Travel Tips & Trips — Ellen Barone

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New Peru Photo Tours with Rainforest Expeditions

Three Peru Jungle Eco-Lodges Offer New Amazon Wildlife and Nature Photography Tours

Rainforest Expeditions http://www.perunature.com/, has announced the launch of 7-day / 6-night Rainforest Nature Photography Tours operating from its three jungle eco-lodges situated along the Tambopata River in the Peruvian Amazon. Shorter five-day programs are also available. The tour has been specifically designed to let clients experience what it is like to be a National Geographic wildlife photographer. 

The all-inclusive photography tours include use of the most advanced professional cameras, lenses and equipment. While in the field participants may try out the latest high tech gear including Canon 600mm f/4 lenses, carbon fiber tripods, specialized macro lenses that can photograph in startling clarity the eyes of an ant, and robotic panorama cameras that can make photos of over 100 gigapixels. In addition to camera usage, workshops include topics on Photoshop, photography and ethics, the psychology of beauty and technical presentations on how digital cameras work. For a sampling of equipment for use see: http://www.perunature.com/wildlife-photography-equipment.html.

The per person double occupancy rate for seven days is $2,452; a single supplement is $315. Net rates are available to professional trip consultants and travel agencies. Photography equipment, lodging, meals, activities, jungle guides, photography instructor and transportation while on tour are included in the package. See: See: http://www.perunature.com/nature-photography-workshop.html.

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

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Yellowstone Winter Getaway and Adventure Packages

HOWL WITH THE WOLVES IN YELLOWSTONE THIS WINTER

Yellowstone National Park Lodges has announced its line-up of Winter Getaway and Adventure packages for the 2011/2012 season.

The park’s winter season begins Dec. 18, 2011 with the opening of the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel opens Dec. 20, 2011. The lodges provide the only wintertime accommodations within the park. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel will close for the season March 5, 2012, and Old Faithful Snow Lodge will close March 4, 2012.

Each package includes Xanterra’s “Snow Card” good for 10 percent off meals, in-park transportation, tours, ski shop services and select retail items. Rates quoted here are per person, double occupancy, plus tax and utility fee.

Adventure Package

 “Trail of the Wolf” provides travelers with an opportunity to explore the park’s interior with a guide and learn about its abundant natural features in places such as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone as well as to observe wildlife in the Northern Range of the park. The package includes guided snowmobiling in the interior of the park and wildlife watching by van in the park’s Northern Range. Also included are three nights of lodging split between the two lodges, round-trip guided snowmobile tour between Old Faithful and Mammoth, “Wake up to Wildlife” tour of the Lamar Valley, two breakfasts per person, welcome gift, one-hour hot tub rental, unlimited ice skating and skates and Snow Card. Rates start at $439 per person

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

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Go on assignment with a National Geographic photographer to South Africa

Picture this. You are a National Geographic photographer. You have just received an assignment to photograph African wildlife on safari.

Now, imagine that you are doing the next best thing – being mentored by renowned Nat Geo wildlife photographer, Jason Edwards, on location in South Africa.

Travel safety specialists, WorldNomads.com, has partnered with National Geographic Channel to bring you the 2011 Travel Photography Scholarship to South Africa! 

This is your chance to photograph in Kruger National Park on an 8-day trip with Gap Adventures. You’ll step into the heart of Big 5 game country with lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalos, as well as zebras, giraffes, kudus and monkeys…to name a few. You’ll also photograph Cape Town in all its vibrant colour and visit a pre-school community project on the outskirts of Cape Town, offering you a well rounded view of modern South Africa, courtesy of South African Tourism.

Your best photos will be published on National Geographic Channel where they will be viewed by thousands of travellers worldwide, offering you a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get your foot in the door of one of the most revered exploration organisations in the world!

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

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Pack Your Appetite: Private Culinary Tours for Foodies

New tours offer access to the world’s top culinary experiences

A private cooking class in the farmhouse kitchen of a renowned cookbook writer in Sicily, an early morning tour of a busy food market in Bali with a local chef, private wine tasting in the chateaux of Burgundy and Bordeaux, sake tasting in Tokyo with a world renowned expert, dining with a family of royal chefs in India, private cooking classes at Istanbul’s premier culinary academy—these are just a few of the unique activities featured in the private culinary tours offered by luxury tour operator Artisans of Leisure for 2011-2012.

The leading provider of high-end cultural tours, Artisans of Leisure offers a series of culinary tours that are customized to each traveler’s level of interest and proficiency in the kitchen, whether they are casual cooks, professional chefs or adventurous foodies.

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

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Yellowstone's "Summer Camp for Grownups" Scheduled for September

Explore the best of Yellowstone National Park this September on a Lodging and Learning Program.

 

The non-profit Yellowstone Association Institute (YAI) and lodge operator Xanterra Parks & Resorts are once again offering the popular Roosevelt Rendezvous this fall featuring exclusive use of one of the most popular lodges in the national park system. 

One of the “Lodging & Learning” programs offering daytime field excursions followed by comfortable lodging at night, Roosevelt Rendezvous takes place in September after the historic lodge is closed to the general public for the season. Up to 52 participants will stay at the lodge for four nights. During the day they split up into groups led by YAI naturalists/guides as they enjoy wildlife watching as well as forays into areas with Yellowstone’s renowned thermal and geologic features. They will then reconvene at the end of the day for dinner and the opportunity to compare notes.

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

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NEW 2011 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK LODGING & LEARNING PACKAGES

For curious travelers who want to explore Yellowstone National Park by day and stay in comfortable hotels at night, Xanterra Parks & Resorts and the non-profit Yellowstone Association Institute announce their summer 2011 lineup of multi-day “Lodging & Learning” packages.

 

With the exception of the “Roosevelt Rendezvous” and “Yellowstone for Families” programs, all Lodging & Learning packages are designed for a maximum of 12 people and for participants who are a minimum of 12 years old. Members of the Yellowstone Association receive $10 off the price of each program. Rates do not include tax or utility fee. Reservations for all programs can be made by calling (1) 307-344-7311 or toll-free 866-GEYSERLAND (866-439-7375). Online information is available at www.YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com and www.yellowstoneassociation.org.

 

New this year is the Summer Wildlife Expedition, a four-day package offered beginning June 23, July 7 and 21 and August 4 and 18. This package is focused on wildlife viewing and features two nights of lodging at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, three nights at Lake Yellowstone Hotel, breakfast and box lunch daily, dinner on the last night, in-park bus transportation, expert instruction by an Institute wildlife biologist and optional evening programs. Activities include hikes of up to five miles per day with occasional elevation gains up to 500 feet in undulating terrain. Some off-trail hiking is possible. Rates are $1,299 per person for double occupancy and $1,745 per person for single occupancy.

 

“Yellowstone for Families” – named “Best Summer Family Camp in America” by “Good Morning America” and Family Fun — is designed for families with children between eight and 12. The package includes four nights at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel or Grant Village; age-appropriate field activities such as animal tracking, wildlife-watching, painting and hiking; breakfast and box lunches each day, in-park transportation, instruction and optional evening programs. Programs are offered Monday to Friday and Friday to Tuesday from June 6 to Aug. 19. Rates for programs at Mammoth are $2,148 for a family of two adults and two children. Rates for programs in Grant Village are $2,548 for a family of two adults and two children.

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".