For some, a week at the beach just doesn't cut it. Whether it's tracking snow leopards in India or studying James Joyce for two weeks in Dublin, chances are there's a specialty travel company to help you. If you don't find your interest listed here--or if you want to know, generally, what specialty travel possibilities are available--check out the Web sites www.shawguides. com and www.frommers.com, both excellent guides to many kinds of special-interest travel.
ADVENTURE TRAVEL
Organization: America Outdoors (P.O. Box 10847, Knoxville, Tenn. 37939, 865-558- 3595, www.americaoutdoors.org), comprises more than 500 adventure outfitters and operators in 40 states and 60 countries. Its annual free catalogue lists its members and their trips, as does its regularly updated Web site.
Publication: Outside Magazine (800-678- 1131, www.outsidemag.com) has articles on all forms of adventure travel, covering gear, tour operators and destinations.
Web:
* Great Outdoor Recreation Pages (www. gorp.com) offers a list of adventure tour operators and other resources.
* Away.com (www.away.com) has a Trip Finder function that lets you search by activity type, budget and region.
* It's a trip seller, but www.iexplore.com also offers an intriguing guide to outdoor pursuits.
* Fodor's Web site (www.fodorstravel.com) features a sports and adventure travel link.
* Descriptions of 230 outfitters and their trips, plus customer feedback, can be found at www.adventureseek.com, where you can also book your adventure and buy gear.
COOKING VACATIONS
Publications:
* "The Guide to Cooking Schools 2001," published by ShawGuides (P.O. Box 231295, Ansonia Station, New York, N.Y. 10023, 212-799-6464; $22.95, plus $3 shipping), describes more than 630 cooking vacations, 80 culinary tours, 100 wine appreciation courses and other such classes worldwide. The same information is available free on the ShawGuides Web site (see below).
* Gourmet, Bon Appetit and other cooking magazines list cooking schools.
Web: The online version of ShawGuides (www.shawguides.com) lists more than 4,200 travel programs (see Educational Travel, below) available around the world, including regularly updated information about cooking vacations. In-depth information is available about each course. You can search by cuisine, destination or time frame. You can also subscribe to ShawGuides' free online monthly newsletter, Recreational Cooking School Bulletin, featuring upcoming cooking workshops and vacations.
DISABLED TRAVELERS
Organizations:
* The Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped (347 Fifth Ave., Suite 610, New York, N.Y. 10016, 212-447-7284) provides information on travel destinations, with referrals to tour operators specializing in planning trips for disabled travelers. Annual membership is $45, and includes a subscription to the quarterly magazine, Open World for Disability and Mature Travel.
* Mobility International USA (P.O. Box 10767, Eugene, Ore. 97440, 541-343-1284, www.miusa.org) coordinates international travel exchanges for people with disabilities; annual membership is $35 and includes a semi-annual newsletter.
* Emerging Horizons (P.O. Box 278, Ripon, Calif. 95366, 209-599-9409, www.emerginghorizons.com) is full of helpful accessibility information about specific destinations and lodging worldwide. The data is updated quarterly and you have the choice of an online, e-mail or snail-mail subscription; annual subscriptions cost $11.95. Also, see Web site listings within categories, above.
Publications:
* You can subscribe to SATH's Open World ($13 per year) without joining the organization.
* Twin Peaks Press (P.O. Box 129, Vancouver, Wash. 98666, 360-694-2462) publishes travel-related books for people with disabilities.
ECO-TRAVEL
Organizations:
* Ecotourism Society International (P.O. Box 755, North Bennington, Vt. 05257, 802-447-2121, www.ecotourism.org) lists member tour operators on its Web site and provides tips on eco-travel.
* Green Hotels Association (713-789-8889, www.greenhotels.com) is a membership of properties committed to instituting ecologically sound practices in their hotels; its Web site lists member hotels.
