Ebola Is Back: What Travelers Need To Know

The disease begins like many others. Fatigue. Muscle soreness. Fever. Loss of appetite. Sore throat.

You might easily think you’d come down with the flu. A hot bath, lots of fluids, and a few days of rest should be enough to set you right.

But instead of improving, your condition deteriorates. Chest pains. Labored breathing. Headache. Disorientation. Vomiting. Rash.

And, in the worst cases, bleeding. Coughing up blood. Vomiting blood. Bleeding into the eyes. Internal bleeding. It just won’t clot. Eventually, you slip into a coma and die from blood loss.

This is the terrible fate that awaits anywhere from 25-90% of those infected with the ebola virus.

The mere mention of ebola causes many of us to reflect on the horrifying outbreak that plagued the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone from 2013 to 2016, leading to over 26,000 cases, of which 11,310 were fatal. There were also sufferers in Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, Spain, Italy, the UK, and even the United States, where one person died.

But it would be a mistake to think about ebola in the past tense. It has returned yet again, this time in the Equateur province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Since early April of this year, there have been 30 suspected cases, with 18 reported dead.

Where does ebola come from? What can be done to stop it from spreading? What does this mean for travelers? Will there ever be a vaccine?

We’ll get to those questions. But first and foremost, it’s important to remember that ebola tends to originate among some of the most vulnerable populations on Earth. If you have a few bucks to spare, consider donating to these UN organizations that fight back against infectious disease.

Map of Democratic Republic of the Congo — The Democratic Republic of the Congo. Vardion/Wikimedia

How It Spreads

Ebola was first documented in 1976. The virus and associated disease appeared in two different places nearly simultaneously: in Nzara in what is now South Sudan, and in Yambuku in what is now the DRC. The virus was named for the Ebola River, which is proximate to the site of the first Congolese cases. (The Nzara cases were only later identified as ebola after the same disease appeared in Congo some months later.)

That initial outbreak in the DRC was one of the most deadly per capita in history. The mystery illness killed 218 of 318 victims, corresponding to a 68% death rate. (In Sudan, 151 of 284 patients died — 53%.)

Since 1976, there have been at least 26 additional outbreaks, of which the infamous 2013-16 panic was by far the most lethal. Apart from the countries mentioned, Gabon, Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa, and Uganda have also struggled with ebola.

There are five known viruses in the ebola genus, four of which cause disease in humans. The most dangerous is the strain known as Zaire ebolavirus (the DRC was formerly known as ‘Zaire’). This strain was the one responsible for that 2013-16 West African contagion.

The principal carrier seems to be the fruit bat, although other animals (monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees, antelopes, porcupines) may also serve as vectors. It is not known precisely how the virus makes the leap from wild animals to humans, but direct contact is presumably required; mercifully, ebola is not known to be airborne.

Between humans, ebola spreads easily via bodily fluids or surfaces contaminated with infected bodily fluids. Since the symptoms of infection may take as many as 20 days to manifest, and humans remain contagious as long as the virus is in their body, it’s not hard to see how ebola can quickly work its way through a population.

It is noteworthy that ebola tends to pop up in market or border towns where many people come and go.

Fruit bat hanging upside down — A fruit bat.

Prevention and Treatment

Alas, there’s precious little to be said about preventing ebola. Mostly, it boils down to common sense: don’t have unprotected sex with strangers; avoid blood, vomit, and other bodily fluids; stay out of areas where there are ongoing outbreaks.

Of course, in reality, disease spreads because contagious individuals are not always symptomatic. And even if they are, nobody assumes that a friend with a fever may in fact have ebola. Plus it doesn’t necessarily take much contact to spread the disease; even doctors and nurses moderately exposed to infected individuals have been known to take ill.

There is no medication known to ‘cure’ ebola, though research continues. Treatment instead focuses on supporting the body as it fights off the virus. (Being a virus and not a bacterium, ebola is invulnerable to antibiotics.)

In particular, healthcare providers focus on quarantining infected or potentially infected persons, keeping them hydrated, maintaining electrolytic balance, and preventing renal failure. Since ebola typically weakens blood clotting, patients also often require red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.

An experimental vaccine called rVSV-ZEBOV has been reported to have 70-100% effectiveness in preventing the spread of ebola. It was deployed on an emergency basis in Guinea in 2016, and again in the DRC in 2017. As of this writing, it is being administered to combat the ongoing outbreak.

