Lifeguard: An Insider's Look (sponsored video )
By Lynn O'Rourke Hayes
Heading to the beach anytime soon?
You might want to tune in to “Lifeguard”, premiering tomorrow. The docudrama series follows the men and women who guard the sometimes treacherous and varied terrain of 150 miles of California coastline.
Southern California is home to one of the most famous coastlines in the world. From Malibu to San Diego you’ll find some of the busiest, most popular beaches in America. Lifeguard! will offer an up close and personal view from the well-trained lifeguards who keep tabs on swimmers and make over 10,000 saves a year.
Observing wild animals in their natural environment never loses its appeal. Here are five places where you and your family can see extraordinary creatures in the place they call home:
Flamingos . These long-legged beauties favor tropical and subtropical habitats and are becoming increasingly rare in the US outside of zoos and nature parks. Your chances of seeing the exotic and colorful birds increase as you head south of our border. During a recent visit to the natural wonderland of the Galapagos Islands, we spotted a few dozen Caribbean flamingos standing in a shallow lagoon surrounded by a mangrove forest. Their favored habitats include large alkaline or saline lakes or estuarine lagoons void of vegetation. Contact: www.RowAdventures; www.ThomsonFamilyAdventures.com.
Whales. Paddle through the waters Jacques Cousteau called “the world’s aquarium” for the chance to spot gray, blue and fin whales as the migrate through the pristine waters of the Sea of Cortez ( Gulf of California.), home to one third of the world’s whale species. You’ll camp on sandy beaches with blue-footed boobies and ospreys nesting nearby. Snorkel in hidden coves, hike up the cliff to catch sight of a whale breaching in the distance and enjoy the beauty of a star-studded night sky. www.Tofino.com; www.SeaKayakAdventures.com.
From Bears To Bison Non-profit Wildlife Expeditions is an educational outreach program of Teton Science Schools. The nature pros provide year-round wildlife viewing and natural history interpretation for families interested in a close-up, and ethical view of the Greater Yellowstone eco-system’s resident animal population. Experienced biologists share their knowledge and use their skills to locate elk, deer, moose, bison, bighorn sheep, wolves and bears set against the backdrop of the towering Teton Mountains. Contact: 1-877-404-6626; www.TetonScience.org.
Sand Hill Cranes. Among the oldest living birds on the planet, Sand Hill cranes are the stars of a migration celebration that takes place each year along Nebraska’s Platte River near Kearney. Recognized for their song , identifiable up to a half mile away and the brilliant red that crowns their head, the graceful birds are known to ride thermals at an altitude of several thousand feet and to travel from as far away as Mexico to Siberia. Each year, as many as 500,000 Sand Hill cranes return to the shallow river and sandbars that dot the Platte river valley. From March 5-April 10, 2010, the Audubon Sanctuary offers expert guided field trips and blinds for up-close photography. The festival takes place March 17-20, 2012. Contact: www.audubon.org; http://nebraskacranefestival.org
Alligators. It is estimated that Florida is home to more than 1.25 million gators. Swamps, lakes and canals provide a natural habitat for the reptiles. Your most reliable opportunity to see them in the wild is within or near Everglades National Park, a World Heritage site and the largest sub-tropical wilderness in the U.S. Bike, car and tram tours are available. It is wise to be cautious in alligator country as the large and powerful creatures can appear slow and sleepy and can virtually disappear in as little as one foot of water. Contact: www.sharkvalleytramtours.com/; www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm
May your love of travel and exploration continue to grow!
Three days in Japan and I have to admit I’m full of Shinto - and a better man for it.
For me, Tokyo has always been a bit of a pass-through. I would stop for a day or two on the way to somewhere else in Asia, so when I finally got the opportunity to spend a week in and about the city, I jumped at the chance.
My hotel was in the Shinjuku part of the city, an intense locale of high-rise office buildings, west of the Ginza. The rail station I’m told is the busiest in Japan, with 3.5 million people per day passing through its portals. Now, I’ve lived in Manhattan, so I know a little something about crowds, but to see a train pull into Shinjuku Station and the masses emerge is really quite fascinating – you just don’t want to get in the way as thousands of well-clad commuters rush for the exits.
Read the rest of Steve Bergsman's report from Tokyo here.
British Columbia’s Panorama Mountain Village will turn on the savings at 4:00 p.m. (MST) February 12 through to 5:00 p.m. (MST) February 14 with their 49 Hour Sale.
Huge savings can be realized by booking nearly every aspect of the perfect ski getaway for just $49.
- Accommodation: Book into any size condo or town home for just $49 per person, per night.
- Lift Tickets: $49 one day lift tickets (per person per day)**
- Lessons: $49 half day group ski or snowboard lessons (per person per day)
- Equipment rentals: $49 ski or snowboard rentals (per person for two days)
- Childcare: $49 per child, per day in Wee Wascals
- Dining: $49 for two entrees and two desserts at Wildfire Rustic Grill or Chopper’s Landing