* Several environmental protection organizations sponsor eco-travel expeditions, many of which are service trips that combine travel with volunteer research/conservation efforts. These organizations include the National Audubon Society (700 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10003, 800-274-4201, www.audubon.org), Earthwatch Institute (3 Clock Tower Place, Suite 100, Box 75, Maynard, Mass. 01754, 800-776-0188, www.earthwatch.org) and the Sierra Club (85 Second St., Second Floor, San Francisco, Calif. 94105, 415-977-5500, www.sierraclub.org). Audubon Society and Sierra Club trips require membership: $20 and $25, respectively. Web sites (see below) for each organization describe upcoming trips.
Publications:
* The National Audubon Society magazine, Audubon, covers eco-travel in occasional articles, such as "The Ethics of Eco-Travel" in the September/October issue (one-year subscription comes with membership, 800-274-4201).
* Articles on eco-travel can be found in Outside Magazine (800-678-1131, www. outsidemag.com), National Geographic Adventure (800-437-5521, www. nationalgeographic.com/adventure), International Wildlife (800-588-1650, www.nwf.org/intlwild) and Backpacker (610-967-8296, www.backpacker.com).
Web:
* The Web sites of the above organizations describe trips offered by each group.
* The Web site of the Ecotravel Center (www.ecotour.org), sponsored by Conservation International (202-429-5660, www.conservation.org), lists eco-tour operators, lodges and resources.
* Audubon's Web site, www.audubon. org, features an article titled "Guide to Eco-Travel," which describes eco-trips offered by various tour operators.
EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL
Organization: The Smithsonian Institution's study tours program features more than 360 learning vacations, from a trip to the Riviera to study Matisse, Picasso and Renoir, to an exploration of Nepal and Bhutan. Smithsonian Associate membership is $28. Details: 202-357-4700, www.si.edu/tsa/sst.
Publications:
* The Educated Traveler (P.O. Box 220822, Chantilly, Va. 20153, 800-648-5168, www.educated-traveler.com) publishes the Directory of Museum-Sponsored Tours ($15), which includes 118 museums throughout the United States, Canada and Britain.
* Transitions Abroad Publishing (P.O. Box 1300 Amherst, Mass. 01004, 800-293- 0373, www.transitionsabroad.com) publishes a bimonthly magazine ($28 for six issues), Transitions Abroad: A Guide to Work, Study, and Travel Overseas, which includes an Educated Traveler column addressing special interest travel in each issue. The company also publishes "The Alternative Travel Directory 2000" ($23.95, including shipping), a compendium of more than 2,000 study-abroad programs with recreational, professional and volunteer options. Magazine and directory are $40.
Web: In addition to the sites listed above, the ShawGuides site (see COOKING VACATIONS, above), www.shawguides.com, lists more than 4,200 travel options, including cultural programs, photography camps, language vacations and more.
FAMILY TRAVEL
Publications:
* General advice books for traveling with kids, as well as family travel guidebooks for specific destinations, abound in bookstores; Frommer's and Fodor's are among those offering a family travel guide series.
* Family Travel Forum (891 Amsterdam Ave., New York, N.Y. 10025, 888-383-6786, www.familytravelforum.com) publishes a snail/e-mail newsletter with tips on traveling with children, staff-written travel articles and subscribers' reports. Annual membership is $48; subscription to online service only is $28 annually or $3.95 monthly.
Web: Family Travel Times (www. familytraveltimes.com, 888-822-4388 or 212-477-5524; $39 for six issues), an online bimonthly newsletter, provides resource, planning and destination information for families.
FAMILY REUNIONS
Organizations: As a general rule, when dealing with a travel agency, cruise line, visitors bureau, hotel or any other organization or property in planning a reunion, ask for the family reunion specialist; not all places have them, but many do. If you're interested in renting a condo, house or villa for your reunion, try Condominium Travel Associates (800-492-6636, www. condotravel.com), a countrywide network of travel agencies specializing in condo and villa rentals at family resorts.
Publications:
* The newsletters listed for family travel (see above) occasionally cover family reunion stories. You can also use Family Travel Forum's online forum to exchange information with other subscribers about family reunions and other topics.
* Reunions Magazine (P.O. Box 11727, Milwaukee, Wis. 53211-0727, 800-373- 7933 or 414-263-4567, www.reunionsmag .com; $3.95 per year), a quarterly, reports on reunion planning, including destinations. You can view a current issue online for free. A workbook and catalogue are $10.
