With the holidays behind us, and the new year upon us, thoughts go to new year’s resolutions and finding ways to live better, healthier, and happier.

How do you see yourself accomplishing your goals in 2016? For you, does living better mean acquiring the latest tech, appliance, or maybe a home reno? Maybe being happier and healthier comes with a new gym regime and improved diet. All of these make perfect sense – ultimately how you make 2016 great is uniquely personal with no wrong answer.

But let’s say for a second, being the best version of yourself in 2016, meant less things and more experiences. It could be as simple as foregoing the purchase of that new tablet, for a weekend family excursion, or deciding to hold off on a small reno to discover a new culture abroad. Whatever “experience” means to you, making personal growth a priority and creating memories, is never a negative.

So, in the spirit of personal development and betterment in 2016, here’s our 5 Reasons To Buy Less & Experience More In 2016.

Taking Risks Keep Us Growing.

It’s been proven that by testing your boundaries, taking risks, and exposing ourselves to new experiences, we become more creative and better able to handle adversity. Think back to when you achieved something really great – were you just going through the motions or trying something new? Likely you were stepping outside your comfort zone. Whether you’re defintiion of risk is trying an adventure travel vacation or taking up a new hobbie – by pushing your personal boundaries, you’re growing.

Things Collect Dust.

It’s really a no brainer – things get old, break down and become obsolete. In most cases we shelve them, where they collect dust after a few short months after the novelty wears off. Experiences however, take on new life by becoming stories, and stories rarely collect dust – told countless times in years to come to your kids, friends and relatives. Life experiences endure – things don’t.

Creating “Good Stress”.

There’s no doubt, moving into uncharted territory and trying new things can be stressful. Believe it or not, a little stress is good for your body. According to Daniela Kaufer, associate professor of integrative biology at the University of California, Berkeley. “Some amounts of stress are good to push you just to the level of optimal alertness, behavioral and cognitive performance.” (credit: Berkeley News) In other words, moving out of your comfort zone puts your brain and your body into a position of peak performance. Some exciting travel, trying a new sport, or even testing the waters in a new career, can benefit your brain and body.

Strengthening Relationships.

We’ve all heard the old saying “A family that plays together, stays together”. This especially rings true when opting to invest in experiences over things. By going beyond your own front door, and moving your eyes from a device to the real world, you’re not only taking in new people, places and things, but you have the opportunity to share and enjoy them with family and friends! With tech making virtual experiences more accessible every day, we run the risk of distancing ourselves from those around us. It’s so important, now more than ever, to unplug, create memories, and strengthen relationships. Not sure where to begin, especially in the frigid temps? Here’s a hot tip

Redefine Yourself.

Not all of us, but many of us in North America, have become defined by our possessions. It’s almost impossible not to get wrapped up in the newest, biggest, and fastest of what companies churn out on, what feels like, a daily basis. But what travellers will tell you, is that when they escape this – then return to it, they go through a sort of “reverse culture shock”. By trading things for experiences, you can’t help but risk an entire redefinition of what you see as valuable. The latest Ultra 4k HD 60” TV no longer has the same appeal after hiking the rim of the Grand Canyon  or taking a self guided bike tour through Piedmont wine country. 

Experience for yourself any number of our upcoming tours here!

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The Grand Canyon is like no other place on earth. Absolutely epic in every way, from the number of visitors (nearly 5 million a year) to it’s ancient geological history (2 billion years worth)  Arizona’s Grand Canyon is a dream hiking destination.

“It’s easy to think of the canyon as a hole in the ground, but when you’re there it’s so much more. Be ready to be blown away,” enthuses hiker John Soltys. “It’s hard to put into words. The scale is unlike anything I’d seen before.”

Hiking the Grand Canyon is an adventure that shouldn’t be taken lightly. At nearly a mile deep, the hiking down into – and then out of – the canyon challenges even the fittest hikers. The dramatic changes in elevation (South Rim is approximately 7000 ft in elevation and north Rim is 8000 ft in elevation), combined with soaring summer temperature are factors that play heavily into a hiker’s ability to complete a hiking trip of the Grand Canyon safely and happily. “Everyone who hikes in the canyon for the first time reports that it was more difficult than they expected,” reports the National Parks Service.

