Travel Gift Ideas - No Matter Who's On Your List

Are you struggling with trying to find a unique and appreciated gift this season?

Do you have everyone from bookworms to adrenaline junkies on your gift list? Everybody has a special interest or hobby and travel is a great gift to acknowledge that activity, provide a new and unique way to enjoy that pursuit, and create lifetime memories.

While major milestones are often celebrated with bucket list vacations, you don’t need a momentous occasion to give the gift of travel. Here is a sampling of a few travel experiences sure to be loved and remembered that might not come immediately to mind when constructing your shopping list:

• Animal Lovers - visit the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre in Malawi; volunteer for Sea Turtle Conservation in Costa Rica
• Adventure Junkies – bungee jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge; live in a yurt on the Mongolian plain
• Book Lovers – Da Vinci Code tour; Literary Pub Crawl in Dublin; tour the Alexandria Library
• Culinary Fans – truffle hunting in Italy; cooking class with Michelin star chef in Mexico
• Dance Enthusiasts – enjoy Tango lessons in Buenos Aires; Salsa clubbing in Havana; learn to Waltz in Vienna
• Fun Seekers – Zipline thru the Rainforest;  race rickshaws through the streets of Siem Reap; drive a dog sled in Alaska
• Sports Enthusiasts – golf at St. Andrews; ski the French Alps; learn to scuba dive off the Great Barrier Reef
• Speed Demons – drive a Ferrari racing car on a track in Italy; participate in an America’s Cup style race in New Zealand
• Theater Fans – see a production at the Globe Theatre in London; a play at the Odeon in Athens; opera in Venice.
• Well-being Enthusiasts – learnTai Chi in Beijing; practice yoga with a guru in India
• Wine Lovers – learn to blend in Provence; harvest grapes in Chile; tour the Australian Wine Country

The list of unique experiences available while traveling is limitless. And, the memories will last a lifetime, unlike most of the “stuff” that we buy?

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Where are the Penguins of Madagascar?

They’re cute, they’re friendly, and thanks to Happy Feet, March of the Penguins, and Penguins of Madagascar they’re very popular! Because they have no natural land predators, they are not afraid of humans. In fact, I found they are extremely curious when around humans and not shy at all.

So where do we go to find these amazing creatures? With one exception, penguins are found only in the Southern Hemisphere. Here is list of regions to find them.

1) Antarctica. Probably the first location people think of for penguins. The ice shelfs and cliffs of Antarctica are home to the Emperor Penguins. There are many islands that host several species of penguins including South Georgia Island and Elephant Island. The easiest way to get up close and personal to these guys is a cruise on an expedition ship. The ships aren’t allowed to dock or anchor on the continent, but they do have permits to take a few passengers at a time by Zodiac to the islands to see the penguins and other wildlife.

2) Africa. Most of the African penguin colonies are located on islands off the southern coast of Africa, primarily South Africa. Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, is one of the more famous islands with penguin colonies. There are also a couple on the South African mainland near Cape Town – Boulders Beach and Stony Point. The Penguin Islands (where else?) of Namibia sports a few colonies.

 3) Australia/New Zealand. Phillip Island, near Melbourne is host to the world famous penguin parade. Every evening at dusk the penguins return to their burrows after a day of fishing and hunting. New Zealand lays claim to being the “Penguin Capital of the World” and there are many colonies of blue and little penguins on the east coast of South Island.

4) Tip of South America. Tierra del Fuego is home to many species and colonies of penguins. Ushuaia, Argentina is a launching point for day trips to the rookeries and if you’re on the Chilean side, Puerto Arenas is your starting point. In addition, the Falkland Islands are home to several colonies. All of these destinations are stops on a Cape Horn cruise. I’ve had several penguin encounters on “Round the Horn” cruises.

5) Galapagos. Many travelers are surprised to learn that there are “tropical” penguins. The Galapagos Islands are the destination of choice for travelers looking to experience an abundance of wildlife in a relatively untouched ecosystem. But, did you know the Islands are the only natural habitat of penguins north of the Equator? One more reason to visit!

So, no. They are not in Madagascar!