Adventure Trips

Is there any better way of experiencing a place than cycling the back roads of a destination? I think not! 

Making your way to Old Faithful Geyser via bike will surely be a memorable part of your Yellowstone National Park vacations.  Cruising the rolling hills of California’s Wine Country, or the sea side trails of the San Juan Islands add an adventurous element to your trip that shouldn’t be missed.  Feeling the breeze on your face as you explore the natural wonders of not only our domestic destinations, but all across the globe, really helps give you a sense of peace and place as you travel.

Biking for vacation can seem overwhelming if you haven't done it before, but once you are on that seat, participating in all the elements around you, I promise, you will soon realize there is nothing better! Imagine pedaling your way through the small villages of Europe, coasting down hills to the salt pans of Peru, or biking the Michelson Trail in South Dakota.  Why not trade your 4 wheels in for 2 and see where it takes you! With so much to see and do I hope you will try incorporating biking into your future adventure vacation packages.

Your Friendly Adventure Consultant,

Mindy Vanderhoof

Your Friendly European Guide,

Kavya Bisz

Learn more about Kavya

A few years ago my family decided we should take a European vacation.  My cousin was living and studying in the Loire region of France and our family (3 generations!) decided we should go for a little visit.  I would never turn down an opportunity to travel, so off to France I went with the family!  The plan was to arrive in Paris, take the train to meet up with my cousin and then set out by car to tour the history rich Brittany/Normandy regions of France.  While we didn’t have a set daily agenda, we did have some hotel reservations and definitely had a list of places to visit.

This trip turned into nothing less than a disaster.  We spent more time getting lost, getting frustrated, finding attractions closed, arriving very late at night to our hotels and peering in the windows of closed restaurants.  We spent very little time actually relaxing and enjoying our time in France and enjoying our family vacation.  Looking back now I can find some humor in the whole thing, but that trip really got me thinking about guided vacations.  If we would have gone with a guide my grandmother would have actually had time to savor her coffee and a delicious dessert in the gorgeous villages we sped through.  My grandfather would have actually had time visit Utah Beach.  Our meals would have been filled with delicious food, smooth French Bordeaux’s and conversation rather than meals filled with zombie like stares and frustrated silence.  While we saw some amazing things on our comical European vacation, we wouldn’t have missed so many things and there would have been much more family harmony if we would have traveled with a guide.  We can finally look back on our family adventure vacation and laugh but it has taken years.  Years! 

So here are my top five reasons I highly recommend traveling with a guide.  These are lessons learned the hard way! 

Top 5 Reason’s You Should Go with a Guide

1. No Getting Lost.  We spent countless hours backtracking, looking at maps, attempting to read road signs in a foreign language and finally finding our way just in time to miss out on whatever we were trying to find.  When traveling with a guide all that is handled for you.  The guides are experts and not only do they speak the language but they know the best routes, the best coffee shops or attractions along the way. 
2. Insider Knowledge.  Whether it is pointing out some history of the area, telling a local story or simply knowing where the cleanest bathroom is located guides have the insider knowledge on local sights, culture and hours of operation. With years of experience there is no better way to travel than with an experienced guide.
3. Best Food.  While you are bound to stumble upon delicious food in many places, when traveling with a guide you know you are experiencing the best food the area has to offer.  In many cases the guide you are traveling with is a personal friend of the restaurant owner or has become friends over the years of doing business together.  You are going to get the best service, the best table, the best reservation time and the best food! 
4. More Relaxation, Less Stress. When traveling with a guide all of the details are handled for you.  You get to truly enjoy your vacation and the time with your loved ones.  It truly makes your vacation a time to relax and take it all in! 
5. New Friends.  Not only is your guide going to be your local expert, driver, daily planner but by the end of the trip they will be your friend.  Guides love what they do and they love getting to know people from all over the world.  Going with a guide will give you an experience like none other.   

You will never go at it alone again, trust me.

Your Friendly Travel Consultant,

Melissa Ladvala

It all started with a casual conversation with my daughter's college roommate at her graduation last May. "Hey, Jacq, you should go to Peru with Kasey and me" . A couple of weeks later our group had grown from two to four, and then to five. A few more weeks down the road and our group is now seven in total, our final number ended up being eight!

