Feelin’ like a kid again? Happens every time you hop on a bike.
Check out these favorite rides from the all-inclusive multi-sport adventure experts at Austin Lehman Adventures
The ride from Pine Creek into Montanas Paradise Valley, where they filmed The Horse Whisperer. End with a dip in the thermal springs at Chico.
Montana Canyons, Calderas, & Cowboys Adventure
A 24-mile stretch on Alaskas Kenai Peninsula along Granite Creek to the historic Gold Rush town of Hope. Waterfalls and wildflowers adorn the route.
Alaska - Best of the Greatland
Starting from Osprey Lake high above the valley floor, descend the Trans-Canada Trail through shady stands of towering Ponderosa Pines following the abandoned Kettle Valley Railway into British Columbias Okanagan Valley.
Okanagan Valley - Canada’s Wine Country
Take a morning bike ride through Antelope Flats starting from the front door of the Spring Creek Ranch under the granite spires of Wyomings Grand Tetons.
Wyoming/Grand Teton Valley Floors to Jagged Peaks Adventure
In Perus Sacred Valley, bike off-road to the Inca site of Moray (nine mile ride) then on to the ancient salt pools and mines of Maras (four mile ride).
Peru - Land of the Inca
Experience South Africas Cape Point Nature Reserve and bike along a network of back roads keeping an eye out for Cape mountain zebra and indigenous fynbos plants. Youll circumnavigate the southernmost point on the continent.
South Africa Safari & Multisport Adventure
To view all of the Top 10 Bike Rides visit:
http://www.austinlehman.com:80/pages/july_2008_rides/297.php
About Austin Lehman Adventures (ALA):
ALA includes the full use of its bikes in the trip price. The company features Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo front-suspension mountain bikes, customized as a road/mountain bike hybrid. Guests may choose the pedaling distance they are most comfortable with and a sag wagon always provides back-up and a break when needed.
ALA manages all of the arrangements in its selected destinations. Small groups are held at 12 guests. Rates include first-class accommodations, most meals, expert guides, entry fees, multisport activities such as hiking, biking, rafting, horseback riding and more, ground transportation and luggage service. Not included is round trip air to the host city.
To get a copy of the 2008 catalog as well as information on ALAs 40 unique luxury, multisport, adult and family active adventure travel itineraries call toll-free 1.800.575.1540, or e-mail info@austinlehman.com. To review current trips, schedules and itineraries log onto http://www.austinlehman.com.
Source: Widness & Wiggins
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".
Fig trees, vineyards and olive groves. Risotto, gelato and chianti. Is there any better treat for the senses than Italy? Now, cyclists can enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of Italy up close, with Ciclismo Classico’s six-day wanderlust “Under the Tuscan Sun.”
This trip takes travelers to many of the sites seen in Diane Lane’s famous film, such as Cortona. Stroll down Etruscan, medieval and Renaissance villages. Zigzag through tiny towns on a picturesque road lined with fig trees. Explore picture-perfect hilltop towns and ancient abbeys.
Traveling by bike allows travelers the freedom to venture off the beaten path, meeting local people and experiencing local culture, and classic Tuscan fare, including fresh pastas and vegetables. This Tuscan adventure departs September 7th and October 2nd, rates start at: $2,895, per person.
More on Ciclismo Classico > Click here
Source: Adventure Travel Media Source
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".
Late summer and fall bring great deals and savings at WildlandWild Discounts and Extras on Costa Rica and Galapagos Adventures!
Adventures. Mingle with the exotic inhabitants of Darwin’s enchanted
archipelago. Or head to the Costa Rican rainforest where summer lingers
year-round. Choose from these unforgettable vacation options:
• See the Galapagos for $200-$1,000 less!
Commune with exotic and bizarre wildlife on Wildland Adventures’ 11-day
Galapagos Wildlife Odysseys. Also ask about their family departures
with low child rates.