These tips from experienced Grand Canyon hikers and the National Parks Service will help prepare you for a safe summer hiking experience.

Stayed Well Hydrated
“Water, water and then more water!” advises Soltys, who recently visited the Grand Canyon with his young children. The National Parks Service suggests packing at least 2 liters of water in your day pack and know ahead of time where water bottle filling stations are located. Remember that the Park’s ban on the sale of single use water bottles means that picking up extra bottled water isn’t possible and pack accordingly. Alternate drinking water with drinking fluids with electrolytes (commercially-prepared or home-made) to maintain the salt levels in your body. Hyponatremia is just as dangerous as dehydration.

Add These Essentials to Your Day Pack
A flashlight, waterproof poncho, whistle or mirror, sunscreen, spray bottle and a detailed map are all must-haves in your day pack.

Match the Trail With Your Physical Ability
For Soltys, an easy Ranger-led hike was best for his family. Fit hikers seeking a challenge may want to try sections of either the Bright Angel Trail or the South Kaibab Trail, both offering distances ranging from 3 to 6 miles. If you prefer to stay above the rim, the trail along the South Rim offers amazing views along its paved 13 mile route.

Leave The Diet At Home
A hiking trip in the Grand Canyon is not the time to count calories. Salty, high calorie snacks such as trail mix and homemade or commercially prepared energy bars are popular choices. Balance out your food intake with water intake to avoid cramping and other stomach issues. While the descent into the Canyon may feel deceptively easy to some hikers, it’s important to remember that it take a lot of energy to climb back up.

Pick the Right Time To Hike…
With temperatures of the inner canyon peaking at a daytime high of 106F during the summer months, it’s important to hit the trail before sunrise – or shortly thereafter.  Heatstroke and heat exhaustion are serious health threats and can affect even the best prepared hikers. “Experienced desert hikers know that the timing of their hike is the most important factor in avoiding hazards,” writes the National Park Service on their Summer Hiking page. The National Park Service advises visitors to the Grand Canyon to avoid hiking between 10:00am and 4:00pm, when temperatures in the inner canyon are the highest. Stick to the shade during these times and remember to keep drinking water, even if you’re not on the move.

…And Then Take Your Time On The Trails
A general rule is to allow 1/3 of your time to hike into the Grand Canyon and 2/3 to hike out. If you’re finding the pace with your hiking group to be too fast, ask them to slow down. Follow the talk test – if you can’t keep a conversation going because you are winded, it’s time to slow down. Don’t be afraid to take frequent breaks – in the end you won’t lose anytime by slowing down and stopping.

Go On A Guided Trip
If proper planning and packing is done, a day trip in the Grand Canyon along the Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails is achievable for many physically fit hikers. The next step in a Grand Canyon adventure would be a Rim to Rim hiking tour or Phantom Ranch tour with loop hikes, the logistics of which can be challenging if you’re not familiar with the Canyon’s trails. A guided trip takes away many of the worries of planning, which means you can enjoy the trip of a lifetime. Pure Adventures offers several guided trips of the Grand Canyon, each led by experienced guides with wilderness first aid training. Contact Pure Adventures to begin planning your summer vacation in the Grand Canyon.

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At Pure Adventures, we live and breathe mountain biking. Everything from our specially designed self-guided tours for mountain bikers to our staff and guides boasts our commitment to providing travelers with an authentic and exciting mountain biking vacation. For example, did you know our guides are pro mountain bike racers and Pure Adventures founder Loren Siekman races Cat 1 Masters?

The trails on our US self-guided tours in Sedona, the Grand Canyon and the Sonoran Desert are fast and flowy, offering cyclists of all abilities epic vacations –  but we recognize not every one is a pro when it comes to mountain bike handling skills. If you are new to mountain biking, or your handling skills are rusty from the off-season, check out these tips to help improve your mountain bike handling skills.

