Discover the USA... Christopher's GET OUT & EXPLORE Suggestions

Suggested Itinerary: CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'

(This one is SPECIFICALLY for adventurous ones in the 18-35 set. Similar yet different opportunities are available for those beyond that range)

This trip (and others like it across the US) is exclusively for young travelers 18-35, and while you get to enjoy cool accommodations, tasty and authentic meals, and incredible experiences, you'll also create something very special that money can’t buy: friendship. It’s something you often miss out on if you travel independently. Call it a cliché, but it’s the truth, and the equation isn’t complicated. You + a coach of other young travelers + shared experiences + a new part of the world = lifelong friendships and memories.

HIGHLIGHTS:

San Francisco | Sonoma Valley | Muir Woods | Bass Lake | Yosemite National Park | Palm Springs | Santa Monica

INCLUDED EXPERIENCES

• Picnic lunch in Muir Woods

• Wine tasting in the Sonoma Valley

• Entry to Yosemite National Park

• Yosemite base camp orientation

• Yosemite park shuttle

• Yoga by the pool in Palm Springs

• Afternoon pool party with DJ (seasonal)

• Brunch at a local café

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

• Hot Air Ballooning in Sonoma

• Bike rental in Sonoma

• Forest Flight Tour Ziplining in Sonoma

• Food & wine pairing dinner in Sonoma

• Parasailing in Santa Monica

• Surf Lesson in Santa Monica

6 Nights/5 Days • 5 Breakfasts & 1 Lunch

This itinerary has MULTIPLE Departures available May 24 - August 30

From $1,607 pp. You can join us as a 'solo' traveler, with a partner, or in a group.

Interested? Ask me, and let's get you booked! Know someone who might be? Share it! I love helping people of all ages get out and explore on land vacations!

Discover the USA... Christopher's RIDE IN COMFORT Suggestions

Suggested Itinerary: COASTAL MAINE

Maine...where rocky shores, infinite nature, and endless lobster forge a coastal New England classic. Dig into local delicacies with an oyster shucking lesson and tasting. Immerse yourself in dramatic nature at Acadia National Park. See how lobster traps are retrieved from the ocean. Admire the picturesque Portland Head Light, Maine’s oldest lighthouse. Take part in a vintage wine tasting at Cellardoor Winery. Enjoy the vibrant city of Portland. Ancient mountains, delectable cuisine, and bustling harbors await you in this maritime treasure.

7 Days including 9 meals (6B, 1L, 2D)

There are 9 available departures for this experience between June and September this year. I love helping people find amazing adventures on land, and Maine would be a great destination to explore this summer!

Go Active Itinerary Suggestion: CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY

 

ITINERARY SUGGESTION:  CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY: Napa & Sonoma Vineyards, Redwoods & Pacific Coast

Legendary vineyards. Soaring redwood forests. And the dramatic Pacific coast. This is Northern California. And for you, it's a fantastic week and an incredible journey. Wine tastings and gourmet meals enlighten your palate. Stunning scenery invigorates. And top-notch spas relax and rejuvenate... all in one remarkable place simply known as the Wine Country.

 

 

 

There are 24 possible itinerary departures from April to November 2021. These 6 days, 5-night adventures are truly special!

 

Intrigued? Ask me! Know someone who might love this type of adventure? Share it with them!  I love helping people get out & explore with land-based vacations & active adventures of all kinds. Don't let the agency name fool you...we are SO MUCH MORE than just cruises!

 

Learn more about other biking and active adventures on our dedicated page! 

