www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday May 19, 2007 - 23 Women's travel questions Dear Sam: I'm a woman who desperately needs a holiday, but I know myself and lying on a beach, or taking a coach tour would not be the answer. I need to be doing something physical. I'd like to stay in Canada to do this. Can you come up with any ideas, and the company that might suit? None of my friends could come up with anything. FED UP Dear Fed Up: How about a wilderness adventure with other women? Wild Women Expeditions (WWE) notes a shift in the women's market towards personal growth and wilderness retreats. Wild Women Expeditions is a unique vacation company catering to women by offering affordable wilderness adventures, retreats and getaways across Canada. They are based near Sudbury in Northeastern Ontario. WWE is entering its 17th season. For more, visit www.wildwomenexp.com. This may be part of a larger trend. According to Ken Johnson, founder of the popular site Retreats Online, the women's market for retreats has always been strong. He estimates that of his online users 75 per cent are female. Retreats Online has a women's retreats section and in the past three years he has noted an increase of 100 per cent in traffic to it. Visit www.retreatsonline.com/guide/women.htm. Johnson believes this may represent a larger trend towards personal development and spiritual growth, especially as more women find themselves stressed out and unfulfilled in the workplace. Getting close to nature is a significant part of this trend. While the outdoor and tourism industry may have been slow waking up to estrogen buying power, certainly personal growth entrepreneurs have always understood the feminine strength of their market. Check out any yoga studio. And Wild Women has invited political activist Starhawk and the singer-songwriter Ferron will be headlining at a retreat. To learn more about Wild Women Expeditions, call 1-888-wwe-1222 or visit www.wildwomenexp.com. Dear Sam: We're trying to decide whether to go visit Granny in Newfoundland, or take our two children to Disneyworld this summer. With airfare the way it is, and four tickets to buy we can't manage both even though living is free in Newfoundland, and again in Florida. Torn Mom Dear Torn: If you hurry, your budget might cover both trips. Sunwing Airlines is having a "buy one,get your second seat at half price sale," which ends on June 1. You must complete your travel by Oct. 31 this year. This special includes Florida, and flights across Canada. Be sure to ask your travel agent about it, and buy your tickets to Disneyworld before you go. It will be cheaper. -- Sam Ion can be reached at sion10@cogeco.ca. www.oakvillebeaver.com JOIN HALTON TRAFALGAR TRAVEL AND GOWAY With Australian Pacific Touring FOR AN AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND PRESENTATION MONDAY JUNE 4, 2007 7PM - 9PM Come meet our Premier Aussie Specialist, MARGARET MANGIALARDI RSVP as space is limited (416)574-6453 Special offer for attendees, door prize, light refreshments. Halton Trafalgar Travel 278 CHURCH ST. (TRAFALGAR & LAKESHORE) 905-842-3111 · margaretm@rogers.com A JOURNEY THROUGH CHINA 2007 What better way to see China than to have someone originally from the area who knows the country intimately to travel with you to make this journey an experience of a life time. . It has always been my desire to introduce and share my Chinese heritage and culture with my fellow Canadian travelers. To that end, last year my husband and I led a group of friends and clients on a trip through China. Everyone had such a wonderful time & it was such a great success that we have decided to do it all over again this fall. HAL SETS NEW STANDARDS When Holland America Line's Zaandam sailed from Vancouver on Earth Day (April 22), it was unlike any other cruise ship at sea following a two week dry dock stay, the ship was outfitted with new cutting-edge emission reduction technology. In co-operation with several United States and Canadian government and regulatory agencies, Holland America has launched a technology demonstration project, designed to show the feasibility of using sea water to "scrub," or reduce, engine emissions on oceangoing vessels. Modifications of the ship's new test emissions technology could dramatically change not only the cruise industry, but the entire maritime industry by reducing ship engine emissions. The sea water scrubber system, developed by Krystallon, a subsidiary of BP, uses the natural chemistry of sea water to remove virtually all sulfur oxide, as well as significantly reducing particulate matter emissions. The sea water is then treated to remove harmful components, while the calcium carbonate in sea water renders the sulfur oxides harmless by conversions to sulfates and neutral salts. The price tag tops more than US$1.5-million and includes assistance of US$300,000 from an Environments Protection Agency (EPA)/West Coast Collaborative grant and a US$100,000 contribution from Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. Additional support for the project comes from the Port of Seattle, the Port of Vancouver, Environment Canada, British Columbia Ministry of the Environment and the BC Clean Air Research Fund, as well as Krystallon. McTavish Travel proudly celebrating 35 years of service excellence in 2007! Gina Cheng Our special escorted tour will be a 17 day, 16 night adventure; departing Toronto on October 13th, 2007 and returning on October 29th, 2007. We will be visiting Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an, Kunming, Lijiang & Hong Kong. This carefully crafted itinerary includes the ever popular attractions such as Yu Garden, The Forbidden City, Tian An Men Square, The Great Wall & the Terracotta Warriors. We also travel a little off the traditional "China Tour" path into Kunming, well known for its breathtaking and unique natural landscape, as well as Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, possibly the best preserved "old town" in China. Lijiang is one of the last places in this country where a visitor can witness and experience a historic, traditional urban culture. "A Journey through China 2007" For more trip details please contact me at 905-849-0333 or visit www.totaltravel-oakville.com/groups/china2007/journey.html Oakville Town Centre I 300 North Service Road, W. Oakville 905.849.0333 www.totaltravel-oakville.com Visit McTavish At: www.mctavishtravel.com Ont Reg No 2766538 Voted Best Travel Agency Best Cruise Company Best Travel Agent Thanks Oakville! Hopedale Shopping Centre 1515 Rebecca Street, Oakville Relax... you're with us Ont Reg No 2766538 221 Lakeshore Road E. Oakville Location: (905) 827-1100 fax: (905) 827-4982 e-mail: travel@mctavish.com 905-337-2228 wwwhookedoncruising.com Oakville Town Centre I 300 North Service Road, W. Oakville 905.849.0333 www.totaltravel-oakville.com 146 Lakeshore Rd. E. 905-842-4999 lakeshore@travelchoice.ca