In the Lucinda Williams ballad Crescent City, she beautifully belts out a Cajun French phrase, “Laissez les bons temps rouler” or “let the good times roll.” The folks in the Crescent City (a.k.a. New Orleans) certainly know how to have a good time, there’s no argument there. And let’s face it, people like “us” can’t help but embark on an active vacation. So, why not roll through the good times in the saddle of a bike the next time you visit the ancient and ever-changing urban masterpiece that is New Orleans.

When to Go

New Orleans is renowned for steamy summers. The humidity, in combination with the heat, is miserable to say the least. Summer is certainly a plausible time to pedal New Orleans but Fall through Spring is blessed with more tolerable temps. Obviously Fat Tuesday is New Orleans’ biggest tourist draw. The French Quarter fills with drunken travelers hoping to catch Continue Reading

Happiness is guaranteed this summer in Aruba! Just ranked number two by TripAdvisor travelers in the category of top 25 destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico, the One happy island offers incredible vacation packages for the whole family at its world-renowned hotels and resorts. Travelers are invited to sit back and enjoy a stress-free summer vacation, complete with Aruba’s perfect year-round weather with cooling trade winds and friendly people.

Sparkling blue Caribbean waters, warm tropical sun and breathtaking island scenery are the key characteristics that turn this vacation destination into a must. For a close look at Aruba’s natural wonders and a view into the island’s history, plan a visit to the state-of-the-art Aloe Factory, iconic California Lighthouse, captivating rock formations at Casbari and Ayo, mysterious Bushiribana Gold Mill, and scenic Alto Vista Chapel.

Families can explore the island in a rented Jeep, experience a multitude of water activities or even discover a unique underwater world aboard the Atlantis Submarine. The choices are endless and complemented by cultural and environmental events throughout the year.

Highlighted below are some of the travel packages and family programs being offered this summer:
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What are you doing over the Christmas holiday? Don’t delay if you plan to join us on our island in Belize for your best vacation ever!

Our 2010-2011 season is almost over and we are getting ready for another great year in Belize. We have already begun receiving bookings for this upcoming season. If you plan to take your family somewhere warm this Christmas, you should start planning now. All of our Christmas dates fill by mid-summer. Every year we disappoint at least 300 people who waited too long to make their Christmas plans. Don’t let this happen to you!
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Museum of Belize Unveils New Exhibit Honoring Mayas as 2012 Draws Near

As the official kick-off for Maya 2012 celebrations in Belize, the Belizean community is embracing a new worldly era by reflecting on the past at the Museum of Belize in Belize City. Providing a deeply enchanting and personal look at the Mayas’ work in creating famous Belizean jade masterpieces, “The People Who Carved Jades and Their Descendants” is an exhibit that was revealed in April in order to provide visitors with a deeper connection with Belize’s Maya culture, as people look to uncover the truth about the end of the 2012 calendar. As the first of many celebrations planned for when the world starts anew on December 21, 2012, this exhibit serves as a bridge between ancient times and the future, and sets the tone for a full line-up of Maya-related events, tours, activities and festivals in Belize, scheduled throughout 2011 and 2012.

“Jade signified life to the Mayas, and we are proud to commence our countdown to the world’s rebirth in conjunction with this renowned exhibit,” said Seleni Matus, director of tourism for the Belize Tourism Board (BTB). “The Long Count Calendar fascinates people from all over the world, and we look forward to unveiling the calendar’s true meaning and the Mayas’ mysteries to all visiting scientists, academics and visitors.”

“The People Who Carved Jades and Their Descendants,” which is sponsored by National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) in conjunction with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), builds on and personalizes the already successful “Jades of Belize” exhibit by highlighting the Mayas who crafted extraordinary jade objects thousands of years ago.

