The Top 5 Places to Use Your Passport This Year

Its hard not to think that the Bay Area is the best place in the world- culture & culinary options are plentiful, the outdoor recreation opportunities are world-class and the weather is always glorious! With an endorsement like that, its not hard to see why people love to stay local-  but that doesn't mean the rest of the world should be left undiscovered!

With so many non-stop flights and multitude of airline carriers out of SFO/OAK/SJC- and a strong US Dollar- foreign travel has never been easier and affordable.  We love dusting off our passports and getting off the beaten path and we are sure you do too... so check out these sweet places for yourself and get inspired to take that little booklet out for some fun!

URBAN DIVERSION'S TOP 5 PLACES TO USE YOUR PASSPORT THIS YEAR

• Cabo San Lucas
• Year round temperate weather plus a short flight from Bay Area make this an ideal long weekend get-a-way.  Bonus points for being a majorly adventuresome destination- zip lining, surfing, off-roading and sailing are just a few ways to get the adrenaline pumping!  Whether its enjoying a Margarita after a day of sea kayaking at the Sand Bar (our fav place to get an afternoon drink) or hiking to the top of Mt. Solmar for a sunset view- we love Cabo and know you will too.  Want some adventure without the hassle of planning it all?  Check out Urban Diversion's Surf Trip to Cabo!
• Hong Kong
• One of the most culturally diverse places in Asia, Hong Kong has a long history of being a world-class destination.  With 88% of the population speaking English (and most signs in English and Chinese) this is a super easy place to navigate & enjoy on holiday.  We recommend day tripping to the hidden beaches of Sai Kung for a surfing, swimming or canoeing.  For those that really want a challenge- tackle the 1800 ft climb to the top of Victoria Peak and enjoy breathtaking views of the city, harbor and beaches. 
• Ireland
• We find that its darn near impossible to have a bad time in Ireland.... no matter what happens.  While its a gorgeous country- the people of Ireland make the entire country fabulous and every inch of this green land is worth visiting.  We love the traditional atmosphere of the Western coast with coastal hikes that rival Big Sur and cant get enough of the hospitality of Dublin- many a lifelong friends were made in the famous pubs of Dublin!  Ireland is one of our favorite locations- so much so- Urban Diversion has decided to invite everyone on our next Irish Adventure Road Trip!  So come share our love of the Irish hills, castles, pubs and people and have a trip of a lifetime with us!
• Colombia
• With one foot in the Pacific and one in the Caribbean plus a whole lotta jungle- Colombia has adventure to spare.  We love the national park area of Tayrona (Parque Tayrona) for its beautiful white sand beaches and crystal clear waters at the base of stunning (Sierra Nevada style) mountains- this area is a scuba/snorkel/swimmers paradise!  We found a new love in the passionate music & dance of Cumbia... no one is immune to the catchy beats and sassy rhythm- do yourself a favor and check out Garia Cafe Cumbia House in Bogota for an experience you will never forget!
• Alaska
• OK... we know that you dont need a passport to go to Alaska, but its still a prime place to trip for 2015.  Why?  Because its an adventures dream- ice climbing, backpacking, kayaking, glaciers, bears, camping.... its got everything you need to make your adventure quotient go through the roof! We cant wait to ice climb in Wrangell St. Elias national park this summer and see the bears and cubs in Denali.... want to join in on the adventure?  Check out our entire Alaska itinerary and make 2015 a year of trips, travel and excitement!

Out like a lion, in like a lamb. Springtime adventure is here!

We cant believe that its already mid-March and already the spring flowers are blooming, the waters are warming and we have once again dusted off our outdoor adventure gear for a brand new season of fun in the sun! While winters fleeting snow cover was somewhat of a bummer- we love our Tahoe powder weekends- we are switching from winter to summer mode post haste.  

Mother nature is blessing us with some sweet weather here on the flat-land and the early sunshine is creating some awesome outdoor conditions.  Here are our TOP 3 PICKS FOR WEEKEND FUN:

1.  Ditch the wheels, the traffic & crowds and get off the beaten path with a backpacking trip

Conditions are ideal this spring for a weekend getaway to the coast.  Pt. Reyes is forecasting sunny & temps of 72 degrees- perfect weather for a trip to these famous ocean cliffs.  We love that the moon is still partially full, making for great visibility at night, perfect twilight hiking conditions and excellent low tides to explore some of the tidal pools along the beaches.  Urban Diversion's beginners backpacking trip is a great way to explore this area & become familiar with this amazing National Seashore.

 2.  Celebrate "Pi Day" with free admission at the Exploratorium

While not technically "outdoors"... we cant resist a quirky SF celebration like "Pi Day" (get it... 3/14? ha ha ha).  We love the Exploratorium for their hands-on exhibits, fun & casual atmosphere and great location right on the Embarcadero.  Give this place a try this weekend- free admission - and see what all the fun is about!

3.   Channel your inner spiderman and hit the rock wall

The record breaking freestyle climb of Yosemite's El Capitan last month by two Berkeley residents caught the world by storm and sure reminded us how fun rock climbing is.  Whether you have never stepped on "belay" or are an expert at the "5.10's", Urban Diversion wants to share the spirit of climbing achievement with a weekday evening night of climbing.  We will cover the basics of roping, safety & belay as well as advanced climbing techniques in this local indoor gym.  

With the whole Eastern seaboard buried in snow & ice- now is a great time to celebrate living in sunny California and take advantage of the Bay Area's gentle microclimate.  March is a prefect month to get back on track with all the resolutions you made for 2015 and try new things!