#travel #adventure #tourism #vacation #exploremore #discovertheusa #supportsmallbusinesses #travelagent #theinternetisforlookingbuttravelagentsareforbooking #bicycletouring #bicycling #biketours

Christopher's GO ACTIVE Adventure Suggestions - WYOMING'S YELLOWSTONE & TETONS MULTI-ADVENTURE TOUR

WYOMING'S YELLOWSTONE & TETONS MULTI-ADVENTURE TOUR

 

The Tetons. Majestic peaks above, meadows, and glacial lakes below. And the Snake River winding through the valley. Yellowstone is one of a kind. Geysers really do erupt hourly. Sulfur-scented hot springs glimmer like jewels. Bison and elk are as common as tourists. As you hike, bike, kayak, raft and explore these epic regions, your experience will be just as spectacular.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Paddle through the twisting rapids of the Snake River with a professional white-water guide

• Bike a spectacular route beneath the jagged peaks of the Teton Range, one of the most beautiful car-free paths in the west

• Hike in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, a geologic wonderland and home of the park's biggest waterfall

• Experience thrilling sightings of wonderful wildlife in the air, on the water, and across the land—have your camera ready!

• Activity Level: 1-4

• 6 Days, 5 Nights | Starting at $4,099 pp double occupancy

• There are 16 available Trip dates for this tour in 2021 between June and mid-September.

 

WHAT'S INCLUDED? A LOT!

• Your Choice: Performance Road Bike, Touring Bike, Electric-Assist Bike, Carbon Bike, or Tandem Bike

• All breakfasts, 5 lunches, & 4 dinners

• Expertise & services of experienced Trip Leaders

• Snacks & beverages between meals

• Additional guides & experts from the region

• Van shuttles to support a variety of route options

• All gratuities at hotels & restaurants

• On biking & multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped titanium bike plus helmet & accessories

• Trailercycles, carriers, & kid-sized helmets for Family Trips

• Equipment & experienced guides for rafting as described

• Park & other entry fees

• Fares for trains, ferries, & other modes of travel

• Select coach transfers

• Baggage transfers & porterage

 

 

Intrigued? Ask me! Know someone who might love this type of adventure? Share it, please! I love helping people get out & explore with land-based vacations & adventures of all kinds. Don't let the agency name fool you...we are SO MUCH MORE than just cruises!

 

#travel #adventure #tourism #vacation #exploremore #discovertheusa #supportsmallbusinesses #travelagent #theinternetisforlookingbuttravelagentsareforbooking #kayaking #bicycletouring #bicycling #hikingadventures #rafting #raft

FacebookLive... I Need Some Help...

 As shared via FacebookLive this morning... I need some help, please! 

Group Travel Experience - Colorado Rockies with National Parks & Historic Trains - AVAILABLE NOW!

Adventure lovers...we've got another incredible opportunity to explore this beautiful country of ours in the very early fall (late September early October). It's a Colorado Rockies tour, complete with National Parks and historic trains. This one is also a little shorter in duration than our National Parks tour posted earlier. There aren't very many seats left on the train...so if this one appeals to you and you'd like to get out and explore a nice part of the western US this year...sign up soon!

  

Check out these Trip Highlights:  Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado National Monument, Grand Junction, Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, Arches National Park, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Mesa Verde National Park (UNESCO), Choice on Tour, Royal Gorge Route Railroad, Garden of the Gods

 

Learn more & register here

 

 

#travel #adventure #tourism #vacation #exploremore #supportsmallbusinesses #travelagent #theinternetisforlookingbuttravelagentsareforbooking

Group Travel Experience - America's National Parks - AVAILABLE NOW!

NEW GROUP TRAVEL EXPERIENCE AVAILABLE NOW.   

 

Which of my friends would like to experience an incredible adventure this year?  Our agency has just a few seats remaining for a truly remarkable incredible National Parks tour in August 2021.   Check out these Trip Highlights:  Scottsdale, Lake Powell, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Choice on Tour, Zion, Salt Lake City, Jackson Hole, Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Parks, Old Faithful, Sheridan, Bighorn Mountains, Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore

 

Learn more and register here

 

 

#travel #adventure #tourism #vacation #exploremore #supportsmallbusinesses #travelagent #theinternetisforlookingbuttravelagentsareforbooking

This & That from the Outback

Living in the land down under... it's just another condiment option at every hotel's breakfast bar! Spread it THINLY on toast. Never overdo it!

