Eastern Tennessee: A Haven for Nature Lovers

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I was not familiar with Virgin Falls when we began hatching a plan to travel there. I was certainly not familiar with Sparta, TN, the rural town, home to just over 5,000 inhabitants, that sits nearest to the falls. I was born and raised in the southeastern US, so I at least had some level of familiarity with Tennessee in general. However, my limited expertise pretty much began and ended in Memphis, so this trip was going to be something entirely new for me. IVHE has previously highlighted what a great spot Tennessee can be for nature lovers and fans of the outdoors, but I was not as yet familiar with this reputation. The area to which we traveled was a reasonable eight-hour drive from our Floridian home, being just over the boarder of North Carolina and into Tennessee. This made the actual travel portion of our journey fairly simple. My husband and I, along with another married duo, made the trip to this out-of-the way locale in White County. Thankfully for us, our friends had previously visited the area (in fact, they were the reason we found out about Virgin Falls in the first place), so they served as our guides in the mountainous regions.

We made plans to camp at the falls for a couple of days, but decided on getting a hotel room for the first night so that we could begin our hike into the mountain at first light and not risk getting stuck in the dark on a steep trail. It was the dead of winter, but we were lucky to find Tennessee having a mild time of it. There were a few patches of ice and decidedly chilly temperatures, but no snowfall to reckon with as we made our way. We pulled into Sparta quite late at night, and I'll admit that the drive through the winding mountain roads put me a bit on edge. The fog was incredibly thick and frequent signs warned of falling rocks - a phenomenon we were all too aware of as we drove over the evidence of smashed rocks already in the roadway. Thankfully, we made the "perilous" journey safely and tucked in for a few hours of anxious sleep. We were all quite eager to get on the trail, but the rest did us a world of good before our big trek.

The trails themselves were a sight to behold. I'm sure that no matter what time of the year you visit, these falls and the surrounding state park are gorgeous, but I was particularly impressed with the stillness of the woods in the wintertime. Our drive from the hotel to the park area was even remarkable. I'll admit, Sparta grew on me in the daytime, after the fog had burned away and the scenery was more visible. The fact that there were no more signs in this direction which mentioned falling rocks helped enhance my experience, I think. We had quite a bit of gear between the four of us (for the record, I told my husband he was over-packing), so it was a bit of a physical undertaking to get ourselves and our packs to camp. However, we were all at least moderately experienced hikers, so it was manageable. We took frequent rests, but were still able to make it to our camp and get set up before nightfall. We got a prime spot, in a cave directly underneath Big Laurel Falls. The rush of the water created fantastic white noise for our first night of sleep, but the trade-off was the sheer amount of bat guano coating the cavern floor all around us! If you could get around that, and didn't mind leaving your hiking boots outside of the tent, it was a killer location.

We took day hikes to the much taller Virgin Falls and explored the well-marked trails in the area. The chilly temperatures were far from a burden, making the physical exertion of the hike much more enjoyable. Going into this trip I did not have many preconceived notions of Tennessee, outside of the bigger cities, but I can assure you that the more rural part of the state is a sight to behold. We met plenty of hikers who were visiting the falls for the day, along with a couple of fellow campers. Everyone in the area seemed to know how pristine this spot is and what a great day trip it makes. 

While staying in the state park definitely constitutes a "primitive" camping experience (no toilets or potable water available), and we were all very happy to see a real restaurant at the end of our hike back to civilization, the scenery and serenity make the trip well worth it. You needn’t go so far as pitching a tent in a cave to enjoy the wilderness of the area either, with an abundance of scenic rural areas just a short drive from civilization. I would gladly sing the praises of Virgin Falls to anyone looking for an outdoorsy vacation idea. Even if you're not much of a camper, the trail lends itself well to a reasonable day hike, with lots of picture-worthy spots to stop and rest along the way. The state park educated visitors on the surrounding landscape and provides several different routes of varying difficulty to hike, so that everyone from the most advanced hikers to novice outdoorsmen will find a suitable trek. I would have easily overlooked this particular little dot on the map in East Tennessee, but if you're planning a trip to the area (including the western part of North Carolina, just across the border) I'd encourage you to put Virgin Falls on your travel itinerary! If you’re looking to go off the grid for several days, or just hoping to stretch your legs in a uniquely pristine environment, the mountainous areas of Eastern Tennessee have plenty to offer you.

IVHE will help to make your trip a little lighter on the bat guano, with lovely luxury accommodations throughout the area. Take a look at our available properties to see what might suit your tastes for potential Tennessee accommodations.

Thank you to travel blogger Emma Sledge.  

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Bring A Gym With You on Vacation!

