• Women in Progress – provides short-term volunteer opportunities for women to use their skills to help women and their families in Ghana. Their “Global Mamas” fair trade project markets products hand-made by women in Ghana to help them form sustainable livelihoods.
• Peace Corps – since 1960 this U.S. government organization has helped 139 countries with more than 200,000 volunteers. The volunteers and host countries also cultivate a better understanding of their respective cultures, helping to form lasting friendships and moving toward the goal of world peace.
• Global Volunteers – offers short-term volunteer programs for one to three weeks. Programs include caring for infants, working with youth and painting or repairing buildings.
• Bridge Volunteers — Connects travelers with meaningful community projects around the world. Outreach programs include teaching, health, sports and animal rescue.
• Micato Safaris “Lend a Helping Hand on Safari” program — travelers can do a one-day visit to the Nairobi slum of Mukuru and plant trees and donate needed supplies.
• Cross Cultural Solutions — helps you find programs you can volunteer for abroad, like teaching students with disabilities in Peru.
• Charity Guide “Volunteer on Demand” – provides volunteer opportunities for the person who doesn’t have much time to commit. You can volunteer whenever you want, from wherever you want. They even give a list of things you can do right away, like keep fast food certificates in your car to hand to any homeless person you come in contact with.

Hotels are getting in on the trend as well. For example the Ritz Carlton’s “Give Back Getaways” program allows guests to spend a day volunteering with a local charity, for example: preparing meals with the Dallas hotel’s chef at the North Texas Food Bank. www.ritzcarlton.com. And for an overall look at where to find the volunteer vacation that best fits you, what to know before you go, or how to develop your own volunteer program, visit www.VolunTourism.org. The site is packed with information, and the blog is a great resource for all of your volunteer vacation questions. I find that when I help others, I help myself in the process. It’s a wonderful way to remember to count my blessings. So consider traveling the world while helping to change it. And remember: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness” – Mark Twain.

Kalin Thomas is Women at Forty’s Travel & Leisure Editor. She is also Senior Writer/Photographer for SoulOfAmerica. Before starting her own multimedia company, Kalin spent 17 years at CNN where she won several awards for her work as producer/correspondent for CNN’s weekly travel program, CNN TravelNow. She is currently writing a book about her travels. For more information on Kalin, visit www.seetheworldproductions.com.

A year after graduation, I took a 14-hour Amtrak train for my first trip to Atlanta to start my exciting career at CNN – a company which started in 1980. And as with all new employees at the company I didn’t get many holidays off. So my first few years I missed traveling home to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family. The 80’s was also the decade when I missed a lot of family reunions. Sadly a few family members died before I got a chance to see them again. That’s why family reunions are so important to me now, and I’m looking forward to our next one in August. According to Bruskin Research, more than 60 percent of Americans attend family reunions each year.

Planning your reunion can be fun, but also a lot of work. According to Reunions Magazine the two top things to do ASAP are to decide on a date and a location. You can always have a reunion in your backyard or at a local park, but when you have a large number of people you may want to travel to a venue. When choosing a location, think of places that have a little something for everyone – from children to grandparents. Here are some popular spots for family reunions:

• Theme parks
• Cruises
• All-inclusive Resorts
• Beaches
• Camp Grounds
• National Parks
• Towns/Cities where the family can trace its roots

Most theme parks, cruises, and resorts even have reunion planners to help you make the occasion come off without a hitch. And don’t forget to take photos and video to have memories you’ll all enjoy for generations to come. For more information on how to plan your family reunion go to www.family-reunion.com and www.reunionmags.com.

Don’t take family reunions for granted. It’s a wonderful time to interview your elders to get more family history, and to find out what life was like during the decades when they were growing up. The way you reminisce about the 80’s and groups like Wham!, may be how your grandparents reminisce about the 40’s and groups like the Glen Miller Band. Who? Ask your grandparents at the next reunion! And remember: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.” Mark Twain

Kalin Thomas is Women at Forty’s Travel & Leisure Editor. She is also Senior Writer/Photographer for SoulOfAmerica. Before starting her own multimedia company, Kalin spent 17 years at CNN where she won several awards for her work as producer/correspondent for CNN’s weekly travel program, CNN TravelNow. She is currently writing a book about her travels. For more information on Kalin, visit www.seetheworldproductions.com.

