For the price of a hand of blackjack or a roll of the dice, you can spend some time with predators of a different kind — at Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef Aquarium.  The only predator-based aquarium in the United States calls the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino (3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, map) home.

What predators lurk here?

The lionfish is cute looking, but you don't want to run into him

Tigers Sharks.  The second deadliest specie behind the Great White, these two females are quickly becoming the prima donnas of the aquarium, and it’s the only place tiger sharks are available for viewing in the US.  You’ll be able to spot them easily with their tiger-striped markings and sharp-serrated teeth.

Komodo Dragon.  What they lack in looks, they make up for in speed, and the world’s largest lizard uses both its speed, cunning and power to track and kills it’s prey.  They’re so ugly that they’re kind of cute, but make no mistake about it, these guys are deadly.

The piranhas.  A guide was standing near the exhibit to answer questions, and the question on everyone’s mind was – when do you feed them?  He explained that they are fed three times a week.  Their diet is primarily raw chicken, chopped up into small chunks and then thrown about the water so that the piranhas disperse and chase the food.  By keeping the food spread out in the water it helps to  avoid any injuries to the fish as a result of their gluttonous eating habit.

The stingray petting pool was a big visitor favorite, and mine as well.  A naturalist nearby gave adults and kids instructions about how to “pet” the stingrays swimming about the shallow pool.  I shoved up my sleeves and put my arm in the pool waiting for the stingray to swim by.  When it did, I ran one finger along the top of him.  It’s hard to explain what it felt like.  It was soft and spongy, but definitely not what I expected.  The closest I can come to describing the feel is that it’s like injera, the Ethiopian pancake-like bread.

Shark Reef Aquarium has lots of different kinds of sharks

I’d recommend allowing an hour or so to walk through the exhibit, listening to the audio guide as you do.  The audio guide provides a nice enhancement to what you’re seeing, giving you two choice:  just the basics or a more in depth explanation.  I used the basic info most of the time, pressing for more details on those exhibits that really captured my attention.

Shark Reef Aquarium is open daily starting at 10 am.  Admission is $16.95 for adults, $10.95 for children, and toddlers four and under are FREE.   Shark Reef has just added an annual pass option, $40 for adults and $25 for children 5-12, which saves a bundle if you’ll visit often.  Nevada residents get a discount on admission; ID required.  Tickets can be purchased online or on site.

Photo credits:  personal collection

This post mentions: Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

It’s with mixed feelings that I’m back in Seattle after three and a half weeks in Italy.  It’s always good to come back home, of course, but there is a part of me that was left behind, waiting patiently until I come back to claim it.

The pace was both busy and leisurely, with a day or two of activity followed by a day or two of rest.

Sunflowers, Tuscany 2009

Leisure days were spent by the pool, taking naps, drinking wine, eating pasta and lots of gelato.  Activity days were full of exploring, sightseeing, discovering new things, and lots and lots of walking to counteract all that pasta, gelato, and wine.  It was the perfect combination of Adventure Holidays and Walking holidays, with plenty of rest to get ready for it all.

Here are some of the highlights of the trip:

• Climbing Mt. Etna
• Exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Siracusa and Noto in Sicily
• Learning to drive like the Sicilians
• Eating grilled shrimp, freshly caught moments before consumption, beach side in Muscali
• Watching World Cup games with the Italians
• Walking the hill towns in Tuscany
• Wine tasting, especially the Brunellos and Super Tuscans
• Food:  pasta, gelato (fig may be my new favorite)
• Visiting favorite places and discovering new ones, a good mix of the familiar with the new
• 24 straight days of 80-degree plus weather, and a good week where it was close to 100 degrees

Since no travels are ever perfect, however, honesty demands that I also list a few items that won’t make the highlight reel:

• Bugs.  I don’t know why it was so much worse this year than that, but I was a mess from bites that I couldn’t stop itching.
• Ice doesn’t seem to exist.  When you wanted an ice cold glass of water or tea, or even a beer, it just wasn’t that refreshing icy coldness that I love.
• The sunflowers are gone from Tuscany.  Economic factors caused farmers to plant wheat rather than sunflowers, and those beautiful fields of row after row of flowers were just not to be found.  Wheat hasn’t been all that successful of a cash crop either, so next year it may be alfalfa.
• Learning about the Italian health care system when one my traveling companions needed stitches in his head.  The system works quite well – efficient, high quality, and free – it’s just not the kind of thing you want to have to discover.