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Many of have set goals in the New Year to get in shape. Sticking to an exercise routine, though, is easier said than done, especially if you are traveling. It may be hard to stay motivated to exercise while you are on vacation. The good news, you can stick to your exercise routine while you travel. In fact, you can simply bring the gym to your vacation home exchange. And aside from a good pair of shoes, you don’t have to pack a single fitness tool.

Now, I should mention that many International Vacation Home Exchange properties may have gym facilities nearby, or on the property itself. There are also properties that offer plenty of room to walk or hike, or is enjoy swimming to keep fit, you can search by vacation properties with a pool.  If that is indeed the case, then try to squeeze in 30-60 minutes of exercise each day. If you don’t have a gym nearby, there are exercise movements that you can simply do inside your home exchange. Before I provide suggestions, I should remind everyone to always consult with your physician before you begin any exercise routines.

Below are some examples of workouts that can help you stay fit without leaving the comfort of your home exchange. I should mention many of these workouts will only take you 10-30 minutes and you can do these workouts as a family.

Workout 1:

20 Lunges (each leg)

20 Air Squats

20 Calf Raises

25 Burpees

Workout 2:

10 Pushups

10 Sit-ups (or crunches)

10 Mountain Climbers

Repeat each movement and rep for 15 minutes

Workout 3:

60 Second Wall Sit

30 Jumping Jacks

20 Walking Lunges

10 Pushups

Repeat each movement 2-3 times

Workout 4:

10 Pushups

10 Sit-ups

10 Squats

Repeat each movement 10 times

Be sure to warm up and stretch before beginning any of the above workouts. If you have some workouts that you enjoy doing while on vacation, please share below. I would love to know what everyone else does to stay in shape while on the road.

Thank you to guest travel blogger Carla Pruitt. You can follow Carla on Twitter at @crobscarla 

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Hiking Trails for People with Disabilities

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Hiking is considered one of the world’s most loved pastimes. America has a lot to offer hikers, from the Appalachian Trail to the Big Santa Anita Canyon Trail, there are fantastic hikes to be had all throughout the country. Whether you’re on the east coast or the west, in the wetlands of the south or the mountains of the north, you’ll find a beautiful place to hike. There are sights to behold across the country and a hiking trail can provide the perfect vantage point to take it all in. For the millions of people with disabilities, hiking can seem like a difficult undertaking. However, America has taken big steps to make hiking accessible for all. Legislation passed under the Americans with Disabilities Act has changed the requirements for many parks in order to make them more accessible. There are plenty of resources and guides for those with disabilities who are interested in hiking. Hiking is a worthwhile pastime for anyone, but can be a particularly useful source of exercise and relaxation for those with a disability. With the increasing prevalence of accessible hiking trails, the world truly opens up to those who may have previously had limited access.

If you are seeking accessible trails in the US, your first stop should probably be a database of accessible hiking trails, such as the WWSDW’s list of accessible hiking trails by state. For more specific accessibility requirements, there are listings that include TrailLink’s database of “wheelchair accessible trails by state.”  If you are looking for a more comprehensive list of all of the trails in your state that have been made to be accessible to those with disabilities, many offer an index of all of the trails in the area that fit the bill. With this many resources available, those with disabilities can get out and enjoy the splendor of nature from wherever they are in the states. There are plenty of online resources dedicated to connecting those with disabilities with accessible hiking trails, parks, and other natural wonders. With these improvements in the accessibility of America’s park systems, it’s now possible for those with disabilities to see the country in a whole new way.

Whether you’re visiting a new city or looking to explore your own backyard, taking a hike is a great way to get exercise and fresh air. If you’re looking for more hiking ideas for your next vacation, IVHE.com has its page for hiking around the world. Once you’ve been bitten with the hiking bug, you’ll find yourself searching for hiking trails every time you take a vacation and even planning holidays around the best hiking spots. IVHE also allows you to search for properties that have nearby hiking/walking trails, so you can continue to explore the great outdoors in America and across the globe. It’s a rewarding hobby that increases self-sufficiency, encourages a healthy lifestyle, inspires a lifelong love of the outdoors, and makes for a lifetime of great stories and even better memories. America bills itself as a land of equal opportunity, so it is only fitting that its national trails be accessible for all to enjoy.

Thank you to travel blogger Emma Sledge. 

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More than just skiing, your outdoor adventure paradise, Summit County, Colorado.

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Skiing, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, rafting, horseback rides, hot air balloons, Jeep tours, fishing, snowmobiling, golfing - all are in Summit County, Colorado.  Skiing at world class slope like Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper and Arapahoe Basin are certainly well known, but did you know about all the other activities in the area? 

