FitSugar

Get in Gear: A Camping Stove is a MUST!

FitSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 02:00:00 PDT

Just because you are "roughing it" in the woods with your tent and sleeping bag does NOT mean you must be stuck eating only trail mix. Having a camping stove is a necessity when campground camping. I definitely wouldn't truck this stove around while backpacking, but if you're driving to your campsite, you can pack whatever you want.

This Coleman 2-Burner Propane Stove has double burners so you can boil your pasta and sauté veggies at the same time. One 16.4 oz cylinder or fuel will last over an hour with both burners on high, so you'll have plenty of time to make a fabulous meal.

Want to hear more about it? Then

read more Worried about wind blowing dirt into your food or blowing out your flame? This stove comes with two folding WindBlock™ shields. You can also flip these shields down so they act as shelves to hold cooking utensils and spices. It's easy to clean and comes with a durable metal case to protect your stove. And the best part is that it's fairly inexpensive - you can order one from Rei.com for only $46.00. That's quite a deal considering eating healthy on your camping trip is so important. Fit's Tips: Looking for some ideas on what to cook on your Coleman Stove? Just think about what you like to make on your regular stove and do some slight adjustments. You can cook just about anything, as long as it doesn't take too long. Save time by prepping meals ahead of time. Pre-cut veggies and pre-measure ingredients, and then store your food in a cooler. Then when you're ready to eat, cooking a healthy meal will be a cinch. Source

Take Your Clothes Off: Lonely Planet's Picks For Hot Springs Hot Spots

Guest Writer — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 05:00:49 PDT

Editor’s note: Summer travel season has officially begun! The following guest post was written by Robert Reid, the US Travel Editor for Lonely Planet. He will be guest blogging on Savvy for the next two months, helping you find some great ideas of how to get your vacation on this Summer.

There are so many places in the US to spend a long weekend, or even a week or two, that it can become overwhelming to decide. It’s why a lot of people just go to the same vacation rental every year and don’t change it up. But I think it’s a lot more fun to try somewhere new and have unique adventures. We’ve started a website called 15 Weekends of Summer to get you inspired, and every two weeks I’ll pick one of those themes, tell you some of my favorite places to go in relation to that theme and then let you know how to download a free detailed itinerary of our favorite summer trip within that theme. Sound good? Let’s start with “Take Your Clothes Off”."

The US is full of geothermic activity so why not go hot spring hunting this summer? Soaking in hot water appeals to almost everyone and there’s a wide variety of experiences you can have-from spending a weekend at a resort to hiking out to an isolated spring in the middle of nowhere. Hot springs occur when water is heated from within the earth’s crust and then forced up to the surface. Some feel the water has healing properties due to its high mineral content. Most of the hot springs in the US are in the west, so for some of you, a road trip is definitely in order.

In Northern California, you can find affordable resorts within just hours of the San Francisco Bay Area. Wilbur Hot Springs and Orr Hot Springs are two favorites: both provide either indoor accommodation (private rooms and a bunk house) or camp sites with a shared kitchen to prepare your meals. The tubs are clothing-optional and thus your space is respected - any inappropriate behavior will get you kicked out pronto. Although rustic, these resorts have amenities like massage, yoga and plenty of hiking trails to the adjacent wilderness.

For more hot spots you don't want to miss out on, read on.

Healthy Dose Link Time: Royal Wedding Vegan Scones and Cream

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:08:19 PDT

Celebrate the royal wedding with vegan scones and "clotted cream" - Oh She Glows
Don't only burn energy at the gym, create it - That's Fit
The must-have accessory for any workout - Vitamin G
The best and the worst takeout foods - Daily Spark
Eight campgrounds that turn a mini-break into a history lesson - Active.com
Can red pepper curb your appetite? Find out - Diet-Blog
10 vacations that make it easy to eat healthy and get toned without trying - Health

5 Awesome Unexpected Things to See at Coachella

Kristy Korcz — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 10:20:23 PDT

This weekend, I celebrated alongside thousands of others at the three-day Coachella Music festival. Held in Indio, California, it's one of the largest in the US with around 226,000 in attendance last year. This year, Intel sponsored my trip there - taking care of my accommodations, transportation, and nourishment - so that I could check out the Creators Project: a joint venture between Intel and Vice to promote independent artists who use technology in their art. I'll be talking more about the project in the next few days, but first: a few awesome things I wasn't expecting to find at Coachella.