The Diamante - $3345 ($200 discount) August 18-28, 2008 >Click Here
The Samba - $2195 ($1000 discount) August 28-September 3, 2008 >Click Here
Call 800-345-4453 to Book! More on Wildland Adventures, >Click Here Book a trip to Tibet with Myths and Mountains and your hotel night in • What: One free hotel room in your gateway city pre or post trip. Everest Base Camp >Click Here A Buddhist Legacy >Click Here A Cultural Sampler >Click Here Call 800-670-6984 to Book. More on Myths and Mountains >Click Here Has the rising cost of fuel, airfare or airline fees impeded yourvacation plans? What: Receive a $300 travel credit per person toward the travel expenses you incur to get to your host city Source: TrustedAdventures.com
• Costa Rica Sports Adventure - Complimentary Wild Turtle Viewing
Book this active, outdoor adventure and receive a complimentary Turtle
Nesting nighttime walk or a Baby Turtle Hatching tour on the August
9-15, September 13-19, October 18-24 or November 22-28 departures. Only
two rooms left on the August departure so hurry! >Click Here
Complimentary Hotel Night on All Tibet Adventures!
Chengdu or Beijing is on them! Choose from three extraordinary
itineraries or plan a private custom trip just for you and your family
and friends.
• When: Offer good on travel now through September 30, 2008
• Where: Choose from these set trips or plan your own private escape:
20 Days / 19 Nights - August 3-22, 2008
11 Days / 10 Nights - August 31-September 10, 2008
10 Days / 9 Nights - August 9-August 18, 2008
Travel with Austin-Lehman this Fall and Enjoy Savings on Your Transportation Expenses.
Austin Lehman Adventures understands your frustration, which is why theye’re
offering to take a chunk out of your travel costs.
When: Book by 8/01/2008 and travel by 10/12/2008
Where: Choose from -
Departure Dates for this Promotion: Sep 07, 2008 & Sep 14, 2008
Price: $2,998
Trip Length: 6 days/5 nights
Departure Dates for this Promotion: Sep 28, 2008, Oct 05, 2008, & Oct 12, 2008
Price: $1,898
Trip Length: 6 days/5 nights
Departure Dates for this Promotion: Sep 07, 2008 & Sep 14, 2008
Price: $1,998
Trip Length: 6 days/5 nights
How: Call 1-800-575-1540.
More on Austin Lehman Adventures > Click here
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".
iExplore announced today their list of Top Ten Summer World Travel Destinations for Cultural Exploration as determined by vacation purchases of its adventure and experiential travelers.
1. The Pyramids, Egypt
The largest man made structures in the world and are one of the most lasting symbols of ancient civilization.
2. Machu Picchu, Peru
Recently named one of the world’s new seven wonders; this remote Inca citadel has perhaps the most dramatic setting of any ruin in the world.
3. Thailand
Thailand is a rush to traveler’s senses: a bustling, exotic, and vivid culture that never ceases to amaze visitors.
4. Madagascar
Madagascar, the fourth-largest island in the world is a land unlike any other. Madagascar is an enticing destination for those who find its lack of modern conveniences, tourist infrastructure and efficient transport system an interesting proposition rather than a problem.
5. Great Wall, China
The only man made structure that can be seen from space spans more than 4,000 miles across mainland China.
6. Jerusalem, Israel
The old walled city of Jerusalem, a holy site of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, is dominated by historic sites such as the Dome of the Rock, Wailing Wall, and church of the Holy Sepulchre.
7. Taj Mahal, India
The world’s most famous testament of love. This white domed mausoleum made of the finest stones in Agra, India is the finest example of Mughal architecture and Muslim art and recognized for its beauty the world over.
8. Tunisia
Tunisia, the smallest country in North Africa, has a lot to offer travelers including Mediterranean beaches, the Sahara desert, to sets from the film Star Wars.
9. Vietnam
Only in Vietnam is the past and the present encapsulated so perfectly.
10. Japan
Ancient temples and futuristic cities; mist-shrouded mountains and lightning-fast bullet trains; kimono-clad geisha and suit-clad businessmen: Japan offers all of this and more.
iExplore offers guided tours to most of the above destinations. Call 1-800-IEXPLORE (1-800-439-7567) for details and pricing.
Founded in 1999, iExplore (http://www.iexplore.com/) is the leading online resource for adventure and experiential travel, serving over 1,300,000 visitors per month at its website.
Source: iExplore, Inc.
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 National Wildlife Refuge System offers great locations and opportunities for families to celebrate Earth Day. From watching wildlife to volunteering on teams doing anything from weed control to helping restore a native prairie, there are plenty of ways to catch the Earth Day spirit at a national wildlife refuge.
“There’s no better way to connect with nature and celebrate the planet than spending the day at a national wildlife refuge,” said H. Dale Hall, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “In its 105 years, the National Wildlife Refuge System has grown into the world’s most extensive network of lands managed for wildlife. The system is a shining example of what Earth Day is about: joining together with neighbors to protect the natural environment for our health and benefit, as well as for future generations.”