I joined several other international visitors in a van tour of SOWETO – Southwestern Township. The area is made up of about 33 townships southwest of Johannesburg. Though much of the news shows the shantytowns of SOWETO, there is a lot more to see than that. We chose to take “Jimmy’s Face to Face Tours” which allowed us to get out of the van several times and interact with the locals. (Photo: Kalin & her South African fortune teller)

During the tour we stopped at a monument to the black students who died after being attacked by white policemen during the infamous 1976 SOWETO Rebellion. The students were protesting having to use the white Afrikaans language in school.

We also drove by former president, Nelson Mandela’s boyhood home, which has been turned into a museum. From there we could also see the mansion of Mandela’s former wife, Winnie, who was a warrior in her own right while Nelson was in prison. Eventually we got out of the van to visit a family in one of the shanties. They were very friendly and welcomed us into the their home to see how they live. I have to say it was very sad to see how they lived in a one-room shack with no running water. And some of the other tourists and I started wondering if we were exploiting the people. But Jimmy Ntintili, our driver and tour guide, told us that the people of SOWETO love to see tourists and suggested we give sweets to the children or buy needed toiletries or household items for the adults. He said giving money to the people wasn’t wise, saying “We don’t want to turn the people into beggars.” I decided to spend my money by paying the grandmother in the family to tell me my fortune, since that’s what she did for a living. After telling me to blow on a handful of small bones and other trinkets, she shook them up and threw them out on a cloth on the floor. I was amazed when she started to speak: “You have really bad migraines” (true at the time), “You will divorce your husband” (true – four years later). As she continued telling me about my life, I was blown away by the accuracy. It was a fun, though a bit unsettling, experience.

As we continued to walk through the area, we saw children playing football (soccer), and people going about their everyday lives – some laughter, some tears. We also saw several churches and what’s said to be the largest hospital in the world. Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital was originally built for white soldiers during World War II, and became the hospital for blacks in SOWETO around 1948. Jimmy said a baby is born there every five minutes! But the biggest surprise was finding out there’s a middle-class section of SOWETO where people with much more wealth live. We stopped at one man’s home in Prestige Park who didn’t even know we were coming, but Jimmy asked if we could tour his home and he was happy to oblige. He seemed to want tourists to know that not all people in SOWETO are poor. “Please come in! I am very proud of my home,” he said. The house was very nice and looked like a small, middle-class home in the U.S. – with one exception – he had a leather ceiling in the kitchen! I had never seen anything like it. You could tell from the exteriors of some of the other homes that people were very creative in making their houses unique.

The tour was a wonderful way to mingle with the locals and experience a part of South Africa that you don’t usually see on TV. There are several township tours available for visitors, including touring Cape Flats just outside of Cape Town. For more information on Jimmy’s Face 2 Face Tours, go to www.face2face.co.za/. For more information on other township tours, including those outside of Cape Town, visit the South African Tourism site at www.southafrica.net/. The more you interact with the local people the more you’ll see that no matter our culture or economic status, we are pretty much the same – joys, sorrows, and all. And remember: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness” – Mark Twain.

Kalin Thomas is Women at Forty’s Travel & Leisure Editor. She is also Senior Writer/Photographer for SoulOfAmerica. Before starting her own multimedia company, Kalin spent 17 years at CNN where she won several awards for her work as producer/correspondent for CNN’s weekly travel program, CNN TravelNow. She is currently writing a book about her travels. For more information on Kalin, visit www.seetheworldproductions.com.

School’s out, the kids are on vacation and you’re planning yours.  So here are five free things to do – with or without the kids -  at four of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. As for the fifth adventure, that’s for the dreamer in all of us.

1. New York City – For anyone planning a trip to the Big Apple this summer, check out the Sony Wonder Technology Lab. This free four story entertainment and technology museum is located in Midtown and features exhibits like the “sensi-tile” wall, the Internet Map and the Anytime/Anywhere timeline.  The lab is open Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon until 5:00 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended. Call (212) 833-8100 for more information.

2. Washington DC -  Every evening at 6 p.m. The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage features a free show by a variety of artists performing everything from jazz to gospel to poetry.  The center’s Performing Arts for Everyone’s program (P.A.F.E.) is designed to introduce the Kennedy Center and its programs to a wide audience by providing a performance open to the public and free of charge 365 days a year.

In addition to free Millennium Stage performances, the Kennedy Center sells Pay-What-You-Can tickets throughout the year for a variety of selected future Kennedy Center and National Symphony Orchestra performances. Click here for the complete Millennium Stage schedule.

