CRUISE WEST OFFERS TEMPTING 2009/2010 HOLIDAY VOYAGES

~Mexico, Panama & Costa Rica, Vietnam and Australia~ Seattle, WA – Cruise West, one of the world’s leading providers of small-ship explorations will offer four holiday itineraries in 2009 and 2010. Sailing into the firecracker lavish spectacle of Sydney’s Harbor on New Year’s Eve; bidding farewell to 2009 in the wilds of Costa Rica; savoring a traditional Nochebuena Christmas Eve feast in Mexico’s Sea of Cortes; or satisfying all the senses in Vietnam on Thanksgiving. Exotic, culturally fascinating and stunning scenery describes the 11-night Vietnam voyage that commences in Hanoi aboard the all-suite Spirit of Oceanus on November 21, 2009, and ends in Ho Chi Minh City. Spend the Thanksgiving holiday discovering Hue, the Imperial City on the Perfume River including the Forbidden Purple City and the Imperial Citadel, followed by a traditional thanksgiving feast prepared by the onboard chef. The itinerary will give travelers the chance to explore Vietnam’s architecture,... Read More →

Adventure Travel Safety Checklist

We know you love to travel, and that most of you have been there and done that, but here is a quick checklist of things you just might not have thought of. Adventure sports and holiday larks Hiking Holidays – what to pack just in case! Hiking holidays are a great way to spend your time off.  These trips are often done at new trails and areas you’ve never been before and that is part of the excitement. Scuba Diving – essential safety tips Scuba diving is one of the world’s most thrilling and fascinating sports – it’s easy to learn and it’s safe too if you follow some simple rules. Snow Safety – Going Big? Get a lid! Most people I spoke to wouldn’t ride a bike trail without wearing their helmet; it’s just too risky.  So, why doesn’t this translate to snow sports?  Find out why helmets are essential on the slopes.  also, some tips for avoiding Frostbite Surf Safety Tips: in search of the endless summer We looked to Costa Rica and it’s... Read More →

Interview with Katie Brown – Girl on the Rocks

Professional rock climber Katie Brown has been stunning the world with her climbing prowess since she won her first international competition in France at age 14, then took the World Championships at age 18. After an intense youth in competition, Katie took time off to attend school, then found her love of climbing again as she entered her twenties. Since then, she’s been diligently working at design school, studying yoga, and traveling the world.  Katie’s life has always included a lot of travel. Growing up in rural Kentucky, Katie traveled around Europe starting in her early teens to compete in climbing events.  When we met Katie six years ago, she was still painfully shy and leary of the spotlight from her past, but she was on her own climbing program that involved climbing for the love of it, complete with a new focus and a desire to break out of her shell. Even though she had traveled on the pro climbing circuit, it was a climbing and bouldering trip to Hampi, India... Read More →

WorldNomads.com Launches Photography Scholarship – Join a National Geographic Photographer in Antarctica!

Sydney, Australia (July 3, 2009). Today WorldNomads.com announces the launch of a once in a lifetime travel photography scholarship – the opportunity to join an on-assignment National Geographic photographer in Antarctica for two weeks. The assignment is to photograph the world’s most remote wilderness aboard Gap Adventure’s Antarctica Classic M/S Expedition, exploring the Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula. The scholarship recipient’s best photos will be published on the National Geographic Channel’s website where they will be viewed by thousands of travelers worldwide, offering a chance to work with one of the most revered exploration organizations in the world. The scholarship winner will be flown from their country of residence to Ushuaia, Argentina where they will board the M/S Expedition on an 11 day assignment in Antarctica from November 22 till December 2, 2009. On the Expedition, the winner will work alongside Jason Edwards photographing some of the... Read More →

Voyage with Helge Ingstad’s Daughter Offers Unique Historical Insight as Hurtigruten Sailing Follows the Path of Viking Explorer Leif Eriksson

Onboard Lectures, First-Hand Experience Shared by Benedicte Ingstad on Greenland to Canada to New York voyage New York, July 2009 — Hurtigruten has announced a very special addition to its 18-day Greenland-to-New York cruise, departing Sept. 22 — on board will be Benedicte Ingstad, Professor in Medical Anthropology and daughter of the famed Norwegian explorer Helge Ingstad. Ms. Ingstad was with her parents, Anne Stine and Helge, on their 1960 expedition to L’anse Aux Meadows in Newfoundland, when they made their groundbreaking historical discovery, excavating what is considered to be the “Vinland settlement” of Leif Eriksson from circa AD 1000, or 500 years earlier than Christopher Columbus’ “discovery” of North America. Through a series of lectures, she will share memories of her family’s adventures and the story of her father’s life as well as show photographic material and unique films. The company’s air-inclusive cruise, aboard the world’s... Read More →