As the epicenter of Maya culture during the Classic Period, Belize has retained its vibrant Maya community and strong influence throughout time, along with an array of ancient Maya temples, artifacts and more.  Information on all of Belize’s most notable Maya sites can be found on the country’s official travel website, but examples include Altun Ha, which is just north of Belize City and is where the largest carved jade object in the entire Maya area – a Jade Head – was originally discovered.  Lubaantun in Punta Gorda is a site rumored to be the place where Anna Mitchell-Hedges found the famous Crystal Skull, in 1926.  And temples at Lamanai in northern Belize were occupied continuously for over 3,000 years, and are surrounded by a lush and beautiful jungle.
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With vacation season on the horizon, travelers hunting for a bargain will find countless wallet-friendly options in Belize as hotels are slashing prices and boosting inclusive packages for the summer months. Home to the second largest barrier reef in the world, ancient Maya temples, exotic wildlife and more, Belize provides an unforgettable vacation unlike any other destination in Central America and the Caribbean. And with a fixed exchange rate of BZ$2 to US$1, travelers will naturally save even more on their summer trips.

Below is a list of specific offers that begin in the summer and run through Belize’s low season (October 31) and are tailored to fit a range of travelers – from couples seeking romantic escapes to families in search of safe summer destinations. Tourists can also find a full roster of hot summer deals on Belize’s official travel website, TravelBelize.org.

SUMMER ROMANCE FOR A BARGAIN

Featuring remote islands, mesmerizing waterfalls and affordable luxuries, Belize is the ideal getaway for couples in search of rousing romantic destinations. From seaside star-gazing on the white beaches of Placencia to breathtaking sunsets on the Maya temples of Caracol in the Cayo District, Belize’s awe-inspiring attractions are sure to sizzle any couple’s summer. While the country’s romance website, Belize In Love, features romantic packages offered year-round, below are two summer deals perfect for stirring up a little romance.

The Palms Oceanfront Resort – Oceanfront Romance Package

Description: A 6 day/5 night romantic escape in an oceanfront suite for US$525 per person (double occupancy).  Package Includes: beautiful oceanfront suite; half day snorkeling along the famous Hol Chan Marine; free snorkeling equipment; swimming with the sharks and stingrays; complimentary land transfer to and from the Palms Resort; free bottle of local Belizean rum; and more.
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Aruba’s constant sunshine and stunning beach vistas help create the ideal setting for a golf getaway for avid golfers and beginners alike. The island’s characteristic trade winds, along with cactus and water hazards, prove to be both a pleasure and a challenge for golfers as they swing and putt their way to a memorable vacation experience.

Securing Aruba’s status as a popular golf destination is the annual Aruba International Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Each summer, teams of professional and amateur golfers from around the world arrive on the island to compete in this two-day, 36-hole event held at the world-class, 18-hole Tierra del Sol golf course.

In addition to Tierra del Sol, Aruba’s courses include The Links at Divi Aruba and Aruba Golf Club, two 9-hole courses that provide travelers with an array of golfing options, each with their own distinctive features. Visitors are invited to grab their clubs and experience one happy golf vacation on the One happy island.

Tierra del Sol Resort, Spa & Country Club – Designed by renowned Robert Trent Jones II, Aruba’s first world class and only 18-hole golf course, Tierra del Sol combines the native beauty of Aruba’s desert flora with the greens of a championship golf course. The 6,811 yard, par-71 course was built with wide expansive fairways and elevation changes that highlight dramatic ocean vistas, as well as the skyline of Aruba’s capital, Oranjestad. Tierra del Sol includes a full length practice range, putting greens and chipping areas and a magnificent clubhouse with a golf shop and restaurant facilities. Green fees run from $92 to $159, depending on the time of day and include a cart.

The Links at Divi Aruba – The Links at Divi Aruba is a beautifully landscaped 9-hole course surrounding luxury vacation villas at the Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort in Aruba. Designed by leading architects Litten & Viola and featuring deluxe facilities, the course was created to become the leading Caribbean golf vacation destination. The course is open to the public with preferred tee times for Divi Resort guests and members, and offers professional golf instruction for both individuals and groups. Green fees vary by season and time of day.

Aruba Golf Club – The oldest course on Aruba, the Aruba Golf Club, was opened in 1939 by L.G. Smith and Governor Wagemaker in 1941. Situated just outside of San Nicolas, the course features a 9-hole layout in a desert setting with astro turf greens. Water hazards and sand traps add a challenge to the course, which can be played from different tees during 18-hole rounds. The Aruba Golf Club is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 7am to 5pm. Green fees are only $20 for 9-holes and $30 for 18-holes. Clubs can be rented for $10 and carts are available at the pro shop.

