Highlighting my travels through mainland Norway and the Svalbard archipelago. My first tastes of life above the Arctic circle, shrimp, and a true polar plunge. Nothing could have prepared me for the sheer beauty of this Arctic gem - Svalbard was a dream from which I never wanted to wake.

A longtime dream came true with the chance to visit Greenland and the Canadian Arctic on a 12-day cruise with Adventure Canada. Our home was the Ocean Endeavour and an amazing vessel for the expedition in and out of the many fjords and ice flows. I was absolutely blown away by the beauty of the landscape and the people. I am already dreaming of …

A recent Wall Street Journal article stated, "Enjoying an ocean cruise and breaking a sweat aren't concepts that traditionally go together. Indeed, the indolence that many people crave from such vacations is the very thing that keeps others away from them."

However, this is changing as there has been an increase ofcruise options …

Fellow Adventure Lifer and friend, Haley and I had the opportunity to travel to the magical land of Svalbard, with a quick stop-over in Norway's lovely capital of Oslo. Svalbard is a place of mystery that draws people in with the lure of Polar Bears, and then blows them away with dramatic and sublime landscapes. We were spoiled-rotten on an 11-day …

I traveled on the Ocean Endeavour's maiden voyage up the eastern coast of Canada. We explored all that Newfoundland and Wild Labrador had to offer. We spent time hiking the beautiful National Park and searching after the elusive polar bears. All around an amazing trip of a lifetime.

The Arctic brings to mind scenes of ice, snow, and barren stretches of land. Though it is a remote part of the world, it offers travelers so much more than these things! Intriguing culture, remarkable wildlife, fascinating history, and breathtaking landscape are all experienced during a visit to the Arctic.

Though the austere Arctic landscape is often imagined to be a cold white wasteland, the brief months of summer see the flora blossoming and the fauna emerging from their long winter dormancy. Find out the best time to visit the Arctic based on your interests and expectations.

Many people assume that the Arctic and Antarctic are similar, just at different ends of the earth. Vast differences in the environment, geographical properties, climate, and wildlife may result in some rather surprising realizations of each destination.

This Spring I headed out to Lapland in pursuit of the northern lights and frozen landscapes. We were not disappointed and adventured from town to town soaking in the beauty. Dog sledding, snowmobiling, and staying in a ice castle were just some of the highlights.

One of Canada's greatest mysteries has now been solved! On September 7, 2014, one of the lost ships from Sir John Franklin's doomed Arctic expedition was found. Learn more about this intriguing discovery.

Adventure Life partner, One Ocean Expeditions, was invited by The Canadian Government on the Parks Canada led "Victoria Strait Expedition." The purpose of this was to finally find the fabled ships that were lost during Captain Sir John Franklin's expedition in 1845. Learn about this exciting event and mysteries that surround it.

The Polar regions are true adventure destinations that are still being discovered by even the most well-seasoned travelers. Planning a trip to the Arctic or Antarctica can be intimidating to people who have a lot of travel experience, let alone those who do not. As experts in Polar travel, let us make it easy to determine the best trip for you!

Which Polar region is home to penguins? Or how about those elusive narwhals? Before your travels, it will be helpful to learn more about the different species that inhabit the Polar regions of the Arctic and Antarctica. You may be surprised to learn the differences!

Liz Fleming catches Arctic fever on trip up north! Read about her exploration of a remote land covered in ice and wonder.

Last June, travel journalist Liz Fleming joined the Arctic Kingdom team for the polar bear and narwhal safari north of Pond Inlet in Sirmilik National Park. Her blog posts give a day-by-day look at life on the ice, 80 kilometers from anywhere.

Arctic Cruise on the Akademik Ioffe: A journey through Spitsbergen, Eastern Greenland & Iceland with a group of 21 students and teachers from the China Association for Scientific Expedition.

Departing from Svalbard our Russian ship carried us north to within 600 miles of the North Pole before working its way southward to Greenland and our final destination in Iceland. Our spectacular Arctic cruise was bracketed by visits to old friends in both Norway and Iceland.

While on one of our adventures,you can literally trip over the wildlife if you're not paying attention! However, we can all use a little advice on spotting those elusive or skittish species. Having a great guide during your travels is always key, but here are a few other helpful tips to practice when on your wildlife adventure.

1. Get up …

Greenland is covered in over 80% ice, but the climate of this frozen island actually allows for a unique travel experience. Explore the beautiful natural environment of this massive island. Learn a little more about what Greenland has to offer curious & adventurous travelers.

Not to be fooled by its name, Iceland offers its visitors a surprisingly temperate climate and awe-inspiring island environment to explore. The nation also has a rich culture displayed in its innovative art, literature and music. Experience the incredible Northern Lights, a variety of wildlife, and unique opportunities for adventure all within this small country.

Travelers sometimes overlook that they can experience the Arctic conveniently in our neighboring Canada. The vastness of this country results in a beautifully diverse landscape, a variety of wildlife, interesting history, and many different cultural characteristics. With so much to offer, it is a great destination for all types of travelers!

My journey to Canada, Greenland, The North West Passage, and through the amazing Canadian Rockies is about to commence. Leaving on a jet plane from Sydney International Airport early on Tuesday, 18th August for a month. Nervous. Excited!