Welcome to the Travel with a Challenge library of destination articles arranged alphabetically by country. Alternatively, you may prefer to browse this diverse collection by topic or by using our heavily-browsed travel theme pages that assemble groups of past and present articles into geographic regions or key interests such as bird and nature vacations, wellness and spiritual vacations, or cruise and train travel.

Africa
Australia
Austria
Barbados
Britain
Canada
  Alberta
  British Columbia
  Churchill, Manitoba
  New Brunswick
  Nova Scotia
  Quebec
  Yukon Territory
China (including Hong Kong)
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Europe
France
Greece (including Greek Islands)
Ireland (including Northern Ireland) India
Italy

Jordan
Mexico
Nicaragua
Oman
Scotland
Singapore/Malaysia/Thailand
Slovenia
South Africa
South Pacific
Spain
Tanzania
Trinidad & Tobago
Turkey
Ukraine
U.S.A.
  Alaska
  Arizona/New Mexico
  California
  Florida
  Hawaii
  Louisiana
  Maine
Vietnam

Africa (see also South Africa, Tanzania)
Learn dozens of ways African elephants communicate, and discover tour operators who can take you into the wild to observe them.

Australia
Australia's Great Barrier Reef and Heron Island attract vacationers who volunteer to monitor the declining health of spectacular coral reefs.

Kangaroo Island, one of Australia's lesser known ecotourism treasures, reveals rare animals, sea mammals and birds against a spectacular geological backdrop.

Thousands of people, toddlers to seniors, join the Great Victorian Bike Ride for nine days of cycling Australia's spectacularly scenic Great Ocean Road.

Spend a holiday on Australia's famed Heron Island, a magical Queensland coast eco-island where Nature rules.

Austria
Ten tips for exploring Vienna, Austria independently on a tight budget, around one of Europe’s most fascinating cultural, musical and historic cities.

Barbados
An Earthwatch Institute volunteer vacation in Barbados reveals an island's history and slave culture from the inside out.

Britain (see also Europe)
Go on a Sierra Club walking tour of Britain's picturesque Cotswold region to explore nature and English history.

Family travel is front and center as a veteran travel writer shares his hitchhiking experiences in Ireland with Mom and a rigorous walk across England with Dad.

Join a popular Elderhostel educational study tour in England to the home territories of some of Britain's most famous literary figures.

New accessible travel guidebook for Europe documents barrier-free vacations in London, Paris, Bruges, Amsterdam and Germany's Rhine River Valley.

Explore Continental Europe, Britain and Ireland by barge or canal boat aboard luxury hotel barges or self-skippered vessels and identify tour operators who deliver memorable experiences in style.

Canada
Alberta:
Alberta’s dramatically-chiseled Badlands offers the perfect “Holy Land” back-drop on a grand scale for Canada’s acclaimed Passion Play enacted each July for the past 14 years.

British Columbia:
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada boasts three boutique hotels with personality -- luxurious accommodations, distinctive stories, gourmet breakfasts and other pleasant treats.

Learn about British Columbia's aboriginal vacations, tour operators and accommodations where nature and colorful cultures are interpreted through native eyes.

Learn about Vancouver, British Columbia's unusual accommodations, tours, eateries, museums and local specialties you never new existed.

Celebrating its century of industrial heritage, Granville Island is transformed into a destination that attracts 10 million visitors a year, just five minutes from downtown Vancouver, British Columbia.

From the Cook Islands and Belize to the U.S. and Canada, check out an ever-growing list of volunteer vacations suitable for senior travelers.

While staying in the picturesque historic village of Telegraph Cove, Vancouver Island enjoy a memorable vacation where marine mammals, including killer whales and humpback whales, abound.

Explore Victoria, British Columbia ’s world famous Butchart Gardens in the Winter season, a time of more subtle beauty by day and dazzling light displays and festive activities each evening during December and early January.

Bear Watching vacations offer an introduction to these always-fascinating creatures and to some educational ecotours where bears are the star attraction.

Grizzly Bears & Killer Whales are the main attractions at a floating eco-lodge on a remote British Columbia coastal inlet.

