The Ultimate Slumber Party – Sleep ON The Great Wall Of China!

A journey to China is filled with dozens of unique travel experiences for first time visitors. The miles of neatly parked black bicycles, the first time you’re offered a “1000″ year old egg to eat, the brightly painted Ming Dynasty temples, the sheer size and breadth of the highways and public squares, and the pace of new construction, all create a juxtaposition that is staggering.  At the top of most traveler’s sightseeing list is a visit to The Great Wall, located about 3 hours outside of Beijing.  What a shame it would be to travel all the way to China, and all the way to The Great Wall only to be herded like lemmings onto a restored section of the wall with hundreds (maybe thousands) of other sightseers.  Forget about jogging on The Great Wall… you’ll be lucky to find a spot to peep over the parapets and glimpse the countryside beyond.  If you’re like me, there will be way too many heads and necks in your view!  And don’t spend too much time walking along the wall, for you’ll surely want to visit the gift shops and purchase your requisite “I Climbed The Great Wall” tshirt before the bus leaves.  The picutre above was shot on May Day with a few of my fellow sightseers!!!  Fortunately there’s another way….

The folks at TheChinaGuide.com (an American managed/Beijing based travel company) offer a unique and intriging tour to The Great Wall that includes a “Sleep On The Wall” experience.  (Less adventurous travelers can opt to stay in a traditional courtyard hotel at the base of the wall instead.)  The tour visits a section of the wall that is less frequented by tour buses, so you will have plenty of opportunity to roam.  Following dinner in the village and an evening hike along the wall, tour participants who opt to ’sleep on the wall’ climb to a watchtower along with their guide, and bed down in a cozy sleeping bag with sleeping mat.  After a night of imagining you’re a trusty tower scout watching for an invading Mongol army, breakfast arrives (hot coffee, muesli and fruit) and it’s off for a 6 mile walk to discover more mysteries of the wall along with your guides.  Imagine the stories you’ll have to tell when you return home.  “I not only climbed the wall, I lived on it like Chinese soldiers did thousands of years ago”!  Here’s a link that will bring you to a full description of this unique Sleep On The Wall tour.  You might also like to read the trip report and watch a video by a Toronto Star reporter.

Now for the rest of us who are not entertaining a trip to China in the near future…. TheChinaGuide website has an outstanding feature -   360 degree panorama videos of  major sights in and around Beijing including The Great Wall,  Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, The Forbidden City, and Olympic stadiums – you’ll almost feel like you’re there.   Enjoy this virtual tour of Beijing!

ps – the photos in the article were not taken on The China Guide tour – they are my photos from a previous visit to China.

Power Up A Snowcat And Take It For A Spin At Crested Butte Colorado

Have you loved big brawny machines since childhood and always wished you could climb behind the wheel and power it up?  Well the folks at Crested Butte Colorado understand completely and are ready to make your big hauling dreams come true with their Snowcat Driving Experience. Started in March 2009, the Snowcat Experience teams vacationers with an experienced Cat Driver/Groomer for in-depth instruction on the basics of driving snowcats, grooming, pushing snow and experiencing the trill of running a big snow machine.

The session begins with classroom safety and operational instruction.  Then it’s off to meet the Cat with a complete walk around introduction to the parts and functions of the machine.  Time to hop behind the controls for the driving fun you’ve been waiting for – an hour of snowcat drive time with your personal instructor.

The Snowcat Driving Experience is offered twice at day (at 10am and 2pm) on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday during the ski season at the cost of $275, which includes transportation from the Lodge at Mountaineer Square.  Families are welcome to watch the driving experience from an on-site tent.  And this excitement is for adults only – participants must be over 18 and have a valid driver’s license.

For the friend or family member “who has everyting”, this may be the winter thrill they’ve been waiting for!

Elderhostel Becomes Exploritas.com

After 35 years of offering exceptional education adventures to the 55+ market, Elderhostels is taking on a new persona and becoming Exploritas.  The not-for-profit educational tour company took a close look at their name and realized they no longer were exclusive to the senior market, and they rarely stayed in hostels.  Their new name more closely represents their product offerings – fascinating journeys for lifelong learners of all ages.

Exploritas offers indepth tours throughout all 50 States in America and to over 90 countries around the world.   Programs vary in length and topic, with selections including Days of Discovery, Adventures Afloat, Road Scolar, Intergenerational, Service Tours, Independent City Discoveries, For Women Only, and much, much more.  Check them out and get on their mailing list for future catalogs.

America’s #1 Bike Tour Company Introduces Walking Tours

Lodge-To-Lodge Kayak Adventure in Stunning Belize

Teach The Whole Family To Sail On Your Next Vacation

Best African Safari Destinations – 5 Top Game Reserves

Family Adventures ‘Into The Wild’ With The Appalachian Mountain Club

Calling All Campers, Hikers and Sportsman – Learn to Cook In The Wild

The Out Islands of the Bahamas Are Heavenly In Spring

Next Page »