All posts by MoralCompass

Karen Rubin, Editor & Publisher, is a veteran travel writer and publisher, who is devoted to the mission of travel: to engender understanding – of self and others – and break down the barriers and borders dividing people, while creating the economic underpinnings to sustain environment, heritage and culture and a base for uplifting, fulfilling jobs.
Uncategorized

How To Write My Paper Cheapest

In this particular age of technological innovation and therefore the net, becoming support with anything is almost just some clicks absent. If you want assist with fixing your washer, all you will have to do is Google it away; if you want some aid with your scientific paper, all it is important to do is go surfing, and a short while ago in the event you really have to get an essay penned, all you need to do is use a good from the internet creating online site, like us! Have you been thinking about Can another person do my essay for me? Are you in the midst of the night time together with your palms in your heads and pondering regarding how to resolve this excruciating mathematical downside? Then, obtain your fingers from your heads and check out our site, mainly because we offer every one of the educational alternatives to college students of all kinds at any time within the day, in a very meager expense also deliver engaging benefits which happen to be really cost-free;

Write Paper For You

Gone tend to be the times when students needed to offer with many of the pressure of submitting their assignments all by them selves as well as in the case of copying a pal, they acquired addressed using a 0. Now, via our blog you can get each of the educational assist you to might need ideal at your step. Is really an essay assignment in reality bugging you or else you are left wondering – Can anyone do my essay for me discounted?Then our composing our website business would be the perfect remedy in your worries. Our pricing policies happen to be admired by even the individuals of Austria and Portugal through the years and our specialist has obtained a formidable repute by our literary geniuses. It’s not anymore your concern as soon as you have an essay assignment pending and needing notice; never squander your scientific brain on a specific thing you are not designed to always be a master of, go away everything to us, and believe that us, your finances won’t even so lightly be affected anyhow.

Help Me Write My Paper For Free

Today there are numerous courses for you to study that there is definitely an off-chance that you choose to would most likely stop up flunking in certain. Find out how to evade this sort of grotesque issue in your tutorial vocation? Do you think you’re much too another person who cannot target on topics like: Introduction to Finance, The world of Computerized Accounting, The basics of Accounting for Banking, and Finance and Methodological Accounting; simply because you may have a great number of literary assignments pending all the time? Think you’re in dire will want of somebody to rid you of the concerns? Perfectly, never go about shouting – I need a person to jot down my essay paper! As a result of we’ve just the products and services out there in your case that you simply have. You never have to comprehensive your essay assignments at the cost of shedding grades in your own primary subjects as a result of now we have received very good writers that strive working day and evening to aid you.
It is frustrating in today’s times to find good, credible writers; but we now have received the most effective belonging to the business enterprise; seek the services of us immediately if you need a really good essay paper. As you position your purchase with us, you will definitely be entitling for your following qualities.

Uncategorized

Custom Essay In 24 Hours Pro Paper Advise

Every person can generate an essay, although not everybody can generate a wonderful essay, a brilliant essay or an beautiful essay. Which is what exactly Kingesseys.com gives our shoppers with. We have a variety of distinguished writers with degrees, for example Masters to Doctorates with substantial knowledge of the different fields of training, just for you. Go through is another facet dear to us, hence, all of our writers have yrs of practical experience around the art of creating and constructing prime quality essays that will mouse click the up coming website not only satisfy our clients but finish up earning them regulars of Kingesseys.com. Adventure in high-quality composing has groomed our writers and molded their composing capabilities to fit the requirements on the students without having a hassle, each of the as ensuring that no compromise is created concerning the standard of the essays.