3. Los Angeles -  On the 2nd Thursday of every month The Downtown Art Walk is in full effect. It’s a self-guided tour that showcases more than 40 art exhibition venues in Downtown Los Angeles including commercial art galleries, museums, and non-profit arts venues. Most venues are open from 12-9 p.m. Click here to download a map and for additional information.

4. Las Vegas – What summer vacation guide would be complete without a trip to Vegas. Despite movies like “The Hangover” there are fun, family-friendly activities in Vegas. Take the Hawaiian Marketplace Island performers for example. The marketplace offers a mix of Hawaiian culture, entertainment and free performances at the top of each hour with island musicians, lei makers, Samoan fire-knife dancers and of course, hula dancers. The marketplace is open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily.

5. Rome, Italy – A girl can dream can’t she? And so can you! Ok, so technically it’s not a destination in the U.S., but Rome is definitely on my bucket list. But after paying for airfare and room & board, I’ll need all the freeness I can get my happy little hands on. For starters, I think I’ll visit The Pantheon. Built in 27 B.C., it’s the oldest standing domed structure in Rome. Then I’ll take a stroll through the ruins of what was once the commercial, governmental, and religious center of ancient Rome – the Foro Romano, or the Roman Forum.  A trip to Rome wouldn’t be complete without a visit to The Trevi Fountain.  Inspired by Roman triumphal arches, The Trevi fountain is the largest and most famous Baroque fountain in Rome. And since tradition has it that throwing a coin into the water guarantees your return to Rome, I’m planning on throwing at least 10 in there! (Image: The Trevi Fountain, Bob Krist)

If you’re not planning to travel this summer or want to find out what’s free in your city, visit http://www.free-attractions.com/ for a list of things to do in your city.

Yoga is offered at the Baltimore Museum of Art each season. Classes are usually held in various galleries that include Contemporary, American Modernism, and African. The teacher is Brianna Bedigian, a certified yoga instructor with a BA in art history. She said yoga is an art, so it was a perfect blend to offer classes at the museum. The summer sessions are held in the beautiful Sculpture Garden. The entire experience was a feast for my senses as I marveled at the sculptures, inhaled the scent of flowers, listened to the birds sing, and felt the cool grass beneath my feet. Though the museum is in the midst of a bustling community, the trees help buffer the sound of traffic. (Photo credit: Kalin Thomas)

The class began with a moment of meditation, and I could feel the stress from my day start to melt away. As we started into our yoga poses, I could see how the art sculptures enhance the experience. Looking at something beautiful put me in a serene state of mind, and made me feel beautiful, too. I started to get back in touch with my body and give thanks for all that it has given me – even when I don’t treat it well. Half-way through the class Brianna read a little about the huge, red sculpture we were moving around, and read a quote from its artist, Alexander Calder – most famous for inventing the mobile. The class ended with another moment of meditation, but I hated to leave this oasis in the city.

I enjoyed the class so much that I’ve decided to drop-in whenever I visit Baltimore. And you can do that , too. Though full season sessions are $95 for museum members and $110 for non-members, visitors are welcomed to drop in on a class – just call in advance for cost and to be sure the class isn’t full. Classes are on Tuesday evenings, and the first summer session goes through July 6^th. The second session goes from July 27^th through August 31^st. After dropping in on a class, treat yourself to a nice dinner at the museum’s restaurant, Gertrude’s. All entrees are reduced to $12 on Tuesday nights.

Other unique places offering yoga/meditation classes are zoos and aquariums. Can you imagine the calming effect of fish floating by as you meditate? Ask the concierge at your hotel for the nearest yoga/meditation class. You’ll be surprised at how just one class can relieve travel-related stress and boost your mind, body, and spirit. For more information go to the museum’s site at www.artbma.org, or Brianna’s site at www.quietwindsofchange.com. And remember: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness” – Mark Twain.

Kalin Thomas is Women at Forty’s Travel & Leisure Editor. She is also Senior Writer/Photographer for SoulOfAmerica. Before starting her own multimedia company, Kalin spent 17 years at CNN where she won several awards for her work as producer/correspondent for CNN’s weekly travel program, CNN TravelNow. She is currently writing a book about her travels. For more information on Kalin, visit www.seetheworldproductions.com.