It's another warm one here in the NT, and at 4pm we're still not to the day's top temperature. But it's a dry heat so it's tolerable. Add the humidity that comes in the summer and it would just be miserable. For now, we're all staying hydrated and are as clear and copious as possible, moving into the shade whenever possible, keeping our sunnies on, and regularly applying the suncream. This Scouter has been helping ensure that we've all been just fine.

And below is a compilation of signs from our hike yesterday in Maguk... ALWAYS pay attention to your surroundings! Crocs can be anywhere. And most important...whatever you do...

♫ never smile at a crocodile, no you can't get friendly with a crocodile... ♫

 

In the afternoon we arrived at Nitmiluk National Park and our Lodge for the night. We went over to the boat launch to enjoy a cruise and hike between two of the 13 gorges that make up Katherine Gorge (two cruise experiences with a hike between each gorge to get from boat to boat). It was a nice and relaxing time after much go, go, go the past few days. Not much wildlife but we did see our first freshwater crocodile.

After our two-gorge cruise and hike, we hiked back to the first gorge and were picked up by the dinner boat and then enjoyed a nice, three-course candlelight dinner cruise back through the first gorge. What an amazing adventure that was! Our own real-life "jungle cruise" has happened multiple times and in multiple ways this week. I love it. Plus, while I couldn't get great photos of them, last night was our first time to be in total darkness, and enjoy a beautifully decorated starry sky! It was simply stunning. So many wonderful experiences that you too could enjoy here in the top end of Australia's outback. And at the end of the evening, though my camera didn't capture them very well, the starfield was incredible as there was absolutely zero light pollution in the gorge. Stunning to enjoy looking at, for certain!

 

 

  

  

 

Leaving Darwin. More Outback Adventures

G'day from Darwin. We're on the move today headed out to our next location in the NT.

It's warmed up a little more, on its way to 103 this afternoon.

Our first stop after leaving Darwin took us to the Jumping Crocodile Cruise on the Adelaide River, where they truly aren't kidding about keeping your hands, arms, feet, legs, and heads inside the boat at ALL times! 

As we progressed further into the Outback, hiking and swimming were on our agenda after we arrived at the Maguk Barramundi Gorge. The water was quite refreshing with 104-degree temps...but it was a nice dry heat as the humidity hasn't arrived yet - that comes with the wet season which is their summer. As the wet season arrives, they'll layer on about 85% humidity or higher.

 

 

 

  

Who Is Ready to Plan Their Adventures for 2017?

Scotland, Walt Disney World, Aruba, a wedding cruise, Hawaii, Playa del Carmen, New Zealand, Panama Canal cruise, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, and a domestic girlfriend's getaway... these are all vacations I'm currently working on booking for some awesome clients. Where can I help you plan an amazing adventure?

#itsvacationtime #wanttogetaway #cruiseplanners #morethanjustcruises

I'm Ready to Get Back to Alaska!

I rarely have my picture taken on board ship, much less purchase whatever photos are taken, but this is one that I wanted. Such a wonderful destination. Can't wait to be able to experience it again someday.

Glacier Bay National Park

Today we arrived in Glacier Bay National Park at about 6:15am, and picked up one of the Park Rangers, and a Tlingit cultural representative who stayed on board with us until about 3:30pm, answering questions, providing insight, and more. It was awesome!

As we worked our way up into the park and the bay, we saw a lot! We got to see Reid Glacier, Lamplugh Glacier, Johns Hopkins Glacier, part of Grand Pacific Glacier, and the biggest and best of them all, Margerie Glacier. The captain parked us very close to, and in front of Margerie Glacier, which is up in the Tarr Inlet for an hour. Starting with the port side, and then rotating the ship to the starboard side, everyone was amazed at the sheer size and majesty of that glacier. We reveled as we got to see several small calvings and one really big one! (I took about 400 pictures of the glaciers alone, but am only sharing these select few now...more will be shared later after getting home to wifi that isn't so expensive).

As we woke this morning it was raining, and everyone was a bit disappointed at the prospect of not being able to see a lot, but as we got closer in, the sky stopped and the misty fog lifted. Southeast Alaska is a rainforest, so having rain on any given adventure is to be expected. The glaciers were surreal. The beautiful colors and the sounds of the cracking were amazing.

