Maybe it’s precisely because it is the end of summer that I have a major case of wander lust and a hankerin’ for an adventure. It could be my daily addiction to travel blog Upgrade that is urging me to fly the coop, or the extensive LA Times article “It’s Dream Trip Time” about how flight and hotel prices to Europe are really really low.

Will I jet set outta here? Who knows. But here is what I would pack for a super travel adventure.

Packing

A true intrepid traveler doesn’t have frou frou luggage. Naturally, that doesn’t count the ultimate round the world must-have, the Louis Vuitton travel trunk.

...continued: Gearing Up For An Adventure

Dubbed “the sport where you are the search engine,” this adventure game involves individuals or groups setting up caches throughout the world and sharing location of each on the Internet. With the help of a GPS unit, other players then use the location coordinates to find the caches. Inside the cache, you’ll find a logbook (which, according to game rules, players must use to write about their finding) and - according to The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site - possibly items such as “maps, books, software, hardware, CD’s, videos, pictures, money, jewelry, tickets, antiques, tools, games, etc.” In addition to taking something from the cache, you’re required to leave something behind as well.

A recent post Jestcaching, a blog that’s all about geocaching, offers this guide to finding your first cache. Among the advice:

“You probably want to dress appropriately for the area you are visiting and pack a few essentials to take with you. As a minimum you should take some paper and a pen/pencil and extra batteries for the GPS. If you are going during the week after dinner you should take a flashlight or headlamp along in case it gets dark while you are in the woods. Things look a whole lot different in the dark than they do in the light. A bottle of water is always a good thing to take along and if bugs are prevalent in your area some Deet is a good idea. You might want to bring a small trinket along to trade when you find the cache.

Beyond being a really beautiful website filled with gorgeous pictures of exotic locations, and loads of travel information, Exquisite Safaris has created a refreshing and much needed level of luxury travel.  Their mission:

The Exquisite Safaris philanthropic mission is to include a visit to a humanitarian outreach project into every private, luxury, guided safari, tour and expedition we sell. The resulting personal introductions create cross cultural friendships that generate trust, respect, and generous donations that have funded grassroots humanitarian projects worldwide.

…Exquisite Safaris creates opportunities for people to donate in whatever way feels appropriate to them. All we ask is that travelers be willing to commit a morning or afternoon during their next safari, expedition or vacation with the intent to meet some of the most inspirational and culturally interesting people in the world. Once we’ve seen each other up close, we realize we’re not that different after all.

What an amazing idea!  Their Safari Journal is a nicely well rounded blog covering everything from customs, to AIDS relief efforts, to satire; without comprising the high level of luxury travel their clientele appreciates.

The New Hampshire (a state near and dear to my heart) Fish and Game Department issued warnings about East Coast ticks this summer and possible trail closures due to heavy rains, says Maine Outdoors Today.

But even those who aren’t lucky enough to live in the tick-ridden, washed-out Northeast can benefit from their list of 10 things to bring on every hike: map, compass, warm clothing, extra food/water, flashlight or headlamp, matches/firestarters, first aid kit/repair kit, whistle, rain/wind gear and a pocket knife.

All items could fit in a small, pack, which is a lot lighter than dragging your hiking buddy out of the backcountry after confronting dehydration, hypothermia, bonking, and the like!

Steve from Arkansas is the go-to guy on the arcane but fascinating topic of shed antler hunting: ShedAntler.net.  For the uninitiated, “shed antler hunting” is not a mission to find antlers for one’s shed, although a nice rack does look fetching above a barn door. Rather, it’s the hobby/art of finding antlers shed by elk, deer and other antlered creatures.

Found shed antlers can be used for indoor decoration (á là the chandeliers that are now ubiquitous in Rockies ski lodges) or outdoors (the best example of which is Jackson Hole’s four antler arches in its town square… each weighting four tons!

Think it’ll be easy to get your hands on a nice set of 5-pointers? Think again: Even those who live in the shed-antler Mecca that is Jackson, Wyoming, were willing to bid on elk antlers at their annual Elk Antler Auction hosted by the Boy Scouts each May. The Boy Scouts sold enough shed antlers to raise $76,000, most of which will benefit the National Elk Refuge.