Forget choose your own adventure books. Now, you can choose your own adventure career!

Here are the stories of 5 inspiring women who turned the outdoors into their office and their passion into a paying adventure job.

1. Ramona Cox, Backcountry Barnstormer Adventure Pilot & Speaker

The owner of SkyChick Adventures, Ramona flies her plane into the North American wilderness, lands on remote airstrips and then lives off the land with her bow and arrow for months at time. Although she doesn’t lead trips and guide guests, if you attend one of Ramona’s lectures on Adventure Flying or watch her DVD series, you’ll learn all her tips and tactics that she’s acquired from two decades of air camping and adventure travel experience.

You don’t have to be a hardcore traveller to be inspired by her tales of Air Camping in total wilderness. Ramona says, “Adventure as a metaphor can illustrate that with perseverance, courage and tenacity, we can overcome the challenges of daily life.”

2. Leah Blok, Sea Kayak Guide & Instructor

Watching an orca look her in the eye as it swam by just two feet away is just one of Leah Blok’s favorite experiences as a sea kayak guide for ROW’s Sea Kayak Adventures. Another perk of the job? Swimming in bioluminescence. But that’s what happens when nature is your office.

Leah first got started in her adventure job by taking Outdoor Recreation Management in college. Then she became a certified sea-kayaking guide. Which is no small task. There are major decision-making and leadership skills necessary to safely guide guests to experience orcas in the wild. As Leah says, “There is no typical day. Weather, currents, and the wildlife dictate every decision.” Whatever the day brings it’s the “the incredible interaction with nature” that keeps her stoked on her job.

3. Géraldine Fasnacht, Snowboard Freerider, Wingsuit Pilot & Speaker

Géraldine Fasnacht flies for work. And I’m not talking about in a plane. This is – spread your wings and basejump – flying, which takes total focus and commitment. Géraldine has completely organized her life around it. After all, she is jumping out of helicopters in a wingsuit. But for Géraldine it’s less about the intensity of living on the edge and more about artistry. She describes flying and freeriding as “drawing a beautiful line with my snowboard or wingsuit.” It’s not art that you can hang on your wall, but the lines she draws in air and the on the snow take my breath away.

4. Eleonora Bonafini, Diving Instructor

Eleonora first tried scuba diving in the Canary Islands 16 years ago and it was love at first dive. But it wasn’t until she saw another woman working as dive instructor that she realized that she too could turn her passion into an adventure job. Now, she travels the world and makes her living underwater. Yes, there are long hours, heavy equipment and a lot of responsibility – especially with inexperienced guests. But it’s the channeling of her inner mermaid when she puts on her fins and her passion for travel and the aquatic life that makes it all worthwhile.

5. Heather Kouns, Clubmate & Kids Club Supervisor

Heather Kouns works as a Clubmate for Pacific Islands Club on a small tropical island in the middle of the Pacific. When deciding whether or not to take the job Heather says, “It all came down to one thing: adventure. And I haven’t looked back since!”

Not too many work environments actually encourage you to learn how to scuba dive, sail and windsurf on your lunch break. Every hour she rotates to a new shift from lifeguarding, the climbing wall, Kid’s Club to teaching guests different sports. As a Clubmate she says, “I get to learn about different cultures and languages from Japanese to Russian and having a positive impact on a guest’s stay is one of the best feelings!”

And now for my true confession: Clubmate at Pacific Islands Club was my first job out of college. Which changed my life forever. It was really hard to work in a cubicle after I was paid to take hotel guests sailing. Now, I’m an adventure writer. I love to take my stories on the road and write them whilst traveling between Los Angeles and Europe.

Whatever your passion, there is an adventure job out there with amazing mentors who are ready and willing to show you how to turn your passion into a reality.

Interested in pursing an adventure job? Here are some great tips from our pros:

Heather Kouns: Not everyone will understand why you want to travel to remote destinations for adventure. So, don’t worry about it.

Leah Blok: In guiding, people skills count. It’s important to engage clients and leave them inspired and wanting more.

Géraldine Fasnacht: Focus and commitment are vital. Especially, when your adventure job involves high stakes.

Eleonora Bonafini: Transmitting your passion for adventure and love of nature to guests is very satisfying.

