MORAL COMPASS: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

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Arctic/Antarctic Travel, Digital Travel, Virtual Travel

Spend 4 Days in Arctic on Free Virtual Holiday, One Day at a Time, Beginning April 18

April 18, 2020 MoralCompass

Experience a four-day Arctic adventure in Swedish Lapland from the comfort of your own home today for free. The holiday has been designed by Virtually Visiting to be experienced through your own computer, tablet or phone as if you are there, day by day, with the itinerary unfolding from Saturday, April 18 through Tuesday, April 21.

The Arctic adventure puts you right in the center of the holiday with new experiences released each day over a four-day complete trip.

The first holiday starts on Saturday April 18. It has been designed to take guests on a wintery tour of the Arctic region of Swedish Lapland.

“We wanted to put you right in the action, allowing you to experience tours as though you were there,” says Jonny Cooper, founder of Virtually Visiting. “This is about keeping the travel experience real; we meet some of the best local guides who walk us through local life to give guests the real-life experience – from their own homes.”

What’s more, this bucket-list four-day holiday is completely free for people to experience and will unfold one day at a time at https://virtuallyvisiting.com/360-journeys/.

Your Virtual Travel Itinerary

Guests will virtually arrive 144km north of the Arctic Circle into Kiruna. The first stop has been perfectly timed just as the ICEHOTEL closes the doors on ICEHOTEL 30 for the last time this year, before it is left to melt back into the river – and it is here that the adventure begins.

The first experience on Saturday April 18 sees our ICEHOTEL guide Matilda give a personal tour around four of the jaw-dropping, individually designed and carved ice rooms and explain how it all comes together – from the frozen water in the river flowing beside the hotel, to being transformed into these beautiful masterpieces you see before you.

The tour will not only allow you to hear from Matilda but also look around the amazing space created entirely from ice and snow – a breathtaking combination of an art-exhibition and a hotel in one.

The following day, on Sunday April 19, the tour heads south 250km to Lassbyn to meet local guide and founder of the Aurora Safari Camp, Fredrik Broman. Today Fredrik will be taking guests on a Snowmobile adventure through the stunning Swedish wilderness visiting two frozen lakes and learning about local wildlife and landmarks on the way.

Monday April 20 brings a more leisurely pace and a chance to join Kent Lindvall, the founder and visionary behind the world famous Treehotel. Today, Kent will take us on a personal tour of Treehotel where guests learn about the history of the hotel including a tour inside four of the seven amazing tree-top hotel rooms. Each room has its own theme which is showcased in the design of the exterior and interior.

The final day of the tour, Tuesday April 21, the adventure will take guests east 90km to the wilderness around Kroktask. Here we join Erik Hordijk from Yellow Snow Husky tours to learn how to harness a team of huskies in preparation for the journey across the frozen landscape, before setting of on our dogsled adventure.

Each day a new virtual experience and additional information will be released allowing visitors to immerse themselves in a journey through the region getting a real sense of the people and place as you travel through it.

The team behind Virtually Visiting will launch more experience and tours after this with the chance to visit Storforsen middle falls nature walk, join a tour of the new Arctic Bath, visit ICEHOTEL 365; meet the Moose and Reindeer, learn about the Sami culture, go Kayaking, and explore the Aurora Safari Camp.

Virtually Visiting founder, Jonny Cooper, added, “As well as our new virtual holiday, we’re also working hard to add further capabilities allowing us to run live VR tours in the future, adding even more real-time interaction with guides.”

To join the free four-day Virtual Arctic adventure from Saturday April 18 – Tuesday April 21, visit https://virtuallyvisiting.com/360-journeys/ (and don’t worry, if you miss one of the days, the video can be accessed at the same link).

Virtually Visiting was set up by a group of travel and technology experts who believe in the power of travel and the good that it can bring to the world. Understanding the planet is an ever-changing place and that travel is not always accessible – we decided to combine advances in technology with our passion for travel. The result is real tours and experiences available online to everyone, everywhere.

