You may know a lot about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but there are plenty of things we bet you didn’t know! We want to share some cool, obscure facts you may have never heard about the national park! Check out these 5 things you probably didn’t know about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: (more…)
While it can certainly be nice to stay in a luxury hotel in Honolulu, one of the best ways to experience the natural beauty of Hawaii is by camping! Just imagine waking up to the delightful sound of crashing waves on a white sand beach just steps away from your campsite! Whether you bring your own tent or rent one on the island, there are several places where you can set up camp near the North Shore! Here are 3 convenient and fun places to go camping in Oahu that are near our zipline tours: (more…)
Whether you’re coming for a visit or planning on making Hawai’i home, consider these uncommon, but valuable, tips during your stay on these beautiful islands!
The shaka! It’s a thing. This iconic hand gesture is commonly seen and stands as a symbol of ”Aloha”, “Thank you”, and/or “Sorry”. If you make a mistake while driving, or need to merge into traffic, throw out a shaka. Pro tip: It is custom that if someone throws you a shaka, you throw one back.
With one road (Kamehameha Hwy) taking you around most of the island it is important to learn a basic rule of courtesy practiced on the island. As traffic tends to be heavy along the North Shore, when turning off the main road, allow someone wanting to get onto it in front of you. This allows them to enter the main stream of cars, before you turn off, without having to wait further.
We tell people distance by time not by miles. Due to the fact that we have limited roads and heavy traffic, especially on the North Shore, when we communicate how long it will take us to get to a place we give it in minutes and not miles. So, if you make a reservation somewhere and the company calls for an ETA, be sure to tell them how many minutes away you are instead of how many miles.
Tip #4:The history of colonialism has deeply affected the Hawaiian Islands, and continues to this day. Many Hawaiians are still fighting to protect their lands and visitors should be mindful of this. Be respectful and educate yourself of the Hawaiian culture, people, and land. If you do, you will in turn be treated with respect.
Tip #5:A good rule of thumb to keep in mind, when it comes to doing cliff jumping or swimming in an area with bigger waves: “If in doubt, don’t go out.” If the locals aren’t doing it, you shouldn’t either. The ocean is very powerful and can surprise you with strong currents, heavy waves, undertows, and dangerous shore breaks. You can always talk with the lifeguards to know if an area is safe to swim or not.
Tip #6:The ocean’s ecosystem is very sensitive. The sunscreen you wear here needs to be different than what you wear at the pool or lake. Only wear reef safe sunscreen, you can buy some at the local grocery stores or online. Please remember, do not touch the sea turtles or the monk seals, either in the ocean or when they’re resting on the beach, and don’t walk on the coral reefs. A great place to educate yourself on the beautiful underwater ecosystem is Hanauma Bay, but get there early as it fills up fast! If you want to explore some North Shore snorkel spots check out our blog here.
Tip #7:Local entrepreneurship thrives on the island! Many families and individuals have their own businesses, whether that’s a local food truck or a product run business. Support the local families by shopping small or eating at all the best joints in town. Check out our blog for our favorite local foods and stay tuned for a blog on the best local shops to get your perfect souvenir.
Swimsuits are actually cheaper here because they’re always in season, so the stores have to rotate their inventory. This means there is always cute swimsuits on sale! Many locals have their own swimsuit companies, and some even use recycled ocean plastics or fishnets to create their fabrics, serving dual purposes of supporting the locals and helping clean up the ocean. Some of our favorite local swimsuit companies are Na Wahine Lole, Sundaze Bikinis, and Kalokine X Kalokane Swim.
Tip #9:Your vacation will become a food-cation! Maybe this is more of a heads-up, rather than a tip, but there are so many delicious and local food joints here that you’ll want to try them all and there is nothing wrong with that! Check out our favorites here.
Lastly, ATMs are scarce on the North Shore and a lot of businesses prefer or only take cash. So be sure to pull cash out while you’re in Honolulu or Waikiki.
