Category: Wildlife Viewing

In early July, Lisa and I headed out with our son Jake to Boothbay Harbor for the day. We started with an early morning cruise to see puffins at nearby Eastern Egg Rock, the southernmost nesting ground for puffins on the Maine coast. We spotted seals and porpoises enroute while we listened to a wonderful naturalist discuss the intriguing history of puffins being reintroduced to Eastern Egg Rock almost 50 years ago. Soon we were watching the small plump birds and their distinctive bright orange beaks flying to and from the island practically skimming the surface of the ocean waters. They were joined by other seabirds like the black guillemots.

Afterwards, we had lunch of lobsters and steamers just outside of town at Robinson’s Wharf on a large dock overlooking the harbor in Southport. Then it was on to my favorite stop in the region, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, that we put on practically every itinerary we design to the Maine coast. It’s not just the enchanting Butterfly Garden, whimsical Children’s Garden, and the sniff, touch, and taste Garden of the Senses that make this place so special. No, they really upped the ante by recently adding 5 mega-sized trolls created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. You meander on pine-needle strewn trails along rivers and deep in the forest to find these massive sculptures hidden brilliantly in the brush. Guaranteed to captivate all ages!

We topped off the day with pints of Dinner at Maine Beer Company in Freeport, voted the best beer in the state by Beer Advocate, and a memorable dinner of tapas back in Portland at Chaval. That’s what we call a Dream Day!

A mere hour north of Portland, you reach the town of Boothbay Harbor, which sits at the end of one of the many peninsulas that dangle down from mid-coast Maine. In early July, Lisa and I headed out with our son Jake to Boothbay Harbor for the day. We started with an early morning cruise to see puffins at nearby Eastern Egg Rock, the southernmost nesting ground for puffins on the Maine coast. Even if we didn’t spot one puffin, the cruise would have been worth the money. The Atlantic waters were serene and the rugged shoreline was dotted with lighthouses. We spotted seals and porpoises enroute while we listened to a wonderful naturalist discuss the intriguing history of puffins being reintroduced to Eastern Egg Rock almost 50 years ago. Soon we were watching the small plump birds and their distinctive bright orange beaks flying to and from the island practically skimming the surface of the ocean waters. They were joined by other seabirds like the black guillemots.

Afterwards, we had lunch of lobsters and steamers just outside of town at Robinson’s Wharf on a large dock overlooking the harbor in Southport. Then it was on to my favorite stop in the region, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, that we put on practically every itinerary we design to the Maine coast. It’s not just the enchanting Butterfly Garden, whimsical Children’s Garden, and the sniff, touch, and taste Garden of the Senses that make this place so special. No, they really upped the ante by recently adding 5 mega-sized trolls created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. You meander on pine-needle strewn trails along rivers and deep in the forest to find these massive sculptures hidden brilliantly in the brush. Guaranteed to captivate all ages!

We topped off the day with pints of Dinner at Maine Beer Company in Freeport, voted the best beer in the state by Beer Advocate, and a memorable dinner of tapas back in Portland at Chaval. That’s what we call a Dream Day!

If you’re looking for a Quick Escape to Boothbay Harbor or a Dream Day Itinerary to New England, let ActiveTravels be your guide.

Nervous about taking a cruise again, but still want to check out those century-old tortoises, far too social sea lions, and colorful blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos Islands this year? Well, you’re in luck. Two of the finest properties in the Galapagos Islands, Scalesia Lodge on Isabela Island and Finch Bay Hotel on Santa Cruz have teamed up to create an exciting 8-day land-based itinerary. The $4658 per person staring price, double occupancy, includes all lodging, meals, inter-island flights, day trips aboard Yacht Sea Lion, glamping in luxury tents up in the highlands of Isabela Island, snorkeling with sea turtles and other marine wildlife, hiking active volcanoes, and visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station and tortoise breeding facility, which I remember fondly from my travels to the islands. Not included in the price is round-trip airfare from Guayaquil or Quito to Baltra Island, entrance fee to the Galapagos Islands National Park ($100), alcohol, and tips. Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands are now open to vaccinated visitors, so if you’re ready to go, let ActiveTravels know and you’ll be on your way!

