Alaska Adventure Travel

Alaska adventure travel is very popular for those travelers who want to explore Alaska's vast wilderness and wildlife. This great state has much to offer and depending on how much time you have available, you can experience as much or as little as you would like. You can customize your vacation and include the activities that you like do most, such as sea kayaking, river rafting, hiking, camping, whale watching, and wildlife viewing, which are some of the most popular. Alaska offers white capped mountains, majestic glaciers, streams filled with salmon, national parks and wildlife refuges, and backcountry lodging to rest and reflect on all your activities of the day. Sound like fun to you? There are quite a few travel and tourism companies that offer a wide range of Alaska adventure travel packages, to include just what you want to see and do. Maybe you'll only be able to travel for a few days, that's not a problem. Most of these businesses have everything from short tours lasting just a few hours to those lasting a couple of weeks, it just depends on you.

If you want to see Denali National Park, there are shuttle buses available, or you can book a tour on a private bus, including a variety of guided hikes, fishing, gold panning, and innumerous picture taking opportunities. Mount McKinley National Park is inside of Denali and tours offer spectacular views of this glacier topped majestic mountain, which is the highest peak in North America at a stunning 20,320 feet. Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is another area you may want to explore on your Alaska adventure travel. The Kenai Mountains border this fantastic refuge, with hundreds of glacier fed lakes, and a variety of wildlife species, including caribou, black and brown bears, birds, and sea life such as seals, penguins, and different varieties of whales. In northern Alaska, the Artic region, including the Artic National Wildlife Refuge, is the largest refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge system, according to Alaska Wildland Adventures, with eight million acres designated for this purpose. It is also home to indigenous native tribes, the Inupiat Eskimos and Gwinch'in Indians, who survive using the resources on the refuge, just as their ancestors before them preserving their culture.

Alaska adventure travel will fulfill your desire to be one with nature and Alaska's truly breathtaking environment. Meet the locals, experience the divine ecosystem, and the vastly untouched Alaskan wilderness. It is a trip you won't forget, it will feed your soul, and rejuvenate your spirit. Take advantage of all this great state has to offer; seriously consider Alaska adventure travel for a trip of a lifetime.

Great Adventure in Bahamas Travel and Tours Packages

It is said that vacation is good for one's spirit and I agree to that. Getting away from your daily activities that have become boring routines, is the best way to relax and treat yourself to a taste of adventure you always dreamed of. How will you spend your vacation where there are plenty of adventurous activities to keep your pulse racing and blood pumping? Places like the Bahamas, where there are plenty of sun, sand, and water for you to enjoy, have fun, and to unwind.

Bahamas offers a wide selection of exciting tours and travel for you to select that suits your taste and adventurous spirit. The adventure in Bahamas travel and tours include shark adventure, 2-ank dive trip, snorkel Bahamas adventure tour, SUB (scenic underwater bubbles) Bahamas adventure, and many more.

Shark adventure in Bahamas travel and tours is a 5- hour, 2-tank dive program which takes thrill- seekers to where the wild sharks are and gives you the opportunity to see up close and personal the magnificent but misunderstood creatures in the dazzling waters of the Bahamas. There are actually four sites where you can dive with the sharks, and at either location you will encounter a get-together of Caribbean Reef Sharks on a regular basis. Your first dive is actually a free swim with the sharks and the second dive is a shark-feeding dive. During the feeding dive, this is where most of the adventure sets in. If I were to do it, I would probably be thinking that sharks will be more interested in me than the bait!

If you love the waters, diving is among the best adventure in Bahamas travel and tours that you must try. This 2-tank dive trip package is recommended for any enthusiastic diver, where you will be taken to the most popular and famous reefs famous in the diving world. In addition, you will get an opportunity to explore an underwater adventure rich in natural wonders and you may get a chance to explore the famous James Bond wreck. You will have two dives and both dives are going to be a combination of a wall and wreck, wall and reef or wreck and reef. The weather condition is the basis for selecting exact sites for diving.

The snorkel adventure in Bahamas travel and tours will take you to an undersea extravaganza of living coral and tropical marine life. You will get a rare opportunity of swimming with schools of colorful fish in the shallows reefs. Each trip takes advantage of the numerous and different underwater sites from which the water is clearest and calmest to begin your snorkeling adventure. And, if the weather is perfect and your companions have the adventure spirits, it's possible that you can be taken off to snorkel with one of the most magnificent but misunderstood creatures of the sea, the sharks. Sharks are one of the mesmerizing marine animals you will ever see. You can snorkel with your guide (of course!) as the sharks swim calmly deeper down below you. If you don't have the guts, you can watch from the boat, which I would prefer!

The SUB adventure in Bahamas travel and tours offers you a submarine experience of a lifetime. This 5-hour trip begins with a submarine orientation by a professional SUB guide, wherein you will learn the basic piloting skills and easy operating and communication procedures. Right after, you will board on the comfortable custom-built 55' support vessel that will take you to one of the famous reefs. A seahorse-shaped submarine propels you at a depth of 15' around a coral reef and together with colorful fish at a speedy two knots. All throughout your submarine adventure, a team of professional SUB guides will supervise and escort you and your friends around an extravagant coral reef, feeding the fish along the way and stopping to show you the marine life. Isn't that an amazing adventure indeed? I would love to try and experience that someday (hopefully sharks are not around!).

This exciting and thrill-filled adventure in Bahamas travel and tours will surely take your breath away. Amidst the beautiful, spectacular places and sites that is Bahamas; your getaway will surely be the best. A repeat is definitely possible!

How to Plan for Adventure Travel Tours

Planning is the first major step to take when considering adventure travel tours. Its importance basically lies on the fact that the way you plan determines the outcome of your experience. So if you plan your adventure travel tours properly and ahead of time, the result would be great and truly memorable.

So, how to plan properly for adventure travel tours?

