The holidays are finally over. It`s the dead of winter, and you realize with a sinking feeling at the pit of your stomach that you have nothing to look forward to. You want to go on vacation-a long trip would be nice-but you can`t until the summer. And that seems a million years from now. Before you plunge into a deep depression, take heart. Here are some suggestions to satisfy your travel bug without even leaving the city.
– For all you would-be trekkers, Michael Fox offers two armchair travel classes through the Discovery Center: ”Exploring Australia and New Zealand” and ”East Africa.”
A tour operator, a photographer and a travel consultant, Fox has traveled extensively in Africa, Asia and other parts of the world. In his classes (he has taught at the Discovery Center for the last five years), he not only tries to make the country come alive through the showing of slides and the sharing of personal experiences, but he also gives practical tips on air fares, flight and trip itineraries, medical requirements and the best times to visit places.
In his Australia and New Zealand class, he tells participants what to expect, how to prepare, what to bring and how to travel in the Great Barrier Reef, the Northern Territory and the Outback.
For his East Africa class, Fox describes the ins and outs of traveling to Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda, discussing gorilla treks, foot safaris, overland expeditions and guided tours.
– If taking a class isn`t enough to satisfy your travel addiction, then maybe joining World Travelers Anonymous is just what you need.
An avid traveler herself, the group`s president, Geri Brief, said she started the club to satisfy her need to meet with other travel addicts and to swap experiences, tips and references.
In existence since February, the group has about 100 members, who have the chance to meet for dinner each month at a different ethnic restaurant-the club`s most popular event. There also are group-sponsored monthly slide shows and lectures.
The club produces a monthly newsletter, sponsors local outings and is putting together a reference file.
– For those who not only want to travel but want to travel dangerously, the 80-year-old Adventurers Club may be more to their liking.
The group`s philosophy is carved in wood and suspended over the portal of the organization`s meeting place: ”To provide a hearth and home for those who have left the beaten path and made for adventure.”
The club`s 125 resident members-five of whom are women-have done such varied feats as climbing Mt. Everest, white-water rafting on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, watching gorillas in East Africa and scuba diving in the Pacific Ocean.
The group`s clubhouse is definitely worth a look. In addition to a bar, a place to eat and a small library, there are glass cases of shrunken heads, ancient weapons, World War I flight instrument panels, World War II souvenirs and an autographed photo of Theodore Roosevelt, the group`s first honorary member. Indian and African hunting trophies (put up long before animal rights efforts became popular) are mounted on some of the walls. And 200 flags, spanning 75 years of the group`s adventures, hang from the ceiling.
Monthly lectures and slide presentations are open to the public.
– Want to broaden your geographical horizons? Check out the Geographic Society of Chicago. Besides sponsoring quick getaways and longer vacation trips, the society also offers travel adventure films at the First Chicago Center Theater, on the west side of Dearborn Street between Madison and Monroe Streets. Upcoming films include ”Peerless New Zealand,” ”The Nile-From Source to Delta” and ”Ceylon-the Magic Island.”
The society also is sponsoring a six-week lecture series called
”Spotlight on Spain,” starting at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at De Paul University, Lincoln Park campus, 2323 N. Seminary St. Call for information about admission tickets.
– The Savvy Traveller, a bookstore specializing in travel books and gear, puts out a quarterly newsletter. The store also holds monthly programs at the Cultural Center Theater, Washington Street and Michigan Avenue. ”How to Pack Your Suitcase and Other Travel Tips” is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 22. Admission is free.
– Want to meet travelers from all over the world? Why not volunteer at the Chicago International Youth Hostel near Loyola University`s Rogers Park campus. Hostel director Breck Arnold is looking for volunteers to run an information booth, which would answer hostelers` questions about what to see and do in Chicago. He also is looking for people to conduct walking and bicycle tours of Chicago neighborhoods and to show hostelers some of the blues and jazz clubs. According to Arnold, volunteers would broaden their perspectives and make contacts with people from various cultures and backgrounds.
– Looking for a place to warm your chilled bones? Come in from the cold and have a cup of java at Kopi, A Traveler`s Cafe. (Kopi means coffee in Indonesian.) Owners Rhonda Welbel, Karen Weinstock and Julie Ansel met in Indonesia. When they got back to Chicago, they decided to open a cafe that would capture the friendly spirit of the cafes they encountered on their travels. In addition to serving a different coffee each day (their Sumatran brew is especially good), they also serve various soups, sandwiches, salads and desserts. You also can buy travel books, maps, guidebooks, road atlases and Indonesian clothing. There`s even a travel map hanging in the cafe`s restroom. A row of clocks shows times in various cities, including Chicago, Moscow, Paris, Timbuktu and Juneau. And in the front of the cafe is a raised platform where you can remove your shoes and dine Oriental style.
– If all else fails, take the ”L” to O`Hare International Airport. Walk through the United Airlines terminal and watch the jets take off. One of them may be flying to your dream destination. Who knows? Maybe someday soon, you`ll be going there, too.
