Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 98

I’ve always loved joining commencements––the culmination...

I’ve always loved joining commencements––the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice. Even if we can’t get together in person this year, Michelle and I are excited to celebrate the nationwide Class of 2020 and recognize this milestone with you and your loved ones. pic.twitter.com/ngR2ykx3A2

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 5, 2020

The post appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

Yes! Our Live Animals can join your Con-FUR-ence Call!

Want to liven up your next video conference meeting? Planning a FaceTime with friends or virtual birthday party? Sign up to have one of our amazing animals join the call! We also offer virtual tours with several animals. We’ll join the meeting do a quick intro of the sanctuary then you can ask questions or just hang out. Your call will be with Greener Pastures or our affiliate, A to Zoo Education.

[image error]“Simon” the Owl Monkey

Choose your Package and Tour option then schedule online using Calendy.
​MEETING PACKAGES
​​Package A
Miniature Horses, Miniature Donkeys, Alpine and Nubian Goats, Potbelly Pigs, Ducks and Chickens, Cats
Package B
Owl Monkey, Laughing Kookaburra, Pixie Dingle Dog, African Pygmy Hedgehog, Red Kangaroo, Crowned Crane
Package C
Camel, Alpacas, Tomato Frogs, Turkeys, Sulcata Tortoise, Cockatoo, Donkeys, Savannah Monitor Lizard, Dumeril’s Boa, Uromastyx Lizard, Bearded Dragon

*Each package will include a few of the animals from the list. You may specify preferences, but we can’t guarantee that animal will be camera ready on the day of your meeting.

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​CORPORATE OPTIONS
10-minute Corporate Meeting Cameo $100 donation for unlimited guests. We’ll call in to your meeting & bring smiles to your co-workers faces!

20-minute Corporate Meeting Virtual Tour $150 donation for unlimited guests. We’ll call in and show you and your co-workers around the farm!

30-minute VIP Meeting Tour $500 donation for unlimited guests. This special tour gives you a very unique view of the farm and the lives of our amazing animals!
​
Please note: Corporate tours will be asked to provide us with your video conference meetinglink.

FRIENDS & FAMILY OPTIONS
20 minute Virtual PrivateTour $65 donation for up to 6 people. This tour will highlight a few of our animal ambassadors and areas of the farm. It’s great for parties, happy hours and family events!

20 minute Virtual Group Tour $100 donation for unlimited people. This tour will highlight a few of our animal ambassadors and areas of the farm. It’s great for parties, happy hours and family events!
​
Please note: We count “people” as connections to the online meeting.
​

[image error]“Hogi” the Hedgehog



[image error]“Giggles” the Laughing Kookaburra



[image error]“Jilly” Bean Hopper the Red

Remembering Joannie Parker!

Before COVID-19, we would have gathered this weekend in honor of Joannie Parker at the campus of the former Westlake School for Girls where she was my teacher and mentor. However, now we will gather May 8, 2021 instead.

I miss my friend so very much.

[image error]Susan Bernstein, Joannie Parker and Lisa Niver

The video footage above is from Westlake reunion day in 2015. I wish I had video of our classes from the 80s!

[image error]Joannie Parker with an article about Hilary Clinton on her door!



THE DASH

the poem by Linda Ellis

I read of a woman who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. She referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning… to the end.

She noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but she said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own, the cars… the house… the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged.

To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile… remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?

Poem by Linda Ellis, Copyright © 2020 Inspire Kindness, thedashpoem.com

[image error]Joannie Parker, Lisa Niver and Carl Law



[image error]Lisa Niver, Joannie Parker and Jessica Gelson



For Joannie’s birthday, I wrote this article in honor of her.

“Hope is being able to see there is light despite all of the darkness.” Desmond Tutu

Joannie Parker led by example. She had passions and causes and she created change. She really lived her dash. May her memory be a blessing.
"THE DASH" Poem https://t.co/XW5uMcBnV1
Shabbat Shalom pic.twitter.com/Uz0bMHI1NE

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) November 1, 2019

[image error]Lisa Niver and Joannie Parker in Santa Cruz



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May her memory be a blessing.