I’m a big fan of extended holidays.  They restore me physically, mentally, and emotionally in a way that a quick getaway weekend never will.  Italy does all that for me, and it’s good to know that it’s waiting for me until I get back once again.

Where do you go for that balance of active and restorative travel?  Do you have a special place that nourishes your soul?

Photo credit:  personal collection

NOTE:  This posts was sponsored by The Adventure Company; the opinions expressed herein are my own.

One of the things that I was excited to do in Sicily was climb Mt. Etna.  At approximately 10,922 feet high, this largest active volcano in Europe was visible from the back deck of our villa.  Every morning I’d take a look at how beautiful it was, it’s very top visible in the earlier morning hours, and then watch as the clouds circled about it come mid-morning.

The presence of Mt. Etna, along with its history – both true and legend, dominates the island of Sicily,  Make no mistake about it, this is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.  This decade alone has seen two major eruptions, in 2001 and 2002, both of which caused damage to both the mountain and surrounding areas.

The three of us were all interested in climbing Mt Etna, and our choice of how to scale the mountain took us to Etna Sud, the southern slope.  We drove there, allowing about an hour for the drive.  If you don’t have a car, or don’t want to tackle the winding, hillside roads, there are plenty of tour buses that make the journey.

I’d done a bit of reading to prepare for this, and a pretty consistent theme seemed to be that the trip would take about 4 hours.  NOT!  Here’s the real story!

The southern starting point, at just under 6,200 feet, is called Rifugio Sapienza,  Here we lined up a guide, got a quick bite to eat, and waited for our 10:30 start time.  This area has a number of guide options, we selected one that offered a guide who spoke a bit of English.   The options offered are quite similar, as are the prices, so find a company and guide that you feel comfortable with.  There are also places to buy something to eat and drink – but remember – there are no bathrooms on the mountain.

I wore shorts for the expedition, and although I wasn’t the only one, I do ask myself what was I thinking!  It was a very sunny day and I was out for a day hike, and it didn’t occur to me that it might get pretty darn cold as we moved up the mountain.  Fortunately, our guide company had hiking boots and heavy jackets available (no additional charge).  You’ll need these.  I’d also recommend wearing jeans or heavy pants, both for warmth and to protect yourself from cuts and scrapes from the lava rocks, a hat to protect for both the sun and wind, and a pair of gloves.  You’ll also want to bring plenty of water.

The first leg of the journey to the top was easy.  A funicular (cable car) took us part way up, with the ending terminal situated at about 8,200 feet.  The funicular was re-built after it was totally destroyed in the 2001 eruption, and as you’re looking out and down you can see the lava fields that remain.  The terminal has great photo opportunities, and is also the last stop for a bathroom break and additional food.

Next, it was into 4×4 mini buses for the next leg, a bouncing ride over lava terrain to the area of the Torre del Filosofo.  This stop puts you at about 9,580 feet, and although the sun was shining brightly it was cold and windy.  For many people, this is as far as they’ll come.  That still makes for a great trip, and the view is spectacular.  There are some craters that you can walk to, some lava fields to check out, and photo ops galore.

But if you’re continuing on to the top, now it gets down to just you and the mountain. . . and your guide to lead you there.

Our group huddled together, got our final instructions, and set out.  I was giddy inside, excitement conquering cold, and ready to make my way to the summit.  We set out over lava rocks, over some remaining ice, and skirted soft, sandy lava fields, making our way to the top.  All around us was spectacular natural beauty, truly jaw dropping, and between the cold shivers I reveled in it.  It was about 1400 feet between me and the top.

Everything was going great. . . at least for a couple hundred feet.  And then it felt like I’d been hit up the side of the head.  I felt dizzy, nauseous, and I started to hyperventilate.  Our guide had me scoot to the front of the group, following right behind him.  This was both for him to help set a pace that was good for me, as well as to keep an eye on how I was doing.

