Ask AJ

Thursday, April 12th, 2018

We get questions all the time about our travel preferences, our favorite places and what we like to do in certain countries, so we thought we would answer some of the questions here. Take a look at the Q&A’s below and feel free to send other questions our way for the next edition of Ask AJ!

When packing for a trip, I can’t leave without my __________
Stacey: Snacks and my camera.
Michele: AJ windbreaker and a bathing suit! Rain or shine, always be prepared!
Erin: A camera and comfortable walking shoes. If I don’t have either of those, it will be a rough trip!
Malori: Packing cubes! Especially for land trips, it organizes your suitcase so well. It’s like having a set of drawers inside your suitcase!

My ideal vacation spot is ___________
Erin: Anywhere that I get to experience a new culture. Being able to interact with people from different countries and finding our similarities is so interesting.
Michele: Anywhere where I can have sand between my toes! White sand in the Keys, black sand in Costa Rica, pink sand in Bermuda … it’s all welcome!
Malori: Hiking in a majestic mountain setting dotted with lakes. Take me to the Canadian Rockies, Patagonia, Switzerland, Alaska or Colorado and I will be beyond happy!
Stacey: Anywhere with intriguing architecture and patterns to photograph – ancient columns in Greece, cobblestone streets in Ireland, intricate arches in India, lanterns in Vietnam, pebbled beaches in Argentina – always keep your eye out for a great shot!

My favorite travel experience is ____________
Malori: I call it my favorite day of travel and it’s in Cairns, Australia: hot air ballooning in the morning with kangaroos hoping below and snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef in the afternoon.
Erin: The day in India where we were driving to Jaipur. First, we came across a roadside dance party, so we hopped out of the bus and joined in. The same night, we were dressed in saris and henna for dinner and randomly joined in a wedding procession in the streets, complete with the groom riding an elephant and a 12-piece band marching us down the street!
Michele: Meeting new people and finding new adventure. There is nothing quite like creating new friendships across the globe. Travel provides unbreakable bonds with people you otherwise may have never met, embrace it!
Stacey: Hiking the Inca Trail in Peru with an active group of travelers. Hiking for four days, through countless different ecosystems (in the rain) and ending at Machu Picchu was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Although I am a professional traveler, I am still guilty of ____________
Michele: Triple checking my packing list to make sure I didn’t forget anything!
Erin: Leaving behind my “dress up” layers. I assume that if I am going to Italy in July, it will be hot – I forget that if I am on a cruise, it will be chilly on the ship at night.
Stacey: Forgetting to pack pajamas.
Malori: Leaving hotel frequent flyer points behind. I know I should be more fastidious, but sometimes I just don’t think about it like I do my airline miles.

When I am in a new city, the first thing I do is __________
Stacey: Drop my bags off at my hotel and explore the area! I like to check out fun things to do, cool places to visit and the bar and restaurant scene.
Michele: Hit the ground running! I love to check out the area and find a local café where I can sit and take it all in. I enjoy meeting locals and hearing what they like to do most and go off the beaten path.
Malori: Walk around and notice the daily life of the people in the neighborhoods. I notice the differentiation in architecture which sets one city apart from others in my mind.
Erin: Stroll through town and get my bearings. I usually explore the area, pop into a grocery store to pick up some snacks and learn what is around.

Tags: Amazing Journeys, beach, India, insider, Italy, packing tips, Peru, Travel
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Highlights of Scandinavia and Russia

Monday, August 28th, 2017

by Malori

What do kroner, queens and Carlsberg all have in common? These are some of the local discoveries we made while in Scandinavia (yes, we even got to see the Royals on their yacht in Copenhagen)! Amazing Journeys just returned with 111 travelers on a cruise to Scandinavia & Russia, seeing seven countries in 12 days, and for those who stayed on with us and visited Iceland, it was another two days and another country! There were so many high points, and the experiences we shared touched us all in so many different ways. Here are a few highlights:

Copenhagen, Denmark
Tivoli Gardens is a 170 year old amusement park and is the second oldest in the world! The oldest one is also in Denmark. It’s iconic Copenhagen and a magical place and we were all so excited to spend the evening there. We retraced a rescue route used during the Holocaust to save Jews from the Nazis, and moved them safely to Sweden. The path was long and it took lots of countrymen and women to risk their lives in order to save hundreds of people from death. The story is an amazing one, and one we heard over and over again on our journey. Some went on a food tasting tour of local delicacies. The mouth watering morsels they sampled were appreciated as was the local beer they experienced.

