Negril is a large town located on the Western end of the island of Jamaica. It is famous for its natural waterfalls and beautiful sandy beaches. Each year tens of thousands of travelers make their way to Negril and many travelers marvel at it’s natural beauty. Because Negril is located on the western end of the island, it’s pristine sandy beaches run for many miles along the coastline. The word Negril has its origins in Spanish. The definitive meaning behind the name has been long lost.

Travelers to Negril, Jamaica will undoubtedly want to learn more about Negril before venturing there. The weather in Negril, Jamaica is hot for much of the year with temperatures often reaching into the upper eighties to lower ninety degree Fahrenheit range. Because the temperature in Negril is generally hot, there are many outdoor activities to partake in in Negril. As a matter of fact, many of these outdoor activities involve water because of Negrils location and the ready availability of beaches, waterfalls and pools. Negril is perfect for swimming, diving and such activities.

One of the easiest ways for a foreigner to get to Negril, when visiting Jamaica, is to choose an arrival flight which lands at the airport in Montego Bay and then to take a taxi, bus or car to Negril.

Although the Negril Jamaica Weather forecast is generally quite good for much of the year, please be aware that between the months of June to about November (and sometimes December) there … Continue Reading ...

Aruba is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and is located in the Caribbean Sea north of Venezuela. The Netherlands Antilles islands of Bonaire and Curacao are just to the east. Aruba is fairly flat with some hills several hundred feet high. It is a popular tourist destination and is known for its white sandy beaches.

Hurricanes and tropical storms nearly always pass to the north of Aruba, through the central Caribbean or farther north. Occasionally some fringe effects such as outer rain bands or high surf do reach the island. Upper air winds are usually unfavorable for hurricanes to develop near Aruba. The tropical storms and hurricanes that do bring fringe effects mostly form east of the Lesser Antilles and then move well north of the island.

Aruba Rainfall

Aruba has a short wet season which runs from October through December. The increased rain is due to the proximity of the monsoon trough across northern South America. About 3-4 inches of rainfall occurs each month during this time period. The rest of the year is quite dry with an average of one inch per month.

Aruba Temperatures

Temperatures change very little during the year. Highs are in the upper 80’s from late spring through early autumn. Overnight lows only drop to near 80 degrees. The rest of the year day time high temperatures reach the mid 80’s with lows in the mid 70’s.

Aruba Travel Weather Summary

Travelers visiting Aruba can count on lots of sunshine most months … Continue Reading ...

Camping is great all year round, but plenty of people like to plan their trip during the fall season where the nature views have breath-taking hues of red and orange. Some people prefer to spend time outdoors during winter, too, as the campgrounds are less crowded.

But camping during these cold seasons is quite different compared to when you go during warmer seasons like summer and spring. There are more things to consider. More importantly, your goal is to keep warm.

Follow these effective ways to keep warm when camping in cold weather:

Know before you go

It is highly important that you know what you will be up against when it comes to the weather during your trip. The best way to stay warm is to be informed beforehand, so you know what to prepare, what to bring and what to expect.

Check the weather forecasts and trends. You can also do research about recent changes in the terrain and trail closures of your chosen location. Best if you contact the park’s ranger to be updated.

Pack the essentials

The right clothing and sleeping gear are paramount to help fight the cold outdoors. When packing your clothes, bring layers – preferably synthetic and wool base layers. Gloves, thick socks, boots and cold-weather hat are important.

When it comes to sleeping gear, a closed cell foam sleeping pad, a sleeping bag (with the appropriate temperature rating) and a warming/space blanket are ideal.

Pee Before You Sleep

You wouldn’t want to … Continue Reading ...

If you enjoy sailing, it is likely that you will have to deal with heavy weather at one point or another. It’s not as if you can avoid heavy winds and bad sea conditions forever. Knowing what to do in such situations is one of the most important things that you need to learn as a sailor. Sailing in rough seas is dangerous, but it could also be fun especially if both you and your boat are capable enough to handle tough tides. Whether you deliberately set sail in bad weather or you’re already out in the open when the nasty winds hit, your only option is to keep sailing. Read on to know some helpful tips on how to survive heavy weather conditions while sailing.

1. Check your boat- Before you leave the dock, you need to ensure that your boat can handle strong winds and huge waves. If you are having doubts on the capacity of your boat, then don’t dare leave the port. Make sure that all your boat’s fittings are securely mounted and in the condition to take a great amount of strain. Check if the rigging and bailing equipment are fully functional.

2. Prepare the sails for reefing– Reefing the mainsail involves reducing the sail of the mainsail by lowering it partway. Mark your boat’s mainsail halyard in advance to reveal the setting for the 1st and 2nd luff reefing points. This will allow you to know how far you need to lower the … Continue Reading ...

Is it wise to bet on horse races when the weather is extremely cold? Does the cold effect how horses run? We think of other weather events as affecting the races, but what about when Old Man Winter descends on the race track? What does that do to our handicapping?

First of all, though their hair is short most of the time, let me assure you that horses are built for the cold. First of all, just by the sheer size of them, they have enough bulk to hold body heat very well. Secondly, if they are left without blankets in the winter, they build up a nice thick coat of fine hair under the outer layer of hair and it is a great insulator.

Looking around the world, for instance, to the steps of Asia where horses have been domesticated for thousands of years, we find horses living in extremely cold conditions and thriving. So the short answer is that the cold won’t hurt the horses. On the other hand, it may affect how they run.

Like any athletes, horse’s muscles have to be warmed up properly to avoid cramping and this is particularly true in the cold. While early speed may hold up well on a warm day, there might be a slight drop off due to cold, but usually, if a horse has warmed up properly, it will carry its speed well through a race. That is, of course, if it has the stamina and that is … Continue Reading ...

Playing Cornhole has changed a lot in the last 20 years. What started out as a college game in the Midwest in the 1990’s, has morphed into a nationwide outdoor game phenomenon, enjoyed by all ages and walks of life. The game of Cornhole has gained more notoriety and respect progressing from an occasional outdoor game to a legitimate sport, complete with its own governing body: The American Cornhole Association. For many people, it is critically important to have consistency and standards in place, specifically with the composition of Cornhole bags.

Like the name implies, Cornhole bags were originally filled with corn. However, corn filled bags have a few inherent drawbacks, which can affect the performance and durability of your bags. Corn is an organic substance, and like any organic substance, will change when in contact with water. When your Cornhole bags get wet from dew, rain or beer individual kernels within the bag will swell up absorbing the liquid. Now your Cornhole bag is swollen and heavy. With increased size and weight comes added pressure on the bags bindings (stitching), and affects the accuracy when tossed. Like anything else that is no longer living, the introduction of water speeds up the decaying process, which isn’t good for your kernels or bags. As the liquid from the kernels is evaporated, the kernels shrink and the process of expanding and contracting repeats with each liquid encounter-not good.

One of the most common complaints of corn filled bags is that they are … Continue Reading ...