Whether I’m laughing my way through Lava Falls in the Grand Canyon or camel trekking in the Sahara desert, I love to travel. I’ve explored five continents and paddled or rowed my way through nearly 200 whitewater rafting trips, and I’ve never tired of meeting people and experiencing life through their eyes. I go hog wild researching an area before arriving at my destination—I enjoy the research almost as much as the vacation! Here are 10 tips that can assist you before booking your adventure travel vacation.

What Are You In The Mood For?

• Be honest, you’ve worked hard for this vacation. Do you want to crank up the adrenaline, relax and enjoy a river from the bow of a boat, explore desert canyons and Native American artifacts or paddle your way through misty Canadian bays in search of killer whales? Do you want to relax around a campfire and sleep under the stars or would you like to experience a hot shower and linens at the end of your day—or perhaps you’d prefer a little of each? If you are traveling with a friend, child, and/or loved one, make sure you want similar vacations to avoid unnecessary friction.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Nineteen of us in the bus en route to Denali Park’s Wonder Lake fell silent as a grizzly sow popped up over a knoll, two cubs in tow. Our bus eased to a stop as they ambled closer to the road, putting them almost within arm’s reach. The sow flopped to the ground, rolled over, allowing her cubs to crawl onto her belly. In our absolute stillness we heard their suckling sounds.

One decade later, sitting in a sleek dory, The Yampa, we rounded what had to have been bend #473 in the Colorado River, when long-time O.A.R.S. Grand Canyon guide, Bronco, stated matter-of-factly, “Keep your eye out on the cliffs on the left, about a third of the way up. Bighorn like to hang out there.” He spotted them immediately and directed our untrained eyes to the small collection of nearly invisible sheep.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Janet Walker, an experienced and savvy world traveler currently enroute to Bali, took some time recently between trips to send us photos and answer a few questions about her August 2009 Peru whitewater rafting trip.

Janet had already been to Peru twice before embarking on her O.A.R.S. Tambopata River trip. (She had not yet traveled with O.A.R.S.) I asked her if there were any specific factors that helped her decide on this particular Peru adventure. Her answer? “The clay lick and the trip’s remote location.”

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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