next mile travel

Welcome to NEXT MILE, your premier travel agency headquartered in the heart of the Czech Republic. At NEXT MILE, we take pride in curating unforgettable journeys for both FITs and GITs, offering a diverse range of services that cater to every traveler's desires.

Destinations: Embark on a journey with NEXT MILE that spans the picturesque landscapes and rich cultural tapestry of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary,Germany, Poland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Our expertly crafted itineraries ensure you experience the best each destination has to offer.

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Food to Fuel Your Next Adventure

Eat Better | Pack Lighter | Go Farther

FEATURED ON

KETO BACKPACKING MEALS

(for non-keto hikers!)

Ready to break away from the dehydrated rice and beans?  Tired of the processed carbs and starches you typically find in stores? Craving great-tasting meals that use healthy ingredients and carefully crafted spice flavors?

Our ketogenic backpacking meals offer  day-to-day variety  while still allowing you to keep to your macros and nutrition goals, whether you’re camping with friends or tackling a thru-hike.

Not keto?   Thousands of our carb-loving customers are NOT keto and still think we're the best thing since... sliced bread 😉. Our meals on their own (or with instant rice or pasta) are designed to impress.

Start your day on the right foot with our new line of...  

Lunch & Dinner

Double the MEAT and protein

... and none of the fillers. The first ingredient of every one of meals is protein. Not cheap rice, pasta, flour, or other fillers. 100% USDA meat, fresh vegetables, and carefully chosen spices go into each backpacking meal and are preserved and freeze-dried at the peak of freshness.

Our Best Sellers

Italian beef marinara.

(170) 170 total reviews

(165) 165 total reviews

Chicken & Broccoli Casserole

(143) 143 total reviews

Let customers speak for us

Tried y’all out for our recent backpacking trip. Husband and I recently started a Keto diet and have lost almost 60 pounds between us. He can be picky. All I can say is you knocked it out of the park! Great Job! Y’all are now our go to company for backpacking food!

Started my Keto journey about 3 months ago. Purchased a sampler pack for a Maryland Section Hike. The meals were awesome!! Very tasty, filled me up without being too full. I will without a doubt be buying more of these meals for future trips.

My brother and I hiked 60 miles on the NCT last week and ate next mile meals each night. These are, by far, the best dehydrated meals we’ve had. I would recommend these meals for sure, and I will buy more for my next hiking/camping trip.

I ate this today for lunch out on a hike (my wife had the Chicken and Broccoli) and it was so good. Stir it up good so the cheese mixes up - and yes even the cheese was gooey and delicious in this meal. Watch out cause this company is going to explode more than they already have!

After many many miles of trails including the CT and the CDT I discovered these meals after my ex-wife went on a keto diet. We were on a backpacking trip and she offered to share a meal with me. Best hiking meal I'd ever had. Thank you so much for producing these delicious, healthy meals.

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We offer free shipping in the contigous US and deeply discounted shipping to AK and HI.

Sampler Pack

Can’t decide which meals you want to try? Try them all and save more than 10%! You'll get six dinners, one each of the following full-size dinner entrees

Or Choose Your New Favorites:

Sausage scramble.

(174) 174 total reviews

Steak Omelette

(172) 172 total reviews

Buffalo Ranch Chicken

(106) 106 total reviews

Coconut Chicken Curry

(78) 78 total reviews

Deli Roast Beef

(56) 56 total reviews

Cajun Jambalaya

(75) 75 total reviews

Our Mission

Healthy, delicious meals for the backcountry or the backyard.

Made for backpackers, by backpackers

We know Next Mile Meals are the best choice to fuel your adventures because we not only "talk the talk", but we "walked the walk".

Well, "hiked the hike".

We designed each freeze-dried recipe and healthy backpacking meal for ourselves first, to help us tackle our own dreams of thru-hiking the 2600+ mile Pacific Crest Trail; a hike that challenged the conventional hiker diet of carbs and candy. 

Trust us, these meals are game changers. And they're only the beginning.

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Best Backpacking Meals of 2024

From long-standing classics to new-wave gourmet offerings, we break down the top just-add-water backcountry meals.

Switchback Travel

We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases. Read more about us . 

It almost goes without saying: dinnertime is one of the best parts of any backpacking trip. There’s just nothing quite like warm, filling food after a long day on the trail. In choosing the best backpacking meals of 2024, we focus on taste, nutritional value, packability, preparation time, and cleanup. In addition, weight, calories, and price certainly matter to most backpackers, so we calculated handy “calories per ounce” and "calories per dollar" specs for each. For more background information on choosing the right meal, see our comparison table and buying advice below the picks. To complete your mealtime toolkit, see our article on the best backpacking stoves .  

Our Team's Backpacking Meal Picks

• Best Overall Backpacking Meals: Backpacker’s Pantry
• Best Budget Backpacking Meals:  RightOnTrek Adventure Meals
• Best Gourmet Backpacking Meals: Gastro Gnome
• Best Calorie-Dense Backpacking Meals: Pinnacle Foods Co
• Best Marketplace for Backcountry Chefs: Harmony House Foods

Best Overall  Backpacking Meals

1. backpacker’s pantry ($10 - $13).

Choosing a top pick is never easy, especially when it comes to something as subjective as food. Everyone has their own taste and dietary preferences, caloric needs, and budget, and we’re not here to tell you what to like. What’s more, in 2024, there’s no shortage of incredible mom-and-pop companies serving up delicious and nutritious backcountry meals (don’t worry, we’ll get to these below). All that said, we’ve reserved our best overall pick for a reliable standby that offers a large and diverse menu—including many gluten-free, vegan, and organic options—and great bang for the buck: Backpacker’s Pantry. Their Pad Thai, which comes complete with a small package of peanut butter and handful of separately packaged peanuts, is one of our all-time favorites.

If you visit the food aisle of just about any outdoor store, you’ll see Backpacker’s Pantry, Mountain House, and AlpineAire compete for the title of most ubiquitous backcountry meal. All three are reasonably priced and come in flat, packable pouches, large serving sizes, and a plethora of special diet options. But we think Backpacker’s Pantry meals taste better than the competition, and at 58.8 calories per dollar on average, they offer excellent bang for your buck, too (Mountain House and AlpineAire meals average 52.7 and 48.5 cal/$, respectively). For value alongside great flavors and recognizable ingredients, Backpacker's Pantry puts it all together better than most. And if you're willing to spend up for gourmet, organic, or all-natural menus, check out options like Heather's Choice and Good To-Go below. See Backpacker's Pantry Meals

Best Budget Backpacking Meals

2. rightontrek adventure meals ($8 - $15).

Food is expensive in 2024, and backcountry meals are no exception. For the most affordable option on the market, take a look at RightOnTrek. While their price tags are slightly lower than that of the competition (around $10 for single servings and $15 for double), the real kicker here is calorie count. These are legitimate one- and two-serving meals—while many meals that advertise as two-person offerings make a great dinner for one (like those from Firepot below), we’re guessing that most hikers won't be tackling RightOnTrek’s 1150-calorie two-serving Backcountry Chili on their own. And the numbers don’t lie: In our calorie per dollar metric, RightOnTrek scores head and shoulders above the rest. 

However, RightOnTrek’s meals come with one major caveat: They must be cooked in a pot over a stove, which is a lot less convenient than a just-add-water pouch. Most notably, this method requires dirtying a pot, which will then need to be cleaned before boiling water for coffee or tea (be sure to follow Leave No Trace practices when you dispose of your wastewater). On the other hand, RightOnTrek’s meals are faster to prepare than many of the just-add-water meals here, at about 10 minutes from start to finish. And we’re also big fans of RightOnTrek’s meal kits, which include everything you need for a day out (snacks, breakfast, hot drinks, and more). And for budget just-add-water pouches, check out Mountain House below. See RightOnTrek Adventure Meals

Best Gourmet Backpacking Meals

3.  gastro gnome ($17).

Choosing between various backpacking meal options isn’t too dissimilar to deciding on a restaurant: You’ll factor in price, quality of food, amount of food, and overall experience. And as restaurants vary from fast food joints to fine dining, so too do your backcountry options. Gastro Gnome sits at the top of the food chain, with a small-team operation that uses real ingredients and bonafide cooking practices (including marinating their Indian Yogurt Braised Chicken overnight) to deliver truly top-notch meals. Their menu includes offerings like Almond Pesto and Mushroom Ragu Farfalle and Italian Fennel Sausage Rigatoni—and they actually taste as delicious as they sound.

At 125.5 calories per ounce, Gastro Gnome’s meals are about mid-pack in terms of caloric density, which is impressive in the gourmet category and makes them a totally viable option for everyone from ultralight thru-hikers to casual backpackers. And unlike most gourmet restaurants, there’s not much of a cost penalty with Gastro Gnome’s meals—they’re pricey at $17 per dinner, but in 2024, that’s just the high end of normal. You will want to prepare yourself for complex flavors, which not everyone is drawn to in the backcountry (sometimes we just crave good ol’ mac and cheese). But when sampled alongside other premium meals on a recent backpacking trip, all six members of our testing team concurred: Gastro Gnome’s entrées are something special.  See Gastro Gnome Meals

Best Calorie-Dense Backpacking Meals

4.  pinnacle foods co ($16).

If you’re trying to keep your pack weight low while maximizing your food supply, Pinnacle Foods should be at the top of your list. This small but mighty High Point, NC-based brand uses fresh and natural ingredients to create high-powered entrées, which offer by far the best caloric density here at 169 calories per ounce. We’ve taken Pinnacle meals along on our last three backcountry outings, and have yet to be disappointed: Their Thai Peanut Curry is among the best we’ve tried, and the Italian Sausage and Zesty Tomato Sauce with Farfalle Pasta is just what you want after a long day out. For thru-hikers, climbers, serious backpackers, and anyone else needing filling meals at a low weight, give Pinnacle Foods a closer look.

