VACATION DREAMING SOME EXOTIC, OUTDOORS-ORIENTED GETAWAY IDEAS.Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer Come on, admit it. There's a lot of Clark Griswold in all of us. Chevy Chase's character in the ``Vacation'' movies longed to plan the perfect trip for his family. We all want to take that dream getaway to an exotic locale. Only Walley World probably wouldn't cut it for the outdoor adventurer. Maybe these vacations will (remember, most of the following prices don't include roundtrip airfare): --Swim with the fishes: Sportfishing sport·fish·ing n. The sport of catching fish using a rod and reel. Noun 1. sportfishing - the act of someone who fishes as a diversion fishing field sport, outdoor sport - a sport that is played outdoors Worldwide takes you to where the big ones are around the globe. Some of the more obscure fishing trips include: --Argentina: Argentina has some of the world's best trout streams. Many of the resorts are in ski areas at high elevations of the Andes Mountains Andes Mountains Mountain system, western South America. One of the great natural features of the globe, the Andes extend north-south about 5,500 mi (8,900 km). They run parallel to the Caribbean Sea coast in Venezuela before turning southwest and entering Colombia. . The skinny: Most of the trips run $660/night double occupancy. --Canada: Trophy Lake trout lake trout or Mackinaw trout or Great Lakes trout or salmon trout Large, voracious char (Salvelinus namaycush) found widely from northern Canada and Alaska to New England and the Great Lakes, usually in deep, cool lakes. , brook trout brook trout or speckled trout Popular freshwater game fish (Salvelinus fontinalis), a variety of char, that is valued for its flavour and its fighting qualities when hooked. The brook trout is a native of the northeastern U.S. , Dolly Varden Dol·ly Var·den n. A colorfully spotted trout (Salvelinus malma) of northwest North America and eastern Asia. [After Dolly Varden, a character known for her colorful costume in the novel , Northern pike and Atlantic salmon Atlantic salmon Oceanic trout species (Salmo salar), a highly prized game fish. It averages about 12 lbs (5.5 kg) and is marked with round or cross-shaped spots. Found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, it enters streams in the fall to spawn. swim in Canada's lakes and rivers. The most exciting trip could be to the Inconnu inconnu Noun Canad a whitefish of Arctic waters [French, literally: unknown] Lodge in Verb 1. lodge in - live (in a certain place); "She resides in Princeton"; "he occupies two rooms on the top floor" occupy, reside move in - occupy a place; "The crowds are moving in" stay at - reside temporarily; "I'm staying at the Hilton" the Northwest Territory Northwest Territory, first possession of the United States, comprising the region known as the Old Northwest, S and W of the Great Lakes, NW of the Ohio River, and E of the Mississippi River, including the present states of Ohio, Ind., Ill., Mich., Wis. . Guests will fly by helicopter to remote lakes and rivers. The skinny: A five-night package costs $3,495. --Russia: Sportfishing Worldwide describes the Varzuga River System of Northwest Russia as ``probably the most prolific Atlantic salmon river anywhere in the world.'' Guests can expect to catch 30 salmon per rod over a weeklong vacation to the Varzuga. The skinny: Weekly trips cost between $3,990-$6,690. --Bahamas: The bonefish bonefish, common name for a fish belonging to either of two species of the family Albulidae. Albula vulpes is widespread in warm, shallow marine waters, and Dixonina nemoptera is found only in the West Indies. is one of the more challenging species to conquer. Moxey's on Mangrove mangrove, large tropical evergreen tree, genus Rhizophora, that grows on muddy tidal flats and along protected ocean shorelines. Mangroves are most abundant in tropical Asia, Africa, and the islands of the SW Pacific. Bay is one of the best places to beat the bonefish. There are more than 800 square miles of flats that are accessible to seek out the fish here. There are also opportunities to catch permit, tarpon tarpon (tär`pŏn), common name for members of the family Elopidae, large herringlike game fish of the warm seas of the Western Hemisphere, ranging occasionally from Long Island to Brazil and to the west coast of Africa and entering freshwater , barracuda barracuda, slender, elongated fish of tropical seas. Barracudas have long snouts and projecting lower jaws armed with large, sharp-edged teeth. They are ferocious, striking at anything that gleams, and are considered excellent game fishes. and jacks. The skinny: A seven-night stay with six days of fishing costs $2,450. Information: For all trips, contact Sportfishing Worldwide at 1-800-638-7405. Or log onto to its Web site at www.sportfishingworldwide.com. Here are some other dream vacation destinations: --Ski the Andes: Portillo, Chile, is the oldest ski area in South America. It's also a resort with almost a 1:1 ratio between guests and staff members. ``Our 450 employees take care of our 500 guests,'' Portillo's Web site touts. Located just 102 miles (a 2 1/2-hour drive) from the Chilean capital of Santiago, a typical Portillo vacation includes a seven-night stay at the lodge and seven days of skiing. The hotel is the only building around. But it has a computer center, gymnasium, disco and heated outdoor pool. The skinny: Remember that Chile is located in the Southern Hemisphere, so the peak ski season is between mid-June and mid-October. A typical Saturday-to-Saturday trip in the peak season (July 15-29) costs $1,830 for a double. The low-season rate (late June-early July and late September-early October) is about $1,000 cheaper. Information: 1-800-829-5325; www.skiportillo.com. --Welcome to the Rock: Rock Nice Adventures offers exotic climbing expeditions to Nepal, Tibet, Mexico and South America. The skinny: A spring, 2001 trek to Ama Dablam, an 8,000-meter peak in the Himalayas of Tibet, lasts 35 days and costs $4,500. Information: (253) 566-7799; www.rocknice.net. --The River Wild: Morocco? Turkey? They both feature some of the world's most unknown and thrilling white-water rafting rivers. Water By Nature can take you there. Turkey's Coruh River has rapids that ``go on for miles.'' Other stretches of water float past ruins of Byzantine castles. Maybe North African rafting seems more intriguing. Moroccan river rafting has gone largely unnoticed, and Water By Nature's staff had yet to choose a trip down four possible rivers in the country. Like the Turkey run, history is an important enticement to raft in Morocco. Visiting the imperial city of Marrakech is part of this trip. The skinny: The Turkish excursion includes five and 10-day trips between May and July. Cost is about $748 for a five-day trip and approximately $1,148 for the 10-day run. An eight-day trip in Morocco (March-April) runs about $1,000. Information: (650) 347-7230; www.waterbynature.com. --Southern comfort: The Wynfield Plantation, a hunting and fishing resort in Albany, Ga., offers its guests an experience filled withSouthern hospitality. Quail hunting is the big attraction. ``It's just different. . . . It's quail hunting like it's supposed to be,'' Wynfield's Web site says. The hunting area features natural quail habitats. There are also opportunities for deer, turkey and wild boar hunts, bass fishing and clay shooting. The skinny: The lodge rates are $110/night. A full-day quail hunt (including license, lunch, jeep, a guide and hunting dogs) is $475. Information: (912) 889-0193; www.wynfieldplantation.com. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Tour guide Joel Moxey shows off a bonefish he caught on the island of Andros in the Bahamas, which is an enticing getaway for the outdoors- oriented traveler. Tim Aylen/Associated Press |
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