Custom Writing Review

Regardless of where you reside, United states, Belgium or New Zealand, all you require to convey will be the magic words and phrases: Could you create my essay for me? And identical to that our competent writers will use their magic wands to give you the finest of essays in the limited span of time.
Happy StudentsWriting is truly a task, which eats up an incredible sum of time, given that generally college students battle with it. Unless it happens to be their preferred essay or an easy study course in university or college instruction, writing never ever arrives effortless. You can find only handful of pupils who will compose not having quite a bit of the exertion and they are genuinely the blessed ones. This does not imply that most people who’re weak at it, is unable to provide the prospect to score good grades and deliver the results properly with crafting assignments. Creating is much easier if one can notice options to tackle every single assignment. All assignments that instructors give to students possess a key position with which they are often immediately tackled, once you find that then creating isn’t a frustrating job for you personally.
We’re an organization, which can enable you to discover that key point and further than. We will make crafting really easy for you personally you can be shocked and amazed within the truth that why did not you find us prior to. If you happen to occur to us, you simply need to name and say- I would like someone to write my essay, if it is an essay or perhaps a investigate proposal or thesis in almost any subject be it science or commerce. On top of that, you need to do not even have to stress about your location during the U.S. Or outdoors it, we offer enormous assist to pupils around the world any where and at any specified time. The strongest weapon to our success is large profile and credible writers who can show results day in and day out to help you discover or compose amazing level of quality assignments.
Generate An EssayWhen learners adopt a reactive solution within their academia, creating and assignments grown into a challenge for them. They usually ought to believe that inside of a proactive procedure, wherever tackling challenging assignments and academic difficulties is often planned. With us you can easlily effortlessly do that at Invest in Assignment Support, we’re going to allow you to plan out your assignment in such a way that crafting will never become a complication in your case any longer. The kind of method we will instruct you to do assignments will never only be stunning and make your assignment straightforward, but really resolve your assignment associated trouble. The cost at which we provide each one of these expert services is effectively checked in just the marketplace charges and at times even much less, if we have now a marketing campaign lower price managing. So what about you give us a try and see for yourself the sort of high quality good quality assignments, that may help you get all kinds of educational recognition?
You simply have got to area your purchase by our seamless web page by taking place to put an assignment order, then passing on each of the guidance linked to your assignment. This will likely benefit our writers make the assignment just the way you desire. The moment you get your order, you should not simply have a outstanding assignment from us, but in addition discover ways to exactly process different types of assignments in a skilled professional way.

expeditionary cruises, Nature Travel

Natural Habitat Charters “Grizzly Ship” Ursus For Close Encounters with Alaska’s Giant Brown Bears

Natural Habitat Adventures has just announced its exclusive charter of a legendary vessel it has rechristened the M/V Natural Habitat Ursus, to take guests as close as possible in safety to the largest coastal grizzlies in the world.
Natural Habitat Adventures has just announced its exclusive charter of a legendary vessel it has rechristened the M/V Natural Habitat Ursus, to take guests as close as possible in safety to the largest coastal grizzlies in the world.

BOULDER, CO, — Natural Habitat Adventures has just announced its exclusive charter of a legendary vessel in it has rechristened the M/VNatural Habitat Ursus, to take guests as close as possible in safety to the largest coastal grizzlies in the world, in Alaska.

The new adventure, Alaska’s Coastal Grizzlies: Kodiak to Katmai, will accommodate just eight guests at a time aboard the Ursus.

Two versions of the trip are scheduled weekly from mid June through mid September 2015: Alaska’s Coastal Grizzlies: Kodiak to Katmai (seven days) and Alaska’s Coastal Grizzlies: Kodiak to Katmai Photo Tour (eight days). The rate is from $7,995 per person, double occupancy. Photo-focused departures are led by a naturalist guide who is also a professional photographer.

M/V Natural Habitat Ursus (Latin for ‘bear’) has been recently refurbished to provide comfortable accommodations. It was originally built in 1984 as a crab fishing boat called Time Bandit, which plied the stormy waters of the Bering Sea and gained fame in the Discovery Channel TV series “The Deadliest Catch.” Its shallow draft allows cruising near the shoreline, where guests can watch bears forage in meadows and dig clams on the tide flats in remote Katmai National Park on the Alaska Peninsula.

The route is flexible in order to follow the bears while aboard this classic 73-foot-long wooden vessel. The Ursus accommodates a maximum of eight travelers in four guest cabins with upper/lower bunks. It carries a full complement of state-of-the-art navigation and safety equipment. The ship’s interior is intimate and simply appointed, with ample space for meals and activities. Guests share two toilets and two showers. A well-lit galley and dining area provide for convivial conversation over gourmet meals prepared each day by the onboard chef. Fresh Alaskan seafood, including halibut, salmon and crab, highlight the menu.

“With Ursus providing our offshore expedition base, we are able to visit some of the planet’s most pristine wilderness in Katmai National Park without leaving an impact. Shore excursions, which get us even closer to the bears, take place via Zodiac rafts carried on board,” explained Ben Bressler, founder and president of Natural Habitat Adventures.

Nature puts on few displays as arresting as Alaskan brown bears feeding on summer’s bounty. These bears – the largest coastal grizzlies in the world – gorge on spawning salmon as the fish swim up the rivers that pour onto these wild beaches. “Nothing can prepare you for the drama of an actual encounter with these magnificent beasts, just yards away,” says Bressler. Since these bears live in protected habitat and have never had negative experiences with humans, they are nonchalant to the group’s presence and are safely approachable at close range.