For more information on virtual travel experiences visit www.virtuallyvisiting.com or email [email protected]

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Digital Travel, Virtual Travel

Lindblad Brings Daily Activities, Rhythms of Expedition on Virtual Exploration of World’s Most Remote Places

April 15, 2020 MoralCompass

*Lindblad Expeditions is bringing the world’s wild places through virtual expedition.*

NEW YORK — During this time of social isolation Lindblad Expeditions is bridging the distance—bringing the world’s wild places and keeping moments of ahhh alive and well—through a Virtual Expedition to explore the world’s remote pristine reaches. The small ship adventure travel company is taking guests on a virtual expedition, designed to offer the “tonic of wildness,” and the engaging and reassuring rhythms of life on board—from morning stretch classes, to exhilarating sights, photo ops and even evening Recap daily at 6 pm, complete with cocktail recipes from fleet menus.

As the Virtual Expedition unfolds in the weeks ahead—and pulling from a renowned expedition team of naturalists and experts in isolation as well —there will be activities for kids led by Lindblad’s team of certified field educators; lectures with the line’s renowned naturalist team; live musical performances from around the world; artisan demonstrations; and cooking demos of sustainable shipboard bites. And a special evening recap will reveal the newest addition to their fleet, National Geographic Endurance, via a virtual ship tour led by the Captain and members of his team.

“We are all adjusting to our new ways of living. Never have any of us experienced anything like this and we are all having to learn new tricks during a period of social distancing,” stated Sven Lindblad, CEO of Lindblad Expeditions. “The main intent is to keep us connected, put a smile on your face, and provide a bit of inspiration.”

Choreographed with all the hallmarks of a Lindblad expedition, the Daily Program will be posted daily to Virtual Expedition. Flexible, spontaneous—who knows where you’ll go?—the expedition will feature new discoveries each day, using Facebook and Instagram for both video and live activities, including:

· Today’s Activity: Video clips with Lindblad naturalists taking guests from temperate to tropical rainforests to the towering ice of Antarctica, guiding them into the sights & sounds.

· AHHHHH Moment: The healing tonic of wildness, a tiny dose of bliss, or a bit of insight. What does it feel like to spend time, truly steep in wild remote places, stop, let it sink in, get captured by one moment or a string of them? Experience it now.

· Photo Tips: Get info you can use to practice indoors or out. Learn from Lindblad certified photo instructors as they explore their own landscape in isolation.

· RECAP: It’s 6pm—grab a cocktail recipe & meet us in the Lounge, with demonstrations from virtual shipboard bartenders – and soon to be added lectures, presentations, and more.

· Virtual Music Lounge: Choreographed by Lindblad’ ethnomusicologist, Jacob Edgar, enjoy a series of live musical performances from Ireland, Iceland, Trinidad, Rapa Nui, Scotland, and more. Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, a multi-award winning traditional singer and musician from Ireland, leads the lineup starting this week.

The invitation is open: Come aboard and join the expedition—see familiar faces, discover exhilarating places, observe wildlife, get photo tips, and experience a Virtual Expedition.

For reservations or additional information on Lindblad Expeditions voyages to some of the most beautiful and fascinating places on Earth, visit www.expeditions.com, call 1-800-EXPEDITION (1-800-397-3348), contact your travel advisor, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest and LinkedIn. #VirtualLEXpedition

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Hotels, Responsible Travel

15,000 Hotels Sign Up for ‘Hospitality for Hope’ to Provide Housing for Healthcare Workers During Coronavirus Pandemic

April 7, 2020 MoralCompass

San Francisco, California hotels are among the 15,000 to sign up for American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) “Hospitality for Hope” provides temporary housing for emergency and healthcare workers as the COVID-19 public health crisis grows © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

WASHINGTON – The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) announced that more than 15,000 hotels have signed up for its new initiative – “Hospitality for Hope” – which identifies hotel properties that have offered to provide temporary housing for emergency and healthcare workers as the COVID-19 public health crisis grows. While the program will primarily focus on housing for the healthcare community, some hotels could potentially be used as “Alternative Care Sites” such as an emergency hospital or place for those quarantined to stay if needed.

