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Yellowstone Winter Getaway and Adventure Packages

HOWL WITH THE WOLVES IN YELLOWSTONE THIS WINTER

Yellowstone National Park Lodges has announced its line-up of Winter Getaway and Adventure packages for the 2011/2012 season.

The park’s winter season begins Dec. 18, 2011 with the opening of the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel opens Dec. 20, 2011. The lodges provide the only wintertime accommodations within the park. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel will close for the season March 5, 2012, and Old Faithful Snow Lodge will close March 4, 2012.

Each package includes Xanterra’s “Snow Card” good for 10 percent off meals, in-park transportation, tours, ski shop services and select retail items. Rates quoted here are per person, double occupancy, plus tax and utility fee.

Adventure Package

 “Trail of the Wolf” provides travelers with an opportunity to explore the park’s interior with a guide and learn about its abundant natural features in places such as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone as well as to observe wildlife in the Northern Range of the park. The package includes guided snowmobiling in the interior of the park and wildlife watching by van in the park’s Northern Range. Also included are three nights of lodging split between the two lodges, round-trip guided snowmobile tour between Old Faithful and Mammoth, “Wake up to Wildlife” tour of the Lamar Valley, two breakfasts per person, welcome gift, one-hour hot tub rental, unlimited ice skating and skates and Snow Card. Rates start at $439 per person

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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".

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Explore Hawaii On Inter-Island Yacht Adventure with $300 Travel Credit from American Safari Cruises

Discover a New Aloha with NEW American Safari Cruises in Hawaii

To celebrate American Safari Cruises’ inaguaral season in the Hawaiian Islands, a $300 per couple value-added travel credit* is being offered on Hawaii reservations made between June 1 and July 29, 2011, for travel between October 26, 2011 and May 3, 2012.

American Safari Cruises’ 36 passenger Safari Explorer is the only small-group expedition yacht offering overnight cruises in the Hawaiian Islands. Guests sail one-way on an active luxury adventure between Maui and the Big Island that includes exclusive cruise visits to Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi and Molokini. 

Unstructured itineraries leave time for seeking wildlife, engaging in active adventure and exclusive cultural experiences on the following two Hawaiian itineraries:

Hawaiian Seascapes: 8 days/7nights

Hawaii’s traditional shores: 11 days/10 nights

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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".

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Biking Spain’s Camino de Santiago: A Journey of Body, Mind, and Spirit

The pilgrimage route of Spain’s Camino de Santiago (“Way of Saint James”) is full of the history, legends, and traditions of the seekers and adventurers who have followed it for the past 1,100 years. Easy Rider Cycling tours offers guided trips for modern-day pilgrims who want to experience the historic route by bicycle. 

 

The Camino de Santiago (“The Way of Saint James”) is an 1,100-year-old pilgrimage route across Spain ending at Santiago de Compostela, where, tradition has it, the bones of the saint are buried. Seekers and adventurers from around the world sojourn to Santiago under their own power – by foot, bicycle, even donkey – to earn that most esteemed souvenir: the compostela, or certificate of completion. It’s a challenging journey, complete with mountain passes, unpaved roads, and weather that can be less than cooperative. Easy Rider Cycling Tours, an adventure travel company that specializes in European bike trips, has been guiding bicycling tours along the Camino since 1998.
 
“Each person’s experience of the Camino is unique,” says Easy Rider founder Jim Goldberg, who has guided the tour several times. “Most of our biking guests come for the challenge, the history, and the personal sense of achievement. Very few are in it for religious reasons, although we did once have a church group who brought their own cycling priest! But most people (myself included) do find themselves moved by the journey, even those who least expected to be.” An Easy Rider guest agreed: “The Camino de Santiago bike tour was an exhilarating, breathtakingly beautiful trip…Our surprise reward was that it was also a powerful spiritual adventure.”

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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".

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Go Visit Ireland Announces Special Travel Deal For Solo Travelers

Another St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone, but Go Visit Ireland continues the celebrations with special travel deals on guided walking tours to Ireland. This travel deal offers travelers the chance to experience Go Visit Ireland’s “Hidden Kerry” Ireland tours without paying a single supplement. 

 

This Ireland tour takes travelers on an up close and personal exploration of Southwest Ireland in County Kerry to experience some of the best coastal scenery and National Park walks in Ireland. Travelers will walk four legs of the famous Kerry Way walking trail, journeying on old coach and “butter roads”, which take them from the Atlantic Ocean on the shore of Dingle Bay, through the wild valleys of Mid Kerry and along to Killarney National Park. 

