For Mothers Day, Give the Gift of Travel: 8 ‘Bucket List’ Adventures Sure to Make this an Epic Event

 

This Mother’s Day, you can fulfill a bucket list wish of giving the gift of travel to Iceland, Land of Fire and Ice © 2016 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

This Mother’s Day, spice things up by giving her the gift of travel. Travel expert Adam York has selected eight bucket list adventures that span the spectrum of Moms, but are sure to make this the most epic Mother’s Day ever. 

1. Nicaragua Escape – Retreat to a tranquil hideaway overlooking the white sands beaches of the Pacific Ocean at Aqua Wellness Resort. Mom will enjoy two days in charming Granada City where she will kayak, volcano hike, and zip-line, before heading to her exceptional beachfront retreat. She will relax, play, and decompress in a beautiful rainforest setting.

2. Alaska Northern Lights – Join Gondwana EcoTours on a Northern Lights tour of Alaska. Mom will get a dose of local culture by day, and by night have the opportunity to photograph the Aurora Borealis under the massive Alaskan sky! She will zip between snow-covered trees on the back of a dog-sled, soak in the mineral-rich waters of geothermal hot springs, walk through the frozen art of an ice-sculpture museum, and sip martinis out of glasses made of ice.

3. Argentina Wine + Photo Adventure– Mom will join renowned Argentine photographer, teacher, and documentary filmmaker, Ossian Lindholm, on the first-ever photography + high-altitude wine tour of Northwest Argentina. This is a magical journey that is perfect for photographers and wine lovers of all levels. Mom will be immersed in the region’s geography, wildlife, cuisine, and culture.

4. Barge Cruise through France – Fine wines, delicious cuisine, and a leisurely approach to the enjoyment of each day await Mom on a barge cruise down France’s picturesque waterways. From the rolling vineyards of Burgundy to the tree-lined Canal du Midi in the Languedoc region, Frontiers International Travel’s selection of handpicked vessels provide a range of options suitable for anyone in search of a unique holiday with like-minded people.

5. Moscow, the Golden Ring and St. Petersburg – Mom will discover where Russian art, architecture and culture began. In between the urban centers of Moscow and St. Petersburg, she’ll experience the Russian countryside. The oldest and loveliest churches in Russia, Sergiev Posad’s wooden crafts, and Fedoskino’s glowing lacquer boxes all put a shine on Russia’s Golden Ring that Mom will never forget.  

6. Cycle Villages of Provence – Take Mom on Ride & Seek’s Provence cycling tour through the most beautiful villages of France as ordained by the group Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. This tour emphasizes authentic cuisine and local wines. There is a wonderful correlation between fine wine growing areas and world-class cycling.

7. Dude Ranch Retreat – The 25,000 acre Red Reflet Ranch in Ten Sleep, Wyoming is both working ranch and luxury resort. Mom will hike, ride horses, skeet shoot, fly fish, mountain bike, dine on gourmet food, and play cowgirl on this fun-filled getaway.  From cattle drives to branding, the true western lifestyle thrives at Red Reflet.

8. Diamond Circle Tour of Iceland – The land of fire and ice, active volcanoes and glaciers! Countless geysers, hot pots, and fumaroles dot the landscape. These unique features create a landscape filled with incredible waterfalls, lakes, mountains and stories of trolls and elves. On this six-day trip, Mom will travel by 4WD car from Reykjavik through the Skagafjordur Region to see the highlights of the Diamond Circle in the north, and return to Reykjavik by plane.

 

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Heart2Heart Hosts Weekend Nature Retreat in Vail, Colorado, Celebrating Mother-Daughter Relationship

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Women’s Empowerment Workshop presents Heart2Heart, a weekend retreat for mothers and daughters ages 16 and older.

Created by Susie Kincade and featuring a stellar crew of professional guides, Heart2Heart offers a nurturing, playful experience in nature for mothers and daughters to enrich and deepen their relationship, build trust, and explore the phases of womanhood together. The retreat will be held May 17-19 in Vail, Colorado at the Vail Racquet Club Mountain Resort.

Led by life and spiritual coaches and mothers of six daughters between them, Susie Kincade and Narda Reigel, transitional life coach specialists, the weekend includes developing trust through a rock climbing adventure, communication exploration and deep listening skills, as well as having time to enjoy yoga and spa experiences, restorative reflection, and gather for chef-prepared meals in the nurturing and inspiring setting of Vail in springtime.

“Being attuned to our surroundings, to the natural world, to our family members, offers us so many opportunities to give and to receive,” says Kincade. “It connects us deeply to the wholeness of life. Most importantly, we become more connected to the source within us-to our own capacity for love.”

The weekend package includes:

• Two nights lodging at the luxurious Vail Racquet Club Mountain Resort (double occupancy)
• Delicious, healthy meals (Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast)
• Transportation within Vail to and from activities
• Rock climbing exploration
• Women’s Inner Wisdom: Life coaching, communication, emotional discernment skills
• Spa offering
• Pool, hot tubs, tennis and other amenities
• Cost: $595* (*non-lodging rates available)

Formed two years ago, Women’s Empowerment Workshop started with one four-day nature adventure retreat, now called Awaken in NatureTM which combines outer and inner journeys through rafting/kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, healing with horses and other nature-based activities. The retreat drew attendees from as far away as Pakistan and from a dozen U.S. states. Its success led founder, Susie Kincade to create additional retreats and diverse workshops to satisfy the hunger she sees in women of all ages across the world who want to rise to their full potential.

For more information and to register, visit http://www.womensempower.us or call 877-595-8622

New Orleans, Hotel Monteleone host 2011 ‘Festigals’ Girlfriend-Getaway, Oct 6-9

New Orleans and the Hotel Monteleone are hosting the ultimate girlfriend getaway weekend, “Festigals”, in the city which AAA Southern Traveler Magazine calls the “Best Large City for a Weekend” and the “Best Girls Getaway in America”.

