Batter Up!

Thursday, March 28th, 2013

-by Bill Cartiff

If you know me, you know that my other passion in life, besides Alaska, is baseball. Opening Day is just a few days away and this time of year seems to conjure up thoughts warm spring days, a new beginning and a down home American feel. It’s Baseball Season!!

My beloved Pittsburgh Pirates’ 20 consecutive losing seasons aside, I love what the sport of baseball offers us; cameraderie…a childhood love….historic lore….and a game that seems to draw people in on so many levels (think – a father teaching a son how to catch, sharing a beer and hotdog with your best buddy at a game, or…visiting some of the most famed venues in all the sports world).

For all you baseball lovers out there (single, married, father/son, mother/daughter, male or female, best friends, grandpa/grandkids….) I invite you to join me on weekend trip chock full of baseball nostalgia, baseball-oriented activities and modern day baseball excitement.

We’ll visit Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium and Citi Field….plus the famous Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. In addition to the games at each ball park, you’ll have on-the-field VIP experiences including a behind the scenes tour of The Green Monster and a backstage tour of Yankee Stadium. You’ll even get to “batter up” with some hitting practice at local batting cages.

This is a dream trip for baseball lovers of ALL ages and I hope you’ll come along with me to New York, Cooperstown and Boston:

http://amazingjourneys.net/trip/baseball-lovers-dream-weekend

Tags: Baseball, Baseball Hall of Fame, Batter Up, Batting Cages, Boston, Boston Red Sox, Citi Field, Cooperstown, Fenway Park, Green Monster, Mets, New York, New York City, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Opening Day, Red Sox, Spring, Yankee Stadium, Yankees
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Alaska – a paradise of another kind

Friday, March 22nd, 2013

When one thinks of a vacation paradise, the mind tends to conjure up images of a beach in Aruba or a sunset in Hawaii. A real paradise is something that doesn’t exist in the tangible world; rather it is a meaning that humans give to something that brings peace, tranquility, serenity and beauty to their lives. Alaska is, by that definition, the quintessential paradise of the highest extremes. By winter, the cold and ice and landscape combine to create images that can’t be described in words alone. By summer, the adventures, wildlife and seasonal brevity lure people in for 3 months to catch a glimpse of its majesty.

Alaska as a destination is an adventure of the mind, body and soul. Each season in Alaska is an unusual, profound, memorable and unpredictable experience in its own right. There is no wrong time to visit Alaska. Just ask a native. Just ask yours truly who has been there in the summer, spring and yes, even the winter. Just ask anyone with a true sense of adventure who has chosen to go where so few have gone…when so few have gone.

Alaska is a blessed place and one where you need go…..and go again, if you’ve already been. If you haven’t been, go. Go this summer! (Come with Amazing Journeys!! http://amazingjourneys.net/trip/cruise-alaska-2013) If you have been, you really do need to go again; you’ve only seen “the tip of the iceberg” and there’s SO much more to see and do. There are many many bucket list experiences that you can indulge in – white water rafting down a glacial river, bear watching along a fishing stream, hiking on a glacier via helicopter, biking an a national forest….and so much more. And that’s in the summer! In the winter you can go snowshoeing in a national park, dogsledding in the wilderness, Auroroa Borealis (Northern Lights) gazing in all its glory, party with the locals during the Iditarod festivities….and you get to meet some of the most interesting people in all the world.

Above all else, the experiences and memories that an Alaskan journey leaves behind is a place on the planet that touches your soul. Between the bucket list checklist and the unpredictable wildlife and deeply rooted culture and the vast uncharted landscape…..you know that you have been in a paradise of unparallelled proportions. Alaska is Mother Nature’s Showcase. Come! or…Come back again!

Tags: adventures, Alaska, Amazing Journeys, Aurora Borealis, bear wating, bucket list, dog sled, dogsledding, glacial river, glacier, helicopter, hiking, Iceberg, Mother Nature, Northern Lights, Paradise, Rainforest, Travel, Vacation, whale watching, White Water Rafting, Wildlife
Posted in Interesting Things about Interesting Places, North America | Comments Off

A Night in the Big Apple!

Tuesday, February 5th, 2013

Amazing Journeys is coming to New York for a party!

