Journeys Beyond the Ordinary

A Note From Paul:

Love Nature? Love Travel? Love Luxury?!
THEN IT'S A THREE-FER!

Greetings Travelers! As you probably know, we have a teen-aged daughter, and like many kids her age she's fascinated by animals. Not just the cute cuddly ones, but the strange ones too.

And as you also know, here at JBTO we like to put together vacations that are "more than just a blanket on the beach". So what better way to get away, than on a trip that feeds your child's fascination, and lets you live in the lap of luxury?!

Here are "5 Places to See Animals You'll Never See In Your Back Yard! (And Where You'll Feel SO Pampered!)"

5 Places to See Animals You'll NEVER See In Your Back Yard

(And Where You'll Feel SO Pampered!)

Africa

Of course Africa is legendary for its wildlife, hosting all of the creatures we think of when we think

of "bio-diversity". From mountain gorillas in the north to wildebeest migrating across the southern plains, any trip to Africa is bound to be rewarding to nature lovers. There's "The Big 5" -- lion, elephant, cape buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros -- so termed by hunters because they were the most dangerous to hunt. Of course we only hunt them with cameras now, and so a new group has gained almost equal prominence, "The Ugly 5": hyena, wildebeest, vulture, warthog and marabou stork.

But, but, but...

Won't you be sleeping in a tent and bathing in a river? Nonsense, Africa has some of the most luxurious and well-appointed game preserves in the world, run by Singita, &Beyond, Micato and others. From morning to night you're treated to the best food, the best service and the best game viewing in the world.

The Amazon

While the animals we find on the African continent are mostly familiar, moving to South America we enter a whole "New World". Oh, there are some creature we'll recognize -- the jaguar, the anaconda -- but others are like no other living thing in the world! The sloth,

the giant anteater, the worlds largest rodent called the capybara, and this little fellow called the Jesus lizard. You can see why!

As for accommodations? Hey, it may be a jungle out there, but luxury tour companies like Monograms, International Expeditions and Abercrombie & Kent will see to it that your digs are anything but "primitive".

Tasmania

Ok, now we're getting just plain weird! Despite what all we "Looney Tunes" devotees may think, the Tasmanian devil doesn't actually spin. But that makes it no less weird! And what about the duck-billed platypus? And the echidna?! One's like a beaver, the other is

like a porcupine, but they both lay eggs!!!

But what about your comfort? Your meals? Your restful vacation?! You're in luck!

Crystal

Cruise Line offers cruises to both Tasmania and to our next destinations, the Arctic and the Antarctic, aboard the Crystal Symphony. And this isn't just some run-of-the-mill cruise line -- the line has been voted “World’s Best” by the readers of Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler more than any other cruise line, hotel or resort in history.

The Arctic/Antarctic

Ok, granted... if you go to Antarctica, probably the only wildlife you're going to see are penguins. But you're in Antarctica!! I mean seriously, how many of your friends have been to Antarctica?!

What's more, you can go there with Crystal Cruises (see above) and live in t

he lap of luxury, while all of your friends think you "roughed it"! It's a win-win!

Of course, if you go to the Arctic there are even more creatures to see... polar bears, arctic fox, and the too, too fashionable ribbon seal!

Madagascar

And finally we come to the one place your kid really, REALLY wants to go. She/he saw the movie, bought the lunchbox, wore the T-shirt. Now it's time to actually visit the island!

And while many of these destinations have some totally weird animals... the creatures on Madagascar are just plain fun!

There's the aye-aye...