Canada's Yukon Territory and Alaska's Panhandle provide a rare rafting and camping adventure in The Ultimate Northern Wilderness.

Winter storm watching vacations on Canada's Pacific coast are the latest adventure attraction for North American and offshore visitors.

Churchill, Manitoba
Go on a Polar Bear Watching eco-vacation that takes readers into the heartland of polar bear territory around Churchill, Manitoba.

New Brunswick
Island-hopping from Maine, U.S.A. to New Brunswick, Canada is a rewarding active camping vacation for intermediate ocean kayakers.

Nova Scotia
Drive the Evangeline Trail along Nova Scotia’s west shore Bay of Fundy while sampling historic inns, gourmet seafood and unique natural wonders and wildlife.

Quebec
Quebec's historic accommodations in Old Montreal, Eastern Townships and Old Quebec City are a key element of the cultural history and cuisine highlights of La Belle Province.

Yukon Territory
Canada's Yukon Territory and Alaska's Panhandle provide a rare rafting and camping adventure in The Ultimate Northern Wilderness.

China
Join a two-week hiking tour of China's Great Wall which includes village encounters, memorable cuisine, and rich cultural experiences off the beaten path. Three articles!

Educational and culturally stimulating encounters take Hong Kong visitors behind the scenes with its innovative 'Meet the People' program.

Costa Rica
Though Costa Rica has been a popular cultural and ecotourism destination for decades, it remains full of surprises for short vacations and long term stays.

Croatia (see also Europe)
Join a small group of seniors on an active ElderTreks exploration of unique national parks and richly historic towns throughout Slovenia and Croatia.

Cuba
Guidebook author, David Stanley, shares 10 cultural, historical and natural reasons for senior travelers to visit Cuba now.

Europe (see also individual countries)
A new book by Ron and Adelle Milavsky shows how to take a Recreational Vehicle (RV) holiday in Europe while saving money and adding itinerary flexibility.

Explore Continental Europe, Britain and Ireland by barge or canal boat aboard luxury hotel barges or self-skippered vessels and identify tour operators who deliver memorable experiences in style.

New accessible travel guidebook for Europe documents barrier-free vacations in London, Paris, Bruges, Amsterdam and Germany's Rhine River Valley.

France (see also Europe)
A new book by Ron and Adelle Milavsky shows how to take a Recreational Vehicle (RV) holiday in Europe while saving money and adding itinerary flexibility.

Explore Continental Europe, Britain and Ireland by barge or canal boat aboard luxury hotel barges or self-skippered vessels and identify tour operators who deliver memorable experiences in style.

New accessible travel guidebook for Europe documents barrier-free vacations in London, Paris, Bruges, Amsterdam and Germany's Rhine River Valley.

Greece (including Greek Islands)
Meteora in Central Greece features towering pinnacle rock formations topped with medieval Greek Orthodox monasteries now open to vacationers and pilgrims.

Through the eyes of Greek American culinary expert, Nikki Rose, experience Crete, from rugged, mountainous geography to distinctive culture and cuisine.

The Greek Islands are brilliant stepping stones of thousands of years of Mediterranean history, distinctive culture and cuisine, and spiritual treasures. (three articles)

Ireland (including Northern Ireland)
Family travel is front and center as a veteran travel writer shares his hitchhiking experiences in Ireland with Mom and a rigorous walk across England with Dad.

The Creaky Traveler is back with new independent travel explorations "for the mobile not agile" in southwest Ireland’s counties of Cork, Clare and West Cork.

An active travel exploration through Ireland's Aran Islands and County Clare provides healing and encouragement during a family reunion.

Northern Ireland's famous Antrim Coast offers a perfect week-long hiking and cultural history tour for the active traveler.

Explore Continental Europe, Britain and Ireland by barge or canal boat aboard luxury hotel barges or self-skippered vessels and identify tour operators who deliver memorable experiences in style.

India
Matriarchs of Meghalaya takes readers inside one of northern India's most unique cultural communities where women are the decision-makers.

Darjeeling, India's miniature mountain railway is an historic treasure recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Italy
Travel writer, Margie Goldsmith, takes a horseback riding vacation and lessons in Tuscany, Italy through picturesque countryside and well-preserved medieval towns.