However, some scholars have questions the reliability of the data.

It may be true that most of those who were given the vaccine did not ultimately contract ebola, but there was no unvaccinated control group to compare them against. (Nor could there be. It would be pretty unethical to decline vaccinating part of a vulnerable population simply for the sake of an experiment.)

Vaccine rVSV-ZEBOV is not commercially available, and its efficacy remains a matter of debate. But there is at least some hope that an ebola vaccine may be on the horizon.

Ebola virus under microscope — Ebola viruses under microscope. NIAID/Flickr

How does this affect travelers?

The current outbreak has been relatively isolated and is confined to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. If it can be contained, it should pose very little risk to travelers.

Unfortunately, despite its natural wealth and beauty, the DRC is not a place most tourists would be inclined to visit. It has been wracked by resource wars, internal instability, terrorism, and kleptocracy for decades, all of which have left it as one of the poorest and most dangerous countries to visit on the continent. Even before ebola again reared its ugly head, the US State Department was encouraging Americans to reconsider traveling there.

It’s worth knowing something about the vectors, risk factors, and symptoms of ebola if you’re planning to visit or volunteer in West or Sub-Saharan Africa, since we’ve seen the virus recur time and again. Because the disease can spread rapidly, it’s best to be prepared for all contingencies.

On the other hand, the World Health Organization is working with the DRC Health Ministry to minimize the damage, and you can rest assured they’re taking this very seriously.

One final piece of advice for those visiting West or Central Africa: don’t eat so-called ‘bushmeat.’ Bushmeat is the flesh of wild animals hunted in the Sub-Saharan jungles. It’s quite common in rural areas and often treated as a delicacy in urban centers.

As much as we like to be open to other cultures’ rarities, this is one you should give a miss. Not only is it a threat to the biodiversity of the jungle, but the consumption of bushmeat may well be one of the ways ebola spreads from animals to humans. While sufficient heat will kill the ebola virus, undercooked bushmeat could easily be contaminated.

A Traveler’s Guide To Italy’s Surprising Side

My first glimpse of Italy was a shroud of darkness spread out beneath the wings of an airbus.

We were supposed to fly into Venice as the sun set, which probably would have left a more striking impression: refracted light dancing off the Alps like a million campfires, dusky shards of land set in a sapphire lagoon.

Instead, our connecting flight out of Frankfurt was spontaneously declared “unfit for takeoff” while we were rumbling toward the runway. By way of apology, the airline gave us all a minuscule helping of chocolate and a two-hour layover in the Atlanta of Europe. By the time we reached Venice — not the old city, mind you, but the mainland — it was too dark and we were too tired to draw any conclusions.

My first real impression of Italy, then, was when I opened the blinds the following morning. The room was stuffy, my dreams had been fitful, and I needed to orient myself. Where was I?

Peering out over a rather pedestrian suburb, I noticed a veil of low clouds in the distance. They were steely lavender, with roofs like daggers.

“Great,” I thought to myself. “Day one in Italy, and it’s going to rain.”

But then I realized they weren’t clouds at all. They were Alps.

Suddenly, the delayed flight didn’t matter. My piecemeal sleep didn’t matter. I was in Italy for 12 days, and I was hungry for adventure.

Here are just a few of the things I discovered along the way. Maybe they’ll help you plan your Italian excursion.

Venice

That day, we took the ferry from real Venice across the lagoon to imaginary Venice — the Venice you see in the movies, the Venice that was once the seat of an affluent maritime empire but now serves as its tomb, the Venice that is sinking.

And stinking, quite honestly. My advice? If you’re venturing into the city, try to go on a sunny, breezy day. When it’s overcast, a faint odor of spoiled tomatoes clings to the air. It’s nobody’s fault: all those villas and piazzas rest on a millennium of mud, sludge, and excrement.

But don’t let that discourage you from visiting! No matter how many pictures or videos attest to Venice’s beauty, the real thing is more dazzling. I remember thinking: “People live here. In houses that have been inhabited for 600, 700, 800 years. To me, this bridge over a narrow capillary canal is a set piece out of high Renaissance drama; to some lucky Venetian, it’s part of the morning commute.”

Bridge over Venice canal — One of the many bridges of Venice.

Visit St. Mark’s square, and the Doge’s Palace, and take a ride in a gondola. (The gondoliers are tremendous sports.) But save some time to wander and get lost in Venice too. There are glassblowing workshops where you can watch artisans craft vases the same way they’ve done for generations, and boutiques where you can buy traditional Venetian masks.