I made it a little bit further, but soon found that my ears were blocked and I couldn’t clear them no matter how hard I tried.  It was hard for me to breathe, I still felt dizzy and nauseous, and my head was throbbing.  I recognized that this wasn’t a good thing, and so did the guide.  He quickly took out a walkie talkie and called for someone to assist.  Another guide walked me a short ways to a waiting jeep, and the driver took me down to the Torre del Filosofo area.  The guides have a kind of shack there, and they invited me in.  I still felt like I might get sick, so opted to lay down on a bench to try to get my bearings.  After about half an hour in the cold wind, I staggered inside where I could try to warm up while I waited for the guys to meet me for the trip down the mountain.  They guides at the shack generously brought me espresso, trying to keep me warm and help me to feel better.

Meanwhile, back on the mountain, the guys continued to the summit!  They reported that it was windy and cold, but an amazing sight.  Steam and clouds swirled around the crater, as seen in the photos, and it made both of them a little nervous getting too close to the edge.  A story was told about a Spanish hiker who fell into one of the craters, resulting in it being called the Spanish Crater.  I’m not sure if it’s true, or merely local legend, but it definitely made an impact on them and they steered clear of any edges.  After about an hour on the crater, they climbed back down meeting up with me at the guide shack.

Once back down from the crater, one of the guys opted to ride with me back down to the base (4×4 and then the funicular), while the other opted to remain with the group and walk back down to the base of the mountain.  He said it was almost a harder walk down than going up, as there were lots of sandy lava field which made it difficult to get a sure footing.

Why did I get sp sick on the mountain?  It turns out that I had altitude sickness, and while not uncommon during exertion at altitude, I was surprised given my effortless acclimation to cabin altitude on an airplane.  While I remained shaky for most of the rest of that day, within another day or so all symptoms were completely gone, and it didn’t interfere with any other activities.

In the case of MJ vs. The Volcano, the volcano won.  But I’m sure glad that I gave it a try!

Location:  Refugio Sapienza, at the southern base of Mt. Etna (map), Sicily

Time:  Various times, based on which outfitter you choose and which climbing options.  We opted for the full day excursion which includes the funicular ride, 4×4 ride, and the guide walk up and all the way down.  It takes approximately 6 hours.  Shorter tours are available.

Price:  The all day option was 70 Euros, which included the funicular ride, the 4×4 transportation, use of hiking boots and heavy coat, and the guide leader.  Prices will vary based on tour length.

Precautions:  You must be able bodied, and in reasonably good shape to climb the mountain.  If you suffer from asthma, are pregnant, or have a heart condition, you may not be allowed to participate.  I’d recommend caution for kids under 12 years of age, as the winds at the top can be brutal.

Photo credits:  All from personal collection

This post mentions: Mt Etna, 95030 Castiglione di Sicilia Catania.

Located on a 14 acre parcel along the east bank of the Anacostia River, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is the only National Park that is devoted to the propagation and display of aquatic plants, with a history that is of great significance to the botanical study and development of water plants.

The gardens were initially a hobby for Civil War veteran W.B. Shaw.  With a few water lilies from his estate of Maine, and a single pond, he started his hobby venture.  As the the plants thrived, he dug more ponds and experimented more in developing hybrid lilies, turning a hobby into a burgeoning business.

In 1921, Helen Shaw Fowler (W.B.’s daughter) agreed to let the public in for a viewing of the lilies one day a week during the blooming season.  It’s estimated that up to 6,000 people a day lined up to see lilies growing in their natural state, including many prominent DC residents.  Mrs. Calvin Coolidge, and President and Mrs. Wilson were often visitors at the gardens.  The gardens ceased commercial operation in 1938.

Today the combined Aquatic Gardens, Kenilworth Marsh, and Kenilworth Park take up 700 acres, and are part of the National Park system.  The garden is also included in the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the landmarks of the National Capital.  The larger park site also includes ball fields and recreational facilities.

A visit during the summer when the water lilies and lotus are in bloom is a beautiful treat.  The vibrant pinks and stark white contrast dramatically against the shades of green.  It’s impossible not to be amazed at the wonder of nature.  Go early in the day to get the best view of the blooms.  As the temperatures near the 90′s, the blooms close up.  You can also be able to see some of the other garden denizens, including birds, frogs, turtles, butterflies and dragonflies.

It’s an easy walk around the grounds, but if the temperatures are soaring, you may want to bring some cold water with you.  Sunscreen and a hat would also be good to bring along.  The gardens cover approximately 12 acres of open ponds, so if you’re bringing children, be sure to keep a close eye on them so they don’t fall into the ponds.  Wear sensible walking shoes — these are gardens after all — and if there’s been a recent rainstorm, the ground will be muddy, and the edges of the pond, soft.

