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The Tips and Tricks of Being a TWR Adventurer
Exploring the Great Lakes Region in an unconventional way while stumbling across hidden gems and geological wonders is an incredible adventure. However, like anything we do, it is important to be conscious of the spaces we visit and unlimitedly respect our natural environment.
We at The Weekend Route pulled together the top tips for enjoying our adventures while we support our environment, local businesses, and ourselves!
LET’S GET ADVENTURING!
Leave No Trace
Photos and videos are a great way to remember a cool place that you visit, but spray painting, making statues or altering nature in any way is not a good practice. Leave each area that you discover in the same way that you found it.
Pack In & Pack Out
Some adventures can be full days and you will have to bring food or supplies with you, however, be mindful of littering and bring all of your garbage and recycling back with you. Another great practice is to pick up any additional litter that you see along your way!
Travel in Smaller Groups
Many of The Weekend Route locations are in remote or unexplored areas that are deep in nature. While large groups can be really fun, sometimes a big crowd of people that show up at once can disturb the tranquillity of space, especially if others are trying to enjoy it as well. If you are in a bigger group, be mindful of your noise and let others explore the same area that you are in.
Support Local Businesses
Supporting local economies that you visit is so important! It is good to be prepared and bring supplies with you on an adventure, but if you can buy these supplies in a small town, the purchases can positively impact the communities. Instead of getting a coffee at a chain restaurant, why not try a family-owned café? And why not pick up lunch at a local restaurant to try something new? These are great and easy ways to support whatever community you are visiting.
Buy Locally
Buying locally produced foods adds to the last point of supporting local economies. This can also be a really unique experience to go to a place like a strawberry farm or an orchard to pick your own fresh produce. Nothing tastes better than the quality fresh produce or meats!
Practice Fire Safety
In many of The Weekend Route’s adventures, our team uses locally purchased foods to create delicious meals over a campfire. This is a really unique and fun way to eat, but, if you build a campfire be conscious about where you are starting a fire, bring proper supplies with you, fully put out the fire before you leave, and most importantly abide by local fire warnings and regulations.
Prepare for the Weather
The Great Lakes Region has four very distinct seasons, which means The Weekend Route’s itineraries could vary greatly depending on the weather. Many of the routes can be completed throughout the year, however, some adventures could potentially be dangerous if water levels are too high in the spring or if conditions are too icy in the winter. Before leaving for a trip, make sure that the weather will allow you to have a safe and fun adventure. Another note is to dress appropriately and bring layers! Even within one season, the temperature in the morning to afternoon to evening can be a drastic change.
Being a TWR adventurer is a great way to explore the unexplored, however, with these tips, we can make sure that we had a positive impact on the places we visit. Thanks for doing your best to support local businesses and preserve the natural beauty of the Great Lakes!
