Planning for a Remote Trip or Getaway, Such as Alaska…
While not necessarily a frequent occurrence, every once in awhile it’s nice to be able to get away for a bit of an extended trip. Maybe a little longer than a few days, as well as to a place a little different than what you’re used to. This could be your dream vacation or just something you try to make time for every few years or an annual summer road journey.
This can be helpful in lots of ways. Taking in fresh air, different smells, sights and sounds, meeting different people, learning all types of news things. Your mind is open and since you’re on vacation, you can really embrace some of the new experiences, living the moment as it were, with an unfortunate result being next thing you know it’s time to return. That said, you’re refreshed and maybe even eager to get back to your regular activities and able to share some of your new perspectives with others.
Regardless, in planning for the trip, it can be helpful to try to do a little research, attempt to get organized to some degree. While winging it has attractive elements of its own, sometimes when you return you find out about something significant that was right under your nose, if only you were aware. Then again, that also provides a perfect excuse to start making plans for a return trip!
To help get things organized, especially if planning the trip with a few others, you can use a private network such as with Odysen. Here’s an example for such a trip to Alaska, a popular destination for travelers worldwide looking for scenery usually reserved for the movies.
Planning a Trip on an Odysen Network
You can initiate this by simply creating a new folder named after the destination you’re planning for, such as Alaska. While creating the folder, you can also share it with others in your network that are planning to go. Once the folder is created, you or others the folder is shared with can add content to any of the applications, below are a few examples.
Websites: Build a list of websites appropriate for your trip that you can quickly go back to for reference. Some examples:
- Maps and Places to Go: An interactive map with ~25 locations to learn more about. Also get an overview of the different regions, cities and towns.
- Homer Alaska: The official city site, helpful to find local attractions and upcoming events.
- Seward: Another city site including videos, activities and events.
- Alaska Anglers Fishing Report: Get updates on what’s biting and where from across the Kenai region and other areas. Helpful for information as well as a pretty good story now and then if having an itch for a new fishing tale, call it a case of Herman Melvillitis.
- 2012 Alaska Regional Tide Tables: Helpful for quick reference when occasionally needed.
- Alaska Webcams: Take a look at some of the conditions happening at the moment.
News: Stay informed of any changes as your departure date approaches. Add different blog RSS feeds or specific keywords for a general news search.
- Alaska Tour and Travel: A blog providing tips and suggestions of places to go and see, a helpful resource for just starting to look around.
- Alaska Photography: Updated photos from a local professional, including waterfalls, moose, Alaska railroad and others.
- Cabin Fever in Alaska: Get a day in the life perspective from a local artist living in a cozy cabin next to a lake, with occasional trips to Costa Rica.
- Life in Alaska, a View from Homer: Sharing experiences and different outdoor activities close to Homer.
Events: Set up your itinerary, including any local holidays or festivals, such as the Summer Solstice festivals scattered everywhere, the Midnight Sun Marathon in June, the Alaska State Fair at the end of the summer, the Fairbanks Summer Arts festival, or the Seldovia Summer Music festival and many others if you have the patience to look around a bit.
Notes: You can use the rich text editing options to make a short bullet-list of items needing to pack or plan for the trip. Or during your trip, can add a few notes to capture the moment before it gets mixed up with the rest of your holiday.
Actions: Helpful for more significant tasks needing to be done, such as getting passports updated or other items you need to purchase before departure.
Documents: While on your trip you can upload new photos taken in the documents application. Once uploaded, you can send an email notification to others back home, they can view and add comments to the photos while in slideshow mode.
Getting Started
Start with the free Spark plan to get the ball rolling, includes 1 GB of storage for potential photos as well as being able to add up to 10 other Basic users. Basic users can add and share content within folders you’ve shared with them, but only the Administrator or other Advanced users can create or manage new folders.
If your network grows and you find yourself using for other activities, you can upgrade to larger plans as appropriate for your group.
Matt | Posted on | January 27, 2012 | Comments Off