Oslo, Norway
From Viking ships to Vigeland Park, we explored Oslo like the ancient Vikings. Some discovered on bikes, while others on foot. Those on the Jewish tour were taken aback about the history of the Resistance in Norway and visiting the Resistance Museum while learning about the Norwegian resistance while under Nazi occupation was a real eye-opener.

Berlin, Germany
The Brandenburg Gate, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the site of the 1936 Olympic Stadium, and the train tracks from which thousands of Jews were deported were but a few of the amazing sites we saw in and around Berlin. Some went on a Cold War tour and saw a piece of the Berlin Wall, learned about the Stasi (secret police) and heard stories about time of Communist Rule in Berlin. Those on the Jewish tour saw synagogues, the Old Jewish Quarter and heard stories of hardship, heartbreak and harrowing experiences. We learned about the Jews who came to Berlin in search of a better life, only to find that life was not good for Jews anywhere in Europe. Those who explored the Third Reich learned about Hitler and his home in Berlin, his rise to power and his fall as the Communists moved in. We all learned about modern Berlin and the “eat, drink and be merry” approach of Berliners. We dined on local fare as well as yummy pretzels and beer.

Tallinn, Estonia
In Tallinn, we were surprised by this gem of a Medieval town that most were not familiar with. We began at the Synagogue and a discussion with the Rabbi which was a highlight for us. He was charming and enthusiastic and began a community where there was none. He has made a difference in this small town. We walked through the Upper and Lower towns, and experienced all the charm of this little town.

St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia
This was the favorite stop by far for our Amazing Journeyers, and the one many took this trip to see. We had two days to explore Russia and while the majority of our group spent all of their time in St. Petersburg, some spent one day in Moscow and the other in St. Petersburg. There were so many highlights, it’s hard to name just a few! In Moscow, we saw the impressive St. Basil’s Cathedral, toured the Kremlin, walked in Red Square, had tea at the famous Metropole Hotel, GUM Department Store (where once this was the only place to shop) and the Armory.

Those who visited St. Petersburg were treated to the opulent architecture which defined the era of the Czars with palace after palace, each trying to outdo their predecessors in France, Austria and others throughout Europe. We saw the impressive Catherine’s Summer Palace, with its defining blue and white exterior, highlighted by gold leaf. It was a sight to be seen. Inside, we viewed the lavish lifestyle of the time including the Amber Room, if you can imagine an entire room made from amber! We got to visit the Throne Room, the Photo Gallery and more. The grounds were just as impressive as the home itself and we got to view the lake, the French and English Gardens. This fairytale-like palace was amazing! After, we visited the Great Choral Synagogue, a spectacular building constructed between 1880-1893. We were so happy to see this refurbished shul and after a kosher lunch at L’Chaim Restaurant, we listened to stories of growing up Jewish in St. Petersburg during the time of communism and the great suffering and hunger of the people during the time of Stalin. We were then treated to a private violin concert.

The next day we saw an overview of St. Petersburg complete with all of the highlights, followed by a walk through the famous Hermitage Museum, also known as the Winter Palace. This amazing structure was filled to the brim with renowned artwork from the European masters as well as other famous artists and styles from around the world. Because the museum is normally closed on Mondays, it opened just for us – what a treat to be able to walk through without the crowds! We stopped for a traditional lunch including Russian caviar, vodka shots, borsht and live music. We completed our visit to Russia with a visit to my favorite palace, Peterhof, also known as Peter the Great’s Summer Palace. Amazingly beautiful on the inside, but it’s the outside, facing the Gulf of Finland that captures the fun and flavor Peter had in mind for the place, with over 250 fountains adorning the “backyard.”

