architecture is breathtaking, and the women are gorgeous.

Oh, and the street art is amazing. Let me tell you of the time when I encountered one of the most beautiful graffiti murals I’ve ever seen.

The morning of St. Patrick’s Day found me in Montreal and I was searching for a store the buy beer. Finding a beer store in Montreal should be easy – due to the fact that every convenience store sells beer (contrary to Toronto) – but I couldn’t find a store near the neighbourhood I was staying.

My quest took me down Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, where I stopped at the sight of a five-storey building with a frieze covering its west end. The view was sufficient to get me out of the comfort of my car and brave the -10 Celsius weather. I had stumbled upon the stunning mural of Our Lady of Grace in the residential area of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG).

After doing some research I found out that the NDG was done by Ashop, an artist-run collective that specialises in graffiti art and urban aesthetics. Those guys have cool jobs, right?

What I liked the most about the NDG project is that it was officially commissioned by the city of Montreal. I love graffiti in public spaces but don’t condone vandalism. Therefore it’s great to hear of instances when the government works with artists to find a place where they can display their creative expression.

Designating graffiti locales has several wonderful benefits: it is a great way of beautifying neighbourhoods in need of facelifts, it cultivates a vibrant and creative urban environment, and it can even be used to promote tourism: similar to what Toronto does with its Graffiti Alley.

I’m sure not everyone shares my interest in street art and they can sum up various reasons why it’s the most terrible thing for society leading to how it will make the world end soon! But if you don’t take life so serious, make sure you go graffiti hunting whenever you’re in Montreal. It’s good fun.

Bio:

Lorenzo is a Belizean blogger living in Toronto. He writes at belizeadventure.ca

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Folk on the Rocks, Yellowknife: Music Festival

Destinations, North America, Travel Blog - Ross French - January 28, 2013

By: Jessica Kamikaze

Folk on the Rocks, Yellowknife: Music Festival-slash-Best Time in the World

Northern Canada is not a super popular destination for people like me who don’t particularly enjoy nature or bugs or outdoor activities or going outside. And the temperatures! No one’s going to tell you that winter in the North isn’t remarkably long and unbelievably cold. But if you have the chance to get to Yellowknife in July you will be met with balmy, sun-filled days and friendly locals, all hopped-up on extended hours of daylight. And you’ll also get Folk on the Rocks – Yellowknife’s ultimate outdoor music festival and the place to learn innumerable life lessons.

On the first day of the festival, I headed out with a friend to check it out. We made a cursory inspection of some of the vendor stalls and activities, but then we headed over to the beer garden and pretty much stayed there all day. I saw a bunch of awesome local bands and made a bunch of new friends, and afterwards we all went and sat on lawn chairs in the gravel parking lot to continue drinking. Some guy brought a mandolin. How is THAT for a magical evening? Life advice: when you’re drinking in the parking lot of life and someone brings a mandolin, pretty much everyone’s going to have a good time. Was that even advice? Whatever, you’ll take what I give you.

The second day was a little harder to get up for, but after a hearty brunch we were back at the beer garden, listening to more bands and meeting more people! On this day we took a few more breaks to get out and see the bands playing on the other stages. Life advice: you can’t just hang out in the beer garden of life and expect all the best bands to come to you. On one of these little sojourns we saw Fred Penner! He was at Folk on the Rocks performing on the kids stage earlier in the day, then I guess he decided to just walk around delighting everyone with his presence for the rest of the day!

Near the end of the day I got an insider tip that cider was running out. How many were left? Only four. A couple of the people at our table were drinking cider, because the beer options were a little too unique for some (they were craft brews that were strong or bitter or both), so I knew this was going to be a problem. Then I did what any normal, enterprising individual would do: I bought the remaining cans of cider and returned to my table as a cider slum lord, intent on charging exorbitant prices for the last four ciders in the beer garden! Unfortunately, I wasn’t made for the rough and tumble world of the cider game, and I think I just ended up drinking two of my precious commodities and giving the other two away. Life advice: when you’re trying to make it big in the illicit alcohol trade of life, you will probably need to actually be tough; or hire enforcers.

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What You Can Expect From an Orlando Golfing Break

Destinations, North America - Ross French - November 2, 2012

One of my favourite ways to relax is to play a round or two of golf. You can really get away from it all when on a green, thinking only about how you’re going to get the ball to its intended destination. I especially enjoy playing when the weather is warm and sunny, and I think Orlando could very well be my next golfing trip.

While the Florida holiday hotspot is famous for its theme parks, it also boasts some stunning golf courses. I’ve been looking at the photos and the greens are well manicured, the courses well designed and the facilities impressive.

In fact, Orlando has more than 170 golf courses, so I’d definitely recommend you pick up a car from Orlando Airport so you can easily get your clubs to and from different venue. You will certainly understand why it took home the accolade of North American Golf Destination of the Year in 2010, as voted for by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators.

Lots of professional golfers also live in Orlando, so you might even see a famous face or two as you tee off. Obviously, with so many courses to choose from, you could need a helping hand deciding where to play. Some of the biggest hotels here have their own greens, such as the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. Designed by Greg Norman, the 18-hole course is around 11 miles from Downtown and the airport.

There’s also the golf course at the Waldorf Astoria. Designed by Rees Jones, the course is quite challenging, but is still suitable for people of different abilities. The 18 holes are scattered across a large wetland preserve, while you’ll need to keep an eye out for the bunkers that try and throw you off course.

Also on my must-visit list is Marriott’s Grande Pines Golf Club. This really does look amazing, as it was created by golfing pro Nick Faldo and Steve Smyers, a famous course architect. Each hole really requires you to think and put your skills to the test, but I understand why Golfweek voted it in the top 100 of America’s Best Resort Courses.

It’s set in what looks to be a stunning location, with palms, oaks and lakes among the scenery you can gaze at as you make your way to the next hole. Of course, you don’t have to play at one of Orlando’s hotels. There are many places which are just a course, rather than also a resort, such as ChampionsGate. This boasts a huge 36 holes, so you will definitely be kept occupied for hours here. It’s the Leadbetter Golf Academy’s world headquarters, and it’s easy to see why.

MetroWest Golf Club also looks fantastic to play some rounds on. Around a 9-mile drive from Downtown Orlando, the course is really close to Universal Orlando Resort. So, you might decide to drop your family off at the theme parks here before heading to the course for some peace and quiet.

It has been designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior, so you know it’s going to offer a thrilling game. The large greens, rolling fairways and lakes make playing here a pleasure, not that going on a golfing holiday to Orlando could ever be a chore.

Have you ever played golf in Orlando? If so, leave your comments about the best courses and resorts below.

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