This installation of the Escape Your Everyday Travel Series will take you to one of the most diverse and fascinating countries on the planet:   Ecuador!

Although roughly the same size as Colorado or Great Britain, few countries can match this small South American country’s ecological, experiential and cultural punch. Ecuador is inch for inch the most bio-diverse country on the planet. This presentation will focus on the iconic Galapagos Islands and how you can have your own Darwinian adventure.

Time: 6pm networking and beverages.  6:30pm presentation.
Location: Columbia Sportswear Seattle store, 290 Pine Street Seattle, WA 98101

• Enjoy complimentary beverages from a featured winery, distillery or brewery
• Free parking
• Free drawing for prizes
• 25% off Columbia Sportswear purchases

Meet the Speaker | Amber de Friere

Born in Portland Oregon, Amber has traveled to over 50 countries, speaks several languages, has an insatiable wanderlust and brings a unique perspective to travel and one her favorite destinations- Ecuador. She is married to a world class Ecuadorian mountain climber (currently attempting a no oxygen ascent of Everest via TIbet) and together they own one of National Geographic Travelers favorite hotels in South America- Rumiloma in Quito.

Amber has an intimate knowledge of Ecuador, having worked as a consultant for governmental, NGO and private travel entities for the last 10 years, as well as a dedication to community based tourism which has allowed her to live and work in some of the world’s remotest corners. Amber has lived for months on end in the deepest Amazon where her children went to school in a canoe, as well as on a beach in the Galapagos. She currently lives on a volcano, high in the Andes, where she divides her time between her family, her hotel and host of other endeavors.

If you have ever considered traveling to Ecuador, or even if you haven’t, don’t miss this opportunity to learn all about it from an expert and inspire your next great escape!  See you on May 9th!

As of April 1st, EverGreen Escapes will be donating 1% of all online sales to ECPAT-USA (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking).

We are a member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association, who inspired us by signing the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct in September.  Our founder and Chief Escape Officer, Jake Haupert, was looking for the right organization to support, “with so many incredible organizations out there, it was very difficult for me to identify the right one.  Then, Shannon Stowell from the ATTA announced their support of ECPAT, thus bringing them to my attention, and from that very moment, their mission resonated on a deeper and more personal level.  After digging in a bit a more, I knew we had found our match.”

Most people would agree that every child has the right to live free from commercial sexual exploitation, but everyday and in every country innocent children fall prey to criminals who enslave and pimp them, endangering their lives and robbing them of their physical and emotional well-being. It’s time to put an end to this scourge and responsible tour operators and travelers can help.  One important step in the movement is AWARENESS.

One way travelers can help create awareness is with TassaTags. What are TassaTags? They are simply a luggage identifier with a purpose.

These environmentally friendly, hand-woven tags send awareness of the commercial sexual exploitation of children to all those traveling. This movement is in support of the working women at The Regina Center inNongkhai, Thailand. “The project enables women to stay in their villages and keep their children in school, which are two major strategies in reducing sex trafficking.”  Having one of these on your bag, not only supports these women, but it sends a message that you are aware of sexual predation and won’t stand for it!

Looking for more information about ECPAT-US or TassaTags?

Visit ECPAT-US website to learn more, or donate directly

Visit TassaTags website to learn more, or purchase your tag here

AgriCurean Escapes is our brand for exclusive culinary tours through the agricultural landscape of the Pacific Northwest’s islands, valleys, mountains, farms, wineries, breweries, small towns and big cities.  Like EverGreen Escapes,  these tours are led by expert guides in luxury vehicles,  include hands-on experiences and activities, and practice responsible tourism in the field, but AgriCurean Escapes will focus more on epicurean experiences such as foraging, tasting and cooking, educational experiences behind the scenes at farms, breweries and wineries.