Helsinki, Finland
Our visit to Helsinki was a gentle stroll through a city where “old meets new.” We saw classic Russian influenced architecture, paired with a growing modern city filled with architectural gems which is defining the new look of the city. Some saw by bike, others walked and still some in our group saw the city through the eyes of the Jewish world with a visit to a local synagogue and a talk with someone from the Jewish community. With free time in the afternoon, we loved having some playtime to relax and enjoy whether shopping, walking, photographing or stopping for a local meal.

Stockholm, Sweden
The last stop on our cruise was highlighted by an entrance into the city through the archipelago of Sweden, where 4,000 islands make up this land mass. We watched our arrival as the sun rose on the Baltic Sea and we welcomed a new day. We saw the changing of the guards at the palace, enjoyed the old city of Gamla Stan and saw the beautiful mosaics which adorn the City Hall, and home to the Nobel Peace Prize inductions ceremony. We ended our day with some free time to take it all in.

Reykjavik, Iceland
But wait, there’s more! Those who ventured with us to Iceland for a post-cruise adventure were so happy they had chosen to do so. Upon our arrival, we began with the iconic Icelandic experience and went for a dip in the Blue Lagoon. We slathered ourselves with masks and enjoyed soaking in the warm waters as steam rose from the pools. We enjoyed saunas, a waterfall and getting treats from the bar, located in the water! The next day in Iceland was filled with a tour of the Golden Circle where we saw erupting geysers, the enormous and powerful Gulfoss Waterfall and a walk through Thingvellar National Park. Our nights were filled with the sights and sounds of the busy and fun-loving people of Reykjavik. We were there for the largest festival of the year – the Cultural Festival.

Our trip was an amazing bounty of cruising, culture, locally defined architecture and Jewish spirituality. Our travelers happily took it all in and shared the myriad of experiences with their fellow travelers, bonding one to another sharing memories to last a lifetime.

Tags: Amazing Journeys, Cruise, Group Travel, history, Jewish Singles, Russia, Scandinavia, summer, Travel
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Experience Adventure at Every Turn

Tuesday, August 8th, 2017

by Malori

Wow! That is the word heard by our group of 9 travelers over and over again on our heli-hiking adventure with CMH. Since 1967, Canadian Mountain Holidays has been using helicopters to transport their guests up into the 9,000 feet elevations first for skiing, and then realizing they could fill their off-season, they invented heli-hiking as well.

After a two-hour bus ride from Banff, we arrived at a field, surrounded by local farms. We were given a briefing on helicopter safely, including how to properly load a helicopter, buckle in and a few other safety notes.

Hearing the distant sounds of helicopter blades in the background, we became more and more excited. The sounds became more prevalent as they moved closer to us. Now in complete view, we realized this is our transportation for the next three days. Excitement grew as we climbed onboard and smiles radiated from our faces. We would soon be off!

Up in the air, climbing higher and higher over rivers, trees and then granite, glacier-filed mountains, the smiles didn’t leave our faces. We knew we were in for the most special three days anyone can experience.

Once at our remote lodge, situated in front of a beautiful glacier, we were outfitted with jackets and pants, boots and poles. With our equipment and a few instructions, we checked into our rooms, had a bite for lunch, packed a snack, met our guides and off we went – onto our helicopter for the first drop off point.

We spent the next two and a half days playing and hiking in the mountains. Each morning we began our day with a stretch class for those who wanted, followed by a hearty breakfast, a packed lunch (we packed it from a variety of options set out for us each morning). And then we were off! One-by-one, the groups were gathered and off we’d fly, towards a different adventure spot each day. Building on the skills we had learned the day prior, we felt ourselves becoming more confident on the mountains, participating in more technical climbs, and bring dropped off on higher and higher mountaintops, sometimes along the edges or cliffs! But the guides were skilled, patient and friendly, and could help us through any situation.

Seeing meadows, wildflowers, streams, granite spires, lakes, snow covered mountains and some wildlife, the scenery was varied and each view amazing. We didn’t want to leave!

The food and service at our lodge were amazing! Our meals were creative and yummy. Prepared and shared by professionals, the quality was there in every sense of the word.