Our one gripe with Pinnacle’s offerings is their high sodium content, which hovers around 50 to 70% of your daily value for each meal. But for Pinnacle Foods’ target audience, this could actually be a strong suit. They also give you the option between standard (Retort) and omnidegradable pouches, the latter of which have a shorter best-buy date, but are actually compostable (more and more we’re seeing these used in backpacking meals). All told, you’d be hard pressed to find another company that offers the same combination of great flavors, real-food ingredients, and caloric density—we’re always happy when we see a Pinnacle Foods pouch in our pack, and know it’s going to be a tasty and satiating meal. See Pinnacle Foods Meals Co

Best Marketplace for Backcountry Chefs

5. harmony house foods.

Harmony House’s website is reminiscent of the bulk foods aisle of your local grocery co-op, with a large assortment of dehydrated and freeze-dried offerings. Ambitious backcountry chefs can stock up on the staples—dried vegetables and beans, meat-flavored TVPs (short for textured vegetable protein), fruits and berries, soup blends, and more—and save a good deal of cash in the process. You can pre-pack your meals at home (Harmony House sells a few different sizes of just-add-water zip pouches) or bring the pantry to the field so you can improvise for each evening’s meal.

Unlike most backcountry food brands, Harmony House does not offer pre-packaged entrées, limiting their appeal to seasoned camp chefs or those inclined to DIY. And because Harmony House is completely vegetarian and gluten-free, you won’t find dehydrated meats or many simple carbohydrates, which are an easy way to tack on extra calories and protein in the field. Further, most hikers will simmer these supplemental ingredients in a pot along with instant rice or noodles (easily purchased at your local grocery store), resulting in additional cleanup compared to simple pouch meals. But if you’re on trail for long stretches and looking for an affordable yet healthy alternative to pre-packaged dinners, Harmony House is a great place to start. See Harmony House Foods

Best of the Rest

6. heather’s choice ($13 - $16).

After dehydrating her own backcountry food for years, Alaska-based Heather Feather launched Heather’s Choice via a Kickstarter campaign in 2015. Now, this small and growing company is one of our favorite choices when it comes to taste, ingredients, and gluten-free options. Heather takes care in putting together her meals, using high-powered foods such as coconut, maple syrup, wild-caught Alaskan Sockeye salmon, and 100%-grass-fed bison and elk. Impressively, many of the dinner options contain a whopping 35 to 40 grams of protein per serving and average out to 130 calories per ounce. And the cherry on top: each meal comes in an impressively tiny package (kudos to Heather for conserving materials), which is great for small packs and spoons alike.

You don’t get a ton of options with Heather’s Choice, especially if you’re a vegetarian (although each dinner is gluten, soy, egg, and dairy-free). Further, the one-serving meals will run you as much as $16, and at around 500 calories per entrée, you get a lot less bang for your buck than with Backpacker's Pantry above (34.2 calories per dollar vs. 58.8). But Heather’s Choice is some of the best-tasting and well-sourced backpacking food around, and the tradeoffs could be well worth it for those who don’t want to compromise enjoyment or nutrition while on the trail. And to complete your kit, we also recommend looking at Heather’s Choice’s breakfast options ($9) and her popular cookie-like Packaroons, which offer 170 calories of healthy fats and sugars in a 1-ounce package. See Heather's Choice Meals

7. Good To-Go ($9 - $16)

Founded in the rural southwest of England, Firepot is fresh on the scene in the U.S., now being sold through the outdoor giant REI. We tested a number of their meals on a recent backpacking trip in Patagonia, and were very impressed with what the small startup has put together. Their entrées represent a positive shift in backcountry cuisine that we’re all excited about: a focus on whole, natural ingredients and thoughtful flavors. Sourcing much of their ingredients from the rural area around their headquarters, Firepot’s meals are some of the best we’ve tasted, and include a number of vegan and gluten-free options as well.

Firepot goes head-to-head with Gastro Gnome as one of the best sourced and healthiest meals here. At 108 calories per ounce, it’s not quite as power-packed as Gastro Gnome, which might be a consideration for those particularly concerned about keeping pack weight low. But you do get a lot of calories per pouch—ours averaged about 770 calories per meal—which results in a better value overall (especially if you’re sharing your meal or like a healthy amount of food). All in all, Firepot is a great brand to have on your radar, and if you order from their website (a bit tricky from the States), you get the option of compostable packaging, too. See Firepot Meals

9. Farm to Summit ($13 - $15)

Farm to Summit joins the ranks of gourmet backpacking meals, with a small assortment of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free entrées made in small batches with real food. As their name states, Farm to Summit sources many of their ingredients directly from farms, and focuses especially on “imperfect” produce: fruits and vegetables that are rejected by grocery stores due to deformities, scars, or being overly ripe (last year, 32% of the produce in Farm to Summit’s meals was imperfect and would have otherwise gone to waste). At the time of publishing, they offer nine unique entrées, ranging from Thai Red Curry to Garden Mac & Cheese.

Farm to Summit meals are great for those who prioritize healthy eating and natural ingredients in the backcountry, but their veggie-forward menu might come up short for those wanting to pack in the calories. However, they’re nevertheless a great meatless option that’s priced a bit lower than much of the gourmet competition, and you can still get your protein with entrées like the Three Bean Chili (39g of protein). Finally, it’s also worth mentioning Farm to Summit’s powdered latte mixes—including Golden Milk Latte, Chili Mocha Latte, and Double Shot Latte—which come in single-serving packets and are a luxurious replacement for black coffee (just make sure you mix them really well—we’ve been turned off by powdered chunks). See Farm to Summit Meals

10. Peak Refuel ($14)

Peak Refuel offers a competitive lineup of high-powered meals for your next adventure. Their dinners pack a serious punch with an average of 153 calories per ounce and one of the highest protein counts of any option on our list (an average of 22.5 grams per serving). And like Mountain House below, Peak Refuel’s entrées are freeze-dried, meaning that they rehydrate in just 10 minutes and with less water than dehydrated pouch meals. If you’re looking for an easy and quick way to replenish after a big day on the trail, Peak Refuel is a solid choice. 

All that said, there are some tradeoffs to going with such a power- and calorie-packed option. Unlike companies like Gastro Gnome that prioritize creative and quality ingredient lists, Peak Refuel’s offerings are fairly traditional and noodle-heavy. Further, we’ve found that the double service sizes aren’t ideal for solo adventures—with close to 1,000 calories per pouch, many hikers will end up sharing or having to save some for later (which can be a process). On the flipside, that means you can have dinner for two for just $14, which is more affordable than most options here.  See Peak Refuel Meals

11. Stowaway Gourmet ($17 - $20)

If you’re looking for la crème de la crème of backcountry meals, check out Stowaway Gourmet. With entrée names like Bison Beer Black Bean Chili and La Pasta Nostra, you might even think you’ve stepped off the trail and into a gourmet restaurant. And the hype is real: We’ve tested a number of Stowaway’s offerings (including their breakfasts), and they taste just as good as the descriptions would suggest. They’re also packed with calories (scoring fourth on our list in terms of calories per ounce), making them a viable option for hikers concerned about keeping their pack weight low.

This might be a controversial opinion, but we found Stowaway Gourmet’s meals to be almost too tasty for the backcountry. Hear us out: The flavors are fairly complex, which can provide an interesting dissonance when the food is rehydrated mush eaten out of a plastic bag. This will have some demanding back their bland mac ‘n cheese, while more adventurous eaters might find at least one aspect of their palette refreshed. We’ll leave it up to you to decide. See Stowaway Gourmet Meals

12.  Mountain House Adventure Meals ($11 - $12)

The Mountain House name is practically synonymous with freeze-dried food, and for good reason. They may not knock it out of the park in terms of taste, but these meals remain a reliable and lightweight standard for backcountry cuisine. Mountain House’s home-cooked-style dinners—like Chicken & Dumplings and Chili Mac with Beef—cook up quickly (9 min.) and are great for filling up after a long day on the trail. Importantly, you also get good bang for your buck with a price that undercuts similar two-serving options by around $4 to $5, as well as a high calorie-to-weight ratio. Plus, all Mountain House meals come with a 30-year Taste Guarantee, so you can buy now and eat much, much later. 

Mountain House has been dishing up backcountry meals for over 50 years, but the competition has never been fiercer. Unlike many of the modern gourmet options, you won’t find all-natural or organic ingredients here, and those with special diets should look elsewhere. In addition, the pasta-heavy menu hasn’t changed much in years, and each entrée is startlingly high in sodium (which can be a good thing, depending on your needs). And while Mountain House is a relatively affordable standby, Backpacker’s Pantry wins out in terms of calories per dollar. In other words, we think there are a number of better options in 2024, but we certainly won’t fault you for sticking with an old classic. It’s also worth noting Mountain House’s Pro-Pak lineup, which come in low-profile, single-serving pouches and are generally very high in protein.  See Mountain House Meals

13. PackIt Gourmet ($13 - $15)

Like entrées from brands such as Good To-Go and Heather’s Choice, Trailtopia’s ingredient lists are chock-full of all-natural foods with few chemicals or preservatives. Take their Cajun Smack Chicken & Rice, for example, which is similar to a meal you might have at home with long-grain rice, chicken, onion, broccoli, bell pepper, and spices. We’re also big fans of their short and stout packaging (you won’t have to go fishing with your spoon), and sample packs allow you to try out multiple meals at a discount before committing to full serving sizes. Finally, entrées are packaged to feed two (some single servings are available), and you can also pick up meat “side packs” to add extra protein.