The King and Prince originally opened in 1935, as a private dance club where celebrities, dignitaries, discerning families and business travelers could enjoy dancing by the sea to live band music. And it was THE place to be during the resort era of the 1950’s and 60’s. But if the walls could talk, they’d tell you that the hotel withstood the test of time through two fires in its first two years, and a closing for about five years during World War II. That’s when the U.S. Navy occupied the hotel to defend the southeast coast from German warships. Today a recent multi-million-dollar renovation makes the 75-year-old look as elegant and regal as ever, with ornate painted ceilings and stain glass windows.

I recently enjoyed a charming stay at the resort where my room had a bed so soft and comfortable that I was tempted each morning to sleep in — but the sunrise always called me out to my ocean-front balcony. I was pleased to see that though the hotel is vintage, the amenities are not. My room had a large, flat-screen TV and free wifi. For larger parties, there are also two- and three-bedroom villas and private guest houses. The resort also boasts five indoor and outdoor pools. Just off the lobby is the Delegal room where I enjoyed a wonderful “Southern Charm Sunday Brunch” – a sumptuous buffet that not only included breakfast foods and made-to-order omelets, but also: fried catfish, Georgia buttermilk fried chicken, barbeque ribs, mac and cheese, and their delicious South Carolina shrimp and grits.

As a part of the hotel’s celebration, the Executive Chef, Robyn Gomez, did a cooking demo to show how he prepares the shrimp and grits. The shrimp were huge and fresh, having been caught right off the St. Simon’s coast. I enjoyed the meal with champagne in the Solarium (the hotel’s former front lobby) with a 180-degree view of the ocean. (left: King and Prince Executive Chef, Robyn Gomez)

After stuffing myself at the hotel, I was able to get in a little exercise walking the beach and touring the property, which included the gorgeous King and Prince Golf Resort. The 18-hole course, which is dotted by live oaks and marshlands, underwent extensive renovation last year. I spent some time on the driving range, only to realize my golf clubs have been collecting dust far too long. The mini golf clinic they offered still couldn’t get the rust out of my swing. I nursed my wounded ego at the Clubhouse lunch buffet, where I devoured homemade chocolate chip cookies that are to die for.

Other hotel activities and amenities include horseback riding on the beach, tennis courts, exercise facilities and relaxing spa services at the tranquil Royal Treatment Cottage. And if you happen to visit on a Friday, don’t miss the King and Prince Seafood Buffet – the only one on the island. They’ve been doing it almost since the resort first opened. This is one place where you’ll eat like a queen! So it’s a good thing they’re within walking distance of the nearby village for shopping and other island activities – otherwise I’d have brought back an extra 10 pounds!

I’ll tell you more about St. Simons Island shopping and activities in a future post. After a full day of food and fun, watching the sun set from the beachfront swings is the perfect time to give thanks for such wonderful abundance. The King and Prince treated me so well, I felt like a member of the “royal family” – and I’m looking forward to a royal family reunion!

To book your own royal getaway — to celebrate your 40^th or just to celebrate summer — visit www.kingandprince.com. June 12 – 13 is the Annual Georgia Sea Island Festival, which honors St. Simon Island’s black history and the Geechee/Gullah culture. I always recommend learning a little history and culture of a destination. And remember: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain

Kalin Thomas is Women at Forty’s Travel & Leisure Editor. She is also Senior Writer/Photographer for SoulOfAmerica. Before starting her own multimedia company, Kalin spent 17 years at CNN where she won several awards for her work as producer/correspondent for CNN’s weekly travel program, CNN TravelNow. She is currently writing a book about her travels. For more information on Kalin, visit www.seetheworldproductions.com.

• Walk through the hotel lobbies for free entertainment and eye candy. Each hotel has its own style and opulence, and you’ll stay cool in the air conditioning as you make your way down “The Strip” (Las Vegas Boulevard). Don’t miss the indoor Gondola Rides at The Venetian Hotel, or the Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand.
• When you check in at the hotel, ask for a booklet of coupons which includes discounts on activities and buffets. Better yet, email the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau ahead of time for a packet of maps, hotel info, and coupons to be mailed before your trip.

• Book your trip before the summer or after Labor Day for the best rates. I always stay at the historic and inexpensive Flamingo Hotel and ask for a view of The Strip. The last time I went I could also see the fabulously free water show at the Bellagio Hotel from my hotel window.
• Eat most of your meals at the hotel buffets. You’ll have to test them out for the best ones, but I though The Flamingo had a good lunch buffet, while the Rio Hotel had a great dinner buffet.
• Catch the monorail as much as possible. Taxis can be expensive. However, the cost of a limo to or from the airport is about the same as a taxi, so why not ride in style?
• If you plan to gamble, hang out at the slots – you’ll probably spend less money, and you’ll get free drinks just like the high rollers.
• Instead of splurging on the overpriced, a la carte dinner at the top of the Stratosphere (which rotates with a fabulous view of The Strip), just go to the top for drinks and eat dinner at one of the hotel buffets.
• If you’re going to splurge, spend your money on one of seven shows produced by Cirque Du Soleil – about $100 per ticket.