For more information on Aruba, please visit online at www.ARUBA.com or call 1-800-TO-ARUBA.
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8th Edition of The Coastal Challenge Expedition Run to be held in the mountainous north and welcomes competitors once again to the formidable and unforgettable “Route of Fire”.

The Coastal Challenge (TCC) has opened registration for 2012 and the “Route of Fire” scheduled for January 21st to 28th.

Set in Costa Rica’s pristine northwestern region and starting in the shadow of Arenal Volcano, the “Route of Fire” will utilize the country’s volcanic terrain as a backdrop for a diverse course that moves  through inland lakes, windswept highlands, jungle and tropical dry forest until finally reaching the wild coast of Bahia Salinas with amazing views of southern Nicaragua and volcanoes across the bay.

“We had an amazing group of competitors for the Rainforest Run and we considered a wealth of feedback to improve everyone’s overall experience for next year’s race”, said Tim Holmstrom, race director. “The Route of Fire combines the best of Costa Rica’s natural beauty with a stunning and challenging route that will reward trail runners and athletes of all levels.”

The race, which will be capped at 125 competitors, will again attract an international field and Monica Aguilera of Spain and David James of USA will both return to defend their champion titles.
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By Ty Stevens

Introducing Toro Verde Adventure Park & Eco Resort; the park, a 100 acre (projected to expand to 316 acres) jungle oasis located in the heart of Puerto Rico. In my opinion ‘the ultimate playground’ offering hours of mountain bike, rock climb, and zip line adventure with beautiful jungle landscapes as the backdrop.

For adrenaline junkies …there are over 20 canopy ziplines (with more to come) that range from 100 to 3000+ft in length, and up to 800 meters high. My personal fix was “The Beast” – touted the 2nd longest zipline in world with average break neck speeds of 50+mph. Imagine ripping through the sky in a prone “superman” style harness… for a moment – I really did “believe I could fly”. And below on the forest floor a network of world class mountain bike trail linking miles of varied jungle terrain.

The park is being developed in 3 phases.

With Phase 1 complete. What’s to come in Phase 2, I asked …”more fully sustainable, and primarily natural surface mountain bike trails” says 7 time world champion mountain biker, and trail designer Marla Streb – Streb Trail Productions. Marla has turned her passion for trail, mountain biking, and land preservation into a full time pursuit. Responsible for many sustainable development and education projects throughout many regions of Central America. Her philosophy as she says is “to use, not abuse” expressing “the importance of enjoying and interacting with these natural wonders without leaving behind our mark”. The idea behind this project she comments “is to work with world class athletes, to design world class trails. With a variety of options such that beginner to advanced riders, and hikers can enjoy the experience the same”.
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Not all travels to a tropical paradise have to be mellow, beach lounging, sun soaking, lazy days splashing in the surf all day and coconut shaped umbrella drinks all night.  Grant it, for some that might be just what the doctor ordered, but for others, some pulse raising, adrenaline pumping activities may provide the balance to a perfect adventure vacation. 

For those with the time and access to Central America look no further than Costa Rica for a fantastic combination of nature, relaxation, culture, cuisine, and neck-hair raising fun!

Costa Rica is roughly the size of West Virginia, about .03 % worth of the planet’s landmass.  Yet, this small country contains 5% of the planet’s biodiversity, and because of this roughly 25% of the land in Costa Rica is in the Protected Areas program, dotting the land with national parks, forests, and biological reserves.  With gorgeous mountains, active volcanoes, clear clean rivers, and pristine beaches, Costa Rica is the setting for the world’s largest and most unique outdoor playground! Continue Reading

Here is a sample of the images taken at The Coastal Challenge 2010.

All photos courtesy of Lead Adventure Media

A few months back…we posted an interview with Eric Larsen prior to his departure for his expedition to the South Pole as part of his Save The Poles Expedition. While at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market last month, I got to sit down with Eric and we have another interview with him about his trip and his gear and his outlook on the next phase of his expedition to the North Pole. Check out this great video from his recent expedition to the South Pole. And I thought that I was cold here in Pittsburgh with our unusual wintery weather.