Look Where You Are Going

“The first thing every mountain biker needs to know is the bike will take you where you are looking!  If you are taking a hairpin corner, you need to look through the corner in the direction you are going so your wheel will follow.  And if you are staring down a big gnarly cholla cactus, you will more than likely steer directly into it,” says Scott Keller, a Pure Adventures guide in Sedona and professional mountain bike racer.

“In the rocky terrain of Sedona, it is vital that you seek the line of least resistance, by placing your front wheel into the crack of two rocks if you are going up a ledgy section. On the opposite end, if you are going down a steep slickrock or stairstep section, besides hanging your butt off the back, keep an eye on where you want the front wheel to go. That’s where it will take you!” advises Scott.

Relax

“Whether you are riding a rigid bike or a full suspension, the best suspension you have is your arms and legs,”  David Alden of Twin Cities Sports tells Active.com. Let the bike move beneath you and relax your grip on the handlebars. This lets the suspension absorb the shock (like it is supposed to) and prevents your hands and arms from early fatigue.

Smooth Out Your Pedal Strokes

“If you’re fairly new to the sport, you’re probably stomping hard on the down stroke,” Andy Wadsworth of What Mountain Bike tells Bike Radar. Remember that each pedal stroke is a full circle and that you need to push and pull evenly throughout the pedal stroke for optimum power. Drills are the best way to perfect your pedaling.

 Brake Better

“Novices are far more prone to panic braking, harsh use of the brakes at the last minute or in an emergency, which causes one or both wheels to skid leading to loss of control of the bike,” says MTB Techniques, a website dedicated to teaching new and novice riders the foundation of mountain biker. By spotting hazards, keeping one finger on your brake levers and braking progressively, you’ll reduce the risk of wiping out on the trail.

Master cornering

A whole blog post alone could be dedicated to the art of cornering, but if your cornering skills are shaky, a few simple tweaks to your position on the bike may be all that is needed to improve your time on the trails. “As you approach the corner, you want to have a low, aggressive position, with elbows bent and the inside pedal should be up with your knee pointing into the turn, pressing your foot into the outside pedal” advises MTB coach Martin Baker. “Keeping your center of mass outside can also help in quick transitions, allowing you to flick the bike back and forth more easily for fast riding on twisty single track.”

Pure Adventures offers five great self-guided and guided mountain biking tours to put your bike handling skills to the test:

• 8 nights Sedona & Grand Canyon Mountain Biking Tour Summer Self Guided. Starting at $1075 per person
• 3 day Scottsdale Sonoran Desert Mountain Biking Self Guided Deluxe. Starting at $945 per person
• 3 days Scottsdale Sonoran Desert Mountain Biking Self Guided Basic. Starting at $595 per person
• 5 day Guided Sonoran Desert Mountain Biking 5 Days Arizona. Starting at $895 per person
• 6 day Sedona Arizona Desert Winter Mountain Biking Tour. Starting at $799 per person
• Scotland Coast to Coast Mountain Biking – Guided.  Starting at $1775 per person

Click here to contact Pure Adventures to book a mountain biking vacation or fill out this form to have us create a custom mountain biking tour for you.

The post 5 steps to better mountain biking (plus 6 great tours to test your skills) appeared first on Pure Adventures.

Phoenix, Arizona is famous for a lot of things, especially its scorching summer temperatures. With June, July and August ranging between 94F and 105F, outdoor athletes can’t be blamed for laying low during the summer months (there’s a reason we only offer our Arizona guided and self guided hiking and mountain biking trips between November and April). On the other hand, fall temperatures in Arizona fall in the much more comfortable of between 55F and 88F. Ready to lace up and enjoy the cooler temps? Pure Adventures talked to the top AOA guides to help round up 10 of the best trails in the region for families, photographers and outdoor adventurers.

