TAKE AN EXTRAORDINARY SAFARI TO NAMIBIA AND HELP SAVE THE CHEETAH
Enjoy the trip of a lifetime AND help save most endangered cat in Africa? Yes.
Celebrating their new partnership with the Cheetah Conservation Fund, where research, conservation and education efforts are helping to save the endangered cheetah, Baobab Expeditions helps turn travelers into explorers who make a difference with an extraordinary safari adventure through Namibia.
HOW: Baobab will make a donation to the Fund for each participant on the safari.
TRIP DETAILS: Arriving in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, guests are met by Baobab’s excellent guides and driven north to the Frans Indongo Lodge, a charming farmhouse modeled on traditional Ovambo homesteads. A highlight of the journey comes on the second day with a full-day visit to the Fund’s International Research and Education Centre in Otjiwarongo where visitors are shown the value of sustainable practices to save the cheetah and where they are able to view this elusive animal.
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".
This 24-hour trip also includes a chance to experience the legendary wilderness, world-renowned wildlife, luxury “safari style” camping, and professional wilderness guides. This is a unique opportunity to take a step back to quieter times, while not venturing too far off the beaten path. Far and Away guests arrive to a beautiful and secluded camp that is expertly prepared with all the comforts of home, plus some extras. Your chalet tent is set up for you, the bar table is arranged with freshly prepared appetizers, and each gourmet meal is served with a special flare that you’ve never seen before in the wilderness. Far and Away will also make certain to create a special children’s menu so that everyone is happy at the dining table.
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".
I asked my globetrotting facebook friends and twitter followers to share their favorite travel tips for planning the perfect trip. From hard-won wisdom to practical advice, here’s what they had to say…
1. Air travel in US - Dress for security screening; no belts, buckles or bows! Seriously, undressing in public is a pain for all! Via @BronaCos
2. Don’t overschedule! Leave lots of time for wandering, I like to make just one real plan a day and leave the rest to serendipity! Via @SophiaDembling
3. Kathy Dragon Travel light. Feeling weighed down by luggage, packing and repacking, especially if you are moving about, can take the fun out. Carry on is the only way to go. Samsonite Spinner can carry everything, really.
4. Sheri Anderson Wallace For families, I recommend avoiding DVDs and video games as much as possible. It’s counter-intuitive but they really are long-term losers because they teach a short attention span. Nothing with an on/off switch.
5. I pack an empty water bottle in my carry on so I can fill up at a water fountain past security. Via @jesstagirl
6. Serendipity Traveler Spontaneity and Serendipity are two essentials for traveling well.
7. Margalit Sturm Francus Plan ahead, close your eyes and envision a plan A and B to every day/stop to eliminate surprises!
8. Lauren Hefferon Reaching perfection in travel, as in life, can prove frustrating and futile. How about setting overall goals for one’s travel like: learning, cultural exchange, absolutely doing nothing or completing an new adventure. Recently for me it’s been to blend a visit to the world’s great cycling cities into my travels. So far we have been to Copenhagen, Portland and this year Barcelona. Welcoming Serendipity is always one of my general rules. Ask me more if you like!
9. Anne Dimon For anyone heading to Italy, especially the Tuscany region, I highly recommend Adler Thermae Spa Resort. Plan to spend at least a couple of days. It’s fabulous!
10. Serendipity Traveler Start your travels well rested , spend enough time to immerse yourself and talk to locals everywhere.
11. Lauren Hefferon Reaching perfection in travel, as in life, can prove frustrating and futile. How about setting overall goals for one’s travel like: learning, cultural exchange, absolutely doing nothing or completing an new adventure. Recently for me it’s been to blend a visit to the world’s great cycling cities into my travels. So far we have been to Copenhagen, Portland and this year Barcelona. Welcoming Serendipity is always one of my general rules. Ask me more if you like!
12. Allie Avernie Almario Learn to laugh at yourself on the road, wherever you are. Laughter is a free and universal currency that everyone understands, whether you’re in Madagascar or Malaysia. Except possibly in North Korea. I don’t think they laugh much there.
Join the conversation, post a comment below and share your own tips with other travelers.
About Ellen Barone: Consumer travel expert Ellen Barone is the founder and publisher of TravelUpdatesbyEllenBarone.com and YourLifeIsATrip.com. She’s currently at work on her first book - I COULD LIVE HERE. Click here to learn more or stay connected on Twitter at,Facebook, Google+, Pinterest and LinkedIn.
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".
