This was one of the most amazing trips I've ever been on, and I can't imagine doing it without…read morePhil's help. We didn't know anything about going on safari, and Phil build a custom trip that catered to exactly our personal travel style of going to some of the more off-the-beaten-path places with fewer tourists, but still lots of amazing experiences (we watched a family of elephants chase off a pair of male lions!). Everyone we met was on their 4th or 10th safari and when they found out we'd never been before, they'd always ask, "So how did you even find this place?" Also I had no idea you could have a vacation with this much adventure and yet zero stress. Having Phil take care of everything and getting it all arranged for and paid in advance took a HUGE load off of us, which was so great as we both have jobs where we typically do a lot of planning and project management. By taking care of that, Phil let us go on an exciting vacation where we actually got to RELAX. We took literally THOUSANDS of amazing photos, but here are just a couple fun ones I shot with my phone.

We had dreamed of going on a safari for years but didn't know where to start. Then we had the good…read morefortune of meeting Phil. From the very first day of working with him to plan and organize our trip of a lifetime, we felt we were in great hands. Phil's fantastic first-hand knowledge of the camps allowed him to create a trip that far surpassed the typical group package deals. Phil meticulously plans every detail of the trip, from the best places to stay to recover from jet lag before the safari, to every transfer. You are never left wondering where to go or if someone will be there to meet you. The camps he chooses are small and personal, where you are taken care of and treated like family. The safari experience is second to none, with personal drivers and guides who are excellent, highly skilled, and knowledgeable. If you want a safari experience to remember, I can't recommend Phil and On Safari-In enough!

Absolutely LOVED our orca watching experience with Puget Sound Express. It was a beautiful boat,…read morevery busy, and came with so many bells and whistles, including a delicious pie (buckle). We saw a lot of orcas, as well as a minke whale. Really phenomenal experience from top to bottom. Would strongly recommend!

Tony, our captain, was awesome- he had Leonardo DiCaprio vibes ! Kayla, the naturalist, was…read moreincredibly knowledgeable and equally awesome. If seeing killer whales is on your bucket list, prepare yourself: witnessing these magnificent creatures for the first time was absolutely magical and may bring you to tears as it did for me. Although it was rainy and the water was choppy, the boat handled it beautifully. The ride was fast and smooth, and no one got sick. I highly recommend bringing a poncho, wearing extra layers, and expecting your shoes to get wet if you plan to stay outside for a while. I stayed outside because this was one experience I was not going to miss! Highly recommend!

Terrific way to spend an afternoon. As zip lines go it's not extreme by any measure ... I'd highly…read morerecommend this experience for first-timers. Their course is very well laid out, the infrastructure is top notch (safe), and the guides are awesome. Had a blast! Sidenote: this is a working farm and the history is amazing, including the still-functional barn, which was built in 1912.

What an amazing day! We throughly enjoyed our zip line experience with Andrew and Elijah as our…read moreguides. The group was small so there wasn't a lot of standing around. The guides were helpful, informative and efficient. The forest scenery was absolutely gorgeous with a light drizzle of rain. I have done several zip line tours and this one definitely had safety locked down. It required no athletic ability so it was easy for someone in their sixties and a child who barely weighed enough to be included. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. The location was stunning! Did I mention the lavender lemonade was such a special treat?!

The premise of the tour is you can hop off at a site and catch the next one(1 hour later)…read moreunfortunately if they are short staffed you don't know this because no updates are posted to their site and no one answers the phone. Too bad.

This is a good way to get the "lay of the land". After taking the Jolly Trolley we had a much…read morebetter understanding of the island and went back the next day in our car to several of the spots that were featured on the tour. I give it a thumbs up.

We did a 4-hour experience out of Port Edmonds and loved it the whole time…read more From the beginning with clear communication on where to and not to park to the end as we got off the boat, it was clear this company values the experience of the customers. The information shared during the boat ride to our destinations was useful and fascinating to hear and enhanced the experience through our understanding of the Sound and the creatures that live in it. The check in process, boarding, and embarking was a simple, easy process. We saw starfish and little jellyfish in the water as we walked down the dock. We purchased meals beforehand and were so happy that we did. The food (sandwiches) was great, and it was nice to eat a hot meal on board. The Buckle they bake is amazing and the hot chocolate was worth having as the air outside can get pretty cold out on the water. Even when we were traveling to the locations or to somewhere else, the interior of the boat was a nice place to be to stay warm and enjoy the beautiful views of the water. On our journey, we saw a few seals, lots of birds, a pod of orcas, and a humpback whale diving over and over again. This was on a cold and rainy day, but it's said they show up a lot more frequently on better days! Bring Dramamine even if you think you don't get seasick since the waves can be choppy sometimes depending on the weather on the water and around the area.

