Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 152
November 10, 2018
Are You Ready for an Adventure? Walk with Polar Bears
This is Part Two of my adventures walking with Polar Bears with Churchill Wild at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge. Click here to read Part One. When are you going to touch the Arctic?
I absolutely loved this experience. Please enjoy my videos to see what our days were like riding the Arctic Rhino and walking with wild animals.
Lisa Niver’s selfie with a Polar Bear with Churchill WildVIDEO: Watch My Video And Click here to read Part One
Today (September 3, 2018) was another day of polar bears and wolves and wolves and polar bears! I might rename it Nanuk Polar Bear and Wolf lodge because we have seen so many wolves. Churchill Wild has been here for 25 years and we are wondering when are you coming to see the polar bears and the wolves!
Enjoy my videos to see what a day is like exploring with Churchill Wild!
I was glad that they lent us rubber boats and rain pants and coats. We walked in some very muddy conditions. They also had walking sticks that you could borrow! I especially liked the blankets that we could use in the Arctic Rhino. You can make friends, be in nature and see amazing creatures! I loved it!
Churchill Wild Arctic Safaris: Getting ready to see Polar BearsVIDEO: Did we see Polar Bears at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge?
Video from Sept 5, 2018 Our last day at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge
Churchill Wild and Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge I have had the most incredible time! I cannot wait
to come back. How cold was it? I wore all my clothes! Make sure to check the weather for York
Factory and not Churchill!
Thank you for watching my videos with wolves and polar bears! When are you going to touch the Arctic?
VIDEO: Can you see the Northern Lights with Churchill Wild?
Is it on your bucket list to see the Northern Lights?
Come to Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge where we saw the Aurora Borealis for more than an hour.
We saw all different colors and the lights were dancing all across the sky.
It was truly one of the most magical things I have ever seen.
Where did we stay to see Polar Bears?
Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge with Churchill Wild
Click here to see all of my Polar Bear videos!
I wrote about the Polar Bears from my visit with Dr. Petersen at the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre, Winnipeg, Canada for Ms. Magazine. Click here to read: “Polar Bears Can’t Vote, So You Have To!”
The post Are You Ready for an Adventure? Walk with Polar Bears appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
November 7, 2018
Do You Want to Walk with Polar Bears?
I walked with Polar Bears with Churchill Wild at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge. It was literally one of the best bucket list adventures I have ever experienced. Please enjoy my videos to see what our days were like riding the Arctic Rhino and walking with wild animals.
Walking with Polar Bears by Lisa Niver with Churchill Wild near Hudson BayVIDEO: Do You Want to Walk with Polar Bears?
Walking with the polar bears at Nanuk Polar Bear lodge is one of the most amazing things I have ever done. It only works because of the trusted, experienced and talented guides, Andy, Emri and Kevin who literally talk to the animals. We have seen about a dozen polar bears and wolves. We traveled by arctic rhino which looks like a moon rover.
It has been so incredible.
If you are looking for a really different experience and an adventure bucket list experience in the vast expanse of the outdoors were there are no roads, no traffic lights and no other people. This is an exciting next adventure for you to explore.
I loved it!
Polar Bear by Lisa Niver at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge, Churchill WildVIDEO: What happens at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge?
You are finding me today, September 1, 2018, at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge. It is truly phenomenal here.You walk with the Polar Bears! We also walked with the wolves. It is a once in a lifetime bucket list experience. I loved the Arctic safari with bears, wolves and some people even see moose!
Sleeping Polar Bear by Lisa Niver with Churchill WildVIDEO: Where Can You See Polar Bears In Canada?
After traveling to 101 countries, walking with the polar bears with Churchill Wild was one of the most amazing bucket list experiences of my life! The bear in this video was across the river and then walked closer and closer to use! It was incredible to be so close. Churchill Wild wants you to have a top experience and safety of the animals and of the guests is of the highest importance. Our three guides were very talented and we saw so many creatures! Our sightings included many wolves, polar bears, polar bear cubs and we even stopped among the trees for hot cocoa, coffee and tea!
Back at the lodge, meals are served family style and there are plenty of freshly baked treats. I loved it! Thank you Churchill Wild. This video is from September 2, 2018
Where did we stay to see Polar Bears?
Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge with Churchill Wild
Click here to see all of my Polar Bear videos!
I wrote about the Polar Bears from my visit with Dr. Petersen at the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre, Winnipeg, Canada for Ms. Magazine. Click here to read: “Polar Bears Can’t Vote, So You Have To!”
