Category Archives: Travel Articles

Articles, stories and advice on travel.

A Day full of Jerks in Tennessee

April 25, 2011 Red Hunt 1 Comment

As I emerged from the forest I was greeted by bright lights and dazzling signs. An onslaught for the senses! Coming from North Carolina I had just enjoyed a great sunset while taking a leisurely drive and some short hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

But almost like the flip of a switch, my senses were jerked awake as the forest trees gave way to crowded streets and bright lights. I was almost blinded by signs for casinos, race tracks, aquariums, comedy shows, steak houses, Dollywood, shopping malls, mini-putt courses, theatres, museums and pretty much every other form of family entertainment or amusement that you can imagine. I had made it to Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

To me, it only comes second to the Strip in Las Vegas for optical sensory overload. But, perhaps because I simply wasn’t ready for it, I wasn’t impressed. It had been a long day and all I wanted was to get to my hotel and have a nice sleep. Of course my hotel was at the other end of all of these attractions.

I cruised down the street which was streaming with over-stimulated people, including some jerks running in front of the car and drunken looking guys sitting in lawn chairs at random points along the road. Seemed part frat house, part family fun house. Admittedly the tiredness was quickly fading away as signs for places like the NASCAR Speedpark and Salt and Pepper Museum (with 20,000+ shakers on display!) distracted me.

Beef Jerky, Tennessee Style! — Beef Jerky and other Tasty Animals

But I resisted and cruised on past Fannie Farkle’s and the World of Illusions, to where the lights dimmed – beyond the reach of the jerks – or so I thought.

Falling asleep as soon as I got to my room, I woke up late and had no time for breakfast the next morning. It was time to move on…I would have to save the bright lights and excitement of Gatlinburg for another day. Then, staring out my hotel room window I spotted the Jerks. It was a bona fide jerk heaven just across the road from where I was staying. Nothing like I’d ever imagined. Before I knew it I was checked out and headed straight for what must be the jerkiest place in Tennessee.

Hello to The Beef Jerky Outlet and hello to breakfast, lunch and dinner.

An entire outlet store dedicated to the craft of jerking meat. Imagine that? I was greeted by a friendly lady sporting a PETA shirt. You know – People Eating Tasty Animals – so I knew this was my kind of store.

The first thing that caught my eye was the Buffalo Bob’s display of dried meats. The wild boar and buffalo looked ok, but I went for some more unusual choices – ostrich, alligator, antelope and kangaroo. Mmmm, tasty animals!

Sweet Cherry Beef Jerky from Tennessee — Sweet Cherry Moonshine Beef Jerky

Then I perused the wall of jerk. Rows and rows of different beef jerky. Some spicy and hot, some sweet and tangy. After a few free samples from PETA shirt lady I chose some of the bootlegger series. Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine Jerky! Yep, beef jerky made with real moonshine. I also picked up some hot hunter sausages and smoked elk, buffalo and venison.

What a great find. The selection here was overwhelming. They even had a nice selection of hot sauces and complementary items to go with your jerks. With only six locations in the US so far, here is to hoping that this little company continues to grow beyond the bright lights of the Gatlinburg area.

The jerks kept me company all day as I continued my road trip north towards Pittsburgh. As for the bright lights and big shows in Gatlinburg? I’ll be back for them, especially Ripley’s Penguin Playhouse.

Hope you have a jerk-filled day!

Travel Articles, Wildlife and Nature

Everglades Series: The Anhinga Trail

April 23, 2011 Red Hunt 3 Comments

This is the second post in a three-part Everglades series during National Parks Week in the US. The first post was on Shark Valley.

Wildlife galore! The Anhinga Trail in the Everglades National Park was so nice I went there twice – in the same day.

Only 4 miles form the park entrance at Homestead, the Anhinga Trail is a short, flat trail that is partly along a paved route and partly along an over-water boardwalk. At less than 1 mile in length it had a surprisingly large number of creatures to keep me busy. I knew this trail would be a treat right away as pesky vultures and other big birds were hovering around the parking lot when I arrived.