I love to travel in South and Central America, and Peru has been on my bucket list of adventures for a very long time. The scenery is fantastic, the food is delicious and the locals are so friendly that I have a hard time leaving them.

In order to get ready for this adventure I have been training for the last six months. Four mornings a week I have been going to fit camp at the gym at 5:30 am. Yes, it sounds crazy, but, I have to be able to keep up with the youngsters in the group! I know that day when we climb Huayana Picchu I will thank our fearless fit camp leader Angie for all of those extra lunges. While I cant do much to prepare for the altitude, the rest of me (body & soul) will be strong and ready to trek on down the trail!

I have been so excited about our trip, that even though my suitcase is still on the shelf in the garage I have packed and repacked my bag and my pack in my sleep! Counting the days until our departure and watching weather.com!

Your Travel Wizard,

Carol Austin

After weeks and weeks of planning and “waiting”, its finally here,  time to pack and hit the airways and head south, way south to Namibia for our ultimate Safari tour. While I am not looking forward to close to 20 hours of flying, I can’t wait to touch down in Windhoek Namibia.  As luck would have it, I have some great friends that just happen to be there as well.. the good folks from the Adventure Travel Trade Association and a few others are all meeting in Windhoek before our arrival.  We should connect for a cold beverage if all goes well. 

We will overnight in Johannesburg and continue on to Windhoek on Sunday AM.  As many times as I have done this, I still get excited when I walk off the tarmac and see our guide for the next week standing at the gate with a big smile and a sign that says “Welcome Austin’s”...  nothing confirms your arrival at the “right” destination as much as that simple welcome sign! 

While this isn’t our first trip to Namibia and we will be revisiting some of our favorite camps, it’s the time in the Dunes and discovering the Skeleton Coast and Walvis Bay I am most looking forward to.

We will do our best to post some pictures from our adventures in Southern Africa (tech gods willing) and be sure to bring back literally thousands to share with all and relive over and over the good times to be had…

Stay Tuned….

Dan Austin

In less than two weeks, I will be embarking on the journey of a lifetime – hiking into Machu Picchu “the back way” via the Salkantay Trail with family and friends. This is a trip that has been in the workings for an entire year! I’ve been counting down the days until May 16^th just like a little kid counting down to her birthday. The date of departure for my Peru: Salkantay Lodge to Lodge trip is just on the horizon,  and this much longed for adventure is getting gloriously within reach…

I tried to figure out exactly which part of the trip I’m most excited about, but I just couldn’t do it. When it comes down to it and I read over my daily itinerary (again and again), I find each part of this trip equally as thrilling. Hiking to a high-altitude glacial lake, crossing a 15,000 foot pass, and visiting an organic coffee farm are just a few of the highlights that I’ll experience in a few week’s time. I guess if I had to pick one experience to look forward to the most, it would be seeing a distant southwesterly view of Machu Picchu from Llactapata Pass, a view that most people never see. I have no doubt that the whole trek will be absolutely magnificent!

Secondly, I’m excited to spend time with some special family and friends. Any of Austin-Lehman’s trips can be created as a custom or exclusive adventure for you and the people who mean the most. Seeing the world with close companions make hiking vacations all the better and something for you and yours to cherish long after the adventure has come and gone. As for me, I’ve rounded up a motley crew of my mother, college  roommate and her parents, and a fellow guide who works at ALA – talk about an interesting group! We may all be quite different in our daily lives, but we all share one thing in common – a passion for travel and adventure!

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m just a little bit excited for my upcoming trip to Peru. The point of this whole blog is to get you excited about adventure and to put the idea in the back of your head that rounding up a few of your buddies may seem like a lot of work, but it’s worth it in the long run.

See you on your next adventure,

Kasey Austin

Most photographers dream of going on a African Safari, while few get the tremendous opportunity. This May I get the amazing opportunity to go take pictures in Namibia. But this isn’t my first time, for me this is a second chance. In the summer of 2010 I visited the beautiful country of Namibia with Austin-Lehman Adventures and it quickly became my favorite destination. But I had one regret, that I was unable to capture the truly magnificent sights. I was armed with a 10 year old dSLR, with fewer megapixels than my phone’s camera and one telephoto lens. The trip wasn't a total photographic loss however, I did come home with 20 or 30 pretty good shots. 

