NPR Does Russia By Rail

It's no secret that I think rail travel is still one of the most romantic and interesting ways to travel over long distances. I'd love to take a cross continental train-trip, stopping in various places along the way, and soaking up the scenery from a comfortable car, while chatting with friends and other passengers.

Someone at NPR obviously agrees with me, as they've sent reporter David Greene and photographer David Gilkey on a 6000 mile odyssey across Russia By Rail. They two Davids started in Moscow and end their journey in Vladivostok on the Pacific Ocean, covering the entire length of the famous Trans-Siberian Railway. Along the way, they got the chance to experience modern Russia in all of its glory.

This special report kicked off yesterday and will continue through tomorrow. It features a number of great stories about how Russia's tumultuous history has shaped the country even today, and takes a look at where it is headed now that twenty years have passed since the fall of the Soviet Union. Greene's words introduce us to the Russian people and give us a glimpse of their daily lives, while Gilkey's amazing photographs capture moments in time from their epic journey.

Russia By Rail is equal parts travelogue, investigative reporting, and photo journalism. It all comes together very well, and will likely inspire some thoughts of making the journey for yourself.

Gear Box: Cushe Surf Slipper Chuka

A comfy pair of shoes is one of the great joys in life. When you find a pair you really like, you tend to hang on to them – sometimes for far too long. That will likely be the case if you ever put a pair of Surf Slipper Chukas, from Cushe, on your feet. The soft, comfortable shoes may not be designed for hiking or other hardcore outdoor pursuits, but you'll love them for travel or casual outings around town.

Made of soft sandal suede, these slip-on shoes feature an integrated microfiber sock that comfortably wraps around your foot and makes these shoes fun to wear, even for extended periods of time. The Chukas are lightweight and feel more like a slipper than an actual shoe, but Cushe's rubber soles help ensure a secure grip, even on slick, wet surfaces. With a snug fit and flexible design, you'll want to wear them just about everywhere.

As mentioned above, these shoes aren't meant for hiking rugged trails or climbing mountains. They're designed for comfort and convenience, which makes them an excellent choice for travel. Because they are lightweight, and highly packable, the Chukas are easy to carry in a backpack or carry-on bag, and are equally useful lounging around a cabin in the woods, as they are shuffling about town. They're tailor made for relaxing outings to the far side of the globe or just a quick jaunt to the local grocery store, and I think after you wear them a time or two, you'll agree.

I'm impressed with the quality and design that Cushe put into these shoes, and even though they weigh next to nothing, they feel like they will last a long time. Over the holidays, I wore them regularly while running errands about town and visiting with friends, and despite that frequent use, they still look like they just came out of the box.

Even as they do age and show a bit of wear however, I get the feeling it will only add to their character and charm. Long after you've worn them to the far corners of the planet, the Chukas will continue to be amongst your favorite shoes, even if they should have been retired a long time before.

MSRP: $90

Gear Box: Keen Howser Wool Shoes

Keen has built a reputation for creating comfortable and versatile shoes for hiking, paddling, cycling, and more. But their most comfortable shoes of all are reserved for the end of the day, when you're finished playing on the trail, and you're ready to kick back, take it easy, and lounge around a bit. When that moment comes, you'll want to slip your feet into a pair of Howser Wool slippers.

Billed as a "sleeping bag for your feet," the Howser Wools are lined with super-soft microfleece that is both amazingly warm and comfortable. The exterior of the shoe is created out of recycled felt that has been quilted to give them a distinctive look that is not unlike a pair of bedroom slippers in design. But where these shoes separate themselves from those slippers is in the rugged rubber soles, which make the Howsers an appropriate choice for hanging out at home or heading out for a night on the town.

Wearing these shoes is a bit like having a cloud wrapped around your feet, which will make you appreciate the fact that you can wear them just about anywhere, without worrying about ruining them. The water resistant nylon upper keeps the interior of the shoe, and your feet, dry in all but the wettest conditions, and helps to protect them from the wear and tear of regular use outside the home.