Late May through September is the best time for viewing the flowering aquatic plants, so you’re in prime viewing season right now. But if you’re own of season, there’s still a lot to see at the Aquatic Gardens.  In the Spring, wildflowers bloom in the surrounding Kenilworth Marsh, Fall brings in spectacular foliage, and Winter is the best time for watching wildlife and birding.

Location:  1550 Anacostia Avenue NE, Washington DC (map)

Hours:  7 am – 4 pm daily

Viewing time:  The time needed to see the Gardens will depend on the season, time of day, and temperature.  I’d suggest allowing a couple of hours, which will give you time to enjoy the flowers and spend some time relaxing.  Be sure to bring your camera with you!  You’ll find lots of people there working on their photography skills.

Photo credit:  personal collection

This post mentions: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

It’s countdown to Italy time, something I promised myself that I wouldn’t do until after the first of June, and I am incredulous at how expensive flights to Rome are.  We booked several months ago, at a price of a little over $1200/person, round trip, which was the lowest fare we had seen for our itinerary.   It’s fair to note that while we had some date flexibility, we were pretty much locked into a general time frame.

Capri, Italy

Since then, and despite lots of “fare sales”  that claimed to have substantially lower prices, I’m feeling like we got a bargain.  I’ve been watching fares creep up and up, and every time I see some bargain offer I check it out — only to find that it’s not available.  I’ve become greatly disappointed in some of my go-to sites who are still listing fares that have been unavailable for months.  The cheapest fares that I have been able to find, comparable routing to our itinerary, is coming in today at a little over $1800.  Simply crazy!

Enough complaining, though!  I’ll be winging my way to Rome in under two weeks!

Here are a few of my favorite travel posts from this past week:

• Gourmantic has a nice roundup of Italian words and phrases that will serve a traveler well.  Although I recognized most of these, there were a few new ones that I hope to put to good use.
• PlanetEye Traveler – Niagara takes us on the Freedom Trail, the underground route that slaves took to escape to Canada.  What a great reminder that freedom lay not just to the northern US, but in Canada as well.
• Kaleidoscopic Wandering fuels my interest in train travel with some helpful tips.  This is a blog I’ve only recently discovered, although I’m familiar with JoAnna’s work, and I hope you find it as informative and entertaining as I did.
• Sharing Travel Experiences takes us along to Cardiff, Wales.  It sounds like there’s a great mix of history (architecture, castles) with the modern (shopping arcades).  It certainly piqued my interest for the capitol city.
• Europe Up Close has a profile of the village of Sant ‘Ambrogio on Sicily.  Since part of my time in Italy will be spent on the island of Sicily, this caught my eye as some place to put on my itinerary.  It sounds like a wonderfully charming place.
• Gadling has tips on how to protect your digital camera while you’re at the beach.  While sand and water are not so great for your camera, you still want to take it along.  These tips should help you do a better job at keeping it protected.
• PlanetEye Traveler – Disney takes a hot air balloon flight over the Kissimmee area. This is an experience that I’ve always wanted to try, and after reading about her trip, perhaps you will too.

That’s it for this week, short and sweet, but still some excellent travel reads.  Stop by and see what these travel bloggers have to say, and please, tell them that MJ sent you!

Photo credit:  personal collection

Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is the second largest city in the country, making it a popular vacation spot for travelers from the U.K. and around the world.  In fact, it’s the second most visited city in the UK for international travelers (no surprise that London is first).

From the United States you can reach Edinburgh direct from Newark (Continental) and Atlanta (Delta), along with many airlines that make connections.  Another option is flying into Glasgow International Airport, about an hour away.   Accommodations span the usual range, and you may want to consider Edinburgh Apartments or Edinburgh Bed and Breakfast.