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VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT: JOANNIE PARKER

The post Remembering Joannie Parker! appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

#TogetherAtHome We Said Go Travel News April 2020

April News 2020 with We Said Go Travel:

I hope you and your loved ones are #togetherathome and healthy. COVID-19 has impacted our countries, our communities, our companies and every part of our planet.

[image error]Spring is here in Los Angeles

This was a very unusual Passover. My family met on ZOOM with 17 screens. If you want more Passover in your life, I highly recommend Stephen Wise Temple’s virtual first night seder (it is only 30min) and the absolutely phenomenal Saturday Night Seder which was also a fundraiser to benefit the CDC Foundation’s Coronavirus Emergency Response Fund.

To me the absolutely best part was Ben Platt singing at 12:05! Make sure to check out his album, Sing to Me Instead!

I know that you might have a bit of CABIN FEVER as myself and the entire world do at this point, so I wanted to share my favorite scene from Muppet Treasure Island that we used to watch in the Kids Club when I worked on cruise ships!

While I miss traveling, I know that I need to stay home and wait until it is safe to wander again around our world. I am sharing my past favorite trips for inspiration in my new series, Tell Me More About:

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[image error]A rose from my walk around the block on April 18, 2020 #LGV40



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Do you want to feel like you are traveling even if you cannot leave your home? Here are over 30 virtual field trips from around our planet which were highlighted on page 28 of April 10, 2020 print edition of the Jewish Journal!

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Let’s Take a Virtual Field Trip Together #SafeAtHome

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Thank you to BoredPanda for publishing my story about walking with the animals which includes my African safari, Galapagos adventures and Churchill Polar Bear videos as well as my article about walking with Polar Bears.

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Thank you to our THEY SAID authors for sharing their stories this month:

Read about ShemeshFarms: A Story About Resilience from Michelle Cait, Traveling to India to meet The Dalai Lama! from Sarah Robarts, A Shaman Shows the Way: Channeling the Pachamama in Machu Picchu from Marian Gerlich and Oranges in the Shower – A Whiff of Hope from Gabrielle Kaufman

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My recently published videos are animals from my December 2019 Galapagos sailing on Ecoventura’s THEORY. Never did I ever think I would publish an entire video of mating giant tortoises! I also have new videos of Frigate birds, Blue Footed Boobies, Iguanas and Flamingos!

WHERE CAN YOU FIND MY TRAVEL VIDEOS?

Here is the link to my video channel on YouTube where I have over one million views on YouTube! (Exact count: 1,180,000 views)

Thank you for your support! Are you one of my 2,650 subscribers? I hope you will join me and subscribe!

For more We Said Go Travel articles, TV segments, videos and social media: CLICK HERE

Find me on social media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and at LisaNiver.com.  My social media following is now over 160,000 and I am verified on Twitter.

My fortune cookies said:

“You thrive on adventure, try something new.”

and
A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner!”

Keep dreaming big dreams, we will travel again in the future! For now, stay safe, stay at home and stay healthy~

Lisa

[image error]Sunset in Santa Monica in Feb 2020

The post #TogetherAtHome We Said Go Travel News April 2020 appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

Tell Me More About: Beaches Turks and Caicos

Welcome to my new series: TELL ME MORE ABOUT: where I will be sharing resources from my favorite past adventures around our planet during this time when we cannot travel due to COVID-19. I wanted you to have access to the photos, articles and videos that I produced from these experiences. For now, I hope you find inspiration until we can all begin to wander around the world again.

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I wrote about Beaches Turks and Caicos scuba diving for Father’s Day on TODAY.com.



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I wrote about “Can your Family Vacation Change the World?” for Medium.









One of my Beaches videos is now over 15,000 views.