Hiking is great in the area.  There are ruins of old mining towns dotted all around the area.  The views from the peaks, well over 10,000 feet, are spectacular – often viewing other mountains, valley, lakes and rivers.   Most of the hiking paths are very well marketed and also offer plenty of circular routes.  Or take advantage of the local free Summit Stage bus shuttle between the key towns, allowing you to take longer hikes and then enjoy a bus ride back!   

Biking is phenomenal in the area.  You have the option of both off-road mountain biking or paved path riding.  For a great day try the 18 mile route around Lake Dillon or challenge yourself on some true mountain biking from peak to peak.

Fishing abounds in Summit County.  Fly fishing at its best in gold medal winning rivers like Blue, Colorado and Gore Creek.  Or aim to land your prize trout in Lake Dillon.  If you are new to fishing or simply the area, there are plenty of guides to help make your day perfect. 

If golfing is your game you have plenty of choice in the area, choose from 5 local courses. 

Longboard may not be considered a sport in many places in the world but in Summit County there are over 55 miles of pathed roads for long boarding.  If you haven’t tried it before, maybe this is your chance?

Just in case you are looking for more to do, how about panning for gold?

International Vacation Home Exchange members have great choice for home exchange accommodation in Summit County.  There is a range of listing from a fabulous home in Frisco, to ski in and ski out chalets in Breckenridge.
  

After you day of adventure, relax in a hot tub or pool.  Take advantage of staying in a fully furnished home with excellent kitchens and dining areas.  Enjoy the scenery, share a glass of wine and make memories to last a lifetime about your great home exchange vacation in Colorado. 

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New Map Search for Luxury Home Exchange

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Where do you want to go on your next vacation?  Listening to our members, we are pleased to announce that IVHE.com has a new advanced map search for properties, check it out on our property search page.  You can click on an area of the map or zoom in or out to quickly view where the listings are located. 

There are different house icons for multiple or single properties.  Once you click on a single house icon, you can quickly get a summary of the listing or link directly to the full listing page for the home.  If you use the property search box function (at the top of the page) you will see that the map will adjust to show you where the respective listings are located.  Give it a try today – we would welcome your comments too.

Of course you can search by location, bedrooms or number of guests.  But did you know that you can also search by activities, sports or amenities?  Check out the options available to you.  

Thinking of hitting the slopes for ski vacation, maybe you are a passionate golfer, hiking a trail is more your idea of fun, or maybe relaxing in a tropical paradise if best for you.  Click on the words above and you’ll quickly get a selection of listings with your choice of vacation.  

Interested in some additional facts about IVHE.com properties, watch this YouTube video and learn about additional options available for your next holiday.  

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Promote your home exchange property!

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One of the most frequent questions we receive from our members here at IVHE is "How can I increase the number of trade requests I receive?"

Here are a few suggestions we hope you find useful!

1) Keep your availability calendar up-to-date

Our availability calendar feature makes it easy for members to see at a glance whether a property is available on the dates they wish and is a useful way to promote last-minute availability

2) Be involved

There are lots of ways to build your profile and visibility on IVHE. Why not post a message on our Facebook page or submit a blog for the IVHE blog - these are both great ways to increase your properties exposure to IVHE members. An extra bonus is that we will give five free credits for first blog you have published and two for any subsequent ones!

3) Information

The more information you can provide about your property the better. As well as details about your property it is also very useful for potential visitors if you include some local knowledge such as regional festivals and events, good restauarants in the locality and proximity to major tourist attractions. Update the map on your property page.  Add information to make it easy for your guests to choose your property.  

4) Pictures

The saying "a picture says more than a thousand words" is very true when it comes to home exchange, we receive significantly more enquiries for properties with good quality images of both the interior and exterior of the property.

5) Activities 

Update your listing with local activities.  What are fun things to do at or near to your vacation home?  IVHE now has sort options on many different types of activities including golfing, horse riding, sailing, hiking, scuba diving, skiing and many more.  If you update your listing to include the appropriate activity, your property will also appear in these searches.  Plus, you'll find more people interested in trading with you.  

6) IVHE Prime Time

Why not take advantage of IVHE's unique Prime Time offer?  You can submit up to two weeks of Prime Time. Those weeks will show on IVHE's Prime Time availabilities making it easy for members see properties that are available on set dates. As soon as you allocate the weeks and they are approved you get credited with the credit value straight away, so you do not have to wait for a trade to happen on your property before you can start travelling yourself!

As well as being an easy way to boost your credit balance this is also a great way of promoting your property as it will be highlighted in our Prime Time newsletters and Facebook page.

Are you new to home exchange, get a FREE Home Exchange Guide here.  

We hope you find these suggestions useful and would welcome any other suggestions you may have. For more information on home exchange please feel free to contact us any time. 

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