The post Do You Want to Walk with Polar Bears? appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
Who Tells Vivid Visual Stories? World Travel Bug
Instagram influencer and travel photographer World Travel Bug tells visual stories
World Travel Bug blog came to life in 2015, when Mihaela Popa exchanged her long-term career in finance for the two biggest passions: travel and photography. What she thought was going to be a six months to one year sabbatical period, turned to be the start of a new life: that of a travel blogger, photographer and everything social media related, a life completely different from what she has done before. She is in the elite ranks of Instagram with more than 107,000 followers.
1.)Where was the first place that you traveled that made you think WOW—travel is amazing (think history book come to life or …..)
Short answer: China! The Forbidden Palace.
However, this is still happening every time and in each place I go to!
I started traveling extensively in 2004 when I moved to Belgium. My work required about 75% travel. However, I wanted to travel ever since I was a child, even though in communist Romania, where I was born, this seemed almost like an impossible dream back then. I have always been fascinated with Asia and China in particular, and if I have to really pick a place then it would be when I went to China for the first time and I spent 1 week by myself in Beijing.
2.)If you had unlimited resources, where would you go and what would you do?
At this very moment my answer has to be Africa! I would just travel all around the continent: by road, by air, by boat, you name it. I would love to experience all sides of Africa: the local tribes, the jungle, but also those extremely expensive African Safari lodges. And I would love to do it for a few months. Damn, you just made me start dreaming again!
As to what I would do, I would help the people in need that I meet along the way. I am already doing this as much as I can but I would love to help more.
3.)What were you afraid to do and how did you find the courage to overcome it?
I was afraid to leave my country, Romania and move to Belgium. I was afraid to be without my family and friends. These are the most important things to me! Then I realised that distance is as big or as small as you make it.
4.)What apps do you use regularly that make your life easier?
I use the pro version of Tripit, XE conversion, ALL the social media and photo apps , Rome2Rio and so many more
5.)What place do you wish more people have seen?
My own country: Romania. It is still and undiscovered gem. Even I haven’t seen so much of it. We have a delta that is unique in the world, gorgeous mountains, beautiful traditions (still kept) and so much more.
6.)Best advice you have been given and by whom?
I always get the best advice from my mom. She knows me the best and she is giving me a lot of advice…still. The last one was: “just go!” .
7.)When were you surprised by the kindness of strangers on a trip?
I used to be surprised but not anymore. During so much travel I come to realise that actually the vast majority of people are kind! I have had the best experiences in Asia. For example, I always remember and tell people about that time in Japan when I was traveling to a very local place outside of Kyoto. People were constantly coming to me to ask if I needed help with directions. They saw I was a foreigner and that I had a map in my hands (at that time, actual paper maps were still a thing haha) so even if they did not speak English they were constantly trying to help me.
8.)What inspired you to travel for extended periods of time or live in a new country?
I don’t just want to tick places off the list, I want to experience them. Each place I travel to changes me and helps me discover new things about me and about the world. Different places have a different impact and some of them have a very big one. The best example for me is India, where I have been 10 times already. I even lived there for a few months and yet I keep going back. India certainly changed my life and it still does every time I go there, in a very good way.
I always try to learn a bit about the culture of the country I am going to, especially if it is very different from mine. To do that, I usually read a book related to that country. And then I cannot wait to go and experience all that myself.
9.)I travel because….
I cannot NOT do it. I always say that travel is an investment in yourself and that it is the best teacher you can have. So I travel for that, for my own continuous development. But to really benefit from travel in the way that I want I need to take it slower and spend more time in each place.
10.) My favorite travel or business book is…
elite ranks of Instagram with more than 107,000 followers. It is not necessarily a travel book per se but it is the book that made me fall in love with Japan before I even saw it. Now it is my absolute favourite country!
11.) How about hotels? What’s your favorite or one you’d recommend?
Oh I am afraid I cannot pick just one! I stayed in so many gorgeous hotels around the world. From boutique hotels to big chains and very high end ones. But one chain in which I stayed the most are Taj hotels in India. And I would really love to experience some of their palace hotels as well. Oh I can add this to my list of “if money was no issue” .
Lastly, can you please recommend a resource for up-and-coming travel writers; this could be a course you know, a book, conference etc.
At the beginning I read and watched all the free stuff I found online. Then I realised that if really wanted to do this for real I needed to invest a bit more. So I started taking paid courses here and there, including for Instagram which is my favorite social media channel. But I would say: join Facebook groups and interact with people from your niche, check out online courses sites like Udemy for Instagram and Pinterest courses.
Mihaela’s style of travel is smart, cultural and with a touch of luxury. Through her blog and social media sites, she shares what she has experienced, seen, discovered and learned from travel and helps people travel more often and better.
