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Earth Day is a few days away and Space Goddess and friends are celebrating by attending the Lifetime Fitness Green Living Weekend tomorrow and Sunday, April 18 and 19. We’ll be at the Lifetime Fitness Club in Overland Park, Kansas. See you there!

Discover Snow Monkeys, Cranes and Other Natural Wonders of the Land of the Rising Sun!

Sit with the famed Snow Monkeys of Nagano as they soak in natural hot springs

Watch thousands of graceful cranes at two serene sanctuaries

Discover the tranquil beauty of Japan’s mountains and marshes in the winter

A mention of Japan often evokes images of fast-paced urban life and cutting-edge technology. But that’s just one side of this surprising country. The other is its lesser-known natural splendor. From the snow-capped peaks of Japan’s ancient volcanoes to its abundant wildlife dwelling in deep forests and coastal wetlands, wild Japan is diverse and breathtaking. We visit in winter, when crowds are few and natural backdrops are enhanced by the glitter of snow. This is a season of peace and enchantment, when tens of thousands of hooded and white-naped cranes dance together on the island of Kyushu, majestic red-crowned cranes congregate in the Hokkaido lowlands, and snow monkeys gather to bask in geothermal hot springs.

2 choice departures in 2010! From $8495 per person, double occupancy; single rates available

I’ve traveled through:  Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia—in the footsteps of Captain Cook; Antarctica; Alaska; Costa Rica; Peru; Ecaudor; the Galapagos; Argentina; Chile; Egypt; China; Indonesia; India; Fiji; the Amazon; Kenya; Tanzania; Botswana; South Africa; Zambia; Zimbabwe (when it was safe); Mauritius; Colorado; Arizona; New Mexico; northern Wisconsin; and southern Missouri (actually slept on the ground on the canoe trip—years ago!). 

I’ve sampled many wonderful adventures and now I want to let you know about one of our exceptional partners, Natural Habitat Adventures. NHA knows adventure—from soft to adrelin-flowing! They follow the same philosophy as Great Getaways, which is “Cookie cutter vacations are great if you are a cookie cutter!” We both specialize in experiential travel and both companies are committed to sustainable travel. NHA guides are experienced, well-trained, knowledgeable and professional.

The trips they offer are unique! Let me give you an example: I’ve been to the Galapagos twice and hope to go back again soon. Both times I was on a wonderful expedition ship with great naturalists and guides. What I’ve discovered is that I like “small” and that is what Natural Habitat provides. The yacht they use for the Galapagos holds a maximum of 20 people and they offer something quite special and unusual—you can elect to spend the night in the highlands of Santa Cruz in a safari tent or “tree house” amid an area known for its giant tortoises! Another special offer from NHA is their new land-based Galapagos expedition, in which you stay on 3 different islands, almost unheard of, don’t you think?

This year they’ve added a few new adventures—including the Wild Colorado, Alaska’s Secluded Southeast Coast, Yosemite and the California Coast, and the remarkable San Juan Islands.

Next month I’ll tell you about an exciting opportunity to win a journey to visit the Polar Bear Capital of the World, Churchill, Manitoba, courtesy of NHA, Great Getaways and Lifetime Fitness!

So, if you are an adventurer of any kind, from soft to rugged, contact me today to experience the amazing journeys we create with Natural Habitat Adventures!