Ramona Cox: You don’t have to be a guide to monetize your passion for adventure. You can create a lecture series from your expertise.

Related on EcoSalon.com

The Great Outdoors: a 2000-Mile Canoe Journey

6-Super Cheap Exotic Vacations that Are Super Dreamy

Want to Travel for a Good Cause? Hop on a bike

Image via Ramona Cox

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Paradise doesn’t have to be expensive. You can enjoy fun in the sun, rainforests, and endless beaches across the globe, on the cheap. Not sure where to book your next exotic vacations? Here are some great options from which to choose. Welcome to paradise.

1. Rarotonga

The Cook Islands are located east of Fiji in the South Pacific Ocean. Budget-friendly hotels on the island, especially in Rarotonga, start under $100. It’s a much more budget-friendly island when compared to Hawaii and Fiji, for example. Take a scooter tour of the island, go snorkeling at the marine conservation reef, or explore the uninhabited lagoon. It’s a South Pacific pardise on the cheap.

2. Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has it all: gorgeous, sandy beaches and a rainforest. No matter what kind of a trip you fancy, Puerto Rico is there to please. Stay in an Airbnb guest house in San Juan starting at $65 or enjoy a rainforest retreat for under $100 per day. For east coasters, Puerto Rico also boasts inexpensive airfare.

3. Belize

Belize hosts a number of inexpensive hotels under $100 per night. The nation is located on the eastern coast of Central America. It’s bordered to the north by Mexico, however, it’s the only country in Central America where English is the official language. And it has the lowest population density of any country in Central America. Go bird watching, caving, fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, sailing, or check out the indigenous archaeology. Belize has tons to offer.

4. Thailand

Welcome to paradise. Thailand features some of the best beaches in the world and the travel costs are extremely low. Some of the best beaches include Harn Beach in Rawai, Kata Noi in Karon, and Railay Beach. Budget-friendly resorts start at less than $40 per night. Go rock climbing, scuba diving, or just lounge on the beach. Explore the Thai beach culture.

5. Nicaragua

Camping, hostels, and hotels in Nicaragua are dirt cheap, starting at $30 per night. It’s a developing country with lots of natural beauty to offer. Go surfing or surf down the volcanic sands. Explore the national parks or visit some of the untouched neighboring islands.

6. Goa, India

Goa, located in western India, is a beachfront paradise on the cheap. Hotels start at $30 and for just a few dollars more you can enjoy pretty nice digs. Resorts are abundant and inexpensive. Head to the beach, take a wildlife tour, explore the jungle, or take a canopy tour.

By choosing inexpensive exotic vacations and doing a little research ahead of time you can find your own little slice of paradise in tropical locations all over the globe. Look for cheap accommodations through AirBnB, Couch Surfing, or a number of simple and economical resorts in each location. Living like a local is also a good way to stay a while and not drain your wallet at the same time.

Related on EcoSalon

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6 Ways Travel Will Make You a Better Lover

10 of the Best Travel and Tourisn Sites

Image of a tropical paradise in Thailand from Shuttershock

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Some are beautiful, many are strange, but each of these 50 tourist attractions shows off the flavor of the state in which it’s located.

You like to think you’re a savvy traveler, and you wouldn’t be caught dead at a cheap and cheesy tourist trap swarming with gawkers in fanny packs. But just because an attraction is extremely popular with tourists  shouldn’t mean it’s automatically off your list of to-dos when you’re on the road. Every state in the U.S. has a long list of unique and often strange tourist attractions; here are 50 of the greatest and most unique, including monuments, bizarre roadside attractions, museums, tours and historic sites.

