Here's a dream - and well paid - vacation for one adventurous skier or snowboarder. The Canyons resort in Park City, Utah, has announced an amazing contest.

"Not only will we pay you a salary ($40,000 for four months) but, we'll put you up for free - at a suite at the Waldorf Astoria, no less, and give you full VIP treatment including heli-skiing, avalanche training, spa treatments and full gear!"  In exchange, the winner must blog and send out videos a few times a week, participate in various activities and shadow employees in various departments, such as ski patrol and lift operations.

Contestants must send in a two-minute video explaining "Do You Mountain" in a way that inspires others.

Here's the link for the details, but despite the buzz and requests for details, you'll have to wait to Friday for the actual info about where to apply for this ultimate job.

Ultimate 4-Month, Well-Paid Dream Job for One Skier or Snowboarder originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 12:43:29.

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Especially when you travel on tiny planes that take you to more exotic destinations, or spend hours on a bus to reach the spot where a trek begins, this uniquely shaped travel pillow is a real neck saver.  For the first time, after waking up from a nap during a plane ride my neck wasn't sore from being stretched too far over the side of an inflatable pillow. Read my review for the details.

The 'No More Sore Neck' Travel Pillow originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 13:11:55.

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You never know what to expect in Blane Bachelor's weekly adventure travel blog at ShermansTravel. One week she's writing about her experience entering the Fig Leaf 5K (a nude race) and another on what it's like to tackle a natural obstacle course in the Dominican Republic.  Her adventure travel blogs come out once a week.

Bachelor's Adventure Travel Blog Entertains originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 17:37:42.

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You don't have to skydive to enjoy the 2010 U.S. Parachute Association National Skydiving Championships, Sept. 10-24, at Skydive Chicago. Hundreds of top sky divers will take the plunge and push their skydiving skills to the max while competing for medals. During the Formation competition, 4-way, 8-way and 16-way teams will create patterns in the air as they skydive toward the ground. Creativity is awarded during the Artistic Events competition, which includes freeflying and freestyle.

Events are ongoing from sunrise to sunset each day. The competition, which takes place at the Skydive Chicago resort southwest of the city, is free and open to the public. Between jumps, visitors can hang with the pros and practice choreographed moves on the ground called "dirt dives."

Soaring Skydivers Show Skills & Artistry at Competition originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 10:47:46.

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A new study by researchers at George Washington University's International Institute of Tourism Studies, conducted in partnership with the Adventure Travel Trade Association and Xola Consulting, estimates that consumers spent more than $89 billion worldwide on adventure travel in 2009. The study notes that jungle tours, whitewater rafting, climbing and eco-trips are all parts of adventure tourism, which is a rapidly growing segment of the tourism market and a viable economic opportunity for countries seeking to develop tourism.

"Instead of being seen as a small, niche market, the study shows that adventure tourism is a sizable market with the potential for significant economic growth opportunities," said Dr. Kristin Lamoureux, director of George Washington's International Institute of Tourism Studies. "Additionally, adventure tourism often relies heavily on the natural and cultural resources a destination already has to offer. For many developing destinations without the resources to build infrastructure, adventure tourism is a realistic alternative and provides a strong argument for preserving a destination's resources."

Although airfare and gear/clothing purchases were excluded in the $89 billion, the study estimates that approximately a quarter of those traveling from the three regions studied - North America, Latin America and Europe  -  took holidays involving adventure activities and spent $53 billion just on gear purchases.

The study found that adventure travelers tend to be affluent and educated. They are also typically environmentally and culturally aware consumers who lean towards adventure travel due to its focus on responsible and sustainable development. Click on this link for the full report.

Adventure Travel Consumers Spent More Than $89 Billion Last Year originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Saturday, August 21st, 2010 at 08:30:36.

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Five national park packs loaded with national park gear and information are being given away in the Passport to Parks Sweepstakes. The contest comes from the National Park Foundation, which has teamed up with Sunset magazine and Merrell.  Each  prize package includes a $200 gift certificate to use at any Merrell store or at www.merrell.com; a Merrell "Search" backpack; an  "America The Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Annual Pass"; a copy of Fodor's Official Guide to America's National Parks - National Park Foundation edition; and more.  For more details and a link to enter the contest visit  Adventure Travel Contests, Giveaways and Sweepstakes.

Win Annual National Parks Pass & Gift Certificate to Merrell originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Thursday, August 19th, 2010 at 08:30:37.

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Gear junkies will find something to lust for in this list of soon-to-be-released innovative products. A lightweight device that stores enough kinetic energy while you hike to power your iPod, a one pound one ounce double-wall tent for one person, and  upgraded CamelBaks. The Gear Junkie picked these items after spending four days and doing some early product testing at the annual Outdoor Retailer trade show held in early August  in Salt Lake City.

Visit the Gear Junkie to learn more about his 'Best of Show' choices and other gear for adventure travelers.

Gear Junkies 'Best of Show' Awards Choices for Adventure Travelers originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Tuesday, August 17th, 2010 at 10:36:26.

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The recent decision by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to remove the Galapagos Islands from the list of Sites in Danger is controversial. According to an article on ouramazingplanet.com, 15 of the 21 WHC member states voted in favor of the move, among them France, Mexico, Jordan, South Africa and Barbados. The article noted: The decision goes against the recommendations of UNESCO, the United Nations body that, along with outside experts and scientists, monitors sites on the WHC's danger list. "The state of conservation report presented by UNESCO did not suggest that the site should be removed from the danger list, that was a decision the committee made," said Sue Williams, a UNESCO spokesperson, who said the WHC members are government representatives, free to accept or reject UNESCO's recommendations.

A Galapagos Islands cruise is on the "dream trip" list for many adventure travelers who love nature trips. To see why visit Galapagos Islands: Swim with sea lions and walk by boobies, photos of Galapagos Islands and photos of a Galapagos cruise.

Photo © Dick Friedland

Removal of the Galapagos Islands From UNESCO's Sites in Danger List is Controversial originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Saturday, August 14th, 2010 at 08:00:56.

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Although it's mainly a hotel-review Web site, Oyster.com members also offer some excellent insights into adventurous activities in the locales where they are staying.  Oyster.com  reviewers are paid, regular property rates are paid and property managers do not know reviewers are coming.  On the Photo Fakeout pages, reviewers' photos side-by-side with a promotional photo show you what photo retouching  has hidden in some promo images.

Do you want to go rock scrambling near the Las Vegas strip?  How about taking a zip line ride near Orlando?  All suggestions from Oyster.com members.

Photo  © Oyster.com

Unbiased Hotel Review Site Includes Local Adventures originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Thursday, August 12th, 2010 at 08:16:58.

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After collapsing on the second-to-last day of his 4,000plus -mile-long and 28 month journey, earlier today Ed Stafford jumped into the ocean. It was a dip signifying that he had finally walked the entire length of  the Amazon River!  An expedition leader and writer by profession, Stafford's blogs, the videos and the photos on his Walking the Amazon Web site reveal the experiences, joys and rough times during this amazing trek than had never been accomplished before. During his journey, Stafford walked with hundreds of locals who joined him for a few miles or more along the way,  fellow expedition leader Luke Collier for the first three months, and Gadiel ("Cho") Sanchez Rivera, who finished the journey with him.

4,000-Mile-Long Amazon River Walk Finished Monday originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Monday, August 9th, 2010 at 19:47:23.

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