Over the holidays, the weather in Austin was both cooler and wetter than normal. In fact, we had a string of gray, gloomy, misty days that were not ideal for doing much of anything outside. On several of those days, I found myself naturally slipping into these shoes and heading out to run errands, meet friends, and go about celebrating the season. During that time, the interior of the shoe continued to change and mold itself to my feet, which actually made them even more comfortable than when I first took them out of the box. The warm microfleece was perfect for the weather as well, keeping my little piggies toasty warm.

Obviously these shoes aren't meant for active pursuits, but they are perfect casual use. I'd recommend bringing them along as a second pair of shoes when traveling or backpacking. They're great for kicking around the cabin at the end of the day or gathering around the campfire before bed. With a price tag of just $65, they also won't break the bank, which makes them an even more attractive for travelers and professional loungers alike.

Order your Keen Howser Wools from TravelCountry.com.

Ten Travel Adventures For 2012

Awhile back, when posting on Nat Geo's selection of adventure travel destinations for 2012, I indicated that I would also be sharing a similar list in the near future. That list has just gone live over at Gadling.com, and you can read it by clicking here.

When compiling my list of travel adventures for the year ahead, I wanted to do something a bit different this year. Rather than sharing a generic rundown of great destinations - which we all probably know about already - I thought I would share some very specific trips instead. So, for instance, one of the adventures that earned a spot on my list is a last degree journey to the South Pole. But rather than just write about that experience, I also posted a link to the Adventure Consultants page where you can actually book that trip for yourself. I figured that rather than just recommend some amazing trips, I'd also give readers the opportunity to go out and do it for themselves.

Other options that earned a spot on my list this year include visiting Yellowstone in the Winter (one of my personal favorites!), cycling the Silk Road, and climbing Pumori with the Peak Freaks. Obviously this list is made up of some of my own personal picks for great travel adventures, but I tried to find a little something for everyone and unique experience that some people might not have even known was possible.  Some of the trips are incredibly demanding, others a bit more laid back. Some are quite expensive ($52,500 to go to the South Pole!) and others relatively cheap. But each is a trip that most would consider a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that will spawn stories for years to come.

So? What are your plans for the year ahead? Have you decided where you would like to travel in 2012 and what adventures you would like pursue? I'm still considering my options at this point, although I have a few thoughts on where I'd like to end up. For now, I'm going to see where the winds take me, but may make more concrete plans in the very near future. I like that approach and I think it fits well with the optimism that comes with the start of a new year.

Video: Backpacking Around The World In Five Minutes

In 2011, Kien Lam spent 343 days traveling around the world, visiting 17 countries in the process. Along the way, he took 6237 photos, and now has compiled them into the five minute timelapse video below. The video now serves as a great reminder of the year that has just passed, and an excellent inspiration for the finding our own adventures in the year ahead. Enjoy!

Gear Box: Ortovox Supersoft Base Layer

One of the things I love about testing out new gear is that occasionally I come across some really great items from a company that whose gear I've never used before. That's exactly the case with the new Supersoft Base Layers from Ortovox that I've had the pleasure of testing out over the past few weeks. Specifically, the Long Sleeve men's zipped top.

I first got a look at the Ortovox line-up at Outdoor Retailer back in August, where I was very impressed with the design of their gear. Everything they had on display had a fresh and unique look and seemed really high quality. Needless to say, when I received the zipped base layer a few weeks back, I was excited to put it through its paces and see if it lived up to my expectations. I soon found out that it definitely did.

Living in Austin, Texas we don't really get a true winter. It rarely snows here and cold weather doesn't hang around long. But this fall, it has been especially cool and damp for a prolonged period of time. As a result, I've had good weather to test this top while on nightly runs or mountain bike rides, during which it performed admirably on its own or as a layer underneath a shell.
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Ortovox uses a blend of fabrics in this shirt, mixing soft, high quality merino wool on the outside, with a natural fabric known as modal, which is made from beech wood cellulose, on the inside. The result is base layer that breathes well, stretches and moves with the wearer, and provides plenty of warmth in cool and cold conditions. The shirt fits snugly, but doesn't feel restrictive in the least, even when you have the zipper pulled up tightly around your neck, as I did on one recent run in which it started to rain halfway to the finish line.

