When it comes to adventurous vacation ideas, one of my most trusted insiders is Nancy Harrison, founding partner of Adventure Media. Offering a blend of expertise, connections, and good value, Nancy and her team specialize in introducing travelers to some of the best adventure travel experiences the world has to offer.
When I read through this hand-selected list of summer travel ideas that Nancy sent along recently, I was ready to pack my bags. I hope it inspires you to do the same.
1. Explore the Sights, Sounds, and Tastes of China On An Authentic Cultural Family Vacation
Experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of China with your family this summer on this new Smithsonian Family Adventure by family travel experts, Thomson Family Adventures. From cosmopolitan cities to rural villages, this exclusive family adventure takes travelers to see authentic China, a land that’s in transition between ancient and modern. As with all of Thomson’s tours, children have the opportunity to meet a pen pal while on the trip … Thomson Family Adventures
2. Celebrate Summer With Your Family On A Rafting Trip Down The Wild & Scenic Rogue River
There’s nothing quite like spending long summer days in the great outdoors while breathing in the fresh air of summer and spending time with loved ones. Venture outside to Southern Oregon’s historic Rogue River for some rough and tumble fun on a whitewater rafting vacation that includes riverside camping… Rogue Wilderness Adventures
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
On March 13, 25-year-old Dallas Seavey passed under the burled arch in Nome, becoming the youngest musher ever to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The recent champ is the third generation of Seaveys to compete in the Iditarod, a family that has been running sled dogs for nearly 50 years.
When they’re not competing in races, the Seavey family shares its love of dog mushing with travelers through its company, Ididaride Sled Dog Tours.
The Summer Dog Sled Ride tour takes travelers on a 1.5-hour ride to the base of Box Canyon Creek in Seward and includes a tour of the kennel, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the Seavey family’s training structure.
The full-day Real Alaska Tour combines a dog sled ride with a Seward city tour and walk to Exit Glacier, located in Kenai Fjords National Park. Lunch and transportation are included.
Lastly, the summer Glacier Dog Sledding trip departs from Girdwood by helicopter, traveling to a glacier where guests learn to drive a sled or just sit back and enjoy the ride.
All summer tours are available mid-May though mid-September.
Visit www.ididaride.com for more information.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
The problem with choosing a vacation? Too many choices. He wants the mountains. She wants the beach.
Why choose? Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality, a company that manages Earth-friendly lodges, hotels and small inns in Central America, serves up a new surf and turf Costa Rica vacation combo that makes it easy to explore the famed Santa Teresa beaches and lesser-known Turrialba mountains – all in one visit.
SURF: Feel the hot sand between your toes at Latitude 10 in Santa Teresa
Located just steps away from the pristine, white-sand Santa Teresa beach, Latitude 10 Exclusive Beach Resort is a romantic and private eco-getaway that contains just five guest casitas. As a hub for adventure and complete mind and body wellness getaway, spend your days kayaking and snorkeling the clear blue waters, surfing on some of Costa Rica’s finest breaks, rebalancing with a private yoga class or indulging in a deep-tissue massage.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
As a wildlife enthusiast I want to go to the Galapagos to revel in nature, not ruin it.
So, no matter how eager I may be to go gawk at giant land tortoises, blue-footed boobies, penguins, lava lizards, manta rays and sea lions, if I go, it’s important to go responsibly.
Which is why my husband and I have chosen to head off guilt-free with Ecoventura, a leader in responsible tourism to the Galapagos Islands since 1990.
Their environmentally friendly fleet of 20-passenger expedition vessels, culturally and naturally respectful itineraries, and stellar eco-credentials, will get us up-close-and-personal with the extraordinary wildlife without leaving a harmful footprint in our wake.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
“If you can walk, you can snowshoe,” say legions of snowshoeing enthusiasts. The sport’s easy learning curve is the inspiration behind The Wayfarer’s new “Walk on Snow in Colorado” trek, a four-day/three-night, calorie-blasting journey that includes accommodations at the historic (and haunted) Stanley Hotel made famous by Stephen King’s The Shining, all meals, and a 25-minute massage or reflexology treatment.
Once requisite gear for fur traders, the snowshoe is increasingly considered a winter work-out essential by snow-loving sports enthusiasts. The Wayfarers’ Walk will average two to three miles per day, depending on depth of snow and other terrain conditions. In between, participants will enjoy shopping and lunch in the charming town of Estes Park, a spa treatment at the Stanley’s Parlour Spa, and healthy regional fare in the hotel’s relaxed and luxurious Cascades Restaurant.
Ideal for both first-time and long-term snowshoers, the snowshoe walk pairs a leisurely exploration of the Rocky Mountain’s wintry white scenery with opportunities to unwind in one of the country’s most historic hotels. The 103-year-old Stanley Hotel is a member of Historic Hotels of America. Scheduled March 18-21, 2012, the Colorado Snowshoe Walk includes the hotel’s famed ghost tour, entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park and snowshoe rental.
Wayfarers’ Colorado Snowshoe Adventure, from $1,295 per person. Tel: 800 249 4620
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
“MOUNTAINS FOR WATER” KILIMANJARO CLIMB WITH ELEVATE DESTINATIONS.
Begin the new year with an adventure that will make a difference.
Climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the highest peak on the continent of Africa, and the tallest free standing mountain on earth while fundraising to construct a water reservoir for a community in need in Northern Kenya. The seven-day trip from Elevate Destinations starts at machame Gate, ascending via Stella Point, with a nighttime ascent to the summit.
A few spaces remain open for interested climbers who care about how drought is affecting East Africa, most specifically, Northern Kenya.
In 1998-2000, Kenya experienced a two year drought. Ongoing issues have prevented communities, livestock and wild animals from having enough water to drink. Daily, Samburu women have to walk for an hour or more to collect water. The shortage of water means ill-health and dehydration within the whole community - often leading to the prevalence of Trachoma, a leading cause of painful blindness. Reservoirs are of huge benefit to alleviate damage in times of drought.
The plight of this community is serious, and you can make a tangible difference. This climbing effort will raise funds to construct a rainwater reservoir, which will benefit a local community for decades to come.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".