Swimming With Whale Sharks in Mexico (Video)

Whale shark under a wave

The idea of swimming with whale sharks made me nervous. I wanted to, a lot, but I couldn’t forget my bizarre reaction to a spinner dolphin in Costa Rica a few years ago. I was afraid I’d humiliate myself again. At the time, I’d been completely and utterly irrational. I was in the water near […]

How to See the Big 5 in Kenya and So Much More

Two elephants -

The Big 5 in Kenya has drawn animal and photography lovers for decades. I’ve been to the country four times on safari and loved every minute of it, but on my most recent trip, I explored facets of the country’s culture and wildlife I’d never experienced before. Over 5 days, I spent time in Nairobi, […]

How to Plan An Amazing Kenya Wildlife Safari

Giraffe silhouette in front of rising sun - Kenya Wildlife Safari_-201

You’ve been dreaming about going to Kenya wildlife safari. Good choice. There’s no better time to go. Kenya Airways now has a direct flight from New York to Nairobi, which means the usual 22-hour journey, including a layover, is now a 14-hour direct flight. Trust me, even though it’s still a long-haul it’s so much better than going […]

Dive Into The Unexpected – Try Snorkeling in Ketchikan, Alaska

Our group of 10 ready to hit the waves. -On an Alaskan Land + Sea adventure with Holland America, I went on a lot of exciting excursions. One of my favorites: snorkeling in Ketchikan.-IMG_3129

I’m trying desperately to pull on a 7mm wetsuit but it’s clinging to me like a surgical glove. We’d been warned it would take some effort but it’s so absurdly difficult that the other women in the dressing room and I can’t stop laughing. I’m convinced there’s a hidden camera and we’re being filmed for […]

This Amazon River Cruise Will Make You Yearn to be on the Water

Amazon River Cruise Peru -International Expeditions-0998

He looked at us with a mischievous grin and then said it, the phrase we’d learn to finish for him. The phrase that Juan—one of two local naturalists on our Amazon River Cruise in Peru with International Expeditions’ —would say every time we began a new adventure. “My friends, you’re not going to like this … […]

Don’t Miss Dog Sledding in Whitehorse Yukon

Dogs running in Canada as if in the greatest dog sled race in the world.

It was mid-morning when we arrived at Sky High Mountain Ranch for our dog-sledding adventure in Whitehorse Yukon about 20 minutes from downtown. A sea of magnificent pines bordered a large lake shining silver in the sunlight. Everything glistened topped with four inches of freshly fallen snow as if straight out of a fairytale. We […]

The Thrill of Canada’s only Walking Polar Bear Safari

She’s walking straight at us. Her long, powerful strides putting her well within the 50 meters (164-foot) safety range. Even if I could run, what’s the point?  She could outpace me in seconds. I look down the line of fellow photographers to where Andy McPhearson and Rob Watson, two of our three Churchill Wild guides, […]

Flightseeing Over The Extraordinary Kaskawulsh Glacier

Looking down the glacier down towards the icefield--Kaskawulsh glacier in Yukon's Kulane National Park-1084

I opened the door of the tiny plane and hopped out, sinking into the wet snow up to my shins of the Kaskawulsh Glacier. Squinting behind my sunglasses, I scanned the sea of snow-covered peaks glistening against a blinding blue sky. We were completely alone. Tiny specs of life standing in the middle of the Yukon’s […]

Hot Air Balloon Rides: All You Need to Know

Ever thought about taking a hot air balloon ride? Floating above an exotic destination with vistas that take your breath away? You should. No matter how many adventures you embark upon, you’ll never forget a ride in a hot-air balloon. There’s no feeling of speed or ascension. You glide. It’s as if your basket is […]

In the Midst of a Namibian Desert an Oasis Awaits: Serra Cafema Camp

Serra Cafema main deck

After five days exploring the depths of the desert, it was surreal to wake up to the smell of water. Outside, the Kunene River separating northern Namibia from Angola rushed westward at the foot of my private deck on its way to the Atlantic Ocean. I was a guest of Serra Cafema, the last stop […]