One thing I always appreciate in my gear is versatility, and this base layer offers that as well. Not only is it an excellent piece of gear for active pursuits like running or cycling, but it also looks good enough to wear around town as well. Throw in the fact that it makes an excellent start to a three-layer cold weather clothing system (base, fleece, shell) and you have an excellent article of clothing to take with you when you travel as well. The shirt would serve equally well strolling the streets of Paris as it would on the slopes in Chamonix.

With an MSRP of $120, this isn't a base layer for someone who isn't going to appreciate its performance and quality. But if you're an active outdoor enthusiast who doesn't let a little thing like cold weather slow you down, then you're likely to appreciate what Ortovox is delivering here. It is a very high quality piece of gear that will likely become one of your favorite pieces of clothing for winter adventures or travels. I know it'll be joining me on future journeys.

Video: Montana: Shaped by Winter

Speaking of adventurous destinations. My friends over at the Montana Office of Tourism released the video below a few months back, but now that winter is just a few days away, it makes for an even better reminder of what that state has to offer. I was lucky enough to visit Montana and Yellowstone last January, and absolutely loved it. The video below will tell you why you should go soon too!



MONTANA: Shaped by Winter from Montana Office of Tourism on Vimeo.

Nat Geo's Adventure Travel Destinations For 2012

As 2011 grinds to its inevitable end, it is now time to start looking forward to 2012 and making plans for our adventures in the year that is ahead. With that in mind, the National Geographic Adventure blog has shared their picks for the top destinations and activities for 2012.

Some of the places earning a spot on the list include Mammoth Mountain in California, which is famous for its great snowboarding and skiing. Those looking for a different kind of mountain experiences are encouraged to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina for a mountain biking adventure or visit China to take on the 7498 meter (24,600 ft) tall Mustagata. Paddlers will have plenty to choose from as well, as the list provides kayaking opportunities in Idaho and Rhode Island, as well as an epic canoe trip through the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania.

All in all, a pretty great list of suggestions for making plans for next year. I'll be writing my own top ten travel list for Gadling.com soon, and this year I'm going to take a slightly different tact. Instead of listing a specific destination, I'm going to list a specific adventure from a specific travel company that can help you get the most out of your travels. So, rather than saying go to Nepal because its great for the following reasons, I'm going to instead recommend trekking the Annapurna Circuit with a specific adventure travel company. This is just an example, but I'll be sure to share my list here once it goes live over at Gadling too. I think you'll like some of the suggestions.

Until that time, be sure to read Nat Geo's list, as it does have some great suggestions, not all of which will destroy your bank account.

New Website For Adventure Travelers

A good looking new travel website launched recently, bringing good coverage to adventure destinations across the globe. The new site, entitled Switchback Travel, is already rich with content and offers articles on several destinations which will no doubt be of interest to readers of this blog as well.

Amongst the stories already posted on the site are an article about hiking in the French Pyrenees, exploring the backroads of Maui, and the climbing, paddling, and backpacking options on the Norway's Lofoten Islands. That last article is part of a much larger feature on Norway itself, which is billed as Europe's true wilderness. Other articles take a look at the Great Himalayan Trail, something I've written about myself, and give advice on the best camera to take on your next adventure.

All in all, Switchback looks like it is a nice addition to the online travel community, and with its focus on adventure travel, I'm sure I'll be reading it regularly and using it as a resource for future trips of my own. I like the nice use of photography on the site, and the writing is comprehensive and insightful as well. The site is most definitely off to a good start, so be sure to check it out.

Five Great Laptops For Travelers

My recent trip to the Caribbean was filled with lots of fun activities, including hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, and sailing. It wasn't all just about fun in the sun however, as the trip was hosted by Microsoft, who assembled a group of travel writers to give us the scoop on some fantastic tools and laptops that could be of benefit for travelers of all types.