With the announcement of Kenya Airlines new code sharing agreement with Delta and the increase of frequency of flights from JFK to Nairobi to 3 times per week, Steve Turner is taking the opportunity to escort the more intrepid travelers on expeditions to unexplored Africa. The owner of Origins Safaris, in operation since 1963, is first planning a trip in February 2022 to Zakouma, Chad, which according to Turner is Africa’s most successful conservation project. In March 2022, Turner will be leading a trip to the Ethiopian region of Gambella and the South Sudan region of Boma-Jonglei, home to Africa’s second-largest mammal migration—approximately one million White Eared Kob. April 2022 brings us to the Democratic Republic of Congo to visit with the Bonobos or Pygmy Chimps. Lastly, in June 2022, Turner plans to guide a group to Ethiopia’s remote Omo Valley to see firsthand its indigenous tribal culture. If interested in any of these memorable adventures, ActiveTravels will get you there!

Our fourth episode brings you to the 49th state, Alaska! We are super excited to introduce you to a close friend and award-winning travel writer and specialist in cruises, Fran Golden. She and her co-writer, Midgi Moore, a native of Juneau and owner of Juneau Food Tours, join us to talk about about all the cool things to do in Alaska.

Hot off the press is their book, 100 Things to Do In Alaska Before You Die, and it’s chock full of amazing sights to see, foods to try and activities to experience. Ever dined on reindeer sausage pizza? Have you eaten Alaskan King crab legs in Alaska? Midgi can steer you to the right places! If you’re curious where to go to see the Northern Lights, go dog sledding and see 26 glaciers in one day, pick up a copy of this great book. They recommend taking at least 2 weeks to see this glorious state and trying to get a free stopover at a second Alaskan destination on Alaska Airlines so you can see the state more efficiently and economically.

Thank you so very much Fran and Midgi for participating in this episode of The World is Your Oyster and for sharing with us all the best things to do and see and experience in Alaska with our valued ActiveTravels members.

Our second episode of The World is Your Oyster brings you to Northern Canada to Churchill, Manitoba. We had the privilege to speak to two incredibly knowledgeable people at Natural Habitat Adventures about this Northern Wonderland where you can experience nature and exquisite wildlife up close. We’ve known and worked with Don Martinson at NatHab for years and he introduced us to one of their excellent guides, Steve Selden, who’s been with the tour operator since its beginnings. Steve also designed the topic of our discussion, their Belugas, Bears & Summer Wildlife of Churchill Tour.

Did you know that over 3000 Beluga whales come into the Churchill River each summer? Get in a Zodiac or a kayak to see them in their habitat. Next you can climb aboard a helicopter and search for Polar Bears from above. If you’re super lucky in the wee hours of the night and if you’ve put your “Please Disturb” sign on your door, you may be awoken to see the Northern Lights! That’s what they call the Trifecta!

Have a listen to the video to hear all about the joys of seeing Churchill, Manitoba, in the summertime. Don and Steve share wonderful stories of their time up in this beautiful part of the globe. Then contact ActiveTravels so we can put you on one of their July trips!

Yesterday, we discussed how to make your dream of going on an African safari a reality. Today, we’ll continue with the wildlife theme and visit that mythical home of the blue-footed booby and far too sociable sea lion, the Galapagos Islands. Lindblad has made the Galapagos their number one priority and it shows with their naturalists and new ships. But if you want to go smaller, you certainly can. We’ve put a number of ActiveTravels clients on Haugan yachts, housing 6 to 8 berths and more crew than passengers. They have wonderful naturalists and the ability to anchor in smaller harbors. We’ve also had families and couples go on guided sea kayaking jaunts with ROW, a renowned sea kayaking and rafting outfitter. So there are a number of ways to see the islands. We can also combine the Galapagos Islands with stops in Quito, Lima, and Machu Picchu. Please let ActiveTravels know your desire to visit the Galapagos Islands and we’ll find the best way for you to go eyeball to eyeball with a century-old tortoise!