Fast forward two years, after a college class on photography and more hours spent reading photo blogs than my college textbooks; I am ready for my second chance. This time my bags are packed with more photo gear than clothes. As the clock counts down to my departure date I struggle to contain my excitement for my first real trip as a photographer. 

Andy Austin

Peakphotography.org

Tools of the trade for this trip:

Canon Rebel T2i
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8
Canon 50mm f/1.8
Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-5.6
Canon Speedlite 430 Mark II Flash
Oben ball head tripod
Clik Elite Escape Backpack

I don't think excited is a strong enough word for how I feel about my upcoming trip to Ecuador. I will be taking my 66 year old Dad on his first adventure vacation! We've done some hiking vacations before, but they were a long time ago. This will be his first full-on multisport trip at 66! I mention this becuase it is awesome, I have to give the ole man some credit for taking me up on this adventure. 

We are first headed to the Provinces of Cotopaxi, Napo and Pichincha to see our friends at Tierra del Volcán. There we will be doing some horseback riding, hiking and biking around the National Parks, as well as helping with some conservation projects. We will be staying in some real haciendas in the Cotopaxi area. (photo of Hacienda El Tambo) We will spend 3 days treking around this extraordinary ecosystem of the Condor Bioreserve, which has a considerable amount of local endemism.

Next we will be heading to the Galápagos Islands for a sea and land based trip. I think the right word would be "stoked" for how I feel about going to the Galápagos. Day 1 we will head to the National Tortoise Reserve, where we will get to view giant Galápagos turtles in the wild and maybe see some short-eared owls. Day 2 we will be kayaking and snorkling around the islands, followed by a stop at the Darwin Research Center. I am pretty excited about visiting the Darwin Research Center, I'm kind of a fan of Darwins work! Day 3 we will explore North and South Plazas Islands, making a landing on South Plazas, where some of the richest flora and fauna per square foot in the entire Galapagos Archipelago. After that we will be sadly head back to Quito and then on a plane back to the States.

I will be taking a lot of photo and video gear, so make sure you check back and see some of my photos/videos. I will also try and get some travel blogs up while I'm there.

Leave a comment and tell me what you would like to see photos and video of most! I'm looking forward to getting photos of some local boobies... Blue Footed Boobies that is!

Till next time...

Jonathan

As I was putting on my hand lotion today the smell of lavender took me back to my San Juan Islands adventure vacation in August.  After our group enjoyed an amazing picnic lunch created by our guides Blair and Toby at South Beach. Which by the way, South Beach is located in American Camp that was developed during the Pig War back in 1859 between the United States and Great Britain over a pig crossing the country boundary line and meeting its demise.  The war created the English Camp to the North and the American Camp to the South.  The two camps now make up the San Juan Island National Historical Park.

But I digress, after lunch the group jumped on their bikes and headed to the Pelindaba Lavender Farm.  You can smell the lavender before you see it as you have to crest a small hill.  Once you reach the top you see this stunning farm with rows and rows of different kinds of lavender.  I thought lavender came in one variety but I was quickly proved wrong.

At the farm you are allowed to spend as much time as you wish walking up and down the rows of lavender, cut your own bouquet or visit the gift shop where you can purchase items that are made from the lavender.

The San Juan Islands are an archipelago (a chain or cluster of islands) located in the northwest corner of the United States and are part of the state of Washington.  In the archipelago, six islands are accessible by passenger ferry operated by the Washington State Ferries system.

On our San Juan Adventure, we visit the 2 largest islands, San Juan and Orcas, over a 5 night 6 day trip which is a hiking vacation, cycling tours, kayaking trip, photograph adventure and a cruise to hopefully see Orca whales, sea lions, eagles and other wildlife, all in one!

Your Friendly Adventure Coordinator,

Christy 

What kid doesn't love swimming, camp fire cookouts, sleeping out under the stars and water wars! Kids (and adults) of all ages are in for a treat when they launch on this exciting Idaho Family Salmon River Raft . You'll spend the next 6 days traveling through the canyons of the Snake and Salmon River, hoot and holler while you swim the river and ride the rapids. On the banks of the Salmon and Snake hone your "corndogging" skills. Learn the history of the Snake and Salmon Rivers including tales of the Nez Perce Indians and Chinese miners of the late 1800's.  