Alabama – Ave Maria Grotto

Alaska – Four-Story Igloo-Shaped Building

Arizona – Arcosanti: An Urban Laboratory

Arkansas – Diamond Mines

California – Chandelier Tree, Redwood Forest

Colorado – Cano’s Beer Can Castle

Connecticut – River Boat Ride

Delaware – Fort Delaware

Florida – Coral Castle

Georgia – The Georgia Guidestones

Hawaii – Puuhonua o Honaunau

Idaho – Craters of the Moon National Monument

Illinois – Cahokia Mounds

Indiana – Conner Prairie

Iowa – Grotto of the Redemption

Kansas – Underground Salt Museum

Kentucky – Louisville Mega Cavern

Louisiana – Zam’s Swamp Tours

Maine – Desert of Maine

Maryland – Edgar Allan Poe Museum

Massachusetts – Salem

Michigan – The Heidelberg Project

Minnesota – Cathedral of St. Paul

Mississippi – Longwood Plantation

Missouri -Billion Gallon Lake, Bonne Terre Mines

Montana – Roosevelt Arch

Nebraska – Carhenge

Nevada – Hoover Dam

New Hampshire – America’s Stonehenge

New Jersey – Lucy the Elephant, Cape May

New Mexico – Old Town, Albuquerque

New York – Top of the Rock

North Carolina – Mile High Bridge, Grandfather Mountain

North Dakota – Enchanted Highway

Ohio – Amish Country, Berlin

Oklahoma – Belle Starr Cowboy History Tour

Oregon – Astoria Column

Pennsylvania – Philadelphia Historic District

Rhode Island – WaterFire, Providence

South Carolina – Angel Oak, Charleston

South Dakota – Crazy Horse Memorial

Tennessee – Crossville Treehouse

Texas – Cadillac Ranch

Utah – Hole in the Rock, Moab

Vermont – Aerial Tramway, Jay Peak Resort

Virginia – Colonial Williamsburg

Washington – Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

West Virginia – Coal House, Williamson

Wisconsin – House on the Rock

Wyoming – Mill Iron Ranch, Jackson Hole

Top image: Gabriella Corrado

The post 50 Roadside Attractions For An Epic U.S. Journey appeared first on EcoSalon.

50 of America’s most beautiful natural tourist attractions – one for each state.

If you could choose just one natural wonder to see in each of America’s fifty states, what would they be? Considering the astonishing beauty that can be found all across the United States, that would be a tough decision, but each of the following natural tourist attractions is a can’t-miss stop on any road trip. They’re not exactly off the beaten path, but these 50 scenic stops represent some of the best landscape features the nation has to offer.

Alabama – Noccalula Falls

Alaska – Hubbard Glacier

Arizona – North Rim of the Grand Canyon

Arkansas – Devil’s Den

California – McWay Falls, Big Sur

Colorado – Rocky Mountain National Park

Connecticut – Dinosaur State Park

Delaware – Lewes Beach

Florida – Spiegel Grove, Key Largo

Georgia – Stone Mountain

Hawaii – Diamond Head Crater

Idaho – City of Rocks

Illinois – Starved Rock

Indiana – Marengo Cave Formations

Iowa – Loess Hills

Kansas – Monument Rocks

Kentucky – Mammoth Cave

Louisiana -Finch Lake

Maine – Arcadia National Park

Maryland – Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park

Massachusetts – Natural Bridge

Michigan – Pictured Rocks

Minnesota – Shovel Point,  Lake Superior

Mississippi – Natchez Trace Parkway

Missouri – Big Spring

Montana – Glacier National Park

Nebraska – Sand Hills

Nevada – Lake Tahoe

New Hampshire – The Basin of Pemigewasset River

New Jersey – Great Falls, Paterson

New Mexico – Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks

New York – Niagara Falls

North Carolina – Outer Banks Wild Horses

North Dakota – Badlands, Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Ohio – Brandywine Falls

Oklahoma – Elk Mountain

Oregon – Crater Lake

Pennsylvania – Presque Isle

Rhode Island – Cliff Walk, Newport

South Carolina – Table Rock State Park

South Dakota – Mount Rushmore

Tennessee – Smoky Mountains

Texas – Enchanted Rock

Utah – Bryce Canyon

Vermont – Champlain Valley from the Long Trail

Virginia – Natural Bridge

Washington – Cape Horn & The Columbia River Gorge

West Virginia -New River Gorge

Wisconsin – Apostle Islands

Wyoming – Yellowstone National Park

Top image: Nicholas_T

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You’ve seen those inspirational posters telling you to “just book a ticket and see the world already”- and you’ve thought to yourself “no way – I’d lose my job?” What if you could re-engineer your life so your job follows you around?