There’s no denying that Trailtopia’s meals are healthy and taste good, which is great news at the end of a long day of hiking. What's more, at 59.2 calories per dollar, they offer fairly good value among the competition. That said, the menu is pretty standard and uninspiring, and you’ll have to dig a bit to find the gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options (you can’t filter specifically, but these designations are listed directly on the product pages). Finally, you can pack in more calories at a lower weight with brands like Pinnacle Foods and Peak Refuel. But small gripes aside, we’ve enjoyed digging into many a Trailtopia meal, and they get our wholehearted recommendation for those looking for real trail food. See Trailtopia Adventure Food Meals

15. Itacate ($12.50)

Up until recently, backcountry-goers have had a fairly limited menu to choose from, consisting mostly of American (or American-adapted) dishes like mac and cheese, beef stroganoff, and chicken and rice. But in the past few years, many cottage brands have stepped up to fill in the gaps, and one of the most exciting new entries is Itacate. Built by a Latinx women with the goal of bringing Mexican comfort food to the outdoors, Itacate is getting their start with a small selection of entrées, including chilaquiles, caldo tlalpeño (a chipotle-based soup), and a lentil soup.

Itacate comes from the Nahuatl word Itacatl, which refers to the food you take on a journey. We’re excited to see Itacate providing a feels-like-home option for Latinx trail-goers, and they’re also a tasty pick for anyone looking for vegan and vegetarian backcountry food. You’ll pay a bit of a premium and the three entrée options are only available in single-serving varieties (each with 490 calories). But we love supporting small brands and especially those that promote diversity in the outdoors, and look forward to trying some Itacate for ourselves soon. See Itacate Meals

  16. Next Mile Meals ($16)  

Next Mile Meals is a small company that hasn't been around for long, but we took their meals on a recent trek in Chile’s Parque Patagonia and came away very impressed with the flavors, ingredients, and quick cook time. Like Gastro Gnome above, Next Mile Meals actually taste like real food, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise after looking at the ingredient labels. These ketogenic entrées cut the carbs and pack in calorie- and nutrient-dense foods like meat, veggies, and cheese. It all adds up to an impressive 156 calories per ounce on average, which is one of the best calories-per-weight specs here.

Our main gripe about Next Mile is the price: $16 only gets you a one-serving pouch, and at only 34.9 calories per dollar on average, they’re far from a standout value (for reference, Peak Refuel's meals offer almost twice the calories per dollar). You also don’t get many entrée choices—seven at the time of publishing—but we expect more over time. Finally, Next Mile Meals are best within a year of purchase, and the included condiments have a short 180-day shelf life. But they’re a great option in terms of caloric density, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that Next Mile Meals are also all-natural and taste great. See Next Mile Meals

17. AlpineAire Foods ($10 - $15)

A small company founded by an adventurous foodie from British Columbia, Nomad Nutrition offers nutrient-dense meals with a strong emphasis on whole food ingredients. And despite being mostly plant-based and 100% gluten- and dairy-free, Nomad’s entrées are startlingly calorie- and protein-packed, topping our list with an impressive 130 calories per ounce and 15 grams or more of protein per packet. And Nomad is doing things differently with their unique dehydrating process called REVdry, which cuts out the need for preservatives and keeps the ingredient list both natural and low in sodium (a rarity among the competition).

Compared to Peak Refuel above, Nomad Nutrition’s meals have less calories per ounce, although they manage to pull it off without a single noodle-based dish. But while two hungry hikers can get away with sharing a Peak Refuel pouch, Nomad’s similarly priced meals will likely only feed one (they average about 600 calories per pouch), making them the pricier option by a sizable margin. For some it might be worth it: Looking inside a Nomad Nutrition pouch is a clean-eater’s dream, with a colorful rainbow of real food such as potatoes, broccoli, peppers, corn, peas, and more. All told, the company is off to a promising start, and we’re excited to see where they’re headed. See Nomad Nutrition Meals

Backpacking Meals Comparison Table

*These numbers represent the averages of weight, price, and calories per serving for the top five meals from each brand (when available).  

Backpacking Meals Buying Advice

About our rankings, cooking method: pouch or pot, cooking time, calories and serving size, weight (calories per ounce).

• All-Natural Options
• Special Diets

Dehydrated vs. Freeze-Dried

Breakfast and coffee, bulk ingredients, diy dehydrated meals, stoves, fuel, and cooking supplies, shelf life and emergency preparedness.

Backpacking food is a difficult gear item to rank because taste is highly individualized. Some of us love high-sodium meals in the backcountry, while others crave all-natural ingredients. Some prioritize flavor and nutrition, while others look for calorie-dense meals that pack down small. Our rankings above take all of these factors into consideration: price, weight, flavor, ingredients, packaging, variety of menu, and more. But because we’re all looking for something different to eat, you simply might not agree with our numbering. That’s okay. Using the chart above, you can hone in on what matters most to you and compare the specs for all of the meals we included.

Depending on the cooking method, the meals in this article take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes to cook. For pouch meals such as those from Heather's Choice , you simply let the food sit in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes—no need to tend to it. Pitch the tent, collect more water, sit down and work on a crossword with your hiking partner—20 minutes will fly by. We personally don’t mind this waiting time and find the distinction between 8 and 20 minutes almost inconsequential (although this doesn’t mean that we don’t dig in a little early and eat crunchy noodles on the rare occasion). On the other hand, pot meals like those from RightOnTrek require that you stir the meal occasionally as it simmers, meaning you’ll need to be beside your backpacking stove for the duration of the cook time.

We’re not here to provide an equation for calories burned based on mileage, elevation gain, pack weight, altitude, body weight, and metabolism, or give our opinion on whether or not a backpacking trip is a prime time to start a diet. We’ll leave that to the experts and to your own personal discretion. But we will say if you want to stay strong and energetic during outdoor activities, you’ll generally need to eat more than you would on a normal day at home. It’s quite simple: for every calorie out, you want to put at least one in. With that in mind, calories are your friends in the backcountry and the numbering on nutritional labels deserves your attention. 

When you find the calorie number on the back of your food pouch, take note that it denotes the number of calories in a single serving. This is not necessarily the number of calories for the whole pouch: some are single serving, others are double, and some are even made to serve four people. And keep in mind that companies vary significantly on serving size. A standard Gastro Gnome meal, for example, can contain up to 850 calories per serving, while an average Mountain House meal serving size is 264 calories. Speaking from personal experience, on a serious backpacking trip we find that we need a double serving from most brands to satiate our hunger at dinnertime. For this reason, we recommend that you pay more attention to the calorie count than the serving size, and don’t be shy about eating far more than one serving. Not often does food go to waste in the backcountry…

Whether you’re a thru-hiker who saws off half your toothbrush and tears completed pages out of your book, or a weekend warrior who enjoys creature comforts on the trail, all backcountry travelers share some level of concern about weight. Because food is such a large portion of your load, the goal is to maximize taste and calories for the least number of ounces. For this, our “calories per ounce” spec can be your guide.

To come up with this number, we divided the number of calories by the weight of the packaged meal. For example, Stowaway Gourmet 's meals average 573 calories per 3.92 ounce serving: divide 573 by 3.92 and you get 146, the calories per ounce. You’ll want to aim for around 100 calories per ounce, and the larger this number, the better. To illustrate, an average PackIt Gourmet meal contains only 105 calories per ounce, whereas Pinnacle Foods Co meals contain 169 calories per ounce. So, if you’re hoping to consume a 700-calorie dinner, Peak Refuel will weigh 4.1 ounces, and your PackIt Gourmet dinner 6.7 ounces. Add it all up over a week-long trip, and with heavier food you’re either carrying a lot more or dealing with an empty stomach.

Special Diets Most backcountry food brands have adapted their menus to accommodate the growing vegan, vegetarian, paleo, ketogenic, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free (etc., etc.) markets. Generally, it shouldn’t be difficult to find meals that suit your dietary needs. Good To-Go pouches , for example, are fully gluten-free. Farm to Summit only sells vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free cuisine, Heather’s Choice only uses ethically sourced meats, and Next Mile Meals appeals to the ketogenic crowd. Finally, AlpineAire offers a filter feature on their website that allows users to find meals with specific ingredients or special diet options. To help highlight the possibilities, we’ve included the “special diets” spec in our table above.

Sodium The American Heart Association recommends that adults limit their sodium intake to 2,300 mg per day, and ideally not exceeding 1,500 mg. However, most healthy and active individuals who spend much of the day sweating in the hot sun will need—and thus crave—high-sodium foods to replenish what is lost. With an average of 400 to 800 mg of sodium per serving (and remember, you’re probably eating more than one serving), it’s no secret that most backcountry meals are high in sodium (Pinnacle Foods' meals are among the worst offenders, with up to 1,570 mg/serving). If you’re looking to keep your sodium intake down, pay special attention to the nutritional facts (we see a great deal of variation from meal to meal). Additionally, meals from Good To-Go, Farm to Summit, and Nomad Nutrition tend to be lower in sodium than most.

Dehydrating and freeze-drying are two distinct methods of food preservation. In the freeze-drying process, food is placed in below-freezing temperatures and gradually warmed, moving water in the food from a solid to gaseous state. The dehydration process, on the other hand, exposes food to hot and dry air over several hours (smoking and sun-drying are also methods of dehydrating). In the end, the freeze-drying process removes 98-99% of moisture from food, while dehydrating removes 95%. Both processes result in dried food that needs to be soaked in water to regain its size, texture, and edibility, but with noticeably different characteristics.

Due to its lower water content, freeze-dried food is lighter and has a longer shelf life than dehydrated food. Surprisingly, it also rehydrates almost twice as quickly—freeze-dried Mountain House meals cook in 9 minutes versus the 20 minutes required for dehydrated Good To-Go meals. On the other hand, dehydrated ingredients shrink more (think plum to prune), meaning they’ll take up less room in your pack. They’re also known to keep their original texture better than freeze-dried ingredients. In terms of taste, the two methods go head to head.

While some brands (like Good To-Go and Mountain House) use either exclusively dehydrated or freeze-dried ingredients, most use both. Manufacturers use discretion when choosing which process works best for each ingredient, weighing the pros and cons of flavor, size, and price. In short, the freeze-dried versus dehydrated debate matters little to the everyday consumer. The companies do the legwork to find the best way to dry food, so we can sit back after a long day on the trail and enjoy the outcome. 