AHLA’s “Hospitality for Hope Initiative” was created to boost collaboration between the hotel industry and local, state and federal governments to help employees, communities across the country, and the industry during this unprecedented health crisis. In the short time since the initiative was announced, participation has grown from nearly 6,000 hotels to more than 15,000 properties. Already, this initiative has identified a total combined

2.3 million rooms located in close proximity to established healthcare facilities.

To help match and streamline the process for willing hotel properties to connect with federal, state, and local governments, AHLA and its state association partners are working to create a national “Hospitality for Hope” database to assist the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, local emergency management and public health agencies. AHLA has also provided a number of resources for members, which can be found here.

“It has been so impressive to see hotel after hotel join this important initiative as a way of giving back to the communities in which they operate,” Chip Rogers, AHLA president and CEO said. “As an industry of people taking care of people, the hotel industry is uniquely positioned to support our communities by caring for the first responders who are on the frontlines of this public health crisis. Hotels have always been an active member of our local communities, and this time is no different. We are proud to work to facilitate partnerships with federal, state and local governments to support the health community during this critical time.”

Local, state and federal government officials will be able to search willing properties based on geographic location. (Click here for a state by state breakdown of the number of hotels signed up).

Already, examples of hotels partnering with local and state officials offering housing to doctors, nurses, homeless families and quarantined individual are being reported across the country including in:

Chicago

California

New York

Dallas

Portland

New Orleans

“The number of hotels wanting to be part of the program is growing by the hour,” Michael Jacobson, CEO and president of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association said. “Our hotels are answering the call to action, and they want to be helpful to the city and the state.”

“‘Hospitality for Hope’ is just one of the many ways that our hotels are helping those in need in our communities during this time of crisis,” said Kim Sabow, President and CEO of the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association. “We look forward to working with all interested parties, including local and state officials, and the federal government to find innovative solutions to make it through this critical time together.”

Hotels interested in joining AHLA’s “Hospitality for Hope” initiative can volunteer HERE.

Given the unprecedented public health and economic crisis, hotels and the industry as a whole are coming together to support the community and their furloughed employees.

In expanding “Hospitality for Hope Initiative”, the American Hotel & Lodging Foundation, AHLA’s charitable giving arm, rolled out free resources last week to help industry employees continue their education during this difficult time including free hospitality management online courses, professional development scholarships for AHLA certifications and continuing education online programs.

Learn more about additional training and education efforts through AHLA’s “Hospitality for Hope” by visiting: AHLA.com/ahlas-hospitality-hope-initiative

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is a national association representing all segments of the U.S. lodging industry which contributes nearly $660 billion to U.S. GDP. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support and workforce development programs to move the industry forward. The industry supports 8.3 million jobs,—more than 1 in every 25 American jobs. Learn more at www.ahla.com.

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Museums & Exhibits, Uncategorized, Virtual Travel

Long Island’s Cradle of Aviation Brings Museum Online to Help Families, Educators & Community Stay Connected

March 30, 2020 MoralCompass

Among the ongoing virtual experiences that Cradle of Aviation Museum is offering are replays via Facebook Watch Parties of some of its favorite encounters with astronauts, pilots, authors, and STEM leaders including the Apollo 50th Anniversary Dinner Panel in July featuring five Apollo Astronauts and two Mission Control directors. © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Garden City, NY — The world-class Cradle of Aviation Museum continues its primary mission to collect, preserve and interpret Long Island’s rich aerospace heritage of discovery and inspire future generations through science and technology. Though shuttered during the coronavirus pandemic, Cradle of Aviation is staying connected to the community by bringing the museum experience online with 360° view gallery tours and through sharing helpful, fun, and inspirational content and programming. All resources are available at www.cradleofaviation.org/virtualmuseum and via social media channels.

