In the days and weeks leading up to the commencement of the 2010 Winter Olympics, a flurry of activity will begin to take place in one of the most beautiful cities in North America – Vancouver, British Columbia. Fans, vendors and athletes alike will flood the city in preparation of the games, culminating with the lighting of the Olympic Torch as part of the Opening Ceremony on Friday, February 12th.

Although, most of what you’ll hear about Vancouver, British Columbia in early 2010 will be about this year’s Winter Olympic Games, remember that the Olympics aren’t the only adventure happening in, and around Vancouver in 2010. Austin-Lehman Adventures offers two remarkable British Columbia Tours, with departures in July and August of this year.

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Dan Austin on how adventure vacations offer the perfect motivation to get in shape.

When Dan Austin signed up to climb Grand Teton, the highest mountain in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park, he committed to reaching two of his New Year’s goals: 1) to make it the daunting 13,775 feet to the top, and 2) to get in shape, and to stay in shape in order to make the climb as easy (and fun!) as possible.

Running an adventure travel company, I get asked all the time: “How fit do I need to be to take one of your trips?” For over 20 years my answer has been the same: “It’s really up to you – ALA vacations are as active as you want them to be. That said, the better prepared or in shape you are, the more enjoyable the trip will be.”

It’s true –Austin-Lehman adventure tours are designed for everyone. That’s one of the top benefits of small group travel. Our guides are experts at tweaking the experience to everyone’s desires. Feeling energetic? Opt for a more rigorous hike. Craving a day at the spa? No problem. Your level of activity is yours to decide.

Now all that said…putting in a little extra effort to get in shape in the months before your departure can make a difference. Jogging just a few extra laps around the neighborhood, believe it or not, will make pedaling that hill in Italy or hiking that trail in the Rocky Mountains a lot more pleasant (think about it – what would you rather spend your time thinking about on your vacation – the burn in your quads…or the beautiful scenery?).

I’ve signed up to climb Grand Teton next Summer with my daughter, Kasey. We are going with an outfitter called Exum Mountain Guides. Based in Jackson Hole, they are the experts when it comes to rock climbing instruction and guided mountaineering. As it turns out, our guide, Bill, guided for me when I first got into the industry with Backcountry Tours, too many years ago to count!

I couldn’t be more excited about this trip, and I’ve already begun working hard to make sure my 53-year-old legs are as ready as they can be to take me the 13,775 feet to the summit. I ride my bike to work every day and I try and get on the treadmill 2-3 times a week at the steepest setting (we ascend 7 miles and 5,000 feet on day ONE!). I’ve also incorporated some yoga into my workouts and already I feel great. If I can just stay on this schedule (it’s really quite easy), I will be ready and Kasey and Bill won’t leave me at the side of the trail.

The moral of the story: if you’re thinking about how to get in shape this year – about what it will take to get you out there biking, walking, jogging, stretching – how about signing up for an adventure vacation? It might just give you the extra motivation you need. It’s worked for me!

I’ll be documenting our Grand Teton ascent, so stay tuned for more details. Oh, and Ryan – I haven’t forgotten – you owe me a cold beverage upon our return to the valley floor!!

The word eco-tourism has become one of the great buzzwords of the travel industry. What’s funny is that if you ask 100 people exactly what eco-tourism is, you’ll probably get 100 different answers! A simple definition of eco-tourism is travel to sensitive natural environments that focuses on sustainable travel by respecting the environment and preserving local cultures.

As demand for eco-tours and responsible travel have exploded, many adventure travel companies simply repositioned themselves as eco-tourism companies. But there’s more to eco-tourism than just a name. To Austin-Lehman, eco-tourism involves making substantive changes in operations which means keeping group sizes small, staying at real eco-lodges, and working to keep dollars flowing to the local economy.

Small group sizes reduce the footprint in sensitive natural environments and local cultures. There’s no way you can run tour groups of 25 people to the same places day in a day out and not have a massive impact on the environment and the culture. Austin-Lehman chooses to focus on small group and only doing most itineraries just a few times a year.

Using lodges built with local materials, in harmony with nature. Lodges like Casa Corcovado, Casa Turire, and Pacuare Lodge on Austin-Lehman’s, Costa Rica, Wilderness & Wildlife are carefully selected for their use of of natural wood, local materials, local labor, and harmony with the natural environment. Oh, and some of these lodges really are luxurious– just because it’s eco-travel, doesn’t mean it can’t also be luxury travel.