There are a lot of basic ideas to note when planning for your adventure travel tours. A few steps are mentioned below. If you want to know how you can obtain an ultimate adventure experience, then take note of the following:

Know what you want

Deciding on adventure travel tours can be one of the biggest decisions you can ever make in your whole life. So it is better to be sure and certain as to what you want or desire for your adventure travel tours. The key here is to know your desires.

Ask yourself some questions. Think about your dreams, and how to make them happen. You might think of visiting Aspen and engage into its world-class skiing, or you might just want to stand in a line for a couple of hours just to see the Mona Lisa. The idea of a cruise to the Caribbean might also appeal to you, or you might want to whale watch in Maui, Hawaii. Indeed, there are a lot of options available for your adventure travel tours and what you really desire is what will basically determine the outcome of your adventure. So simply know what you want and base your decision on that.

Do a Research

If a trip to the Caribbean is the fulfillment of your dream, then there's a possibility that you've been thinking about the place for a long time. Well, now is the right time to make it happen. But before you go for your adventure travel tours, try to do a research about your trip first. This will surely prepare you and give you ideas ahead of time of what adventure travel tours can offer. Ask for recommendations, read magazines and books, or go online and ask the Chamber of Commerce of the place you are considering. Those basically are the right moves to take.

Think About the Budget

Your adventure travel tours can be expensive. So, before you engage into one, make sure that your pocket is big enough for the money challenge. Budget your adventure travel tours in advance and balance everything that is involved. Don't forget to include the travel insurance, gasoline costs, auto repairs, and other possible expenses to your budget.

Avoid Over Planning

Over planning means doing things that are not included in your original plan. Well, for some, this just imposes additional efforts and additional budget, which may ruin your entire adventure travel tours. So, before you go for your adventure travel tours, think about some possible extra activities that you might encounter in the way, like having a drinking spree with a couple you just met.

Enjoy and Relax

Adventure travel tours are designed for people to enjoy. So once you are on your way to an adventurous undertaking, then just enjoy the moment. Don't pressure yourself. Do what you can only do and have a good time.

How to Choose an Adventure Travel Tour Company

A number of factors that can contribute to the success of an adventure tour are actually out there waiting for people to discover. One of the most important is by far the adventure travel tour company.

A lot of adventure travel tour companies today offer everything that every adventure trekker will need. They provide tour schedules, foods, transportation, shelter, and guides for big and small group journeys to some of the most scenic attractions on earth. Most of these companies also provide attractive catalogs and brochures highlighting their destinations and itineraries. Wonderful photos are even highlighted and of course, catchy claims are presented.

However, despite all the good things presented for the customers to love the service, it's not actually the ads and claims that matter. What matters greatly is your decision for a particular adventure travel tour company. I bet you know that choosing the right adventure travel tour company is as important as choosing the right adventure to take. Yes, your decision for a company will surely determine the outcome of your experience. If, for instance, you go for an adventure tour with an adventure travel tour company that is illegally operating without you knowing it, chances are everything will turn out worse in the end. So careful planning and careful decision is highly needed. Don't just easily be blinded with those claims and catchy headlines. Do a research and make sure that what you get is the best choice.

But, how can you really identify the right adventure travel tour company?

To begin, ask yourself and the adventure travel tour company some questions. Know the company's history and its experience as a travel agent, but don't just rely on what is written on the brochure or catalogs. The best way to find out the quality and professionalism of a particular adventure travel tour company is by word of mouth. So do some investigations and ask the travel agents with the right questions in person.

Some of the possible questions that might help you determine the quality and professionalism of the adventure travel tour company you are considering are the following:

* How long have you been operating as an adventure travel tour company?
* Are there any types of tours or regions in the world that the company is specializing?
* What are the environmental policies and practices you are maintaining for some adventure eco-tours?

When choosing an adventure travel tour company, also make sure to know more about the company's sales staff. Find out if they are knowledgeable, efficient, and capable enough of guiding you to where your adventure may take you. Note that another important key to a successful adventure tour is the leader and support staff. So before you go for a trip with an adventure travel tour company, be sure that the people you are traveling with are highly experienced and professional adventure leaders who are capable of turning a good trip into a memorable one.

Adventure Travel

For some people, simply seeing the world from a cruise ship or a guided tour is not enough. Adventure travel is a newer term for an age-old activity. Instead of simply viewing places of interest, you go out and find a way to have an adventure.

Adventure travel packages are available for almost any destination in the world. Hiking or camping out under the stars in a desired location are the most popular forms of adventure travel.

Do you dream of visiting ancient ruins or exploring canyons and valleys? Do you wish you could see more than just a far off view of some of the world's most beautiful sites? If so, adventure travel may be just what you are looking for.

Adventure travel is a great way to truly experience a destination. Instead of viewing the beautiful Rocky Mountains, why not take a hike through the beautiful scenery to get an up close and personal view, and experience it right under your nose?

You can also find African Safari packages, as well as adventure travel packages that will take you to South America, Asia, and Australia. If you have a special place in mind, chances are there is an adventure package that will take you where you dream of going.

Packing for adventure travel will be a little more complicated than your average vacation. You may need more supplies than normal. Things like tents, sleeping bags, sturdy hiking boots, and in some cases, your medical records, are all necessary.

Many companies have made adventure travel much easier. They offer packages that will take you to places you may not have even thought to explore. They can help you pinpoint the type of adventure you wish to have, and help make choosing your destination for adventure a whole lot easier.

There are also packages that are designed especially for women. You can find packages that cater to those who want to experience sport, biking, kayaking, and many other athletic pursuits.

Remember to keep your options open when choosing a package. Prices will vary widely, depending on which source you choose. It never hurts to look for the best travel package for your adventure travel by looking both online and by visiting a travel agent.

Also remember that your options are almost unlimited as far as destination, activity, and duration of your adventure travel package. It's your money and your time, so take the time to find the package of your dreams.