And spare a Euro or two for the street performers who line the shore near where the ships and ferries dock.

Florence

After Venice, we began working our way down the boot of Italy.

Our next major stop was Florence, the epicentre of the Renaissance and home to some of Italy’s most cherished literary figures. It was here that Dante Alighieri wrote his Divine Comedy, and the shrewd, serpentine Machiavelli founded the modern state in his infamous treatise The Prince.

One thing you notice as you criss-cross Italy is that there’s really no one Italian language. Every region has its own distinct dialect; a sentence that makes sense to a Milanese may be borderline incomprehensible to an Umbrian. This is a legacy of Italy’s medieval past, when the peninsula was divided into a gaggle of squabbling independent city-states. (The country was only unified in 1861.)

But our guide, Matteo, informed me that Florence was the easiest place for him to visit because the Florentines speak the closest thing there is to standard Italian — a legacy of Dante, whose writings are considered foundational. One of Dante’s houses still stands in Florence, given over to a museum of his life and works.

You’ll also want to check out the iconic Cathedral, the Uffizi Gallery (where many treasures of the Renaissance reside), and the Palazzo Vecchio (a 13th century palace with a high tower you can climb for a few Euros).

But if you’re looking to practice your Italian, Florence is probably the best place to do it.

Florence skyline — Just a taste of the Florentine skyline.

San Gimignano

Just southwest of Florence, in Tuscany, you’ll happen upon a fortified hill town called San Gimignano. No, it’s not one of the most famous (or pronounceable) Italian destinations, but it’s unspeakably beautiful.

San Gimignano is surrounded by walls dating to the 13th century, and guarded by numerous high towers. For my Euros, though they may not be many, this is the real Italy you need to see: the small hillside hamlet commanding a view of the rippling countryside, seemingly unchanged for centuries. It really is like stepping into another epoch.

If you’re not squeamish, there’s another little surprise waiting for you in San Gimignano: a torture museum. Though morbid, it provides an accurate look at the darker side of the history that’s so well-preserved in rural Tuscany. And you can always grab some gelato afterward to lift your spirits a bit.

San Gimignano medieval tower — San Gimignano and one of its towers.

Assisi

To the south and east, and a bit better-known, Assisi is another hillside town you mustn’t miss. Instead of fortifications or torture chambers, the draw here is the life of a Saint.

St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) was born into a wealthy family of silk merchants and minor French nobles. His early life was supposedly devoted to lavish spending, fine clothes, and entertainments. However, St. Francis quickly became disillusioned with his life of privilege, and took to giving everything away to the poor.

According to hagiography, Francis’ charity was not well-received by his father, who imprisoned him, beat him, and ultimately forced him to renounce his inheritance as a means of repaying the fortune he had given away in alms. Francis subsequently became a monk and founded the Franciscan movement, which required adherents to forsake all property and material gain in emulation of Christ.

Francis’ tomb can still be found in his Basilica in Assisi, a spectacular Gothic church complex that juts out the side of a hill like the bow of a great ship.

I’m not a religious person, but when I was there, in St. Francis’ crypt, I was struck by the most peculiar feeling. I don’t know how to describe it. Perhaps it was partly a sense of awe and admiration for the man, and partly a sense that I had somehow stepped into history — or myth.

Whatever it was, everyone should experience it.

St. Francis Basilica Umbrian countryside Assisi — St. Francis’ Basilica sticks out into the countryside below.

Naples and Pompeii

Driving south down the spine of Italy is an experience in itself, staring out windows at mountains and foothills, trying to get used to the somewhat hollow taste of Fanta.

As we got closer to Naples, our guide, Matteo, pointed out numerous half-finished bridges and infrastructure projects. A symptom of mafia-backed construction companies, he explained, who like to build half of something then charge the government extra to finish it.

Just outside Naples, Matteo took us to an authentic hole-in-the-wall pizza joint where the staff kept bringing us pie after pie with ever more exotic toppings. When they brought us escargot pizza, I thought they were spoiling us; when they brought us dandelion pizza, I knew they were ready for us to leave.

A few million people live around the Bay of Naples, with the terrible volcano Vesuvius lurking in the distance. But the real killer volcano lies beneath the bay itself, which is in fact a caldera.