Stay up-to-date on her travels at:
Our next Travel Influencer interview will be up soon, follow the series here.
The post Who Tells Vivid Visual Stories? World Travel Bug appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
November 6, 2018
November 1, 2018
The Five Best Lessons I Learned From Teen Feminists
Thank you to Ms. Magazine for publishing my article: “Reverse Mentoring with GenMaverick: The Five Best Lessons I Learned From Teen Feminists”October 22, 2018 by Lisa Niver | Leave a Comment
At the inaugural Maverick Live Summit in Los Angeles, teens took the stage to celebrate the new app’s intent to empower young girls to use their voices—and shared honest stories about their paths to incredible accomplishments. From being on “Grown-ish” to being the first African-American woman ever to qualify for a U.S. Olympic speed skating team, the passionate young women who gathered in Los Angeles for the summit showed the crowd of teens that anything is possible and encouraged them to be creative and empowered.
Collectively and individually they told each other and the crowd: “Take risks! Dream big. Let your voice be heard!”
Listening to the young women speak about their struggles, about moving from surviving to thriving, I realized that they had plenty to teach me and the other adults who attended in support and as mentors. As a 50-year-old entrepreneur, I was impressed to see these teens sharing lessons I am often still working on.
Here are my five favorite takeaways from the day. I hope their ability to stay the course inspires you to continue working daily in the direction of your aspirations.
Click here to connect with Lisa on Maverick!
#1: We are better together.
Super-powered sister duo Chloe x Halle have undergone a transformation—from being two girls who loved making music in their living room to the faces of a YouTube channel with over 79 million views and nearly one million subscribers and a nomination for Best New Artist on MTV Video Music Awards 2018. They have now performed with Beyoncé and created the theme song for “Grown-ish,” a TV show in which they also play twin characters.
People of all ages worry if their work will be good enough: Chloe x Halle have a built in team as sisters and with their extended family, and their secret to success is to “express yourself truthfully and together!” Make sure to reach out to others and find your team to encourage and sustain you.
#2: Stand up for yourself and never give up.
Maame Biney is an Olympian with a big smile and incredible tenacity who moved to the United States from Accra, Ghana when she was five years old. When she found speed skating shortly after, she immediately fell in love—and she never stopped trying to get better.
When Biney didn’t make the Junior Olympic team, she told herself that she was going to team trials the following year no matter what. In order to make the team, she skated on a broken ankle. Her smile at the Olympic Games in Korea won over the crowds, and she plans to be on the podium for the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2022.
Her determination to battle her way through many obstacles sets an example of the focus that is needed to reach any goal, whether or not it has Olympic proportions.
The other injustices Biney has overcome have also fueled her fight to succeed. She spoke candidly about a coach who called her “fat” at the summit, and urged everyone in the crowd to create their own mold. (In a moment of raw honesty, admitted that even she is “still learning how to love myself.”)
“I was the only African American on a team and surrounded by Asian teammates,” she explained. “I am different, but so what. I am black. I have curly hair. My legs are bigger than other girls and because of that I am stronger than them. I overcame that.”
#3: Dress to impress yourself.
Daunnette Reyome is a Native American Teen Vogue model who wants people to understand the cultural and spiritual significance of wearing a headdress. In her culture, “you have to earn the right to wear an eagle feather,” and she noted that “I feel powerful when I wear it—more confident, and more connected to my culture.”
Although Reyome resides on the UmoNHon Indian reservation now, she was not raised on one, and wants more people to understand that not all Native Americans live on them. She likes to play basketball and be with friends.
Reyome aspires to be a culture hero, “someone who has pride in their own culture.” The confidence and optimism that Reyome exudes is a key to her success. She believes in herself and that she can make a difference which is what most of us want for ourselves no matter our age.
“I want to fill my life with experiences that many little Indian girls did not have the chance to do,” she told the crowd. “I want to show others that it is okay to believe in their dreams.”
#4: Speak up.
According to 15-year-old Hannah Alper, there is no such thing as “too young.” She has been an advocate for issues she cares about for years—working with the World Wildlife Federation, school groups and Canadian policy makers and even delivering TED talks. Alper is a speaker, author, role model and high school freshman who wants everyone to see “we are all empowered to make a difference in our communities and in the world.”
“What are you fighting for?” Alper asked from the stage. She then laid out her formula for making it happen: the issue plus your gift will create change. (What is your gift? Alper will tell you “whatever you are good at can make a difference. The issues in the world seem overwhelming but stay grounded and you can ‘be the change.’”)
#5: Find humor in the darkness.