Jordan
A Jewish travel writer and a Jordanian Moslem tour guide identify similarities, not differences that must motivate their people to find peace.

For active seniors, take a hike up Mount Aaron and experience the hospitality of Bedouin tribal people near Petra, Jordan.

Mexico
Explore Mexico's State of Sonora bordering the Sea of Cortez, with mountains, desert and tropical forests as well as a rich native and Spanish colonial history.

Explore Mexico's vast Copper Canyon region in a richly illustrated three part spotlight that features the geology, natural history and indigenous culture of the region.

A fine example of Mexico's new rural tourism shows how a whole community outside Mazatlan can deliver memorable grassroots experiences.

Nicaragua
Nicaragua is a rewarding Central American country for short, medium and long term living on vacation or forever! Two guidebook authors share their knowledge.

Oman
Oman offers authentic, friendly Arabian hospitality, cultural tourism, forts and castles, desert camps, and ecotourism on land and sea.

Oman’s heritage tourism includes authentic architectural restoration of centuries-old forts and castles, some in deserts, others on mountain peaks or guarding fertile valleys.

Visit southern Oman’s Salalah region, land of frankincense, monsoons, fine beaches, fabulous bird-watching and camels roaming the country roads.

Scotland (see also Europe)
Explore Scottish history, nature and environmental challenges at Scotland's Aigas Field Centre, where hosts, Sir John Lister-Kaye and his wife, Lady Lucy, welcome guests to stay on their historic garden-landscaped property.

Take an independent ramble through the rugged remote Highlands of North West Scotland with a travel-seasoned 70-something couple who classify themselves as "mobile not agile".

Singapore/Malaysia/Thailand
Ride the rails in bygone luxury aboard the historic Eastern & Orient Express train from Singapore through Malaysia to Thailand.

Slovenia (see also Europe)
Join a small group of seniors on an active ElderTreks exploration of unique national parks and richly historic towns throughout Slovenia and Croatia.

Visit the famous Lipizzan horses on their Lipica Stud Farm in Slovenia where visitors can tour, ride and even stay on this historic, elegant estate.

South Africa (see also Africa)
Go along on a nature safari with a difference to two South African parks. Tracking wildlife on foot is all part of the fun!

South Pacific
Travel writer, Margie Goldsmith, explores French Polynesia’s Marquesas Islands aboard a modern passenger freighter.

From the Cook Islands and Belize to the U.S. and Canada, check out an ever-growing list of volunteer vacations suitable for senior travelers.

Rarotonga in the Cook Islands of the South Pacific still offers vacationers a glimpse of unspoiled nature, rare birds and an island in transition.

South Pacific guidebook author, David Stanley, shares his knowledge of the black pearls of French Polynesia [also farmed in the Cook Islands] and offers tips on how to select good quality pearl jewelry.

Spain (see also Europe)
Two senior women walk Spain’s Camino de Santiago for 751 kilometers from the French border to Santiago de Compostela, staying in pilgrim hostels and meeting every challenge.

In a small-group tour, walk part of northern Spain's Camino de Santiago in the footsteps of millions of pilgrims over more than 1,000 years and experience the fascination of this route.

Learn about the significance of the Camino passport and the scallop shell that is the pilgrim's symbol for the famous walk to Santiago de Compostela.

A senior American teacher reflects on his expectations of being a pilgrim of Santiago and how those expectations were achieved in some surprising ways.

Tanzania
A Global Service Corp volunteer vacation in rural Tanzania is a rewarding and life-changing experience for one British journalist.

Trinidad & Tobago
Respected Trinidad & Tobago bird photographer, Roger Neckles, shares his passion for some of the islands most colorful and exotic birds.

Trinidad is developing rural, natural area tourism, training local people as guides and hosts, opening up lesser-known areas to adventure travel interests like biking, hiking and kayaking.

Try staying at Trinidad's small-scale, locally-owned hotels, inns and guest houses and sample the best in fresh local Creole and Trinidad cuisine.

Turkey
Discover why archaeologist, filmmaker and tour host, Peter Sommers, considers Istanbul, Turkey, to be the Queen of Cities.

