Many animals may be hibernating, but winter is a perfect time for people to get outside and enjoy America’s national wildlife refuges. Go for a hike. Sight a bird. Restore your sense of wonder. The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is the world’s premier system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife and plants. There is a National Wildlife Refuge within an hour’s drive of most major cities.
Here is a sampling of upcoming refuge events:
Strap on Your Skis
Now thru mid-March — Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, WI
Hike, snowshoe, x-country ski Horicon Refuge for wildlife watching & photography. Learn more about Horicon Refuge.
Take a Sleigh Ride
Now thru March, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily — National Elk Refuge, WY
Take a horse-drawn sleigh ride past an elk herd numbering in the thousands. Reservations needed. Buy tickets (adults $18; ages 5-12 $14; under 5 free) at the Jackson Hole and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, 532 North Cache Street, several blocks north of Jackson’s Town Square. Visitor Center hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Sleigh rides last about one hour, including the shuttle ride to and from the sleigh ride site. Accommodations for visitors with disabilities. Learn more about National Elk Refuge.
Join an Eagle Watch
Friday, January 7, and Saturday, January 8, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. — Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, OK
Learn about eagles, then take a hayride to an eagle hotspot to see eagles fly in to roost for the evening. Reservations are required. Wear warm, neutral-colored clothing. Bring a thermos or hot mug. Hot chocolate provided.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
a guest article by B&B expert, Marti Mayne
“Aren’t you worried it’s going to be cold?” asked more than one person when I told them I was heading to Sunday River Ski Resort for a weekend of ziplining. For this acrophobe, cold temps were the least of my worries. One of the items on my “bucket list” has always been to conquer my fear of heights, and I was bound and determined to do it on this trip.
I packed my two daughters (Calli, 11, and Kim Han, 9) into the car and off we went with my husband Lincoln for a weekend adventure at Sunday River. We’re an avid skiing family, and a weekend of skiing fun combined with the novel adventure of ziplining sounded like the perfect getaway. The drive included rousing group renditions of “Zippity Do Dah” and Christmas carols on the radio; clearly, everybody was ready!
Read all about the zipline adventure on EasternSlopes.com.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Make your dream a reality in 2011 with Austin-Lehman Adventures.
A vacation in Africa evokes mystery, wonder and above all else, adventure. If you were to ask 100 people what their #1 dream vacation is, a safari in Africa would probably top the list. However, Africa is incredibly diverse and making a decision about where to go and what to do can be an overwhelming challenge.
In 2010 Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA) director, Dan Austin, spent months studying the available options in Africa. He traveled to South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana, exploring firsthand the diverse options. He met with dozens of lodge operators, did countless game drives, visited villages and got to know at least 10 different tribes. He ate Mopane Worms in Windhoek, Wart Hog in Pamwag and Eland in Katima. He hiked, drove, boated and biked his way across these 5 countries all to understand the best of the best.
Once he had a better understanding of the where, he went to work on the how and who. After talking with a dozen ground operators before leaving the states, he was very pleased to meet face-to-face with 3 of the best in all of Africa. He spent hours poring over maps and researching accommodations, all with a keen eye on value. Working hand in hand, the team worked together to come up with the following 3 diverse and exciting itineraries (see below) that highlight some of the best that Africa has to offer.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE NEW YEAR WITH PROJECTS ABROAD
Projects Abroad makes it easy for a new year’s resolution to become a reality. With volunteer projects in 25 destinations, including new programs launching in 2011, Projects Abroad offers many ways to enrich the lives of others around the world, while providing a sense of personal fulfillment.
“The new year is a time when many pledge to better themselves or the lives of others, and Projects Abroad offers opportunities to achieve both,” said Thomas Pastorius, vice president of Projects Abroad. “Whether making it possible for villages to have clean drinking water, caring for children in orphanages or making strides in environmental conservation, volunteers will find a project that suits their interests.”
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Meet K2 designers and try unreleased test skis and prototypes for the 2011-2012 season. This limited adventure from Canadian Mountain Holidays is perfect for people who love heli-skiing and testing new products.
Join CMH Heli-Skiing and K2 Skis this winter (March 12 - 19, 2011) and be among the first to test out K2’s upcoming line of 2011-12 skis. You will have access to a variety of unreleased K2 test skis during a Heli-Ski week with CMH. K2 designers will be on-hand with prototype skis, and they will gather your valued feedback on an assortment of performance metrics of each ski model you choose to take for a ride.
The designers will then take your comments back to the K2 Headquarters and fine-tune the skis with your comments in mind. Your reward for all this hard work? A free pair 2011-2012 K2 skis once they are released in the fall of 2011.
Get more Heli-Skiing details at Canadian Mountain Holidays
Source: The Adventure Collection
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
‘Walking Wild’ in Laikipia Masaai-land is a walking safari experience through some of Kenya’s best wildlife-viewing habitats, and some of the most stunning landscapes in Africa.
A wide variety of game including the “Big Five”, over 420 species of birds, Reticulated Giraffe, Cheetah, numerous different antelopes, and endangered species such as the Grevy’s Zebra and Sitatunga, may be seen.
Professional guides lead the 3 to 6-day Walking Wild safaris starting on the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, recognized as one of Africa’s top safari destinations.Walking Wild treks across Lewa to Il Ngwesi and Lekurruki depending on the number of days, with all nights spent camping out under the stars.
The focus of the safari is learning about the ecosystems as well as the local Masaai culture. Guests will be shown tracking techniques and other vital bush skills, as well as how to identify and understand the behavior of the insects, plants, and animals they come across. Laikipiak Masai will join the guests to give insight into Masaai customs.
Learn more at www.bush-and-beyond.com
Source: Adventure Media, LLC
photo courtesy of Bush and Beyond.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".