18 Feb
Volunteer to Travel the World by Sailboat!
Volunteer to Travel the World
Alright – I may have just found a reason to quit my day job. Volunteer to travel the world? Yes, please!
I’ve been researching cheap ways to travel the world and found that volunteering on a sailboat is one such option. Not only do you get to travel cheaply, but you get to visit islands that are only accessible by boat/sailing vessels.
How it works: You volunteer (help out with various tasks while on the water) and the Captain gives you a ride and a place to sleep at night. When you reach your destinations, you are free to explore on your own and then set sail whenever the Captain is ready to leave.
Why Captains need volunteers: Every year, thousands of 30-75 foot yachts sail the world to see some of the world’s most beautiful destinations. Many of the smaller ships are single or married people who don’t have excess money to pay for a crew (this is where you come in). A small crew is needed so people can take turns keeping watch and helping with things like cooking, cleaning and other miscellaneous tasks. Captains look for people/volunteers that they can rely on and get along with.
Costs: Depending on the Captain, costs will vary from boat to boat. There are opportunities to volunteer on sailboats where the only cost incurred is the cost of food (split between everyone on the boat). There are some boats that will want to split other costs such as gas or daily rates. I would assume that the more you have to offer will give you the better opportunities to become volunteer crew members for boats that only charge for food.
What you need to do: You don’t need to be certified and very little experience needed if you are volunteering on a smaller vessel. It wouldn’t hurt to take a couple sailing classes if you have money. If you are short on cash, you can get onto a local volunteer racing team or sign up to crew for a shorter sailing rally. The two best ways to get on ships are to meet captains by being a part of the community and use internet crewing boards.
Visit islands only accessible by boat!
For someone with time, a little bit of money and a hunger to explore the world, volunteering aboard a sailboat could be a perfect opportunity. If I can find a way to not get sea sick, there is a very good chance that volunteering aboard a sailboat will be in my future.
It’s important to remember that there are no contracts or rules for volunteering aboard a sailboat which is why it is very important to make sure you can get along with the Captain and other crew members. It’s definitely a risk but there are also some amazing opportunities and adventures to be had.
15 Feb
Laguna Beach in February
Starfish at Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach, CA has some of the most gorgeous beach days – and they aren’t limited to the summer. In fact, some of the best beach days happen during months like February.
I went to Laguna Beach on February 11th and it was a perfect beach day – not too hot and not cold – it was about 72 degrees. The water was a little chilly and the waves were a little small but the sun was out and it was a great day to lay out and enjoy a beautiful February beach day.
I was lucky to see starfish while I was there. Normally, the tide much higher and the starfish stay hidden.
There are a couple spots that I enjoy in Laguna Beach. The pictures in this post come from an area by Nyes Place and PCH during the month of February. Don’t wait until the summer to visit the beach!
13 Feb
DIWYY Share Your Adventure Contest
Win a Vehicle Tent on DIWYY
Attention all adventure-seekers and campers. Do It While Your Young (DIWYY) is offering you a chance to win a SUV 82000 vehicle tent by Sportz by Napier.
In order to win, you must share and adventure that you are planning or have been on in the past. The deadline for submissions is March 1st, 2011 and a winner will be chosen on March 2nd, 2011. Visit the DIWYY website for more information on how to submit your adventure.
SUV 8200 Features:
- Roomy 9’ x 9’ tent sleeps 4-5 people
- Plenty of headroom with over 7’ in the center and 6’ at the corners
- Easily adjust the vehicle sleeve for a custom fit to your vehicle
- Steel and fiberglass pole structure for strength
- Bathtub style floor for superb waterproofing
- GoBe Dry ultimate rain protection system
- Full length, tape seamed rain fly with a 6’ x 6’ awning for shade
- Cyclone Venting system and 2 skylights for superb ventilation
Good luck everyone! If you win, let us know 🙂
12 Feb
National Parks – Free Entrance Days
Yosemite Falls
National Park Services has announced “Free Entrance Fees” for National Parks. There are over 100 national parks offering free days – click here to see the list.
The complimentary admission only covers entry fees, commercial tour fees and transportation entrance fees to the parks. While other items such as beverages and lodging are not free, many national parks plan to offer visitors discounts on fee-free days.
Here are the select dates for fee-free days in 2011: 
- January 15-17
(Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday weekend) - April 16-24
(National Park Week) - June 21
(First day of summer) - September 24
(Public Lands Day) - November 11-13
(Veterans Day weekend)
9 Feb
Isla Cedros, Mexico
Isla Cedros
Cedros Island is a Mexican island located off the west coast of Baja. It’s called Isla Cedros in Spanish. I started researching this island because its where my mom’s parents were born and raised. I thought it would be fun to plan a trip there and discover some of my family’s origins.
Isla de Cedros was named by Spanish explorers who thought that the large amounts of redwood and cedar-driftwood arriving with the California current were local pines visible on the crest of the island. I found that Cedros Island has a very small population, 1 hotel and is mostly known for its fishing port. The whole island can probably be explored within one day.
People visiting Cedros Island can eat, hike, snorkel and fish – this island is definitely not a tourist attraction. You can get to the island by boat or by plane but the seas can get choppy if you are headed there on a boat.
I would like to plan a trip to Baja, Mexcio and to visit Isla Cedros for a day.
Travel and Tell 