Naples is the site of a supervolcano, a bubbling cauldron of magma collecting beneath the surface like a subcutaneous blister. When the pressure becomes too great (don’t worry — it takes millions of years) the blister erupts, blowing a massive hole in the Earth’s crust and ejecting enough poison into the atmosphere to constitute an extinction-level event.

Still, the real star of the show is Vesuvius, whose eruption in 79 AD buried the ancient Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum, preserving them beneath deep layers of ash and rock, petrifying hapless citizens as they tried to flee.

Pompeii is one of the most famous destinations in the world, but there were still a few surprises.

Vesuvius Bay of Naples — Vesuvius (at right) seen across the Bay of Naples.

I was prepared to see the plaster outlines of human beings scattered in the streets, frozen where they had died nearly 2,000 years ago. You will see no such thing, although you should be able to find one or two if you’re the kind of person who enjoyed the torture museum in San Gimignano. What you will find are well-preserved villa walls, an amphitheatre, and even original Roman pottery.

You will also find — how shall I say this? — ample representations of male genitalia. The Romans considered the male reproductive organ to be a symbol of strength and good fortune, and many Pompeiian villas feature graphic carvings on their outer walls, where in modern times you might expect to find a street number.

The penis is such a symbol of Pompeii that you may even see souvenir carts selling replicas. They make an excellent gift for a friend with a bawdy sense of humor.

As ancient and well-trod as the cobbled streets and hilly lanes of Italy may be, there’s still plenty there to surprise you. And plenty to change your point of view.

5 Top Destinations For Green Travel

As we all become increasingly aware of the dangers our lifestyles pose to the environment, many of us are choosing to be eco-conscious in our travels. Here are the best destinations for those who want to explore the earth without harming it.

1. Ecuador

Ecuador is one of the most eco-friendly countries in the world, treating its environmental issues as a national priority and even formally recognizing the rights of nature within its constitution. It has been the recipient of the National Travel Awards’ title of World’s Leading Green Destination for four years in a row.

Ecuador is one of the countries listed as “megadiverse,” meaning it has one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. Visitors to Ecuador can encounter hundreds of native species, both on the mainland and on the famous Galapagos Islands off the coast, which inspired Charles Darwin in his development of the theory of evolution. The country is also home to a large indigenous population and is committed to the preservation of their culture and way of life.

Tourists have plenty of opportunities to engage with both Ecuador’s nature and its traditional culture through special tours, which prioritize sustainability and respect of nature above all else.

Green hills Ecuador — Beautiful, natural Ecuador. Unsplash / Claudio Testa

2. Scotland

From the vast expanse of Cairngorms National Park, where you can come face-to-face with 25% of Britain’s threatened species, to the rugged mountain views on the Isle of Skye, there are few places in the world that are truly as wild as the highlands and islands of Scotland. There are plenty of eco-conscious ways to discover the country, including some epic walking and cycling routes that take you to the heart of the action.

Regarding accommodations, Scotland is way ahead of the curve. The highlands and islands are dotted throughout with bothies, basic stone shelters designed to welcome any traveler who wishes to use them, for free. For the more adventurous, Scotland is also fully open to wild camping, meaning anyone is welcome to camp anywhere in the country’s wilderness, as long as they promise to respect the area and “leave no trace.” For the less outdoorsy, there are also plenty of eco-lodges ranging from simple two-person pods to state-of-the-art modern cabins.

3. Rwanda

The landlocked African nation of Rwanda is experiencing a tourism boom, as more and more people discover everything the “Land of a Thousand Hills” has to offer. Best known until recently for a horrific genocide in 1993-94, today the country is healing with an incredibly forward-thinking approach to environmental conservation: the last Saturday of every month is umuganda, a day where every citizen is expected to dedicate a few hours to cleaning and maintaining their community. Due to this and several other initiatives, Rwanda is one of the cleanest countries in Africa.

For eco-tourists, the main draw is undoubtedly the wildlife, particularly the endangered mountain gorillas found in Rwanda’s Volcano National Park. Visitors can trek into the mountains to spend time with the gorillas, but the tours are organized in a responsible fashion so as not to be disruptive to the animals. Eco-lodges abound around the park, and this industry has created many jobs for locals, including for former poachers who now profit more from saving the gorillas than killing them.

4. Singapore

Singapore’s commitment to nature is one of the most impressive things about an extremely impressive city/nation. It ranks as the best-performing country in Asia on the Environmental Performace Index and is 14th in the world. This is partly due to Singapore’s continuous attempts to become The City in a Garden, a high-tech blend of cosmopolitan urban living and verdant paradise.