Thanks to Kraig over at The Adventure Blog for the heads up on this video.

Photo above by Lonnie Dupre

When it comes to mountain biking in British Columbia, Canada most people hear about the trails around the North Shore in North Vancouver and the trails and bike park in Whistler. However, taking a 1.5 hour ferry ride over to Vancouver Island is well worth the trip with most of the trails being within 2 hours of Nanaimo.

There are four ferry routes to get to Vancouver Island from the Mainland, which are found on the BC Ferries website.  The most scenic are the Tsawwassen to Schwartz Bay route or if you have time, the Sunshine Coast route which is a series of three ferries and is the route the BC Bike Race follows. Reservations are highly recommended if you’re planning on travelling in June, July or August.

After disembarking the ferry head north to Campbell River, a 2 hour drive from Nanaimo, and check out the trails in the Snowden Demonstration Forest.  The Snowden Demo Forest has something for everyone however make sure you pick up a map of the area from Cowabunga Coffee which is on the way there. (You can’t miss it, it’s a trailer painted like a cow.)  It’s easy to lose your way in this 150 km network of trails the first time you visit.  The owner of Cowabunga is a fellow mountain biker and is extremely knowledgeable about the trails in this area so don’t hesitate to ask him questions.  If you plan on travelling there over the Labour Day Weekend in September, enter the Campbell River 50 km Trail Challenge and experience the best the trails here have to offer. Continue Reading

Story and photos by Jacqueline Windh

What is it that makes adventure racing, at its core, completely different from other sports such as triathlon, or ultrarunning, or rogaining, or 24 hour mountain biking? There are a lot of sports out there that share aspects of AR – in terms of being off-road and adventurous, and involving multiple disciplines, and in requiring strategy and navigation skills.

I’d argue that the one thing that really makes AR unique is the team aspect of it. Not a relay team, not a cumulative-times kind of team, but a team that must stick together no matter what, and problem-solve in order to keep all members united and moving forward as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

Do people who migrate into AR have that team-player attribute genetically programmed into them? Or is it something that they learn along the way, through team experience? I don’t know – I suspect it is a bit of both. What I do know, though, is that AR racers are a unique group of athletes to hang out with – high-achieving Type A’s, for sure, but who also have a real sense of humility and humanity about them.

So it is no surprise to me at all that the Project Athena foundation – a charitable organization aimed at helping women who face life-altering medical conditions to live their athletic dreams – was the initiative of one of Adventure Racing’s greats.

Robyn Benincasa is one of the world’s original adventure racers – achieving podium finishes right from the sport’s earliest days in races that are but legends today: Eco-Challenge (2nd in Utah, 1995 and 1st Borneo, 2000); the Raid Gauloises (1st in Ecuador, 1998), New Zealand’s Southern Traverse (3rd in 2000) and Canada’s Raid the North Extreme (1st in both 1998 and 2001). She is also the only one of those pioneers of AR who still races today – sometimes even with her former team-mates’ sons alongside her! – and her more recent successes include victory in the Bull of Africa in 2005, and podium finishes at PQ (3rd in Moab, 2006, and 2nd in Montana, 2008).
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We just got out of the Grand Canyon late yesterday afternoon with 22 AMAZING and inspirational women who laughed, cried, pushed, pulled, towed, and cheered with one another for 44 hard miles over the last 2 days. The Rim to Rim to Rim trek was truly the most epic and moving experience of most of our lives–so many transformations, so much joy, so many memories of those friends that have passed and dreams for the future for our next Athenaship Recipients.

On a personal level, many many of the women went through incredible life changing and life affirming transformations, ie learning that accepting help is ok and in fact a gift to the helper, quitting smoking, gaining the renewed confidence to go back and complete a college degree, a rededication of service to others as a way of life, a new start on a new body and healthier life so that they can experience this much joy in the outdoors with us and feel even better on the next trip. Lots of stories of childhoods, tragedies, life changes and redemption were shared in the most stunning place on earth, and none of us will ever be the same. And it was all capped off by being met as we emerged over the top of the South Rim by one of our Goddesses moms, who is now terminal with Ovarian Cancer. Talk about an incredible moment. Wow! Continue Reading

GET READY to kick 2010 off with a TURBO adrenalin rush! How about a gruelling challenge set to keep your blood pumping for a whole 10 days!!

