The Panama Canal Turns 100!
In August 2014 the Panama Canal celebrates its centennial. The legendary canal, with its locks-and-lake waterway, remains one of the greatest engineering marvels ever built. Stretching from the city of Colon to the Pacific shorelines in Panama City, it took over 5 years and over 56,000 workers to construct. One of the canal's main attractions is the Gaillard Cut. Builders faced unprecedented challenges as they carved their way through solid rock for nearly 9 miles.
Transit the Panama Canal
Travelers who want to transit the "8th wonder of the world" during its 100-year-anniversary should start planning now. Our 7-day Encounter Panama Trip combines the canal with some of Panama's most celebrated national parks. View details.
Shackleton's Endurance
Celebrates Its Centennial
Before Shackleton's Endurance voyage, he placed an ad in the paper, looking for men to join his 1914 expedition. It read:
Shackleton's team was less than 100 miles from Antarctica when their ship became trapped, and ultimately crushed, by icepack. In order to rescue his stranded crew from the harsh Antarctica environment, Shackleton sailed a 22-and-a-half-foot boat, James Caird, from Elephant Island to South Georgia (roughly 1800 miles). He then relentlessly trekked another 40-50 km in 36 hours to reach help at the Stromness whaling station.
History remembers Shackleton's Endurance as a remarkable tale of adventure and survival, and honors its 100-year-annversary this 2014.
Fellow polar explorers can follow his legendary wake in a 20-Day Shackleton's Footsteps Voyage, or an epic journey that highlights the routes of both Shackleton and Scott.
Short on time but still want an Antarctica Cruise? Our best discount expires in 1 week. Click here for details.
More In Store for 2014
Aurora Borealis
2013/2014 marks the end of an 11 year Sunspot Cycle, which means the Northern Lights are cued to be fantastic! You need darkness, clear skies and a prime spot in the Northern Hemisphere to see this celestial wonder. Trips to Alaska, Yukon, Iceland and Northern Scandinavia during late-Aug to mid-Apr offer your best chances of viewing the lights. My trip of choice is a 7-day Caribou & Northern Nights Photo Safari that combines Arctic wildlife with awesome aurorae.
Brazil Hosts The World Cup!
Twelve beautiful Brazilian cities are hosting matches during the World Cup making 2014 the perfect year to combine a once-in-a-lifetime trip with once-in-a-lifetime games! Oh, and we're just weeks away from launching a series of Brazil adventures. Stay tuned, but in the meantime start practicing ... GOOOOAL!
