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Adventure Blog Archives
Adventure Blog posts insightful comments on the latest international news that render us taken-aback in the domain of the adventure facet of life. Adventure Blog: Adventure-Tours News 1 Vancouver Island Adventure Tours – Not Just For The Oldies: July 28, 2007
For those of you searching for a holiday that involves lying on a beach and sipping a margarita, do not read any further, the information ahead will be of no interest to you. For those of you looking for a trip that involves non-stop action, read on and learn about an island, which in my opinion has been overlooked by adventure travellers for far too long. Vancouver Island, located off the west coast of British Columbia is home to well over 700,000 Canadians. Surrounded by the pristine waters of the Pacific Ocean, the island’s mild climate, which is steady throughout the year, makes it an ideal place to visit and retire for older age groups. Adventure Blog: Adventure Tours News 1 (Continued) For decades Vancouver Island has been a choice destination for singles, couples and groups of people in the ‘over-50’ age category. They come from countries around the world to visit the island; attracted to the relaxed tours that cater to suit their individual needs, the friendly people they meet, which prompt them to return for a second time, and most importantly the beauty of the oceans, rivers, lakes and mountains – all of which secure Vancouver Island’s uniqueness and separate it from the competition. My issue lies in the fact that only a portion of the international travelling community recognizes Vancouver Island (V.I.) as a place to be visited in their lifetime. I feel this is happening because it has been popular with a particular age group for a long period of time and younger travellers are failing to notice V.I., not realizing all that it has to offer younger generations. Adventure Blog: Adventure Tours News 1 (Continued) I am really quite shocked that for so many years the island has appealed more to older generations when in fact there are far more activities appealing to those seeking wild adventures than there are activities intended for a slower paced crowd. V.I. alone has well over 300 operators who cater to the recreation and adventure industry. Whether you’re looking for the ultimate adrenaline rush of diving off the first legal bungy jumping bridge in North America or swimming 100’s of meters below the surface of the “emerald sea”, in what has been named one of the best cold-diving destinations in the world, V.I. can guarantee you an unforgettable adventure if that is what you are looking for. Adventure Blog: Adventure Tours News 1 (Continued) Fishing, hiking, surfing, kayaking, sailing, diving, surfing, skiing, paragliding, horseback riding, wake boarding, caving, mountain biking, rock climbing, you name it, Vancouver Island probably offers it! If you don’t believe me, check out VI Adventures for your self, you will not be disappointed. Don’t be afraid to get wet, get dirty and experience the ultimate adventure. When booking your next trip consider adding V.I. to your itinerary and allow yourself to experience the wilder side of Canada’s west coast. It is an island like no other you will have visited before! Adventure Blog: Adventure Tours News 2 Adventure Tours Lighten Up: July 18, 2007
Backroads, a 30-year-old bike-tour company that helped popularize active travel, is taking a load off. To attract new customers and retain its aging outdoor enthusiasts, the Berkeley, Calif., outfit this month is unveiling plans to offer 22 new itineraries that involve none of the biking, hiking, rafting or strenuous walking that have long defined its trips. These "Insider Trips" will be offered at 12 destinations where Backroads has been leading its more-demanding vacations for years, including Tuscany, Peru, China, South Africa and California's wine country, and will cost about the same as its other tours -- an average of $3,500 a week. Adventure Blog: Adventure Tours News 2 (Continued) The move is a departure for Backroads, which still considers itself the world's "number one active travel company" and will continue to offer 238 other itineraries that still require physical exertion. Backroads is one of many adventure-travel companies toning down itineraries to attract families and aging baby boomers. Santa Fe Mountain Adventures, which started out in 2005 pushing trips involving "thrilling whitewater rafting, heart-thumping mountain biking and invigorating cross-country skiing" is also promoting Southwestern cooking classes, pottery, restorative yoga and "adventure spa" packages. Adventure Blog: Adventure Tours News 2 (Continued) The National Outdoor Leadership School is offering several new lower-impact courses this year: a semester "without the hiking boots" in Baja, Mexico, and a monthlong course in Wyoming focused on fly-fishing. Backroads and others face growing competition in Europe from bus-tour companies such as that operated by popular travel-show host Rick Steves, which last year added a series of "family tours." Rick Steves's company is taking 12,000 people on tours this year, up from 10,000 in 2006. Backroads is hosting 16,000 guests this year, up from 14,500 in 2006. Adventure Blog: Adventure Tours News 2 (Continued) "Activity is a barrier, and we know that," says Massimo Prioreschi, vice president of sales and marketing of Backroads, whose gentler trips begin in 2008. "There's more craving for education and learning -- which by default means softer activities," says Chris Doyle, director of the Adventure Travel Trade Association. "It's not so much a toning-down but an expansion of how consumers themselves view adventure travel." Austin-Lehman's director, Dan Austin, says the shift is partly a reflection of the fact that industry leaders themselves are tuckered out. Adventure Blog: Adventure Tours News 2 (Continued) Backroads founder Tom Hale first proposed the idea in June 2006 to four high-level executives at an off-site meeting in Marin, Calif., held to explore strategies for growth. Backroads staffer Angela Rice, who is leading trips through France and Alaska this summer, says that without the physical activity, it will be challenging to give guests this same sense of accomplishment and teamwork after each day. "Some of the leaders who have been leading for 10-plus years were quite surprised," she says. "We like to bike." Adventure Blog Comment: People design a few days of adventure tours (that too, safety included!) in order to come out of the drudgery of their morose life even if for a short while, only to go back to the same square one again! Why is it so that safety and security in life turn it into a mechanical, robotic structure? Why does living life on the edge fill it with unprecedented energy, bubbling passion, wordless joy, and a total alert & aware, but relaxed discipline through every single moment of it? The sharper the edge, the more the energy, passion, joy, awareness, discipline and relaxation; as well as the more the danger! Who will want to live in perennial danger (that too, real!) every moment of life? Only the one who loves it. One who loves its suspense. One who loves the unpredictability of even the next moment that is to come. How can such a life be morose and boring? Never! Rather it's an adventure game to play without bothering to win or lose, but caring enough to enjoy the game the best every moment of it, i.e., playing the best move always - every single moment. I invite you to subscribe to my E-zine titled Life Coach, free of charge. This E-zine publishes insightful comments on the latest international news that render us taken-aback in the domains of various facets of life. A not-to-be-missed opportunity! Subscribe to it here: I also invite you to subscribe to my Life Blog - no need to provide your e-mail address here. This RSS feed keeps you informed about new developments taking place on this site. It also harbors 25 journal bloglets posting insightful comments on the latest international news that render us taken-aback in the domains of various facets of life. In order to subscribe to the blog, right-click on the orange RSS button (see buttons up to the left) and then paste the URL into your RSS reader. Or click on add to My Yahoo! button or My MSN or Add To Google button if you keep a personalized home page there. If you are not sure what RSS or blogging is all about, click on What's an RSS Feed? here:
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