I signed up for the full day whale watch since it stopped at Friday Harbor and I always wanted to…read morevisit San Juan island. The check-in process was really easy and friendly. Paid parking is available just outside the building. Public bathrooms are down the street near a coffee shop. They had two boats in the harbor, we were on the smaller one: Redhead. The interior has about 12 booths that fit four people each with a wrap-around deck on the outside. The boat was nice and comfortable with table service. They have coffee and hot chocolate, and food including a blueberry buckle. We saw one Gray Whale, one pod of Orcas with a young one, and one pair of Orcas. We also saw Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seal, Sea Otter, Bald Eagles, and lots of birds. It felt like most of the time we were driving really fast to get to the whales and then to Friday Harbor, then back. Most of the time is just moving quickly on the water. Though the experience was great, I probably wouldn't go on this trip again. We didn't see many whales. It was a very long day of just going quickly through the area. If I went again it would be at a different time of year and only for the half-day tour.

This was my second tour with this company and once again, I was not disappointed! We did not see…read moreany larger whales (it WAS the "Orcas Only" tour lol) but we were blessed with the T65B Orca pod . Our guides were knowledgeable and our captain was awesome! They guarantee whales or you get to go back for FREE! I hope to visit again next year! (Or sooner if I can help it!)

Great tours! You WILL see whales, or they'll invite you back free. Very informative staff, and they…read morewere super helpful when we missed our tour due to a very long delay at the ferry. We went on two tours. Highly recommend!

From start to finish Italy4real, Carol and Mattia were critical in making our trip the best…read morevacation we have ever been on. They are knowledgeable, offered excellent suggestions, booked outstanding hotels that were central to our interest, used highly professional and knowledgeable tour guides when required, found very interesting classes for us to extend our learning and were there every step of the way. I highly recommend this organization for private or large tours.

My husband and I just finished the 13-day small group tour with Italy4Real and let me tell you,…read morethis company is totally 4Real! Every detail of the trip (flights, pick-ups, luggage, advice, and hotel accommodations) are taken care of for you. If you want to change or modify a part of the trip, Rem and Debra will take care of it for you too. Some of the other members of the tour extended their trip and Italy4Real helped them plan it all. We stayed in wonderful hotels, were picked up at the airport by local drivers, escorted throughout Italy in the comfort of a luxury van, guided through the towns with personalized guides, ate at restaurants that were locally owned, and enjoyed an afternoon in a dreamy, small Tuscan village that produced wonderful wines and an amazing spread of local foods. We can't say enough good things about the service, experience, and excellent customer service that we received throughout this entire trip. From booking the reservations to asking questions and making last-minute changes, nothing seemed like it is was too much trouble for this team. The extra money you pay for a seamless, well-structured, and stress-free vacation is well worth the money! Thank you, Rem and Italy4Real.

Every year I try to come here in the spring and stay in the retreat house for a few nights. It has…read morebecome a special thing for me to do, and I even drive here from Oregon to do it. The retreat house itself is perfect for those doing meditation and Buddhist practices. Every day I can walk in the woods, to the pond, and visit all the special places here, like the driftwood ley line sculpture or the fen pond. Every year things are a little different and there are new things to see and explore in addition to visiting "old friends" like the various stone circles. You can also come just for a brief walk or long walk, there are multiple parking lots. I recommend a change of shoes and socks if your footwear is not water proof.

Plan. Plan. Plan…read more The Earth Sanctuary is a fantastic retreat of walking paths, stone circles, places to sit, think, draw, meditate, remember, and much more. It's only $7 to spend as much daylight as you want while there. You can power walk your way through, but you'll miss the nature and time for self-reflection and teachable moments. Decide why you are going there, even if it is your first exploration. You could spend a whole day by the water writing, drawing, and doing things that fill your soul. Plan to do that. If you have younglings, decide what teaching about Nature you'd like to do. The trails are natural, and this is a place to take it slow for those with mobility challenges. I strongly suggest developing a theme of why you are going and using that as a guideline for a great day. There are porta potties by the parking sites. Bring your water and snacks if you must, but mind the wildlife who get sick from your leaving. A rule of thumb is to take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints.

Had a WONDERFUL day today, got to sample the wares at three wineries and one distillery. That was…read moregreat, but aside from the wine and spirits, Elizabeth was a great tour guide. She was professional, knowledgeable, and personable. She was a careful driver, and her bus was comfortable and spacious. She provided wonderful snacks, and had awesome descriptions along the way. Couldn't have wanted a better day! HIGHLY recommend her tour. BONUS, and what sets her apart from any other tours, she picks you up and drops you off at HOME! No driving to or from the start of her tour route!