The adventure begins on Kodiak Island where guests are introduced to Alaska Native and Russian cultures. A local boat excursion follows rocky shorelines for sightings of sea lions, otters, puffins, bald eagles and occasionally whales. A floatplane on Day 3 flies guests to Kukak Bay to meet the M/V Natural Habitat Ursus, which immediately begins cruising slowly along the coast toward Hallo Bay to spot the first bears. Days 4 through 6 unveil the drama of multiple encounters with North America’s largest land predators (an adult male can weigh 900 pounds).

Guests take a skiff to shore to explore on foot, guided by a highly experienced Expedition Leader. It’s not uncommon to find massive grizzlies in great numbers; previous trips have seen as many as 30 to 40 of them at once. And far from dozing lethargically, these bears put on quite a show in their efforts to fill up on enough protein-rich food to prepare them for a long winter in hibernation. Depending on the time of the visit, bears may be mating or cubs gallivanting. On Day 7 guests depart from Kodiak.

NHA Expedition Leader Brad Josephs leads the Kodiak to Katmai Photography Tour (10 dates have been scheduled for 2015). A noted bear expert and Alaska resident (when he is not guiding bear adventures around the world from China to Churchill), he is one of Alaska’s premier naturalist guides, as well as a superlative professional wildlife photographer who is gifted at sharing photography tips and guidance with his guests.

M/V Natural Habitat Ursus was built in 1984 and transitioned for research use by the National Park Service in 1989, conducting scientific study and monitoring. It has since been converted and comfortably appointed for custom marine charter use. In addition to Nat Hab’s grizzly adventures, the ship has outfitted two international filmmaking projects, the 2012 BBC/Discovery Channel documentary Great Bear Stakeout, and an NHK (Japanese public television) program on orcas hunting gray whales and humpbacks.

Natural Habitat Adventures is a world leader in responsible adventure travel and nature-based ecotourism. Since its founding in 1985, the company has offered eco-conscious expeditions and wildlife-focused small-group tours to the planet’s most remarkable nature destinations. Inspired and created from years of scouring the planet for the singular and extraordinary, Nat Hab’s itineraries are artfully crafted experiences that are far from “typical.” Trips are guided by professional naturalist Expedition Leaders, and Nat Hab enjoys a longstanding reputation for hiring some of the world’s best guides. Conservation is at the forefront of everything NHA does, and its philosophy is simple: tourism must work with and benefit local communities, which will in turn find value in protecting natural resources and wildlife. NHA is proud to be the travel partner of World Wildlife Fund, sharing a mutual commitment to travel as a means of helping to protect the world’s wondrous natural places.

For trip information, descriptive itineraries, date availability and reservations, call 800.543.8917 or visit http://www.nathab.com/. Click HERE to order a copy of the 2015 catalog.

 

For more travel features, visit:

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Check out our newest travel site for special deals, insiders’ tips at tidbitts.com: www.tidbitts.com/karen-rubin/where-in-the-world

Cultural Travel, Latin America

Tara Tours markets ‘Private Peru’ 6-Night Inclusive Tour to Lima, Cuzco & Machu Picchu

Tara Tours' Discover the Inka Empire features a visit to Machu Picchu.
Tara Tours’ Discover the Inka Empire features a visit to Machu Picchu.

Tara Tours is promoting a six-night “Discover the Inka Empire” itinerary that features private guides and services for six nights, priced from $2175 per person/double occupancy, including local airfare, hotels, and sightseeing.

This program lands in Lima where you stay for 2 nights with private transfers, private city tour and 2 nights of hotel accommodation.

Then on to Cuzco. A quiet morning is spent here in order to get used to the high altitude and to allow time to explore the surroundings. During the stay in Cuzco, once known as the Capital of the Inka Empire, there is a private city tour and visit to the nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca-Pucara, Tambomachay and other archeological sites nearby.

The next day you travel by bus and train to one of the most exciting places on earth “Machu Picchu”. Temples, palaces, towers and staircases are built into the side of the mountain. Here a private local tour guide takes you from site to site explaining the advanced world of the Inkas.

The group overnights in the village of Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu Town, just at bottom of Machu Picchu ruins.

The next day is at leisure, so you can go back to explore “The Lost City of Inkas” or visit the Inka Thermal Baths of Aguas Calientes and visit the local market. Mid-afternoon return to Cuzco.

On the way back, there is an opportunity to enjoy incredible views of the Andean peaks, the Urubamba Valley and the powerful Vilcanota River.

The itinerary departs daily from the United States.

The cost per person including domestic airfare Lima-Cuzco-Lima via local airlines and all private ground arrangements with daily breakfast, entrance fees, Vistadome train tickets, private tours, private transfers, room taxes-service charge, is $2175 based on double occupancy at 3-star properties; $2590 pp/dbl using 4-star properties or $3706 using 5-star hotels.