Join us in the City for a night of “reunionizing” with old and new friends alike. For those who have never traveled with us before and are eager to see what we’re all about, this is your night to meet the staff of AJ as well as scores of New Yorkers (and New Jersey-ers and Connecticut-ers….and out-of-town-ers who are coming in just for the fun of it) for a fun midweek gathering. We’ll begin the evening with a short presentation on our 2013 lineup of trips, along with some incentives, specials and prizes. Following the show, we open the bar and restaurant for 2 hours of what Amazing Journeys does best; fun and friends! This is what we are all about and if you haven’t yet caught the buzz, come along and catch it. You’ll be glad you did!

If you have traveled with us before, come by to say hello and visit with old and new friends alike. We look forward to seeing you again!

We’ve rented out one of the Upper West Side’s hottest establishment for 3 hours in total - a private event just for Amazing Journeys friends; past present and future. We hope to see you there!

Tuesday, February 19 at Prohibition - 503 Columbus Avenue

6 – 7 pm Presentation:
7 – 9 pm Happy Hour with staff and friends of Amazing Journeys. Join us for drinks and party food!

$18 per person if you register by February 15 ($25 after, and at the door)
*Includes exclusive private use of Prohibition, one drink and a variety of party food! Additional drinks are available for purchase.

For Jewish Singles of all ages.

For more information and a registration form, click here: http://amazingjourneys.net/trip/party-in-new-york

Tags: AJ, Amazing Journeys, Jewish Singles, New York, New York City, Party, Prohibition, The Big Apple, Upper West Side
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Balloons in Review

Wednesday, October 17th, 2012

Our New Mexico tour has come to an end but not after an avalanche of “oooh”s and “aaaah”s and “wooooah”s as 40 Amazing Journeyers took in all the beauty and pagentry that our 48th state has to offer this time of year. Some of the highlights of this magnificent tour:

On our first full day we wasted no time as an early morning wakeup call provided us with one of the most photographed events in the world, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Viewing the Dawn Patrol and the Mass Ascension, over 100 colorful balloons from around the world made the sky become a pallet of multicolored orbs dancing in the cool morning light. Following the morning festivities, we enjoyed an Albuquerque City Tour featuring the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center depicting the history and culture of New Mexico’s 19 Native American pueblos, and historic Old Town. That evening we returned to the Balloon Fiesta where just before dusk, burners from hundreds of balloons light up the evening sky with the amazing Balloon Glow. What a sight!

On our 2nd day in New Mexico we headed to Bandelier National Monument, best known for its mesas, sheer-walled canyons, rock art and ancestral Pueblo dwellings. We also visited the Los Alamos Bradbury Science Museum to learn about the Manhattan Project and the creation of the world’s first atomic bomb.

We discovered Santa Fe, the upscale resort and artist community with Spanish-Pueblo roots. On our City Tour we visited the Plaza, Loretto Chapel and the Palace of the Governor’s, a Santa Fe landmark built in 1610 as well as an array of art galleries, museums, restaurants and craft shops.

We traveled north via the “High Road to Taos,” passing through ancient villages founded in the 1700’s and stopped in the Spanish village of Chimayo to visit El Santuario, revered by pilgrims for the healing power of dirt found inside the chapel. Taos is the historic home of the Pueblo Indians. Located atop a plateau between the Rio Grande and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Taos has lured artists and writers since the 19th century. We visited Taos Pueblo, one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in North America.

Thanks to all 40 passenger (half them first time AJers!) for entrusting us with their vacation plans and for being part of such an Amazing Journey.

Tags: Albuquerque, Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Balloon Glow, Bandelier National Monument, Bradbury Science Museum, Dawn Patrol, hot air balloon, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Los Alamos, Manhattan Project, Mass Ascension, New Mexico, Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe, Taos, Taos Pueblo
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Weeeeeee…….

Monday, September 24th, 2012

Everyone loves a good roller coaster. Whether its a fast one or one with corkscrews or one with a 200 foot vertical drop…or one that goes from zero to 80 mph in 3.2 seconds , the need for speed takes many turns on a good coaster. Coasters are the lightening rods for fun at Amusement Parks; the featured fun…the thrills that give you chills…and, the reason that 3-hour wait lines were invented. Over 7 million people attend an amusement park every summer and chances are you were one of them.

Amusement Today, a publication that covers the amusement and water park industries recognize the best parks in 25 categories as ranked by “experienced and well-traveled” fans who know their way around the amusement park world.

This year’s winner is Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio! The honor will come as no surprise to diehard amusement park fans who track these things, seeing as this Park has ranked No. 1 in the annual competition since it began 14 years ago.

In other categories, winners include industry giants like Universal Studios and Disney, as well as family run enterprises like Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Ind.

Curiously, though the results were tallied from an international database of fans, according to Amusement Today, not a single non-U.S park landed on the “best” list.

