You can help in National Geographic’s effort by shopping their numerous products. Any thing that you buy helps them spend more in their grants for newer explorations & discoveries.

National Geographic funds several projects in archaeology, anthropology, earth science & oceanography bringing us stories of adventures & amazing pictures. Their funds come from donations & subscriptions to their magazines or from the profits they make when you purchase anything from their stores.

There is a lot to choose from – from the National Geographic documentary DVD series, to educational books for kids & adults, maps & atlases, to unique clothing, accessories & handicrafts from various places of the world.

Here are some of the most popular products on sale from the National Geographic web store:

Remember, any thing that you buy from the National Geographic stores go to help conservation efforts, new discoveries & benefits our society.

Unless you have something in your mind, you should start off at the New Hampshire Visitor Information website.

The best short trip we made in late fall was to Franconia Notch & the Kancamagus Byway. It is one of the national scenic byways in New Hampshire. It winds between the White Mountains & covers a total of about 112 miles of drive.

The Franconia Notch is at one end of the highway & borders on the Flume gorge & a magnificent dutch settlement. They also run small one house bed & breakfast motels about a mile from the notch.

If you are traveling in late fall, be sure to carry protection for your cameras & a poncho. It rains frequently & often the fog gets too thick. A tripod is also essential for shooting the numerous waterfalls along the drive. The Arethusa Falls is one of the most magnificent falls on the drive. The Bemis Brook drops over 140 feet. The 1.5 miles hike to the foot of the falls from the main road could be strenuous, especially if it is raining.

Ideally, you could spend the first day relaxing in the Flume Gorge & the Canon Mountains. Spend the evening in one of the cozy local restaurants. The next 2 days you could spend along the various scenic spots on the Kancamagus highway.

Images courtesy Photoduniya Nature & Travel Photography.

Where are you planning to drive this season?

My photography adventures could last for a day or extend for about a week most of the time. I have been cutting down on the local photo trips & focusing more on the week long adventures.

My latest one, well I cannot really call it a photo tour, was the long distance drive from New Jersey to St. Louis in Missouri & back, that kept me on the roads for about a week. Unlike my other long distance drives, I did not document it – a bad, bad mistake. It was the end of summer & the drive was fantastic.

You can read about some of my field notes & travel photography on Photoduniya. But if you are planning on a long distance drive, be sure to get the tips on preparing for long drives & how to shoot pictures while driving.

I mainly shop from REI online at REI.com for all my photo & travel needs. And they have some exciting gear this time – some with fabulous discounts. I would be getting some new & replacing my old gears. There is a great dividend sharing membership option at REI where you can save over 30% of your total expenses.

Even though these outdoor clothes are a little more expensive than the run-of-the-mill clothes, they are long lasting & keep your body comfortable. The outdoor clothes meant for winter can keep your body at a near constant temperature of around 72 degrees, while the clothes for summer outdoors can breath in air & keep your body cool.