After the captain set sail once more and as we pulled far enough away from being able to see Margerie Glacier it was lunchtime. Followed by a great presentation in the main theatre by the Park Ranger. She shared some great stories and wonderful information about GBNP and the assorted critters that call it home. And then after her presentation, the Tlingit lady - Alice is her English name, but sorry, I couldn't even begin to know how her Tlingit name is spelled - gave a presentation on the Tlingit peoples that have called this area home for centuries.

What an amazing day filled with such beauty, and just a teeny tiny bit of this great state.

Where in the World Wednesdays - Destinations to Explore Before Leaving This Life

Death Valley National Park - California

Located within the northern end of the Mojave Desert in California, Death Valley National Park is the hottest spot in America – literally!  Summer time temps typically reach 125° F and hotter… topping out in July 1913 at 134° F.  In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes. Yet striking contrasts exist throughout the park - towering peaks are frosted with winter snow, and rare rainstorms bring vast fields of wildflowers.  It’s hot and arid, but home to over 307 species of birds, 51 species of mammals and over 1,000 species of plants that are native to the area.  It has a striking beauty to it, despite only receiving about 2 inches of rain every year.  The area originally got its’ name in 1849 by pioneers moving west in search for gold, and became a national park in 1994.  

 Highlights of the park include Deadman Pass and Dry Bone Canyon, and the soaring Telescope Peak at 11,049 feet above sea level.  Two slowly rising mountain ranges surround the desert park, created by a plate of crusty salt flats that are sinking, giving the appearance of the desert park being a valley.  It is filled with mineral deposits that have colored the surrounding hillsides with striking oranges, pinks, purples and greens, in an area known as Artist’s Palette.  At Dante’s view, a mile-high sand dune, visitors can take in striking 360° views for 100 miles – allowing visitors to see both the highest and lowest points in the U.S.’ lower 48 – Badwater, at 282 feet below sea level and Mount Whitney, at 14,191 feet above sea level. 

The park boasts a beautiful stone and adobe Mission-style resort, the Furnace Creek Inn, which is an oasis of hot springs and palm trees with a beautiful spring-fed pool.  It also features an 18-hole golf course (the lowest in the world), and a restaurant offering striking views.   

Death Valley National Park is located about 121 miles west of Las Vegas, and about 286 northeast of Los Angeles.  For more information about a visit to Death Valley or other national parks, call 855.776.1733 or submit a vacation quote request at my websites:  www.neverlandadventurestravel.com or www.neverlandadventurescruises.com.  Be sure to follow me on Twitter, like my page on Facebook, circle me on Google+, and pin me on Pinterest. 

Where in the World Wednesdays - Destinations to Explore Before Leaving This Life: Mt. Vernon

Mount Vernon – Alexandria, Virginia

For over 40 years, George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the American forces during the nation’s Revolutionary War to establish independence from England, and the first President of the United States, called Mount Vernon home. Along with his wife Martha, the Washingtons lived at this the most popular historic estate in America, which is situated along the Potomac River in Northern Virginia.

Guests can get a glimpse of 18^th century life when visiting Mount Vernon, as they enjoy working their way through more than a dozen original structures, including the Mansion itself.  They’ll also see Washington’s Tomb, a working blacksmith shop and the George Washington: Pioneer Farmer site, which is a 4-acre demonstration farm with a reconstructed slave cabin and 16-sided treading barn.  The extensive plantation covers more than 50 acres, and is American landmark. 

It is a lasting reminder of the life and legacy of the man known as the Father of our Country.  With video displays, immersive displays and over 500 artifacts, George Washington’s life will come alive for visitors, especially through the featured film presentation, “We Fight for Freedom” presented in the Ford Orientation Center.  It offers visitors a chance to understand America’s first hero and the fascinating world in which he lived. Since the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association bought the nearly empty Mansion in 1858, it has gathered Washington objects and used archaeology and research to piece together clues about the buildings and gardens of a bygone era. Over 1 million visitors walk in Washington's footsteps each year, making Mount Vernon the most popular historic estate in America.