Online Educational Services

LEARN with #Educator Tom, the museum’s latest TikTok sensation (with over 1.5m views in under a week) as he brings edutainment online through over 50 videos on the history of ingenuity and innovation in aerospace. Did you know that rotary engines spun along with propellers to cool it down? https://www.tiktok.com/@cradleofaviation/

MAKE an At Home Activity with video instruction from Cradle’s Education Team. Like “Make A Mission Patch” asking students to use their imagination on their own personal mission. If there were a mission to stop a virus, what would the patch look like? YouTube https://youtu.be/OShJVmPPJ8A

ASK an Educator those challenging STEM related homework questions and assignments and get some help from the Education team, like which layer of the Earth is located closer to the crust? Send questions to [email protected].

Virtual Museum – We Bring the Museum to Your Screen

EXPERIENCE the museum galleries in 360° via Google Street View and visit Cradle’s many exhibit pages with links to further resources from The Dream of Wings to the Future of Space. Virtual Tours https://www.cradleofaviation.org/plan_your_visit/virtual-museum/galleries-exhibits.html

BE INSPIRED with evening lectures as the museum replays via Facebook Watch Parties some of its favorite encounters with astronauts, pilots, authors, and STEM leaders including the Apollo 50th Anniversary Dinner Panel featuring five Apollo Astronauts and two Mission Control directors (Thursday, March 26th at 8pm) presentation and an intimate look at life and art of Apollo Astronaut Alan Bean with Leslie Bean and Shuttle Astronaut and Bestselling Author Mike Massimino (Tuesday, March 24th at 8pm. www.facebook.com/cradleofaviation

PERUSE thousands of inspirational photos of the heroes of air and space in our NY Heritage Digital Collection including rarely seen photos of Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, the F-14 and Lunar Module. https://nyheritage.org/contributors/cradle-aviation-museum

WATCH our playlists on our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/cradleofaviation including recommended picks from our curator, Josh Stoff, as well as inspirational interviews with astronauts who recently visited the museum.

FOLLOW US on social media as we continue to highlight inspirational stories of triumph over tragedy and celebrate teamwork in overcoming odds as well as recommended helpful resources on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest.

“The Education Department is fortunate to have the opportunity to continue collaborating with educators and families across our region. Learning takes place beyond the four walls of a classroom. It can be fun and exciting in any environment from our museum floor to your living room to right outside your window! During this time, when families are learning at home, we’ll be sharing content from astronauts talking about their time in outer space, to how to build paper airplanes for a family flight contest, to homework help with the Cradle’s Education Department. We look forward to being a free resource for our community and to bring STEM to everyone,” said Catherine Gonzalez, Director of Education, Cradle of Aviation Museum.

“During these difficult times we salute the efforts of our superhero scientists and all health care professionals. At the Cradle we continue to serve as a STEM resource for the thousands of students who are operating in the current distant learning environment,” said Andrew Parton, President, Cradle of Aviation Museum.

Additionally, the Cradle of Aviation Museum is working on offering bilingual content including at home activities and a bilingual presentation from NASA Engineer Scarlin Hernandez.

The Cradle of Aviation Museum and Education Center is home to over 75 planes and spacecraft representing over 100 years of aviation history and Long Island’s only Giant Screen Dome Theater. The museum is located on Museum Row, Charles Lindbergh Blvd., in East Garden City. For more information call (516) 572-4111 or visit www.cradleofaviation.org

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Resorts, Virtual Travel

Club Med Introduces Club Med at Home Virtual Travel Experience

March 30, 2020 MoralCompass

*Club Med Yucatan. The pioneer of the all-inclusive resort concept has launched Club Med at Home virtual travel experiences.*

To bring the Club Med spirit to all staying inside during these unprecedented times, the pioneer of the all-inclusive concept has launched Club Med at Home.