Too soon, our held-hiking adventure was coming to an end. Saying we wanted to stay was an understatement. Most of us were already making plans for our next visit, whether with family, friends or another group of Amazing Journeys travelers in the future. Let us know if you’d be up for a trip like this in the future – we can’t wait to share it with you!

Tags: Amazing Journeys, Banff, British Columbia, bugaboos, Canada, Canadian Rockies, Heli-hiking, helicopter, hiking, Jewish Singles, mountain, outdoors, Travel
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Getting Back to Nature

Thursday, August 3rd, 2017

by Malori

Do you ever feel the need to get back to nature? Leaving the city behind and heading to the Canadian Rockies is a destination filled with more scenic beauty than most people see in a lifetime. The majestic grandeur of the granite mountains on view before us had our group of 40 travelers in constant wonderment, enjoying one amazing view followed by another.

We began in Calgary, a metropolitan “cowboy town” that has flourished into a laid back city of about a million residents. What our group loved about being in Calgary was shimmery glass towers defining unique architecture with lots and lots of sculpture everywhere. The rivers surrounded the town dotting it with lots of parks, gardens and green space, balancing out the cityscape.

Our next stop was to Montana and Glacier National Park. On the way, we visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump, once belonging to the Blackfeet Indian Tribe. A fascinating look at how this society once survived using buffalo for food, clothing, housing and a variety of other uses, we gained insight into how these first inhabitants to the area lived.

Soon the mountains and lakes started appearing and the scenery became vastly enhanced. Looking out of the window of our coach, we gazed upon what we had come to see… snow covered mountains, set in the background of farmland and fields of green. Once inside Glacier National Park, our full day tour in “red touring cars”, once known as Jammer Cars took us around the amazing sights inside of the parklands. Waterfalls, long-horned sheep, the bluest lakes and streams and glaciers were what we had come to see and no one in our group was disappointed! If you go, there are some cool places to stay within the park, and a few cute nearby towns such as Whitefish, or Columbia Falls (which has no waterfall, they just liked the name when the town was built!). A cowboy style barbecue (with real cowboys) on a lakeside setting was one of the highlights of our stay in Montana. We loved taking photos of one of the most beautiful sunsets we have ever seen.

Traveling back up north to Canada through BC and Kootenay National Park, crossing over into the province of Alberta and Banff National Park, the scenery was amazing! We “ohhhh-ed” and “ahhhh-ed” our way through the drive until we reached Banff and our famous hotel, the incomparable Banff Springs Hotel, also known as the “Castle on the Hill.” Built in 1907 by the Canadian Pacific Railroad, hoping to get more people to take the train by building magnificent hotels in scenic destinations along the train route, this hotel is the original and has lived up to the high standards it was built for all these years later. We all gasped when we saw the magnificent hotel waiting for us to explore for the next three days. Evening entertainment, sitting on the patio with drinks in hand watching a late night sunset over the granite Rockies, walking to Bow Falls and the Bow River, and dining on yummy treats for dinner and breakfast were just a few of the things we loved about the property. We all agreed it would be wonderful to stay longer.

With Banff as a base, we spent the next two days discovering what we had come to see. We took the Sulphur Springs Gondola high up into the mountains and had 360 degree views of the Rockies, Banff and the surrounds. With breakfast at the top of the hill to start, we then climbed our way up and down platforms to see all that we could see, taking pictures all along the way, Next, we were off to Lake Louise with the beautiful Victoria Glacier as the backdrop to this famous turquoise lake. With the Chateau Lake Louise at one end, and the glacier at the other, there were miles and miles of hiking paths and trails in-between. We hiked, we walked, we sat in the garden and drank beer or ate ice cream… everyone had an amazing day.

On our last day together, we set out on the Icefields Parkway to take in what Mother Nature was offering up. We stopped at Mirror Lake which was so serene and reflective, our photos are just spectacular! Continuing down that road, we stopped for a visit to Maligne Lake where you will find the bluest waters in the world. Imagine the blue on our Amazing Journeys logo. That is the blue of the lake we saw! Continuing into Jasper National Park, the piece de resistance was the Columbia Icefields and Athabasca Glacier, where some rode on an Ice Explorer and played on the face of the glacier, while others walked on the Skywalk and walked out over the ice fields. We all sipped on glacial waters.

