This Holiday Give the Gift of Adventure as You Help Those in Need

Tomgirl Tours has officially inked the details for our holiday gift certificate program--one that allows purchasers to not only give the gift of upscale adventure tours to the women who receive them, but also to provide support to four charitable organizations that are near and dear to us at Tomgirl Tours.

As I outlined in my last post, this year has been an incredibly difficult one for many non-profit organizations, as people pulled back spending on all levels, especially their charitable donations. So, as I developed the idea of a gift certificate option for this holiday, I thought what better way--or time--for Tomgirl Tours to "give back", and allow purchasers to know that their holiday spending is also helping these organizations that do so much good.

In keeping with Tomgirl's dedication to women (and girls), health, and the Great Outdoors, we've selected four foundations as our partners. For each gift certificate sold, Tomgirl will make a donation to whichever cause the purchaser selects. We will donate $125 for each certificate for a week-long tour, and $75 for each certificate purchased for a weekend tour.

The organizations from which you can choose:

1. A Wish Come True, which grants wishes to children ages 3 through 18 who have life-threatening illnesses and live in Rhode Island & areas of southeastern Massachusetts. As of June 2009, a Wish Come True had completed more than 1200 wishes, at an average cost of $5,000 each.
2. The National Breast Cancer Foundation, which strives to save lives by increasing awareness of breast cancer through education and by providing mammograms for those in need.
3. Big Brothers Big Sisters, the oldest, largest, and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States. Mentoring children, ages 6 through 18, Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that have a measurable impact on youth.
4. The National Forest Foundation, which engages Americans in community-based and national programs that promote the health and public enjoyment of the 193-million-acre National Forest System, and administers private gifts of funds and land for the benefit of the National Forests.

To decide which tour to put on your holiday wish list (so you can start dropping hints, of course!), click here. For information on how to purchase a Tomgirl Gift Certificate, contact me at (866) 922-4990 or email info@tomgirltours.com.

Seeking Ideas on Causes to Support this Holiday...

We're finishing up plans for a holiday initiative that will make it easier than ever to bring a little Tomgirl adventure into your lives in 2010. And we’re seeking your input and ideas in finalizing one integral element of this program: giving back, by way of supporting charities for causes near and dear to Tomgirl Tours--like education, preservation and women's health.

It's been a difficult year for many non-profits and we want to not only help, but also help you help. Like adventure travel, doing what we can to make a difference in the wider world is quite empowering--to both giver and receiver.

We have a couple organizations already lined up, but right now we're seeking two additional causes to support with this initiative. First, an organization that makes a difference in the lives of troubled or disadvantaged girls; second, a preservation group, specifically one in a region we love to travel to on our tours: the White Mountains.

Please let us know your ideas? (and stay tuned for developments!)

Tomgirl's Newest Journey: the Path to Financial Empowerment

Personal finance has always been a passion for me. Understanding what, how, and when I need to manage my money in order to have a secure, healthy and comfortable lifestyle makes me feel good about myself, my family and my life situation. It's a great feeling to get to a point where you aren't worrying about credit card debt and your ability to the pay the mortgage on time but rather to focus on the things we need to do to proactively create wealth - small or large wealth; either way, it doesn't matter... what matters is thinking and planning. I've educated myself in many ways, and one of my favorite sources of information is Suze Orman, but I--like many women--could have used more proactive help over the years.

Enter Tomgirl Tours' newest tour feature: financial planning workshops on our Vermont tours next year. You might be asking yourself: “Financial planning and adventure travel?” Well, this workshop will be less like a “typical” financial planning seminar than like an adventure in itself.

My partners in this are Ameriprise advisors Chris Hager and Chris Di Fronzo, who are going about this with a unique approach - we are going to start with your dreams and desires and set about creating your wealth vision. Huh? What is that? Your wealth vision gives you the chance to "dream" about what you really want (I mean, what do you really, really want? A farm house in the woods; a cupcake truck business in the summer? More time with family?) In this area we'll help you to create your dream board. From there, Chris and Chris will go through the steps of planning and executing each aspect necessary to meet your vision. We will talk about things like passive and passionate income; tax avoidance strategies; wealth protection and the usual stuff like stocks, bonds and insurance... After all, a goal starts with an end result in mind (and on paper) and the clarity of purpose and actions to make it come true.

I’m excited about these sessions and helping other women dream, plan and execute their futures - ones that hold security, comfort and the wonderful feeling of empowerment that planning and taking action gives to us.

Money grows exponentially and so can we!

Get Outdoors and Do Your Mind (and body) Good

On these absolutely picture-perfect New England autumn days, when the blue skies and crisp air beckons, it can be hard to focus on work (especially for tomgirls like me!). As we tend to the business of planning and preparing for our upcoming tours, I keep looking out the window and thinking about why nature and outdoor activities are such a lure. I know why I am personally drawn to them but, given that Tomgirl Tours focuses on exhilarating adventure in the great outdoors, I poked around a bit online--in the name of business research, of course--and found some interesting reports on exactly why outdoor adventures like our tours aren't just good for fun, but actually excellent for your health.