A 19-day ElderTreks' trip through western and central Turkey reveals a rich Greek, Roman, Christian and Ottoman Empire history and a lively present day culture to explore.

Journalist, Alison Gardner, describes her first balloon adventure while sailing over the dramatic scenery of Turkey's Cappadocia region.

While on vacation you can go behind the scenes where Turkey's famous carpets are made in a people's co-op, and learn some tips what to purchase.

An introduction to Turkey's only olive oil museum, tracing its history, production and uses; an exciting example of agri-tourism.

Ukraine
In this dazzlingly-illustrated article, learn about the pagan and Christian traditions of decorated, painted Easter eggs in the Ukraine and Russia.

U.S.A.
Alaska
Bear Watching vacations offer an introduction to these always-fascinating creatures and to some educational ecotours where bears are the star attraction.

Two senior women share their Aleutian Islands independent summer exploration from Homer to Dutch Harbor, Unalaska aboard an Alaska State Ferry.

Step aboard Cruise West's small-ship wilderness exploration of Alaska's Panhandle and inside Passage to discover wildlife and glaciers galore.

Long a popular day-stop on Alaska's cruise ship circuit, Juneau, Alaska's capital, is worth a longer visit, with its character accommodations and eateries, abundant nature and colorful native culture.

A helicopter ride onto the Mendenhall Glacier leads to a thrilling new experience of hiking on Juneau, Alaska's most accessible glacier.

Canada's Yukon Territory and Alaska's Panhandle provide a rare rafting and camping adventure in The Ultimate Northern Wilderness.

Arizona/New Mexico
Learning is fun on an Arizona vacation whether you fancy archaeology, astronomy, wine blending, hummingbird migrations or Mexican cuisine and culture.

From the Cook Islands and Belize to the U.S. and Canada, check out an ever-growing list of volunteer vacations suitable for senior travelers.

Visit an all-inclusive health resort near Tucson, Arizona to discover how wellness vacations are as diverse in their agendas and activity choices as you would experience on a cruise ship.

The desert city of Tucson, Arizona offers a host of historic hotels, manicured gardens and character accommodations to tempt vacationers away from predictable generic hotel rooms. You will love sleeping with history!

Join a Global Citizens Network volunteer vacation lending a hand on native reservations in Arizona and New Mexico.

California
From the Sierra Nevada Mountains to its deepest valley bottoms, discover Yosemite National Park's wilderness vacations on foot, by car and on horseback.

Florida
Northeastern Florida's historic accommodations and sumptuous signature breakfasts make a visit to Amelia Island and St. Augustine unique and memorable.

Hawaii
Meet Chef Matthew Gray of Hawaii Food Tours while you eat your way through Hawaii’s ethnic cuisine, tasty cultural treats for every budget.

Hawaii offers much more than mainstream hotels and resorts - learn about distinctive accommodations on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island and Molokai that will add rich memories to your Hawaiian vacation.

Hawaii offers many educational guided and self-guided tours to explore Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island and Molokai that will add rich memories to your Hawaiian vacation.

Alternative Hawaii reveals an uncommon side of this famous tourist destination, with unique ecological and cultural vacation options across five islands.

The Hawaiian Islands are a world-class destination for health and wellness vacationing. Check out the print and web resources for doing your homework to match your physical, mental, emotional or spiritual goals.

Hawaii' wellness providers, planners, retreat centers and workshops on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island offer healthy holiday choices to suit every taste and budget.

Breathtaking bird photos and personal encounters with Hawaii's wildlife are shared by Jack Jeffrey, Hawaii's pre-eminent nature photographer.

Come along for the ride on a new zipline adventure course high in the tropical mountain rainforest of Maui, Hawaii where half the clients are over 50.

Louisiana
A rich Creole heritage is captured in this travel article spotlighting Louisiana.

Maine
Island-hopping from Maine, U.S.A. to New Brunswick, Canada is a rewarding active camping vacation for intermediate ocean kayakers.

Vietnam
Globetrotter, Charlene Brown, takes her paint box and her unique artist's eyeglasses on a solo trip that captures Vietnam in Watercolor.