The ActiVino! series of escapes include morning adventures such as hiking, snowshoeing, or kayaking, followed by afternoons of sipping and savoring in wine country.  Multi-day tours are available for in-depth experiences that take travelers on incredible foodie adventures, from foraging with chefs to crabbing on the coast, and are accommodated in luxurious lodges, spas and resorts.

So check out our new website and imagine the culinary possibilities.

Speaker Arnar Már Ólafsson gets down in an ice cave

Arnar Már Ólafsson, Guide and Marketing Director for EverGreen Escapes partner, Icelandic Mountain Guides, is an experienced hiking guide, super Jeep driver and glacier guide. He’s been in the field of tourism for more than two decades. He was a Lector in Tourism at the University of Akureyri and is the former president of the Icelandic Tourism Research Center.

Where: Columbia Sportswear Seattle store: 290 Pine Street Seattle, WA 98101
When: Thursday, January 10
Time: 6:30 – 7:45 pm
* No advance registration required. Just show up and we’ll take care of the rest!

BONUS for ATTENDEES:

• 25% discount on Columbia Sportswear purchases for event attendees
• Free parking in the garage (entry on Stewart)
• Complimentary beverages
• Drawings for EverGreen Escapes travel experiences, Columbia Sportswear gear and more!

Visit our Facebook page for regular updates and share us with your friends.

We’re running this in both Portland and Seattle through December only!

Grab a group of friends or coworkers for a holiday party on wheels!  You’ll visit three distinctly different breweries to taste the taps, learn about the brewing process.  Get a behind the scenes tour of beer making in action and hear the stories behind the brews.  In addition to lagers and ales, compare seasonal holiday brews, which not only tout the flavors of the season, but are often aged in bourbon barrels throughout the year. In between breweries, travel in luxurious Mercedes Sprinters through festive neighborhoods lined with dazzling lights that take holiday spirit to the extreme.

See the full itineraries on our website and reserve your seat for
Portland or Seattle today!

Laura Raymond – Coordinator of Seattle’s P-Patch program and past Chair of Washington Sustainable Food and Farm Network.

• 25% discount on Columbia Sportswear purchases for event attendees.
• Free parking.
• Drawings for EverGreen Escapes travel experiences and Columbia Sportswear gear.
• Craft brew provided by:   Schooner Exact Brewing Company 
• Artisan hard cider provided by Finnriver:                               

Visit our Facebook page for regular updates and share us with your friends.

Explore Portland is a 3.5-hour tour that takes you to some of the most iconic spots in Portland, such as Pittock Mansion, the International Rose Test Garden, and Mt. Tabor, as well as through many of Portland’s unique neighborhoods. Travel with EverGreen Escapes through Portland’s “5 Quadrants” to experience these local, funky, innovative areas, and to discover the history that makes Portland what it is today.  

Brews & Bridges is a 4.5-hour tour that explores some of Portland’s greatest beverages. Spend the afternoon tasting beer from some of the 40+ breweries located in the city of Portland. Your Escape Artist guide will introduce you to brewers for a behind-the-scenes look at how this delicious drink is made. Since the breweries are located all over the city, you’ll also get to check out a few of Portland’s eight downtown bridges, learn about their interesting history, design, and see why Portland is also sometimes called Bridgetown.

Oregon Coast Adventure is a 10-hour, full- day tour. Leaving from downtown Portland, you will wind your way along the Columbia River out to the Pacific Ocean at Astoria. You will visit Ft. Clatsop and a re-creation of Lewis and Clark’s westernmost camp. Walk along the beach and admire the gulls, cormorants, and tufted puffins at Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach. After a day of history, good food, wine, and fun, enjoy the beautiful drive through the Pacific Coast Range and back into the Willamette Valley and Portland.

Come find out about Portland and Escape Your Everyday with EverGreen Escapes

Breathtaking sunsets and pristine beaches await at this amazing destination

Australia expert John Daw from South Australia Tourism and EverGreen Escapes founder and Aussie Premier Specialist Jake Haupert, will share photos and travel tips, highlighting the unique wildlife and landscapes of this continent. Explore the outback, the rainforest or the Great Barrier Reef. Get up close and personal to unique wildlife, amazing natural wonders and the ancient aboriginal culture.

