How to Take a Digital Detox Vacation

When airlines first started offering Internet access on planes, there was an outcry from many folks who were connected almost around the clock and therefore cherished the precious time in the air when no one could call, email or text them. Many saw this quiet time as one of the most enjoyable elements of what were otherwise arduous business trips.

Similar debates raged over whether or not to allow cell phone use on planes. Do we really want to interrupt the relative quiet of an airplane with ringing phones and inane conversations?

Most of us know at least one person who has posted something to Facebook or Twitter along the lines of “Aircraft doors closing, stack of magazines and neck pillow at the ready,” with some sort of anti-digital hashtag.

The fact that so many folks announce delight in time away from devices and social media via a device on social media seems as good an indicator as any that there may be something to the growing popularity of digital detox vacations.

Why Do a Digital Detox?

Should I Do This While Traveling — and How?

In some respects, a vacation is a perfect time to eschew all types of digital stimulation; you are out and around, often in an entirely new environment, and have far less exposure to the moments of boredom or distraction that lead folks back to their screens again and again.

On the other hand, most of us know how helpful our devices are when traveling in an unfamiliar place. In fact, it could be argued that a smartphone shifts from a source of distraction to a superb tool when navigating new cities, finding things to do and dealing with travel snafus.

– Be ready for withdrawal symptoms
– Plan to enjoy (and not regret) missing out on what everyone else is doing
– Be prepared with things like paper maps and written phone numbers
– Set small goals (maybe a 24- or even 12-hour detox instead of a week the first time out)
– Plan something that will occupy and entertain you

This last item in particular suggests that travel might be the perfect time to try a digital detox; spending your afternoon snorkeling can make it really easy to skip fitful checks of your phone.

 

Ways to Prevent Identity Theft While Traveling

Tips for avoiding scams and theft while traveling are a staple of the travel writing genre; pretty much every guidebook or travel website dedicates some space to the subject. 

But in the 21st century, you are as much at risk of having your identity stolen — or more accurately your financial and digital identity — as you are of getting “mugged,” which almost sounds quaint these days (though I do not intend in any way to underplay the misery and danger of actually getting mugged).

Identity theft is a growing problem worldwide — especially for travelers, who are very vulnerable, forced as they are to use unsecured Internet connections, carry extensive personal documentation with them at all times, and share their credit cards with merchants about whom they know nothing and whom they’ll never see again.

Modern technology hasn’t made it any easier for honest folks to avoid identity theft, either; witness the practice of websites like Facebook and LinkedIn, which often keep you logged in to the site, even after you close your browser or turn off your computer. Someone getting unfettered access to your closest friends on Facebook could definitely shake out some very “helpful” information before you knew it.

As time and technology advance, this problem is only going to affect more travelers.

Here are tips to avoid identity theft while traveling:

“Unpack” Critical Documents Before Travel

If you carry some essential documents with you when you are not traveling — the average wallet or purse might include a Social Security card, bank statements, medical documents, checkbook and the like — remove them before you leave home. Essentially, when it comes to documentation, you want to “unpack” before traveling.

Be Very Careful About Shared and Insecure Internet Connections

This is one thing that I have found very difficult to do – when traveling, it is hard to find connections other than public ones at hotels, cafes, airports, you name it. To see the warning “this connection is unsecured and others may see your information” is almost a staple of the travel experience. The risk applies to anything you type into your keyboard while connected, such as email passwords and website logins.

Use Only Bank ATM’s

A recent trend among identity thieves has been to install card readers in an ATM by which they can access your card number and PIN. This happens most often at non-bank, “generic” ATM’s (in hotels, convenience stores, etc.), which have less oversight and are therefore more vulnerable than bank-run and hosted ATM’s. Stick with the ones at banks; these can still be compromised, but tend to be targeted by thieves much less often.

Change Passwords and PIN’s

You may want to change your passwords after a trip; identity thieves are thought to be very patient criminals, and often wait until you are less likely to pay attention after a few weeks at home.

 

 

 

 

How to Escape While Staying Connected

Leave the laptop behind, dump the mobile device and otherwise abandon anything that could be called “always on” — so goes a frequent recommendation to stressed vacationers. The thinking is that if it’s too easy to stay in touch via phone and email with work, social obligations and the daily grind, you’ll never really get away from it all.