To complete your meal kit, most backpackers will want to add breakfast and coffee (and snacks) to their shopping list as well. For many of us, breakfast is a lighter, quicker, and simpler meal than dinner, and oftentimes bulk oatmeal or a bar with some dried fruit will suffice. But for those who prefer a more substantial or elaborate start to their day, there are myriad options to choose from. Most brands featured above offer a lineup of breakfasts too, ranging from savory options like the Mountain House Breakfast Skillet to sweet treats like Backpacker’s Pantry Granola with Bananas, Almonds and Milk. Packaged backcountry breakfasts usually start as low as $7 and are available in one- and two-serving options.

The pouch meals predominantly featured in this article might be your most convenient option for backcountry dining, but they aren’t the only way to eat dehydrated or freeze-dried ingredients. Maybe you’re pinching your pennies, cooking for the masses, or just enjoy channeling your inner chef in the wilderness. You can find bulk dehydrated and freeze-dried ingredients from a number of online vendors, including Harmony House Foods , HQ Organics, and PackIt Gourmet. And recipes aren’t hard to come by: with a simple Google search you can find tasty meal ideas like this Beef and Barley Stew . 

You’re paying a pretty penny for convenience when you opt for the prepackaged meals above. A one-stop shop at your local gear store (or even online) can save you hours in meal planning for your next backcountry trip. That said, if you’re inclined to DIY, you can save yourself a great deal of money by dehydrating your own meals. You can even do so in your oven, although most will find an actual food dehydrator works better. You’ll usually want to cook your ingredients before dehydrating (a raw onion, dehydrated and then rehydrated, is still a raw onion). Many online guides provide the temperature and time specifications for different types of food. And take note: if you’re dehydrating food and planning to store it for months or years, make sure that it’s properly dehydrated and fully sealed.

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Table of Contents

Helpful lingo

The master list of travel loyalty programs, articles to get you started, next up — travel rewards credit cards 101, why you should listen to us.

Perhaps you’re wondering why your friends race to foot the bill for after group dinners out. Or maybe you’re tired of being the only team member who doesn’t get bumped up to a premium class on work trips. Or maybe even you can’t knowingly pass up a deal, even if it’s a small one.

Welcome to Points and Miles 101, the official NerdWallet quick start guide for aspiring travel hackers. Here, we nerd out about all things points and miles.

Rewards travel has a language all of its own, and getting a grasp of the general concepts will improve your foray into the points and miles pool. Know words like:

Award charts. Certain airlines and hotels offer award charts to define the costs of bookings in points and/or miles. This is often done in contrast to dynamic award pricing.

Award travel. Award travel refers to flights, hotel stays, vacation packages or other travel-related expenses booked by redeeming travel rewards.

Bank programs/credit card rewards program. Some financial institutions, like Chase or Capital One, run loyalty programs associated with specific credit cards. Members typically are cardholders that earn flexible points that may be used to book flights and hotels through the program’s travel portal or transferred to other loyalty programs.

Dynamic award pricing. Dynamic award pricing means that a company ties the cost of a specific booking to the cash price. This is a pricing structure used instead of an award chart.

Loyalty programs. Loyalty programs are run by a travel corporation and exist to encourage customers to repeatedly fly or stay with the corporation’s brands. Examples include World of Hyatt and Delta SkyMiles. You can find loyalty programs offered by non-travel entities, too (but for the purposes of this guide, we'll focus on the travel-related ones).

Miles. In this context, miles are a type of travel reward earned with an airline loyalty program. They are typically earned by flying or spending on an airline credit card. You can think of miles as airline points. Whether they are called miles or points varies depending on the loyalty program — for example, United Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines use the term miles, but Southwest Airlines members earn Rapid Rewards points.

Points/travel rewards/rewards currencies/miles. Travel rewards are a virtual currency that go by many names. They are earned by charging eligible purchases to a credit card, flying, spending with partners or staying in hotels.

Redemptions. When points and miles collectors can use their earned travel rewards to pay for award travel or some other benefit/reward.

Transferable currencies. Rather than being tied to an individual brand, transferable currencies are designed to transfer to several hotels and airlines for a variety of redemptions. These are often offered by bank programs/credit card rewards programs.

Travel credit cards/rewards credit cards. Travel rewards credit cards are a type of credit card that earn points, miles or travel rewards that cardholders can redeem for award travel. Airline and hotel credit cards are a type of travel credit card, technically, but usually the term travel credit card refers to a more general card that earns a transferable currency in a bank program/credit card rewards program.

Valuations. NerdWallet’s annual analyses to figure out how much each loyalty program’s miles or points can be worth in cash when used for award travel. These values can help you determine when to pay in cash versus points.

Travel loyalty programs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The most common are hotel rewards programs, airline frequent flyer programs and bank programs. Online travel agencies, such as Hotels.com or Expedia, also run their own loyalty programs. All of these programs are similar to non-travel loyalty programs that you might already be a part of, like Target, Old Navy or Starbucks.

Here’s an overview of your travel loyalty program options, broken down by type.

Credit card rewards programs

General credit cards rewards programs — also known as bank programs that earn transferable currencies — are the bread and butter of many points and miles strategies. Their inherent flexibility (since they aren't tied to a single travel company) make them attractive to individuals who aren’t “all in” on a single program. These include:

Chase Ultimate Rewards® .

American Express Membership Rewards .

Citi ThankYou Points .

Capital One Miles .

Airline frequent flyer programs

If you live near an airport that is serviced by multiple carriers, you have your work cut out for you. You can choose between several major airlines’ rewards programs. Travelers who fly out of smaller airports may have a more clear-cut option as to which airline they'll likely use most frequently.

Domestic airline loyalty programs include:

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan .

American Airlines AAdvantage .

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles .

Frontier Miles .

Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles .

JetBlue TrueBlue .

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards .

Spirit Airlines Free Spirit .

United Airlines MileagePlus .

Here's a smattering of popular international airline loyalty programs:

Air Canada Aeroplan .

Air France/KLM Flying Blue .

ANA Mileage Club .

British Airways Avios .

Emirates Skywards .

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club .

Hotel loyalty programs

Travelers can book regular stays within a specific hotel portfolio and earn rewards. Here’s a sampling of hotel rewards programs to shop and consider.

IHG Rewards .

World of Hyatt .

Radisson Rewards programs .

Marriott Bonvoy .

Wyndham Rewards .

Hilton Honors .

Best Western Rewards .

Red Roof Inn RediRewards .

Consider this section “Required Reading” to develop a firm foundation in your points and miles knowledge.

1. The Beginner's Guide to Points and Miles

For an ultra-comprehensive overview of the travel rewards universe, start here, with our Beginner’s Guide to Points and Miles . This article covers the basics and then some, helping readers think through esoteric and practical topics alike.

What are your points and miles goals?

Are you ready to pay off your credit card bills in full each month?

Does a general travel credit or a co-branded credit card make more sense?

2. Why Do Travel Points Matter?

While we live and die by points and miles (we’re nerds, remember?), we also know that plenty of travelers forgo loyalty program membership and still have enjoyable vacations, flights and hotel stays.

Even so, using points can still be useful to save money on travel. You don’t actually have to spend 50 nights per year in hotels or fly somewhere every other weekend to reap the benefits. With a well-planned strategy and without spending extra money, you can earn almost-free hotel nights and flights, plus fringe benefits like complimentary checked bags, airport lounge access or late check-outs.

Points values vary from loyalty program to loyalty program, and understanding the entire landscape can get overwhelming quickly. Explore the topic deeper in our article, Why do travel points matter?

3. How Much are Points and Miles Worth?

Points values vary from loyalty program to loyalty program and even booking to booking.

Some programs have a fixed value for their points. For example, Southwest Rapid Rewards points rarely deviate from the value of 1.5 cents each. If you want to buy a $100 flight with your Rapid Rewards points, it’ll likely cost you about 6,667 points ($100 flight / 1.5 cents value = 6,667 points). If you wanted to buy a $200 flight, it would probably cost you double the points as well ( 1.5 cents value x 13,333 points = $200 flight).

Similarly, many credit card rewards programs have a fixed value unless they are transferred to a partner. One Capital One mile is worth 1 cent.

Other programs may use dynamic pricing or an award chart, which can make the valuations fluctuate across bookings. For example, one night at a Marriott hotel might cost $550 in cash or 60,000 points ($550 / 60,000 points = 0.91 cent valuation). Meanwhile, a different booking at another Marriott property might cost $350 in cash or 60,000 points ($350 / 65,000 points = 0.58 cent valuation).

Because point values vary so much, it’s helpful to know an average value to target when making award bookings. If the booking gets you less than the average value of your points, you should probably just pay in cash instead.

But figuring out the average value is no easy task. That’s where we come in. We collect and analyze hundreds of real-world award booking costs to determine the average value of different rewards currencies. With these in hand, you’ll be able to quickly determine whether or not an individual booking is a good deal. See the value of your preferred loyalty program or browse options with our deep dive: What Are Points and Miles Worth This Year?

4. How to Get Started with Travel Rewards

Are you ready to jump in and take up the travel hacking hobby as one of your own? We’re so glad to have you. We’ve broken it down into five easy steps.

1. Pick a rewards card.

2. Select your priority loyalty programs.

3. Work toward elite status.

4. Learn the rules.

5. Find high-value redemptions.

Get more advice: 5 steps to getting started with rewards travel .

Now that you have a solid understanding of points and miles, the next step is to expand your knowledge of what travel rewards credit cards are out there.

To help you make the best possible credit card choice for your budget, financial goals and travel desires, we’ve put together another quick start guide: Travel Rewards Credit Cards 101 .

We’re die-hard nerds who felt motivated to lessen the financial sting of our favorite activity — traveling — by learning the tricks of the points-and-miles trade. Our editors and writers boast over 40 years of experience in the travel industry, and our travel rewards redemptions range from business class tickets to Japan to mattress runs in Vegas.

