My new resolution to blog more about domestic adventures paralleled nicely with reality this week when my friend Tim mentioned a summer trip to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. If it fits in with my life’s itinerary at the time—which is currently rather up in the air—this will be a trip I will be wholeheartedly joining.

Hiking the Grand Canyon is a bit family tradition for Tim, who has probably done this hike a good five times or so. I have done it once with him, and out of all of my U.S. travels, my best memories come from this expedition.

Tim, our friend Alex, and I rode lying down in the covered back bed of a pick-up truck for the few-day roadtrip from Illinois to (and from) the Canyon, traveling and camping along the way with some of the rest of Tim’s family. The Canyon hike itself involved a four hike to the bottom, a day spent lounging in one of the contributory creeks trying to get relief from the 140 degree dry heat, a scorpion-hunting night with the aid of black lights, and the six hour hike back up the next morning.

The natural beauty of the hike is breathtaking—as is the hike itself. Hopefully this summer will have me re-appreciating the trek once again. And as I also consider this to be one of this country’s most unique natural adventures, expect to hear more from me about it soon.

The Idea that provided the start for this blog was an epic road tip from London to Melbourne. It turns out, there’s a bus that pretty much does that. The Oz Bus offers a variety of routes, including one from London to Sydney.

They do the whole things good deal faster than I would like, but, I have to admit, there is something appealing about the thought of someone else doing all the driving and having a big fun group of people to hang out with all along the way.

Going on a long roadtrip, cross-country or cross-countries?? One thing you might not consider packing that would be well worth the space–a hookah.

For the uninitiated, the hookah (or “hubbly bubbly” if you happen to run into an Afrikaner) is that oddly-shaped water-bubbling tobacco pipe. The molasses-flavored tobacco smoked through the hookah is called shisha. Middle Eastern in origin, shisha smoking’s popularity has grown worldwide in the past decade.

Light up a hookah at a backpackers place, and you will have no problem making friends. It’s the perfect tool for meeting new people, as well as the perfect means of chilling after a long day on the road. Hookahs come in all shapes and sizes, so unless you are doing hardcore backpacking, it is well worth the extra space.

Of course, tobacco is tobacco, so be aware of the health risks. The water filters out the addictive qualities–neither I myself nor anyone I know has ever felt any addictive drives from hookah tobacco. Like a lot of life’s pleasures, moderation is the key. I’m assuming that if you are a fellow adventurer, however, you will need little convincing.