Some of those tools included cloud storage service Skydrive, which is a great way to share video and photos from your trip, and Movie Maker and Windows Live Photo Gallery which help to edit them into masterpieces that your friends and family will actually want to look at.

But the real treat was getting to play with some hot new laptops that have a lot to offer travelers who want to stay connected while on the go. For the past few years, Apple's MacBook Air has been the undisputed king of travel computes, but now Windows users have some really good options as well. Here are five of them to consider when it comes time to upgrade your technology.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1
This is a laptop designed for adventure travelers. The ThinkPad X1 is a ruggedized PC that can withstand plenty of punishment and even features a water resistant keyboard. You can, quite literally, pour a bucket of water over the machine, and it will continue to run just fine. Sure, ruggedized PC's have been around for while, the Panasonic ToughBook is a well known example, but the X1 weighs in at just 3.7 pounds and is less than an inch thick. It features USB 3.0, which is perfect charging gadgets on the go, a 160GB solid state drive, and a battery that lasts nearly 6 hours on a single charge. Lenovo has built a rugged computer that can go just about anywhere and survive the rigors of the road.

Take this one with you to Everest Base Camp. (MSRP: $1773)

Asus Zenbook UX21
For travelers who like to travel light, the new Zenbook from Asus is the perfect option. This laptop features an 11 inch screen and weighs only 2.4 pounds. It's also super-thin, just 3mm in the front and 9mm at its thickest point in the back. Battery life is a respectable 5 hours and the Intel Core i7 processor provides plenty of power for all your mobile needs. Slip this one into your carryon bag, and you'll barely know its there. The Zenbooks stylish good looks will likely turn heads as well.

Take this one with you on a month long trip through Europe (MSRP: $999)

Sony Vaio Z
The SonyVaio Z is the workhorse of this group, providing mobile workstation power in a thin and light body. The Vaio Z is just 2.5 pounds and .7 inches thick, which is remarkable for a machine that has the ability to drive three external monitors at once. This machine is truly designed for the business traveler, as it features a 7 hour battery life out of the box and gives you have the option to add a sheet battery that extends that life to an amazing 16 hours, without adding much in the way of bulk. That means, you can hop a flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, use your laptop the entire way, and never have to worry about a recharge. Designed for to handle everything from e-mail and games to heavy duty video editing, this is a great option for when you absolutely need to get work done while you travel.

Take this one with you on a flight across the Pacific. The rest of the cabin will be jealous when their machines run out of juice before the halfway point. (MSRP: $1999)

Toshiba Portege R830
Another light and thin, yet durable option, Toshiba has built the Portege R830 to be both powerful and affordable. With a magnesium case and a specially designed shock-resistant system, this laptop is built to withstand the abuse that comes along with travel. Slightly heavier and thicker than other machines on this list, the Portege is unique in that it still includes a DVD drive, something that is becoming increasingly rare in our cloud-based, streaming media world. Battery life is a strength as well, keeping you up and running for eight hours, while powering the LED-backlit screen and surround sound.

Take this one with you when you have kids to entertain. The DVD drive will come in handy and the machine can handle the abuse from kids too! (MSRP: $799)

Samsung Series 9 - Special Edition
Built from Duralumin, the same material as some modern aircraft, the Samsung Series 9 is both rugged and beautiful. The metal casing protects the laptop nicely, while keeping it thin and light at the same time. The Series 9 is just .6 inches thin and tips the scale at a shade under 3 pounds. It still packs plenty of technology however, including a 13.3 inch backlit LED LCD screen, USB 3.0 and HDMI ports, a 7 hour battery life, and an illuminated keyboard. Throw in premium sound and a 128GB SSID drive, and you have a laptop that would make James Bond jealous.

Take this one with you everywhere! (MSRP: $1649)

Video: What A Wonderful World

We live on an amazing planet. And lest we forget that from time to time, here is a great video courtesy of the BBC and narrated by David Attenborough, to remind us. Simply beautiful and a great way to start the day!