These rates are in effect from Dec.1, 2014 to Nov.30, 2015

Airfare is available from Miami from US$650-850, New York $750-950, Los Angeles $900-1100 and add-ons from other major cities are available upon request.

You can see the full itinerary at www.taratours.com/peru.htm#Lima,_Cuzco_&_Machu_Picchu_Private

Tara Tours Inc., which has been operating tours to Latin America since 1980, is based at 12002 SW 128 CT, Suite 209, Miami, Fla.33186, 305-278-4464 or 800-327-0080, www.taratours.com.

For more travel features, visit:

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

New: Moral Compass: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

moralcompasstravel.info

Check out our newest travel site for special deals, insiders’ tips at tidbitts.com: www.tidbitts.com/karen-rubin/where-in-the-world

cycling trips

Cycle the Maratona dles Dolomites, One of Europe’s Biggest Granfondo Races

Cycling the Maratona dles Dolomites (courtesy of Dolomite Mountains)
Cycling the Maratona dles Dolomites (courtesy of Dolomite Mountains)

Dolomite Mountains, a leading Italian company specializing in guided mountain travel, is offering an opportunity for amateur and avid cyclists alike to join an exclusive bike race in Italy’s Dolomites in July 2015.

National Geographic described this Italian Granfondo as “one of the biggest, most passionate, and most chaotic bike races on Earth”.

The July 1-6, 2015, event cycles over breathtaking Dolomite mountain passes while enjoying the camaraderie of 9,000 cyclists from more than 40 nations. The Maratona dles Dolomites is the one of the most popular Granfondo road biking races in Italy. This annual, single-day road bicycle race takes riders across four to eight spectacular mountain passes.

Mass participation cycling events have been popular in Europe for decades and are gaining momentum worldwide. Over time, the Maratona, one of the biggest Italian Granfondo bicycle races, has attracted an increasing number of fans, to become one of the most important amateur cycling events in the whole of Europe.

While the 9,000 places for this race sell out quickly each year, there are guaranteed entries through the Dolomite Mountains program. Rates for participants include the entrance fee and five nights lodging (double room accommodation) at €2.880 per person (single rate € 3,760). If the partner is not participating in the event the rate starts at € 1,650/person. Lodging is at the 5-star Relais & Chateaux Rosa Alpina. (See: http://dolomitemountains.com/en/summer_fall_trips/bike3235.htm).

The package includes a tour briefing with logistics and map, guaranteed race registration, all breakfasts (including pasta breakfast on race day), two dinners at the hotel, an aperitif in the kitchen of Restaurant St. Hubertus, dinner at a Michelin star restaurant, cleaning service for bike gear and services of a bike mechanic for four days, one sport massage, services of a local English speaking Professional Bike Guide for two days (three cyclists per guide), private transfers as per itinerary, local medical and evacuation insurance, local tourist tax and Italian VAT tax. Airport transfers are available upon request at an extra charge.

Warm up rides cum touring and sightseeing before Day 5, race day, are scheduled with guides and technical assistance as needed.

Maratona dles Dolomites starts in La Villa in Alta Badia with three course options: a short course of 55 kilometers (34.1 miles) with four passes to cross; a middle course of 106 kilometers (65.8 miles) crossing six passes; and a long course of 138 kilometers (85.7 miles) climbing over eight passes. The first four passes are the same for all.

At the start of the event, participants are free to select the route best suited to their ability; they may alter their course during the event. All riders complete the four pass Sellaronda course first. After completing this, riders can either choose to finish the race or proceed directly onwards with the Middle course, followed by the Maratona course. The roads are lined with tens of thousands of cheering spectators, and the entire event is broadcast live on Italian national broadcaster RAI. Along the courses, seven refreshment stations are manned by volunteers; riders can strengthen themselves with food and drink. All courses end in Corvara in Badia (end 1,561m / 5,120′). A post event celebration concludes the day.

Dolomite Mountains srl is a local company in the Dolomites which for over 15 years has crafted adventures within one of the most beautiful natural settings on Earth. Types of trips offered include hiking, biking, Via Ferrata, climbing, snowshoeing, photo safari, skiing, self-guided and luxury trips. Customized guided and self guided active trips and luxury and gourmet adventures take travelers off the beaten path for authentic experiences that reveal the real Dolomites. For trip information and reservations call 866-247-4860 or log on:
http://dolomitemountains.com/en/home.htm

 

For more travel features, visit:

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

New: Moral Compass: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

moralcompasstravel.info

Check out our newest travel site for special deals, insiders’ tips at tidbitts.com: www.tidbitts.com/karen-rubin/where-in-the-world