With promising news of a vaccine finally arriving and pent-up demand for travel, ActiveTravels clients have already begun to inquire about travels in the second half of 2021 and 2022. Of course, many of you have already rescheduled trips that were cancelled in 2020. We’re hoping those go smoothly after such a turbulent year. We’re also starting to receive new requests to what we consider bucket list destinations. Places like South Africa, New Zealand, and Thailand. After losing a year of travel due to the pandemic, it looks like people are going for the gusto when they travel again, hoping to visit a dream destination. Well, we’re happy to help make those dreams a reality!

We’ve been fortunate over the past 8 years to develop fantastic relationships with local suppliers. We’ve put them through the ringer and a few have succeeded with flying colors, receiving only rave reviews from clients for their authentic and inventive itineraries. They’ve gone overboard to arrange a private dinner atop the Eiffel Tower, visit the Sistine Chapel before it opens to the public, arrange a sunset sail out of Santorini, or champagne for two for a private marriage proposal in the Serengeti. Ask and we’ll do our best to turn your dreams into reality! Based on our solid relationships with suppliers, we’ll be devoting this week to the bucket list destinations we’re excited to send you:

First up, African Safaris. For guided group African safaris, it’s hard to top Abercrombie & Kent. I’ve been fortunate to go on six safari trips to the continent, but the two A&K jaunts, first to Kenya and then Botswana with Lisa were the crème de la creme. They boast exceptional guides like our good friend Kebby in Botswana and small upscale lodges like Sanctuary Olonana on Kenya’s Mara River, where I would wake up each morning to have my poached eggs with the hippos.

A&K trips, however, can be expensive, which is why we’ve developed wonderful relationships with local suppliers in South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya who can design private personalized itineraries. We’ve really enjoyed working with African Scenic Safari in Arusha, who design driving tours of the Tanzania circuit on a more moderate budget. Stops include Ngorongoro Crater, private lodges in the Serengeti, and a beachfront stay in Zanzibar after safari. Some of the money you spend on the trip helps to run an orphanage just outside Arusha’s city limits. Personal Africa in South Africa can combine a week’s stay in Cape Town, visiting the Cape of the Good Hope, the wineries, and all the sites in the city, with 4 nights at Kruger National Park. Origins Safaris in Kenya have been in business since 1963, designing trips to the most distinctive lodges in the Masai Mara, before adding on a 2-might stay in Rwanda to see the gorillas. If you want to go on safari, we have you covered!

We were fortunate to spend time at the two Anantara properties in Bangkok, Anantara Siam and Anantara Riverside, when we visited Thailand early 2019. But when we heard about their new Jungle Bubbles at their resort in Thailand’s Golden Triangle, Elephant Camp, I have a feeling we’ll be back to the country as soon as we feel comfortable. These glass-enclosed pods, not unlike the ones you find in Finland for vistas of the Northern Lights, are perched on the wooden decks in the forest overlooking the elephants. Just thinking about these pods will help get me through this year!

If any of the travel ideas from this week’s content looks intriguing, please contact ActiveTravels and we’re happy to discuss further.

Shanah Tovah! Wishing you peace and happiness at Rosh Hashanah and always. Be safe, stay healthy!

Steve and Lisa

Natural Habitat Adventures first made its mark with trips to see the polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba. It still remains one of their most popular options and the one destination they’re most keen on promoting this coming October and November. Each fall, the world’s largest concentration of polar bears convenes on the western edge of Hudson Bay, waiting for the ice to form and their winter seal-hunting season to begin. Guided by expert naturalist Expedition Leaders, you’ll view the bears from custom-built Polar Rovers. If interested in any of Nat Hab’s trips in 2020 and 2021, please contact ActiveTravels and we’ll look at dates and availability.