Eco-tour operators also have a responsibility to help grow the local economy of the places they impact. It’s important to keep as much money in the hands of the local businesses as possible. By using local tour in-country tour operators and suppliers, Austin-Lehman is able to distribute to really help developing local economies.

By focusing on small groups, staying in real eco-lodges, and working with local businesses, Austin -Lehman is actually doing something many companies aren’t — they’re making a difference.

Glen Spencer is the Managing Editor at InsidrInfo.com

Christmas is right around the corner. That means Christmas trees, presents, family, and well. . . snow. With it shaping up to be an El Nino year in North America, you can expect lots of snow– especially in the West. If skiing is your thing, then great, you’ll be in luck this year. If you need a family getaway and just can’t bear fighting the lift lines at Vail or if you get bored to death sitting on the beach in Hawaii, perhaps this year, it’s time for a Christmas Family Vacation in Costa Rica.

Without a doubt, Costa Rica is the jewel of Central America. Lush jungles teeming with exotic wildlife, wild rivers, volcanoes, quaint villages, and yes, beautiful sandy beaches, with great surfing and snorkeling, make Costa Rica the ideal destination for a Christmas family adventure vacation.

While your neighbors are shoveling the snow from their driveways, you could be rafting Costa Rica’s Reventazon River with your family, zooming down a zip line through the lush canopy of the Los Angeles Cloud Forest, or watching the look on your child’s face as they see their first green tree frog on a nocturnal jungle nature walk.

Looking for great beaches? Costa Rica has that too. If you’d like to learn to surf, the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is ideal, especially at Christmas time, when the waves are smaller. Likewise, the gentle surf conditions at Christmas time at Manuel Antonio National Park, offer snorkeling appropriate for the whole family.

Austin Lehman’s alternative Christmas trip, Coastlines to Cloud Forests, hits all these spots and gives families the ideal balance of fun, adventure, and relaxation. It’s up to you this year. . . snow shoveling or Costa Rica?

Glen Spencer is the Managing Editor at InsidrInfo.com

The newspaper has been full of stories on what a big year it’s been for National Parks. With travelers looking to control expenses and stay closer to home, U.S. National Parks saw 4.5 million more visits in the first half of this year alone than last year. While that sounds like a lot, In reality, that 4.5 million visitor increase at National Parks was just a 3% increase in visitors over last year. Even in the busiest parks, there’s still plenty of room to get out and explore.

Here are 5 good reasons you should consider a National Park Vacation:

1. Great Hiking Trails. National Parks are know for great, scenic, well-built hiking trails. Great trails let you focus more on the scenery and wildlife and less on tripping! Trails like the Death Canyon Trail in the heart of Grand Teton National Park, Half Dome in Yosemite, or the hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon on the Bright Angel Trail are absolute classics.

2. Real Adventure. National Parks are home to some of the most adventurous fun you’ll find anywhere in the U.S. Trekking in Zion’s Virgin River Narrows, (rated 5th on the list of best 100 Adventures by National Geographic Magazine), rafting the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park, or learning to rappel in the shadow of El Capitan in Yosemite are some great adventures you can have in our National Parks.

3. Amazing Scenery. There’s a reason a National Park is a National Park. It’s beautiful. There’s no way you can stand at the rim of the Grand Canyon, or the top of Bryce Canyon, the top of Angel’s Landing in Zion, or gaze up with wonder at the jagged Teton range and not get just a little goose-bumpy.

4. Family Fun. National Parks are great places for family adventure and fun. Biking down a path in the shadow of the Tetons together or wading in a creek in Yellowstone and watching the wonder on your children’s faces as they see their first moose wander by are unforgettable family experiences.

5. Surprisingly few Crowds. Sure, you’re going to watch Old Faithful go off with hundreds of other people and you’re going to have a hard time getting a car campsite at Jenny Lake in Grand Teton on the 4th of July. One of the funny things about our National Parks is that few people stray from their cars. There are literally hundreds of unvisited geysers in Yellowstone. Away from the John Muir Trail, Yosemite’s backcountry is empty much of the year. Few people really see the best of our National Parks.

Great hiking trails, real fun, amazing scenery, family adventure, and surprisingly few crowds make America’s National Parks a great option for adventure travel.

Glen Spencer is the Managing Editor at InsidrInfo.com