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I’ve slowly been compiling the list of where I’ve been and have added it to the trip advisor mapping system. I’ll try to update the map whenever I go somewhere new, but can’t guarantee I won’t miss a few :)!

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I wanted to follow up with my previous post regarding The Moorings.  If you’re not interested in taking in the Caribbean, The Moorings offers charters at other locations as well.  Some, but by no means all, of these include France, Italy, Greece, Baja California, New Zealand, and Tahiti.

Additionally, depending on your skill and comfort levels, you have the option of chartering the boat with or without a crew.  Did I mention that you can even hire a cook to sail with you to provide meals?!

In short, if you’re looking for an alternative vacation, where you can get away from the crowds at the beach resorts, and the totally scheduled day of a cruise, look into taking one of these sailboat charters.  I’m sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

In a few weeks time I will be embarking on a journey to the British Virgin Islands.  I fly overnight from San Francisco to Washington, DC, have a layover for around an hour, then I fly to the US Virgin Islands, where I take a ferry to Tortola.  For those of you who have been to Tortola, or the Caribbean in general, you know it’s beautiful there.  For readers who have never been, take my word for it, it is amazing down in the islands.

We will be renting a 46 foot sailboat from The Moorings to sleep ten people.  The boat will be stocked with food, wine, beer, and soda.  I believe it will be a catamaran so there should be a nice large central area with benches and a table to sit around inside the cabin.  There are four cabins to sleep in, which can get crowded.  I think the table also drops down to form an additional bed, but we generally don’t use it as it doesn’t seem like it’s worth the hassle.  I will most likely sleep up on the deck under the bimini (the cover which provides shade); it almost always rains at night, so this minimal cover is pretty essential to sleeping through the night.

We’ll be going to Peter Island, Virgin Gorda, Sandy Spit, and of course Tortola.  We’ll be eating every night on shore and eating breakfasts and lunches on the boat.  There will be lots of snorkeling and sunburning I’m sure along with lots of relaxing in the sun while sailing from island to island.

Depending on my blackberry service, I’ll try to update my readers at least once during the trip.  Hopefully you won’t be too jealous!

Until next time, ramble on.

I’d like to open up writing blog entries to those who are interested.  If you’re interested in writing on the RamblerBoards.com blog about travel experiences, stories, or tips, send me an email: rob@ramblerboards.com

Alternatively, sign up for the forums, http://forums.ramblerboards.com, and make your voice heard!

Some of todays best trips include “non-traditional” venues and activities. Some of them might include eco-lodging (environmentally sound), adventure travel, or working vacations.

The Royal Canadian Pacific rail is one such trip offering. Royal Canadian Pacific offers a 6 day trip through the Canadian Rockies where you will travel West from Calgary past Banff and Lake Louise, across the Continental Divide to Kicking Horse River Valley, and then back East through the Alberta prairie lands.

Banff will offer many historical sites, and the stop at Lake Louise involves a hike with a local naturalist who will walk you through all the natural sights you see along the way.

Once you get to Kicking Horse River Valley, you will be taken up to the summit of Eagle’s Eye Mountain for breakfast. Don’t worry, you don’t have to walk up, there’s a gondola to ferry you up and down the mountain!

Some might worry about sleeping on the trains at night; will they be comfortable, will there be adequate amenities (bathrooms, etc)? In short, yes. All cabins have en suite showers, sinks, and latrines (toilets).

If you haven’t seen the Rockies before, and want to cover a lot of ground, this is a great way to go!