The weekly series of activities designed to inspire and engage families features downloadable coloring book pages, exclusive recipes, playlists, streaming workout classes, virtual resort tours and more. New content will be added weekly to www.clubmed.us/clubmedathome and announced via newsletter.

Knowing multi-gen households are spending more time inside together than ever before, there’s never been a more relevant time for resort brands to launch at-home and virtual travel experiences.

Start the day with destination workout videos like yoga in Italy or HIIT exercises in the Maldives led by Club Med staff
Download coloring pages of beachscapes and family fun for kids (and kids at heart!)
Indulge in fan favorite Club Med recipes, like the legendary White Chocolate Bread
Have a virtual dance party jamming to Club Med’s “Crazy Signs” Spotify playlist – bonus points for showing off dance moves on social and tagging @clubmed #ClubMedAtHome
From Bali to the French Alps, transport to over 30 Club Med resorts around the globe on 360-degree virtual resort tours
Activity suggestions for kids and parents designed to replicate Club Med’s popular kids club activities, such as music time with babies, family game night (with downloadable game sheets), and creating your own eco-friendly modeling clay to design a sculpture

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Hotels, Hotels & Resorts, Importance of Tourism, Travel in time of coronavirus, Uncategorized

Southampton Inn on Long Island’s East End Remains Open to Provide Needed Respite

March 29, 2020 MoralCompass

*Southampton Inn Bedroom, Cooper’s Beach,* *Benday Sophia @Ceravolo,*

Against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic and the declaration of a national emergency, the Southampton Inn on the East end of Long Island, remains open to care for guests and the wider community. While larger gatherings are currently not possible, people still need somewhere safe to stay, whether construction workers supporting emergency infrastructure projects or families trying to visit loved ones. Housekeeping protocols at the Inn meet the guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Southampton Inn wants to first reassure guests that they can book with confidence. They understand that people are concerned about the evolving situation and, specifically, scheduled overnight stays and future travel plans. To accommodate guests during this time of uncertainty, the Inn will cancel any reservations through April 15, 2020 or will credit your reservations to any available date through March 31, 2021. They are also taking the following steps to accommodate guests:

The Inn is offering a room rate of $149/night (plus taxes and fees) for their available rooms. Sixteen of the rooms are pet-friendly.

Claude’s Restaurant is offering take-out breakfast options daily between 7:00am and 10:00am. The restaurant is currently closed for dinner and Sunday brunch through March 31, 2020, and management is monitoring the evolving guidelines.

Guests are welcome to reserve an extended stay in June, July or August. Prices range from $11,000 – $15,000 per month (subject to change and availability).

Despite the underlying tensions surrounding the outbreak, spring hasarrived and a welcome breath of fresh air and relaxation awaits at the Southampton Inn. Located in the heart of Long Island’s historic Southampton Village, the Inn is just one mile from gorgeous nationally recognized ocean beaches, hiking and cycling trails.

New this 2020, Claude’s Gallery inaugural exhibition features artwork by Ceravolo & Candice CMC, Charles Ford, Robin Morris and Nickol Renae. Guests can stop by for a tour or call for information about the artists. A well-stocked library provides an ideal place to relax with a book or board game.

Looking ahead, the Southampton Inn currently has a number of events planned starting in May 2020 including:

May 1 – 3      – 2020 May Day Celebration
May 8 – 10   – Mother’s Day Weekend getaway and brunch
May 9              – The USA Women’s Half Marathon in Southampton Village (pre-race dinner)
May 14-17    – What’s New, Southampton Village? (featuring exciting and diverse promotions and events that focus on family fun, history, the arts and recreation – all designed to showcase the Village’s many offerings during one of the most beautiful times of the year).
May 24           – Memorial Day Weekend Summer Kickoff Barbecue
June 12 -14 – Croquet and Rosé starts June 12-14 and continues every Sunday through the summer: $50/couple includes bottle of selected rosé, croquet on the Inn’s lawn and live music.