The trail namesake – the Anhinga – is a bird that can be seen fishing and sunning itself in the trees beside the trail. Now, usually I am nto a bird-person, and I don’t quite get ‘birders’, but I’m open to any wildlife experience. With that said – I think I was extra lucky to find an Anhinga family perched in a nest near the trail, posing perfectly for photos. Not only did I get to see fluffy baby Anhinga birds, but I saw their parents fishing in the nearby waters and actually feeding the youngsters. Man those birds were hungry!

Alligator on the Move — Walking Alligator near the Anhinga Trail

I also saw my first ‘mobile’ Alligator here. Over at Shark Valley I had only seen them swimming or lounging around on land. So I couldn’t really appreciate the size and shape of these prehistoric creatures. But, lucky again, I saw one walking along the sandy beach between two waterways. I had expected it to more or less slide along and drag it’s tail around, like a snake, but it actually picked up it’s entire body as it walked along, before vanishing back into the water. Pretty cool.

After these right place at the right time moments I ventured along the entire trail boardwalk for about half an hour, watching Alligators swim all around. It was a perfectly sunny day, so after the Anhinga Trail I drove on through the Everglades to hike a couple of smaller trails in the hot afternoon. But on the way home, at sunset, I had to stop by the Anhinga Trail again and get more photos during the golden hour of light.

Anhinga Trail Boardwalk — Wildlife watching in the Everglades at Anhinga Trail

With the hot sun fading, the Alligators weren’t as plentiful – they seemed to retreat back away from the trail boardwalk at this time of day.

The Anhinga birds were no longer feeding their young either, but there were all sorts of herons, including the Great Blue Heron, and other birds flying around or stealthily stalking their dinner. Overall, the Anhinga trail provided a very impressive wildlife show for such an accessible destination, and I’d have to give it a very slight edge over Shark Valley for my favourite trail and wildlife experience in the Everglades.

More bird photos from the Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park:

Anhinga Trail Everglades - Bird — Unknown Bird

Travel Articles, Wildlife and Nature

Everglades Series: Went to Shark Valley. Saw some Alligators.

April 18, 2011 Red Hunt 2 Comments

This is the first of three posts being published during National Parks Week, all about a recent trip to various parts of the Everglades National Park in Florida.

Alligator showing teeth — Ground level view of Alligator at Shark Valley, Everglades

Spending some time in southern Florida this past, I knew I had to check out the Everglades. Up to now my only experience of the area had been driving along the stretch of I-75 nicknamed ‘Alligator Alley’.

Before heading into the ‘Glades I sourced out some must-do activities. As I didn’t have enough time to venture deep into the waterways by canoe or kayak, I had to settle for hiking trails and more accessible options. Three things kept coming up as highly recommended. One was to take an airboat tour, the second was to walk the Anhinga Trail and the third was to take the tram tour or rent a bike in Shark Valley.

Shark Valley

I arrived at about 2:30pm for the 3pm Shark Valley tram tour (and was actually lucky to get a ticket as it was fully reserved, but a few people cancelled – advance bookings are almost essential during peak times). To get here, it is an easy drive along highway 41 from Miami or Fort Lauderdale on the east coast, or Naples on the west coast of Florida.

Bike rentals and tram tours here are actually run by a concession so you have to pay your $10 entrance fee to the Everglades (good for 7 days), then pay $18.25 for the tram tour or $7.50/hr for bike rentals. I had originally planned to rent a bike, but was a bit short on time, so took the tram tour and hiked around for an hour afterwards.

I think hiking or renting a bike is the way to go if you want to stop frequently or go at your own pace. It is more than 15 miles / 24 km of trail though, so be prepared with later and plenty of time if you choose that route. The issue I had with the tram was that it did not stop often, and when it did, it was too short a time to get any decent photos of the wildlife. The trams really only stop for 15-20 minutes at the observation tour. The tower is 65 feet tall and provides a great panorama view of the grassy Everglades.

The two benefits of taking the tram tour over the bike or hike option:

You get an informative narrative by the driver, educating you on the local flora and fauna, the history of the Everglades and fun trivia such as why the area is called Shark Valley.
Protection from the sun and rain. It is humid and hot out there, without any stops for water. The tram offers the only leisurely ride option for those who don’t want to sweat too much, and comes in handy for rain protection during frequent downpours.