Vacations by Adventure Tours Travel Company

Having some time off and going on a vacation away from the pressures of everyday life and stresses that your demanding job gives you, would be a tempting solution to spend quality time with your family or friends. If a four or more legged creature needs rest, how much more the two legged ones, right? A get-away or a vacation is essential for everybody to de-stress and to at least reward yourself or your family a luxury that you and your family deserve for all the hard work each one is doing.

In planning for a get-away that is meaningful, it must not only be relaxing, but also exciting and fun. If you are up to relaxing only, your vacation will turn out to be boring. It is best to add adventure to your vacation list, isn't it? Vacations by Adventure Tours Travel Company can help you in your vacation needs. Whether you want to spend a vacation in the Caribbean, Costa Rica, or Las Vegas, they can give you full assistance.

The Mark Travel Corporation is the parent company of the Vacations by Adventure Tours Travel Company, and for this, vacations by adventure tours travel company made a commitment to adhere to the strict code of ethics, upholding a high level of professionalism, and clearly state all costs and inclusions in all of their advertising and promotional materials. In addition, vacations by adventure tours participated in $1 million Customer protection plan, representing their company's stability and commitment to provide satisfying and quality vacation packages.

Vacations by Adventure Tours Travel Company offers you a complete vacation packages to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Costa Rica and has the advantage of offering you specialty vacations, honeymoon packages, destinations weddings, golf getaways, luxurious spa vacations and many more. You will have a wide selection for your accommodation needs, convenient local departures with non-stop flights to all of the destinations, and round-trips transfer to and from your hotel.

The Vacations by Adventure Tours Travel Company has a group of dedicated, well-trained, and service-oriented travel professionals who are committed to 100% satisfaction to their clients. Upon arrival at your destination, you will be met by one of their travel representatives. This group of friendly people from Vacations by Adventure Tours will help you with anything you need during your stay, even minute details like tipping, where to dine, booking local activities and tours. During the course of your vacation if emergency should arise, they will be there to give you assistance. Vacations by Adventure Tours will always ensure your complete satisfaction from planning stage to actual vacation time.

The Travel Writer As Intellectual Adventurer

William Dalrymple, the Scottish Catholic adventurer, wrote in his book From the Holy Mountain about the modern remnants of Byzantium, the following:

"John Moschos did what the modern travel writer still does: he wandered the world in search of strange stories and remarkable travellers' tales."

Note that Dalrymple did not say that travellers go to discover new things, or places, or people. He sets the modern travel writer on a different plane, as one who adventures through human narrative by means of travel.

That is certainly true of the opulent works of Dalrymple, for whom travelling to places is merely a starting point for an intellectual journey through past civilizations and cultures.
At his best Dalrymple delivers writings that reveal intellectual continents, through which run his riveting historical and moving personal revelations.

When Dalrymple spoke of travel writing and John Moschos, he was referring to an ancient traveller whose footsteps he would retrace in his quest, from Greece through the Levant to Egypt, to find the monasteries and cities that Moschos had previously written about. With John Moschos' book, entitled The Spiritual Meadow, in hand Dalrymple journeyed to the ports of Sidon, Tyre, Beirut, Alexandria -- to see what Moschos had seen, or to discover if anything Byzantine was still there in any incarnation at all.

A huge gulf of time separated Dalrymple from Moschos and yet in several appealing ways they had much in common.

An Oxford graduate from the leisured classes of Scotland, when Dalrymple set out for Byzantium he had already written a best-selling travel book In Xanadu: A Quest. For this he travelled to China while an impecunious student accompanied by relays of girlfriends. He had also written City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi based on an uneasy year he spent in the city with his young artist wife, Olivia. In his much later book White Mughals it would emerge that Dalrymple's Anglo-Indian origins were the reason for his fascination with India.

Prior to setting out to discover Byzantium, Dalrymple consulted with a veritable slate of geniuses and eccentrics: Sir Steven Runciman, Robert Lacey and Robert Fisk among them. On his Byzantium odyssey Dalrymple started his journey at the monastery of Mount Athos on the Greek mainland in 1994. He began here because he went to see an early Greek manuscript of Moschos's book.

John Moschos began his journey from the gates of the great desert monastery of St Theodosius overlooking Bethlehem. The year was 578 A.D., nearly 1500 years before Dalrymple set out from Mount Athos. Moschos was "an almost exact contemporary of Mohammed." This "wandering Jew of a monk" as a biographer of Moschos wrote, travelled with his pupil Sophronius, who in old age would become Patriarch of Jerusalem, and "it was left to him to defend the Holy City against the first army of Islam as it swept up from Arabia, conquering all before it."

Moschos wanted to see and write about Byzantium when it was under assault. Justinian's efforts to re-establish the Roman Empire had failed. Now Byzantium was threatened in the west by Slavs, Goths and Lombards and from the east by "desert nomads and the legions of Sassanian Persia".

Dalrymple wanted to write about a civilization that is largely forgotten and its remnants growing few and remote from modern life. It is not commonly realized that for 300 years Byzantium was the dominant culture of Eastern Europe and the Levant. It was a distinct cultural era between Rome and Islam, and yet so little of it remains in the Western consciousness, except in Eastern Orthodox religious traditions.

Both Dalrymple and Moschos wanted to recover, record and preserve a phase of history most remembered in the adjective "Byzantine" or faintly remembered from the portraits in mosaic of Justinian and Theodora at Ravenna.

John Moschos and his companion ended their journey in Constantinople where he wrote his book. It was hailed as the masterpiece of Byzantine travel writing even then and in a generation or two was translated into several languages.

William Dalrymple ended his journey in Egypt and sojourned in the home of a friend in Somerset, England where he wrote his book. With From the Holy Mountain Dalrymple came of age as a writer. Some would say it was his greatest work. Today Dalrymple the family man divides his time between a farm outside Delhi, London and Edinburgh.

With From the Holy Mountain he did what he wanted to do. "I wanted to see wherever possible what Moschos and Sophronius had seen, to sleep in the same monasteries, to pray under the same frescoes and mosaics, to discover what was left, and to witness what was in effect the last ebbing twilight of Byzantium."

