Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for adventure travel
Age Is Just a Number
By Linda Tancs
Age limits are arbitrary. Just ask the folks at Exploritas. Formerly known as Elderhostel (sounds a bit hostile to elders, don’t you think?), they removed their travel barriers limiting tours to those aged 60 or over. That change, of course, does not magically transform the composition of a group. So why would a millenial explore the wilds of Iceland with grandpa? Therein lies an answer: family. As it was so wisely put in the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, family is the most precious gift we are given. Looks like Exploritas figured that out, too.
DISCLOSURE OF NO MATERIAL CONNECTION
The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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Rolling on the River
By Linda Tancs
Rafting, canoeing and kayaking get all the attention, but the simple pastime of tubing is still a family-fun way of drifting downstream through some of the greatest rivers in the U.S. All you need is a tire tube, life preserver and some sunblock! Then head to the Delaware River, for instance. You can float through historic valley towns like Narrowsburg or Minisink Ford in New York, past eagle lookouts, campsites, magnificent riverfront homes and Revolutionary War settings. Worth the price of admission, as they say, don’t you think?
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A Head in the Clouds
By Linda Tancs
If you fancy the idea of experiencing life amidst the treetops like Swiss Family Robinson, then a trip to Costa Rica should be on your short list. At Monteverde Cloud Forest, you can commune with nature along the Skywalk, a series of suspension bridges and integrated walking paths atop the forest canopy–that’s in the clouds, of course (hence, the name). Orchid lovers will swoon over nearly 1500 species supplying a great part of the world’s florists. The walk will take about 2 hours. If you’d rather zip along, then you might want to take Sky Trek (a bit of a misnomer if you ask me), a zip line that zig zags through 10 different cables at about 500 feet. The less adventurous would do just as well taking the tram. They say that 90% of all rainforest life is found in the canopy. With all the flora and fauna converging on this ecosystem, it gives new meaning to the phrase “workplace diversity.”
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Frogs and Flowers
By Linda Tancs
Gunung Gading National Park in Borneo sports two interesting attributes: frogs and flowers. Its amphibious distinction owes to what some might describe as an other-worldly population of frogs. Considering the folk wisdom that the presence or absence of frogs is a barometer of environmental health, this can only signal good things. Its floral fame arises from its status as the home of the world’s largest flower, Rafflesia tuan-mudae. At full bloom this giant flower streches nearly one meter in width. The catch, of course, is to find it in bloom, an infrequent and short-lived event. Don’t let that stop you from exploring this national treasure southwest of Sarawak. From the peak of Mount Gading you can make like Lewis and Clark and survey all the flora and fauna the region has to offer.
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When Cars Fly
By Linda Tancs
The usual expression is “when pigs fly” (and of course they do, in some cultures) but now comes a flying car set on a course from London to Timbuktu–perhaps that journey is inspired by the metaphor “from here to Timbuktu.” The Parajet Skycar was developed by engineer and inventor Giles Cardozo, who seemingly has been inspired by Count Louis Zboroski, the maker of the Chitty Bang Bang series of flying cars in the 1920s, who in turn inspired Ian Fleming to write the children’s novel. Who knows, if they can perfect the contraption and mass market it, maybe our
childhood story will come to life.
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Pony Express Travel
By Linda Tancs
In Germany travelers can relive that bygone era of horse-drawn mail coaches. Enjoy the syncopated rhythm of a dual horse-powered cab reminiscent of those delivering royal Saxon mail in the 19th century. At a leisurely pace of 5 kilometers per hour, you can choose a short jaunt around Bad Schlema, a half-day excursion to Albernau or a full day’s enjoyment of the natural resources at Talsperre Sosa. Relax and enjoy the ride.
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Castle in the Sand
By Linda Tancs
Let’s face it, there’s no shortage of lodging for the adventurous traveler: igloos, ice hotels, caves, and now this: a giant sand castle. One thousand tons of sand and four sculptors later, Dorset unveiled the first-of-its-kind hotel a few days ago on Weymouth beach. Lacking certain–ahem–amenities, the experience is yours (until Mother Nature’s wrecking ball is in full throttle) for a mere 10 quid a night. Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream, indeed!
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Moving at a Glacial Pace
By Linda Tancs
A glacial pace is taken to mean a slow, lumbering movement. Not that there’s anything wrong with that– unless we’re talking glaciers. Ice movements in New Zealand and Greenland are causing some consternation among naturalists and scientists alike, not to mention the uncertain effect on tourism. Consider this: New Zealand’s 2 million-year-old Tasman Glacier in Mount Cook National Park is losing 500 meters each year, an uncomfortable progression for a skiing destination touted as the ultimate New Zealand alpine adventure. On the other side of the world, Greenland’s glaciers have been shrinking for 100 years, losing some 150,000 tons of ice each year. That’s bad news for Disko Bay, where adventurists travel to marvel at a colossal collection of floe. Better get there before the glaciers leave town.
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National Ballooning Company Organizes Adventure Travel
By Linda Tancs
In search of a better view of fall foliage than your auto can provide? Consider hot air ballooning. Not just for summer thrill seekers, hot air ballooning in autumn provides amazing views of nature’s panoply of color from the Green Mountains of Vermont to the East Mountains of Albuquerque. If you can’t locate a hot air balloon company near you, then try the United States Hot Air Balloon Team (www.ushotairballoon.com). They’ll organize a flight for you nationally or internationally. So up, up and away.
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