The saying goes “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” — but you don’t want that to be all your money! For more information on discounts and deals in Vegas go to www.visitlasvegas.com. And remember: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness” – Mark Twain.

Kalin Thomas is Women at Forty’s Travel & Leisure Editor. She is also Senior Writer/Photographer for SoulOfAmerica. Before starting her own multimedia company, Kalin spent 17 years at CNN where she won several awards for her work as producer/correspondent for CNN’s weekly travel program, CNN TravelNow. She is currently writing a book about her travels. For more information on Kalin, visit www.seetheworldproductions.com.

1. Pack everything you would like to carry, then put half of it back!
2. Pack clothes which are complimentary to each other to mix and match oufits.
3. Leave the iron at home! Try to pack fabrics that don’t wrinkle.
4. Pack sample/travel sizes of toiletries – easy to find at drugstores.
5. Pack a small bottle of detergent to wash and re-wear clothing.
6. Try to limit yourself to no more than three pairs of shoes, and wear the larger pair on the plane. (As a shoe lover, this is still a challenge for me)
7. Stick small items such as underwear, bathing suits and socks in your shoes.
8. Instead of folding your clothes, roll them in tissue paper for less wrinkling and maximum space.
9. Pack a change of clothes in your carry-on bag just in case your luggage gets lost.
10. For hat lovers like me, instead of carrying multiple straw hats for the beach, select your cutest neutral-colored hat and carry ribbons, scarves, or silk flowers to accessorize with different outfits.

One last tip, leave any prejudicial baggage at home – a light-hearted attitude helps you better appreciate diverse cultures. And remember: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness” – Mark Twain.

Kalin Thomas is Women at Forty’s Travel & Leisure Editor. She is also Senior Writer/Photographer for SoulOfAmerica. Before starting her own multimedia company, Kalin spent 17 years at CNN where she won several awards for her work as producer/correspondent for CNN’s weekly travel program, CNN TravelNow. She is currently writing a book about her travels. For more information on Kalin, visit www.seetheworldproductions.com.

The U.S. Travel Data Center estimates 43-million U.S. travelers are “ecologically concerned.” So it’s no surprise that the travel industry is getting in on the green movement. In fact, the second annual Green Travel Summit will be held in Washington, D.C. in June. And as the travel industry goes green, there are more and more ways for people to help the environment while traveling. Here are just a few ideas to help you preserve Mother Earth:  (Image source: earthday40th.com)

• Book your lodging at eco-friendly hotels using www.greenhotels.com as a guide. If going to The Bahamas, check into the Reef Atlantis for apartment-like rooms with eco-friendly appliances. For each reservation, $10 will be donated to the Blue Project committed to preserving the Bahamian coral reefs.
• If the option is available, hang the sign on your hotel room door that lets housekeeping know they don’t have to change the sheets daily. Most people don’t change their sheets daily at home, so why not help hotels save energy too?
• Whenever possible, do a walking tour. You’ll get more exercise while helping to decrease air pollution from motorized vehicles.
• Purchase electronic plane tickets instead of paper tickets. Southwest Airlines was the first airline to offer electronic ticketing system-wide.
• Visit a “green city” like Portland, Oregon; Copenhagen, Denmark; or Sydney, Australia. For a list of top green cities visit www.gogreentravelgreen.com.
• Grow more trees — Donate $1 to Avon’s Hello Green Tomorrow and a tree will be planted in the South American Atlantic Rain Forest. This could help remove 10-million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Help get one tree planted for every eco-friendly shopping tote you buy from SKN at www.getskn.com.
• Find out about Earth Day events and volunteer opportunities in cities across the U.S. at www.earthday.org and www.earthshare.org.

These are just a few ways for you to leave as little impact as possible on the destinations you visit. There are so many beautiful places to see in this wonderful world of ours — let’s make sure they’re here for future generations. And remember: Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness – Mark Twain.