Related tour: Scottsdale guided road cycling

For families

Bobcat Trail, Sonoran Park Preserve
At only a mile long and 135 feet in elevation change, this  wide, hard packed trail is best for families with wee hikers who have a habit of asking “are we there yet?”. Gently rolling and picturesque, you can either do an out and back or use the Bobcat Trail to connect with other trails in the system. Note there isn’t a designated parking area and the trail is accessible only by foot.

North Trail, McDowell Mountain Regional Park
As opposed to the other multi-purpose trails in  this popular park, the North Trail is a family-friendly hike and bike only. At 2.9 miles long (round trip), this mostly flat trail is ideal for older kids and beginning hikers because of it’s gentle slopes and hard packed natural surface.

Judith Tunnell Accessible Trail, South Mountain
Likely the least difficult trail in the region, the Judith Tunnell trail is also one of the newest. Decomposed granite provides a smooth surface perfect for strollers or wheelchairs, and drinking fountains, benches and covered ramadas offer up a comfortable place to rest along the 1 mile route. Interpretive signs help parents answers the questions about the desert’s flora and fauna coming from curious hikers.

Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, McDowall Sonoran Preserve
As one of the major access points for the Preserve, Lost Dog Wash Trailhead offers shorter and easier trails throughout the McDowall Sonoroan Preserve. Our pick from this trailhead is the Ringtail Trail because of it’s archealogical significance –  some of the rock flakes along the trail are from prehistoric tool-making work!

Guide tip: stay hydrated

Keeping everyone in your family hydrated is key to a good day on the trails. AOA guide Megan Anderson suggests that everyone on the trip have their own hydration bladder, rather than carrying water bottles. “It is an easy way to carry a lot of water and you don’t have to always open and close your backpack,” says Anderson. “I find them really great for kids because they end up chewing on the drinking hose and staying really well hydrated.”

Related tour: Deluxe mountain biking in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert

For Photographers

Tom Thumb Trail, McDowall Sonoran Preserve
Fit hikers up for the challenging trails beginning from the Tom Thumb Trailhead will be rewarded with the best views in the entire preserve. Lookout Viewpoint is a 5.7 mile hike with 1,100 feet elevation gain, but the climb is worth it. Only at this elevation can you see the unusual vegetation and flowers unique to this part or the preserve. The Tom Thumb Trail is also an AOA and Pure Adventures favorite. “The unique landscape riddled with giant granite boulders with such unique forms they appear almost as sculpture,” says AOA’s Annemarie Medrzycki.

Go-John Trail, Cave Creek Regional Park
Visitors to this trail will be rewarded with sweeping cactus studded views of this popular recreation destination. Looping around a mountain, the Go John Trail is a moderately difficult 5.8 mile shared-use trail that makes hikers feel like they are miles away from civilization. Another reason we like it: it’s just plain fun!

For adventurers

Black Canyon Trail
In central Arizona, the Black Canyon Trail is home to some of the state’s best technical singletrack. Weaving through the 7,000 foot Bradshaw Mountains, we’re biased and think that the 13 mile point to point is best experienced on a mountain bike, but fit hikers will appreciate the climbs and river crossings too.

Boulder Canyon Trail
This popular hike in the Superstition Mountains is also an AOA pick for fit hikers. The 7.3 mile trail connects Canyon Lake to La Barge Creek and is famous for the wide variety of spring wildflowers – but why wait until spring when the temperature is perfect right now?

Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, McDowall Sonoran Preserve
Home to more than 100 miles of pristine desert trails, the trails found here were originally carved by the motocross community. Restored by the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, the trails are lined by the mighty Saguaro and huge granite boulders. Again, we think the mountain bikers will get a kick out of rollercoaster-like hills, but fit hikers can make a day of the climbs and scenery here.

Alta Trail, South Mountain Park
Very steep and very difficult, the Alta Trail in South Mountain Park is considered to be the most challenging trail in the park. Even though the trail is only 4.5 miles long, the 1,100 feet in elevation gain means that fit athletes up for the adventure will be rewarding with striking views of Phoenix’s desert landscape.

Pure Adventures offers six very different guided and self-guided trips in Arizona, ranging from 2-day basic trips to week long guided cycling tours in our posh base camp, but we are also able to build custom tours in the desert regions of Sedona. Contact us for a custom quote and itinerary.