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Enjoy my Beaches Turks and Caicos photos in this Facebook album. These photos also appeared across my social media on Instagram and Twitter.



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My social media posts about Beaches Resorts, Sandals Resorts and Sesame Street were recognized by FOHR as a top influencer in May and June 2019.



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Wondering about my VIDEOS?

CLICK HERE for the entire playlist!

[image error]Lisa Niver underwater with PADI Dive-In at Beaches Turks and Caicos 2020

I wrote about my trip to Beaches Turks and Caicos in January 2020 for Dive in with PADI as well as my trip in May 2019. I loved the scuba diving and the entire village!

Meet Me Underwater at Beaches Turks and Caicos



[image error]Lisa Niver at Dive-in with PADI at Beaches Turks and Caicos



Join me at Dive-in with PADI LIV+ at Beaches Turks and Caicos



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Beaches Turks and Caicos: Turquoise Water, Palm Trees and Scuba Diving



[image error]Lisa Niver at Sesame Street Parade at Beaches Turks and Caicos



Welcome Home at Beaches Turks and Caicos



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My Adventures at Beaches Turks and Caicos continue



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Debbie White, Kim Sardo and Lisa Niver speaking at the Metro Women’s Leadership Summit 2019

I was honored to speak at the Metro Women’s Leadership Summit with Kim Sardo and Debbie-Ann White from Beaches Resorts in Workshop #10: Wonder Woman Needs To Wander Also! Why Travel Is So Important For Females

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I was invited to visit Sandals Montego Bay for the 10th anniversary of the Sandals Foundation which I wrote about for Jewish Journal.

Happy 10th Anniversary Sandals Foundation!

[image error]Aaron, Maggie, Lisa and Cassydy with Sandals Resorts at the Elton John Farewell Yellow Bridge Rock Concert!



I joined Sandals Resorts at Staples Center for an incredible night of music by Elton John!



[image error]Elton John’s Final Night at Staples Center for Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour



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Both times I visited Beaches Turks and Caicos, I loved the Sesame Street Shows and have a playlist just for my Sesame Street videos. I was able to join Sesame Street and Beaches Resorts for the 50th anniversary Sesame Street Roadshow! When I was little, my mom and dad made certain to get a special antennae so I could watch the brand new show called Sesame Street!

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When I was at the United Nations SDG 2030 GA 74 Conference in September 2019 as a media representative for Ms. Magazine, I was able to meet Basma, a new character for the new show, Ahlan Simsim, which means “Welcome Sesame” in Arabic for a new program for children in the Middle East and especially Syrian Refugees. It will be available in classrooms, health clinics and mobile devices to teach emotional skills and restore hope to these children in crisis. 

[image error]Ahlan Simsim: Helping Children Cope with the Syria Crisis at United Nations
with:
Sherri Westin, President, Global Impact and Philanthropy, Sesame Workshop

Basma, a Muppet from Ahlan Simsim

Moderator: Georgia Frances King, Ideas Editor, Quartz
Photo by Lisa Niver



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After visiting Sandals Montego Bay, I wrote two articles for USA Today 10best about the most fun and unique water activities in Jamaica and what to do if you’re afraid of the water. I loved diving in Jamaica and visiting Montego Bay!

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The post Tell Me More About: Beaches Turks and Caicos appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT: Solomon Islands history, culture and diving

Welcome to my new series: TELL ME MORE ABOUT: where I will be sharing resources from my favorite past adventures around our planet during this time when we cannot travel due to COVID-19. Please enjoy the photos, articles and videos that I produced from these experiences. For now, I hope you find inspiration until we can all begin to wander around the world again.

Lisa Niver learning to make shell money in the Solomon Islands.

Thank you or “Taggio okah rasuah” to the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau and Susan Bejeckian for arranging my trip and helping me learn about the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal. 