Ruby Karp’s advice for girls and young women? “Social media is toxic, pick only partners who are supportive and don’t take yourself so seriously… Control who you are and what you surround yourself with.”
In a spoken word piece at the summit, Ruby Karp talked about how high school, like life, can be awkward. In her book, Earth Hates Me, as well as in person, Karp shows that smart is funny, and that it is okay to “show your weirdest self, say things that make you uncomfortable and have hard conversations.”
Lisa Ellen Niver is an award-winning travel expert who has been to 100 countries. Her website, We Said Go Travel, was read in 222 countries in 2017; her videos have over 2 million views on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and YouTube. Lisa has written for AARP, Sierra Club, Delta Sky, Smithsonian, and Robb Report and talks travel on KTLA-TV, but you can often find her underwater SCUBA diving, in her art studio making ceramics or helping people find their next dream trip.
Reverse Mentoring with GenMaverick
Thank you @MsMagazine for my #article: "Reverse #Mentoring with @GenMaverick: Five Best #Lessons I Learned From Teen #Feminists"#maverick #DoYourThing https://t.co/06EE6CUBCH @carmenriosss @chloexhalle @DaunnetteNeRaih @ThatHannahAlper @RubyKarp @BineyMaame @femalequotient pic.twitter.com/iIMaR2DTOA
— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) October 22, 2018
The post The Five Best Lessons I Learned From Teen Feminists appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
October 30, 2018
Why Does This Travel Mom Take Her Kids Everywhere?
Travel mom and writer Lori LeRoy writes at Maps Memories and Motherhood, giving tips and tricks for traveling with kids. Her love of travel happened at an early age and now she’s passing it along to her young boys.
Where did your love of travel come from?
My wanderlust was influenced by a myriad of places as a child.
My great-grandmother, Mimi, was a teacher and avid traveler. She was often in Germany and Yugoslavia visiting relatives, and could cross the border without showing her passport because her German language was so good. She ventured to the Middle East, all over Europe, and, at 65-years old, she took a freighter to Japan, spending weeks aboard the ship. She explored the world well into her eighties. I loved hearing stories from her travels and getting unique trinkets from her journeys, that I still treasure. She made me want to see more of the world, and encouraged me to do so.
This sense of travel rubbed off on my parents. While many families always went to Florida for vacations, we went all over the place – often with educational bents on our family vacation. We chalked up 25 or 30 states as well as trips to Canada and Mexico by the time we were in high school.
And, I used to pour over geography books when I was a kid. I loved learning about other cultures and how people lived in faraway places. Our World and Our Fifty States by National Geographic had worn book spines because of the many, many times I read and re-read them. This has rubbed off on my 8-year old son as he would rather look at an Atlas than any other book.
Why do you take your kids everywhere?
My wanderlust stems from my childhood and was furthered by studying in Japan and traveling overseas as a newlywed. We have lived in the U.S., Canada and China. Travel is very important to me and my husband. My sons are from Vietnam and China, so we have been traveling with them internationally literally since we became a family. I want our boys to see the world so that they have an appreciation and understanding of all cultures and peoples. Experiencing new things and learning from different environments will give them an education they cannot get inside a school’s walls. I believe that travel broadens your mind, grows your heart and inspires your soul.
Best advice you have been given and by whom?
“You’re a risk taker. Don’t be afraid to take a risk because you may always wonder what could have been.” – Wise words from my great-grandmother, who was an avid world traveler.
What is something you’ve done traveling that you didn’t think you could do?
I am terrified of heights, but have ziplined in Quebec, in the MegaCavern in Louisville, Kentucky, and off the Great Wall of China. The zip off the Great Wall was particularly long and high, and having lived in China, I wasn’t sure of the safety standards of this operation, but decided to do it anyway tandem with my husband (plus, most of it was over a lake and I figured if all else, I could fall in the lake and swim to shore). It’s still one of my most favorite things I’ve ever done.
However, the biggest challenge I’ve had travelling was moving to China for 10 months – I had no friends (except my husband), didn’t speak the language, and had never visited before. We were given the opportunity through my husband’s job and decided to move because we decided we needed to shake things up. We were in a pretty tumultuous time of our lives – the adoption of our son from Vietnam was at a standstill, and we were becoming more and more embroiled in a battle to get him home (which finally happened two years later).
I knew I could do it, but wasn’t sure if I would like it. Turns out that I LOVED living in Shanghai, and it left me wanting more. And in fact, just three years later, we brought our second son home from southeast China.
When were you surprised by the kindness of others during your travels?
Honestly, I believe that most people are good and willing to help. So I haven’t been surprised by the kindness of others, but I do remember special moments where someone went out of their way to be helpful while we’ve been on our journeys.