When looking  family adventure vacations make sure to put this trip at the top of your list!

Your Family Adventure Wizard,

Carol Austin

The Canadian Rockies... Just look at that view! You'll find the Canadian Rockies in the province of Alberta and I must say Alberta blew my mind on my last trip there. Alberta in my opinion is one of the best, if not the best place for adventure vacation packages. It is just loaded with adventure activities: hiking vacations, cycling tours, white water rafting, rock climbing and all in the most beautiful places I've ever seen. The Canadian Rockies is also home to my all-time favorite hike, going up Sentinel Pass. Hiking Sentinel Pass you'll see Lake Louise, an unreal blue-green lake, Valley of the Ten Peaks, hanging glaciers, wildflowers, wildlife, dark green forest... I get excited just thinking about it! 

Another bonus of our Alberta adventure vacations is our amazing guides, this year we were able to get both our Canadian guides to return. Marcy is our veteran and lead Canadian guide, she's an Albertan local and absolute expert on the area. She will be guiding with Anne, an outdoor enthusiast with an incredible passion for sharing her love and knowledge of the outdoors. I was lucky enough to have both of them as my guides last summer and it made my trip having such professional and awesome guides. The photo below is of Anne (left) and Marcy (right) on the Sentinel Pass hike, with Valley of the Ten Peaks in the background.

Your friendly Alberta lover,

Jonathan

P.S. If you're reading this Marcy and Anne, thanks for showing me your beautiful country!

Just over a week from today I will head back to the African continent and my favorite country in the world of Namibia. I pretty much always get at least a bit excited about upcoming travels, but down right ecstatic when it comes to heading to Africa…  This trip will be no exception and will highlight both new regions (Skeleton Coast and The Dunes) as well as re-visit some of my past favorites (Damaraland, Palm Fontein and Etosha NP)

There are some real special nuances of this trip that is sure to make it very special.  First I will be traveling with Andy my son and it's shaping up to be one of my favorite family adventure vacations. This will be his first gig as a photographer, shooting the incredible landscapes and ever present wildlife. That’s a good start!  Next up is the unique nature of the program itself and our traveling companions.  We are traveling as guests of The World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) and our new partner Wilderness Safaris (W.S., The leading safari company in all of southern Africa). WWF and WS are looking to not only educate us, but seek our input and insight on the local village conservancies.  Namibia is “ahead of the pack” in how they work with local communities to create truly sustainable tourism opportunities.  The majority of the lodges are on community land and staff by locals in a partnership with WS.

I will share a lot more on the conservancies when I return and have an in depth understanding… you can count on that.

Now while this is “work”, no trip to Africa would be complete or even close without the traditional safari tour.    We will spend the first few days exploring The Dunes out of Sossusvei, the largest Sand Dunes in the World!  (this is a first for me).  Next up we will head to the Swakopmund and the Skeleton Coast for a few days of exploring ship wrecks and kayaking with one of the largest sea lion colonies to be found anywhere in the world.

Then its fly north to start our adventure with the good folks from the WWF.  We will visit conservancies and camps throughout the north.  “Stalking” the elusive desert elephant along the dry river bottoms of Damaraland.  (our home for the night Damaraland Camp is the oldest JV Conservancy in Namibia and our host and camp manager is one of the few women in such a high position!)  

Then on to tracking black rhino (doesn’t that just sound cool?) out of our camp outside of Palmwag (my favorite camp in all of Africa).  Tracking rhino as part of a JV with Wilderness and the “Save the Rhino Trust” and partnership that has clearly resulted in the largest population of the endangered black rhino anywhere on the planet.

Moving on we will be headed to Grootberg Lodge, the first 100% conservancy owned property in the country. A region rich with predators, the conservancy works with the locals to be more tolerant of the cheetahs and lions that also call this home.

Now into the “real” bush and a camping expedition at Otjimumbunde.  You really haven’t experienced an African Safari until you sleep in a tent with the only thing separating you and the wilderness is a thin strip of canvas.  The night comes alive with all the sounds of Africa and is sure to keep your blood pumping just a bit more than a luxury lodge.  The “stories” around the camp fire by the locals will only help to set the stage.