Kalin Thomas is Women at Forty’s Travel & Leisure Editor. She is also Senior Writer/Photographer for SoulOfAmerica. Before starting her own multimedia company, Kalin spent 17 years at CNN where she won several awards for her work as producer/correspondent for CNN’s weekly travel program, CNN TravelNow. She is currently writing a book about her travels. For more information on Kalin, visit www.seetheworldproductions.com.

Editor’s Note:

I was watching CBS This Morning this past Sunday and there was a story on the increasing number of women motorcyclists. In fact the reporter said the average female motorcyclist is in her 40’s. It seems to me that women tend to become more adventurous after 40. As a matter of fact, my cousin and her husband (both in their 40’s) recently tried skydiving for the first time and loved it!

I don’t know if I have the guts to try that — I’m more of a “soft adventure” traveler. I’ve been skiing – on the small slopes of Cataloochee, North Carolina. I’ve fought through claustrophobia on a submarine tour in the Cayman Islands. I’ve gone white water rafting along Oconee River, Georgia – the beginners route. I’ve floated in a hot air balloon above the Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville, North Carolina and over the Kalahari Desert in South Africa. But you won’t find me scaling a real mountain — a rock-climbing wall is more my speed. That’s why I absolutely loved ziplining at North Georgia Canopy Tours. The tours open to the public today, but I got a preview last week.

Ziplining is a popular adventure sport where you soar through the air attached to a steel cable that runs from one set of trees to another. Most ziplines or canopy tours are in Costa Rica and the Caribbean. “My wife and I are afraid of heights, but when we went to Costa Rica in 2007 and did a zipline, we knew we wanted to do it in Georgia. So we decided to build it,” says Kirk Watkins, who co-owns North Georgia Canopy Tours with his wife, Leah. It’s located in the town of Lula, and is one of only a few in the United States. It’s open year-round during daylight hours. The minimum weight to do ziplining is 70 Pounds, with the maximum at 250 pounds. The minimum age is 10, but there is no maximum age as long as you’re in relatively good health and feel you can handle the physical activity. However, I’m told the average woman who ziplines is in her 40’s.

I was very excited about trying this adventure for the first time, but I was also a bit nervous. I had a fear of falling or slamming into a tree. But with “ground school” you can overcome a lot of those fears. That’s where certified and eco-trained guides teach you how to do the following: get into your harness, hold on to the harness once clipped to the zipline, hold your legs for maximum safety and speed, and how to watch for their hand signs to slow down. Those same guides are the only ones who clip and unclip your harness to the ziplines. It’s a very controlled and safe process. I want to give a shout-out to our guides, Marie Stringer and Bryan Everett, who made this first-timer feel safe and comfortable as they cheered me on!

As I watched each person zip hundreds of yards to the next tree platform, I could feel my heartbeat quicken. But once I lifted my feet for take-off and started moving at about 35 miles per hour, I got a feeling of exhilaration. And once I landed, there was no more fear — I had gotten my “zip legs.” I did the two-hour Sky Bridge Tour with seven other people (mostly women), and it was fun cheering each other on. The tour includes eight ziplines, two skybridges, two nature lines, and a 680-foot dual zip over a two-acre pond as the grand finale. Each zip gets higher and longer as you go along. The whole experience was an adrenaline rush! Forty-year-old Sue Rodman of Atlanta said, “I loved it!  I thought I would be scared of the height but it was more like swinging through the trees.”

The Sky Bridge Tour is at an introductory rate of $69. There’s also an Adventure Tour for $89, which opens April 16^th. After completing the tour we all got certificates. Now that’s my kind of reward – something to prove that I did it! J But there’s always an even bigger reward with adventure travel – increased confidence. The more adventures you try, the more confident you become – and it spills over into your everyday life, giving you the confidence to take more risks. I’m hoping to become fearless. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll take the plunge and skydive – but until then, “soft adventure” is the way to go!

For more information go to www.northgeorgiacanopytours.com, or call 770-869-7272. And for information about canopy tours in Costa Rica go to www.govisitcostarica.com. I can’t wait to hear about your adventure travels. Post them in the comment section, or on our Facebook fan page. And remember: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness” – Mark Twain. (Image: Kalin on her ziplining  adventure)

Kalin Thomas is Women at Forty’s Travel & Leisure Editor. She is also Senior Writer/Photographer for SoulOfAmerica. Before starting her own multimedia company, Kalin spent 17 years at CNN where she won several awards for her work as producer/correspondent for CNN’s weekly travel program, CNN TravelNow. She is currently writing a book about her travels. For more information on Kalin, visit www.seetheworldproductions.com.