The government has launched various initiatives such as rainwater collection points, wastewater recycling, and the installation of multiple green public spaces, such as the famous Gardens by the Bay with iconic “supertree” structures. Additionally, many of the city’s buildings and skyscrapers are being built or remodeled to reflect the latest in eco-friendly construction.

Singapore also shows that eco-tourism doesn’t have to mean staying in a hut: there are several luxury hotels and resorts across the city built on the principles of energy conservation and the importance of green spaces.

Singapore resort at night — Singapore. Pixabay / monikawl999

5. Iceland

Though all Scandinavian countries are exceptionally eco-friendly, Iceland combines this commitment to the planet with some of the world’s most striking landscapes anywhere. Its one-of-a-kind geography is due to Iceland hosting hundreds of volcanoes and thermal springs, as well as glaciers, waterfalls, fjords, and the breathtaking spectacle of the Northern Lights. Even the country’s capital, Reykjavik, is a pinnacle of eco-consciousness, with 95% of its heating and electricity coming from renewable geothermal energy.

Visitors to Iceland have a vast range of eco-friendly lodgings to choose from, including hotels, hostels, cabins, and camping sites. Wild camping is also possible but is probably best reserved for the hardiest and most experienced of campers, due to the country’s glacial temperatures.

With the continuing rise of climate change and the ongoing draining of the earth’s natural resources, it is more important than ever for travelers to respect the countries we visit. By focusing on sustainability, these eco-friendly countries are ensuring that tourism is enriching and supporting their nature, people, and culture, thus preserving them for future generations to enjoy and learn from.

5 Beautiful National Parks That Are Never Busy

We tend to equate how busy a destination is with how worthy of our time it is, but that’s not always the case. These national parks are the least busy, still extremely beautiful and all yours to discover.

1. Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska

If you haven’t been to Alaska yet, you don’t know what you’re missing. You might imagine a frozen tundra, a desolate and cold waste with little to do. That’s certainly not the case!

People who love hiking and camping have been keeping Alaska their little secret for years, and it has four of the largest national parks in the United States. The most popular and perhaps most tempting to visit is Wrangell-St. Elias, but you can expect more visitors and less peace and quiet.

Gates of the Arctic, on the other hand, feels completely untouched and unobstructed by throngs of visitors. Yes, we’ll admit that it’s a little “rougher around the edges” than the other parks since it has no roads or trails, but that simply adds to the authenticity of the experience.

This is the wild. This is the backcountry. This is a national park the way it’s meant to be. You’ll need to arrange transportation in and out of the park, with the most common option being by plane. But it should be worth the effort if you long to be completely immersed in nature with no distraction.

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve isn’t necessarily for amateur hikers, but if you have some experience and are ready for an adventure, this is the place to check out.

2. Isle Royale National Park, Michigan

There’s a lot of beauty that escapes the notice of the masses in the United States, and Isle Royale National Park in Michigan is one of those hidden gems.

It only garners around 16,000 visitors a year, yet those few stand witness to its natural beauty in the way of calm waters, towering lighthouses, and lush scenery.

A ferry is the only way to get to the Isle, and that’s likely one of the reasons that it doesn’t get as many visitors as some of the more mainstream parks.

Before you go, make sure to book a camping reservation if you plan on staying for a night or two. Also, grab a fishing license if you really want to live off the land and catch your meals.

3. North Cascades National Park, Washington

Residents of Seattle don’t have to go far to escape the noise and congestion of city living and let the mind relax in a peaceful natural environment. North Cascades National Park in Washington is only three hours from the city, but it feels like another planet, considering the aesthetic contrasts.

Whether you go for the day or choose to stay for a night or weekend, you’ll have lots to fill your time with: walking the Newhalem trails, bird watching, boating through Thornton Lake.

2018 is actually the 50th anniversary of North Cascades National Park’s opening, so what better time could there be to go for a visit?

4. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

Dry Tortugas National Park attracts a little more attention due to the fact its the home of Fort Jefferson, a 19th-century architectural wonder that holds the record for the largest all-masonry fort in America. It’s still grossly underrated though and remains much less busy than other big parks.

You’ll likely need to book a camping site in advance as the Garden Key campground only supports 10 sites, and you’ll need to boat or take a plane to the park. Being surrounded by water is part of the appeal at Dry Tortugas National Park, and snorkeling and exploring the aquatic life is a big draw for many visitors.