One of the best ways to save money on your Smoky Mountain vacation is to combine a zipline tour at CLIMB Works with a performance of the Lumberjack Feud in Pigeon Forge! Our convenient packages provide admission to both of these action packed attractions at a reduced rate, making it one of the top deals in the Smokies! Here are the top 4 things that you need to know about visiting the Lumberjack Feud in Pigeon Forge: (more…)
Whether you are traveling on your own to Hawaii to get away from it all or have a few days to spare from a conference in Waikiki, make the most of your time on Oahu with a zipline tour at CLIMB Works Keana Farms! Our 3-hour guided zipline tours offer the perfect opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the North Shore and learn more about Hawaii’s rich history and culture! Here are the top 4 reasons why our ziplines in Hawaii are fun for a solo traveler: (more…)
If you are planning to spend spring break in Gatlinburg and looking for something exciting to do, there is nothing more adventurous than the zipline tours at CLIMB Works! Whether you are visiting the Smoky Mountains with your kids on break from grade school or with a group of college friends, everyone will love soaring through the sky on our ziplines! Here are the top 5 reasons to experience our zipline tours during your spring break in Gatlinburg: (more…)
Exploring the Smoky Mountains can be done in so many different ways! From hiking, camping, llama treks, drives, and other outdoor recreational activities, it’s no wonder that the Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited National Park in the United States! With so many options it can be hard to narrow it down to what you should do. Something great about this area are the roads designed specifically for you to enjoy the unique sights of the Smokies. So, roll down the windows and breathe in the mountain air while you cruise along our top 5 favorite drives through the Smoky Mountains.
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail: Take a drive into the heart of the Smokies as you navigate along a single lane, one-way road, through the forests. This path may be congested, but with a variety of pull-offs it can feel like you’re the only one in the mountains. Enjoy the sights and sounds of waterfalls and rivers as they drown out the noise of passing cars. Simply drive the loop or stop and hike the many trails throughout, ranging anywhere from 1-8 miles, depending on what you feel, or explore some of the historical buildings. But, be sure to stop at the one peek-a-boo lookout, it is here that you’ll glimpse the majesty of the Smokies through the trees. And don’t worry about bathrooms, there are ones at the beginning and end of the loop with a little gift shop to complete the drive.
Cades Cove Loop Road: This single lane roadway is usually very busy, but is worth a visit for the many historical buildings you can explore. Grab a map in the beginning and decide which hikes or buildings you want to see, with so many options it’s good to have a plan, or even come back and explore the other areas you missed the first time through. There are also bathrooms and a shopping stop where you can grab some snacks or enjoy your own picnic in the fields. But, whatever you do, keep your eyes open for the wildlife you’ll see wandering the trails with you!
Clingmans Dome Road (Be sure to stop at Newfound Gap Viewpoint along the route to the top): Ascend into the clouds as you make your way to the highest man-made point in Tennessee (the highest natural point is Mount LeConte). The drive to Clingmans Dome will take you winding through the mountains, with a variety of pull-off viewpoints for the Smokies that will leave you in awe. Depending on what time of year you go, the stops can be windy and cold but are still worth stopping. Give yourself the time to take it all in and I promise you won’t regret it. The walk to Clingmans Dome is a little over half a mile, with a slight incline. There are benches along the way, if you need to take a break, and then you can climb the spiral ramp to the highest point for an epic 360 view of the Smoky Mountains. You’ll also find bathrooms and a shop here. Insider’s tip: Stay at the top to watch the sunset, you won’t regret it.
Foothills Parkway Drive: Our zipline guides personal favorite, as it’s close to where many of them live (so you may just see your guides up here watching the sunset after a day of ziplining). This drive is the least busy and probably the newest scenic roadway, near Gatlinburg. It is a double lane so you have to be cautious of other drivers, but you will have plenty of pull-offs where you can not only enjoy views of the Smoky Mountains but also the glittering lights of some of the surrounding towns.