Why is it called Shark Valley?

Ok, you won’t see any sharks here. The name of Shark Valley does cause some confusion. With the Everglades being a ‘river of grass’ it is extremely flat, you wouldn’t think this area is in a valley, but it is. An elevation change of just 1ft here makes a big difference, so Shark Valley is in a very wide, very gradual, low-lying valley. The Shark reference comes from the Shark River. The mouth of this river is at the Gulf of Mexico, and the Shark River Slough is the main source of fresh water for this part of the Everglades. If you were to venture along the river far enough towards the gulf, you would encounter sharks – they just never make it to the Everglades.

In terms of what I did see at Shark Valley – dozens of alligators including baby ones, a bunch of turtles, herons, anhingas and other birds. Most of these were spotted while walking along the main loop pathway, however I also took the short Otter Cave and Bobcat trails. It was a great introduction to this huge wilderness park. Did I like it more than the Anhinga Trail? You’ll have to wait for the next Everglades post to find out.

A few more photos from Shark Valley

Turtle in the Everglades National Park — Turtle at Shark Valley

A Heron going fishing in the Everglades — Heron in Shark Valle

Baby Allgator — A baby Alligator at Shark Valley

Watch for part two and part three of this Everglades series coming soon.

Travel Articles

Win a Trip to China worth $2200!

April 8, 2011 Red Hunt 21 Comments

To celebrate the launch of redhunttravel.com I’ve teamed up with some good friends over at Intrepid Travel to give away a great trip to China!

China - Great Wall — China - Photo courtesy of Intrepid Travel.

China is one of those mysterious destinations that I have yet to visit…but will one day! So I am extremely jealous of whoever ends up winning this #traveltrivia contest and gets to join the 15-day Explore China tour from Intrepid.

Have you been to China or always dreamed about visiting? Leave a comment below with your China tips after you enter the contest.

How to Enter

It couldn’t be easier, and you have five chances to win! All you have to do is:

1 – Follow both @redhunttravel and @Intrepid_Travel on Twitter. If you already follow us both, proceed to step 2!

2 – Copy and tweet this message:

Enter to win a $2200 trip to China from Red Hunt Travel and @Intrepid_Travel. Info: http://bit.ly/gdOkum Pls RT. #TravelTrivia #China

3 – Correctly answer the weekly #TravelTrivia questions on China. Tweet your answer to @redhunttravel. You MUST include the #TravelTrivia hashtag in your answer, as this is how they’ll be tracked. Example of a correctly formatted answer:

@redhunttravel I think the #TravelTrivia answer this week is Jelly Beans.

Question 1:

#TravelTrivia Q1: Name the ancient Chinese city, now called Xi’an, that was the starting point of the Silk Road.

Answer 1: Chang’an

Question 2:

#TravelTrivia Q2: Which 2 of these Chinese cuisines are usually considered hot and spicy? Sichuan, Cantonese, Hunan.

Answer 2: Sichuan & Hunan

Question 3:

#TravelTrivia Q3: What 2200 year old army was discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well in Xian?

Answer 3: Terracotta Army

Question 4:

#TravelTrivia Q4: What city do you visit on Day 9 of the @Intrepid_Travel Explore China tour?

Answer 4: Chengdu

Question 5:

#TravelTrivia Q5: The ‘Forbidden City’ lies within which modern city in China?

Answer 5: Beijing

Congrats to Stephanie (@TravelDesigned) who was randomly drawn as the winner of the trip to China from Intrepid Travel!

Contest Details, Terms and Conditions:

The five weekly #traveltrivia questions will be sent out by @redhunttravel on Twitter, with the first question appearing 8 April, 2011.

The prize is a 15-day Explore China tour, for one (1) person, courtesy of Intrepid Travel. Formal trip booking must be completed by 31 Dec, 2012. Blackout dates apply for all Canadian and US holidays and tour is subject to availability. The contest is void where prohibited by law. All correct #traveltrivia entries (that also completed step 1 and 2 of the contest) will be entered into the random draw, which will take place on 16 May, 2011. All entries must be submitted by 11:59PM ET on 15 May, 2011.