Here are a few featured refuges and their events for Earth Day 2008
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Smyrna, Delaware
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/bombayhook/
April 19, 2008
The Friends of Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge has sponsored an Earth Day cleanup for at least 15 years, removing old bottles and cans, fast food wrappers, plastic bags and other unsightly items from the along the roads leading up to the refuge. Refreshments will be served after the cleanup.
The 15,978-acre Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge protects one of the largest expanses of unbroken tidal marshes in the mid-Atlantic. It is known among birders as an international hotspot and has been recognized as one of America’s 100 Important Bird Areas by the American Bird Conservancy; 278 species of birds can be found on the refuge, 103 of which breed there. In addition, 34 species of mammals, including river otter, white-tailed deer, raccoon and red fox patrol the grounds.
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
Oceanville, NJ
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/forsythe/
Staff and volunteers at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge will be leading cleanup efforts around the refuge’s Wildlife Drive. An afternoon educational program will highlight how the refuge protects, conserves and enhances habitat for local fish and wildlife and help visitors explore how to help the environment in their own backyards.
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge protects more than 46,000 acres of southern New Jersey coastal habitats and wetlands. Extending for 50 miles along the coast, it includes two of the remaining undeveloped barrier beaches in the state. Some 322 species of birds have been observed on the refuge.
Union Slough National Wildlife
Titonka, IA
www.fws.gov/midwest/unionslough/
April 19, 2008
Union Slough National Wildlife will be hosting its 4th Annual Prairie Rescue Day on Earth Day. The event is an opportunity to help protect rare habitat by joining teams to remove the woody vegetation that is encroaching on the refuge’s remnant prairie. Volunteers will be treated to a meal courtesy of Friends of Union Slough. There will also be opportunities to observe migrating waterfowl and see early blooming prairie wildflowers.
Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1938 to provide a refuge and breeding ground for waterfowl and other migratory birds. The actual slough is all that remains of a pre-glacial riverbed, and its name is derived from the connection or “union” of two watersheds: the Blue Earth River of Minnesota and the East Fork of the Des Moines River. The 3,334-acre refuge is an island of tall grass prairie and wetland habitat surrounded by a sea of corn and soybean fields.
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
Nampa, ID
www.fws.gov/deerflat
April 19, 2008
“Litter’s not for critters” is the rallying cry for the annual Earth Day cleanup activities at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Idaho. Teams of volunteers will be dispatched throughout the refuge to improve and maintain wildlife habitat by collecting trash and pulling noxious weeds.
About the Refuge
Nestled in the rolling sagebrush hills of southwest Idaho, the watery oasis at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge provides an important breeding area for birds and other wildlife. The refuge is a significant resting and wintering area for birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway, including spectacular concentrations of mallards and Canada geese.
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Folkston, GA
http://www.fws.gov/okefenokee/
April 19, 2008
Earth Day on Florida’s Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge will begin with a litter pick up along the highway that runs adjacent to the refuge. That will be followed by educational programs featuring ways people can make a difference in their local communities, habitat needs of red cockaded woodpeckers and the important role wildfire plays in maintaining Okefenokee’s natural habitat. A bicycle tour of staffed exhibits is also planned.
The largest National Wildlife Refuge in the eastern United States, Okefnokee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1936 to preserve the 438,000 acres of Okefenokee Swamp. The swamp remains one of the oldest and most well preserved freshwater areas in America, extending 38 miles north to south and 25 miles east to west. Okefenokee is a European rendition of Native American words meaning “land of the trembling earth,” a reference to the unstable peat deposits that mark the vast bog that makes up much of the landscape.
Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge
Liberty, TX
www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=21593
April 19, 2008
Earth Day 2008 activities at Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Texas will include canoeing, kayaking and boating tours, bird and butterfly viewing, walking the levee trail, and dip netting and fishing lessons for kids.
The refuge totals 17,500 acres, protecting a slice of bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem along the Trinity River. The refuge, which is a remnant of what was once a much larger natural area, is a broad flat floodplain made up of numerous sloughs, oxbow lakes, artesian wells, and tributaries. Wildlife observation and photography opportunities abound at Trinity River. Annual counts have revealed more than 60 different species of butterflies and 275 bird species in the refuge.