Adventure Travel Safety Tips

Thousands of people throughout the world today are considering adventure travel for several good reasons. Most of them want to simply discover the hidden secrets of a certain place, while others want to experience a new taste of culture and beliefs. They want to meet new people, learn new language, or simply see the exotic flora and fauna of a certain place. There are others also who engage into an adventure travel to discover their own self, their capabilities and limitations.

Although the reasons for considering an adventure travel are good, we can really deny the fact that tours and trips to mountains, rainforests, rivers, and even on air are dangerous to some extent. Yes, they are exciting, but they can be dangerous as you have no control as to what will happen while on travel.

Because of such fact, some sorts of safety preparations must be considered before the traveler departs from home. Doing some kind of homework before you leave can be a great move to take as it can help lessen the chances of mishaps to occur. So when considering an adventure travel with your peers, make sure that you are prepared enough for whatever is involved. Know the destination, the guides, and what you are about to do. Most of all, make sure that you know yourself.

Consider the Safety of Your Trip

When choosing an adventure travel, one of the most important things that every traveler can to do to avoid dangers along the way is to research about the destination and the trip. Know the level of your adventure, whether it is extreme or unusual, and think about the possible dangers associated with such kind of activity.

Also consider the tour guides. Don't think that because you have a tour guide, you're safe. Well, that doesn't apply all the time. Having a guide, in fact, doesn't eliminate the risk. Understand that there a number of unexpected situations that your guides can't control, no matter how powerful and strong they are. In relation to this, don't easily think that because you will be part of a group, you will be safe. Again, that's not always true. So best thing you can do now is to carefully research the company your will be dealing with, including their tour guides. Make sure that the company is responsible enough to handle every adventure.

Know What to Do and What to Expect from Your Travel

An adventure travel is a very demanding investment. So before you leave, be sure to know what to expect and what to do on your trip. You can ask about the foods and accommodations, the gender, age and interests of your fellow adventurers. Also, assess your own skills. Also make sure that you are physically and mentally ready for your adventure travel.

Know Yourself

Knowing oneself is by far the best thing that every person can do when consider an adventure travel. So ask yourself if the activity you are considering is what you really want. Also know your own condition, whether you are fit enough or unfit for the adventure travel. Well, the best way to know your own condition is to get a medical advice from your doctor. Simply find out if the adventure travel is best for you or not. If not, then look for an alternative, something that your health can tolerate.

Adventure Travel

Most of us have taken a travel trip sometime or the other in our lives. But if you have been on a travel trip in the recent past, you could not have failed to notice that a new category of travel has made itself very prominent. Known as 'Adventure Travel' this is a new way to travel that is not just popular among the youth and those whose veins are filled with adrenaline, but even among ordinary people like you and me!

It is not really difficult to fathom why. Regular travel, has, over the years gotten boring and predictable. With the prices of airfare coming steadily down and package tours becoming more common than ever before, conventional travel has become stifling, overcrowded and boring. The sense of adventure that is usually associated with travel has become obsolete. Until adventure travel came on the scene that is. With adventure travel, travel ca once more become that exalted activity that brings us in touch with new cultures and people and broadens our horizons. The very raison de etre for adventure travelis unique experiences - something that all of us, irrespective of our personal preference of travel, want!

A sample adventure travel trip for instance could offer you a very unique way of seeing an otherwise popular destination. Now, most people you and I know have been on a Caribbean travel trip. They would have visited the same old beaches, stayed in the same old hotels, driven along the same old roads and seen the same old touristy sights. But sample what an adventure travel trip to the Caribbean could offer. You could take an eco-trek through the Caribbean rain forests, you could see the birds, the insects and the animals up close, you could camp with the local inhabitants and learn more about them, their costumes, their food and their culture by actually interacting with them and you could discover the joys of virtually deserted, unspoiled beaches. All of this while being relatively close to the popular tourist destinations, yet away from the humdrum and drab experiences.

Or imagine an adventure travel trip to Australia. While most travelers do the staid, old, boring city hop across the continent, you could, as part of your adventure travel trip, balloon your way across the continent, snorkel in the great barrier reef, share a billy with a jolly swagman and waltz with mathilda and a joey or two in the bush country! Doesn't the adventure travel option sound like more fun when compared to the regular travel option?

It is precisely to cater to this need for a unique and interesting travel experience that the genre of adventure travel came into existence. And adventure travel is not a genre that is restricted to the teens and tweens. Increasingly, older adults are opting to go on adventure travel trips. And they are having more fun, learning much more and reliving their experiences at every given opportunity, much to the envy and consternation of regular travelers. You too could be the one to go on an adventure travel trip. The only thing stopping you is your imagination!

Papua New Guinea: Adventure Traveler Mecca With Butler And Health Club

One of the few still untamed, if not unspoiled destinations, Papua New Guinea is a raw land. Nearly 85% of the main island is carpeted with tropical rain forest.

With its international reputation for Scuba Diving thanks to spectacular coral reefs, Papua New Guinea is still a Mecca for the serious adventure traveler who will find swamp and jagged limestone; mud and moss forest; suffocating heat and Highland chill; plumed, pearl-shelled villagers and prosaic hill people; tiny tree kangaroos and enormous Queen Alexandra Birdwing butterflies. And fascination, unspoiled beauty, the exotic experience of a lifetime. But also personal butlers at hotels. Fine dining. And now even a stunningly designed Health and Racquet Club.

The new club is at the Airways Boutique Hotel in Port Moresby and covers 600 square meters fitted out in stylish décor, and includes state of the art "Wellness in Motion" Techno Gym cardio and strength equipment, a 20-metre infinity lap pool, air-conditioned squash courts, floodlit tennis court, aerobics and exercise room, massage rooms, separate male and female steam rooms and saunas, and a Zen garden with views over the valley, the sea, and the mountains, for winding down after a workout or massage treatment.