Max Patch: Right on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina is this gem of a spot. It is a bit of a journey to reach this location but is so worth it! You will have to drive about 7-10 miles off-road and then take a small hike to the top. Once you reach the top you’ll be so glad you made the journey! The views here, especially at sunset are out of this world! You will often find many people getting family, engagement or wedding pictures here because this spot is just so beautiful! If you want, you can even extend your stay at Max Patch and watch the sunrise the next day by bringing your camping gear and staying the night. Just be mindful of the times you’re allowed to build a fire and when you cannot.
There are always more drives to explore, each one offering something unique, but the above are our personal favorites! If you have the time and want a few more suggestions, we also love Rich Mountain Road, Upper Tremont Road, and The Tail of the Dragon. Enjoy your drives through the Smokies!
CLIMB Works Keana Farms has quickly become one of the most popular destinations for outdoor adventures in Hawaii! Therefore, it is highly recommended that you make reservations for our zipline tours as soon as you know your vacation plans! Here are the top 4 reasons why you should make reservations to experience our Oahu ziplines: (more…)
One of the most important things that you should consider when planning any zipline tour is the braking system used at the end of each line. While some zipline companies require that you use a handbrake to slow yourself down, CLIMB Works takes care of all the braking for you with the innovative ZIPKEA! Here are 4 huge benefits of the braking system on our ziplines in the Smoky Mountains: (more…)
When you visit our course in Hawaii you’ll be on a land that lives by the word “Aloha” and you will often hear the saying, “Aloha; it’s a lifestyle”. In Hawaiian the word Aloha means “hello”, “goodbye”, and “I love you”. But, there is more to it than you know! We want to share with you why it means so much to the Hawaiian culture and how you can apply it, with our motto “Always CLIMB” into your daily lives.
For those who have come ziplining with us, or for those who are looking to zip with us, we have a motto that we choose to live by, both at work and in our everyday lives; the motto is “Always CLIMB”. We’re constantly asked, “Why are you called CLIMB Works?”, and it’s because of that motto and what it means. The word CLIMB is actually an acronym and it stands for Challenge, Learn, Inspire, Master and Believe. All of our zipline courses, and the other outdoor adventure courses we design and build, are modeled after our motto “Always CLIMB”. Our goal is to help people step out of their comfort zones, in a safe and controlled environment, so they can experience something new to help them grow, and realize they can do hard things because when you CLIMB, CLIMB works.
This motto when applied on and off our courses creates a sense of unity with those around you as you not only push yourselves to grow, but help and encourage others as well. We see it everyday as we take families, coworkers, newlyweds, retirees, friends, and strangers alike ziplining and watch as a group of random people become family as they share in our adventures.
This amazing unity and friendship that occurs, amongst these groups of people, is because they’re coming together in a shared experience, placing judgements aside, and experiencing CLIMB as it’s meant to be. They challenge themselves to overcome fears, they learn more about each other, they find inspiration in their groups, they master obstacles and together they believe in what they can do. When CLIMB happens you can’t help but become closer to each other.
The word Aloha is significant in the Hawaiian language because it speaks of love, of greeting, of patience, of compassion and peace. Anytime you see “Ha” in a word, the significance of that is the breath of life that a person has within them. That breath of life, or the spirit that they have within them, is shared with another. In ancient Hawaii, when greeting people, you would greet them by touching foreheads and noses and breathing in each others “Ha” or “spirit of life”. That was the way you would greet others, and it is still something done today in the Hawaiian culture. “Ha”, that spirit, in the word “Aloha” is a greeting word and it’s also to wish you well as you depart. But, from the very beginning it had a significant deep cultural meaning as people would meet and they would share with each other their “Ha”, or that spirit and breath of life that everyone has within them.
When you join “Aloha” and “Always CLIMB” together you witness a beautiful blend of seeing and treating each other with a spirit of kindness and wellness, knowing that we’re each on a journey of growth. We share with each other a level of respect, for all our differences, and choose to live in such a way that we help each person as they CLIMB because we see their “Ha”, or breath and spirit of life. And so we share that with you, our “Ha” to yours, our motto “Always CLIMB”, and the message of how this can be lived everyday. Aloha!