Our editorial guidelines outline the integrity we strive to maintain in every word we write and every recommendation we make.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

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We understand the challenges and objectives of going independent, because we’ve been there and done it. We’ve developed a tried and tested ‘blueprint’ for success, providing the business support and tools you need to run your own successful travel business on your terms.

Join 1000 Mile Travel Group today, and we’ll guide you every step of the way to achieving the lifestyle you dream of while doing what you love.

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Hey! My name is Pooja Mandal. A typical 1994 born girl with the desire to travel and explore the world. Lucky for me, I live in India, which gives me the opportunity to visit so many diverse places without worrying about visa processes and immigration. Isn’t that great? I definitely think it is.

So, as this might be quite similar to yours, my biggest dream is to visit as many countries as possible. This dream to travel was the reason Nextmileplan was born. And as the name suggests, I love to plan for my next travels. That excitement you get with the thought of being in a new place, exploring, relishing new food and meeting people of a different culture is just immense. 

Currently, I work full time in an IT company, but I have always been fascinated by the idea of travelling full time. To be honest, this fascination is only during the planning process. The moment I am about to leave my place for the airport or about to reach the destination, I turn into a scared cat. My stomach starts rumbling (even though I don’t feel hungry). I sometimes even shake, not that I let anyone know about it. I never understood why I always felt that way even though I have been to new places earlier. Nonetheless, I know one thing for sure, I am thankful for all the feelings of fear and anxiety that I feel as they make me feel triumphant when I finally pass that stage. 

Want to know more? Visit this post for a lengthier version of me blabbing on more about me and my travel plans.

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Use your miles to travel to 1,000+ destinations around the world with Delta and our partners. You can book Award Travel for yourself or for someone else – even if you’re not flying with them. And there are no blackout dates on any Delta Air Lines flight.

• Select ' Book ' at delta.com or in the Fly Delta app
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• Earn MQDs toward your next Medallion Status tier with Award Travel on Delta and our partners (excluding Basic Economy fares)
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• Earn a Bonus Miles welcome offer with select Delta SkyMiles® American Express Cards. Plus, eligible Card Members save 15% when booking Award Travel on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes or fees. Terms apply.
• Award Travel flight miles flown (excluding Basic Economy fares) will count toward your total Million Miler balance

See if Award Travel or other fees apply to your ticket. All fees are non-refundable.

*Changes to origin, destination, routing, date and time are permitted except for Basic Economy tickets, and the mileage difference (and any applicable taxes) for the new Award ticket will apply. For travel originating from the United States and Canada to anywhere in the world (including flights operated by joint venture and codeshare partners), Members may change or cancel Award tickets for travel without a redeposit or change fee, excluding Basic Economy fares. For some travel originating outside the United States and Canada, Basic Economy Award ticket restrictions will vary and may be non-cancelable or may be changeable for a fee. For details, visit our Baggage & Travel Fees page .

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1 Charges may vary by country. Charges will only apply to tickets issued in select European countries and Members may be eligible for a waiver of the direct ticketing international charge upon request. Charges are waived for all other points of origin.

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Your SkyMiles account must have enough miles for the Award Ticket you are purchasing.

All Awards are subject to availability, and additional taxes and fees may apply. See Membership Guide & Program Rules for details.

Awards are subject to capacity controls. Awards may require higher prices depending on routing rules and restrictions. Exceptions to these rules may require additional mileage or taxes and fees. Travel to all destinations within region may not be available at lowest price. Not all countries within region are serviced by Delta and/or partner airlines. Taxes and fees for Award Travel are the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time the ticket is issued. The payment of any taxes, fees, and other government-, airport- or carrier-imposed charges is the responsibility of the passenger. Award redemption requires payment of at least $11.20 in U.S. government taxes and fees for domestic itineraries and may include up to $600 for foreign government taxes and fees and/or carrier-imposed fees for international itineraries.

Award seats may be limited and not available on all Delta Connection flights. Offers and benefits subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply.

Award Tickets issued by Delta Reservation Sales over the phone, in person at a ticket office or airport ticket counter, may be subject to a direct ticketing charge . Charges only apply to tickets issued in select European countries and may be waived upon request. Charges are waived for all other points of sale.

In some cases, seat assignments are made automatically based upon your preference for a window or aisle seat, noted in My Profile . We will request seat assignments when traveling on an airline partner at the time of ticketing. Seat assignments may not always be confirmed at the time of the request. Contact the airline partner directly for seat requests. If your seating preference is not available, "NA" will appear in the "Seat Assignment" column of your itinerary. In this case, you will receive your seat during check-in on the date of departure or you can go to Itineraries to select a seat. We accommodate the seating requirements of customers with certain types of disabilities. This could result in the occasional need to change another individual's pre-assigned seat, with bulkhead seats being particularly subject to reassignment.

Travel with Miles on Partner Airlines

Book Award Travel through delta.com with:

• Aerolineas Argentinas
• China Eastern
• China Airlines
• China Southern
• Garuda Indonesia
• Hawaiian Airlines
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
• Mandarin Airlines
• Middle East Airlines
• Saudia Airlines
• Shanghai Airlines
• Tarom Airlines
• Vietnam Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic
• Xiamen Airlines

Contact Delta Reservations for Award Travel on:

• Air Tahiti Nui
• Czech Airlines
• Kenya Airways

There are no blackout dates on Delta-operated flights. Blackout dates may apply on partner airline-operated flights and are defined by individual carriers .

Partner Airline Redemption for Members Residing in Japan:

Medallion Members or Delta SkyMiles Credit Card (issued in Japan) Members residing in Japan may redeem miles toward Award Travel on Skymark flights throughout Japan.

Routes/Destinations: Haneda, Kobe, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Naha and Ibaraki. Check flight schedule with Skymark Airlines , prior to submitting the request.

SEGMENTS AVAILABLE

• Fukuoka (FUK) - Naha (Okinawa, OKA)
• Haneda (HND) - Kobe (UKB)
• Kagoshima (KOJ) - Amami (ASJ)
• Kobe (UKB) - Ibaraki (IBR)
• Kobe (UKB) - Kagoshima (KOJ)
• Kobe (UKB) - Nagasaki (NGS)
• Kobe (UKB) - Naha (Okinawa, OKA)
• Kobe (UKB) - Sendai (SDJ)
• Naha (Okinawa, OKA) - Shimojishima(SHI)
• Central Japan International (Nagoya, NGO) - Kagoshima (KOJ)
• Central Japan International (Nagoya, NGO) - Naha (Okinawa, OKA)
• Central Japan International (Nagoya, NGO) - New Chitose (Sapporo, CTS)
• Fukuoka (FUK) - New Chitose (Sapporo, CTS)
• Haneda (HND) - Fukuoka (FUK)
• Haneda (HND) - Kagoshima (KOJ)
• Haneda (HND) - Naha (Okinawa, OKA)
• Haneda (HND) - New Chitose (Sapporo, CTS)
• Haneda (HND) - Shimojishima(SHI)
• Ibaraki (IBR) - Fukuoka (FUK)
• Ibaraki (IBR) - Naha (Okinawa, OKA)
• Ibaraki (IBR) - New Chitose (Sapporo, CTS)
• Kobe (UKB) - New Chitose (Sapporo, CTS)
• Kobe (UKB) - Shimojishima(SHI)

Skymark Terms & Conditions

• SkyMiles Medallion Members or Delta SkyMiles Credit Card (issued in Japan) Members, residing in Japan, may redeem miles toward Award Travel on Skymark flights throughout Japan. SkyMiles Medallion Members or Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Members cannot earn miles on their Skymark Award ticket. Supplemental card holder is not eligible for this offer. New Card Members are eligible to redeem miles for this offer after two months of activity on their card.
• Award Travel on Skymark is available on the segments listed above in Economy/Main Cabin Class in a booking class Skymark determines and currently on sale on the Skymark website. Travel must be booked at least 14 days prior to departure. Award Seats on Skymark are limited and may not be available on all flights or markets.
• Booking is available for travels through October 26, 2024
• February 2, 2024 – February 13, 2024 (for flights between New Chitose (Sapporo, CTS) and Haneda (HND), Ibaraki (IBR), Kobe (UKB), Fukuoka (FUK), and Central Japan International (Nagoya, NGO) )
• February 9, 2024 – February 13, 2024 (for all flights other than HND-CTS,IBR-CTS,UKB-CTS,NGO-CTS,FUK-CTS)
• March 19, 2024 – March 30, 2024
• April 26, 2024 – April 30, 2024
• May 1, 2024 – May 7, 2024
• July 12, 2024 – July 16, 2024
• August 8, 2024 – August 19, 2024
• September 13, 2024 – September 17, 2024
• September 20, 2024 – September 24, 2024
• October 11, 2024 – October 15, 2024
• Once your booking is confirmed, Delta will deduct the required miles from your SkyMiles account usually within 24 hours and a Skymark Confirmation Number with the flight details itinerary will be sent to the e-mail address provided when the booking was requested. If your ticket is not confirmed or additional information is needed, you will be emailed within 72 hours after the request is submitted. 
• You cannot check or view your Award Travel itinerary on Skymark website.
• A request response email of your Skymark award flight will be sent to the email address you provide on the online booking form within 72 hours after your submission of the request form. Skymark tickets are “ticketless” meaning no paper or electronic tickets will be issued after booking is complete. Once you receive the confirmation email, show the email to the Skymark check-in counter, and a boarding pass will be issued at the counter. 
• With your Skymark Confirmation Number, make sure to check in between 2 hours – 20 minutes prior to departure for your Skymark Award Travel at an auto check-in machine. If you do not meet the check-in window, you will not be able to travel on the scheduled flight. 
• Award Travel redemption on Skymark is not combinable with itineraries on any other carrier's flights, including with Delta or any other Airline Partner.
• Adults must enter their age as of the date of flight.
• Infant and children must travel with adult. Infant and children cannot travel alone. Infant is defined as a person of 0-2 years old and does not occupy a seat, and child is defined as a person of 3-11 years old.  The same award redemption level is required for children as adult. No miles are needed for infant not occupying a seat but only one infant is allowed to travel with one adult.
• One (1) infant must travel with at least one (1) adult. Please contact Skymark for more details about infant and child passengers.
• Waitlist is not permitted for Award Travel on Skymark.
• Upgrade is not permitted.
• Open-jaw travel is not permitted.
• One-way travel is permitted. One-way travel requires the same award redemption level as roundtrip.
• Return trips cannot be left open when making reservations. All flights must be confirmed before SkyMiles Award tickets can be issued. 
• Cancellation and changes are not permitted once the booking is confirmed. Redeposit of miles is not permitted. Award Travel has no cash value.
• If you miss a Skymark flight due to a flight delay or cancellation, Skymark will put you on the next flight with seats available only if you show a certificate proving the delay or cancellation of the original itinerary. If you do not use your Skymark flight due to a flight delay or cancellation, mileage will not be redeposited to your SkyMiles account, and Delta or Skymark will not provide a cash refund. 
• The number of seats available for this offer may be limited and are subject to availability.
• Passenger facility charges, fuel surcharge, security fees, any applicable taxes are the responsibility of the user.
• Redemption award level is subject to change without prior notice. Please refer to the Redemption Level for details.
• If you need any special assistance or arrangement, please contact Skymark. Please note that the special assistance or arrangement is subject to availability.
• An ID (Drivers license, Passport, Health insurance card, Student ID card, Basic resident register card, Resident card, Full copy of a person's family register, Abstract of a person's family register, Certificate of alien registration, War injury and sickness certificate, Mentally disabled person's certificate or Pension book) of the traveler is required when the customer checks-in the Skymark flight.
• Skymark terms and conditions apply .
• For luggage requirements and restrictions, please visit Skymark or contact Skymark.  
• Other restrictions may apply.
• Delta has the final authority in the interpretation of these rules.

