I recently returned from a 10-day brush with nature. I vacationed in the desolate wilderness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula where 4G does not exist and people have no idea what an iPad is. However there are state parks galore, some of the most beautiful fresh water lakes and waterfalls, and more hiking then one person can handle in a single vacation. Don't get me wrong, the dense forests and natural beauties are enough to keep me occupied but I want to share these sights with everyone in real-time, but Mother Nature makes this incredibly hard!

Here are 4 tech products that allowed me to stay true to my tech-self while unplugging and going "off the grid."

1: Waterproof Camera Case for Mid-Size Camera by DiCAPac
I recently purchased on of the Sony NEX digital cameras, the level below a DSLR, with the interchangeable lenses. I was really excited to put it to good use this summer, especially with this planned vacation. However, the more I thought about it the more I questioned whether or not I wanted my camera up close and personal with rushing rivers, waterfalls, boating, kayaking, and swimming.

So I did some research and this waterproof case by DiCAPac came highly recommended and was moderately priced at about $80 online. The bag is perfect for larger point & shoot digital cameras and allows for a lens of up to 1.4" with an internal diameter of 2.1"--however it also comes with an extender which makes the lens opening longer. The bag protects against fog, water, dust, snow, and sand so it's perfect for any outdoor activity. Although it is in a thick plastic bag basically, it is still easy to use the button controls on the camera my pressing through the plastic.

The only downside is that there is no way to zoom or focus while the lens is inside the casing so you have to use your camera on automatic and either get as close as possible to the subject your photographing or you're going to have to crop and zoom on the computer later.

DiCAPac claims the case is waterproof and usable up to 33ft underwater. However I could not bring myself to test this claim. I liked the peace of mind I had having my camera secure in this case but I didn't trust it to put underwater. I didn't have a reason not to trust it. I just don't live dangerously. But I did take it swimming, into the bottom basin of a waterfall to take pictures, and boating and kayaking--all knowing that IF there was an accident, my camera would survive!

2: Seal Line E-Case (Waterproof Phone Case) by Cascade Designs
Genius! This little guy is absolutely perfect for my iPhone and Seal Line also offers a wide range of sizes to fit all kinds of electronics... all at an incredibly reasonable price (mine was $20 at REI). The plastic front and back allowed for flawless use of the touchscreen and high quality picture taking.

The case features two secure holes so you can attach the case to a  lanyard, keycain, or a carabiner clip--whichever you choose--that way it's not easily lost while jumping and diving in the water.

We did successfully test this product. My boyfriend took it clip diving in some of Michigan's beautiful waterfalls and got video and pictures above and below the water line with no damage or dampness what-so-ever to the phone. Perfect!

3: Geocaching
This one technically isn't a gadget--although it does require a GPS device--but is a great piece of tech that allows you to enjoy nature and your beloved technology all at the same time! If you haven't heard of geocaching, check out their website at www.geocaching.com--they do a wonderful job at explaining what this is all about.

I explain geocaching as modern day treasure hunting (and hiding). Basically join the geocaching website (it's a social network) then download the mobile app on your GPS capable device and then the fun can start. Using the app you can find maps to nearby hidden treasures, called caches. These caches range in size and can be on the ground, in trees, under benches, the possibilities are endless! Inside the caches will be a log where you can write your name, then (depending on size) there will be trinkets left by other geocachers. Take a trinket and leave a trinket that is unique to you. Before you leave use your app to check in at that cache. The geocaching network will keep a record of all the geocaches you find and will share it with all the other geocacher friends you make on the site.

There are over 5 MILLION caches worldwide so there is bound to be something in your neck of the woods! **Note: Caches are not just in rural areas. I've found that the hardest to spot caches are those hidden in plain sight in the busiest parts of the city!

4: Solar Charger by Voltaic Systems
Keeping all these gadgets juiced up is hard when you've hiked deep into the wilderness, miles from the nearest outlet. I purchased the Voltaic Fuse 4W Solar Panels back in December but this is the first time I really was able to put them to the test.

This product is great because the solar panels are attached to a smaller zippered bag with holds the power pack, charging adapters ( for USB, iPod, and other connections), as well as the gadget itself while it's charging.  Voltaic has solar panels that charge larger electronics (at a larger price) such as laptops, but we honestly just wanted to charge our phones, GPS, Kindle, and iPad. You can charge one of two ways: you can charge your gadget directly or you can charge the power pack which can then charge your gadgets once the sun goes down. We attached them to a Timbuk2 backpack where it was able to get optimal sunlight while hiking. It worked flawlessly!


We were able to fit much of what we needed for our summer adventures in a large Timbuk2 backpack (pictured above), which I also highly recommend. It holds everything!

We thankfully survived our adventures with our gadgets still intact and we had the pictures and video to prove it! Without these tech wonders, I'm not sure if I would have made it back sane!

How do you merge the tech world with the outdoors?

The North American International Auto Show is an exciting time for the automotive world and for Detroit, who hosts the big event. I live in Detroit and I also work in the automotive industry (with a supplier that supplies to virtually every major automotive manufacturer and many of their Tier-suppliers).

I'm not so much of a car fan as I am a technology fan. But as it turns out, cars and technology go hand-in-hand -- from social media to energy sources to ....

Here are some of the "non-automotive" things I learned from NAIAS...

1.  High tech everywhere!  If you're a tech nerd and looking for employment, turn to the automotive industry. It doesn't matter if you're a car fan or not, they produce some seriously awesome technologies. From parallel parking assistance, to hands-free systems controls to this (concept) iPhone dock in a steering wheel. The possibilities are endless!

Photo courtesy of The Detroit News