The Solomon Islands are an archipelago of 900 islands between Papua New Guinea and  Vanuatu. Most Americans would fly from Los Angeles to Nadi, Fiji on Fiji Airways and then to the Solomon Islands. Another choice would be to fly to Brisbane, Australia and then to the Solomon Islands.

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I wrote about the Solomon Islands for Smithsonian Magazine! My article was called: “Dive With WWII Wrecks in the Solomon Islands; 75 years after the Battle of Guadalcanal, walk in the footsteps of history.” I was so honored to be invited to visit and to write for Smithsonian. They used many of my videos in my article as well!

Roy Roush, World War II hero, and Lisa Niver

I was able to meet a soldier who had been at the Battle of Guadalcanal through my father. I wrote about Roy Roush for Saturday Evening Post in an article called “ A World War II Hero Remembers Guadalcanal; World War II veteran Roy Roush recalls his frontline experiences at the Battle of Guadalcanal.”

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[image error]MSN Lifestyle: 20 destinations that deserve more tourists

FROM MSN Lifestyle: Oceania – Solomon Islands: Next month, the Solomon Islands will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal – one of the deciding battles in World War II – making it a special time to visit. What else does the place have to offer? “I went scuba diving, learned to make shell money, and spent time at a cultural village,” says Lisa Niver, travel expert and writer at We Said Go Travel.

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I spoke with FOX NEWS for their article, “9 Amazing Beaches you’ve probably never heard of,” and my story and photo was listed as #3. Kennedy Island, Solomon Islands!



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I shared about my adventures in the Solomon Islands on an episode of The Jet Set TV .

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I went on the radio show, “The Good Life” to talk about the history, culture and scuba diving in the Solomon Islands.

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Enjoy my adventures in Solomon Islands on video !







Find out about what happened on each island in my We Said Go Travel articles:



Where to Go in Gizo, Solomon Islands?What Famous History Happened in Honiara, Solomon Islands?Discovering Marvelous Munda in the Solomon Islands

April News: I am so PROUD of my accomplishments

What happens at the Scuba Show in Long Beach?

Wondering about my VIDEOS?

CLICK HERE for the entire playlist!

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Two of my stories about the Solomon Islands were nominated as finalists for the Southern California Journalism Awards in Summer 2018.

3x Finalist! What are the SoCal Journalism Awards?

In the category B6b. SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY REPORTING Lisa Ellen Niver, Smithsonian; Dive With WWII Wrecks in the Solomon Islands 75 years after the Battle of Guadalcanal, walk in the Footsteps of History and in the category J6. PERSONALITY PROFILE Lisa Ellen Niver, Saturday Evening Post; A World War II Hero Remembers Guadalcanal

[image error]Lisa Niver, Diana Ljungaeus LA Press Club, Susan Bejeckian, Solomon Islands Tourism
Photo by Gary McCarthy

I wrote about Solomon Islands in my interview for Travel Massive.

Member Spotlight – Lisa Niver’s Tips For Travel Writers

Please enjoy the photos and tweets below from when I was the host of a Twitter chat about the Solomon Islands:

Sunset in the #solomonislands was spectacular! Join @CheapOair and I for a #CheapOairChat tomorrow at 1pm EST on @Twitter to learn more! pic.twitter.com/R8LJo5kIzT

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) April 10, 2017

A1: To fly to the #solomonislands 1st stop Nadi on @FijiAirways, then 2nd stop Honiara. Get the extra legroom! It is worth it #cheapoairchat pic.twitter.com/Zf1q6V6Mr5

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) April 11, 2017

A2: Visit #SolomonIslands for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal which saved freedom for the Pacific! #cheapoairchat pic.twitter.com/nwjAVd1Opy

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) April 11, 2017

A3: I loved #sunrise in Gizo at Fatboys in the #solomonislands. It is like the movie @DisneyMoana but in real life! #CheapOairchat pic.twitter.com/oqfDvxbxKX