In 2008 Christine Gilbert was a Fortune 500 company manager – the twitchy, restless, always-staring-out-the window kind. She wanted to see the world, but she also wanted to develop her skills as a writer and photographer and build a freelance business for herself. Her husband, Drew, was a graphic designer – and they realized that both their jobs were potentially location-independent. They could do them from anywhere. So they bundled up their stuff, and they bought that ticket.

Skip to the present. Christine runs a popular travel blog called Almost Fearless, and she’s also a full-time digital nomad, working remotely on creative projects, garnering mentions from the BBC and Lonely Planet, and getting paid over the Internet as she travels around the world (38 countries and rising). She’s written guides to redesigning your life in a similar fashion (this one is both excellent and free – PDF download) and she’s cheerleaded a work-from-home lifestyle that more and more Americans are adopting – an estimated 63 million people by the year 2016.

And now Christine and Drew are making a film about some of those people.

The Wireless Generation looks at 18 individuals who have taken the concept of “work from home” and run with it until their legs have given out. Christine and Drew have been assembling this documentary for the last 2 years – and now it’s ready for a wider audience. Problem: editing and marketing such a massive project, plus airing it at film festivals and special screenings across the U.S., doesn’t come cheap. And that’s why they went to Kickstarter and said “let’s make this everyone’s project.”

As I write, they’re halfway to raising their funding target of $35,000 dollars. They’ve been mentioned in Mashable, and the project has been retweeted by Tim Ferriss (yes, that one) and MC Hammer (YES, THAT ONE). There are 12 days left on the clock, and contributions start at $5 with more & more perks as you go up the funding ladder, including a high-definition download of the whole film before it goes on general release…

Would you like to keep your job and travel the world?

(Back the project by clicking here).

Image: david.nikonvscanon.

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Next time you and your friends want to get away, go on an eco-friendly adventure.

Oh, the girls trip. If you and your friends are thinking about skipping town, avoid the all-inclusive resort trips, pretend Vegas doesn’t exist and steer clear of cruises. Instead, set off on a true adventure at one of these eco-friendly destinations. Because girl getaways on cruises are so 1988.

SeaHorse Eco Safaris

(Above) Attention equestrians: South Africa is calling. SeaHorse Eco Safaris offers adventurous, educational horseback experiences in Vleesbaai, a breathtakingly lovely coastal town. Spend three, five or seven days on a riding/yoga adventure. A lifelong horse lover, the owner and guide, Cornelia, focuses on providing the best experience for both riders and animals. On horseback, you’ll explore Renosterveld landscapes, the coast and the dunes learning ecological facts along the way. Keep an eye out for whales, dolphins, tortoises, porcupines and more.

What to know: Groups are limited to four, $98 – $120(varies based on season) per person, per night. Includes beach house accommodations, riding, yoga and food.

Bison Quest

The name alone makes me want to book a trip to Bison Quest in Townsend, Montana. The ranch and camp are primarily wind and solar-powered, the veggies are organic and while the main dish for many will actually be bison, vegetarian meals are available. Learn from wildlife biologists, participate in wildlife studies, interact with the herd, visit Yellowstone, hike, canoe, go white water rafting and more. And, never fear, you and your pals can get your spa fix with botanical facials and a visit to a traditional Native American sweat lodge. Check out the Modern Homesteading Package if you’d like to learn to garden, add solar panels to your home, keep chickens and more.

What to know: All-inclusive, most three-night trips are about $2,000/person, but packages vary. A percentage of your deposit will be donated to students at Fort Belknap Community College on the Fort Belknap Assiniboine and Gros Ventre Reservation.

Ojo Del Mar Ecolodge

Nothing says girls’ getaway like a yoga retreat. Grab your mat and head to Ojo Del Mar Ecolodge, Costa Rica. Wake up to a healthy breakfast then head outside for a 90-minute yoga class. Spend your afternoons hiking, surfing, kayaking or touring the gardens to learn about tropical fruits, spices and herb. Wind down with a restorative evening class. Ojo del Mar is situated between beaches and the tropical rainforest on the Osa Peninsula, home to more than 350 species of birds, 115 species of reptiles, 750 species of trees and 10,000 species of insects. Be sure to take time out to explore the 100,000 acre Corcovado National Park.

What to know: Shared accommodations, $1250-$1400 buys you six nights, three meals a day, two cooking classes, two yoga classes a day and taxi transfers. No TVs, phones or air-conditioning.