A visit to the Canadian Rockies is always very special. To experience such scenic beauty is something that sets you straight and lets you know that all is right in the world.

Tags: Amazing Journeys, Banff, Canada, Canadian Rockies, cowboy, Jewish Singles, Lake Louise, Travel, UNESCO
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Close to Home Summer Getaways

Monday, July 24th, 2017

by Malori

There’s nothing like a weekend spent in Hershey, Pennsylvania. For our family, it had always meant the beginning of summer. A few happy June days were spent at the hotel pool, HersheyPark amusement park and gorging on chocolate. In Hershey, chocolate is available everywhere. Upon arrival at the Mediterranean style 1930’s designed Hotel Hershey, you are checked in and greeted with one large chocolate bar for each member of your family. Being handed five chocolate bars upon check in is a kid’s dream come true. OK, I confess, it was a dream come true for me as well.

The stunning pink resort sits proudly upon the highest hill in the otherwise mostly flat farmland surrounding this city. It can be seen from nearly everywhere in the city. It boasts one of the finest restaurant in the state, the Circular Dining Room, which serves an amazing Sunday Brunch with all of the yummy items that make up for best brunches, but what’s different here is that the waffles have chocolate chips, the pancakes are served with chocolate syrup, pancakes topped with chocolate shavings and there are chocolate desserts galore!

Did I mention the spa at the resort? Have you ever had a chocolate facial? What about an almond scrub? They’re not only delicious but so relaxing as well.

The town of Hershey is adorable with “kisses” for street lamps and wonderful little cafes and restaurants lining the main street.

The town of Hershey is about four hours from New York City, New Jersey and Pittsburgh. It’s only 1.5 hours from Philadelphia and Washington, DC making it an ideal location for weekend travel. If you’re looking for something to do this summer (or any weekend year round), this should be on your short list. It’s one of my top picks for quick summer getaways!

Tags: Amazing Journeys, Amusement Park, chocolate, Hershey, HersheyPark, Jewish Singles, New York, spa, summer, Travel, Travel Tips
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A Weekend Trip to Pittsburgh

Friday, July 14th, 2017

by Malori

Sometimes you don’t have to go far to be on vacation. It could be as close as your own backyard. That’s literally what we did when we brought 40 past, present and future travelers together for our Pittsburgh Summer Weekend. Our travelers came in from near and far – from Denver and Reno, Houston and Toronto, New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Yes, many who joined us live right here! They all came together to enjoy our fun city. Pittsburgh is a city to be seen and experienced and has recently enjoyed many accolades including one of the “Best Places to Travel in 2016” by Travel + Leisure, the nation’s “No. 1 Food City” by Zagat and named among the “Top Destinations on the Rise” by TripAdvisor

Pittsburgh shows itself off right from the ride from the airport when you exit the tunnel and you see the city in full view including the skyline, The Golden Triangle, the stadiums and the fountain marking the confluence of the three rivers that run through Pittsburgh.

Our boutique hotel was a fan favorite. Kimpton Hotels has always been a favorite of our Amazing Journeys staff and the Hotel Monaco of Pittsburgh was a big hit. From the stylish yet quirky interior design to the rooftop bar and amply sized and decorative rooms, our group loved this hotel and its location in the city center. A hotel highlight, and were we got our weekend started was at the nightly Wine Hour in the Living Room of the hotel.

We highlighted Pittsburgh beginning with a sumptuous dinner at Nine On Nine. With the help of Joe, its manager, we crafted the perfect menu for our group. Friday night ended with drinks and “large games” such as Jenja and Connect Four up at the rooftop bar at the Hotel Monaco. If you get up there, Jason will take good care of you. He was always ready with drink in hand and a smile on his face.

Saturday was filled with lots to see and do in the city. Beginning with a walk to Pittsburgh’s Strip District, what began as the produce market of the city years ago has become a showcase of restaurants, local food stores including fish, cheeses, olive oils and sports paraphernalia from award winning teams who make Pittsburgh “The City of Champions”. One new restaurant concept housed in one of the old warehouses is Smallman Galley, a “restaurant incubator” where each year, four brand new restaurant concepts are selected from hundreds of entries as a “start up” and given an opportunity to try out their concept in this space.