Always a highlight we work our way to Etosha National Park and is 22, 270 sq. KM if saline desert, savanna and woodlands.  An amazing 114 different species of mammals are represented in the park… watering holes will set the stage for endless hours of photography literally thousands of animals.  It is about as rich of a wildlife experience as you can find.  Highlights will be herds of the largest elephants on the continent (measuring 4 meters at the shoulder),  one of the few “growing” populations of black rhino,  the trio of “Big” cats (lion, leopard and cheetah) more antelope (Kudu, gemsbok, eland and dik dik to name a few) than one can imagine and over 300 species of birds.. (including flamingos), of course then there are the reptiles and just so much more, Etosha should be on any wildlife lovers bucket list.

As we wrap up what might be my favorite adventure vacation packages we will then spend a few days in Windhoek. Here we will introduce the group to our efforts with Wheels of Change.  Andy and I will spend some time at one of the BEC’s and just get caught up with the bike crews and work on plans for our next shipment later this summer.  Time allowing we will visit with some friends running cycling tours into one of the Windhoek townships.

Then unfortunately it is back up and head home…  if all goes well with Andy, we will return with literally thousands of images and video to sort through and relive (and share) our adventure over and over again.

If I wasn’t excited about going before I penned this “blog” I sure am now…..  in closing I share an old African Proverb  “Return to an old watering hole for more than water, friends and dreams are there to meet you!”

More to come...

Dan Austin

If you’ve never experienced the breathtaking beauty of the Havasu Canyon, you need to put this awe-inspiring place on your “to-go” list asap! The colors will astound you: the reds, oranges, and yellows of the surrounding canyon (Havasu is an offshoot of the famous Grand Canyon), the unreal blue-green waters of Havasu Creek, and the popping green of the cottonwoods in the base camp combine to form a spectacular vacation destination for you and your family! I wanted to share a few of my favorite memories of this trip to inspire you to take an adventure vacation with ALA!

One of my favorite memories of my Havasupai Vacation that I took with my mom on a college Spring break was stepping, sliding, and climbing down the travertine cliffs near Mooney Falls using chain railings and stanchions sunk in the jagged rock. Talk about excitement: seeing this 196 foot waterfall from above, midway, and below, all while carefully making our way down steps carved into the rock through caves and around rock faces, is an awesome experience I will never forget!

Another memory I will always remember is when our guide, Stephan swam with me and a few other brave souls behind Havasu Falls. Swimming under that pounding 100 foot waterfall had my adrenaline running on high, but we soon made it under the roaring falls (it doesn’t sound that loud until you’re actually in the falls!) From there, we looked up to find a ladder that climbs to a low lying niche behind the falls. From this niche, we were able to jump through the falls, emerging mid-air for a brief second before disappearing into the deep blue-green waters below. What a rush!

Of course, there are many ways to enjoy this beautiful canyon, and if you’re looking for hiking vacations (with some camping and swimming involved), this is the place for you! I don’t want to give anymore away (I could truly continue to relive the memories) because you need to experience this wonder for yourself. Hope to make more memories soon on a Havasupai Adventure!

See you on the trails!

Kasey Austin

Being National Park Week I wanted to share what Austin-Lehman is doing to protect our nation's most valuable treasures. Every year since 2010, Austin-Lehman Adventures has supported US National Park preservation by selecting a recipient National Park program and donating a portion of its profits, this year we have chosen to help Canyonlands National Park. Last year with the help of our amazing guest we raised $5,400 for the Yosemite Conservancy.

In times of reduced Federal funding (National Park programs suffered a $101 million funding cut in the 2011 Federal budget alone), ALA has pledged a $100 per person donation to a designated non-profit organization for each guest reserving a spot on its 2012 small group Arches to Moab Multisport Adventure.

“New guests and our loyal alumni love knowing that a portion of their trip fee helps preserve our national treasures” said Dan Austin.

Our Arches to Moab proram lets you explore Canyonlands National Park. See the amazing Colorado River by raft and pedal between burnt-orange sheer-walled canyons and enormous white-rimmed sandstone towers on a road snaking through Colorado National Monument. Marvel at how itty-bitty you feel as you traverse looming, crimson rock formations at Fisher Towers. Hike by ancient petroglyphs remains etched in stone, a glimpse into the rituals and beliefs of the Fremont, Anasazi, Navajo and Anglo communities of thousands of years past.