5. Great Basin National Park, Nevada

Stargazing is always a big selling point when it comes to being out in nature. The absence of light pollution makes it easier to see the stars, and they’re as visible as they can be in Great Basin National Park. These are some of the darkest skies in the United States, which means you get to see them fully lit up by a canopy of fireflies in the evening.

Other points of interest in Great Basin National Park are the Lehman Caves. These are naturally formed caves with impressive stalagmites and structure, and you can either explore them on your own or take a guided tour.

Stop by Baker Creek and Summit Wheeler Peak and you’ve got yourself an excellent itinerary.

There are no better parks in the United States of America to explore minus the crowds than these ones. Make sure to plan your visit according to the season and local weather so that you dodge heavy rains, cold temperatures, etc.

Not only will you be amazed by the sights and leave more relaxed, but you’ll have some great memories from these parks. Don’t forget your camera!

The Best Horse Riding Vacations In America

If you’re a horse lover looking to try something different for your vacation, consider booking a horse riding vacation at a ranch or farm. Even if you’ve never ridden, odds are you’ll feel a bond with these powerful, beautiful creatures.

1. The Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm

One of the benefits of choosing a horse farm in Vermont is that you’re close to everything you’ll need. The Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm spans gorgeous acreage that includes Sugarbush and the Mad River Valley. As a guest, you get to spend your nights at a country inn that’s full of Victorian inspiration; you’re likely to feel as if you’ve ridden back in time for the duration of your stay.

This is the ideal spot for riders who love Icelandic horses, plus it offers versatile packages. You can hang out for a day or two, or you can book up to six days filled with excursions and equine delights. Meander through the landscape atop your horse just once, and you’ll probably want to opt for the six-day package. Lazy trips through tranquil meadows and gallops across speedy streams will have you in love with Vermont within the first few hours.

Consider reserving your vacation for autumn. There’s nothing like New England in the fall, plus you can get all sorts of maple goodies around that time of year.

2. The Mountain Top Inn, Vermont

Remember all of that gushing about Vermont? The Mountain Top Inn in the Mad River Valley offers a similar backdrop to the Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm. Mountain Top backs up onto the Green Mountain National Forest, which has a host of trails. You and your horse can take a winding ride up the mountainside where the views go on for days. The Inn has its own Equestrian Center, open from June to October.

What’s great about this vacation idea is that you can learn everything. Ride on your own or with a guide. Learn how to ride in the English or Western style. You can even get your feet wet in dressage and jumping.

However, you aren’t limited to horseback: the Mountain Top Inn offers guests a bevy of additional activities, such as kayaking, clay bird shooting, swimming, hiking, and various sports. You can even eat on-site, and the food is rich enough that you’ll need the exercise.

Hills of Vermont — Vermont. Unsplash / Brad Fickeisen

3. Marriott Ranch, Virginia

No, this historic farm has nothing to do with the hotel chain. Rather, the ranch is a staple, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains for ample riding opportunities. You won’t find a prettier vacation spot, but you’re only about 50 miles outside of Washington, D.C., just in case you get a big city itch.

It’s unlikely you’ll want to leave, however. There are several wineries nearby, and in addition to riding and dressage lessons, you’ll have the option to participate in cattle drives with genuine Longhorn cattle. You can also opt fot trail rides, or themed packages. For example, there are weekend trips that include rides, food, and room at a charming local bed and breakfast.

4. Southern Cross Guest Ranch, Georgia

This Georgian ranch, only an hour from Atlanta, sits in the center of the Historic Heartland of the state. Apart from offering rides through forests full of towering trees, the ranch specializes in Western riding and prides itself on its competitive prices. As you’ll discover upon arrival, however, the experiences are priceless.

It’s a one-of-a-kind vacation, in that most horse farms and ranches won’t let guests ride off by themselves. Independence is encouraged at Southern Cross, though. Between rides, you’ll learn everything you ever wanted to know about grooming and generally handling a horse. Because the retreat follows the B&B model, you have a built-in place to stay and access to home-cooked meals too boot.

5. Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, Arkansas

Arkansas isn’t quite the wild west, but it’s close. Horseshoe Canyon is near the Buffalo National Wilderness Area, so it’s not only scenic, but it’s also overrun with trail riding opportunities. You get to stay in cabins that appear rustic but come with all the comforts of home, including air conditioning.