Our next stop was an area called Lawrenceville, a recently regentrified area which housed a munitions factory during the Civil War, and now filled with funky shops, craft beer bars, a retro bowling alley and 1950’s movie theater. There, we enjoyed a Foodie Tour where we sampled ‘Burgh Bits and Bites. Owner Sylvia and her guides took us to a series of restaurants and stores that offered up a collection of the foods that make up the eclectic population living in “The Burgh”. From pierogies to spanakopita and from pasta to french dip sandwiches, we sampled our way through the area.

A walk to Market Square where a band was playing and the Summer Saturday Night Market was in full swing rounded out our day. In the evening, we enjoyed a taste of local theater and saw Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage a fun look at ourselves and others that had us all laughing. A walk down to the river by night highlighted our colorful city.

Our weekend came to a close with a local favorite past time in the Squirrel Hill section of the city called Bach, Beethoven and Brunch. Amazing Journeys provided the picnic while the orchestra provided the lovely background music. Our AJ participants enjoyed a relaxing morning of coffee, bagels, music and conversation. All too soon, our amazing weekend in Pittsburgh came to an end. Soon it was time to say good-bye. We hope to have you back in Pittsburgh soon so you can see more of our incredible city!

Tags: Amazing Journeys, foodie tour, Hotel Monaco, Jewish Singles, Kimpton, Nine on Nine, Pittsburgh, theater, Travel, Travel Tips
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Where do you go to let go?

Monday, January 9th, 2017

by Malori

I was walking this morning in my hometown and in the window of Lululemon on Beverly Drive, a sign caught my eye. It said, “Where do you go to let go” and it got me thinking, where is my happy place?

Of all the places on earth, heli-hiking in the Canadian Rockies is where I let go. On my personal bucket list for over 25 years, I had a chance to experience this magical vacation spot myself a few years ago. Then I went back the next year with a group so that others could experience this magic. For three days, a helicopter transports me to the mountaintops where I am far away from everything. There are literally no people except for a few others staying in the lodge. There are no buildings, traffic lights or roads. I spend my days hiking along the mountain ridges, overlooking the bluest lakes and come face-to-face with waterfalls. One day we may be walking among wildflowers through a meadow, and the next on a glacier. I’m in heaven. I de-stress. I’m happy. I’m going back again this summer. Want to join me?

Please share with us – where do you go to let go?

Tags: Amazing Journeys, Canadian Rockies, Heli-hiking, helicopter, hiking, Jewish Singles, mountains, Travel
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India Recap

Tuesday, December 20th, 2016

by Erin

Well, we are back from India and let me just say that it was truly an amazing journey! Personally, India has been at the top of my list for years. This is the 4th trip that Amazing Journeys has sent and I can’t tell you how excited I was to be able to experience this country for myself. The people are so warm and inviting, the colors are so bright and vibrant and the architecture is so intense and intricate and the food is so unique and delicious! We had countless experiences that really let us feel the Indian culture – from a naan making class to learning how to make inlay marble and wearing saris and henna to visiting a weaving village, the things we did on a daily basis will stay with us for years to come.

Let me just take a minute to tell you about my favorite day of the trip. We hopped on the bus in the morning to make the drive from Udaipur to Jaipur. Along the way, we were looking out the window and all of a sudden, we came along a parade on the side of the road. Turns out, a baby was born in the village and they were having a parade (complete with a DJ bus) and were dancing from one village to another. So what did we do? We jumped out of the bus and joined the party!

Once we made new friends and danced beside the blaring music truck, we hopped back onboard and made the rest of our ride, still dancing in our seats. That night, we dressed up in sari’s and had henna done so we really looked local and were ready for dinner. Back on the bus and on our way, we came upon a wedding procession, complete with a band, lights and the groom riding an elephant. And who are we to miss a party, so we hopped out and joined the next parade! The groom’s family invited us into the procession so we danced and jumped around, looking flashy and wearing our sari’s well.