 

 

 

 

ecotourism, experiential travel, family-friendly adventures, Latin America

Wildland Adventures Designs ‘ Far-Flung Regions of Costa Rica’ For Families with Teens

Wildland Adventures’ nine-day Costa Rica Far-Flung Family Adventure targets families with adventurous teens with an itinerary that takes travelers on river rafts, surf boards, zip lines and small aircraft, en route viewing exotic wildlife, helping local youngsters brush up on English, dining well and overnighting in some of Costa Rica’s foremost ecolodges.
Wildland Adventures’ nine-day Costa Rica Far-Flung Family Adventure targets families with adventurous teens with an itinerary that takes travelers on river rafts, surf boards, zip lines and small aircraft, en route viewing exotic wildlife, helping local youngsters brush up on English, dining well and overnighting in some of Costa Rica’s foremost ecolodges.

SEATTLE – Following the path less-touristed, Wildland Adventures’ nine-day Costa Rica Far-Flung Family Adventure targets families with adventurous teens. This itinerary brings travelers from the Caribbean to the Pacific on river rafts, surf boards, zip lines and small aircraft, en route viewing exotic wildlife, helping local youngsters brush up on English, dining well and overnighting in some of Costa Rica’s foremost ecolodges.

Scheduled departures are Dec. 20-28, 2014; Dec. 26-Jan. 3, 2015; Jan. 10-18 and Feb. 14-22, 2015.  The group size is a maximum of 12. The per person double rate is from $3,995. Private departures may be arranged upon request and the program can be tweaked for families with young children or adults only.

This itinerary unique to Wildland Adventures was created by Grettel Calderon, the company’s Central America Program Director and a native “Tica” from Costa Rica, who for 20 years has been designing eco tours to Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Belize and Guatemala. The main ingredients of her expert mix of adventures include wildlife viewing in cloud forests and jungles, natural history, cultural exchange, active adventures and local cuisine.

This off-the-tourist-track adventure brings guests from San Jose to the Pacuare River for Class III-IV whitewater rafting before a two-hour boat trip to Tortuguero National Park, so remote it can be accessed only by jungle canals or small air strip. A short repositioning flight back to San Jose points guests in the direction of the Pacific and an ecolodge a short distance from the beach in the Dominical region that accesses Marino Ballena (Whales) National Park, Osa Animal Sanctuary, Corcovado National Park and Cano Island, one of the most prolific humpback whale migratory routes and dolphin habitats in Central America.

“Many areas of Costa Rica that aren’t promoted to visitors have a lot to offer and Dominical is one of them. We’ve located still-secluded beaches surrounded with lush tropical forests teeming with wildlife, and pristine tropical waters where marine life thrives,” Calderon underscored.

“We’ve discovered wonderful local restaurants that offer extraordinary culinary experiences. For example this little rural town of Ojocha is nothing but amazing restaurants where local ex-pat resident chefs who have moved there from France, Italy and Indonesia, have blended recipes from home with fresh tropical ingredients and Tico-style cooking to open restaurants in their homes and gardens offering creative cuisines in an ambiance you would never expect in the middle of nowhere,” she said.

In her years of scouting trips Calderon has recently uncovered new private reserves, small coves and barely known beaches, an animal rehab sanctuary, off-the-tourist-track villages to visit and some of the hemisphere’s best whale watching.

Kurt Kutay, who founded Wildland Adventures (www.wildland.com) in 1986 after having worked for the Costa Rican National Park Service, noted that “most outfitters run insensitive (and even illegal) whale viewing trips and Grettel found the right boat operator who provides education and great viewing in comfortable and safe boats.  Another far-flung aspect of this trip is that we return overland from the southern coast over the Cerro de la Muerte mountain pass, stopping for a hike in the new Los Quetzales National Park where there are good chances of seeing the Holy Grail of birdwatching – the Resplendent Quetzal.”

In Tortuguero, besides kayaking, boat and village tours, families may join locals in a fun and interactive word adventure game helping kids learn a bit of English (while guests practice their Spanish). On the Pacific participants can join in several water activities: outrigger kayaking (an ancient form of kayaking), regular kayaking or stand up paddle boarding.  En route to Caño Island looking for whales, a stop is made at Playa Violines, a secluded beach accessed through mangrove forest on the Sierpe River. Here are opportunities for sightings of monkeys, sloth, crocodile, boa constrictor, iguana and more before reaching the ocean.

Departures are guaranteed for two or more people. Group is limited to 12 people. The trip begins and ends with overnights in San Jose. See: http://www.wildland.com/trips/central-america/costa-rica/costa-rica-far-flung-family-adventure/overview.aspx#/overview

For more information and reservations contact Wildland Adventures at 1-800-345-4453 or by email at: [email protected].