Sounds like sound advice — except that I’m not sure I agree. I have found that sacrificing a little bit of free time to staying connected while traveling typically makes exit and re-entry — when the most draining work of travel and vacationing takes place — go much more smoothly. In the end, checking in a few times during your vacation is a small price to pay to avoid returning home to a chaotic swarm of neglected responsibilities.

Some folks wouldn’t take a walk without all their devices, while others can’t wait to jettison everything and get off the communication grid. When my own five-year-old cell phone suffered some water damage,

Laptop, cell phone, tablet — take ’em along, leave ’em home, take your pick? Let’s say most of us have three primary email addresses (work, home, alternate) and matching triple voice mails (work, home, cell). That’s a lot of stuff to check while you’re trying to unwind; a couple of hours can pass in a blink by the time you have gotten through them all.

Less to Do Before and After Your Trip
As mentioned above, I believe the most compelling reason to stay connected on the road is to reduce the strain of both leaving and returning. As comfortable as home can be, few things can diminish the glow of a good trip quite as quickly as arriving home to find that two weeks of the detritus of modern life has been accumulating in your absence and that it’ll take days to clear it out.

I would say that the only thing worse than a pile of junk mail in a plastic USPS box and fading newspapers on your stoop is a “mail box is full” message on your voicemail and a couple dozen screens worth of email on your first login when you get home.

And it’s not just when you get home. Leaving notes for dog walkers, putting your house in order and letting everyone who might want your attention know that you will be away is almost always more trouble than checking email for a few minutes in a hotel room every day. While traveling, if you can dispatch tasks and information with short, concise emails written in a few seconds during your trip, there is a lot less accumulated clutter when you return, and less to do before you leave.

Fewer Surprises
The only thing worse than returning from a trip to an inbox full of nuisance emails is finding out too late that a major problem has come up. Keeping in touch with work and personal email semi-regularly is the best way to keep on top of big events. It also gives you…

Increased Control
Trying to fix big problems from a hotel is not a fun place to find yourself. If you have a speedy laptop stocked with all your likely contacts, you’ll be well positioned to deal with anything that goes wrong.

Lowered Expectations
An “away” or “vacation” auto response message followed up with an email with a footer that reads “sent from my cell phone” lets you get away with murder in terms of brevity and specificity — folks are just grateful to get a reply so they can keep working on or stop worrying about whatever it is for which they needed your attention.

 

 

Things to know about speeding & traffic laws

Some roadways are designated as low-speed zones. These include areas with high pedestrian traffic, such as school zones and streets lots of intersections close together. Driving over the speed limit can put you and others at risk of harm.
-Never pass a stopped bus displaying a stop sign to its left. That means children are crossing the street.
-If you hear a siren coming behind you, pull to the side if you can, stop and wait until the police car or fire truck goes by.
-Completely stop at stop signs and look for other drivers and pedestrians before you proceed.
-Obey the posted speed limit at all times. Speeding tickets are costly, and penalties for speeding can include fines, court appearances and loss or suspension of your driving privileges. Also, depending on your insurance policy, speeding tickets can raise your rates.
-When parking your vehicle, always be mindful of handicapped signs, fire hydrants, bus stop zones, parking restrictions for certain times of day, and parking spots that require permits. Just remember to heed all of the signs. Even if you have to circle the block a couple times, it sure beats getting fined or having your car towed.

What to do after an auto accident

If you’re in an accident, first make sure no one in the car is injured. Next, check on the passengers in the other vehicle, pedestrians and anyone else nearby to make sure they’re OK. Then do these five things:
-Stay at the scene. Leaving can result in legal consequences, like fines or additional violations.
-Call 911 or the local police immediately. They’ll dispatch an officer and medical personnel to the scene of the accident. Once the cops arrive, wait for them to complete an accident report.
-If you’re on a busy highway, stay inside the car and wait for the police or an ambulance. It’s dangerous if passengers stand along a freeway or other road with lots of traffic.
-Don’t get into an argument or a fight with the other driver. Simply exchange contact and insurance information. If possible, also get the name and phone numbers of witnesses.
-Call your insurance provider to report the claim. Your agent will ask you for any paperwork you receive about the accident, and will give you important information on getting your car fixed.

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Tualatin’s RV parts and accessories store

Funtime RV’s, trailer, and motorhome parts and accessories department is your source for factory certified RV parts. If you are looking for RV parts in the Tualatin area, then you have come to the right place. Funtime RV has a wide variety of RV parts and accessories, from appliances, awnings, electrical, towing, picnic, to chairs, t-shirts, and key rings. If we don’t have the RV part or accessory you are looking for, we can order it directly from the factory.