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) April 11, 2017

A4: I loved wreck #diving Gizo, Munda and Honiara, #SolomonIslands. See many #WorldWar2 #planes & #ships under the sea #cheapoairchat pic.twitter.com/zT3nIwbyup

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) April 11, 2017

A5 My favorite #SolomonIslands meal was motu lunch with fresh fish in between dives with #DiveGizo. See the hot stones? #CheapOAirChat pic.twitter.com/LkCvo9aVSm

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) April 11, 2017

see #video of me "HELPING" in Cultural Village https://t.co/6W1VhXaOEq I learned to make cloth from bark! #solomonislands #cheapoairchat https://t.co/EGosFLCA6q

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) April 11, 2017

A7 Looking for unspoiled exotic #adventure #travel experiences? Meet the people in #solomonislands and learn about shell $ #CheapoAirChat pic.twitter.com/jDDy9TAF5G

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) April 11, 2017

A8 I loved my stays on Gizo, Munda and Honaira #solomonislands There are 900 islands to explore! Where will you go first? #CheapOAirChat pic.twitter.com/p5Vv9NPz7i

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) April 11, 2017

A9 I LOVED visiting Skull Island and learning about HeadHunting History #SolomonIslands! The boat ride there was beautiful. #CheapOAirChat pic.twitter.com/WIMcKDR84a

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) April 11, 2017

A10 President #JFK boat PT-109 was torpedoed in WW2 #SolomonIslands He swam to safety, you can visit "Kennedy Island!" #Cheapoairchat pic.twitter.com/jDJsZXmsAc

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) April 11, 2017

Thank you @CheapOair I loved sharing my visit to the #SolomonIslands with #CheapOAirChat My @wesaidgotravel VIDEOS https://t.co/RAwU2D9A6m pic.twitter.com/RYNOcfoOxi

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) April 11, 2017

Thank you @LAPressClub I am honored to be a 3x #Finalist for SoCal #Journalism #awards. See you June 24: https://t.co/cNHEqfQwnN#science #technology #reporting: @SmithsonianMag: #article: https://t.co/6YrkiCGcwb#videos #visitSolomonIslands https://t.co/3wExUqUoeK #LAPressClub pic.twitter.com/2Uz13rhbKA

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) June 2, 2018

Been to the South Pacific? The story of Moana is REAL! Join @CheapOair &I 4 #CheapOairChat #Twitterchat TUES 1pm EST #visitsolomonislands pic.twitter.com/e2KCxAbxaA

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) April 9, 2017

Thank you or “Taggio okah rasuah” to the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau for arranging my trip and helping me learn about the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal. 

The post TELL ME MORE ABOUT: Solomon Islands history, culture and diving appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

Good Morning #RockyMountaineer!As @Bourdain said: "What ...

Good Morning #RockyMountaineer!
As @Bourdain said: "What nicer thing can you do for somebody than make them breakfast?"Thx @rmountaineer for a great start to our day on the #train with made to order #breakfast! #luxury #ExploreCanada More info: https://t.co/B0GOYyNsvt #canada pic.twitter.com/X32N6nkTD0

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) May 19, 2018

The post appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

"The mountains are calling and I must go." John MuirThx ...

"The mountains are calling and I must go." John Muir
Thx Nicole for spending the day with me! #Banff #CanadianRockies #gondola #explorealberta #travelalberta #explorerockies #RockyMountaineer more #Photos: https://t.co/UdiNU02Fb0 #travel #canada #explore #mountains #summer pic.twitter.com/obZ7U3S7aZ

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) May 24, 2018

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.@wesaidgotravel shares highlights from her recent rail ...

.@wesaidgotravel shares highlights from her recent rail vacation to @BanffNP – don't they make you want to visit? @Banff_Squirrel #banff_nationalpark pic.twitter.com/JIXRAtDXpB

— Rocky Mountaineer (@rmountaineer) July 20, 2019

The post appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

The post appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

The post appeared first on We Said Go Travel.