Tundra Buggy Adventure

Party with polar bears on a Tundra Buggy Adventure in Churchill, Manitoba. Adventurous groups can book a stay at the mobile Tundra Buggy Lodge while those who like their travel a little less rustic should check out the Churchill Town and Tundra Experience – home base will be a hotel in town and you’ll head out in buggies to bear-spot. The organization is committed to preserving the environment and well-connected to local conservation groups. All of the trails you’ll travel were naturally-formed. Parent company Frontiers North also supports and contributes to researching ecosystems to ensure its tours don’t negatively impact the environment or the animals.

What to know: These trips are pricey—about $5,000 CAD – and you’ll want to pack warm clothes.

Mountain Lake Conservancy and Hotel

If you’re like me, Dirty Dancing was your first lesson in sexy (hello, Solomon Burke!), your first introduction to abortion and the first time you realized traveling without parents would be awesome. In Pembroke, Virginia, you and your friends can experience a Dirty Dancing weekend at the eco-friendly Mountain Lake Conservancy and Hotel where the movie was filmed. Join Conservancy naturalists to learn about the cycles and history of the lake, flora and fauna and Appalachian culture. Hike to breathtaking views of Bald Knob, Bear Cliffs, and the Old Golf Course. Make all the “Nobody puts Baby in the corner” jokes you want, you’re in a safe place.

What to know: Fly into Roanoke; rooms start at $230/night.

Get ready for your trip with these eco-friendly travel tips and 10 songs to inspire travel.

Photos: SeaHorse Safaris, Bison Quest,  Ojo Del Mar Ecolodge, Tundra Buggy Adventures, Mountain Lake Hotel

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A view of Portland on 350 Day, October 24th, 2009

I’ve been away from my home in Portland, Oregon for 75 percent of 2010. I’ve become used to a gypsy eco-adventure life on the road or at sea – I’ve got a good tan and my hair is going blonde, and I’m centered and focused. At home, I have a mortgage (and an actual bed). Living in a van is heaven on wheels. It’s life distilled, pure and simple: camera, computer, books, surfboard, dog and a sense of eco-traveling purpose.

For work, I study pollution in marine environments, so by nature I spend a lot of time at the beach. As part of my recently completed synthetic sojourn to better understand how plastic pollution enters our watersheds, I looked at how different cities function on a municipal level. At each new place, I was guaranteed to see parts of a city’s underbelly that few knew about – even longtime residents. I met plenty of characters along the way, all whom shared stories and suggested other people to talk with to better understand the journey of garbage from source to sea.

But what if you can’t live in a van? Or better, you don’t want to live in a van? Or you just can’t get away? I hear you, gentle reader. I’ve been home for a week and already I’m antsy as all hell to get back on the road.

But yesterday I remembered the last time I felt away from home while at home. It was last year, during the 350.org international day of action. Several activists got together on the Willamette River to make a giant 350 and as I photographed, I was astonished by my vantage: I was looking at my hometown through new, eco-tourist eyes.

Portland rests at the Willamette River, which dumps into the Columbia River. The Columbia is one of the largest per volume watersheds in the world. Just like other cities, whatever we litter on the streets here makes its way to the sewer systems, then into our watersheds. Remembering my trip, I realized that I should make an effort to look at my own city with the same inspired eyes that lead me to explore.

So here’s my project: I’ll start at the dump and look at its geography in relation to the catch basins for rain. I’ll arrange to tour my sewer system (gross and spooky, yes), just to see what’s down there and what is ultimately coming out of the pipe into the river. Then I’m going to paddle part of the river to see where garbage washes up. Then I’m going to visit some wetland biologists downstream to see firsthand what effects our pollution has on the surrounding ecosystems. I’m excited, because I’m bound to see new faces of this city that will enrich and inspire my sense of home.

What about you? Sewers aren’t for everyone, but maybe it’s a green architecture tour? Find a firm, make an inquiry. Maybe it’s community gardens?  Find them, and start asking questions. Or what about looking at solar output?  Living buildings? The list goes on and on – all you need is to get out and explore your immediate world. All it will cost is time.

Where do you live? We’d love to here some ideas about your city in the comment section.

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