The Southampton Inn is classic, unassuming and utterly charming. The Inn, on five acres, offers the personal attention of a bed & breakfast with the services of a hotel. The 90 guest rooms, all with slightly different decor, offer individual temperature control, sparkling tiled bathrooms, refrigerators, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The grounds consist of several acres of manicured lawns and gardens, with amenities that everyone can enjoy: 50-foot heated outdoor pool, All-weather tennis court, croquet and volleyball, Game Room for all ages, and Claude’s Restaurant.

When things return to normal, The Inn and Claude’s Restaurant are also popular, established settings for corporate retreats, meetings, reunions, destination weddings and other gatherings, combining the natural beauty of the East End of Long Island with seasonal amenities, all in one convenient location.

Southampton Inn & Claude’s Restaurant, 91 Hill Street, Southampton, NY 11968, 631-283-6500, [email protected], https://southamptoninn.com/

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Wellness Travel

11 Wellness Holidays to Reboot Life

March 28, 2020 MoralCompass

Shikoku is the smallest of Japan’s major islands. It’s encircled by a 1,200 km, 88-temple Buddhist pilgrimage route honoring the 9th-century monk Kukai. Cycling these ancient Samurai roads, trekking sacred Pilgrim routes, soaking in historic hot springs, and enjoying a unique culture and gastronomy make this Ride & Seek vacation the perfect wellness retreat for active travelers

Here’s something to look forward to, after the coronavirus pandemic passes: Wellness holidays to reboot life.

Wellness tourism is growing twice as fast as the tourism industry overall. In fact, by 2022 some predict it will be a $919 billion industry. Wellness tourism allows travelers to maintain, enhance or kick-start a healthy lifestyle and support or increase their sense of well-being. Whether it’s cycling across Italy with a famous chef, meditating with monks in Tibet, or cooking farm-to-table cuisine with cowboys on a Wyoming ranch, here are 11 dreamy wellness vacations to relax, reboot and establish a sense of inner balance.

1. Soaking & Cycling Shikoku – Shikoku is the smallest of Japan’s major islands. It’s encircled by a 1,200 km, 88-temple Buddhist pilgrimage route honoring the 9th-century monk Kukai. Cycling these ancient Samurai roads, trekking sacred Pilgrim routes, soaking in historic hot springs, and enjoying a unique culture and gastronomy make this Ride & Seek vacation the perfect wellness retreat for active travelers. https://www.rideandseek.com/tour/samurai-shikoku-island-japan/

2. Tiny House Ski Retreat – Just minutes from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Fireside Resort capitalizes on the tiny house craze and the classic appeal of rustic cottages by offering 25 pint-size, luxuriously outfitted units designed by Wheelhaus. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort offers 133 runs and 12 lifts across more than 2,500 acres. Well-groomed Nordic skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing trails are also available. https://www.firesidejacksonhole.com/ContactUs/

3. Fly Fishing + Diving in Belize – Turneffe Flats has been one of the world’s top flats fishing and diving resorts for close to four decades. Frontiers International Travel guests enjoy a myriad of other activities such as unique marine eco-adventures, birding, and wildlife watching. https://www.frontierstravel.com/turneffe-flats-lodge-april-may-2020

4. Meditating with Monks – On this MIR Corporation adventure, guests visit Dunhuang’s UNESCO-listed Mogao Caves and explore the Tibetan Plateau on a splendid route that embraces the sacred cities of Gyantse, Shigatse and Lhasa, “City of the Sun.” https://www.mircorp.com/trip/chinas-silk-road-tibet-route-of-monks-merchants/

5. Cycling w/ Chef in Italy – Tourissimo offers cycling vacations that focus on the best food and wine Italy has to offer. On each departure, they invite a well-known chef whose role is to facilitate the understanding of local gastronomy. The tours all happen around carefully selected cycling routes. https://www.tourissimo.travel/chef-tours