On our honeymoon, we had taken a train from Lisbon to the lovely town of Estoril at the recommendation of my great-grandmother. While touring St. George’s Castle, we met an older 
American couple who had rented a car. They offered for us to ride back with them to Lisbon instead of taking the train back, saving us some time and money. Plus, they had done the reverse of the trip we were embarking on and gave us some great tips and suggestions for a restaurant with the best paella ever and a charming little hotel on the Algarve.
While in Tokyo, we were a little lost looking for the Samurai Museum, a must-see for my boys. A very nice businessman went out of his way to walk us (almost a mile) directly to the entrance.
Traveling with our children, we really have been met with kindness at every turn – from pilots and flight attendants to locals helping us with doors and offering their seats so that the boys can sit on the subway and people offering to take family photos.
The post Why Does This Travel Mom Take Her Kids Everywhere? appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
What FUN Happened At Virtuoso Travel Week?
PART TWO: Did you see my videos from PART ONE at Virtuoso Travel Week in August 2018? I am now planning and booking travel. Find more information about me and my luxury travel advising as an independent affiliate of CRUISE and RESORT, Inc with Virtuoso Luxury Travel Network on my new microsite!
Are you wondering what FUN happened at the Virtuoso Travel Week conference in Las Vegas?
I made several more videos to share about my experiences at the conference.
Video #4: Who will I meet at Virtuoso Travel Week?
What happens at Virtuoso Travel Week 2018? There are many meetings! Tracks A to F with 4 minute meetings as well as 10-minute meetings in the afternoons. We also had 8 minute sessions at Community Globetrotting.
Virtuoso Travel Week is an incredible opportunity to meet with the best hotels, DMCs, suppliers from all over the planet.
There were 293,700 individual four-minute assigned appointments.
There were 39, 296 individual ten-minute matched appointments.
6071 total attendees with 2888 members, 2569 partners, 310 guests, 218 staff and 80 media.
24,627 room nights and 3 host properties with 100 countries represented!
Video #5: Will I have FUN at Virtuoso Travel Week?
What happens besides meeting at Virtuoso Travel Week 2018?
Destination Showcase, Cruise Night Out, Party at Club “V” and MORE
I was invited to sit with Viking Cruises for the Destination Showcase dinner. Each table is specially decorated by the hosts.
We went to the parties for Four Seasons lunch, Visit California, Taj and Shangri-La, Cruise Night Out at Cosmopolitan, and The Palms Turks and Caicos where I got put in JAIL in VEGAS! But they let me out of good behavior. At the Venetian, we met artists from Neiman Marcus in collaboration with IHG.
I went to the Four Seasons hotel for their #FSCelebration party which was an incredible night of food, drinks, dancing and celebrating. Many of their marvelous properties are represented all week at Virtuoso Travel Week!
After the Light Up the Night Gala, we took over the entire Jewel Nightclub and danced all night long!
Video #6: Join Me Behind The Scenes At Bellagio Fountains
As part of Virtuoso Travel Week 2018, I was invited behind the scenes at the Bellagio Fountains.
Loni Singer, Lead Engineer for the Fountains, took me on a tour and told me all about how the magic happens. The fountains opened in 1998 and there have been 240,000 shows with music from Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion, the Beatles and most recently Cher.
From the Bellagio Fountains Bat Cave, I learned that it is the #1 Fountain on Google and in 2013 it was named the #1 USA Landmark.
Want to go on this tour? Check it out on MLIFE.
30 engineers work together to keep the 22 million gallons of water crystal clear and all the fountains working! There are 192 super shooters which shoot 220 feet in the air and 798 mini shooter which shoot up 120 feet! The extreme shooter goes up 500 feet in the air!
What are you waiting for? Come see the fountains for yourself! I will see you at Prime Patio at Bellagio!
Want to stay at Bellagio? Click here for more info and rates
See all of my Vegas Virtuoso Travel 2018 videos: click here
“Virtuoso Travel Week is the ultimate annual global travel community event. Exclusive to the Virtuoso network, Virtuoso Travel Week focuses on the evolving marketplace conversation between Virtuoso advisors, their clients, and preferred suppliers.Virtuoso Travel Week features hundreds of thousands of hours of personal networking between Member Agency and Preferred Partner attendees, extensive professional development opportunities, and a celebration of Virtuoso, the world’s top luxury travel network.”
Where did we stay for Virtuoso Travel Week?
At ARIA!
ARIA Pool Photo by ARIA Resort & CasinoThe post What FUN Happened At Virtuoso Travel Week? appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
October 28, 2018
We Said Go Travel
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