A Year in Review: Reflections, Highlights & Photos from 2014 AdventureWomen Travelers

2014 is drawing to a close and as we celebrate the holidays, we thought you might enjoy hearing from our 2014 travelers. They’ve sent in some wonderful tributes describing what traveling with AdventureWomen meant to them – in photos and in their own words. Enjoy!

 

The Best Women’s Downhill Ski Clinic
Thank you for all your hard work and planning on the January 2014 ski trip! It was a great experience, good people, good food, great snow and ski instructors! I was very impressed by the diversity of women in our group; skiing experience, ages, professions, hometowns and the reasons that brought them together to ski Bridger Bowl. Special treat to meet and have dinner at Susan’s fabulous home. Looking forward to joining y’all next year. – Nancy Casden

Cruising India’s Holy Ganges
Visiting the Taj Mahal was one of my main reasons for traveling to India. Little did I know that the small villages and especially the people would far outshine the Taj. Seeing India via a river cruise aboard the Bengal Ganga, such a simple way to travel in comfort and ease, made the trip even more enjoyable. The sights, sounds, and culture of India are things that everyone needs to experience at least once in a lifetime. A beautiful country that I would definitely visit again! – Gayle Hagins

Baja Whale Watching
I swam alongside a 20 foot juvenile polka-dotted whale shark, who will be 41 feet long when she grows up! Swimming with her, and the juvenile sea lion…were indescribably stunning moments in my life… – JJ Van Name

Best of Chile

The wine country was great… I found the Atacama Desert very interesting… an other- worldy landscape… but the highlight was Easter Island… the 15 moai at Ahu Tongariki, the quarry at Rano Raraku, that marvelous beach at the Anakena all in one day was so incredible. – Diane Steele

 

Walking in Provence
The walking, the accommodations, the food, the guides, the wine — everything came together to make this one of the most exciting adventures I’ve ever had in my life! I had no idea how lovely South France could be and keep it’s historical charm. What fun to hike and walk on and on with miles of vineyards and olive trees surrounding you every step of the way. [Our guides, Gillian Arthur and her associate]… provided so much knowledge and expertise to us. And to end each day with good food and delicious wines was a perfect complement. Plus I have 14 new friends!! – Mary Ann Donoghue

Gorilla Trek – Uganda/Rwanda
The Rwanda trek… being so close to the gorillas, [is what] I will remember for the rest of my life. The silverback walked past us and was about 6 inches from our feet. The mother and 3-month old was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen…the way she cradled his head… groomed him…. She even picked her nose a couple times…hilarious! – Cathy McGrail

Alaska Wildlife Safari
There is not a day that goes by when I don’t think of my time in Alaska. I will never forget the experience … and the great women that were in our group… I have never laughed so hard and had so much fun. – Valerie Quintard

My favorite moments… the flight over to Bear Camp. I can see the bears from the plane! I have never seen so much wildlife in just one week! – Patty Pickett

What an incredible time I had. I am an active person and absolutely love nature in just about any form, so having a trip where I am not sitting idly, but participating, is much more fulfilling to me. It was much more than I expected and well worth every penny. I will spread the word. – Liz Quick

 

Walking Holiday in Scotland
I have been on other trips designed for women who wish to have an outdoor travel adventure and all were very good. Adventure Women however was exceptional. Our guides did a great job….keeping us safe, laughing and happy. The food, accommodations and company were excellent…I would recommend the trip to anyone. My favorite moments were plentiful but when the captain of the boat backed into Fingals Cave on Staffa Island and played Mendelssohn’s Overture…that was magical. – Mary Lynn

What I will remember most is the friendship and laughter. Everyone was considerate of each other and had fun. It was a very positive fun loving group.The accommodations were truly first rate as was the food! I will definitely travel with Adventure Women again. – Carolyn Mason

Hiking Glacier National Park
The Glacier and Waterton National Parks trip gets 5 stars from me. I especially want to let you know that Stacey and Jen did an outstanding job guiding us.

– Pat Berman

I forgot to mention how much fun we all had on the Glacier Hike. Stacey and Jen were AWESOME – and they made everything seem so easy – I hope to travel with them again in the near future. – Carol Hughes

Iceland Horseback Riding

[Riding Icelandic horses] was an amazing experience … the most fun I’ve had in my entire life! I truly miss the new friends I made… and I would love to see them again! – Susan Hinrichs

What can I say? Just a terrific and wonderful trip. I thought that the “tweaks” make [from last year’s trip] made an already great trip even better (the lesson the first day, the screening so all riders were safe, etc). What great chemistry we all had! – Melissa Johnson

Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Trail
[My] Ah Ha moment was lunch the first day of the hike. What a surprise when we spotted Peter and he had a tray of champagne glasses. And the food was so beautifully displayed. I thought the trip was very well planned, from the lengths of the hikes each day and the places we ate and stayed. The guides were wonderful, charming, competent, and well informed.

– Lynne Srull

…the trip was practically perfect in every way…team of leaders was knowledgeable in different areas, personable, warm, and competent… food was excellent… a congenial and supportive group of women. Even the weather cooperated… Thank you for a truly fantastic adventure.- Cathy Feldman

The Nature of Israel
Israel was just amazing. I was really surprised how beautiful the country was. I feel like I experienced the whole country from North to South and East to West, [walking] on something that has been there from BC/AD. Amir was a great guide and we had a wonderful driver. I got to touch or put my feet in the Mediterranean sea, Sea of Galilee, swim in the Red Sea and float in the Dead Sea. – Sharon Grix

Tanzania Safari
Like our Botswana trip, Tanzania was outstanding. The guides and staff were wonderful. Without a doubt, [my] Ah HA moment was the great wildebeest and zebra migration—-WOW unbelievable. – Sandy Carlyon

I always dreamed of going to Africa and especially to the Serengeti. On our first morning we landed on the little dirt airstrip in the middle of nowhere, loaded into the range rovers and headed toward camp. The scenery was spectacular and a real treat to watch the Masai children herding cattle along the road. Suddenly I saw heads towering over the treetops, giraffes gracefully swaying as they moved through the trees. That was the moment I knew I was really in Africa…it amazed me that we saw so many animals just driving to camp: zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, buffalo and of course giraffes. I knew then it would be a magical trip and it was. – Josie Powell

The Best Hiking in SW Utah
Loved the glorious rock formations. It was as if the history of the geological features was unfolding with each explanation accompanied by the fabulous views. Each hike was my favorite since the terrain and scenery was different with each one. So amazingly beautiful! ! love your organization, its guides, and the wonderful opportunities you provide for these awesome adventures. Again, many thanks for all that you do!! – Norma Tarnoff

The Splendors of Bhutan
The country is amazing, as well as the people. I loved the trip… – Cynthia Jackson

Nepal Trek in the Himalayas
I [enjoyed] the Nepal trip. It was active and for me [and] it was amazing waking up every morning watching the sunrise. Seeing the Himalayan peaks with the sunlight painting the mountains just kept you in awe. I always enjoy meeting new people who seek adventure in different cultures. – Pam Regimbal

It is good to be back…and [to] contemplate all of the experiences of the Nepal trip in retrospect. Much learned, and much new appreciation gained. I find it hard to explain to people here at home. – Mary Neal