6. Cowboy Cooking & Horseback Riding – In addition to hiking, fly fishing, cattle wrangling, horseback riding, yoga and luxury accommodations, guests at Red Reflet Ranch in Ten Sleep, WY have an opportunity to learn culinary techniques and skills by joining the ranch’s executive chef for cooking classes. Much of the meat and produce consumed at Red Reflet Ranch comes from its butcher shop and gardens. http://redrefletranch.com/

7. Biking Across Colorado – Cycle of Life Adventures has created a four-week-long “Epic Colorado” cycling expedition covering 1,258 miles with an elevation gain of 89,502 feet. In addition to cycling, there are three rest days built in so guests can enjoy fly fishing, kayaking, rafting, hiking, golf or spa experiences. https://cycleoflifeadventures.com/epic-colorado

8. Northern Lights, Dog Sledding & Curling – Get a dose of local culture by day and view the Aurora Borealis by night. Visit a local homesteader, walk with reindeer, go dogsledding, learn the sport of curling, and relax in the outdoor hot springs on this quintessential wellness vacation offered by Gondwana Ecotours. https://www.gondwanaecotours.com/tour/fairbanks-northern-lights-trips-alaska/

9. Big Sky Spring – Visit Big Sky, Montana, and make the new Wilson Hotel your base for active spring adventures. End ski season on hundreds of exhilarating runs spread across 5,850 acres of terrain at Big Sky Resort, or venture into Yellowstone National Park on foot or bike to see natural wonders and wildlife waking from the quiet of winter. https://thewilsonhotel.com/

10. Ride the Roof of the World – Join H+I Adventures on a mountain bike trip in the Himalayas of Nepal for breathtaking climbs and fast descents in the Kathmandu Valley and among the highest peaks in the world. Along the way, share tea with local farmers on their rooftops in the mountains. https://www.mountainbikeworldwide.com/mtb-tours/nepal

11. Sri Lanka Safari – Visit the national parks of Sri Lanka with Adventure Life to see wildlife like colorful peacocks, giant crocodiles, majestic herds of elephants during jungle hikes, game drives and boat rides. Also find four centuries of Arab, Portuguese and Dutch cultural influences on a walking tour through the cobbled streets of Galle. https://www.adventure-life.com/sri-lanka/tours/14369/sri-lanka-wildlife

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Caribbean travel, Cultural Travel, festivals & events, Uncategorized

St. Kitts Music Festival 2020 Postponed; Ticket Purchases Protected

March 28, 2020 MoralCompass

*St Kitts, where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean.* *Intoxicating natural beauty, sunny skies, warm waters, and sandy beaches combine to make St. Kitts one of the most seductive spots in the Caribbean. (c) Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com*

Basseterre, St. Kitts – St. Kitts is postponing the 24^th St. Kitts Music Festival, originally scheduled to be held June 24-28, 2020, to June 23-27, 2021 in light of the current global situation to protect its citizens, residents, visitors and the integrity of the Music Festival.

“The St. Kitts Music Festival is now achieving the goals that were established for the event to drive and support ‘heads in beds’ for our tourism industry in June,” said the Hon. Mr. Lindsay F.P. Grant, Minister of Tourism, International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs. “The Music Festival has allowed us to promote our St. Kitts brand over the summer months and we are confident that it will remain a cornerstone of our annual marketing and branding activities in the years to come. It brings significant direct economic benefit that provides for our people year after year. However, after careful consideration we chose to postpone it until 2021.”

CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority Ms. Racquel Brown added, “2019 was the second year in a row we saw a significant increase in air arrivals and attendance with systemwide air arrivals increasing 7% for June 2019 (15,499) as compared to June 2018 (14,490) and recording nearly 30,000 attendees over the 3-night event. Looking forward, we will ensure the marketing and promotion for the St. Kitts Music Festival 2021 produces an increase in air arrivals and increase brand awareness for St. Kitts for Summer 2021.”