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After a day on the desert single track eating only trail mix, the occasional granola bar and lukewarm energy drinks, food is top of mind for all cyclists and hikers on our new Arizona tours. If it’s your first time visiting Pure Adventure’s home state, you’re in for a gastronomic treat – Arizona is just as well known for its grand dining as it is the Grand Canyon.

We turned to our friends at AOA and Pure Adventures staff for their recommendations as to where to stop for the best brewpubs and burger joints in the state.

Four Peaks Brewing Company

Loren Siekman, Pure Adventures’ founder and Brian Jump, AOA’s Director of Multi-Day Tours both list Tempe’s Four Peaks Brewing as Arizona’s best place for a pint. With 8 mainstays on tap and countless seasonal beers to choose from any other time of the year, Four Peaks is also one of the top ranked pubs on Yelp and TripAdvisor. The Peach Ale is a perennial favorite, but their cask conditioned beers deserve a nod, too. Be warned that parking is tricky and getting a table between Thursday and Saturday can take a while. Travel Tip: stop in mid-week after your ride to avoid the crowds or visit one of their other locations in the valley.  Note, you can find their beer on tap in restaurants all over the state.

FnB

Intimate and affordable, Scottsdale’s FnB not only tops our list, but Food + Wine magazine and New York Times names the trendy gastropub as a must try. “FnB uses as much local ingredients as they can and has a awesome wine list featuring a lot of excellent Arizona wines,” says Jump. Think the praise for FnB is just hype? Foodies on Yelp rave about every dish served up at FnB, with the Reuben being a lunch favorite and Jidori chicken the top dinner pick. Travel Tip: make your reservation as soon as your book your vacation.

Elote Cafe

The menu at Sedona’s Elota Cafe was inspired by Chef Jeff Smedstad’s travels throughout Mexico. Signature appetizers and melt in your mouth lamb are recommended by Yelp users, and naturally the margarita tops everyone’s drink list. Easily, this is the best Mexican food you’ll find in all of Arizona. Reservations aren’t accepted at this local favorite, so plan to either arrive early (well before doors open at 5:00 pm), or leave your name with the door staff and window shop while you wait.  Travel Tip: If you’re from out of town, pick up a copy of the Elota Cafe Cookbook on your way out and make your favorite dishes at home.

Diablo Burger

Chances are that you rode your bike further in one day than any of the ingredients in your meal at Diablo Burger – every ingredient travels less than 250 miles before it reaches your plate. The beef is sourced from the Diablo Trust Ranges, and 100%  open range-raised, antibiotic-free and growth-hormone free. Fresh greens, double-fried French fries and an extensive local beer and wine menu make this consistently top the list of best burger joints in both Flagstaff and Tucson. It’s cash only at this burger joint, and be prepared to shell out at least $20 for a meal (which is still a bargain in our opinion). Not ready to take our word for it? Fresno-based food blogger James Collier names Diablo’s Wrigley Field burger as the best he’s ever eaten. Travel tip: The burgers are incredibly lean,  so don’t be alarmed if they look pink in the center after that first bite.

Did we miss a place? Leave a comment or connect with us on Facebook and tell us where you love to eat in Arizona.

The post From brewpubs to burgers: Arizona’s best places to eat appeared first on Pure Adventures.

If you haven’t already heard, Pure Adventures is launching almost 20 new tours in the USA, including six new tours in Arizona. Ranging from self-guided hiking and biking tours to custom guided offers, we’re excited about bringing the self-guided format to the United States. Another reason we’re excited about these new tours is that they all start in our backyard – the Pure Adventures head office is based  in Scottsdale, Arizona, which means you will get to ride and know the trails we already love.

Now, we know that the Grand Canyon is the main attraction in our state – and rightfully so. But did you know that Arizona is also home to a vibrant festival scene? Every month, artisans, musicians, history buffs and foodies gather to celebrate their crafts and knowledge. We’ve gathered up the oddest and most entertaining here.

