Tours: Austin-Lehman Adventures Selects Yosemite National Park for 2011 Preserve a Park Program. 
Looking for a vacation idea that makes a difference? I am happy to pass along good news about family travel and Yosemite National Park from Austin-Lehman Adventures.
As congress struggles with budget cuts, and plays the ever more annoying game of gotcha politics, the rest of us live our lives and take care of daily business not really expecting much help from the government. It makes me wonder sometimes, is doing the right thing so hard to do? Apparently not because for the second year Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA)will be donating a portion of its profits to US National Park Service to make things just a little better. Where you are wondering?
Here’s the scoop. Austin-Lehman Adventures (
www.austinlehman.com) has announced that its 2011 “Preserve a Park Program” recipient will be Yosemite National Park. The company will donate to the Yosemite Conservancy $100 per guest booked on each of the five scheduled small group departures of
Yosemite Family Vacation.
Although not America’s first designated national park, Yosemite was central to the development of the national park concept. It is on the list of World Heritage Sites primarily due to its exceptional natural beauty portrayed by five of the world's highest waterfalls, a combination of granite domes and walls, deeply incised valleys, three groves of giant sequoia, numerous alpine meadows, lakes, diversity of life zones and variety of species.
Austin-Lehman Yosemite Family Adventure 2011. According to Dan Austin (Founder of Austin-Lehman) this active six-day/five-night program will “focus on rappelling, not rap and on tubing, not texting, with a lot of awe mixed in from Mother Nature after hiking to a 2,425-foot waterfall, looking up at an 8,842-foot granite dome and embracing a 3,000-year-old, 300-foot Giant Sequoia.” Rates per adult are from $2,398 ($780 single supplement) and $1,918 to $2,158 per child dependant on party size and room configuration. Departures are July 10, 17, 24* (*adult only), July 31 and Aug. 7, 2011.
Yosemite Association and The Yosemite Fund - the power of private sector synergy. Last year the Yosemite Association and The Yosemite Fund merged to form the Yosemite Conservancy. Today it is a not-for-profit organization that preserves and protects Yosemite for generations to come through habitat restoration, trail repair, education, wildlife management and scientific research. Over the years the effort has generated over $60 million in contributions which in turn has funded over 300 completed projects.
Making a difference. It is nice to learn of new partnerships and programs that are able to make a difference. Preserve a Park is a timely example as we move to the height of family vacation planning time. Individual, family, and company donations help as National Park System programs (once again) face proposed budget cuts totaling $22 million.
Here’s the deal. Preserve a Park is the platform for ALA’s ongoing conservation and educational initiative, an annual program that will be aligned with a different national park each year. The company will provide financial contributions to an organization that best supports that designated park, while featuring an educational experience for guests who book one of the tour company’s Preserve a Park trips. FYI: Last year ALA supported Glacier National Park with departures (sold out), resulting “in a significant donation” to the Glacier National Park Fund (
www.glacierfund.org).
ALA’s family-tested, winning family formula includes: 
a balanced day for both parents and children, allowing experiential time together but also time when kids can just be kids; an assortment of outdoor activities, learning opportunities and fun with hiking, biking, water play, museums, crafts, pool parties, and more; family-friendly food and fun places to stay, where adults may enjoy a wine cellar with steaks while the kids have a pizza party poolside; a ratio of six guests per guide and no more than 18 per trip, promoting a high level of personal attention.
About Austin-Lehman Adventures. ALA with a 37-year legacy, provides adventure vacations on five continents, has built an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in North, Central and South America, Europe, the Pacific Rim and Africa. The company specializes in adult and family multi-sport, hiking, biking vacations that emphasize history, culture and nature’s charms. Trips are limited to 12 guests (18 on family departures) and feature excellent regional dining, distinctive accommodations and all-inclusive rates and services.
Bonus points: In addition to scheduled group departures, ALA offers customized trip planning. ALA offers each traveler a money-back satisfaction guarantee.
Make it happen. For free 2011 catalog call toll-free 1-800-575-1540, or to review current trips, schedules and itineraries log onto
www.austinlehman.comLocation on the planet. ALA's family adventures include the most captivating natural playgrounds on the planet: Yellowstone National Park and Montana, California’s Yosemite, Wyoming’s Tetons, Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, Costa Rica, the Galápagos Islands, New Zealand, and Europe.
One travel philosophy with three options. ALA has divided their vacation offerings into three distinct categories: Adventure Vacations, Biking Tours and Family Vacations. Each and every trip underscores getting to know a destination. The Family Vacation category was developed to serve parents with school-aged children (5 to about 12). ALA Adventure Vacations, and Biking Tours work well for families traveling with teens or adult children. With that idea in mind, I am passing along the newest additions to the menu of great family vacation ideas.
North America New for 2011:California: Yosemite - Family
Washington: San Juan Islands - Adventure
Wyoming: Jackson Hole with the Tetons - Adventure
Utah:-Bryce and Zion National Parks - Family
South/Central America New for 2011:Belize:-- Maya to Moho Cay - Adventure
Ecuador: Land-Based Lodges - Adventure, Family
Chile/Argentina: Patagonia - Adventure
Europe New for 2011: Croatia: Dalmatian Coast - Adventure
Denmark: Danish Isles - Biking
Italy/Austria: Innsbruck to Lake Garda - Biking
Slovenia: Julian Alps - Biking
Plus Jordan/Israel: Tel Aviv to Petra - Adventure (Throughout the Year)
New Zealand: South Island - Adventure (November-March)
More InformationYosemite Conservancy 155 Montgomery Street Suite 1104 San Francisco, CA 94104 Toll-free 1- 800-469-7275, (415) 434-1782 or
www.yosemiteconservancy.org Content and images provided by Austin-Lehman Adventures. Comments by Nancy Nelson-Duac Founder and FTF Editor. Copyright 2011.
