Ellen Barone

An expedition to Antarctica would put me in the company of my heros - Scott, Shackelton and Amundsen, to name a few.

More than a vacation, a voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula would a life-enriching experience withopportunities for exploration found no where else on this planet.

The idea of traveling to intriguing places like Angkor Wat, Easter Island, Papua New Guinea, and Lhasa (to name a few) is incredibly appealing. But the practical reality  of actually getting there, feels a bit overwhelming. Frankly a private jet trip would be just the remedy, serving up deluxe travel on a silver platter: an unforgettable expedition, traveling in ease and comfort.

Topping my win-the-lottery travel wish list is R. Cruose & Son's “Around the World to Legendary Places," 23 days of rich exploration to  some of the most legendary places on earth. While circling the globe, exploring the natural and cultural wonders of the world's most treasured and legendary places—Peru, Easter Island, Samoa, the Great Barrier Reef, Cambodia, Tibet, India, Tanzania, Egypt, and Morocco - this trip serves up a chance to see the world's most incredible spots, unfettered by the usual rules of tourism. No boarding passes, no waiting for flight crews, no commercial routes to adhere to (but all the security measures you'd insist on). Plane. Deplane. How elegantly simple.  Sign me up! (:

The Bolivian highlands, like Tibet, has a reputation for being peopled by some of the kindest, most charming folk on the planet. I'd like to have the pleasure of communing with the Quechua and Aymara people, in addition to a peek at the grandeur of its high-altitude landscapes.

My dream itinerary includes visiting the colonial churches and chromatic markets of La Paz, the sacred Lake Titicaca, the highest steam-navigable lake in the world, the famed silver city of Potosí and much more.

In the spirit of great curiosity, the Galapagos is as close to the extraordinary as I can imagine. My interest in natural history begs a visit to Darwin's living laboratory.

I dream of snorkeling amid sea turtles, penguins, and sea-lions; walking among colonies of animals and birds unfazed by my presense; observing giant torosies and exploring by sea kayak.

A mountainous landscape of fjords, glacial lakes and open pampas, Patagonia beckons.

I envision a lodge-based adventure featuring day hikes within the granite-and-glacier world of Paine and Fitzroy, Andean wildlife and the remote wilds of Tierra del Fuego.

Friends and family accuse me of being a car nut. It’s true. I adore little more than experiencing the world beind the wheel of an automobile - preferably a gutsy little sports car.

So, imagine my excitement when I spotted an ad for my ultimate summer road trip. “Twenty spectacular weeks of summer in the Canadian Rocky Mountains with Horizon & Co. Three magnificent fairytale properties of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. One sleek and sexy BMW Z4 Roadster.”

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, BMW Canada and Horizon & Co have teamed up to offer the unforgettable experience of exceptional cars, grand resorts and the magnificent Rocky Mountains all together in one place. With a BMW Z4 Roadster, I could spend spend six glorious days exploring the pristine wilderness and five equally glorious nights at the area’s historic Fairmont resorts. Better yet, the itinerary for this drive allows ample time for exploring on my own.

Now all I have to do is talk an editor into assigning me the story.

Editors start your engines!

It's been 14 years since I lived in Scotland and I'm itching with desire to return, to reconnect with friends, and to rediscover the magical country that inspired a lifetime of wandering.

Ideally, I envision an extended stay that piggybacks a highlands & islands walking holiday with independent exploration.