Additional Terms & Conditions

Award Tickets on partner airlines may require higher rates or a Saturday night stay. Some airline partners impose a surcharge on Award redemptions for travel on their airline. These charges when applicable are the responsibility of the passenger and will be collected at the time of booking. Partner airline benefits are subject to change and subject to terms and conditions of each partner. Skymark operates on a Boeing 737-800.

If a flight is delayed or cancelled, Skymark is not responsible for ground transportation to/from the airport. Please visit Skymark , opens in a new window for details.

Food and beverages are not provided on Skymark flights. You can purchase soft drinks with 100 yen per drink or an alcoholic beverage with 200-300 yen per drink.

Book with Delta Vacations

Go Beyond the Flight with Delta Vacations. Your miles are now worth at least 15% more* to every destination at any time when you use them toward a Delta Vacations package booked through Delta Vacations. Use your miles to pay for just a portion or your entire vacation. With Delta Vacations you can choose from flights, expertly curated stays, rides and activities all over the world all in one place. Plus, you will still earn miles as you redeem them! 

• Visit Delta Vacations to customize your vacation package
• Enter your SkyMiles number
• During the “Review & Purchase” step, choose miles as your payment type. Keep in mind, only one SkyMiles account can be used for redemption
• Enter the amount of miles to redeem. Your mileage discount should appear in the payment overview
• Select ‘Complete Purchase’ 

* As compared to the mileage value with Delta Vacations prior to July 10, 2023.

• You can use your miles for yourself and everyone who is traveling with you, as long as they’re on the same reservation.
• There is no minimum or maximum number of miles, no blackout dates, and you don’t need a promo code. 
• You can use miles on any vacation package type. 
• When booking online, you can redeem up to 999,999 miles on flight and hotel packages to any Delta Vacations destination. To redeem more than 999,999 miles, please contact Delta Vacations at 1-800-800-1504.
• All SkyMiles Program rules apply. To review the rules, please visit delta.com/memberguide . To review rules for Delta Vacations mileage redemption, please visit delta.com/vacations-usemiles .

You can now use your miles to book your next hotel stay or vacation rental when you book with Delta Stays.  

How to Book with Delta Stays  

• Log into your SkyMiles account (either on delta.com or the Delta Stays platform)
• Click the "Book Now" button below to launch Delta Stays
• Select "Pay with miles" when searching for your hotel stay or vacation rental 
• Search the available inventory shown  
• Make your selection(s), complete your booking and enjoy your stay

General Terms and Conditions:

• Delta’s online booking engine for stays is powered and serviced by Expedia and is accessible via delta.com, delta.com/hotels, delta.com/stays or directly at travelextras-delta.com.
• Standard Mileage Offer: SkyMiles® Members will earn two (2) miles per US$1 or equivalent foreign currency spent at travelextras-delta.com on the base hotel or vacation rental rate for a completed stay. Base rate is the cost of the hotel room or vacation rental property, before taxes and fees, charged at the time of booking. Taxes and fees, gratuities, room service, other incidental charges, and insurance costs are excluded from mileage credit. Miles will not be awarded on any portion of the stay paid for using miles.
• Mileage can only be credited to the SkyMiles Member if the name on the booking matches the name of the SkyMiles account provided.
• SkyMiles number should be provided at the time of booking.
• Only one SkyMiles number can be provided per booking.
• Please allow up to 8 weeksn after completion of eligible stay for miles to be deposited in SkyMiles account.
• If mileage credit has not been recorded on your SkyMiles account within 8 weeksafter qualifying activity occurs, please  contact us  and select: Request Refund or Miles > Mileage Credit > Partners
• Requests for mileage credit will be accepted up to 6 months from check out date.
• Stays completed prior to enrollment into SkyMiles will not be eligible for mileage credit.
• Hotel currency or status are subject to each respective Hotel guest program and may not be applicable for bookings made on travelextras-delta.com.
• Miles awarded are bonus miles, and do not count toward Million Miler Status.
• Unless otherwise expressly specified as part of a limited time offer (which is subject to the terms and conditions of such offer), spend on completed stays does not count toward Medallion Qualification Dollars.

Redeeming Miles for Stays:

• For certain pay now hotel and vacation rental properties, SkyMiles Members have the option to pay for all or a portion of their booking using miles earned through the SkyMiles Program.
• There is no minimum number of miles needed to redeem for a stay, but if you would like to book your stay using only miles, your mileage balance must equal or exceed the total of your booking.
• If you do not have enough miles to pay for your entire stay, you can split your transaction using both miles and a credit/debit card for payment. When prompted, enter how many miles you would like to use for that booking; the remaining value (after subtracting the miles used) will be reflected as USD and must be paid using a credit or debit card.
• You must be logged-in to your SkyMiles account to complete a purchase when using miles.
• You may not combine miles from two or more accounts on a single transaction. Miles used may only come from one SkyMiles account.
• Miles will be deducted at the time of purchase from the SkyMiles account provided and will appear as “Delta Stays”.
• If permitted under the terms of your booking, refunds will be made to the original form of payment less any fees and charges, where applicable. If your booking was made using both miles and a credit/debit card, then the portion of your booking made with miles will be refunded as miles to your SkyMiles account and the credit/debit portion will be refunded to the original card used in the booking.
• If you change or alter your booking resulting in additional costs and charges, any charges must be paid using a credit card or debit card.
• Miles will not be awarded on any portion of the stay paid for using miles.
• Resort fees, gratuities, room service, and any third-party fees or charges, including those incurred while traveling, are in addition to the fees and charges of your original reservation and are not eligible to be paid for with miles.
• Delta reserves the right to cancel any stays bookings due to insufficient miles in your account, suspicion of fraud, violation(s) of the SkyMiles Program Rules, or termination of your SkyMiles account.
• Delta may change, suspend, or terminate the redemption program (including but not limited to any benefits and conditions of participation), in whole or in part, at any time with or without notice.

Miles + Cash

Don’t have enough miles for the flight you want? Available on select flights, Miles + Cash gives you the flexibility to pay for a flight using a combination of miles and dollars.

HOW TO USE MILES + CASH:

• Choose your flight
• Change the ‘Show Price In’ setting from “miles” to “Miles + Cash”
• Select your flight(s), complete your purchase and you’re on your way

Miles + Cash is offered worldwide only on flights operated by Delta, Delta Connection and Delta Shuttle. Remember, tickets purchased using Miles + Cash are Award Tickets and are subject to all the limitations of Award Tickets. They are not eligible to earn miles, and mileage purchases in Miles + Cash transactions are nonrefundable. All Award ticket change fees apply. In the event of ticket changes or cancellations, miles, including miles purchased as part of a Miles + Cash transaction, will be redeposited in the Member’s SkyMiles account.

Pay with Miles

Take a shortcut to your next adventure by using Pay with Miles*. Exclusively for Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members, Pay with Miles is a Card benefit that gives you more flexibility by taking dollars off of Delta tickets or allowing you to use miles when you don’t have quite enough to cover the full ticket. Not yet a Card Member and based in the U.S. or its territories? Learn more about The Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards  here . 

HOW TO PAY WITH MILES 

• Log in at delta.com
• Go to Book a Trip
• Select flights marked as “Pay with Miles eligible”
• On the ‘Trip Summary’ page, choose “Pay with Miles” and pay with miles, money or a combination of both
• After you make your selection, continue booking your ticket
• If you choose to pay for a fare with both miles and a credit card, use your Delta SkyMiles American Express Card to pay for the remaining ticket price

Not U.S.-based? You may be eligible to use Pay with Miles internationally if you’re a SkyMiles Credit Card Member in certain countries. Learn more .

HOW DOES IT WORK*?

Pay with Miles is an exclusive benefit for Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members.  This benefit allows Card Members to use their miles, starting at just 5,000 miles, to discount the price of Delta tickets.  Regardless of ticket price, a Card Member can reduce the cost of their ticket by up to $50 for every 5,000 miles. For example, redeeming 10,000 of your miles takes $100 off your fare, 15,000 miles takes $150 off, 20,000 miles takes $200 off, etc.