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
Tinicum, PA
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/heinz/
April 12, 2008
The Earth Day cleanup at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge is part of the annual Darby Creek Cleanup activities that have been going on for more than two decades. Co-sponsored by the Friends of John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, the Darby Creek Valley Association and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the event regularly attracts up to 200 volunteers who scour low water points along the refuge to gather trash and other debris that have accumulated with the tides over the year. The event’s advertisements promise “We supply the equipment and lunch. You supply the muscle and enthusiasm.” Lunch, in the form of a cookout at the refuge’s Cusano Environmental Education Center, is provided courtesy of the Friends of John Heinz.
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge protects Pennsylvania’s largest remaining freshwater tidal marsh, providing habitat to more than 300 species of birds, 85 of which nest on the refuge. Located within a short drive of a large urban area (and about a mile from Philadelphia International Airport), the refuge and its Cusano Environmental Education Center serve as living, hands-on classrooms for thousands of inner-city students and their teachers.
San Francisco National Wildlife Refuge Complex Environmental Education Center
San Jose, CA
http://www.fws.gov/desfbay/index.htm
The San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex’s Environmental Education Center in the San Jose area will have a number of Earth Day events.
The Slow the Flow Program is a well-established and popular environmental education opportunity for children in the south Bay Area. Activities and presentations will focus on the relationship between personal actions and their effects on the resources. The center staff expects to host a number of 5th graders to participate for Earth Day.
Also, the Wetland Round-Up Program is a popular, hands-on environmental education opportunity where students investigate butterflies at the San Francisco Bay Refuge Complex’s Environmental Education Center butterfly garden, taste pickleweed in the salt marsh and discover the wildlife that live in the slough water.
The Center is situated at the southern end of San Francisco Bay and is surrounded by uplands, salt marshes, salt ponds and freshwater tidal slough. An open pavilion, trails and a boardwalk through the salt marsh habitat make it easy to see and explore natural wonders of the South Bay.
The San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex is a collection of seven National Wildlife Refuges: Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge, Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge, and San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Together, this network of refuges is devoted to preserving migratory birds, endangered species and other wildlife.
About the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov
Source: FWS
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".
Asia Transpacific Journeys Launches Lifelong Learning Journeys
Luxury Travel to Asia Enhanced by Hands-on Immersion, Educational Focus
Asia Transpacific Journeys announces a new Lifelong Learning Journeys series in which trips feature hands-on immersion in a specific theme through classes, discussion and participation with a guest tour leader who is an expert in the field.
For example, their new 17-day Cultures of Buddhist Asia is a sweeping examination of the three major schools of Buddhism practiced in Japan, Laos and Bhutan respectively. The journey will be led by a Buddhism expert from Naropa University, the premier Buddhist studies university in America. Meetings with monks, scholars and optional guidance in meditation will be featured.
These journeys delve deep into a specific theme, with the world as your classroom, says Marilyn Downing Staff, President and founder of Asia Transpacific Journeys, an Asia travel company specializing in the region for 21 years. They are crafted in the spirit of discovery and appreciation, for the lifelong learner who delights in knowledge, not just for those with a background in the subject.
Lifelong Learning Journeys feature:
- A unique theme that acts as a focus for each trip
- A guest tour leader who is an expert in that field
- Hands-on immersion through classes, demonstrations, discussion, participation
- Fellow travelers with a similar passion for subject
- No need to have a background in the subject to join
The Cultures of Buddhist Asia is a Small Group Trip departing November 15, 2008. The per person, double, rate is $10,395 for land costs that includes upscale accommodations, nearly all meals, transfers, visa fees, tips, entrance fees, emergency and medical evacuation insurance, and a comprehensive pre-departure packet.
About Asia Transpacific Journeys
Asia Transpacific Journeys is an award-winning, Boulder, Colorado-based Asia travel company and Asia tour operator specializing in Custom Journeys and Small Group Trips for Asia vacation travel since 1987. Outstanding service, long-standing connections in Asia and deeply insightful cultural interpretation make them the operator of choice for discerning individuals, their families and friends. Asia Transpacific Journeys is the recipient of three Top Travel Specialists awards for 2007 from Condé Nast Traveler magazine. In November 2007 Asia Transpacific Journeys was also honored as a Worlds Best Tour Operator by National Geographic Adventure. For more information, visit http://www.asiatranspacific.com or call 800 642 2742.
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".