Win A Trip To South Africa By Starring In A Commercial

Have you always wanted to earn international fame while jet setting across the globe? Than I have just the opportunity for you. South African Tourism is looking for an American couple between the ages of 24-36, who are either married or in a committed relationship, to star in a new commercial that will air on CNN International, the BBC, and other major networks across the globe. The commercial will be a part of their new 20 Experiences in 10 Days campaign, which is designed to convince travelers that SA is a fun, adventurous, and romantic destination. The luck couple will be whisked away for an all expense paid trip to film the commercial, while also indulging in everything that South Africa has to offer. 

To apply for consideration, simply go to the Visit South Africa Facebook page and click on the very prominent banner on display there. After that, simply fill out the application form that downloads to your computer, submit it, and keep your fingers crossed. The application deadline is November 28th and if you're selected for the next round, you must be able to attend an audition in either New York or Lose Angeles in early December. The couple that is ultimately selected, must also be available to travel from January 20th - February 5th of 2012. 

While in South Africa, the winning couple will stay at luxury resorts, visit the country's famous wine country, surf and spot whales along the coast, and go on a wildlife safari. All of their adventures will be filmed of course, and eventually turned into the commercial, which will air in a number of countries around the world. 

Having visited South Africa earlier this year, I can tell you that this is a great opportunity. The country is simply spectacular and I definitely recommend it as a destination for anyone looking to mix culture, luxury and adventure. It sounds like this trip will pack in a lot of activity and give the winners a chance to really see everything the country has to offer. 

Stop Motion Video Captures Coast-To-Coast Hitchhiking Adventure

On his website, Benjamin Jenks calls himself a "backpacking filmmaker with a slight hitchhiking addiction." Recently he put those two passions together and created a stop-motion video of his travels across the U.S. during which he hitchhiked from Los Angeles to Maine. Along the way, he snapped more than 3000 photos of the people he met on his journey, and compiled them altogether to give us a sense of his experience. The result is the video below, which is a fun glimpse of his travels and a creative way of taking us along with him.

Thanks to reader Ted Grella for sharing this.

Gear Box: Brunton Restore Solar Charger

The use of solar chargers on extended expeditions is not a new concept. In fact, they've been used on Everest and other big mountains for years, helping to keep communications equipment charged and, more recently, powering laptops, cell phones, and mp3 players charged. For most of us however, using a solar charger on our journeys generally hasn't been an option. The systems are still a bit bulky and expensive for general use and generally remain a luxury for those looking to travel light.

That's where the Restore solar charger from Brunton comes in handy. Weighing in at just 8.6 ounces, the Restore features a rugged, clamshell design that incorporates two solar panels and an included charging cable. The result is a solar charger for the rest of us – with a few caveats.

The Restore has a built in Lithium Polymer battery that can be charged via sunlight of course, but also using an included DC car adapter or a USB port on a computer. Brunton also has an AC wall adapter available for an additional fee, although I found in my testing that if you plan ahead, it isn't all that necessary. It takes about an hour and a half to fully charge the battery using USB or DC power and considerably longer through the solar panels. Depending on exposure to the sun, it took my test unit approximately 8-10 hours to charge on a sunny day, and with cloud cover it can take even longer than yet.

Once the battery is charged however, it stores that power until you're ready to recharge one of your devices. I had no problems using the Restore to juice up my iPod, iPhone, and GPS device. Simply plugging them into one of the unit's built-in USB ports (standard and micro) started the process, and in no time at all, you'll have a fully powered device again. Time to recharge is about the same as plugging the device into your computer and the 2200 mAh battery was good for 3-4 recharges on my iPod Nano and about 2-3 on my iPhone. It should be noted that the Restore can recharge an iPad as well, it is just so slow at doing so, that it hardly seems useful. That means you can forget about charging anything more powerful, such as laptop.

Brunton did a great job of making the Restore very easy to use. When you plug it in to charge, blue LED's light up to indicate progress. When all four are lit, the device is charged and ready for travel. Hitting the power button without anything plugged into the Restore gives you a quick indication of how much power is still in the battery, and when you plug in your gadgets to charge them up, a tap of the power button begins that process as well. Charing automatically stops once your iPod or cell phone is topped off.