Dancing robots and video games - Thanks to the Creator's Project, we were treated to home brew video games and 3D art. One artist built a computer program that allowed these robots to perform a dance routine in perfect unison. Check out the video!
A roller rink - Off the main drag of the main stage, we found a fun carnival tucked in with the Coachella campground. There was a full on roller rink (BYOS - bring your own skates), fun seesaws, swings, and an arcade. Be sure to bring lots of quarters if you ever go!

See the rest of the list after the break.

Be Like Prince William and Kate Middleton and Try Out a Tipi With These 6 Tips!

Elka Karl — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 06:00:00 PDT

While on their whirlwind tour of Canada, Prince William and Kate Middleton spent time in a tipi at Blachford Lake, Canada. Tipis are conical tents that were originally made of animal skins and used by Native Americans on the Great Plains. Today, they're most often made from canvas and can be found for sale at specialty shops as well as modern retailers like Design Within Reach.

Want to explore one for yourself? Here are a few options.

Stay at a campground or "glamping" site that provides tipis and yurts, like Sussex Tipi Holidays in the UK.
Look for a tipi on eBay. This one is less than $250 and would be a great spot for guests to hang out in at backyard Summer parties.
Buy a durable and high-quality tipi from Colorado Yurt Company. Their goods are proven to be tough and reliable and are perfect for the serious investor.
Go majorly modern with the Gandia Blasco Tipi (pictured to the right). With an anodized aluminum frame and white nautical yacht fabric shade, this tipi features a streamlined, pared-down shape that's gorgeous (and expensive, at just under $12,000).
Get a cute indoor tipi for your kiddo. I love the modern look of the tipis offered by Etsy seller NickMaxMama. This Abstract Heart Tipi ($145) is particularly divine.
Add floral swagger to your festival camp site or backyard with the Cath Kidston Cowboy Teepee Tent ($120). It's designed to sleep three people and features a fun red flag.

Lonely Planet's Picks For US Islands That Won't Break the Bank

Guest Writer — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 05:00:32 PDT

Editor’s note: Summer travel season has officially begun! The following guest post was written by Robert Reid, the US travel editor for Lonely Planet. He will be guest blogging on Savvy for the next two months, helping you find some great ideas of how to get your vacation on this Summer.

Hope everyone had a great Fourth of July weekend! That means summer travel season is stepping up a notch. For most, that means beach time, and on Lonely Planet’s 15 Weekends of Summer, we’re giving away a free itinerary on how to “Escape to the Beach.”

Why just go to a beach, when you can find one on an island? This week I’m giving suggestions of my favorite US islands that won’t break the bank. Some of these are your classic sun-and-swim spots, others are a bit more adventurous.

Florida’s “other coast” is really something special and Sanibel Island is our top getaway for our free itinerary give-away this week. With some 50 miles of accessible coastline, there’s a beach for everyone: from unspoiled ecosystems to fun seaside communities where you can order cocktails and go clubbing, or take in local art and even Thomas Edison’s summer home. The area has all the outdoor recreation you could dream of with mountain biking trails, kayaking opportunities, but also has great shopping, restaurants and nightlife. I visited last year and managed to squeeze in a couple kayak hours to see manatees and dolphins on the way to the airport.

Fire Island is well-known as a popular weekend getaway for New Yorkers but the real beauty of it lies in the east, where most villages are blissfully car-free. At night, you can walk among the boardwalks through the dunes that connect the houses or take advantage of water taxis to take you between villages. Hike the Sunken Garden and Otis Pike Wilderness Area or check out the views from the Fire Island Lighthouse. Try to go mid-week to snag the best rates.

Read on for more islands that won't break the bank.