For example: a Card Member who currently has 22,000 miles in their SkyMiles account selects a round-trip flight from Atlanta, GA to Washington, D.C. for $250 total fare. By using Pay with Miles, the Card Member can redeem 20,000 miles to reduce the ticket cost by $200. The Card Member would then pay $50 and 20,000 miles for the ticket.

Frequently Asked Questions

There is no fee for using your Pay with Miles benefit.

As long as you have sufficient miles in your account, there is no limit on the number of times you can use your Pay with Miles benefit—use it as often as you like.

There is no cap on the amount of miles you can use. If you have enough miles, you can pay for your entire ticket price using miles.

Yes, you may use Pay with Miles to book someone else's ticket. You can use Pay with Miles for multiple tickets—you just need to have 5,000 miles per passenger available and they must be on the same itinerary.

If you do not have the minimum 5,000 miles per passenger available in your account, you will not see Pay with Miles as an option to purchase your ticket after selecting your flights. Pay with Miles is only available for Delta Air Lines (not partner airline) flights. You also must log into delta.com to see the Pay with Miles option.

Pay with Miles is a benefit of Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards where you can use miles to pay for all or part of the price of eligible flights. It is always available as a payment option on all Delta operated flights as long as you have 5,000 miles in your SkyMiles account. Pay with Miles always has a value of up to $50 per 5,000 miles for Card Members. Miles + Cash is a redemption option on Award Tickets offered to all SkyMiles members where you can pay for your flight using a combination of miles and dollars.

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Mileage Calculator

Use the following mileage calculator to determine the travel distance, in terms of miles, and time taken by car to travel between two locations in the United States, disregarding traffic conditions.

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Who uses travelmath.

Companies like United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Ryanair use Travelmath to re-route passengers and plan new flight paths.

Celebrities love Travelmath!

"Travelmath is the one app I couldn't live without - it calculates all your journey timings and because I travel a lot, it's essential. Whoever invented Travelmath, I love you! " – Drew Barrymore

"There's a website called Travelmath, it's really good if you're into flight times. "  – Blake Griffin

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What is travelmath.

Travelmath is an online trip calculator that helps you find answers quickly. If you're planning a trip, you can measure things like travel distance and travel time . To keep your budget under control, use the travel cost tools.

You can also browse information on flights including the distance and flight time. Or use the section on driving to compare the distance by car, or the length of your road trip.

Type in any location to search for your exact destination .

Quick Calculator

How do i search.

To get started, enter your starting point and destination into the boxes above. If you want an airport , it's best to enter the 3-letter IATA code if you know it. For cities , include the state or country if possible.

You can also enter more general locations like a state or province , country, island , zip code, or even some landmarks by name.

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Home  ·  About  ·  Terms  ·  Privacy

As the owner of Extra Mile Travel, I have over 15 years of experience in the travel industry that I use to help travelers plan their dream vacations. Extra Mile Travel is a full service travel agency that is dedicated to providing a personalized experience that is built on my passion for people and travel. I would love to book your next vacation including all inclusive packages, cruises, group vacations, river cruises, and hosted tours. 

If working together sounds like a fit, lets meet up for a cup of coffee (or glass of wine!).

Happy travels!

Full-service travel planning

I offer my clients full service travel planning. Every trip should feel as unique as the person taking it. I especially love planning milestone trips such as family vacations, honeymoons, group getaways and will make sure each detail of your trip is planned to exceed your expectations. 

We have a system to make travel planning as easy as possible for our clients. To understand, we explain each step of the planning process below.

Submit a quick trip request here on our website! We will respond within 24-48 business hours. You will be connected with a travel specialist who will best handle your travel request.  

Deposit includes three quotes and two revisions of quotes.

Please note, if you book with Extra Mile Travel, the deposit will be applied to your reservation.

Now it’s my time to get to work matching the feedback you’ve given me to the right experience and destination for you! I use my expertise and work with destination partners to present your customized itinerary to you. Once everything is perfect, we will then take care of all the arrangements by applying your deposit.

Between the time of booking through departure, our agency works diligently to manage and coordinate the trip's details. We will stay in touch with you to help you prepare and know what to expect through your trip.  

Below are a few examples of recent vacations that I have booked for clients. All of my clients receive customized itineraries that they can access at any time.

The beach can be a refreshing place that makes you feel better the longer you’re there. Check out this sandy getaway!

European countries are full of vibrant cities bursting with culture and scenic landscapes. Plan it with us!

Cruises offer great value for your vacation dollar because the fares include nearly everything you'll need for a fantastic trip. Book your next cruise with us!

Tiffany Kappel

Cell: 619-251-0837

Email: [email protected]

Office hours (PST): 

Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm

Evening and weekends available upon request!

An independent Affiliate of KHM Travel Group. 

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Ozempic users travel 1,000 miles for weight loss drug amidst shortage.

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Taking weight loss drugs is no longer the road less traveled, and people are going over 1,000 miles to get their hands on semaglutide meds Wegovy and Ozempic. 

The popularity of these drugs has led to a nationwide shortage and people are willing to go to great lengths to get their prescriptions filled. 

Other popular weight loss drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound, both tirzepatides, are out of stock until July and shortages of the drugs could last into 2025, drug manufacturer Eli Lily warned. Slim pickings lead to drastic measures, according to a doctor.

Dr. Angela Fitch, a New York City doctor who specializes in obesity medicine, told the Daily Mail that she’s seen patients come from as far away as Ohio, Virginia and Florida to get prescriptions filled. 

She said another patient even drove 400 miles from Maine. 

A 35-year-old mom and advertising executive from New York City who wished to remain anonymous told The Post that she’s struggled to fill her Wegovy prescription from pharmacies ever since being prescribed. Both Wegovy and Ozempic are manufactured by Novo Nordisk.

“After being prescribed the medication in February 2023, it took me over a month to find a local pharmacy that carried Wegovy,” she said.

“The local, independently owned pharmacy filled my prescription and then told me they could no longer provide the medication for me as my insurance wouldn’t allow the pharmacy to turn a profit off my prescription. I then began researching mail-order prescription services. Thanks to Amazon, I am now able to get my medication. I have, however, had issues with refills as the medication wasn’t available,” she added. 

However, even Amazon has had trouble keeping the meds in stock and people are willing to get the medicine out of state.

“With that said, Amazon is now no longer accepting new prescriptions for GLP-1 medications as they are unable to meet demand. I am grateful I was able to get my medication — I don’t know what I would do if I got a new prescription today,” she explained. 

Tara Dykens, from Massachusetts, told ABC that she’s struggled to fill her Zepbound prescription. 

@hannahrosecotton there is hope for this shortage! #zepbound #glp1 #glp1community #tirzepatide #weightloss #weightlossjourney ♬ original sound – Hannah Rose ✨

“In one given afternoon, I believe I tried to contact between 20 and 25 pharmacies,” she said. 

A content creator on TikTok named Hannah Rose Cotton detailed her issues getting Zepbound. She said she was finally able to get the drug, but as of Saturday, there were no pharmacies within 100 miles of her that had it. 

There is even more demand right now because people want to get their bodies in shape before the summer hits, Marlee Bruno, who owns medical spa Mind, Body & Soul Medical in Pensacola, Fla., told the Daily Mail. 

“We are in Florida, where it is practically already summer,” she said, “and people are starting to get into their bikinis and really want to get on the drug so they can lose weight quickly. It is possible to lose a significant amount of weight fast on these,” Bruno said. 

“As standard, patients lose about one pound a week — but it tends to be a little bit more than that. After three months, they may have lost at least 12 pounds of fat, which is a significant loss and makes many patients feel much better,” Bruno added. 

Celebrities and non-celebrities alike have shared their successful weight loss journeys online which has only increased the popularity of the drugs. Emily Simpson, 47, from the Real Housewives of Orange County, said she lost 40 pounds on the medication. 

The surge in demand has led people to prescribe non-brand name compounded versions of the drug, which is legal in a shortage.

Last year, The Post covered a story about how NYC moms looking to lose baby weight were flocking to “shady” clinics to get their hands on compounded semaglutide, since many didn’t meet the requirements to be prescribed the brand name.

Those who do meet requirements can also get a compounded semaglutide but many still want the brand version for safety and effectiveness reasons. There is no official generic version of the weight loss drugs available.

The FDA has also issued warnings about compounded semaglutide in the past.

“FDA has received adverse event reports after patients used compounded semaglutide. Patients should not use a compounded drug if an approved drug is available to treat a patient. Patients and health care professionals should understand that the agency does not review compounded versions of these drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality,” the FDA  has declared.

“Patients should be aware that some products sold as ‘semaglutide’ may not contain the same active ingredient as FDA-approved semaglutide products and may be the salt formulations. Products containing these salts, such as semaglutide sodium and semaglutide acetate, have not been shown to be safe and effective,” their site continued. 

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Oklahoma man facing 12 years in Turks & Caicos prison released on bond, banned from travel

Ryan watson made bail a couple weeks after he was detained and arrested for ammo possession in turks & caicos. but he's not allowed to leave..

An American man facing 12 years in prison in Turks & Caicos after airport security found ammunition in his duffel bag won’t have to spend one more night in jail . For now.

Ryan Watson, 40, appeared before a court on Wednesday, agreeing to pay $15,000 to secure his release, according to a news alert from The Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police Force. 

The court granted Watson's release about two weeks after he was initially detained and arrested. He's being released with a slew of stipulations, including being prohibited from leaving the archipelago nation. He also had to surrender his passport and travel documents to the court, and needs to report to police twice a week as his case moves through the system.

His next court hearing is set for June 7.

Here’s what we know.

Why were Ryan and Valerie Watson detained in the Turks and Caicos?

Ryan and Valerie Watson were in Turks & Caicos to celebrate the 40th birthdays of several friends in early April, USA TODAY reported.