Other nice touches include having the charging cable conveniently integrated into the design and a rubber, ruggedized case that truly feels like it can take a beating. That same casing is sealed tightly, helping to make the device water resistant as well. Brunton also designed the Restore to have small handles on both ends of the case, which can be used to fasten the device to the outside of your backpack. This allows the twin solar panels to gather power all day long, even as you hike, so the Restore is ready to use once you reach camp in the evening.

Overall, I'm impressed with the Brunton Restore. It is a lightweight and useful option for recharging devices while on the go. I do wish that it would charge a bit more quickly and efficiently on its solar panels, but considering how small those panels are, its a wonder that it charges as quickly as it does. If you're looking for options to recharge your electronic devices while you're in the backcountry, the Restore is a great option, as long as you're aware of its limitations ahead of time.

MSRP: $120

Outside Expands Our Bucket Lists

Earlier today, Outside Magazine posted their latest edition of the Life List, 50 things we can all add to our bucket list of items we want to accomplish before our time on this planet runs out. The list is filled with big trips, new skills, and a variety of other things to aspire to in our adventurous lives.

Some of the items that make the list include going climbing in the Grand Tetons, learn to kayak, and get into the best shape of your life. You'll also be challenged to trek the Himalayas, master a second language, or simply just take a risk.

Of course, there are literally dozens of other things on the list as well, and I simply love the number one item, which is Get A Passport. This may be the easiest thing on the list to accomplish, and yet many people don't have a passport. That one simple document really does open the world to you, and through travel, many adventures can follow.

This is a wonderful list and while it is a real challenge to accomplish everything on it it, there are a lot of things that are simple and easy to pursue in our normal lives as well. Give it a glance and I'm sure you'll find plenty of new things to put in your bucket too.

New Website Offers Discounted Adventure Trips To Members

A new website could prove to be quite a boon for adventure travelers looking for great deals on their next trip. Epic Thrills launched this morning as a members-only site that offers exclusive pricing on some of the best trips available from some of the best adventure travel companies in the world.

Using the Jetsetter model of offering members a single exceptional deal each week, Epic Thrills has partnered with a number of well known travel companies to offer discounts of up to 30% off active adventures to far-flung corners of the globe. For example, the very first trip that they will sell is an 11-day mountain biking journey through Nepal that is organized by Pedalers Pub & Grille, a company well known for its fantastic cycling adventures. Pricing for this trip will be revealed at 1PM ET today, but I'm told the savings will be 20% off the regular price.

Once a new travel deal is posted, it will remain on the site for anywhere from 7-14 days, with a new deal being revealed each week. Members will have the opportunity to purchase at the discounted price, but once the trip reaches its maximum capacity, the deal will be closed.

At the moment, the only way to get into the site is by requesting membership on the site's sign-in page or to know someone (like me!) who can send you an invite. Once you're accepted, you'll be able to create an account, login and take advantage of the savings yourself. While you wait for that invite to be sent, you can read the Epic Thrills Blog, which looks to have some excellent content already in place.

I know that this approach to discounted travel deals has worked well for Jetsetter and it can be a really great option for travelers looking to save a little green. If you're an adventure traveler, you'll definitely want to get in on this program.

Win A Trip To Anywhere With Travel2Change Water Conservation Contest

Non-proft organization Travel2change is sponsoring a contest in which they are giving away a trip to any travel destination, in any country in the world, to the person who comes up with the best idea for improving the sustainable management of water in that destination. The hope is that they'll find, and fund, creative and innovative ideas for how travelers can have a positive and lasting impact on the places we visit.

Proposals are being accepted in four categories which include: Health, Environment, Education, and Sport, with one winner in each category being selected. To enter, simply go to the Travel2change website and submit your proposal before the end of the day on July 10th. If your idea is one of the four selected, the Travel2change, working in conjunction with travel company Kuoni, will arrange to have you visited your proposed destination.