The Inn at Westwynd Farm was the sweetest part of my recent trip to Hershey, PA. Photo by Jumping Rocks.
a guest blog by Marti Mayne
My recent trip to the Inn at Westwynd Farm was combined with a “kidcation” to Hershey Park, and while the roller coasters were the high point for my girls, the highlight for me was the chance to stay at this fabulous farm and inn. The Inn at Westwynd Farm had been on my “B&B Bucket List” for awhile, so when planning our end-of-school trip, there was some method to my madness in taking the kids to Hershey Park, just three miles from the inn.
Take a big dose of romance, combine it with a gorgeous horse farm, add a kid-friendly attitude, and you begin to understand the Inn at Westwynd Farm. Now imagine huge helpings of extra amenities like a guest fridge filled with wine, beer, soft drinks, juice, popcorn, Pennsylvania Dutch pretzels, plus four or five different offerings for afternoon refreshments, and you’ll begin to understand the haute hospitality and extra value here. Gorgeous rolling hills with horses grazing, manicured gardens and lilies popping open everywhere complete the picture. Click here for more.
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".
The Town of Taos is not only a great destination for art, outdoor recreation and culture, it’s also one of the most pet-friendly towns in the Southwest. The famed artsy enclave boasts at least 20 lodging facilities and a number of restaurants with outdoor patios that are Fido-friendly.
“Travelers come to Taos to relax, but worrying about leaving their four-legged companions behind can be stressful, especially since many of us consider our pets as part of the family,” said San Geronimo Lodge owner, Charles Montgomery, whose Taos bed and breakfast (B&B) permits dogs. “We love dogs, as we have two of our own, and understand the importance of sharing a great experience like Taos with a canine companion.”
Prior to booking a hotel or B&B, travelers should first contact the hotel or B&B to understand what the individual policies are when staying with a pet. Depending on the facility, some hotels may require the owner to be secured in a crate when left alone in the hotel room. Dogs need only have the appropriate vaccinations for rabies, DHLPP/Parvo and Bordetella. For cats, leukemia shots must also be current.
Pet-friendly Taos hotels and B&B’s include, but are not limited to:
Adobe and Pines B&B Inn - dog walking yard available; $25 one time pet fee; crates required for pets in rooms alone; dogs must be leashed in common area. 4107 State Road 68 Taos, NM (575) 751-0947/ 1(800) 723-8267 www.adobepinesinn.com mail@adobepines.com
American Artists Gallery House B&B - limited pet friendly rooms available; $25 for up to 2 nights, $10 per additional night; pets cannot be unattended. 132 Frontier Lane Taos, NM (575) 758-4446/(800) 532-2041 www.taosbedandbreakfast.com taosbandb@gmail.com
Casa Europa B&B Inn and Gallery - maximum of two pets allowed in La Casita only; must be leashed in common area; $20 fee per pet, per night. 840 Upper Ranchitos Taos, NM (888) 758-9798 www.casaeuropanm.com stay@casaeuropanm.com
El Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spa - permits well-behaved pets under 40 pounds; dogs need to be leashed in common area.
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".
Are you looking for a little adventure this summer? From Family Vacationsto Yoga Retreats, Girlfriend Getaways to Via Ferrate, Canadian Mountain Holiday’s summer adventures are sure to invigorate, educate, and revitalize. CMH vacation planners can customize the perfect trip just for you. But to get you started, here are just a few ideas:
Photography Workshop - Join acclaimed Canadian nature photographer John E. Marriott at Bugaboo Lodge. Shutterbugs will have the opportunity to learn from John in one of Canada’s most dramatic mountain landscapes. And, you will come away with new skills and beautiful photos! More info
Short Escapes - These 3-day Heli-Hiking trips at the Bobbie Burns and Bugaboo Lodges are laden with exploring, indulgence, excitement or peaceful journeying. Short Escapes will quickly unwind you and spellbind you…leaving you wanting more! More info
Yoga Retreat - Led by Anne Douglas, Senior Level Yoga Instructor. The 3-day retreat at Bobbie Burns Lodge is designed to make you stop and find you again. Alpine exploring, tranquil yoga, gourmet food and never-ending serenity await you. More info
High Flying Adventures - Pack some extra adrenaline: you’ll need it! True mountaineering, and designed to challenge, fulfill, entice and downright thrill, this is Heli-Hiking at its best. Zip-lines, via ferrate, glacier travel and other options available. More info
For information and booking, call 1.800.661.0252, send an email or visit www.cmhsummer.com
Source: Canadian Mountain Holidays
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".