With the dancing of the day complete, we arrived at our home hosted dinner at the home of the descendants of royalty. We were given the opportunity to ask questions of their life, have a tour of their gorgeous multi-generational family home and then have a homemade dinner with the family members themselves. It was a truly unique experience, not to mention a delicious meal!

This trip was amazing and with a great group, every day was one to remember.

Tags: Amazing Journeys, India, Jewish Singles, Travel
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Wildlife Encounters and Sensitivity to Animal Exploitation

Tuesday, November 29th, 2016

by Malori

It’s a delicate balance. When does experiential travel change into exploitation? We want to explore our world, yet we want to be fair to nature and to those with whom we share the planet.

Swimming with the dolphins in Cozumel, riding an elephant in Thailand, dog sledding in Alaska, whale watching in Hawaii, shark diving in South Africa are but a few experiential opportunities travelers are seeking. Year over year, animal encounters for passengers on cruises and tours are growing by leaps and bounds. But with more opportunities comes responsibility. Tour companies world wide are taking a stand against the commercial exploitation of animals. “We know there is still a growing demand”, said Julie Middlekoop, global head of the “Wildlife – Not Entertainers” campaign at World Animal Protection, the advocacy group that has been putting pressure on travel companies to drop programs which exploit animals. They launched a petition earlier this year which had over a half million signatures.

Several tour companies over the past year have limited their participation in such events. Amazing Journeys dropped our elephant riding in South Africa and India this year. It’s a start. Collette Vacations, G Adventures, Costco Travel, Mayflower Tours and Intrepid Travel are but a few who have signed on and have stopped offering elephant rides and other exploitative tour options. Just last month, Trip Advisor announced it would stop selling hundreds of animal attractions. They became the largest travel brand to take a stand. It’s hard to explain why your company doesn’t offer these options when other travel companies do. But with a growing concern from individuals and tour providers worldwide, along with organizations like World Animal Protection and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are tipping the scale in favor or a greater understanding which is influencing the travel sector.

But when is an animal experience considered exploitation? Is horseback riding abusive to the animal or was it breed for this purpose? What about dog sledding in Alaska? The dogs love running and actually get very excited to be outside in the snow. Whale watching out in the open waters, if a whale is not being lured to the tourist boat with food and if the boat isn’t approaching the whale is observing nature. There’s the balance.

With growing demand for experiential travel opportunities, it’s a hard choice. Companies who were profiting from selling these options see dropping these experiences as a money-losing endeavor. But the hope is that animal experiences will be replaced with visits to animal rehabilitation centers, learning opportunities and other educational programs. Although tour companies and travelers in North America are being educated and have a greater awareness, there are emerging markets, especially in Asia where the demand for “tiger selfies” and the like are growing at alarming rates.

We at Amazing Journeys love this planet. We want to show it to you the way it should be seen. We want it to be here for future generations. We work hard to make the right decisions, so that you can have the best travel experiences possible.

Tags: Amazing Journeys, animal encounters, animals, Travel, Wildlife, wildlife sensitivity, world animal protection
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15 Life Lessons I Learned While on Safari in Africa

Thursday, April 2nd, 2015

Lessons by Malori – Photos by Barry

15. No swimming in the pool after dark. That’s when the hippos swim.

14. Never jump in the water with two feet. You never know what may be lurking underneath.

13. You don’t have to run fast. Just faster than the slowest one in the herd.

12. Don’t walk around with a target on your ass.

11. It’s nice to see the world from a giraffe’s perspective…unless you are in a lightning storm and you become the lightening rod.

10. Sometimes a little rain must fall to make tomorrow that much more beautiful.

9. Never get between a mama and her baby.

8. The male lion will depend on the female to get him food, unless she is not around to get it for him…then he will do it himself.

7. Just as every zebra has its own unique stripes, we are all beautiful in our own way.

6. Some of us do our best work at night.

5. It’s never a good idea to stray from the pack.

4. Hakuna Matata – it means no worries (for the rest of your days).

3. It’s good to be the king.

2. Sometimes you’re the diner, sometimes you’re the dinner.

1. When the Zulu Tribal Chief puts his arms tightly around you and whispers in your ear, “I want to take you as my own,” it’s time to leave the country!