California is well known for its awesome weather, beloved beaches, and monster waves. Originally known as the Grizzly Bear State but the bear population went extinct due to hunting and human activity, the state is now commonly known as the Golden State. The sun is what makes California so epic and especially the beaches of Santa Cruz. There is a stunning array of beaches in Santa Cruz, you would be hard pressed to visit them all in one day … [Read more...]
Activities to do in the Cape Winelands
Aside from swirling and sipping in tasting rooms of fabulous wine estates, there are plenty of scenic activities to be done in the Cape Winelands. The rows of vineyards against the majestic background of mountain ranges, and the narrow roads that expose lush gardens are ample reason why it’s essential for you to explore while visiting Cape Town. Explore the towns on a bicycle With a bicycle, you’ll appreciate meandering through the towns of … [Read more...]
5 Australian Road Trips That Guarantee An Adventure
Wide, open roads, perfect weather, and gorgeous landscapes come together to make Australia the perfect destination for a road trip. There’s a reason tourists and foreigners prefer touring this country on four wheels. Once you grab a car and set off on the road, it just feels like the country was meant to be explored this way. Here are the five most adventurous road trips you can take down under. Tasmanian Loop Tasmania is a small … [Read more...]
Visit Antarctica – September 2016
Antarctica is a unique experience. Natives have never called this continent home and the land is not owned by any one country. A visit here can be life changing; the experiences are truly unique and so is the visually stunning scenery. Very few people live here year round - they are in some of the bases operated by various countries around the continent. One tour operator, Oceanwide Expeditions offers several trips a year to Antarctica. Their … [Read more...]
Whales & Wine: The Perfect Pairing
Every fall, more than 20,000 Pacific gray whales begin to migrate south from their feeding grounds in the Bering Sea to their breeding grounds in the warm waters of Baja California. They pass by Mendocino County twice: going south from November through February, and going north from February through May. With an average lifespan of 50 years, they swim an astonishing 10,000 miles each and every year. Calves are at least a month old before they … [Read more...]
A Few Notes about Basecamp Ortelius, Oceanwide Expeditions Antarctica Trip
What an incredible trip so far. Tonight we enjoyed a BBQ in a snowstorm on the helicopter deck on the "H", where the helicopter lands. Large ribs, chicken, and steaks were all being grilled. Every meal we have significant appetites because we are exercising so much during the day. We passed through the *amazing* and very narrow Lemaire Channel yesterday - with massive and jagged mountains providing the visuals on both sides as our ship broke … [Read more...]
The Unique Beauty of Antarctica
The cruise director on the Basecamp Ortelius on our Antarctica cruise with Oceanwide Expeditions said something that perked my interest, "Antarctica is a feeling" and I immediately wondered what type of feeling it would induce in me once I arrived. It turns out it is not just one feeling but rather many. What you see in front of you evokes numerous feelings and reactions including awe, the grandeur and magnitude of your surroundings gives you … [Read more...]
Discovering Wales’ Dramatic Pembrokeshire Coastal Path
With a rich history that spans through stories of druids, medieval castles and wartime conflicts, combined with national emblems that include a dragon, spoon and an odd shaped ball, there is a lot to demystify about Wales. One thing is certain however, the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path that spans across Wales’ south-western coast is one of the most enchanting places on the planet. Touted by National Geographic as the world’s second best coastal … [Read more...]
Western Australia Debuts Humpback Whale Swims at UNESCO Rated Ningaloo Reef
For the first time, visitors to Australia’s largest state can embark on excursions to swim with migrating humpback whales between July–October, following the annual whale shark swimming season between March–July (LOS ANGELES, CA)—Travelers coming to Western Australia’s Coral Coast region will now be able to swim with two types of whales – humpback whales, whose migration traditionally occurring between July to October, and whale sharks, whose … [Read more...]
Oceanwide Expeditions announces new departures to the Ross Sea in Antarctica
Vlissingen, the Netherlands - After successful exploration runs in 2013 and 2015 the Dutch polar cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions has announced two new expeditions to the Ross Sea in 2017. The ice-strengthened vessel “Ortelius” will be accommodated with helicopters for the two Antarctica cruises, sailing from the South-American continent to the Antarctic Peninsula, crossing the Polar Circle, further west to Peter I Island, sailing in the … [Read more...]