A full range of professionally organized classes and lessons offers Club members and hotel guests a variety of invigorating fitness and exercise programs and routines. There is also an outdoor exercise trail through the hotel's lush botanical gardens.

The Airways Hotel, located at the Port Moresby airport, is anything but your typical airport hotel. Exquisite dining, the unique combination of the exotic and the modern in a luxurious tropical setting, and an excellent, friendly service provide for a matchless airport hotel experience.

The hotel is nestled into the mountainside in its own botanical gardens, with stunning views of the crystal clear waters of Bootless Bay to the majestic mountains of the Owen Stanley Ranges. The stylish rooms have a hint of designer decor with a simple elegance. For the ultimate luxury in service, book one of the Orchid Suites and Rooms that come with a 24-hour personal butler to cater to your every need. Art and artifacts of Papua New Guinea are on display throughout the hotel.

Four restaurants, four bars, boutique, chauffeured limousine service, swimming pools, tennis courts, yoga and aerobics, Chef's Master cooking classes, diving, and spa complete a hotel offering that one does not expect at an airport hotel in an exotic destination.

The Airways Hotel is an Emerald Collection member of Boutique Hotels & Resorts International, a highly acclaimed alliance of genuine boutique hotels from around the world, and has been nominated for the World Travel Awards.

If your travels take you to the exotic islands of Papua New Guinea, be it for a longer stay or just for a day, the Airways is the place to be.

Tips for Your First Scuba Diving Travel Adventure

Perhaps you have already decided to take on your first ever scuba diving travel adventure and like any first-timer you are thrilled to the bone. However, it could also be predicted that you don't actually know what to expect. A scuba diving travel adventure is much more complicated than your normal excursion. Thus it is important to know certain essential matters before you go on your diving trip.

The primary decision you should make is probably the destination. Wherever you are going, it should fit your scuba diving level, your finances, time, and preferences. Those things are hard to balance, but with the help of a travel agent who is knowledgeable about diving, you can find an adventure spot that will be compatible to you. You can also benefit from asking a diving center as they would be glad to point out to you the great diving sites where you can start your scuba diving adventure.

When planning your scuba diving travel adventure you shouldn't leave out the non-diving aspects of your trip. Sure you are excited about going underwater, but there are many good sights to see on dry land, and you wouldn't want to miss them as well. Remember to have the right balance of wet and dry activities for your adventure.

Now before you forget, be sure to make a checklist of everything you need, from your scuba gear to your scuba diving certification. If you plan to dive out of the country, be sure to do your homework about travel requirements, local currencies, disease hazards, travel advisories. It is easy to get such information these days, thanks to the internet and you need to have these in check to make sure that your scuba diving adventure won't have problems.

Here are some important reminders for your scuba diving travel adventure:

1. Set your travel dates, but be flexible with them.
2. Shop for scuba diving travel packages that can save you money and effort.
3. Write your name and contact information on your scuba diving gear and mark it well for easy identification.
4. Get diving and travel insurance.
5. Have your important documents copied, keep one for yourself and another for somebody you trust at home.
6. Don't forget your medicines and their prescriptions.
7. Bring with you the essential scuba gear as carry on luggage.
8. Check with your airline about restrictions regarding scuba diving equipment.

A scuba diving travel adventure can be quite an exciting experience if you plan well.

Guiding Your Family Adventure Travel

Can you still remember the thrill and chill of adventure films like Indiana Jones? But of course, who will forget the breath taking travel adventure that the protagonist's experienced? Now, you do not need to be Indiana Jones in order for you to experience travel adventure and excitement. In addition, you can have both adventure and vacation in one in just few steps.

Why do you need to have a travel guide? Basically, these are suggestions in order for you to enjoy and relax and have a fruitful vacation escapade with your love ones.

Relaxation and unwinding are main reasons of taking a travel adventure. Of course, no wants to have a chaotic travel especially when you are traveling with your family.

Here is a list of guides in order for you to have smooth travel adventure!

First and foremost of the guide, let your kids be involved in the planning. Let them speak and be vocal on what kind of travel they would want to have. This will allow them to be more excited and they will surely be looking forward for your family travel day to come. By doing this, you are also sorting their interests, their likes and dislikes. In addition, you are also building in your kids the value of decision and organization.

Family adventure packages are good. Search or scout for companies that can offer great and good deals. Most of the companies now are having different gimmickries in order to attract customers. Having this will also help you to find the cheapest offer. Some are offering discounts and others are giving away freebies. Choose the best package that will give you the best memorable family travel adventure at a good price.

Another guide is finding the perfect itinerary. Of course, you will have your family adventure travel so the itinerary should fit and suit you and your family's interest and desire. Do not opt for places that will kill your excitement. In addition, you should also consider you family member's condition. Yes, you are looking for family adventure but travel adventure should not always mean "extreme."

If you already have your vacation place, it is the time now to fly. However, checking your bags is a necessity. Be sure that you have the right attire and gears. Do not forget to bring you first aid kits for emergency and back up copy of every document for your flight.

These are just few travel adventure guides on how you can have the soundest family travel. However, the happiness of your vacation would still lies on you hands.

The Ultimate Canadian Travel Guide To An East Coast Adventure

Making the decision to visit any one of Canada’s beautiful provinces or territories is easy, especially if you decide to spend your time on the East Coast. Canada’s East Coast is made up of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and precious Prince Edward Island which exudes island hospitality and charm.

Your trip will be packed full of exciting activities when visiting any number of the East Coast festivals, cultural events, heritage sites as well as a ton of indoor and outdoor attractions. There is definitely no shortage of things to do on the East Coast. When visiting here is a list of the top 5 things you must see and do.

When in Newfoundland, Gros Morne National Park is a must see. Either for a day trip or for a week long camping trip, Gros Morne National Park has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. You can hike through mountains, camp by the sea, visit freshwater fjords, waterfalls, and sandy beaches. As an area with vast natural beauty and a variety of scenery, wildlife and recreational activities, there are a million and one things to do.