Australia offers something for every traveler.  It’s wild and rugged, yet sophisticated and cultured, with lively cities and breathtaking landscapes.  From dining on the Sydney waterfront to diving with whale sharks, exploring the outback to soaking up the sun on white sand beaches, it would be a challenge to find something you couldn’t do in Oz.

Where: Columbia Sportswear Seattle store: 290 Pine Street Seattle, WA 98101
When: Thursday, August 9
Time: 6:30 – 7:45 pm

* No advance registration required. Just show up and we’ll take care of the rest!

BONUS for ATTENDEES:

• 25% discount on Columbia Sportswear purchases for event attendees
• Free parking
• Each event will include complimentary beverages from a featured winery, distillery or brewery.
• Drawings for EverGreen Escapes travel experiences and Columbia Sportswear gear.

Visit our Facebook page for regular updates and share us with your friends.

In celebration of the launch and to introduce you to our culinary and farm partners, we are throwing a big farm to table event  showcasing the local purveyors who will be involved with AgriCurean Escapes tours including wineries, breweries, distilleries, chefs, craft producers and small farms of everything from olive oil to honey to cheese!

LAUNCH PARTY DETAILS | BUY TICKETS

Red Ridge Farm | Dayton, Oregon

July 22, 2012 | 5-8pm | MAP

$35 includes admission, live music, hors d’oeuvres, refreshments and raffle entry.

Explore the farm on guided tours, then sip and taste your way through tables of Oregon’s finest wine, brew, spirits, epicurean delights and fresh, local chef’s cuisine while mingling with the makers themselves.  Meet our community of sustainable businesses and a fascinating consortium of travelers, foodies and other co-conspirators. Options for purchasing wine and market items on site.

Optional transportation from Portland: Arrive in style in an AgriCurean Escapes bio-fueled Mercedes van and leave the driving to us.  Limited tickets available.

• Optional round-trip transportation $15 per person. (60 mins each way)
• Portland pick-up at Benson High School, 546 NE 12^th Ave (a couple blocks south of Lloyd Center MAX Station.)
• Carpools of 3 or more get priority parking and cyclists get a 20% discount at the door!
  

Purchase Tickets Here or call 503-252-1931

OUR PARTNERS AND PURVEYORS

• Adalu Stew
• Bee Local Honey
• Briar Rose Creamery
• Cathedral Ridge
• Dr. Cora Forstén
• Dr. Louise Rose
• EVOO
• HUB
• KJ Hazelnuts
• KooKooLAN Farms
• Maria Zilka, NT
• My Bartender
• Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission
• ReDirect Guides
• Red Ridge Farms
• Rex Hill / A to Z Wineworks
• Salt, Fire & Time
• Savoy Bistro and Tavern
• Sterling Catering
• Three Little Figs

More to be announced soon!  Join our Facebook event page for updates.

About AgriCurean Escapes

Join us for our free Adventure Travel Series kick-off event with a presentation on Namibia. 

Guest expert Tyler Davis, EverGreen Escapes Africa Program Director, will share his photos and travel tips for the world’s most up and coming conservation destination,  highlighting the unique wildlife, culture and landscapes of this Southern Africa nation.

Where: Columbia Sportswear Seattle store: 290 Pine Street Seattle, WA 98101
When: Thursday, July 12
Time: 6:30 – 7:45 pm

BONUS for ATTENDEES:

• 25% discount on Columbia Sportswear purchases for event attendees
• Free parking
• Each event will include complimentary beverages from a featured winery, distillery or brewery.
• Drawings for EverGreen Escapes travel experiences and Columbia Sportswear gear.

Visit our Facebook page for regular updates.