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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, December 30, 2007

Experience North America's last great temperate rainforest

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Eco-cruises now take let you experience the Great Bear Rainforest, augmented by shore trips and kayaking.

Kevin J. Smith

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Revellers run through the streets of Pamplona, Spain, in front of a herd of fighting bulls. It's the annual San Fermin festival, made famous by Ernest Hemingway.

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

To taste shiraz you can't buy at home, spend some time in Australia's Barossa Valley.

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BRITISH COLUMBIA

Grizzly bears, the rare spirit bear, six million migrating seabirds, 20 percent of the world's wild salmon and the largest intact temperate rainforest on the planet: British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest, a short plane ride from Vancouver, British Columbia, has been called the last great stand of the American rainforest. Maple Leaf Adventures offers small-group eco-cruises for wildlife viewing of whales, bears, and seabirds, accompanied by naturalists and gourmet chefs, shore trips, kayaking and glimpses of rare animals.

Excursions suit wildlife enthusiasts concerned about responsible travel; Maple Leaf Adventures holds permits for accessing protected wildlife areas that are closed to the mass-tourist industry. Flights to departure points leave daily from Vancouver.

Prices start at $2,800 and include accommodations, meals, shore excursions and use of gear, including kayaks. www.MapleLeafAdventures.com, 888-599-5323.

WORLDWIDE

HOT DATES FOR 2008: EVENTS YOU MIGHT WANT TO PLAN A TRIP AROUND

Outside magazine's January issue offers a list of events through 2008. Here are six to think about.

  • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Feb. 2-5: The legendary 'Canaval'.

  • Hong Kong, March 28-30: Rugby Sevens; tournament with teams of seven, instead of the traditional 15 players.

  • Louisville, Ky., May 3: Kentucky Derby, the famed horse race.

  • Glastonbury, England, June 27-29: Europe's largest music and arts festival.

  • Pamplona, Spain, July 6-14: Fiesta de San Fermin, the famous running of the bulls.

  • Black Rock City, Nev., Aug. 25-Sept. 1: Burning Man, the free-for-all arts carnival in the desert.

    AUSTRALIA

    FOOD AND WINE DELIGHTS LURE FOODIES TO DOWN UNDER

    Thinking about going Down Under? The world's love affair with shiraz is bringing wine spectators to Australia's Barossa Valley. The hilly region is home to some of the world's oldest shiraz vines, some dating back to the 1840s. And if the more than 60 wineries aren't enough, Barossa also offers an artisanal cheese trail, and nearby Adelaide is a foodie destination in its own right. www.barossatours.com.au.

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