Cockburn Street in Edinburgh, Scotland

Why do travelers find visiting Edinburgh such a compelling choice, here 10 reasons:

1. It’s a picturesque city.  Located along the Firth of Forth (love that name!), Edinburgh sports a rugged coastline mixed with interesting architecture.  There are plenty of beautiful beaches, charming country side, quaint little villages, and thriving urban life, combining to make and interesting mix of landscape and culture.
2. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site .  The city core combines the medieval Old Town, the Georgian New Town and award winning modern architecture.
3. It has castles and palaces.  Edinburgh Castle is in the city center, and that a good place to start your castle viewing, but there’s plenty more as you venture a little further about.
4. It’s a capital city.  Students of government, history, and politics know how interesting a capital city can be, giving you the opportunity to check out the Scottish Parliament, conduct your business, and soak up the the local business culture.
5. It’s a literate city.  Edinburgh is the first UNESCO City of Literature.
6. It’s got festivals.  The city boasts so many festivals that it’s hard to keep track, but is probably best known for the Edinburgh Festival.  It starts in August, and lasts for four weeks, and is a collection of mini-festivals that includes the Fringe festival, the International festival, the International Book festival, and plenty more.
7. It’s a city that celebrates.  From ushering in the New Year with Hogmanay (December 31st), to Burns Night (January 25th). to the Beltane Fire Festival (April 30th), this is a city that can make a celebration out of almost anything.
8. It has museums.  Sure, most large cities do have museums, but you’ll find some of the best in the country in Edinburgh.
9. It has nightlife.  With demographics decidedly on the younger side, it’s not surprising that Edinburgh has lots of restaurants, club, and pubs that should appeal to nearly every night-out preference.
10. It’s a little bit different.  While all your friends are boasting about one of the usual European destinations, mentioning Edinburgh will make your plans stand out a bit.  Why go with the usual, when there’s a unique choice to be made instead.

NOTE:  This post was sponsored by Scottish Accommodations Index, the opinions and views expressed herein are solely those of the author.

Photo credit: wikimedia

As the second largest city in the United States, Los Angeles gets it fair share of visitors attracted by the ocean beaches and sunny days.  Home to Hollywood, Disneyland, and museums and parks galore, LA is as distinctively west coast as New York City is east coast.  It is also a major city for sports, having hosted two Olympic Games.  Sports are also big business in LA, attracting millions of visitors each year who come for both spectator and participatory athletics.

STAPLES Center entrance

If you’re a sports fan, here are some considerations that may help you plan your visit to Los Angeles.

Basketball (fall to early summer):  The LA Lakers and the LA Clippers both play at Staples Center (map).  It’s not unusual to see television and film celebrities sitting court side cheering on their team.  Dyan Cannon, Denzel Washington, and Jack Nicholson are big Laker fans, and Billy Crystal, Penny Marshall, and Frankie Muniz are big Clipper fans.  The LA Sparks, two-time WNBA league champions play at the same location, with a season running May to August.

Baseball (April to October):  The boys of summer load up the bases at Dodger Stadium (map) after landing in LA from Brooklyn.  The Dodgers have won eight National League championships and five World Series.

Football (fall):  It’s hard to imagine, but LA has no professional football team.  Both the Rams and the Raiders left town in 1995, leaving LA the largest city in the country without an NFL team.  The city is passionate about its two very successful college teams – the USC Trojans, who play at the Memorial Coliseum (map), and the UCLA Bruins, who play at the Rose Bowl (map).  Both schools are part of the Pacific 10 Conference.  LA has also hosted the SuperBowl on two occasions.

Hockey (October to April): The NHL’s LA Kings take to the ice at Staples Center

Soccer:  David Beckham leads the LA Galaxy, a major force in the MLS.  They play at Home Depot Center.  LA has also hosted soccer’s international World Cup, a part of the reason why the sport has grown in popularity in the area.

Horse Racing:  Two racetracks host the Sport of Kings, Santa Anita (map) with a season running Christmas through mid-April, and its Oak Tree Meet in the fall, and Hollywood Park (map) with a season mid-April to July, and an autumn meet in early November through mid-December.  Alternating meets means that you can catch horse racing year round.  Satellite wagering is available at both tracks.

Running:  Just finishing up its 25th anniversary, the LA Marathon attracts over 25,000 runners and over a million spectators, and is one of the premiere runnig events in the country.  The wheelchair division of the marathon is the top event of its kind in the world.  There are dozens of lesser running events, and thousands of miles of running trails that will appeal to both competitive and social runners.

Golf:  Another year round sport that attracts spectators to professional events while amateurs flock to courses around the area.  The courses are too numerous to mention, but Golf California keeps pretty current on courses, reservations, and prices, or you can just flip open a phone book and browse the yellow pages.

Tennis: Tennis is played year round on public and private courts around the area.  Professional and collegiate tournaments are held on the UCLA campus at the Tennis Center (map).  Tennis great Arthur Ashe was an alumni of UCLA.