GAY TRAVEL
Publications:
* A number of gay and lesbian travel guidebooks are available at local bookstores, including the "Spartacus International Gay Guide 2000-2001" ($26.36 from www.amazon.com) and "Gay Travel From A to Z" ($16 from Ferrari International Publishing, www.ferrariguides.com).
* Our World (1104 N. Nova Rd., Suite 251, Daytona Beach, Fla. 32117, 904-441-5367, www.ourworldmag.com; $35 per year for 10 issues) is a travel magazine for gays and lesbians with info on accommodations and destinations.
* Out and About (657 Harrison St., San Francisco, Calif. 94107, 800-929-2268, www.outandabout.com; $49 per year) is a monthly newsletter covering gay-friendly hotels, clubs, destinations, tour operators, agents, restaurants, gyms and shops.
Web: In addition to the sites listed above, a number of general interest gay and lesbian sites offer travel pages, including www.gaywired.com, www.planetout.com and www.gay.com.
GOLFING VACATIONS
Publications:
* All of the golf magazines, Golf Magazine and Golf Digest among them, include advertisements for golf travel packages; experts say Golf Magazine's golf and travel articles are probably the best and most frequently published.
* "Frommer's Unofficial Guide to Golf Vacations in the Eastern U.S." ($16.99 from www.frommers.com), published in March, rates golf vacations east of the Mississippi.
Web:
* Golf Magazine's site (www.golfonline.com) features a "Travel/Courses" page with info on golfing vacations.
* ShawGuides (www.shawguides.com) offers information about 677 programs of golf schools and camps.
PETS
Publication: "Traveling with Your Pet 2000, The AAA Pet Book" lists more than 10,000 pet-friendly properties in North America ($12.55 on www.amazon.com).
Web:
* TravelDog, www.traveldog.com, lists transport services, dog camps, dog-friendly parks and beaches, and travel agencies that will plan a trip for you and your canine.
* The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (www.aspca.org; enter "travel" in search box) offers advice on travel with pets. Click on "Pet Travel Guidelines" on the Air Transport Association site (www. air-transport.org) to read airline rules for transporting your pet.
* Other online resources include www.takeyourpet.com ($1.95 to join) and www.petopia.com, both of which list directories of pet-friendly lodging.
RV TRAVEL
Organization: The Good Sam Club (P.O. Box 6888, Englewood, Calif. 80155, 800-234- 3450, www.goodsamclub.com), whose $19 annual membership entitles you to emergency road service (a service AAA does not extend to its RV-driving members), offers a reduced price ($9.95) on its "Trailer Life" directory of RV campgrounds, discounts at many of those campsites and other benefits.
Publications:
* A subscription to the Good Sam Club includes the magazine Highways, which covers the RV travel scene. Non-members can purchase the "Trailer Life Directory" ($19.95) or "Woodall's North America Campground Directory" ($22.95) at local bookstores.
* "Frommer's Exploring America by RV" ($16.99), published in May, recommends drives, itineraries and campgrounds, and tells you how to rent or buy an RV.
Web:
* The online RV Club (www.rvclub.com) has info about RV culture and access to classified ads for RVs. Annual membership is $10, but you can read classified ads for free; to place an ad, you must join.
* In addition to www.goodsamclub.com (see above), check the RV Industry of America site at www.rvia.com for an overall view of the RV world.
* For a list of RV renters in every state, go to www.rvlink.com.
SENIORS
Organizations:
* Membership in AARP (601 E St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20049, 800-424-3410 or 202-434- 2277, www.aarp.org) enables you to receive discounts on hotels, air fares and car rentals; annual membership is $10.
* Elderhostel (57 Federal St., Boston, Mass. 02110, 877-426-8056, www.elderhostel .org) and Interhostel (University of New Hampshire,6 Garrison Ave.,Durham, N.H. 03824, 800-733-9753, www.learn.unh. edu) arrange study tour programs for those over 50 (Interhostel) or 55 (Elderhostel).