The ultimate girlfriend getaway weekend, from Thursday, October 6 through Sunday, October 9 offers:

• Lunch with CNN Special Correspondent, Soledad O’Brien
• A block party featuring ‘hot’ New Orleans firemen
• A participatory parade called the ‘Stiletto Stroll’
• A chocolate and wine event
• Singing, clapping, and dancing at a gospel brunch

“Women work harder than anyone,” said Founder Diane Lyons. “FestiGals is the ultimate reward…a weekend-long event away from work, family, and responsibilities that promotes women, fashion, food, friendship, and fun for a cause.”

Women attending the weekend will be able to stay busy or rest and relax between the planned FestiGals activities. Optional escapades include a trip to Houmas House Plantation; a city tour of New Orleans; cooking lessons; and an arts & antiques visit to Magazine Street.

In addition to Soledad O’Brien’s keynote address, taken from her critically-acclaimed memoir, “The Next Big Story: My Journey through the Land of Possibilities”, Saturday’s program offers the S.H.E. series. Dynamic guests will speak on a variety of topics dedicated to self, heart, and empowerment, (S.H.E.).

Home base for the weekend will be Hotel Monteleone, a member of Historic Hotels of America. Participants will enjoy two award-winning restaurants, the famous Carousel Bar, a heated rooftop pool, Spa Aria, an exercise facility, a business center, and valet parking. Participation in FestiGals is $225 for the FestiGals Ultimate Package (individual events priced separately), and $159 per night at the Hotel Monteleone.

A portion of the net proceeds of tagged FestiGals events will benefit ‘Women for Women International’ and ‘Dress for Success New Orleans’. Click Here to register. To sign up for FestiGals updates, email info@festigals.org or call 855-GAL-WKND (425-9563).

About FestiGals

The mission of FestiGals® is to provide a fun, safe and enriching weekend for women to relax, enjoy high-quality special events, and explore the cultural diversity and rich heritage of New Orleans, while contributing to Women for Women International and Dress for Success, whose missions are to empower women by giving them a hand-up, not a hand-out.

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6th Annual CampExperience Gathers Women for Education, Inspiration & Networking

PsycheHike is one of the many adventures at Camp Experience, a weekend retreat for women to be held at Copper Mountain, Colorado, Sept. 23-25 (photo by Kimberly Anderson Photography).

DENVER, COLO. (March 1, 2011) —

Camp isn’t just for kids anymore with the sixth annual CampExperience™, a one-of-a-kind retreat for women in Copper Mountain, Colo., on Sept. 23 – 25. More than 200 women from some of the country’s top organizations and businesses will come together in this casual mountain setting for a weekend of education, inspiration and networking.

“After five years of CampExperience™ we have the formula: bring together coworkers, colleagues, sisters, mothers and daughters, and friends for 2.5 days of education, inspiration and networking and you have a powerful platform to uplift dreams and change lives,” says founder Betsy Wiersma.  “Many camp ‘sisters’ return every year as well as attend our other pre-camp events.”

More than 150 campers are already signed up to share the energy of national keynote speakers like Victoria Moran (www.victoriamoran.com) and Linda Larsen (www.lindalarsen.com), applaud Women Who Rock award winners, and indulge in “adventure” activities such as dance, biking, fly-fishing, self defense and a camp favorite, PsycheHiking.

Workshops this year are a new format with 2.5 hour “emersion” sessions with hand-on learning and experiences on topics such as advocacy, writing a book, embracing food as fuel and healthy weight management, emotional intelligence and stress-less living. There’s also yoga and Qi Gong to start the day, and a hands-on Creativity Corner is open throughout the weekend with pottery, jewelry making, painting and fabric art.

The popular Charity Bow-tique is back and doubled in size to offer more retail fun to benefit this year’s charity partners: Warren Village, United Way Women’s Self Sufficiency Programs, Women’s Bean Project and Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center.  Campers are asked to give three gently used or new items for the Bow-tique and to sign up for personal services (e.g., massages, reflexology, reiki and more) in exchange for a donation.

Since 2006, CampExperience™ has donated more than $138,000 in cash and in excess of 12,000 pounds of clothing and household goods to its charity partners.

“CampExperience™ is my annual respite to refuel, recharge my batteries and reconnect to amazing women in the community. In my busy life, I appreciate that CampExperience™ is built for me and maximizes my personal and business success,” says five-year camper Carol Calkins of Denver.

Pre-Camp Events
CampExperience™ also will host MiniCamp at Regis University in Denver on April 20, a Charity Kick-Off Party at The Closet Factory in Centennial on May 18, a Sleepover Adventure at Spruce Mountain Guest Ranch in Larkspur on June 2 – 3, and many free networking events throughout the year.  For more information about camp and these events and to sign up for a free newsletter, visit www.CampExperience.com or call 720.840.4001. You do not need to be registered for CampExperience™ to attend pre-camp events.

Sponsors
Presenting sponsors for 2011 include CBS4, St. Anthony Central Hospital, Northwestern Mutual Denver, Regis University, Copper Mountain Resort, and Fastlane Productions. Host sponsors are Staples, MillerCoors, Colorado View Magazine, The Kentwood Company at Cherry Creek, KUVO Radio, Garvin’s Sewer Service, Clarity International, BBVA Compass, Tomboy Tools, Silpada Designs Farmers Insurance Group and Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado.

See also

Cultural Explorer offers trips to celebrate, empower women of South Africa

Copper Mountain Resort in Colorado Rockies: Where ‘Cool’ isn’t just the weather