Roller Derby:  Full-contact roller derby is back, and the LA Derby Dolls are gaining in popularity.  The Dolls take to the track at the Doll Factory (map), and feature quirky entertainment that includes halftime music and a vendor village featuring art and jewelry.  The 20-bout season is on Saturday nights throughout the year.

Polo (April through October):  Polo has a rather famous history dating back to the 1930’s when Will Rogers cleared the field in front of his home so his celebrity friends could play a friendly match.  Thus began the Will Rogers Polo Club (map).  There was once over 25 polo clubs in the LA area, but today this is the only one that remains.  Matches are held on weekends, and despite a sense of elitism that accompanies the sport, the matches are informal and fun.

With so many athletic activities to choose from, it’s no wonder that sports enthusiasts make Los Angeles their vacation choice!  What’s your favorite?

Photo credit:  Courtesy of LA, Inc.

This post mentions: Staples Center, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Rose Bowl, Santa Anita, CA 91007, Hollywood Park, So Calif Tennis Assn-SCTA L a Tennis Center-UCLA, Doll Factory, and Will Rogers State Historic Park.

Happy Memorial Day weekend!  For those of us here in the United States, it’s the kickoff to summer.  And although it’s cloudy and rainy here in Seattle, I’m not letting that get in the way of celebrating the changing of the season.

I have a quick list of travel reads for today, so take a break and catch up with what’s happening:

• My Melange has a list of some free things to do in Florence,  It’s such a beautiful city, but the Euro valuation can also make it expensive, so these FREE ideas will help stretch your travel budget.
• PlanetEye Traveler – San Francisco has some great suggestions for cycling in Sonoma County.  There are fun choice for all ability levels.
• Euro Cheapo tackles the cash/credit/ATM debate.  Personally, I take a bit of cash, and then plan to strategically hit the ATM while on the road.  Yeah, there’s a fee, but I’d rather pay a small fee than lose or misplace some cash – something that I have seen happen all too many times.
• Sharing Travel Experiences acknowledges an occasional lack of confidence when it comes to travel, proving that even the most experienced among have our moments.
• Gadling has information about a great photography workshops in the National Parks this summer..  What a great way to celebrate the beauty of our parks!
• Off to Europe has a great list of boutique hotels in Paris.  A fashionable chic city, with hotels to match.
• PlanetEye Traveler – Cruises talks about staying connected while at sea.  She’s on a 100-plus day round-the-world cruise, so she’s looking for ways to maximize her time and minimize her cost.
• Chris Pirillo says he hates traveling, but loves the idea of opening his hotel room door with his smart phone.  Two Holiday Inn’s plan to launch this feature.this summer.
• Wall Street Journal has a great slide show about the ultimate in travel – space travel.  Enjoy the photos from the final trip of Atlantis.
• And finally, I’m a big Cirque du Soleil fan, so I invite you to take a read of my interview with the Head Prop Master for the touring show KOOZA.  The show is currently on a multi-week run here in Seattle, and I can’t wait to go see it.  Look for a review next week.

That’s it for this week.  Enjoy your weekend, and may your summer plans be full of wonderful travel experiences.

Photo credit:  personal collection

Adventure travel is a hot travel niche these days, although perhaps for the Baby Boomer generation it trends a little more to the soft adventure than the rugged.   And often, those busy adventure days are followed by a nice glass of wine, good meal, and a comfy bed.  After all, there’s nothing wrong with wanting our adventure and a little luxury too.

So what’s trending on the soft adventure landscape?