“While it was a difficult decision to make, we have postponed the St. Kitts Music Festival to protect the health and safety of all visitors, citizens and residents as well as the integrity of the St. Kitts Music Festival brand,” said Damion Hobson, Chairman of the St. Kitts Music Festival. “We look forward to delivering another epic 3-nights of performances in 2021 and an ‘Experience like no other’.”

Anyone who has already purchased tickets online will be protected and their purchases will either remain valid or can be refunded. Originally scheduled to perform as part of the star-studded line-up for 2020 were renowned artists including Gladys Knight, Jimmy Cliff, Beres Hammond, Wizkid, Koffee and Chronixx, among others. For more information about the St. Kitts Music Festival, visit http://www.stkittsmusicfestival.com/.

Intoxicating natural beauty, sunny skies, warm waters, and sandy beaches combine to make St. Kitts one of the most seductive spots in the Caribbean. Located in the northern Leeward Islands, it offers a diverse tourism product developed from the destination’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and rich history. The island’s stunning variety of tourism attractions include hiking through the tropical rainforest, riding the scenic railway that connects the island’s former sugar plantations, visiting the Caribelle Batik factory, and touring Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, which is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the more traditional vacation pastimes available are water sports including catamaran cruises, golf, shopping, tennis, dining, gaming at St. Kitts’ exclusive casino or simply relaxing on the beach. For more information about St. Kitts, visit www.stkittstourism.kn.

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Culinary Travel, Wellness Travel

From Travel to Wellness: Recipe for Immune-Boosting Comfort Soup

March 27, 2020 MoralCompass

*Anne Dimon, founder/editor of Travel to Wellness offers this recipe for immune-boosting Sweet Potato, Coconut, Ginger Soup*

Anne Dimon, the founder/editor of Travel To Wellness and the co-founder/president of the Wellness Tourism Association, offered this marvelous recipe for an immune-boosting soup that comes from her friends at Grail Springs Retreat for Wellbeing in Bancroft, Ontario – just what we need while sequestered at home to keep healthy with comfort food that evokes the tastes and pleasures of travel. She writes:

It’s been a while since we reached out to you with wellness travel news and updates, and we sincerely hope all is good with you and your family in this time of global stress and disruption. While we are all going thru our own challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to keep positive that it will be contained, hopefully sooner rather than later. I have no doubt that you have been inundated with things you need to do to keep yourself and others safe and healthy, so we won’t bore you by reiterating the things you probably already know. Just one quick suggestion: there is a lot of misinformation out there. Take the advice of those you trust, like public health professionals.

So, to get to the point, one thing we all need to do is keep our immune systems strong. Yesterday, I whipped up a batch of this immune-boosting soup courtesy of our friends at Grail Springs Retreat for Wellbeing in Bancroft, Ontario. Once you have all the ingredients purchased, It takes about an hour to make. Double the recipe, freeze a batch for later, or share it with a family member, friend or neighbor.

Wherever you may be in the world today, know that we are all in this together. On a personal note, my husband is in the category of the most vulnerable so we, too, are being extra careful. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Stay strong. We shall overcome.

Sweet Potato, Coconut, Ginger Soup

Ingredients

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tsp salt

1 red onion chopped

3 celery stalks chopped

1 carrot peeled and chopped

1 inch of ginger root peeled and sliced

1 Tsp apple cider vinegar

2 small sweet potatoes peeled and chopped

1 can of coconut milk

Sauté onion in oil until softened. Add celery, carrot, ginger and salt and saute until they have softened about 5 minutes. Add apple cider vinegar and stir to de-glaze pan. Add sweet potato and coconut milk. Add water to cover and bring to a boil. Simmer until potatoes are soft.

Blend in a blender until smooth. Add water, coconut milk or almond milk to get desired consistency.

Launched in 2004, TravelToWellness.com was one of the first editorially-driven online resources for the wellness-minded traveler.

The Wellness Tourism Association www.wellnesstourismassociation.org is a not-for-profit with a mission to bring definitions and standards to the industry for the global good.

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