Follow Wildland Adventures
Facebook:             https://www.facebook.com/wildlandadventures
Twitter:                  https://twitter.com/WildTravel
YouTube:              https://www.youtube.com/wildtravel
Google Plus:         https://plus.google.com/+wildlandadventures
For more travel features, visit:

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

New: Moral Compass: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

moralcompasstravel.info

Check out our newest travel site for special deals, insiders’ tips at tidbitts.com: www.tidbitts.com/karen-rubin/where-in-the-world

Nature Travel

Hornblower Begins Season of Whale Watching Adventures by Yacht from San Diego

San Diego, California – Starting December 14, Hornblower Cruises & Events will once again offer San Diego visitors and residents the epic experience of getting up close and personal with some of the most magnificent creatures on earth – guaranteed. For nearly 25 years, Hornblower’s captains have introduced thousands of passengers to the wonder and excitement of whale watching.

There is no better, safer and drier way to witness the whale migration as thousands of grays, finbacks and humpbacks migrate off the coast.

As Hornblower’s yacht heads out to the Pacific, passengers will also enjoy 360-views of the San Diego skyline, as well as sightings of sea lions, dolphins and sea birds. Throw in the fresh salty air and the feeling of freedom that comes with gliding across the ocean — and passengers will make memories to last a lifetime.

Highlights include:

Interaction with Trained Docents from theNat (San Diego Natural History Museum): To make Hornblower’s cruise truly educational, volunteer naturalists from theNat provide ongoing commentary for spotting spouts, flukes, and massive whale tails, as well as information about whale behaviors.

A Comfortable (and Dry) Experience: Unlike traditional small boat whale watching trips (where foul weather gear is a necessary accessory), Hornblower provides the ability to view these beautiful creatures from large yachts, which provide unparalleled stability through the ocean waves. With top-level outdoor sundecks rising 30 ft. above the water and climate-controlled indoor levels, Hornblower yachts ensure optimal comfort and panoramic views for everyone.

Whale Sighting Guarantee: If a whale is not sighted during a cruise, passengers will receive a pass good for a choice to return for another Whale Watching Cruise or a tour of the harbor instead. Hornblower guarantees that every passenger will experience the exhilaration of seeing a whale break the surface of the water for the first time.

Food Service and Full Bar: Passengers can purchase delicious snacks and lunch, complimented by a full bar service.

Reservations are now being accepted:

Times: With two 3½hour cruises offered daily starting at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., everyone can find the perfect day for their adventure. Cruises leave from the San Diego Navy Pier at 970 N. Harbor Drive.

Tickets: Weekend (Saturday and Sunday) costs are $44 for adults, $22 for children ages 4 to 12 and $42 for seniors and the military. Weekday costs are $39 for adults, $19.50 for children ages 4 to 12 and $37 for seniors and the military. Tax, service charge and landing fees are additional. Children under 3 are free. Discounts for groups of 20 or more and Hornblower Whale Club Card season passes are also available. For more information and to make reservations, please visit www.hornblower.com/port/overview/sd+whalewatching or call 800-ON-THE-BAY.

 

For more travel features, visit:

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

New: Moral Compass: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

moralcompasstravel.info

Check out our newest travel site for special deals, insiders’ tips at tidbitts.com: www.tidbitts.com/karen-rubin/where-in-the-world

 

Historic Preservation, walking vacations

In the footsteps of ‘Downton Abbey’: Castle that ‘Stars’ in ‘Downton Abbey’ Episode Highlights Wayfarers Walking Vacations’ New Program for 2015

Alnwick Castle in England’s Northumberland, which will take a leading role in a special Christmas episode of "Downton Abbey," highlights a new 2015 Wayfarers Walking Vacations trip.
Alnwick Castle in England’s Northumberland, which will take a leading role in a special Christmas episode of “Downton Abbey,” highlights a new 2015 Wayfarers Walking Vacations trip.

In what can be classsed as truly “In the footsteps of Downtown Abbey,” Alnwick Castle in England’s Northumberland which has a leading role in a special Christmas episode of “Downton Abbey” as Brancaster Castle, also is a highlight of a new Wayfarers Walking Vacations 2015 program.

No stranger to the cameras, Alnwick (pronounced ‘Annick’) was also the setting for Harry Potter’s Hogwarts.

The cast and crew of “Downton Abbey,” PBS’s hugely popular Masterpiece Classic series, spent two weeks at the castle last summer, filming extensively in the spectacular State Rooms, as well as in the castle’s grounds and at the semi-ruined Hulne Abbey in the Duke of Northumberland’s parklands in Alnwick.