It is our privilege to be the stewards of these natural wonders and to protect something that has given us so much. Helping to make sure that these natural treasures are around for future generations. Austin-Lehman offers family adventure vacations and adult advenutre vacation packages to see Canyonlands National Park.

Your friendly nature lover,

Jonathan

There is just something about the desert for me.  It is harsh, unyielding and somehow so rejuvenating.  One of my personal favorite hiking vacations is in the desert of Arches National Park.  I always feel energized, relaxed and satisfied after spending a few days amongst the red rocks and under a radiant blue sky. 

The dry desert landscape of southern Utah is rugged and sometimes seems inhabitable, yet there is an abundance of hearty plants and critters who call this park home.  I am most reminded of these when wandering the park in the spring when out of nowhere flowers appear.  It seems nearly impossible but somehow they flourish.  It is so incredible!

While there is endless exploring to be done in Arches National Park, one of my favorite hikes is along the Devil’s Garden Trail.  If you don’t have a lot of time you can do an easy two mile round trip in and out to see Landscape Arch.  This is one sandstone formation you do not want to miss on your visit.  It is the longest and one of the most impressive arches in the entire park.  It is 290 feet across and it truly seems to defy all laws of gravity.  One thing to keep in mind about Arches National Park is the impermanence of the rock formations.  They are in constant transition.  So only time will tell how long Landscape Arch will be around; I’d definitely see it sooner than later!  You can continue the entire length of the trail which is a loop just over 7 miles long.  It winds its way through some incredibly scenic terrain and takes you past 7 more impressive and less known arches.

After an amazing day in Arches, with the best adventure travel company,  I love to settle in with a glass of wine and watch the sun disappear behind the red rocks while reflecting on my incredible day.  The evenings are cool and calm and sleep comes so easily as I am eager to wake up in the desert paradise for another day of exploring.

Your Friendly Travel Consultant,

Melissa Ladvala

Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska’s inside passage is not only one of our most beautiful national parks, but also spans 3.3 million of the 25 million acre World Heritage Site found in Alaska!  One of the most amazing aspects of the bay is that it did not exist back in 1794 when Capt. George Vancouver sailed the Alaskan Coast line.  Since then, the glacier has receded approximately 65 miles to reveal the earth that now sustains bears, moose, wolves, a multitude of birds, and several other species of land based animals and plants.

Here you will find not only towering glaciers, snow-capped mountains, forests, fjords, watery wilderness, and wildlife, but a serene peace found in only the remotest of destinations.  I have not yet traversed Glacier Bay National Park, but will in just a few short weeks when I set out on a small cruise ship sailing from Juneau to Sitka. 

My life’s dream has been to see whales in the wild (sorry SeaWorld, Shamu doesn’t quite count), and mid-July seems to be the perfect time to see both Humpback and Orca whales!  I have attempted to go whale watching before but it has never quite work out; The weather turned bad, the Seattle trip fell through… any number of reasons, but this year is MY year!  If we keep our collective fingers crossed I am sure that the whales are going to materialize!

If you are at all interested in calving glaciers, subtropical rainforests, or majestic animals in their natural habitat, than consider Glacier Bay National Park for your next adventure.  Whether you are looking for a solo trip,  adventure vacations for couples, or family adventure vacations, Glacier Bay has the variety to satiate even the most adventurous demeanors.  

Your Friendly Travel Expert,

Mindy Vanderhoof

We did it again! National Geographic Traveler has chosen ALA for their 2012 50 Tours of a Lifetime! This time with our ground breaking Cuba Tours, Austin-Lehman is one of only a handful of adventure travel companies to be granted a "people to people" license that allows us offer cultural tours to Cuba. ALA Director Dan Austin recently returned from our first Cuba tour and couldn't have been happier, Cuba was better than he had imagined. Dan came back with a ton of amazing photos, video and a greater appreciation for this beautiful country. To see some of Dan's amazing photos check out of photo gallery of Cuba photos.

For more information on our Cuba Tours please visit our Cuba trip page: The Real Cuba

Below is a guest quote from our first Cuba tour and a video from Dan's adventure in Cuba.