The next stop on your east coast vacation has to be beautiful New Brunswick. If you are searching for some indoor activities your next stop is the traditional farmers market in St. John - this market offers patrons the best New Brunswick has to offer in terms of fresh food, produce, meats and seafood. The St. John City Market also hosts the maritime craft show and offers hundreds of hand crafted items for you to enjoy. It’s a wonderful place to visit and stop in for a bite.

If outdoor adventure is more your speed visiting the Fundy Trail in St. Martin’s New Brunswick will be most enjoyable! The Fundy Trail is an area of true importance as it is a sensitive ecological area, previously inaccessible to people. Untouched coastal areas with unmatched beauty and eco-diversity offer its visitors the opportunity to hike, bike or drive through portions of the park to take in the view.

When in Nova Scotia shellfish is the dish dejour, particularly if you enjoy Lobster! Nova Scotia offers lobster tours for sea lovers of all ages. Tours are a great way to become familiar with the fishing methods used to catch these delicious creatures as well as to learn about the marine habitat of the many sea creatures that frequent the waters off Nova Scotia. A day on the water will reveal whales, seals, dolphins, seabirds, porpoises and other exciting species.

The final stop on your east coast adventure must be Prince Edward Island, the gentle Island. Offering annual cultural and artistic events, numerous sights and attractions, PEI is fun for the whole family. You can learn to deep sea fish, do some afternoon birding, or golf on one of over 30 island golf courses . Be sure to visit Prince Edward Islands' beautiful lighthouses, the home of Anne of Green Gables, and historic Province House, the Birthplace of Canada. Or if the idea of putting your feet up on one of PEI’s beautiful red sand beaches is more your speed, the gentle island has many places for you. Surrounded by the sound of waves coming ashore, birds flying overhead and nothing but peace and quite, this are definitely the place for you. Rejuvenate your spirit, Love Prince Edward Island!

Traveling Like The Thornberry's, A Family Adventure Travel In Africa

In this generation, childhood will be incomplete without being caught unaware about the movie and cartoons The Wild. Hold your breath; this is not a promo ad for the movie. It is just that most of the kids now are really dreaming of sharing the same experience with the Thornberry's. Who will not envy the Safari experience that the Thornberry kids had? However, for those moms and dads who want to grant their kids' wish, here is a guide on how you can have a family adventure travel. Actually, it is not just an ordinary family travel but also a family adventure travel with the touch of a Safari experience!

There is no other place that could be equated to the Safari experience that Africa could offer. If you and your kids are really looking for a family travel that is worth keeping, go and start reserving for a flight in Africa now.

Topping the list of "musts" is a Safari experience on the open parks. Let your kids touch and feed those tamed animals. Let them walk along the grasslands especially of the Ngorongoro Crater where luscious plants are scattered around. Let them experience Safari adventure and discover for themselves the beauty of nature. Nairobi National Park and Karen Blixen's are some of the places that provide experience and highlight your family adventure travel. Take note that these two parks are found in the heart of a city.

Instead of booking and reserving rooms in exclusive deluxe hotels, try to lodge in the ecolodges where ecofriendly services are provided. Most of these ecolodges are allowing camping and mounting tents. Aside from the wonderful sleeping set up, try the fresh foods that they are serving. Fruits and vegetables are freshly picked to provide the healthiest possible ways to each visitor.

Your adventure travel will not be complete if you will not travel like the Thornberry's way! Tour your family around Africa, have Safari experience by using trailblazing land rovers. However, if your family really craves for a real family adventure travel, try camelback riding or horseback riding. If you are still unsatisfied, use hot air balloon so you will have a clear panoramic view of the land.

Asking for the perfect time for the whole vacation? Worry no more, daytime or nighttime, travel in Africa will still be as exciting as you wished because even at night, nocturnal animals are musts to spot!

To finally complete your family travel in Africa, have a book on indigenous communities. Dwell on their place. See and feel their culture.

To experience all these adventure, you can actually choose from the two ways of booking a trip - planning and setting your adventure itinerary by yourself or let an agency do all the chores.

Do not worry about the budget because family packages are available. Better book and reserved now and like the Thornberry's, you will surely have a great family adventure travel and Safari Experience.

Interview Preview: Bruce Poon Tip - Global Adventure Travel Entrepreneur With A Conscience

Yesterday I had a chance to meet Bruce Poon Tip, owner and CEO of G.A.P Adventures, one of Canada's most successful travel entrepreneurs. You may wonder, what is he like? Bruce is the owner of Canada's largest adventure travel company, an attractive man of about 37 years of age, dressed in casual attire and not afraid to speak off the cuff. Certainly a charismatic personality who was able to captivate last night's capacity crowd at the G.A.P. concept store in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood.

In 1990 Bruce went on an organized backpacking trip to Thailand where he had a chance to explore the people and the country on $10.00 a day. This experience gave him the idea to create G.A.P Adventures, today Canada's largest adventure travel company that now sells thousands of different trips and annually sends 40,000 passengers on their own small-group adventures. G.A.P has about 300 employees today, headquartered in Toronto, with operational offices in various countries of Latin America. It's most recent endeavors are the G.A.P concept stores which have recently been opened in high-traffic areas in Toronto and Vancouver, places where travellers can research their adventure trip, get more information about their desired destination and book their once-in-a-lifetime experience supported by good advice with no sales pressure.

For his entrepreneurial savvy Bruce has won numerous awards, besides receiving an award as one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40, Bruce has been also been honored as one of Canada's top 5 entrepreneurs by Canadian Business as well as Canada's 100 leaders of tomorrow. Profit Magazine named him in their 20th anniversary issue cover story as one of Canada's Top 10 Entrepreneurs of the last 20 years. Bruce also received the Global Traders Leadership award from the government for his ground breaking ideas in exporting services.