Mount Vernon is located about 16 miles south of Washington, D.C. and is an excellent day trip for families or student groups visiting the U.S. capitol.  For more information about a visit to Mount Vernon or Washington, D.C., or other historic destinations, call 855.776.1733 or submit a vacation quote request or submit a vacation quote request at: www.neverlandadventurestravel.com or www.neverlandadventurescruises.com.  Be sure to follow me on Twitter, like my page on Facebook, circle me on Google+, and pin me on Pinterest. 

Where in the World Wednesdays - Destinations to Explore Before Leaving This Life

Acadia National Park – Bar Harbor, ME

In the midst Maine’s picturesque, rolling seaside island of Mount Desert Island, surrounded by Western Bay, Frenchman Bay, Blue Hill Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, lies the 47,453 acres that make up Acadia National Park.  The oldest national park located east of the Mississippi River, the park was established in 1919 as Lafayette National Park (changed to Acadia in 1929) – in honor of Marquis de Lafayette, who was a very influential French supporter of the American Revolution. 

People have been drawn to the rugged coast of Maine throughout history. Awed by its beauty and diversity, early 20th-century visionaries donated the land that became Acadia National Park. The park is home to many plants and animals, and the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic coast. Today visitors come to Acadia to hike granite peaks, bike historic carriage roads, or relax and enjoy the scenery.

The park includes woodlands, lakes, mountains (including the highest peak on the entire Atlantic coast between Canada and Brazil – Cadillac Mountain - at a height of 1,528 feet), and of course ocean shoreline.  The park is noted for Cadillac Mountain, not just because it is the highest peak along the Atlantic, but also because it is the first place on U.S. soil touched by the sun’s rays at daybreak.  Campers and tourists alike regularly ascend the mountain to experience that phenomenon.

Acadia National Park is also home to about 40 different species of mammalian wildlife, along with many marine species in the surrounding waters.  Among the land based critters are found chipmunks, red and gray squirrels, moose, beavers, porcupines, white-tailed deer, muskrats, foxes, coyotes, black bears and bobcats.

It is a destination for more than two million visitors each year, with the average visitor spending three or four days in the area. With many different facilities and attractions in the park, there is something to interest everyone – from scenic driving or carriage tours, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, swimming, boating, birdwatching, bicycling – and so much more.  In addition to activities in the park, local communities offer boat trips, whale watching, canoe rentals, ocean kayaking trips, and bus tours. 

Accommodations inside Acadia National Park are made up of campgrounds;  non-camping accommodations can be found in nearby communities such as Bar Harbor, Bernard or Northeast Harbor.  The two primary park campgrounds on Mount Desert Island are Blackwoods Campground and Seawall Campground. All sites are wooded and within a 10-minute walk of the ocean; no sites are located on the water. The majority of sites are for tents, small and large, but other sites accommodate pop-ups, vehicle campers, and RVs up to 35 feet. A maximum of one vehicle and six people is allowed at each site. There are no hook-ups. Campground facilities include comfort stations, cold running water, dump station, picnic tables, fire rings, and water faucets (facilities at Blackwoods differ in the winter). Seasonal showers and camping supply stores are located within ½ mile of the campground.  There is no backcountry camping at Acadia National Park.

Acadia National Park is easily accessible.  It is roughly one hour from Bangor to the west, where most visitors to the area might fly in from other cities.  It is about a 3 ½ hour drive from Portland to the south, and about six hours north of Boston.  The park itself is open year-round, however the Visitor Center is open from April 15 through October.  Most facilities, including the museum, picnic areas, Seawall Campground and many roads close during the winter months

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For more information about a visit to Acadia National Park or other parts of Maine, call 855.776.1733 or via my websites:  www.neverlandadventurestravel.com or www.neverlandadventurescruises.com.  Be sure to follow me on Twitter, like my page on Facebook, circle me on Google+, and pin me on Pinterest.