Visitors to Alnwick Castle in 2015 can explore a brand new Downton Abbey exhibition, featuring photography, costumes, and props from the filming.

The castle is a centerpiece of The Wayfarers’ new itinerary, ‘Northumbria – Land of Castles, Saints and Vikings’, based on the ancient kingdom of one of Britain’s most remote and beautiful landscapes.

It is one of three Walks new to the schedule. The others are in Italy’s Puglia region and a new take on the historic pilgrimage route of the Via Francigena in Tuscany.

A Wayfarers’ “Downton Abbey” vacation already includes a visit inside the ‘real’ Downton, Highclere Castle, in the south of England, other key locations and hiking amid classic English villages and countryside.

In festive spirit, the company, which has been providing all-inclusive hiking tours for more than 30 years, is offering ‘a walk in an envelope’ – Gift Certificates which can be redeemed by the recipient for a Wayfarers’ vacation in one of 20 countries across the globe. The vouchers are available for values from $500, up to the full price of a Walk.

“‘Our Walk in Northumbria was designed before we knew Alnwick would be a location in Downton Abbey, because it is such a wonderful place, steeped in more than 700 years of history,” The Wayfarers’ founder Michael West said. {As on our Downton Abbey Walk, we aim to give our guests much more than just a sight-seeing stop – we really aim to get beneath the skin of a place and I guarantee that Northumbria will be unforgettable.  Meanwhile, our Gift Certificates are the chance for someone to give a truly wonderful gift of one of our Walks as a surprise on Christmas morning – or at any time of the year!”

Founded more than 30 years ago, The Wayfarers Walking Vacations was named by National Geographic Traveler as purveyor of one of the ‘50 Tours of a Lifetime,’ and by National Geographic Adventure as one of the ‘Best Hiking Companies,’ The Wayfarers offers an eco-sensitive walking vacation of both culture and fitness in 19 countries with 40+ itineraries.

Walks cover England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, New Zealand, Patagonia, Alaska, Colorado, Southwest USA, and a barging/walk combination in Burgundy, France.

Wayfarers Walks offer exclusive entrees into homes and gardens otherwise closed to the public, graceful accommodations, outstanding cuisine, and meetings with local residents. Walks are from 6-13 days and are rated on a five-level challenge scale. Price per person is all-inclusive from Day One: including all transfers, hotel accommodation, full board plus twice daily snacks, wine with dinner, tips, entrance tickets, maps and postcards.

The Wayfarers is a member of Trusted Adventures, www.trustedadventures.com, dedicated to the highest standards of small-group travel and supporting local economies.

The Wayfarers Walk Away Guide explains the benefits and practicalities of walking vacations and is guaranteed to inspire new walkers. Available at www.thewayfarers.com/walkawayguide

The Wayfarers 2015 Brochure http://bit.ly/1t2wwkr

For more information on all the Wayfarers Walks or the Gift Certificates contact www.thewayfarers.com, 800-249-4620 or email [email protected].

Facebook The Wayfarers Walking Vacations; Twitter @wayfarers; Instagram Wayfarerswalks.

 

For more travel features, visit:

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

New: Moral Compass: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

moralcompasstravel.info

Check out our newest travel site for special deals, insiders’ tips at tidbitts.com: www.tidbitts.com/karen-rubin/where-in-the-world

Asia/Pacific travel, ecotourism, international travel

Natural Habitat Adventures Debuts First Nature-Focused Tour in Myanmar (Burma)

Natural Habitat Adventures is debuting Exploring Nature & Spirit in Myanmar & Thailand in 2015.
Natural Habitat Adventures is debuting Exploring Nature & Spirit in Myanmar & Thailand in 2015.

Natural Habitat Adventures is debuting Exploring Nature & Spirit in Myanmar & Thailand in 2015. This 13-day active journey showcases the little-explored wild side of Myanmar along with the biodiversity of the world’s oldest rainforest, Thailand’s Khao Sok National Park.

Natural Habitat Adventures’ in-depth tours (maximum 10 guests per departure) are scheduled for Feb. 2-14, Feb.23 – Mar 7 and Nov 30 – Dec 12, 2015, plus four dates in 2016. The per-person, double rate is $8,895 (single supplement is $2,295) plus internal air of $1,275 (subject to change).

Until a few years ago Myanmar (Burma) was off limits to most US citizens because of political sanctions. Nat Hab now joins a select set of companies introducing travelers to Myanmar, yet with a fresh angle. Its nature-focused itinerary pioneers eco-travel here by providing access to little-visited national parks and wildlife reserves such as Popa Mountain National Park, home to rare langurs (leaf monkeys), and the Mergui Archipelago where Burmese macaques, one of the world’s few tool-using primates, live and breed.