Recently Bruce was asked by the World Bank and UNESCO to represent a team to visit the Peoples Republic Of China to lecture on Sustainable Development. In January of 2002 Bruce was the only Canadian operator invited to speak at the United Nations Launch of the Year Of Eco Tourism in New York. Bruce defied the odds once again last year by winning Canada's prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year, as well as the National Citation for Entrepreneurship.

G.A.P's additional awards include having two trips chosen among the TOP 25 Adventures in the World by National Geographic Adventure magazine, the Ethics in Action Award, the Global Traders Award and the Clean Air Commute Award for five straight years.

Although a consummate business man, Bruce Poon Tip has a conscience and he has founded his entire enterprise on the concept of sustainability and established travel practices that show consideration of natural surroundings and local cultures. By limiting the travel group size to 12 people, by taking local transportation and staying in small, locally owned hotels and guesthouses, G.A.P travelers are able to minimize their footprint in foreign communities and get maximum exposure to local culture.

Planeterra is a non-profit organization founded by G.A.P to give back. Today Planeterra raises funds for a number of community projects, international charities and an endowment fund to ensure long-term support of community development and conservation projects for years to come. Some of the community projects that G.A.P sponsors through donations include a community school in Ecuador, a foundation in Honduras to help women start their own businesses, an NGO in Costa Rica for environmental and wildlife conservation projects, a local battery recycling project in Chile, a drop-in center for street children in Cuczo, Peru, and many more. G.A.P Adventures itself also initiated a Women's Weaving Project in Peru that taught local women ancient weaving techniques as well as natural fabric dye processes. Today all G.A.P travel groups visiting the Sacred Valley in Peru have a chance to see and purchase high quality textiles produced by these weavers, all sold at fair trade prices.

As another example of the innovativeness of his company, Bruce shared with us the story of how he went out to purchase the "Explorer", the world's first purpose-built expedition cruise ship. In March of 2004 Bruce went on an expedition cruise through the Antarctic and fell in love with the experience. He figured he need to buy his own expedition cruise ship and started looking for suitable vessels. In April of 2004 he found the "Explorer", a historic expedition ship with a capacity of 112 passengers and a crew of 60 people. The ship had been docked in Genoa, Italy, for many months due to the financial problems of its owners. Just another 2 months later, but after many complications, G.A.P took possession of the ship. Only another 4 months later, after extensive restorations, the Explorer went on its inaugural journey and today offers expedition cruises to such unique places as Antarctica, the Amazon, Spitzbergen, and Greenland. (Incidentally, G.A.P. has agreed to sponsor our first Travel Story Contest and the grand prize winner of our contest will win an exciting adventure cruise on the Amazon in the Explorer - all thanks to G.A.P. Adventures.)

G.A.P's innovative business ideas don't end here. G.A.P also has a travel TV Show: Great Adventure People TV shows viewers the world - G.A.P Adventures style. The camera accompanies small groups of G.A.P Adventure travelers and follows them on unique G.A.P. adventure trips- cycling through the fascinating country of Vietnam, exploring exotic Morocco, and hiking, biking and rafting through captivating Spain and Italy. New episodes can be seen in Canada on CTV and will soon also be available in Great Britain on the UK Travel Channel.

G.A.P is a unique company, with a unique philosophy and a unique way of operating. I am looking forward to interviewing Bruce personally and to finding out how he is able to combine a successful high-growth adventure travel business with his dedication to social causes and sustainable travel. Stay tuned for some interesting insights into a brilliant entrepreneurial mind....

Family Travel Adventure

Family is one of the most important things in the world and we should cherish it. How can we show our appreciation for having a good family? Plan a family travel adventure!

One way of spending quality time with your family is to travel together. It will make the family bond together and get closer to each other. There are a lot of things to do when you travel, you can go to different places, visit those kids friendly park, try new things and a lot more.

Activities

Family vacations should be enjoyable and productive. You should also consider what adventures will suit you and your kids. If your kids love to travel, these places and activities are perfect.

Theme Parks/ Amusement Parks/ National parks

This place never ceases to bring joy and laughter to children. Family adventure in theme parks will not only be fun but will also be educational. There are theme parks that will give additional knowledge to the children. And if you and your children want to experience thrill and excitement, the best family adventure will be trying all the rides in the amusement parks. Anywhere in the world there are numerous amusement parks.

Camping, Hiking, Canoeing, Biking

If your family is very athletic the best adventure is going outdoors in the wild! You can enjoy your vacation by camping in the woods; it releases stress from the work and also from the school. The change of scenery will also be good for the health. But before going to some strange mountains or camping site, you should know what to bring and what to do to ensure the safety of your family vacation. Same with hiking and biking, these are great adventures. If your children are old enough, you can try canoeing or rafting, it's a water sport that will give you adrenaline rush and a great adventure. Family vacations will never be dull if you try these activities.

Shopping

It's always a must that when one travels to a different place, there's always a shopping expedition. It would be a great family adventure to look for souvenirs and items that will remind your family the good times you have in that certain place. Simple shopping with kids will be quite enjoyable even if you don't have to travel in a far away place.

Golf and Other Sports Activities

It's also important to know the sports that interest your children, not only it will be a wonderful family vacation, it will help enhance your child's skill in that certain sport. It will also help their self-esteem to know that you support them.

Going to the Beaches

This is one of the most common places for a vacation. Children can frolic in the sand and parents can relax under the warm heat of the sun. Aside from that, they can also try the different water sports activities, a family adventure that you will never forget.

Wherever you go or whatever you do, the important thing is that the family has the chance to get to know each other, form a bond and be a strong one. Enjoy your travel time with your family and have a memorable time with them.

Adventure Travel Wilderness And Hiking Trails Fees Continue To Rise

Is adventure travel getting expensive for the family? The good news for adventure travel and wilderness hiking trails is that the USA has some of the most unique and incredible places to see on earth. Our National, State Parks, Monuments and Wilderness Areas are awesome, but for years there have been reduced number of visitors. Many citizens have said that a four-year program to increase national parks entrance fees to make them more uniform may discourage some Americans from visiting their national parks such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Zion and Yellowstone.