A sampling of 2011 awardees are:

*Best Amusement Park – Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
*Best Waterpark – Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, New Braunfels, Texas
*Best Children’s Park – Idlewild and SoakZone, Ligonier, Pa.
*Best Marine Life Park – SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Fla.
*Best Seaside Park – Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, Calif.
*Best Steel Coaster – Millennium Force at Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
*Friendliest Staff – Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, Ind.
*Best Halloween Event – Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando, Orlando, Fla.
*Best Landscaping – Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Va.
*Best Food – Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pa.
*Best Outdoor Night Show Production – IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at Walt Disney World’s Epcot, Orlando, Fla.
*Best Water Ride – Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Fla.
*Best Dark Ride – Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Fla.
*Best New Ride of 2011: Amusement Park – New Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, Texas
*Best Indoor Roller Coaster – Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios Orlando, Orlando, Fla.
*Best Funhouse/Walk-Through Attraction – Noah’s Ark at Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pa.

Got an opinion? Here’s your chance to cast a vote. What’s your favorite amusement park and why?

Tags: Amusement Park, Busch Gardens, Cedar Point, Disney, Harry Potter, Journey, Revenge of the Mummy, Roller Coaster, Seaworld, summer, Universal Studios, water park
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Wanna Get Away? A Sneak Preview for 2013

Tuesday, August 14th, 2012

Boy, does Amazing Journeys have a lineup for the ages! If you are starting to think about traveling in the next year, just you wait and see what we are going to be offering! We are aware that the information that follows will fill your plates with so many exciting possibilities that you’ll be asking your boss for extra vacation time. This is why we are letting you know NOW what’s in store for the coming year. Get those vacation request days in before your co-workers and lock in what we proudly proclaim will be one of the best–if not THE BEST–vacations of your life!

You may have traveled with us in 2012 or maybe in 2011…..or maybe not for a few years. Or, dare we say….not yet at all? In any case, you’ll need to hold on tight as we tempt, tantalize and treat you to a lineup of Jewish singles trips for 2013 that you will want to start planning for now. We are in the throes of putting the final touches on many journeys that are amazing throughout next year, but its not too early to start planning for them.

Firstly, check out our website (www.amazingjourneys.net) for details on Jewish singles trips that are currently available and sizzling hot:

-Northern California (August 26-Sept 3, 2012); Just ONE spot left!

-New Mexico and the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (October 12-17, 2012); Only 7 spaces left!

-New Year’s Southeast Asia Cruise (December 23 – January 6, 2013); Over 70 people booked!

-Brazil including Rio, The Amazon and Iguazu Falls (February 21-March 2, 2013)

Now that’s what we’re selling today. In the days and weeks ahead, stay tuned for this AMAZING array of 2013 AMAZING JOURNEYS….and start making plans to join us!

Israel: May 2 – 13

Irresistible Italy by Land: June 6-16

Italy/Croatia Cruise: July 19 – 31

Alaska: August 16 – 23

Heli-hiking in the Canadian Rockies: Summer

Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons: Summer

Baseball Lover’s Dream Weekend: Summer

African Safari to South Africa and Botswana: Fall

Australia and New Zealand: Fall

Granted that some of these trips are well over a year away, but there are benefits to starting the planning process now. Send us a note that you are interested in any of our destinations and we’ll place your name and email address on an “interest list”. Interest Lists receive advanced and priority notice of all trips when they become available, and allow those individuals to capture what is sometimes very limited space or, as in the case of our cruises, the very best stateroom location.

Amazing Journeys; going strong for over 22 years and heading towards even more amazing destinations. We hope you’ll join us!

Tags: Africa, African Safari, Albuquerque, Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Amazing Journeys, Australia / Pacific, Balloon Fiesta, Baseball, Botswana, California, Canadian Rockies, Croatia, Cruise, Grand Tetons, Heli-hiking, Israel, Italy, Jewish Singles, National Park, New Mexico, New Year's, New Zealand, South Africa, Southeast Asia, Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park
Posted in Africa, Asia, Australia / Pacific, Europe, General, North America | Comments Off

Tales From the Alaska Trails (if a picture is worth a thousand words, then these memories from our latest AJ is worth millions!)

Friday, July 13th, 2012

Tags: AJ, Alaska, Tales, Trails
Posted in Interesting Things about Interesting Places, North America | Comments Off

Alaska in just a few words…

Wednesday, June 6th, 2012

The word “Alaska” conjures up many thoughts to many people. To the uninformed it can mean “eskimo”, “snow”, “ice” and “wilderness”. To the couch potato, it probably means something like “Deadliest Catch” or “Sarah Palin”. To the adventurer, it means “exploration”, “extreme”, “uncharted” and “vast”. For the true Alaska enthusiast, however, the best words to use can only be emitted after you actually experience it.