January

• Cave Creek Balloon Festival: More than 8,000 people visited Cave Creek last year to take in the Annual Balloon Festival. Hot air balloons upwards of seven stories high, fill the skies surrounding Rancho Manana Golf Club, with kids zones, live music and balloon rides keeping those on the ground entertained. But the “high” light of the event undoubtedly is the Arizona, a skydiving team known for their pyrotechnics as much as their fearlessness. Early January, date to be determined.

February

• Hashknife Pony Express: Witnessing the Hashknife Pony Express is like watching history in action. Starting in Holbrook, Arizona, riders travel over 200 miles bearing special delivery Pony Express Mail (you can buy envelopes prior to the event). The oldest officially sanctioned Pony Express in the world, the Hashknife riders deliver 20,000 pieces a year. When the riders arrive in Scottsdale at the end of the ride, it  marks the beginning of the annual Parada del Sol. January 28 – February 1, 2014.

March

• Annual Arizona Renaissance Festival: Billed as the greatest party since Camelot, the Arizona Renaissance Festival is a raucous event for the whole family. Featuring jousting knights, marketplaces, feasts and even the opportunity to get married, this two-month-long event is hosted on a 30 acre site complete with amusement park rides and castles. February  8 – March 30, 2014 (weekends only).

April

• International Horror and Sci-fi Film Festival: If you’re a fan of the paranormal, then plan to be in Scottsdale in April for the Annual International Horror and Sci-fi Film Festival. Featuring the best flicks from independent film makers in the genre, past special guests have included Linda Blair, Tobe Hooper and Mick Garris. April 3-10, 204 (concurrent with the Phoenix Film Festival).

May

• Annual Recycled Art Exhibition: Taking reduce, reuse and recycle to a higher level, the Annual Recycled Art Exhibition features work made mainly from recycled materials. Local artists work to promote recycling and everyone is invited to contribute a piece. Free workshops are offered through the weekend. 2014 date to be determined.

June

• Route 666 Run: Experience Arizona on a different sort of two-wheeler. This oddball event see motorcycles ride the “Devil’s Route” of Highway 666. See the riders off in Springerville in early June, then retreat to the peaceful sound of your bicycle wheels on pavement.

July

• Annual Summer Band Concert Series: Over the summer, enjoy Arizona’s lovely evenings listening to the nearly 100 musicians that bring Murphy Park, in Glendale Arizona to list. Ballads, marches and show tunes are a delight for music fans of all ages.

August

• Annual Mighty Mud Mania: Obstacle course racing has become very trendy, but in Kingman, Arizona, the Mighty Mud Mania has been happening for more than 35 years. With events for kids and adults, this oddball event is worth a side trip to experience. 2014 date to be determined.

September

• Annual White Mountain Apache Tribal Fair and Rodeo: For thousands of years, the White Mountain Apache Tribe has lived in eastern Arizona for thousands of years, but for the last 88, they’ve been hosting their Annual Fair and Rodeo. Featuring classic rodeo events, like bull riding, barrel racing and roping, this Fair and Rodeo also features a chili cook off and fireworks. 2014 dates to be determined.

October

• Arizona State Fair: To be fair, the Arizona State Fair is too amazing to be considered an oddball festival. Now in its 130th year, the State Fair features a demolition derby, rodeo, thousands of exhibits, a pie eating contest, amusement rides and of course, farm animals. Live music, fair food and fun runs round out the two-week event. 2014 dates to be set.

November

• Million Dollar Hole-in-One: Feeling lucky? Then hit the Annual Million Dollar Hole-in-One, the top amateur hole-in-one tournament in the United States. Oodles of daily prizes, and not to mention, the chance to win a million bucks. 2014 dates to be determined.

December

• ZooLights: Did you know that it takes more than 3.5 million lights to complete the 600 lighted sculptures at the Phoenix Zoo’s annual ZooLights? The 2014 event will feature music from the Wizard of Oz and two Music in Motion shows. Watch out for the flying moneys! November 28, 2013 to January 12, 2014.

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