1. Zipling – A few years ago the only place I was hearing about zipling was in the rain forest.  Now it’s gone mainstream, with zipline adventures offered at resorts, zoos, eco-lodges and more.
2. Horseback riding –It’s not just a ride down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon anymore.   You can ride on the beach or in the hills or a park.  Take an early morning ride, or enjoy it as sunset, combine with an eco or sightseeing adventure, or just enjoying riding for the pure relationship of you and your horse.    You can head off for a ranch for a City Slicker-style experience, or combine horseback riding and wine tasting,
3. Viewing wildlife – Safari holidays aren’t just in Kenya anymore.  In fact, you can choose a wildlife adventure in Africa, Asia, or Latin America.
4. Rafting – While many Baby Boomers may be past the point of wanting a White Water Category 4 or 5, there are still lots of fun, recreational options.  Whether it’s float trips, rafting wine trips, enjoying a national park, or just cooling off on the water, it’s remains a popular sport.
5. Kayaking and canoeing – Fun day choices that can be combined with other activities.  Canoeing and camping combine for a great week trip, and that camping doesn’t have to be roughing it.  Kayaking need not be in a churning river, but can be done nearly anywhere you can find a spot of water.
6. Hiking – One of the easiest adventure activities around, hiking can be done nearly anywhere and in nearly any type of weather.  While most of us aren’t going to climb the face of a mountain, there’s nothing like a brisk hike, taking us to a spectacular viewing area, to give us a travel high.
7. Trekking – A little more advanced activity level than hiking, trekking is merely going places on foot that you cannot reach by other transportation.  You’re not blazing the way, but sticking to trails and doing a lot of walking.  Think of it as hiking for lots of days.  You may be carrying everything yourself or you may have the use of a sherpa, and your overall fitness level and budget will help shape your trekking choices.  Nepal is one of the most popular areas for trekking.
8. Diving – While the Great Barrier Reef may be the ultimate dive spot, there are plenty of other great diving spots around the world.  Find a coastline and chances are you’ve got dozens of choices to make. Warm water diving seems to win out over cold water, though, so the Caribbean, Hawaii, Florida, and Southern California are all popular diving spots.  And if you’re not ready to go deep, there’s always snorkeling.
9. Jeep and ATV Tours – I think of this as hiking for vehicles.  Seriously, though, you can rent a vehicle and do this on your own, or join up with a tour for a group experience.  It’s happening in the dunes, the jungle, even the Grand Canyon.
10. Glamping – A little bit camp and a little bit glamour, glamping has become the buzzword for bragging that your camping, but still enjoy a little luxurious glamour.  Think fully outfitted Bedouin tents in the desert (complete with chef and a staff), fully appointed yurts, tree houses that rival any view home that you’ve ever seen.  Sure, you could make it sound like you’re roughing it – but we know you’re not!

These are the trends that I see in adventure holidays, and a few of them are on my to-do list (zipling, a safari, and glamping in some exotic locale).

How about you?  What’s on your adventure travel list?

NOTE:  This post was sponsored by The Adventure Company, the opinions expressed herein are my own.

Photo credit: SXC

With Sex and the City 2 set to premiere May 27th, there’s plenty of talk about those four glamorous women from New York City:  Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte.

Entering our lives with a television debut on June 6th, 1998, these four glamorous women drew us into their lives of angst and glamour.  They tried to make us feel as if their loves were our loves, that their hangouts were our hangouts, and their heartbreaks were our heartbreaks.

Magnolia Bakery's original location in the West Village

Many of the locations seen in the television show, and the first movie, are real-life Manhattan locations.  Although there are several tour companies offering SATC location tours, most of the locations are places that you can discover on your own.  And while a restaurant reservation might be hard to come by, one place that anyone can get into is Magnolia Bakery in the West Village.

The bakery was a fairly quiet, although popular, neighborhood spot until Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie was seen eating a butter cream frosted cupcake.  Shortly after, popularity reached near cult status, and it was not uncommon to see tour buses circling the block or long lines outside the door and around the block, even late at night.  Magnolia Bakery is credited with kicking off the cupcake craze.

In addition to cupcakes, the bakery offers a variety of confectionary pleasures, including cakes, pies, cookies, and delicious banana pudding.

While once you may have had to visit New York City to sample tasty cupcakes, you can now find cupcake specialty bakeries across the country.  Or try making some yourself.  You’ll find great recipes in The Magnolia Bakery Cookbook: Old-Fashioned Recipes From New York’s Sweetest Bakery.

Location:  401 Bleecker Street, original location in the West Village (map).  Additional locations are at Grand Central Station, lower level (map); Rockefeller Center (map); and Uptown at 200 Columbus Avenue (map).  Deliveries are also available.

Hours:  The Bleecker location is open Sunday – Thursday, 9 am – 11:30 pm, Friday and Saturday until 12:30 am.

Prices:  Cupcakes are $2.75 each, and are limited to one dozen per customer, if you want more than a dozen, you’ll need to order in advance.

And to get in the mood for the SATC2 premiere, take a look at this trailer:

Photo credit: Rob Young @flickr