Discount RV Parts at Funtime RV

Our parts RV store is conveniently located at 19495 SW Teton Ave, Tualatin, OR. If you want to order parts from Funtime RV , then simply fill out this online RV part ordering form or call us at 503-925-9620 and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Tualatin’s discount parts and factory direct source for RV parts. We have the best parts and accessories prices in Tualatin, OR. If you don’t know exactly what RV part you need, ask our RV techs. Funtime RV parts and accessories staff is extremely knowledgeable and know about all RV parts. If you can’t install the part yourself, let our factory trained service department help you out.

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We honor all warranty work and favor any recalls. We accommodate any type of problem that may arise with your Coachmen, Fleetwood, Forest River, Heartland, Holiday Rambler, Pacific Coachworks and Shasta recreational vehicles in an efficient, precise, and timely manner. We are located in Tualatin, OR, near Portland, Salem, and Eugene, Oregon.

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Funtime RV has the technology and staff to make your motorhome or trailer run and look like new. Our experienced RV technicians have the skills to correctly diagnose and repair your Coachmen, Fleetwood, Forest River, Heartland, Holiday Rambler, Pacific Coachworks and Shasta the first time. The mechanics at Funtime RV are the Tualatin RV, trailer and motorhome repair experts; whether you need a brake job, oil change or OR any RV repair. Stop and schedule an appointment at our Funtime RV dealership’s state-of-the-art service facility. You can also fill out our online service request form and schedule your RV repair online. Please allow 1 business day for appointment request validation.

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At Funtime RV, we are RV enthusiasts, and there’s nothing we like more than helping our customers find the kind of fun and adventure that a quality motorhome and trailer can bring. If you’re considering financing your new Coachmen, Fleetwood, Forest River, Heartland, Holiday Rambler, Pacific Coachworks or Shasta, you’re in good hands with our finance department. We are thrilled to get the opportunity to help you set up a financing plan that gets you out on the road as soon as possible.

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Our knowledgeable finance staff is here to make the process of purchasing your motorhome or trailer easy, so don’t put off your dreams. Come in and talk to us today! You’ll know you made the right choice when you’re traveling the country in your new Coachmen, Fleetwood, Forest River, Heartland, Holiday Rambler, Pacific Coachworks or Shasta.

Get a Jumpstart on Summer Camping

Start planning your summer camping trips now! Here are 4 gorgeous spots to visit in Oregon.

Nestucca River Scenic Byway
The Nestucca River sings on its way to the sea and you may hear its song! It’s a place where milky white clouds wisps dance above giant Doug fir trees or tiny wild iris bunches burst to life close to ground.

So be prepared to spend some time in the Oregon Coast Range, 13 miles west of Carlton, and savor a roadway that threads through the heart of the mountains. It is a back road so significant that the Bureau of Land Management designated eleven miles of it a National Scenic Byway.

You certainly won’t worry about getting lost on this scenic byway because right at the very start – at Dovre Campground – there’s a huge wooden map to show you the way; plus, it identifies several different campgrounds that invite you to make a longer stay. There are four campgrounds along this byway and each is sheltered under cool canopies of big leaf maple and alder. Each offers campsites that are tucked away in a forest setting and many are streamside too.

Sometimes the campgrounds are but a starting point that will allow you to launch side trips, like the short hike up Dovre Creek where you can enjoy the Dovre Creek Waterfall. It’s a stunner of a cascade-style waterfall in spring and summer, and offers cool respite when the day heats up.

As you continue your drive west on the byway toward Beaver, keep in mind that the road parallels an ancient river marked by 40-million year old basalt rock formations that even on cloudless days are drenched from seeping groundwater. The water drips and slides across lush moss and water-loving wildflowers that hang from the rock walls.

You are apt to find me along this river in summer, especially on a day when sunbeams light up the scene and a fairy slipper orchid waves me along a river that flows toward the sea with its magical, ageless song.

Whalen Island
Take a deep breath and savor a place meant for the quiet times at the only Oregon State Park that’s a coastal island getaway at Clay Myers Natural Area. The site includes nearly two hundred acres of forest, sand and estuary. The unique Whalen Island property is prized because there are few folks around.