All of the entries in the contest will be available on the site, allowing others to read and comment on them. The hope is that through that discussion, the proposals can be tweaked and improved to make them even more efficient and well thought through. The best, most helpful, participant on the website could also be selected to go on one of the trips selected from the four categories as well.

The entries into the contest will be judged on the basis of creativity, effectiveness, impact, feasibility and sustainability. So, get your thinking caps on, come up with a great plan, and submit it to this project. Not only could you have a lasting impact on a community that needs our help, but you could also get to visit that place first-hand and help see your idea come to life.

Very cool contest/project with a great message and "prize."

New Adventure Travel Website Launches

Adventure travelers have gained a new resource in the form of the recently launched website Adventure Traveler Online, which aims to connect like minded explorers through "responsible travel, social awareness in business, humanitarian efforts, adventure sport, world issues, and celebration of culture."

The site has launched with some excellent content already in place. Browsing the home page, you'll find articles on The Coastal Challenge, a six-day foot race across Costa Rica, as well as the adventure offerings in Pasco County, Florida. There are also a pair of articles on Ireland as well, including an introduction to Giant's causeway and the start of a journey across the wild Iveragh Peninsula. But those stories are just scratching the surface, as a quick look at the Travel/Tourism, Film/Art/Music, Humanitarian, Adventure Sports, and Product Reviews sections reveal even more content to be explored.

ATO has a lot more going on beyond that as well, and the potential is there for it to be a great, "go-to" site for the adventure community. There are a lot of talented people on the team and I know they're committed to offering excellent insights into destination, gear, and events across the globe. Add it to your bookmarks now and check back often for new content.

Antarctic Tourism On The Decline

I covered this topic this morning at Gadling.com, but thought it was worth sharing here as well. Yesterday I received a press release from the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators that gave some interesting statistics on the Antarctic tourism season that just ended. Those numbers indicated that there was a slide in the number of visitors to Antarctica this year, with 8.3% fewer people traveling in the region. This trend is expected to continue in the season ahead as well, with even more significant drops in the number of visitors to the frozen continent.

According to the IAATO, 33,824 people traveled in and around Antarctica in the 2010-2011 season. That number is down from the 36,875 from the year before. Of those travelers, 18,534 actually set foot on the continent itself, while 14,373 of them chose to just cruise the Southern Ocean instead. These numbers were reported by members of the IAATO, which carry clients throughout the region aboard small and medium sized expedition ships and yachts. The "cruise-only" folks were generally aboard larger cruise ships.

While the 8.3% drop is fairly substantial, that's nothing compared to what is projected for the 2011-2012 season. This August, a ban on heavy fuel oils will go into effect, limiting the number of larger ships that can enter the waters around Antarctica as well. That will most likely effect the cruise-only numbers, which are expected to drop below 5000 travelers total. When factoring in an economy that continues to struggle, the IAATO believes that there will be as much as a 25% drop in travel to Antarctica in the season ahead.

This is good news for environmentalists who have long feared that increased traffic would damage the fragile environments in Antarctica. These substantially lower numbers should help to protect the region from too much harm, and the ban on heavy fuels is designed to do the very same thing.

On the other hand, tour operators in the region can't be happy with the projections, as they could potentially be scrambling to fill their cabins. Obviously the largest decline will be in the cruise only section, where the number of ships operating in the Southern Ocean will be reduced from 12 down to just five, but if the expectations of a poor economy continue, we may see some good bargains for those looking to travel to the very deep south later this year.

Great Time Lapse Video Of The Outer Banks

The Outer Banks are a 200-mile long strip of small islands that run along the coast of North Carolina. Over the years, they've become quite the attraction for travelers and are well known for their beauty and good weather. While I've never been there myself, the video below makes me want to go. It is a very beautifully shot timelapse caught at night. Between the images and the music, you're sure to want to book a trip of your own. Enjoy!



Night Motion Timelapse: Outer Banks from Daniel Dragon Films on Vimeo.