 

Some highlights of this Ireland tour include exploration of Glenbeigh, a picturesque and vibrant village by the Atlantic ocean, a trip to award-winning Rossbeigh Beach, an authentic exploration of the town of Killarney, known for its famous national park and traditional music, absorbing the sights and sounds of Killarney National Park, and a boat trip on the Lakes of Killarney. Other highlights include an optional visit to 19th century Muckross House and Gardens, a spectacular coastal walk that overlooks Dingle Bay, an optional boat trip to the ancient Skellig Islands, traditional Irish music, dance, and food, and much more.

 

No single supplements for tours on May, June, and September departures. Departure dates are available April-October. Prices start at: $925. For more information, visit http://www.govisitireland.com/hiddenkerry.html . Go Visit Ireland specializes in unforgettable walking, cycling, and cultural tours throughout Ireland. With more than 17 years of experience in creating “off the beaten path” Ireland tours, they are true experts in creating authentic Ireland travel experiences.

 

Visit www.govisitireland.com for more information,

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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".

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NEW 2011 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK LODGING & LEARNING PACKAGES

For curious travelers who want to explore Yellowstone National Park by day and stay in comfortable hotels at night, Xanterra Parks & Resorts and the non-profit Yellowstone Association Institute announce their summer 2011 lineup of multi-day “Lodging & Learning” packages.

 

With the exception of the “Roosevelt Rendezvous” and “Yellowstone for Families” programs, all Lodging & Learning packages are designed for a maximum of 12 people and for participants who are a minimum of 12 years old. Members of the Yellowstone Association receive $10 off the price of each program. Rates do not include tax or utility fee. Reservations for all programs can be made by calling (1) 307-344-7311 or toll-free 866-GEYSERLAND (866-439-7375). Online information is available at www.YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com and www.yellowstoneassociation.org.

 

New this year is the Summer Wildlife Expedition, a four-day package offered beginning June 23, July 7 and 21 and August 4 and 18. This package is focused on wildlife viewing and features two nights of lodging at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, three nights at Lake Yellowstone Hotel, breakfast and box lunch daily, dinner on the last night, in-park bus transportation, expert instruction by an Institute wildlife biologist and optional evening programs. Activities include hikes of up to five miles per day with occasional elevation gains up to 500 feet in undulating terrain. Some off-trail hiking is possible. Rates are $1,299 per person for double occupancy and $1,745 per person for single occupancy.

 

Yellowstone for Families” – named “Best Summer Family Camp in America” by “Good Morning America” and Family Fun — is designed for families with children between eight and 12. The package includes four nights at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel or Grant Village; age-appropriate field activities such as animal tracking, wildlife-watching, painting and hiking; breakfast and box lunches each day, in-park transportation, instruction and optional evening programs. Programs are offered Monday to Friday and Friday to Tuesday from June 6 to Aug. 19. Rates for programs at Mammoth are $2,148 for a family of two adults and two children. Rates for programs in Grant Village are $2,548 for a family of two adults and two children.

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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".
Austin Lehman Adventures Introduces Electric Bikes to European Cycling Vacations

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Austin Lehman Adventures Introduces Electric Bikes to European Cycling Vacations

The Evolution of Cycling: E-Bikes now available on European Cycling Vacations

Don’t hang up your helmets just yet… Always on the cutting edge, Austin Adventures is charging up their European vacations by introducing electric bicycles as an option on all European Biking Vacations.

Ron van Dijk, ALA Director of European Operations, with over 40 years in the industry; has witnessed many changes in the way bicycles have been used in European vacations. From the use of increasingly lighter touring bikes and gears moving from 10 to 27 gears, as well as high-tech brakes and now, battery-powered bikes. “With e-bikes now anyone, regardless of age, strength or ability, will be able to take on even the most strenuous tour itinerary.” 

Electric bikes, originally the rage of bike commuters, are quickly becoming the next major evolution in recreational cycling. With Austin Adventures leading the way in Europe by offing an e-bike option to guests on all of their multi-day cycle tours. Essentially e-bikes level the playing field. Couples can cycle together without fear of leaving a companion in the dust. For the first time the arm chair/casual cyclist thinking of an Italian bike tour can do a challenging trip like Tuscany without fearing the inevitable long ascents synonymous with the area. These bikes are ideal for multi-generational groups and families.

To learn more, call 800.575.1540 or visit Austin Adventures - Adventure Travel

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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".