The prize has no cash value and cannot be redeemed for cash. In addition the prize is non transferable. Once booked, the booking will be subject to the Terms and Conditions of Intrepid Travel. Prize winners are solely responsible for all costs not expressly described herein including, without limitation, applicable taxes, fuel/currency surcharges, airport transfer transportation fees, meals and alcoholic beverages, other than described herein, room service, gratuities, merchandise, telephone calls, medical and travel insurance together with any required travel documentation, and all personal expenses of any kind or nature, together with any applicable overnight layover. Prize winners are also solely responsible for all costs incurred to and from the departure point as the Prize originates and terminates there. It is the sole responsibility of the Prizewinner to obtain all necessary travel documentation including passports and visas, as applicable and to comply with any customs and immigration requirements. The Prizewinner must obtain medical insurance prior to departure and it is recommended that Prizewinners obtain sufficient personal insurance prior to departure. It is recommended that the Prizewinners consult a physician prior to travel to determine the advisability of immunizations and inoculations that may be appropriate.

Travel Articles

Crunchy Cambodia

April 8, 2011 Red Hunt 1 Comment

One of my most memorable dining experiences is from a roadside stand on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

After exploring much of the city and rest of the country during a journalism stint, it was time for me to head on to South Korea. I wasn’t really ready to leave, as I had grown to appreciate the laid back, friendly nature of Cambodians.

But it wasn’t my decision to make. To celebrate the great times I had in Cambodia, my new friend Mao Lada took me for a surprise dinner feast before heading off to the airport.

Together, with my friend Sarah, the three of us set out towards the airport. We passed by all the usual streets where rickety restaurants served up local Khmer cuisine. Soon we were on the outskirts of the city, nearing the airport.

Finally, Mao Lada pulled over on the side of the road to a place where local food stands had sprouted up, selling their delicacies to the locals who were all headed home after a long days work.

With bigger smiles than usual, and many looks of surprise, myself and Sarah followed Mao Lada to an available wooden platform that would serve as our table. Mao Lada quickly left us and ordered food in Khmer, returning with a wry smile, ensuring that we’d enjoy what we were about to eat.

As the sun was getting lower to the horizon, we received our drinks and appetizers. The drink of the night? Fermented palm juice. Somewhat rancid in smell, and very potent. This moonshine packed a punch.

As strong as it was, I found myself drinking plenty as were were eating unripe banana slices – with peels left on. They tasted like sawdust, even after dousing them in soy sauce. We appreciated the effort and awaited the next course.

Soon after, massive chunks of meat arrived. They looked like big red chicken legs. Nice. What was it though? Mao Lada informed us they were toad legs. Nice! Never had toad before. Sarah gingerly picked at the bone to get the good meat off, while I followed Mao Lada’s approach of eating the whole thing – bones and all.

Crunch crunch. Not bad. Bones had a bit of flavour. I can do this. IT was going well, I was getting really into it. Then I got to the toad knee, big bones and extra crunch. My teeth couldn’t handle it. Lacking the jaw power, I succumbed to the toad knee and proceeded to eat the rest of the meat only.

Could it get any better? Sitting at the side of the road eating toad legs and getting drunk on palm juice. It sure could! Next up was the grand finale – frogs. Lots and lots of little frogs. All fried up into crispy creations.

Now these were much smaller than the toad legs, but the special surprise was that we were eating the entire frogs. Heads, legs, spines – everything. Bring on more soy sauce and more fermented palm juice please!

Being skinny, these fried frogs were somewhat greasy and tasted, well, fried. I felt sorry for them as they had all obviously just been dumped into a boiling vat of oil and fried alive. But that didn’t stop me from eating more than a dozen of them. It was a real experience with a couple of great friends.

One of those meals I’ll never forget and would be happy to repeat should I ever meet up with my old friend in Cambodia again.

travel writer. wildlife photographer. beer geek.