The MaD Tuk Tuk Challenge, set to commence on January 20, 2010, is a guaranteed adrenalin rush with a bonus for those forever searching for that perfect HIT!

Teams are expected to pimp up their Tuk Tuks to the max then take to the tracks of Cambodia, crossing 900 km of some of the most unexplored and extreme areas of South East Asia all in name of charity. The route will take the entourage through remote villages where they will set up camp and help communities where need be. This could be repairing a humble dwelling, refurbishing a water-pump or carrying out some basic medical treatment. Whilst helping along the way, each team is also fundraising their Tuk Tuk through sponsorship and donations to reach a combined target of US250K in partnership with Mad Adventures Ltd.

Primary focus of the event is to raise enough funds to continue & expand on MaD’s work in Cambodia and to build & manage their up-coming project in Zimbabwe, which now claims the highest number of orphans per capita in the world.
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Jacqueline Windh sent us this short video of British Columbian adventure racer and endurance athlete Jen Segger’s amazing expedition to travel the length of Vancouver Island. The entire adventure was done non-stop by foot and bike over 4 days and 750km between August 24-28, 2009.

Video by Jacqueline Windh.

Ultra endurance athletes Tarka L’Herpiniere (27) and Katie-Jane Cooper (29) embark on August 16th for Chile on yet another world first expedition. ‘Rivers of Ice’, will attempt to traverse the complete length of the Southern Patagonian Ice Cap without the aid of sail kites or pre-placed food caches.

Fully unsupported, they are planning to ski and climb 431km across the world’s third largest ice cap in as little as 37 days. Their adventure will include crevasse-laced glaciers, jumbled ice falls, climbing icy peaks and 600m rappels down sheer cliffs, not to mention ferocious winter blizzards. Only 2 previous expeditions have ever completed the full crossing; the first took 54 days with the aid of sail kites and the second took 98 days with pre-placed food caches.

Instead of hauling huge sleds with lots of gear, the ‘Rivers of Ice’ team are taking an ultra-light and fast approach, using only backpacks and 1kg micro sleds that attach to the packs, reducing the traditional load of 120kg down to 45kg. I imagine that leaves them little room for errors.

The ´Rivers of Ice´website should be great: you can send them messages, podcasts will be posted, you can check out tips and info on their ultralight approach, videos, and more. Additionally, the couple plans to film a documentary of their adventure. I look forward to following along on this epic adventure.

In some of the highest temperatures on the planet? The coastline of Namibia is considered one of the most inhospitable, unexplored, yet beautiful regions of the globe….and that´s why 14 people are paying 10,000 dollars each to join an expedition mounted by Jason De Carteret to hike a 300 mile stretch of coast.

Dubbed, the Skeleton Coast Expedition, everyone will be required to carry their own gear, upwards to 85 pounds and will be expected to walk up to 8 hours a day – without fresh water. “No human has ever completed this journey on foot” claims Jason who also believes that this will go down in the record books as longest trek without fresh water.

No stranger to long, thirsty hikes, Jason was able to cross the Sahara from North to South, in 1989, taking 20 days with an 8 person team. Then, in 1991 he walked across the Kalahari Desert with a team of 14.

With a cold glass of iced tea, I´ll toast to these explorers who plan to begin in October, when temperatures are most tolerable. And I look forward to seeing the photos and film they bring back.

Visit their website to learn about the explorers on the expedition, live tracking, and more.

Urban dwellers in six cities in the UK and Ireland are set to see their landscape transformed in 2009 with the arrival of the Rat Race on their doorstep – a sporting test with a difference. The Rat Races bring
adventure to the city and offer urbanites a break from convention as they are offered up the challenge of one of the world’s most unorthodox, yet thrilling sporting challenges.