The adventure begins in Myanmar’s capital, Yangon (Rangoon) where vestiges of British colonial life mingle with markets and commerce. Providing succor to monks (good karma for those on the path to enlightenment) and helping to feed and wash elephants at Green Hills Elephant Camp set the tone in the first days for a trip that mixes nature with spirit along the way.

At Inle Lake, the hub of a rural region centered on farming and local markets, guests witness age-old floating agricultural techniques passed down through the generations and visit Inle Lake Wetland Sanctuary, home to more than 350 different bird species.

Then, along the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) River travelers explore Bagan (Pagan) that harbors the world’s most prolific collection of ancient Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and shrines, some dating to the 11th and 12th centuries. Back in Yangon are opportunities to delve further into Buddhist culture by circumambulating the gilded Shwedagon Pagoda, a pilgrimage for the devout.

After this introduction to the spirit of this land where time has stood still, guests fly south to board a private luxury catamaran to cruise the Andaman Sea along southern Myanmar and a sliver of the west coast of Thailand. The voyage passes through the Mergui Archipelago comprised of more than 800 islands, 770 of which are uninhabited except for abundant wildlife. The Myanmar government has made this region a priority for conservation management. Here and in nearby Laem Son National Park in Thailand, guests can observe Burmese macaques, one of only three primate species on Earth to have developed a culture of stone tool use.

Transiting the marine border into southern Thailand brings guests to Khao Sok National Park, a karst landscape of vertical limestone mountains draped in the world’s oldest virgin rainforest and littered with caves, deep valleys and jade-green lakes. Accommodation here is in a floating “raft lodge” on Cheow Lan Lake, one of the best wildlife-viewing regions in mainland Southeast Asia. Recent camera trap recordings in the area by researcher Mike Clark have revealed extremely rare Malayan tapir, Asian elephant, leopard, guar (the world’s largest wild ox) and Asiatic black bear. Clark shares his knowledge of this intricate tropical rainforest ecosystem, one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, in advance of a guided trek, the last activity before a champagne breakfast on departure day.

Throughout the itinerary accommodations have been selected for proximity to nature and reflection of the culture and spirit of each locale. Among these are an ecolodge perched high on the side of the extinct volcano, 6,000-foot Mount Popa; an overwater resort on stilts, furnished in gleaming teak, on Inle Lake; and an intimate private yacht with six luxury cabins.

For more details on the Myanmar and Thailand nature adventure, see
http://www.nathab.com/asia-adventure-travel/myanmar-thailand-exploring-nature-spirit/

For trip information, descriptive itineraries, date availability and reservations, call 800.543.8917 or visit www.nathab.com. Click HERE to order a copy of the 2015 catalog.

For trip information, descriptive itineraries, date availability and reservations, call 800.543.8917 or visit http://www.nathab.com/. Click HERE to order a copy of the 2015 catalog.

 

For more travel features, visit:

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

New: Moral Compass: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

moralcompasstravel.info

Check out our newest travel site for special deals, insiders’ tips at tidbitts.com: www.tidbitts.com/karen-rubin/where-in-the-world

 

 

Conservation, Historic Preservation, international travel

Project Launched to Save Greenland’s Buried Archeological Artifacts Threatened by Climate Change

National Museums of Denmark and Greenland have formed a coalition to save archaeological treasures – bones, metal and wood captured and preserved in ice in Greenland – endangered by melting ice due to global warming.

The coalition is mapping out which areas are most threatened by climate change and an interactive map that pinpoints which areas are especially at risk and so should be given first priority by archaeologists.

Kitchen middens are getting particular focus because they contain valuable evidence of how Greenlanders have lived for thousands of years. If the ice encapsulating the kitchen middens melts, the potential finds will be exposed to air and will eventually rot. The artifacts are also at risk of being swept away by meltwater or covered by new tree and plant growth.

To pinpoint which finds and areas are most affected by climate change, researchers have filled several freezers in the Danish National Museum with samples from kitchen middens found all over Greenland. The researchers’ next job is to measure the oxygen consumption of each piece of wood, bone and metal, which has been collected, at different temperatures, in order to determine which materials are most affected by increasing temperatures. The results will provide the foundation for the interactive map and the mission to rescue as much of Greenland’s buried treasures as possible.

For more information, Visit Greenland, Greenland.com, [email protected].

For more travel features, visit:

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

New: Moral Compass: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

moralcompasstravel.info

Check out our newest travel site for special deals, insiders’ tips at tidbitts.com: www.tidbitts.com/karen-rubin/where-in-the-world