“We don’t get huge amounts of use here,” noted Oregon State Parks and Recreation Manager Pete Marvin. “You often have the place pretty much to yourself and that makes it nice.”

The waterway surrounding Whalen Island is called Sandlake and it is shallow throughout, averaging just 2 feet deep at flood tide. The estuary wraps around the island on the high tide and that is the time you will find paddlers like Marcus Hinz launching kayak excursions to explore the parkland. “I like to bring folks here to enjoy the quiet, serene and secluded nature of the waterway,” said Hinz.

Hinz is a co-owner of Kayak Tillamook and he leads tours for a company that specializes in coastal estuary trips: “You don’t see many people here because it’s too shallow for motorized boats.”

Hinz adds that Sandlake’s isolation means paddlers should be prepared to handle any issue that might arise on the water. “Even though it is a shallow waterway, there are deeper parts and the tide does recede out into the ocean. So it’s important to wear your life jackets, bring an extra paddle, basic first aid and a communication device in case you get into trouble.”

Whalen Island is tucked between two landmark coastal features: Cape Lookout to the north, a massive forested headland that juts more than two-miles out to sea. Plus, Cape Kiwanda is to the south with its landmark Haystack Rock just offshore.

Tillamook County manages Whalen Island Campground’s eight acres that offers 30 sites for tents or trailer, without hook ups.

Let’s Go Camping
It’s summer time and the camping life is easy — unless you’re a newcomer to the camping experience. But at Silver Falls State Park no one is left behind when the call goes out: “Let‘s Go Camping.”

“Have fun and try not to make too much work” is a key message for the folks who signed up for the Oregon State Park program called Let’s Go Camping. “It’s a bit like a class in Camping 101 where no assumptions are made about your outdoor skills, abilities or experiences,” said Oregon Parks and Recreation staff member Kevin Farron.

In addition, Farron added that dedicated volunteers lead many of the “Let’s Go Camping” seminars for newcomer campers at state parks through the summer. The goal is to introduce beginners to the techniques and equipment that many car campers (folks who stay in a tent rather than a trailer or RV) might consider for their own camping trip. In fact, if you don’t own camping gear that’s okay, because they will loan you the tent, sleeping bags, pads and stoves to set you on the right path.

Eric Markman said the idea is perfectly suited to families that are trying to get their youngsters outdoors this summer. “If you haven’t done much camping and you’re a little intimidated by it, it’s a great way to start. A low risk, highly educational and great family oriented approach to doing it.”

Park rangers also assist the class with lessons on safety, like showing and talking about the ten safety essentials you’d want to take with you on a hike, plus everyday camping techniques and the proper way to build a fire. There’s even a cooking lesson – dutch oven style.

Bryan Jones, one of the “Let’s Go Camping” volunteers, said he wouldn’t trade a minute of the experiences he’s had teaching Oregon’s next generation of campers: “I saw this program online I clicked on the link and volunteered for a weekend to help out – now, I’m hooked on showing inexperienced families the pleasures in of camping in Oregon.”

Cascadia State Park
It’s a Huck Finn sort of world along the Santiam River as you motor through “Short Bridge” – a wooden, shingle-covered bridge built in 1945. The bridge connects you with adventure at Cascadia State Park, where you will enjoy 24 sites for tent or small trailers.

The serene camp setting was once a center for those seeking healthy remedies for whatever ailed them from mineral water that bubbled out of the ground. A century ago it was a resort with a health spa and included a post office, hotel and camping area that became a vacation destination for thousands.

There is a huge picnic area to explore before you find the signs that take you up a trail along Soda Creek. It’s a 3/4- mile hike to reach Lower Soda Falls on a moderate trail that is steep and muddy in spots. An old growth forest shades you on this route that follows the tiny creek, so allow yourself some time to stop along the way and savor the scenes. The payoff is worth the effort when you reach end of the line at Lower Soda Waterfall; over 150 feet of water cascades top to bottom in a cool, refreshing moment.

When the river and the roadway call you back, be sure to duck in and enjoy the whopper of a wildflower show. The Camas Prairie is a forest service managed site just off Moose Creek Road near Cascadia State Park. It is a site best enjoyed from a distance, so bring a camera and please stay out of the meadows. The site is a protected area and an important cultural and natural resource. The Camas Prairie visit is a perfect cap to the day’s getaway adventure along a delightful scenic byway.