Publications:
* The Mature Traveler (GEM Publishing Group, 2224 Beaumont St., Suite D, Sacramento, Calif. 95815, 800-460-6676; $31.95 a year) is a monthly newsletter on senior travel; subscription includes "The Book of Deals," with info about senior discounts on cruises, airlines, tours, hotels and attractions (without a subscription, you can purchase the book for $9.90, including shipping).
* "Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're Over 50," by Joan Rattner Heilman (Contemporary Publishing, $12.95; available at bookstores) is a valuable source.
Web: The AARP site, www.aarp.org, has travel tips and destination info for seniors.
SINGLES
Organizations:
* Travel Companion Exchange (P.O. Box 833, Amityville, N.Y. 11701, 800-392-1256 or 631-454-0880, www.whytravelalone.com), in business for nearly 20 years, matches single travelers with companions. First-timers pay $159 for a year's membership, which includes a subscription to its six-times-a-year newsletter and profiles of single travelers; after that you pay $298 a year. A subscrip- tion to the newsletter only is $48 a year.
* Going Solo Travel Club (629 11th Ave. SW, Calgary, Canada T2R 0E1, 888-446-7656; www.goingsolotravel.com) organizes trips for singles to destinations across the globe. It promises to match you up with a roommate.
* Backroads (801 Cedar St., Berkeley, Calif. 94710-1800, 800-462-2848, www. backroads.com) is an adventure travel company with 200 itineraries for singles.
Publications:
* Connecting: Solo Travel Network (800-557-1757, www.cstn.org) publishes six newsletters annually, plus the "Single- Friendly Travel Directory." Membership is $28 a year.
* "Traveling Solo," by Eleanor Berman (Globe Pequot Press, 1999, $15.25 at www.amazon.com), offers advice and vacation ideas for the single traveler.
Web: A new site for solo travelers, www. travelchums.com, matches single (or married) individuals with like-minded travel companions, or helps them meet locals in cities they travel to. The service is free.
STUDENTS
Organization: The Council on International Education Exchange is a valuable resource for travel in this country and abroad. Its $22 International Student Identity Card is good for discounts on rail passes, plane tickets and other travel; health and life insurance; and access to a help line. The CIEE operates Council Travel Service (800-226-8624, www.ciee.org), a travel agency for students with offices in major cities worldwide, including several in the Washington area.
Publications:
* "Peterson's Study Abroad 2000" (Peterson's Publishing Co., 202 Carnegie Center, P.O. Box 2123, Princeton, N.J. 08543, 800-338-3282, www.petersons. com; $29.95, 2001 edition available in December) lists more than 1,700 semester and year-abroad courses, mostly for college and grad students, and adult learners.
* "Academic Year Abroad 2000-2001" ($46.95) and "Vacation Study Abroad 2000-2001" ($42.95) (Institute of International Education, 800-445-0443, www.iie.org) list study-abroad programs for college and older students.
Web: STA Travel (800-781-4040, www.statravel.com) offers info on student fares on domestic and international flights. STA is a travel agency, so beware; just keep clicking on the "Browse It!" option until you're ready to explore booking possibilities. You can also use the site to obtain travel insurance and a student I.D., read planning tips and exchange travel info.
VOLUNTEER/SERVICE TRIPS
Organizations: Among the organizations sponsoring volunteer and service travel:
* Amizade Volunteer Vacations, 367 S. Graham St., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15232, 888-973-4443, www.amizade.org.
* Council on International Education Exchange (see STUDENTS, above).
* Global Volunteers, 375 E. Little Canada Rd., St. Paul, Minn. 55117-1627, 800-487-1074, www.globalvolunteers.org.
* Habitat for Humanity International, 121 Habitat St., Americus, Ga. 31709, 202-610- 2355, www.habitat.org.
Publications:
* Transitions Abroad Magazine: The Guide to Learning, Living and Working Overseas (see EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL, above) includes opportunities for travelers overseas.
* "Volunteer Vacations: Short Term Vacations That Will Benefit You and Others," by Bill McMillon (Chicago Review Press, $15.25; available at local bookstores), describes more than 2,000 volunteer projects worldwide.
Web: The Idealist, www.idealist.org, is a directory of nonprofit and volunteer opportunities in North America and abroad.