There are many general terms that are used to promote the idea of Alaska: “Mother Nature’s Showcase” and “The Last Frontier”are common catchphrases aimed at capturing an immeasurable amount of beauty, nature and charm in just a few words. We like to use the words “amazing” (for obvious reasons), “majestic”, “uncharted” and “unpredictable”.

No matter what words one can use to describe what Alaska is, or means to them, the old adage that “a picture is worth a thousand words” is the only just way to express how special our 49th state really is. That is, short of going there and seeing for yourself.

So, without further adieu….a thousand words:

Want to see this for yourself? Join Amazing Journeys on our 14th Annual Jewish Singles Alaska Cruise/Tour: June 29-July 6th!

Tags: Alaska, Amazing Journeys, Deadliest Catch, eskimo, exploration, extreme, ice, Jewish Singles, Mother Nature's Showcase, Sarah Palin, snow, The Last Frontier, uncharted, vast, wilderness
Posted in Interesting Things about Interesting Places, North America | Comments Off

Weeeeeee…….

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

In other categories, winners include industry giants like Universal Studios and Disney, as well as family run enterprises like Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Ind.

Curiously, though the results were tallied from an international database of fans, according to Amusement Today, not a single non-U.S park landed on the “best” list.

A sampling of 2011 awardees are:

Got an opinion? Here’s your chance to cast a vote. What’s your favorite amusement park and why?

SWIMMING AT THE POLES

Thursday, August 25th, 2011

Granted, this is not a common thought to those of us living in a civilized modern world, but if one were to think on such a plane, one would consider the secret of survival in the Arctic Ocean to be to stay in the boat and not go in the water. Right?

Well…given a challenge and the opportunity (and being just a li’l ol’ visitor from the aformentioned civilized world), I decided TO go in the water; to plunge into the 38 degree Arctic Ocean from the northernmost point in the United States, Point Barrow, Alaska. Barrow is the nearest bit of American mainland to the North Pole and when Amazing Journeys took our Jewish singles group there in 2007 after our annual Alaska cruise, we had the opportunity to join the real and official Polar Bear Club. Membership into The Polar Bear Club in Barrow is authenticated by Club member witnesses from a nearby host restaurant who accept a $15 fee for the right to freeze your butt off. The do provide the towel, however. They also provide authentication of such prowlness. The feat must include full submersion into the water and all successful plungers receive a certificate of authenticity and a Polar Bear Club Patch.

For Barrow visitors, going in the water is something of a tradition, a ritual for the young at heart and the easily bored. But swimming is not Barrow’s sole attraction. There is the novelty of 24-hour light in summer and 24-hour darkness in winter. There are traditional Iñupiat Eskimo festivals—Piuraagiaqta to celebrate spring and Nalukataq for the whale harvest. There is the land itself, flat ground and subtle hills rendered treeless by the permanently frozen soil. There are Iñupiat carvings and handmade fur gloves. There are polar bears.

But we were there to see a land rarely seen by most people from the lower 48. We were there to meet the people who are mostly isolated from the rest of the US. We were there to taste a remote culture where entertainment includes blanket tossing and whale meat festivals. We were there to swim (well, I was)….because I could. Although it stung like a thousand needles, inside, I felt exhilaration as I reveled in the idiocy of my actions.

Cold water swimming is not new for me. Not anymore anyway. It was a rare feat to submerge in the Arctic Ocean, but less than three years later, in February of 2010 I had the chance to say that I could be in rare company. First to swim in the Arctic Ocean and now, the even colder (35 degrees) Southern Antarctic Ocean. I had two friends join me in the Barrow swim, but this time I also had two friends…who didn’t really take the word “submerge” so seriously. Antarctica doesnt’ offer an authentication, so they got certificates too – but your’s truly took the plunge yet again.

Sure there is no way to jump into this icy water and be manly about it (yes, we all came out screaming like little girls) – another thousand needles poking my skin….but I am now a swimmer of both poles.!

How utterly cool…in so many senses of that word!

Tags: Alaska, Antarctica, Arctic Ocean, Barrow, Jewish singles group, north pole, plunge, Polar Bear Club, south pole, swim
Posted in Antarctica, Blog, Interesting Things about Interesting Places, North America | No Comments »