| |
Roamin’ Holiday:
Walking Vacations Tempt the
Senses and Build Friendships
By Susan Rich
All photos courtesy of Country Walkers
It’s no secret: Walking is a national pastime in other countries. Despite our own national park system and hundreds of trails, those with a case of wanderlust will still find it easier to take to the hills, or flats, in another country.
“When you go to Europe, there are long distance trails through the mountains, and every 10 or 15 miles there is a place to stay or get something to eat. It’s very user-friendly,” explains Tyler Burgess, owner of Walk With Me, a walking tour company based in Eugene, OR.
“In our national forests, only loggers can get in and out on some of the trails. Otherwise it’s restricted, and people can’t get in.”
Until the day that remote U.S. trails are stocked with tidy inns and food service, Walk About readers will have to cast their footloose dreams (mostly) abroad.
Walk With Me
In addition to this year’s El Camino Pilgrim’s Path, a 190-mile trek along medieval paths in Spain (departs September 6), Burgess also offers custom tours.
“It’s the latest trend,” she notes. “You and your friends can book a custom tour to Italy, Ireland, Morocco. I can put together a tour that matches the abilities and interests of small groups.” For more information, visit www.walk-with-me.com
Walk for All Seasons
It’s Spring Break 2010, do you know where your women friends are? Possibly out on the road with Maggie Spilner, owner of Pennsylvania-based Walk for All Seasons. This annual trek has become a pilgrimage for a steadily growing group of women — married, single, divorced, or widowed — who are looking for a rejuvenating, fun-packed sojourn replete with trips to museums and cultural centers right here in the U.S. This year’s trip is to Jim Thorpe, PA (departs May 16).
“Walking vacations are a great way to relax in this day and age,” Spilner says. “A lot of people can’t go to the beach to unwind, they’re too wound up. Hiking and walking is a way to melt stress out of your body and mind.”
Spilner offers three trips a year. She hosts an annual trip to Switzerland (full for 2010), one to Quebec City (departs August 29), and the Spring Break for Women.
With Spilner, it’s not about the trudge. It’s about the scenery, the people, and the culture. “All my trips center on, ‘What is there to see?’ I show you what you’d want to see if you visited here on your own.”
After nearly seven years in business, Spilner enjoys a close-knit following that turns excursions into events that are more like family reunions. It’s an easy camaraderie that makes her trips more welcoming to first-time trekkers. For more information visit www.walkforallseasons.com.
Country Walkers
Are you looking for the ultimate getaway — but don’t have a destination in mind? Check out Country Walkers. Based in Vermont, these passionate walkers have been “handcrafting” international walking tours for 30 years.
This year you can choose from more than 70 excursions spanning the globe. New for 2010: A trip to Iceland (departs August 3) is “hot off the stove. People can’t wait for departure,” says Carolyn Fox, director of marketing. Other destinations include: Spain and France (departs June 14), Ireland (departs May 17), and Peru (departs May 14). Want to stay closer to home? Journey to Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula (departs June 13) or the Canadian Rockies (departs July 25).
In addition to the traditional group tour, Country Walkers just this year introduced self-guided tours. Designed for fit, independent travelers, these excursions allow you to walk at your own pace, enjoying hikes or cultural events at your leisure.
Despite their global reach, Country Walkers is still focused on the individual. “We know what makes a great walking tour, we’re out walking the trails ourselves,” Fox says. “We want to get people in deep, get you off the beaten path.” For more information visit www.countrywalkers.com.
Club Carefree
It’s an unusual twist to the travel scene. A decade ago, Umpqua Bank tapped Gloria Johnson to build a program aimed at the over-50 crowd, with the dictate to come up with “anything I thought they’d like to do.”
Johnson, a lifelong traveler, started Club Carefree. Today the program is open to adults of any age, and you don’t have to be an Umpqua Bank customer, either.
Club Carefree serves two distinct markets, leisure travelers and avid walkers. Leisure tours are led by Johnson’s colleagues, Donna Jackson and Katherine Wingo. These are high-end trips, featuring top-notch accommodations and motor coaches. Upcoming trips include the Greek Isles (departs August 30), a Danube River cruise (departs October 16), and the best of Australia and New Zealand (departs October 25).
And then there’s Johnson’s journeys. “I call my tours Shoestrings — we’re on our feet and wallowing in culture wherever we go.”
Shoestring is as much about simplicity as it is about budget travel. Accommodations are mid-range, public transportation is favored, and luggage is limited to one bag per traveler.
Johnson’s walkers have traveled to China, Peru, and Italy. They have tackled humanitarian projects in Africa, and gone to New York’s famed Broadway to see a show. In fact, that trip was so popular she is offering it again (departs May 31). Another U.S.-based excursion is Washington D.C. (departs September 9). For the inveterate traveler, Johnson is planning a trip to Costa Rica (departs January 2011). For more information, email Gloria Johnson at gloriajohnson@umpquabank.com.
Susan Rich regularly writes about walking, health and fitness, and home improvement. Contact her at www.richwriting.com.
|
|