The director, Jim Mee, explains the idea of the competion: “The Rat Race is all about doing the unfamiliar in a familiar environment. Most of us live and work in cities; the rat race is designed to encourage people to use these spaces as our playgrounds as well. The cities that we’ve chosen all have an abundance of great places and green spaces and anyone taking part can be assured that we will be making the most of them. We get incredible access within the cities and people will have the chance to go to places that they’ve never been to before, even if they live there!”

Using the cityscape as the playground, teams will engage in a variety of mental and physical challenges: Contestants will run, bike, abseil, climb and kayak the streets, structures and waterways of the host city, whilst navigating their way around a course that’s only revealed to them hours before they begin. Buildings, streets, shops, offices and canals all feature in the event as competitors face challenges engineered right out of the very fabric of the city.

Challenges in previous events have seen competitors abseiling from Twickenham Rugby stadium and the iconic Tyne Bridge. There has been bike descents of hair-raising stairs, underground navigation in pitch dark tunnels, shopping centre assault courses and zip wires from skyscrapers. The 2009 events promise even more adventure on the streets of the country’s coolest cities.
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Sara Outen arrived in Mauritius at 8:27PM local time to a celebratory welcome from friends and family after becoming the first (and youngest) woman to row solo across the Indian Ocean. On March 31, 2009, Outen set out from Fremantle (Western Australia) enroute to Mauritius in an attempt to become the youngest (and the only female) person to ever row across the Indian Ocean solo. The 24-year-old (celebrated her 24th birthday at sea) completed the open ocean voyage of over 3,000 miles in just 124 days.

During her journey, she experienced everything that the Indian Ocean had to offer from major storms to a rolled boat. Not to mention that she spent 4 months alone at sea rowing between 8-12 hours per day.

This epic journey was dedicated to her father who died in 2006. Her father had suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and she has been raising money for Arthritis Care.

I am sure that in the coming days there will be more info about her trip (after she has gotten some good land based sleep, some cooked meals and recovered from being at sea for 4 months) and as it becomes available…we will post it on the site.

Check out this interview with the guys from A Mad Way South (Kite Buggy Race Across the Sahara)! We first ran the story by Stefan Simanowitz on July 28 about the adventure. The below video shows the guys talking about their journey that lies before them in the Sahara.

Branndon Bargo is a contributing editor to Adventure World. We like that his great adventure will climb the 3 highest mountains on the Africa continent while biking (and paddling) the distances between them while helping to raise awareness about the continuing dangers of malaria with hopes for its ultimate eradication. The expedition will last for more than 6 weeks. The group has already reached the summit of Kilimanjaro and will be heading towards Nairobi this week. This is a great cause and something that we in the United States (and many other industrialized countries throughout the world) have not had to worry about for many generations.

Texas brothers Branndon and Greg Bargo are setting out on a multi-sport self supported expedition to Africa to raise money and awareness for malaria. The brothers will climb the three highest mountains in Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mt. Kenya in Kenya, and Mt. Stanley in Uganda.

They will first start out by climbing the Umbwe route of 19,340 foot Kilimanjaro, then biking to the base of Mt Kenya to climb the technical and seldom reached North Standard route to the summit of Mt. Batian. They will then bike with all their gear to the second largest lake in the world, and largest in Africa, Lake Victoria where they will unpack their foldable canoe, and begin crossing the crocodile infested waters. Upon reaching the opposite shores of Lake Victoria in Uganda they will unpack their bikes from their canoe and head to the Ugandan/Congolese border to climb Mt. Stanley, Africa’s largest mountain range, and third tallest mountain.

“When I first found out about the issue of malaria, and that the U.S. was once infected by the disease I wanted everyone to know about it, and that something needed to be done”, Branndon Bargo said. He started a non-profit called the One Blood Initiative. The goal for the organization is to meet and establish relationships with community leaders, and other organizations such as Food for the hungry, World Vision, Soft Power Health, and Africa Fighting Malaria with the big vision to one day eradicate malaria from Africa and eventually the world. The brothers have many planned stops to meet and speak with community leaders during their 6 week expedition.

To learn more or to donate, visit One Blood Initiative.