The guides make sure to match you with a horse that complements your skill and comfort level. After a long day on the trails or a rugged ride — just for experts — you can relax in the pool or the hot tub. Dinner is steak every night of the week. You can’t beat that.

Horses in a field — Unsplash / Bethany Legg

6. Zapata Ranch, Colorado

Zapata Ranch is a genuine working ranch that specializes in bison and cattle. It borders the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Reserve, which is right at the bottom of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The family that manages the place has been ranching for three generations, but the Nature Conservancy owns the ranch itself.

Zapata likes to provide guests with variety and choice. Three packages are available. One focuses on improving riding skills, while another is designed to show visitors just what it means to work on a ranch. You can ride through the Great Sand Dunes or the pretty Medano meadows. Feel free to climb off your horse to take a hike, learn about conservation ranching, or study the local bison.

Does a holiday with a horse sound like heaven to you? Then we hope this list has inspired you to start planning your next adventure.

4 Must-Have Travel Apps And How They Work

Travel apps can make traveling a little smoother. From suggesting hotels to renewing your passport, it’s almost guaranteed there’s an app out there that you’ll love! Here are four must-have travel apps and how to use them.

1. Hopper

Hopper scans billions of flights and provides you with the best deals. The app tells you exactly what to do, and will send you notifications when it’s time to book, or a cheap flight has come up. Hopper is extremely simple to use, and it’s available for Apple iOS and Android smartphones for free. Here’s how to use it: Open the app and click “continue,” then allow the app to send you notifications (this will be very helpful when cheap flights become available). Next, type in your to and from destinations. Then, choose “one way” or “round trip” and pick your dates. The app will show you a preview of the months via a colored calendar; the colors represent the prices. Tap the month you want to travel in, and the calendar will expand to show you the days to choose from. Hopper will find the cheapest available flight, and will “watch” the flight to see if the price drops (if it does, you’ll get a notification). Hopper will tell you to keep waiting to buy if it thinks the prices are likely to drop. If you like what you see, tap “shop flights” to choose an airline and flight times. If you’re flexible with your travel dates, Hopper will also let you watch flex dates as well as give you price drop predictions.

2. XE Currency

If you’re traveling outside of the United States, it’s important to know what the U.S. dollar converts to. That’s where XE Currency comes in handy. This little app is free and does all of the math for you. Download the app on your Apple or Android device, and open it. The app will give you a brief tutorial. Then, you will see that the top dollar amount is your base country. All of the countries underneath are converted based on the amount in the base country. You can quickly change this amount by tapping the calculator next to it and typing a new number. The currencies will change automatically to reflect the new conversion. Add or delete as many countries to your conversion list as you want! The app also updates in real time to reflect current market rates. Even if you aren’t traveling, this app is a fun way to observe the value of the U.S. dollar around the world.

3. Google Trips

If you’re a Gmail user, this app helps plan your trip by pulling reservation confirmations out of your email and putting them all in one place for easy viewing, even when you don’t have internet access. Once you download the app, it will ask you which Gmail account to link to. Then, it will automatically pull confirmations from your email and create a list. If you don’t want the app to pull from your email, you can turn this off in the app settings and enter the trip details manually. Choose the relevant trip and tap “download” (this may take a few seconds). Downloading the trip makes it available when you are offline, just in case. You will also be able to view related emails about the trip from your inbox. Once the trip is downloaded you will see a menu with your reservations, suggestions on things to do, and more. By clicking each menu item, you will be given full details including a map and contact information of the places you can visit. The Need To Know menu item is particularly helpful, as it lists nearby hospitals, currency exchanges, rules for tipping, and where to find free WiFi.

4. RoadTrippers

This fantastic little app makes it so you’ll never have to use a map to plan a road trip again. The beauty of taking a road trip, are the fun places you’ll stop along the way. The RoadTrippers app finds these places for you. To use it, just download the free app on your Apple or Android device, and create an account. Once you’re in the app, just type in your to and from locations, and choose the categories you’ll want to stop along the way. You can select trails and hikes, nightlife, geographical locations and much more. Then the app will route your destination and give you a list of all of the options you can choose from along the way. You won’t have to look anywhere else to decide where to stop during your next road trip!

There are so many more reputable apps out there that you can download to make your trip less stressful and more enjoyable. These apps help plan your trip so that you can spend more time exploring. Before you choose your favorite, I recommend downloading a few and playing around with them to get comfortable before your big journey. Happy travels!