Walking the USA's West Coast States

If you like travelling and if you like walking, USA holidays are available which will allow you to indulge your passion for the outdoors and take in some fantastic sights in the process.

The massive West

There is little doubt amongst those that enjoy walking - USA holidays based around exploring the West are simply magnificent. The West of the USA is, of course, a vast area that can't be easily summarised. When people refer to the West they are normally talking about major tourist states such as California, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Utah.

Where to start?

California is a state that offers almost unlimited opportunities for exploration by walking and you could easily spend a lifetime doing so. Just to start with, it has a huge and naturally beautiful Pacific coastline where flora and fauna are abundant; while inland there are famous desert regions such as The Mojave and Death Valley with their unique scenery and environment. In Northern California you'll find what is often called the world's favourite city - San Francisco. This vibrant city is most definitely best explored on foot. If all this isn't enough, we haven't even yet mentioned the famous national parks such as Yosemite.

All of these attractions can be found in a single state that you may be exploring by walking. USA holidays to the West also include so much more.

In Arizona you'll find the Grand Canyon, truly one of the world's most awe-inspiring and incredible sights. Once you are there, you'll really want to take the chance to explore this area on foot, or perhaps by a combination of walking and horseback riding.

Sitting on the borders of Nevada and Arizona, the Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) is one of the world's truly stunning engineering achievements that just has to be seen to be believed. A tour of the dam and its environs is not to be missed.

If you like a different sort of natural beauty, a walk around Lake Tahoe is also a must. Sitting across the state border of California and Nevada, it is almost alpine in appearance - surrounded by trees and mountains. Keep an eye out for the abundant wildlife, and you'll find that the local chipmunks will certainly keep an eye out for you as they rush up to beg for food!

Forewarned and Well-Prepared

It is completely impossible to summarise the attractions of this vast area in one short article.

Yet there is one thing to keep in mind if you plan to visit these areas and do some walking. USA states in the west have very large areas of complete wilderness which is well worth seeing and exploring; but remember it is not the UK countryside. The desert and mountain wilderness areas of these states can be extremely dangerous if you are not well prepared and in possession of expert local knowledge. That's why many people prefer guided holidays in these locations under the leadership of expert tour leaders.

Guided walking holidays are readily available and can ensure that you get the chance to see some truly unique sights whilst remaining entirely safe. It is possible to combine multiple centres in a holiday based around walking. USA holidays in general make it easy for you to enjoy yourself on your walking adventure, whilst maintaining the maximum of creature comforts. You might want to find out more, sooner rather than later!

A Secret River in Mexico

What do you do when you are sitting in a three-walled, tin-roofed restaurant in a fishing village on the Yucatan peninsula crying because the egg yolk running down your mountain of tortilla chips, salsa roja, refried beans, fresh cheese, sour cream, and guacamole tastes like warm butter, and you didn't know it could taste so good-you'd been afraid to try runny yolks-and your waiter plops down at your table and says (I'm paraphrasing here), "Hi! My name is George of the Jungle. I'm a jungle tour-guide. Would you like to follow me miles down a barely passable road to a lonely spot where you can swim in a cave that leads to an uncharted secret river?"

Naturally, you wipe your tears and say, "I'd love to!"

I know, it sounds irresponsible and possibly downright dangerous but, we were in Mexico. Not swine flu, drug cartel, kidnapping Mexico, we were in Quintana Roo where life is slow and people are friendly and jungle tour-guides serve you breakfast.

Later that morning found Hubby and me lurching around corners and scaling boulders in our rental car while trying to keep up with George on his bright yellow mo-ped. We arrived, mostly intact, at a destitute rancho called LaNoria where peacocks picked though limestone rubble and ill-fed piglets wandered over the cracked earth.

A hundred yards from the palapa farmhouse yawned a sinkhole surrounded by a dilapidated fence. I peeked over the edge into the water two-stories below. Trepidation began to buzz around my mind like a mosquito. An extension ladder, secured to a wobbly post with a leftover bit of chicken wire, plummeted into the well where it perched on a swim-platform.

"This is how you get out," said George. He pointed to a smaller, carefully excavated shaft. "You get in over there."

Relieved, I discovered a rough-hewn staircase. Hubby and I descended in the dark to the last step, which was still a good five feet above the water. Hubby jumped in.

The Yucatan peninsula is bejeweled with crystalline, fresh-water wells called cenotes. While most appear as small, round pools, they are actually portals to hundreds of miles of subterranean rivers. I admit I am not comfortable with wondering what might lurk in the watery shadows, especially if it's ancient and possibly watching me. I held my ground while Hubby explored the cavern, checking out all the cracks and crevices. He seemed to be having fun, so I tried to scooch down the sloped rock far enough to get my feet wet. Hubby dove under. I heard a gentle liquid slap against the far wall. When he surfaced he said, "You're not going to like this."

From my precarious position, I could see the submerged, light-sucking black hole in the cave wall. I scooched a little further and, on closer inspection of the horizontal abyss, decided I'd rather not go for a dip. Imagine my dismay when I realized I'd passed the point of no return. There was no scooching back up. With no recourse, I took the plunge.

I sank into the deep with my eyes closed. When I surfaced, Hubby was at my side. Together we swam-me carefully not looking at the panic inducing gaping maw-to the safety of the swim-platform. With the firm comfort of the wooden structure at my back, I allowed myself to take in the scenery. Bats darted about in an up-side-down forest of stalactites dripping from the ceiling like sparkling petrified icicles. The limpid water felt silky and cool.

Before long, George's voice floated down from above. We were done? Lunch was ready. We climbed back into the sun where we were greeted with fresh tortillas, chorizo sausage, cheesy rice and pigeon peas. But while George, our waiter, served a fabulous lunch, the fare that really nourished my soul was provided by George, our jungle tour-guide.