The couple was trying to catch a flight back home on April 12, when airport security found four rounds of ammunition “unknowingly left in a duffel bag from a deer hunting trip,” according to a GoFundMe post made on behalf of the family. 

They were both questioned and subsequently charged with possession of ammunition, a charge that carries a minimum of 12 years in prison in Turks & Caicos.

The couple was stuck on the island without passports, unable to get back to their two young children, which left Valerie Watson “terrified.” 

“We can't both be in prison for 12 years. We have kids at home," she told WBTS-TV in Boston  "And this is such an innocent mistake that we ... didn't even know it was there. So yeah, my immediate thought was our kids and them being parentless for that long."

Ryan Watson maintains that it was a “bonehead mistake” on his part, not knowing that the ammunition rounds he typically uses to hunt whitetail deer were in his bag, the outlet reported.

Ultimately, the charges were dropped against Valerie Watson, who has returned to Oklahoma.

Oklahoma governor vouches for family: ‘Outstanding members of the community’ 

Days after the Watson family was detained, Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt sent a letter to the Turks & Caicos Islands government in an attempt to get the home sooner.

“The Watsons are upstanding members of their community and the State of Oklahoma, and I can assure you countless others stand willing to confirm their high moral characters,” Stitt said.

He continued to say that the couple would never “intentionally break the law,” emphasizing the importance of having them return to Oklahoma so they can continue to serve the community, Valerie as a school teacher and Ryan as a medical product salesman.

 And so that their children, Van and Ellie, don’t have to face another day without both parents, he said.

Family creates GoFundMe to bring Ryan Watson home 

Close friends have created a GoFundMe on behalf of the Watson family to cover the costs of “mounting legal fees, living expenses, and the overwhelming stress of their situation.” 

Valerie Watson said that the strain her family is under is tremendous, telling WBTS-TV that it could “ruin them.” 

“We've already talked, and we're like, what if we lose our house? Which, when we moved to Oklahoma, we built a home that we thought was our forever home,” she said. 

The sentiment was echoed by Ryan Watson, who says “this is something that we may never recover from.” 

“The emotional and financial toll is immense, and they are at risk of losing everything,” the fundraiser description reads. 

The GoFundMe had raised about $196,000 of the $250,000 goal by Friday night. 

What happens next?

Valerie Watson and her children are awaiting her husband’s next court appearance, set for June 7.

Even though Ryan Watson “forgot” about the ammunition in his bag, he may not be able to leave the Turks & Caicos Islands without serving time. The government prohibits anyone, of status or origin, to possess a firearm, ammunition, or any other weapon.

There are exceptions to this, of course, but the court is still required to issue “both a sentence of imprisonment and a fine” that are in line with what the court would consider an “exceptional circumstance,” USA TODAY reported. 

The Turks & Caicos government stiffened the penalties for firearm possession in February, noting that there were a handful of cases involving "exceptional circumstances" that allowed accused people to get away with paying a fine. “exceptional circumstances."

Travel | Hike Canaveral Seashore’s Klondike Beach: A…

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Travel | hike canaveral seashore’s klondike beach: a 13-mile trek along wild florida coastline.

Booming waves crash one over another while pelicans fly overhead and shorebirds forage in the sand, comprising the kind of idyllic sunny beachside scene Florida is known for. Except this time, there aren’t people or high-rise condos for miles around.

This was the view during a 13-mile hike on Klondike Beach, the sandy stretch of Canaveral National Seashore that lies between Apollo Beach on the north end and Playalinda Beach on the south side. I was joined by Chris Stevens, a fellow explorer and outdoor writer for Florida Hikes who is known on Instagram (with his wife and family) as the Sunshine State Seekers .

It was Good Friday, and something felt almost biblical about our pilgrimage along the undeveloped seashore as we visited the church of nature and fully immersed ourselves in the wild Floridian coastline. At least we had the weather on our side, with high temperatures in the low 70s and a north wind at our backs the whole way.

I don’t know exactly when or how the idea hatched, but I had this hike on my radar for several years and finally found an ideal day and someone crazy enough to do it with me. My pack and gear kit for the day included 3 liters of water, an Arizona tea, a Publix sub, apples, a wide-brimmed straw hat, a sun shirt and hiking boots.

Adventurers who attempt this should be prepared with plenty of sun protection, food and water for hours in the open sun with no amenities. A $5 backcountry permit (available at either ranger station) is required to venture past Apollo Beach lot 5 and Playalinda Beach lot 13.

We set off southward just after 7 a.m. from the end of the road at Apollo Beach, catching a magnificent sunrise with an amber horizon and whispy clouds over the Atlantic as a bright half-moon shone above the Mosquito Lagoon. We first took a turn onto a section of trail or access road on the lagoon side, which continued for several miles as we observed vibrant sea grape leaves, bright red sea beans, white moonflowers in bloom, the occasional prickly pear cactus and mangrove forests. On both sides of the trail, we were flanked by lush green vegetation and saw palmettos.

Eventually, the trail lets out at the beach, which covers about 2/3 of the hike (or you can take the beach the whole way). A note on the Canaveral National Seashore website advertises that crossing protected dunes is unlawful, so be sure to contact a ranger for the best guidance on where to hike and where to avoid.

It’s remarkable to see so much sand and sea without any humans. Small crabs poked their heads out of the sand, curious but cautious at the sight of visitors.

Away from the development of New Smyrna Beach and Titusville, Chris realized there was nothing between us and Africa but the vast ocean (unless you were to stop in Bermuda). We were engulfed by the natural Florida coastline with no reminders of civilization — except for trash and debris that had washed up with the tide, a consistent sight for most of the hike.

I packed grabbers (which Chris graciously agreed to carry), but we ultimately decided that it would be too energy-intensive to walk on sand for 13 miles with heavy bags of trash. However, we picked up a few stray balloons and pieces of litter that traveled with us into the trash can at the end of the hike.

We soon stumbled upon a small shack along the beach labeled as a biological field station. I imagined it would be used by scientists conducting wildlife research for breaks and storage. We welcomed the chance to stop on its small porch for an early lunch and a snack.

A few volunteers on ATVs, likely conducting sea turtle nesting surveys, seemed surprised to see any other human life out there. Those chance encounters made us believe this hike isn’t something people do very often.

As we meandered onward, we stopped to look at odd pieces of washed-up debris, including large buoys and one ambiguous piece that could have been either maritime or space-related. At one point, we witnessed a trio of roseate spoonbills soaring over on the lagoon side, and pelican flyovers continued as the afternoon approached.

As we resumed our trek southward, closing in on the final quarter of our remaining mileage, NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building came into view on the hazy horizon. As my mind wandered, I thought of Doris Leeper, a longtime resident of New Smyrna Beach and artist who was instrumental in creating Canaveral National Seashore in 1975.

With the risk of widespread development along the seashore, Leeper fought to preserve the land around her home alongside the Mosquito Lagoon, where she lived with her two Great Danes and created art.

While enjoying the serene scenery unencumbered by beachfront properties and crowds, I also thought about the Indigenous people who first inhabited this stretch of coastline up to 14,000 years ago and the Timucuan people who lived in harmony with the natural landscape for centuries before Europeans ever set foot in Florida.

Within the last few miles of our hike, a ranger pulled up on his ATV and stopped, saying, “I’ve been following your tracks for a long time.”

He asked if we needed any water, but we came prepared for hours outside, although I admitted that we might have a few screws loose for attempting such an endeavor. This wasn’t the kind of outing most normal people decide to do.

As we approached Playalinda’s Beach 13, preparing for the sight of nude sunbathers, we found a congregation of pelicans, flamingoes, gulls and terns gathered on the shore of the lagoon with cormorants perched in the background. We were mindful of our distance but curious to get closer and join in the social affair.

In concluding our hike, I replaced the lens cap on my camera as we began to pass sunbathers in their natural state. We clothed hikers were the ones who looked out of place, gathering curious glances from people inevitably wondering, “Where the heck did they come from?”

After 6 1/2 hours in the sun, Chris and I were delighted to see his wife, Chelsey, and their infant son, who arrived to pick us up from the parking lot. We rushed to Playalinda Brewing Company in Titusville for sandwiches and beer, the most welcome treats after a long day of hiking.

Ultimately, this adventure represented a challenging but beautiful immersion in the wild Florida coastline, one that I won’t soon forget.

Find me  @PConnPie on Instagram  or send me an email:  [email protected] .

Visit nps.gov to learn more about backcountry hiking at Canaveral National Seashore.

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Travelocity's Russia hotels database doesn't list any place to sleep in Elektrostal.

When you and your family plan to book Travelocity-listed hotels near this region of Russia, Moscow could be an ideal alternative. It can be located 35 miles (54 kilometers) from Elektrostal. Moscow hotels and apartments include he The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow and Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow .

Once you and your family have got to know Elektrostal, why not explore a little more of the area? The Central Russia district has myriad things to offer visitors. Discover Central Russia's old towns and don't forget to see the region's forests, rivers, canals and mountains. In this corner of Russia adventurous travelers might partake in ice skating and four-wheel driving.

35 miles (59 kilometers) to the west of Elektrostal you will find Garden Ring, where you can spend a little time at the Arena CSKA. Khoroshevskiy rooms include the Kutuzovsky prospekt II and Hotel Bega . If you're looking for an alternative, you can visit Garden Ring, 35 miles (53 kilometers) west of Elektrostal. While you are in Garden Ring, take the time to explore the State Literary Museum. The Hotel Savoy Moscow and Hotel Metropol Moscow are great places to retire for the night.

While in town, don't miss out on enjoying thrills and spills in the company of fellow supporters at an engaging game. Luzhniki Stadium can be found 35 miles (58 kilometers) to the west of Elektrostal. Book a Travelocity-listed hotel right in the thick of the sporting action at the Moscow Suites Noviy Arbat or the LikeHome Apartments Arbat .

Before you and your traveling partner journey to Elektrostal, make sure you browse Travelocity's Elektrostal city guide where you can hear local secrets about the numerous attractions on offer.

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