Adventure Resources ...

Mar 24, 1996

Suzanne Monson

Special To The Seattle Times

In the U.S., there are nearly 8,000 outfitters offering adventure vacations for the more than 74 million Americans who have taken an outdoor ecotrip. And 34,000 travel agencies make adventure-travel arrangements. Ecotourism Society officials say that number is growing by about 30 percent each year.

Dozens of travel offices and outfitters here in Pacific Northwest can help plan an adventure vacation close to home or far afield.

Those looking for a Northwest adventure can check::

-- Washington State Tourism Development Division, P.O. Box 42500, Olympia, WA 98504-2500. Phone (360) 664-2562 to talk with volunteer travel counselors.

-- Washington Lodging and Travel Guide lists adventure resources. For a free copy: (800) 544-1800.

-- Washington State Outfitters and Guides Association, c/o High Country Outfitters, 704 228th N.E Suite 331, Redmond, WA 98053. Phone 392-6107;

-- Professional River Outfitters of Washington, c/o Cascade Adventures, phone 522-6282.

Here's a sampling of local adventure companies:

AFRICA

-- Adventure Associates - ecologically sensitive sea kayaking, hikes, mountaineering llama trekking. Other destinations and all-women trips. P.O. Box 16304, Seattle, WA 98116. Phone 932-8352.

-- Africa Adventures - Write 16252 Tiger Mountain Road, Issaquah, WA 98027. Phone 392-3590.

-- African Safari Professionals - Write 4701 42nd Ave. S.W., Seattle, WA 98116. Phone 938-3030.

-- African Travel Bureau - Write 712 228th Ave. N.E., Redmond, WA 98053. Phone 868-4300.

-- Specialized Odysseys - chartered yachts to Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. P.O. Box 37, Medina, WA 98039. Phone 455-1960. Alaska and B.C.

-- Adventures Outdoors - van-based trips to British Columbia, Alaska. P.O. Box 4461, Rolling Bay, WA 98061. Phone (206) 842-3189 and (800) 755-3789.

-- Alaska Sightseeing/Cruise West - small ship cruising. Fourth and Battery Building, Suite 700, Seattle, WA 98121. Phone 441-8687.

-- Alaska Wildland Adventures - land-based trips. Write P.O. Box 389, Girdwood, AK 99587. Phone (800) 334-8730 or (907) 783-2928.

-- All Aboard Yacht Charters - fishing, whale- and bear-watching. P.O. Box 436, Union, WA 98592. Phone (360) 898-7300.

-- Northern Lights Expeditions - kayaking through the Inside Passage, Rogue River rafting. Write 6141 N.E. Bothell Way, Suite 101, Seattle, WA 98155. Phone 483-6396.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST

-- Mosquito Fleet - chartered whale-watching in the San Juans. 1724 W. Marine Dr., Everett, WA 98201. Phone (206) 252-6800.

-- Outdoor Discoveries - wilderness and rock-climbing trips. Write P.O. Box 7687, Tacoma, WA 98407. Phone (206) 759-6555.

-- Outland Adventures - kayaking in the San Juans, with other trips to B.C., Alaska, Mexico, Central America. Write P.O. Box 16343, Seattle, WA 98116. Phone 932-7012.

-- Pacific Northwest Journeys - customized adventure trips in the Pacific Northwest. Write 6036 41st Ave. S.W., Seattle, WA 98136. Phone 935-9730.

-- Resource Institute, 2319 N. 45th St., Seattle, WA 98103. Phone 784-6762.

-- Sea Quest Expeditions/Zoetic Research - science, art, phototography and whale-watching on wooden vessels in San Juans, Alaska. P.O. Box 2424, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Phone (360) 378-5767.

South Central Americas

-- Wildland Adventures - nature and wildlife trips. Also Turkey, East Africa and other destinations. 3516 N.E. 155th St., Seattle, WA 98155. Phone 365-0686 or (800) 345-4453.

SOUTH PACIFIC

-- Anza Travel Inc. - bicycling, kayaking, trekking, hiking, bungee-jumping, rafting, rock climbing, ballooning in New Zealand, Tahiti, Cook Islands, Figi and Australia. 600 Stewart St., Suite 1520, Seattle, WA 98126. Phone 443-4329.

-- Down Under Answers - also known as Peregrine Adventures: bicycling, trekking, kayaking, rafting and 4-wheel-drive safaris to New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, Himalayas. 12115 100th Ave. N.E., Kirkland, WA 98034. Phone 814-0777.

-- Tropical Adventures - scuba trips to warm-water destinationsworldwide. Write 111 Second Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109. Phone 441-3483 or (800) 247-3483.

BICYCLING

-- Bicycle Adventures - in Pacific Northwest, California, B.C., Hawaii, Utah. P.O. Box 11219, Olympia, WA 98508. Phone (800) 443-6060 or (360) 786-0989.

-- International Bicycle Fund - cross-cultural bicycling trips in Africa. Write 4887 Columbia Dr. S., Seattle, WA 98108. Phone 628-9314.

-- Progressive Travels - Bicycling tours in France, Italy and Portugal, as well as the Pacific Northwest and Oregon's Willamette Valley. Several self-guided, private bicycling and walking tours available. Write 224 W. Galer, Suite C, Seattle, WA 98119. Phone 285-1987 or (800) 245-2229.

OTHER ADVENTURES

-- Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris - 55 wildlife and nature photography trips. Write P.O. Box 655, Vashon Island, WA 98070. Phone 463-5383.

-- TravelWild - wildlife and nature viewing, including Arctic cruising. P.O. Box 1637, Vashon Island, WA 98070. Phone (800) 368-0077.

AND MORE

-- Captains Travel Service - Write 5509 First Ave. S., Suite 5509, Seattle, WA 98108. Phone 762-9463.

-- R.E.I. Adventures - phone (800) 622-2236 for a 40-page catalog profiling 55 environmentally sensitive trips worldwide.

-- Ecosummer Expeditions - environmentally sensitive trips for active travelers. Write 1516 Duranleau St. , Vancouver, B.C., V6H 3S4, Canada. Phone (604) 669-7741 or (800) 465-8884. -- Global Expeditions and Adventures, 3051 78th Ave. S.E., Mercer Island, WA 98040; phone 236-0990, ext. 214; fax 232-7253. Trips worldwide, including scuba, rafting, sky-diving.

-- For other references: The Adventure Travel Society (303-649-9016) can provide a list of agents who are members. The American Society of Travel Agents, or ASTA (703-739-2782) has a list of those who have earned its new adventure and ecotravel specialty certificate.