Cruise West’s Epic World Voyage Pairs Legendary Sea Routes with Extraordinary Shore Excursions

Ultimate Explorers Experience Echoes the Adventures of the Great Explorers Seattle, WA – When Cruise West’s Voyages of the Great Explorers embarks on its 335-day circumnavigation of the world next March, guests will find that this spirit of discovery also extends to the remarkable shore excursions. While guests will enjoy an included shore excursion at every port including visits to 85 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the specially designed Ultimate Explorers Experience included on each of the 24 voyages are designed to bring guests into direct personal contact with fascinating peoples, cultures and natural wonders. Think “aha.” Departing Singapore on March 5, 2010, the Voyages of the Great Explorers begins with a visit to Rangoon’s 2500-year-old Shwedagon Pagoda where guests will help deliver food offerings to the monks who live there. From there, the 120-guest, all-suite Spirit of Oceanus will sail follow the sun westward as it re-visits the legendary sea routes of Marco Polo,... Read More →

Endangered Places to See Now

By Laurel Kallenbach for Experience Life Thinking about visiting an area hard-hit by global warming? Far-flung or nearby, many landscapes are in flux. Here are some important U.S. locations. For more ideas, read Frommer’s 500 Places to See Before They Disappear by Holly Hughes (Wiley, 2009). Death Valley, Calif.: The vegetation that holds the desert soil and dunes in place is being threatened by heat and drought. The Redwoods, Calif.: The giant, 2,000-year-old trees are at risk from forest fires. Cape Hatteras National Seashore, N.C.: Severe storms and rising sea levels have caused beach erosion and loss of flora and fauna. Nachusa Grasslands, Ill.: One of the last surviving prairies, this area is being protected from encroaching development. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida Keys: This low-lying island is threatened by rising seas, reef bleaching and hurricanes. The Everglades, Fla.: The marshy landscape and bird species are threatened by dwindling water, pollution and urban development. Glacier... Read More →

Disappearing Destinations

Many of the world’s most spectacular landscapes are vanishing because of climate change, spurring concerned visitors to experience and protect them before it’s too late. By Laurel Kallenbach for Experience Life What would an autumn cycling trip in New England be without colorful maples? What’s a ski vacation without fresh snow? Or an outing to the shore where the beach has eroded? These scenarios are unimaginable for many, yet global warming threatens to make them a reality as species extinctions, severe storms, flooding, drought, melting icecaps, and warmer, more acidic ocean water transform the outdoor environments we love.  People are responding to the threat by rushing to destinations hard-hit by climate change before they disappear. They want to climb Tanzania’s Mt. Kilimanjaro before its fabled snows melt forever, or paddle Florida’s Everglades before its grassy swamps dry up. The see-it-before-it’s-gone philosophy has launched an entirely new form of tourism: climate-change... Read More →

Your Eco-Adventure Awaits

Explore nature and respect area environments by following the code of an eco-adventurer. By Laurel Kallenbach for Experience Life Travel responsibly. Stay close to home or purchase carbon offsets for any air or road travel. Lighten your impact on local resources. Leave no trace. When you enter a wilderness, take care to leave little or no evidence of your presence. Stay on trails, remove your trash and waste, and don’t disturb animals or plants.  Patronize locally owned businesses so that local residents benefit economically from your visit and from preserving the area.  Choose a sustainable outfitter. Ask the company how it protects the areas you will be visiting, how it cares for natural resources, and how it supports local or indigenous people. (See Resources for directories of responsible outfitters.) Learn about your destination. The more you understand area ecosystems and cultures, the more respectful and appreciative you’ll be when you’re actually there.  Show... Read More →

Earth-Friendly Outfitters and Resources

By Laurel Kallenbach for Experience Life Ecoventura: A carbon-neutral adventure-tourism company in the Galápagos Islands that operates trips aboard the Flamingo I, Eric and Letty yachts; 800-633-7972; www .ecoventura.com International Ecotourism Society: Search for an eco-outfitter or eco-trip; www .ecotourism.org Planeta.com: A global journal of practical ecotourism, including info on guides and destinations; www­.planeta.com REI Adventures: Find carbon-neutral outdoor adventures around the world; www.rei.com/adventures Surfrider Foundation: A grassroots environmental organization that works to protect U.S. and Puerto Rican oceans, waves and beaches; www.surfrider.org Sustainable Travel International: Supports travelers and travel providers that protect the cultures and environments they visit. Search its eco-directory for sustainable destinations and tour companies; www­.sustainabletravel.com  Experience Life magazine is an award-winning health and fitness publication that aims... Read More →

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