According to this report from Kent State University: Outdoor recreation has psychological benefits, including the prevention or reduction of stress; improved self-esteem, confidence and creativity; spiritual growth; and an increased sense of exhilaration, adventure and challenge from life.

This study, meanwhile, shows not only the individual mental and physical benefits of outdoor recreation, but also how getting outdoors with friends and family builds and strengthens bonds (exactly what we always say!)

Finally, the Public Health Agency of Canada offers this about physical activity: [it] allows daily tasks to be accomplished with greater ease and comfort and with less fatigue.

So, if you'll pardon me, I'm heading out into the sunshine now... some might call it playing hooky, but I call it doing my body (and mind) good.

What You Need to Know About Adventure Travel

Thanks to everyone for attending our Adventure Travel 101 webinar on Wednesday. What fun to connect with fellow adventure lovers! I especially enjoyed sharing some of the reasons why adventure travel first appealed to me, then inspired such passion that I founded Tomgirl Tours. Those reasons? Well, much more than just the adrenaline rush of stepping off a zip line platform or ascending into the heavens in a hot air balloon, adventure travel:

• Allows you to engage in the world around you
• Provides empowering, hands-on experiences
• Stretches your boundaries and helps build confidence
• Gets you to explore new destinations
• Creates memories to last a life time

and, perhaps most importantly,

• Is a bonding experience during which you build lasting friendships.

Webinar attendees, meanwhile, were especially interested in learning about what they need to consider before booking an adventure tour. Important points for those who are venturing into the unknown, so I wanted to share some of the key considerations we discussed:

1. Understand your travel goals and desires
2. Think about what destinations get you excited
3. Decide what activities you want to experience
4. Learn about tour operators like Tomgirl Tours and be sure that they are experienced and have researched all adventure elements of the tours. (I, for example, will not schedule a tour without experiencing each activity to ensure the safety and experience of guides)
5. Seek expert advice (i.e., a travel agent you trust)

An adventure vacation can be one of the greatest experiences of someone's life. My goal is to ensure that it is! So, if you missed the webinar or have any questions, I'm here to help!

Intrigued But Intimidated by "Adventure Travel"? Read On...

I started working with Lori Carr and Tomgirl Tours in May, when my agency, Miamore Communications, became the company's public relations agency. In the four months since, I've been lucky to learn SO much about the exciting adventure travel niche... because, to be honest, when I first heard "adventure" in relation to "vacations" for women, I naturally (and very much erroneously) imagined women jumping out of planes, rock climbing (when the ground was nowhere in sight) and other--in my imagination, daredevil--activities. While I was, personally, very much the quintessential tomboy growing up (the only "son" of a man with only two daughters, as my family jokes), the term "adventure travel" intrigued me, yet made me squeamish.

Flash forward to the present day and I understand the levels of adventure travel ("hard" vs. "soft") and especially appreciate Lori's brand of adventure at Tomgirl Tours--"mildly adventurous", as we describe it--exhilarating and empowering, yet entirely safe (and balanced with some girly elements... like spas, upscale hotels, the finest cuisine, and cultural experiences).

Having been now enlightened by Tomgirl Tours, and having done extensive research this wildly popular travel niche (one of the fastest growing segments of travel, according to industry research), I now see on other women's faces the familiar hesitation/misunderstanding/curiosity I experienced when I first met Lori last spring. And that is why I can not recommend enough the Webinar that Lori and fellow adventure-loving travel expert Ann Petronio (owner of Annie's Escapes travel agency) will host next week, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. (EST). In 30 minutes, Lori and Ann will explain the levels of adventure available and educate women on how to choose the correct tour operator and travel planner to ensure the biggest concerns: comfort and safety. This pair of travel adventure dynamos also will spend additional time answering any and all questions you might have. (And, as an insider tip: Tomgirl will have some special discount incentives for those who attend!)

If you are like me, and you love adventure but aren't quite sure what the heck "adventure travel" entails? Well, I can only say that the Adventure Travel 101: Demystifying Adventure Webinar will be well worth the 30 minutes. For registration, see the link at right, or click here.

Hope to See You in Hartford This Weekend!

What a beautiful Labor Day weekend we enjoyed here in Rhode Island. And, as it winds down, I'm just as excited about this weekend--the 7th Annual Connecticut Women's Expo in Hartford, Conn. Tomgirl Tours will be exhibiting at the expo for the first time, and we can't wait to meet all the tomgirls in our neighboring state!

The expo is open Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Connecticut Expo Center (click here for directions). The expo features products and services ranging from fashion and beauty, to health and nutrition, to financial planning and education. The highlight, however, will be at booth 324: Tomgirl Tours. I hope you'll come by and say hello... we're offering some special offers for Expo attendees, including raffles to win discounts on Tomgirl's adventure tours and merchandise, and special pricing on our upcoming tours for anyone who signs up at the Expo.

Admission to the Expo is $10 at the door, but email me and I'd be happy to send you a free pass.

Look forward to seeing you there!