Natural Travels

Now here’s a trip I could go for … there’s a new tour company just up the road from me in Gainesville, Florida’s cycling mecca, called Pedaler’s Pub & Grille, and they’re arranging bicycle trips to see natural New Zealand, three weeks at a time. The guides are Kiwis (locals, that is), and the trips include both natural and cultural history, a sure plus in my book. Glaciers, volcanoes, and wine tastings are a part of the journey, and overnights are in deluxe inns. The catch? You better be a cyclist in earnest, as you’ll be pedaling 72 miles or so per day. For that, I’d need to get in training now. Tours start in March 2009. For more info, visit their website.

Fly fishing at the top of the world: now there’s an adventure!  Adventure Life Voyages just announced their “Ultimate Fly Fishing” cruise in the Patagonia region of Chile is 50% off for the first 50 paid-in-full guests booked by July 31, 2008. Rates include three meals and an open bar, scheduled fishing and whale watching excursions, complimentary jet boat, Zodiac, and helicopter services. Trips start at $12,500…not cheap, but it’s the trip of a lifetime. Having ridden on a Zodiac in serious chop amid sky-blue icebergs to get to a small ship to visit a glacier, I can tell you there’s nothing like being in Patagonia. 

For details, visit Adventure Life Voyages, and thanks to Steve Snyders for the tip.

Greetings, and welcome to my new blog! I’m Sandra Friend, author of numerous guidebooks on hiking and travel, and it’s been my lifelong norm - thanks to my parents, who schooled me in the ways of fun, inexpensive family travel growing up - to seek out places to enjoy nature as I travel. By my very nature, I’m an outdoorsy person, who prefers an afternoon wandering a botanical garden over browsing shops at the mall. While I’ve canvassed Florida throughly over the past eight years, I’ve had the opportunity to travel worldwide over the past fifteen and in all cases, I found refreshing, relaxing getaways to enjoy nature. Sure, sometimes you have to look a little harder for it, when visiting a major metro or spending days at a convention. It’s my intent with this blog to share those special places of quiet contemplation with you.