The National Parks have been faced with a budget crisis. The parks are struggling to protect the historic, cultural and natural resources that the parks were created for. The parks are short of funds for operating facilities, repairs to roads, bridges, trails and buildings. There was an 814 million dollar shortfall in 2006. There are almost 400 areas of protection covered by the National Parks Service. Almost every park has fewer full time employees now than in 2001, while there were over 273,000,000 visitors to the parks in 2005. The park service needs more funding to provide education, interpretive and for the safety requirements of their visitors. This is a time of controversy about park fees, current plans for oil, gas and mineral exploration in our parks and of course removing the O'Shaughnessy Dam to restore the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite.

Recently the federal government has moved to replace the National Park Service's $50 annual pass with a new $80 multi-agency pass. Some people think that the fee increases are getting out of line. The park service raised entrance fees at 34 parks over the past two years and plans to raise them at another 124 parks in 2008 and 2009. At Glacier National Park in Montana and Joshua Tree National Park in California, the fees will go up twice, and beginning in 2011, park officials plan to increase fees every three years, based on inflation. There is a proposal to double entrance fees next year at Crater Lake National Park, now $10 per car. Will it drive the local visitors away? In 1997, when the park service began raising fees, the number of national parks visitors has fallen 1% while entrance fee revenue has gone up almost 16%. Many of them are from outside the United States and love to visit the American protected lands.

Will the National Park Centennial Act to rescue our parks before 2016 - the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service? The acts purpose is to eliminate the annual operating deficit and maintenance backlog in the national parks. If it passed, it was to create a check off box on American tax returns to fund the parks. As H.R. 1124 and S 886 it did not get passed in 2006. In spring of 2006 the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report about our National Parks based on research, to the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee that found that funding had not kept pace with need, requiring park managers to reduce services including, reducing visitor center hours, educational programs, basic custodial duties, and law enforcement operations, such as back-country patrolling. Additionally, the park system has been forced to close campgrounds, shorten operating hours, eliminate many interpretive programs, lay off many seasonal rangers, and eliminate many of the parks' scientific studies programs.

So where's the good news about our public lands? Being an outdoor writer and avid traveler to our parks and wilderness areas Bob Therrien, President of TrainingPASS Sales, Inc. has created an outdoor recreation message board, he commented "As I've visited the outdoors, the hardest part over the years, for me has been the research about which parks, hikes, climbs, locations and activities I want to visit with my family and friends. Exploring federal then state website after site, then mapping the distance from each area of interest is inefficient and many times lacking in information. To solve that inefficiency we have collected all the basic information about our parks, wilderness areas and national monuments and put them into one website. I don't personally have a problem with the new park fees. It costs me more to take my family to the movies. I'd rather enjoy a full day or two at a place like Denali National Park, the Arches or Canyonlands.

The USA has incredible adventure travel wilderness and hiking trails. To promote these areas AdventureZoneTOURS created a forum for sharing trip reports on National Parks, State Parks, National Monuments and Wilderness Areas.

The Outdoor Adventure Message Board opens up to reveal a listing of U.S. States, separated into travel regions. Click on any state region and there are sub forums for all the parks, monuments and wilderness areas in that region. Many times there are several interesting choices to pick from of federal or state lands, within a state region. For the activity-specific minded, AdventureZoneTOURS.com encourages users to share trip reports for a variety of outdoor activities from hiking, climbing, canyoneering, geo exploring, photography, ghost towns, mines, and cave to water sports such as boating, fishing, jet and water skiing, tubing, rafting, and scuba. Winter travel sports such as snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding are featured. Hunting locations, ATV and horseback trails as well as the most scenic areas for outdoor photography are also available as individual topic posts. To research or share your favorite adventure travel location, you're invited to sign up and share today.

Sedona, Arizona - A Travel Adventure In Red Rock Format

USA WEEKEND's Annual Travel Report for 2003 heralds Sedona, Arizona, as one of the USA's ten most beautiful places. It is a four-season adventure in beauty.

The community boasts a list of 102 things to do while in Sedona, and the list is not exaggerated. Some are free, some are pricey, but all are viable possibilities, accentuating this beautiful land.

You will meet lots of people in Sedona, from everywhere in the world, but it's not the shoving, hurry-hurry crowd (with the possible exception of the early morning or late evening commute of the friendly service population). More often it's rubbing shoulders with others who hike and stroll and caravan endeavoring to capture their share of the beauty and peace surrounding the valley.

What appeals to you?

• Visit the Africa Wildlife Park
• Golf at one of Sedona's 18-hole Courses
• Take a jeep tour
• Photograph your aura
• Hike to the bottom of Montezuma's Well
• Visit Montezuma Castle National Monument
• Visit Red Rock State Park, Fort Verde State Park and Jerome State Historical Park
• Dine and take in the show at Blazin' M Ranch
• Ride the Verde Canyon Train
• Sketch the Red Rocks
• Watch birds
• Visit a vortex
• Hike one of the 100 plus trails in the Coconino National Forest
• Watch artists create masterpieces at local galleries
• Picnic and spend the day at Slide Rock State Park
• Take a scenic drive around the Verde Valley
• Visit the Grand Canyon
• Eat rattlesnake, buffalo burgers and cactus fries at local eateries
• Tour Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village and more
• Sit back and enjoy the views and cool evenings
• Play a round of tennis or miniature golf
• Have a picnic at Posse Ground or Sunset Park
• Skateboard at the Sedona Skate Park
• Visit the Bird Sanctuary in Page Springs
• Sample a prickly pear cactus drink
• Experience a hot-air balloon
• Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross
• Photograph the sunset at the airport overlook
• Take yoga
• Experience Shakespeare at Tlaquepaque
• Hike at Red Rock Crossing and Crescent Moon

Sedona is a choice for all. Family vacations here are truly jam-packed and memorable. Couples and singles find whatever they need and want at the moment.

Sedona is one of those "Must see, must do" American travel adventures.