"I'm convinced that the best way to get off the tourist path and behind the scenes where the real Cuba exists is on a small group people-to-people adventure with Austin-Lehman. I was curious before the trip, now I'm totally fascinated by the people, enchanted by the country and itching to go back!"  Dave Wiggins, Boulder, Colorado
 

Kasey's Kids Webinar

Kasey Austin is leading a group of young adventurers into an interactive webinar about what kids really want from their family adventure vacation. We first said we would give the first 25 kids a "certified cool" kids pack and an ALA gift. But since the boss is out of town till after the webinar, Kasey and I have agreed to give every kid that attends a "certified cool" kids pack and an ALA gift!!!! Is that cool or what?

Who is Kasey Austin? Kasey Austin is one of our top veteran guides and has been guiding family  adventure vacations since she was 6 years old. Kasey's passion for the outdoors is contagious and she is always a hit with the kids. The few trips I've been on with Kasey there is always 1 or 2 kids that say "I want to be a guide like Kasey when I grow up."

Last summer Kasey guided our Yellowstone tours, Alaska adventure vacations and cycling tours in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

This summer she will be guiding and working in the office, sharing her knowledge and passion for the outdoors to help us create even better trips. That is the focus of Kasey's Kids Webinar, to find out what kids really want from an adventure vacation. Then we can take knowledge we get from this webinar and apply it in the field to make our family adventure vacations the best they could be!

For more information on Kasey's webinar check out www.austinlehman.com/kids

Or to sign up for this webinar, please visit: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/571338808

This Webinar is Sunday, April 14 @ 4pm EST.

Thanks and hope to see you there!

ALA Adventurer,

Jonathan

Kasey here, Field Operations Liaison/Guide for Austin-Lehman Adventures. As a guide of our new South Dakota Adventure last year, I am so stoked about this trip that I’m coming at you today with my top 5 reasons to pack your bags and head on over to the Black Hills with ALA! And we’re off…

1. The Mickelson Trail – Ahhh, Isolation…

If you’ve ever wanted to ride alone on a beautiful bicycle trail, then check our South Dakota cycling tours! We spend a few hours here and there throughout this six day adventure biking the 109 mile Mickelson Trail. This crushed limestone and gravel trail travels up and down through towering ponderosa pine forests and traverses private farmland full of haystacks and cows. And the best part – there’s a good chance that you won’t see another biker on this deserted trail!

2. The Towns – A Look Back in Time

South Dakota is full of those towns that you’ve heard of but have never been to. You’ll witness the vivacity of Deadwood, a lively little town in the midst of the Black Hills National Forest, famous for its historic characters like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Sturgis, a normally sleepy town for most of the year, transforms into a rough and tumble motorcycle rally each August where people travel from around the world to partake in some motorcycle madness!These are just a few of the towns you’ll explore, by foot and by bike, that are vibrant with stories of the past.

3. Custer State Park – Wild Burros!!

Custer State Park, South Dakota’s largest and first state park, is home to a wide array of wildlife from its famous herd of 1500 free-roaming bison to pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep. You’ll even get to meet the friendly wild burros who roam freely in the southern section of the Park, walking straight up to your van or bike to grunt a hello.(Hint: you may want to be carrying a granola bar or two on you!)

4. Wind Cave – Damp, Dark, & Dank…NOT!

The United States’ first cave to be designated as a national park was Wind Cave, established in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt. On our tour with our National Park Service guide, you’ll learn the fascinating (and somewhat funny) story of how this cave came to be our nation’s seventh national park. If you’re looking for a creepy damp cave, stalactites hanging from the ceiling, and bats flapping around, this is not the cave for you. Wind Cave is quite the opposite, and you’re guaranteed to see the intricate boxwork formation that this cave is known for, up close!

5. Mount Rushmore/Crazy Horse Memorial – A Must See

Last, but certainly not least, you need to make the trek up to South Dakota to witness the majesty of what the locals call “The Heads” (more commonly known as Mount Rushmore). Sculpted by Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln, this memorial is a must-see for every person, not only as a tribute to our American presidents but as a magnificent work of art on a large scale. Equally as awe-inspiring (but not as well known) is the nearby Crazy Horse Memorial, a commemoration to the famous Native American leader and a response to Mount Rushmore. Discover both on our South Dakota Adventure Vacation Packages!

See you on the trails,

Kasey Austin