Try a Voluntourism Vacation
Recent events, such as the devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, have left millions in need of assistance. In each case, medical professionals and relief workers were quick to respond, but rebuilding will take time. Now, a growing number of vacation travelers want to combine their leisure time with service to others. This combination of volunteerism and tourism, often called “voluntourism,” provides a way to experience a destination’s life and culture in a deeper way.
There are many options for voluntourism. The best way to start planning may be to ask yourself some questions:
First, where do you want to be a voluntourist? Opportunities abound around the world, both in well-known vacation destinations and far off the beaten track. To give just a few examples, you could work with children in a Cambodian orphanage, help conduct a wildlife inventory in Costa Rica, or teach English to the children of nomadic families in Mongolia. There are also many opportunities in the U.S., from clean-up days in the national parks to building Habitat for Humanity homes.
Second, what skills and abilities do you have to offer? If you already volunteer, you’re probably well aware of what you can and want to do. If not, write a list of what you think you could do. You may be handy with a hammer, good at fixing electronics, a whiz at leading children’s activities or coaching sports. Financial skills, organizing skills, or the ability to play an instrument can all be put to good use. Sometimes, all you need is a positive attitude and willingness to try.
Third, how much of your trip would you like to spend as a volunteer, and how much as a tourist? Any amount of time that you spend as a volunteer is sure to be sincerely appreciated, but you should not feel pressured to reduce the time you’d like to spend as a leisure traveler.
Finally, what is your minimum standard for accommodations and dining? Do you need your own room, or just your own bed? Can the bed be a sleeping bag on the floor? Do you prefer to have running water? Are you open to eating the local cuisine?
After you’ve considered these questions, take your answers to your travel professional, who can help you find a voluntourism opportunity with reputable organization that will give you the travel experience of a lifetime.
Touring America’s Newest Baseball Parks
Wherever you travel this summer, if you’re a baseball fan, you’ll be tempted to check out the local ballpark. If you’re near one of the following new – and spectacular – ballparks, make it a point to visit.
Citi Field in Queens, New York, is the new home of the Mets. The ballpark’s overarching steel bridge motif symbolizes New York City’s 2,000-plus bridges and the team’s connection to all five of New York’s boroughs. The front entrance is a rotunda that honors Brooklyn Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson. More than 40 percent of the park’s 42,000 seats are on the lowest level, bringing more fans closer to the action than they could be in the old Shea Stadium. There’s also an incredible array of food to enjoy, including gourmet hamburgers and fries.
The Minnesota Twins have played in six ballparks, but Target Field in downtown Minneapolis is the first built specifically for the team. The stadium’s gates are numbered after retired numbers worn by Twins players, including Kent Hrbek, Rod Carew and Kirby Puckett. Concessions include Minnesota favorites like walleye and Juicy Lucy cheeseburgers, as well as some of the famous “on a stick” foods served at the Minnesota State Fair. Target Field is an open-air stadium, but the heated viewing areas and heated field will help the players and fans keep warm if the weather turns chilly.
National Park in Washington, D.C., home of the Washington Nationals, is the first certified “green” major professional sports stadium in the U.S., which means it meets rigorous standards for resource conservation. Fans who conserve resources by riding their bikes to the game enjoy free valet bike parking, too. The stadium’s modern design includes three levels of upscale club seating, including the Stars & Stripes Club. This park has earned great reviews for its seating, with ample leg room and excellent sight lines.
Ask your travel professional to help you work a visit to a major league ballpark into your summer vacation itinerary.
Celebrate the Fourth
The Fourth of July, the official birthday of the United States, is worthy of a great celebration. It’s an especially good time to visit a city rich in U.S. history, such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, or Washington, D.C.
Boston’s Harborfest is a multi-day celebration with hundreds of events around the city. On July 4, follow the parade from City Hall to the Granary Burial Ground, where wreaths are laid on the graves of the patriots. Take a walking tour along the Freedom Trail, listen to a reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Old State House, or attend a service in the historic Old North Church. In the evening, the Esplanade along the Charles River will be filled with the sound of the Boston Pops orchestra, with the concert followed by fireworks.
The highlight of New York City’s celebration is fireworks over the Hudson River, but there’s plenty to do in the hours before that beautiful display. During the day, take a walking tour of sites related to the Revolutionary War and the early days of the republic, including Fraunces Tavern, the graves of Alexander Hamilton and General Richard Montgomery, and Federal Hall. See how many hot dogs you can down at the annual hot dog eating contest at Coney Island; or, visit Battery Park to enjoy a free Fourth of July concert.
Philadelphia celebrates its status as America’s birthplace for ten days around the Fourth of July. On the fourth, find a good spot for your blanket along Benjamin Franklin Parkway and watch the city’s Independence Day Parade. Stay to “Party on the Parkway,” an afternoon of fun, free entertainment and lots of food. In the evening, there’s a concert and a gorgeous fireworks display over the historic buildings of the city.
Washington, D.C., hosts America’s National Independence Day Parade along Constitution Avenue. The parade features bands, fife and drum corps, military units and drill teams from across the U.S., as well as floats, VIPs, celebrities and giant balloons. On the National Mall, the National Folklife Festival features the many different cultures and ethnicities found in America. The day comes to a close with a concert featuring the National Symphony Orchestra and one of the country’s largest fireworks displays.
To make arrangements to be in one of these historic cities on the Fourth of July, talk with your travel professional.
Places to See Before and After the World Cup
If you’ll be traveling to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, June 11-July 11, arrive early or stay on to see some of the other wonderful sights of the country at the southern tip of the African continent.
Cape Town, which is one of the venues for the World Cup, is a world-class city unto itself with its majestic, plateau-like Table Mountain overlooking Table Bay. The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront brims with shops, hotels and restaurants to suit every taste.
Within an easy drive of Cape Town is the Cape of Good Hope, once notorious for its shipwrecks where you can now experience what it’s like on the edge of the earth. Within miles of the Cape of Good Hope is Boulders Beach, home to a colony of thousands of African Penguins. Also within driving distance of Cape Town is Stellenbosch’s magnificent wine country where you can sample the area’s signature Pinotage as well as other varietals.
Beyond Cape Town, go on safari to see some or all of the “big five” – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and Cape buffalo – at one of South Africa’s safari parks. You’re likely to see many other exotic species, including incredible birdlife, as well.
If you’re a surfer, South Africa has dozens of beautiful and uncrowded surfing spots, many of them highly rated by experts. Just remember that June and July are the middle of winter in South Africa, meaning it’s wetsuit season for surfers.
South Africa also has several UNESCO World Heritage sites. One of the most popular is the Cradle of Humankind, located just northwest of Johannesburg, where many humanoid fossils have been found. There are caves to explore, a nature preserve and an education center.
For more information on places to see in South Africa before or after the thrilling World Cup soccer matches, talk with your travel professional.
Contact a Travel Professional in one of our three locations for assistance with you next trip - we look forward to working with you!
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