The Broad Horizons Blog

The Magic of Africa - a BH woman's point of view!

2010-07-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

By: Bonnie Hinschberger
Program Director
Broad Horizons
1-877-844-5444

Packed and ready to go, I felt somewhat apprehensive about travelling half way around the world, on my own, to fulfill a life long dream. But within minutes of arriving in Nairobi and meeting my guide I knew I was in for a trip of a lifetime.

Kenya, the birthplace of the wildlife safari has a well-deserved reputation as the quintessential safari destination. It is a showcase of breathtaking landscapes, abundant wildlife and diverse cultures.

My safari began in the bustling city of Nairobi. Here I met my fellow travellers and James, the incredibly knowledgeable guide who provided a detailed briefing of what to expect on safari. The first day I visited an elephant orphanage where orphaned elephants are raised by a group of keepers until they are 5-9 years old. They are then released back to the wild and carefully monitored until they are accepted into a herd. These orphaned elephants are never left unattended and recognize their keepers as their mother.

From there I visited Karen Blixen’s Museum made famous by the Oscar winning movie “Out of Africa” staring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep. This historical site marks a time in history when Kenya was governed by the British, which allowed many Europeans to settle, producing coffee, tea and other crops.

My last stop for the day was to the Giraffe Manor, a 15-acre park owned by Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville to raise and protect the endangered Rothschild giraffes. It was interesting to understand how important wildlife is to the Kenyans. Many orphanages and sanctuaries have been developed to protect and provide for endangered or vulnerable species and almost all have processes in place to release these animals back to their natural habitats.

With the sites of Nairobi completed I was anxious to venture to the Kenyan wilderness and begin my wildlife safari. A few hours drive by Land Rover and there I was, in the bush and grasslands of a natural world unchanged by the passage of time. I can’t begin to explain how incredible the first sightings of large herds of wildlife were. Zebras, gazelles, impalas, giraffes and elephants were in abundance. It was magnificent to just sit in the open vehicle and watch the procession of varied species as they wandered for food and shelter.

Each game drive brought a new adventure, new animals and a variety of spectacular scenery. Sightings of lions, cheetahs, hippos, wildebeests, elephants, giraffe, antelope, hyenas, leopard, buffalo and birds became a daily experience but each was every bit as incredible as the first.

Throughout my journey I travelled to four different parks and reserves. Each offered a different climate and elevation, and an array of different species of animals, scenery and tribal culture. I was a guest in two tribal villages, the Samburu tribe and the Masai tribe. Both tribes are nomadic, seeking grazing and water for their cattle and goats. Their rich cultures are based upon ritual and ceremony and harmony with the environment. Their diet consists of blood from their cows mixed with milk plus boiled meat from their cows or goats. Their simple way of life was both mesmerizing and admirable and I really enjoyed learning about their traditions and lifestyle.

While the bulk of my experience took place during day, I will never forget the uniqueness of the permanent tented camps. These stylish tents provided unexpected comfort including a king size bed, full bathroom, hot running shower, electricity and even a private butler. But the best part about the tents was the ambiance of the African nights. Lions, elephants, hippos, hyenas and many other animals could be heard in the distance while the crickets and frogs sang their nightly melodies in the foreground. I was truly in my element and would choose this over a hotel room any day!

As my journey came to an end I recollected my new experiences and realized that Kenya had touched my soul in a way that no other country had. I long to return again, to pick up where I left off and expand my journey through other countries in the magical land of Africa.

Women on Wales May 11- 21, 2010

2010-06-21T20:47:00.001-07:00

Mt Snowdonia - Reaching the Summit!

May 20, 2010

Peru - the gals are on their way!

2010-04-06T15:43:00.000-07:00

This week Bonnie and the gals left for Peru ( April 5).

Everyone here at home wishes them a wonderful trip! We all look forward to hearing all the details of their exciting tour to Peru, where they will experience the land of the ancient Incas and discover the secrets of the Urubamba Sacred Valley and the "Lost City" of Machu Picchu.

This is the first tour in our Exploration Series - what a great way to "broaden our horizons" - way to go girls!

Have a fantastic trip!

Bon Voyage,

Susan Pearson
Broad Horizons
Founder, Tour Escort

2010-04-06T15:32:00.000-07:00

May 11, 2010 – Women on Wales - Excursions

2009-08-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

May 11-21, 2010 – Women on Wales

We invite you to join our all women’s tour to Wales departing on May 11, 2010. For this special Broad Horizons 5th anniversary trip we've included a number of fantastic excursions that you’re sure to love!

A special highlight is our May 13 visit to Bodnant Garden, one of the most beautiful gardens in the U.K. Spanning some 80 acres this glorious garden is situated above the River Conwy with stunning views across Snowdonia.

To read more about this national treasure please visit: http://www.bodnant-gardens.co.uk/

Chester - May 15, 2010 ( Women on Wales excursion)

May 15 – At 0930 am we depart for the one hour drive to Chester. As one of the most beautiful and historic cities in England, we felt it was important to include Chester in our itinerary. (considering it’s close proximity to Wales.)

When it comes to beautiful cities, Chester is one of the loveliest and on every tourist’s 'must see' itinerary. The city comfortably ranks alongside the cities of London, York, Bath and Edinburgh.

One of Chester's most unique features are the two-tiered rows, which means you can shop whatever the weather and gives you double shopping fun!

For a video glimpse of Chester visit http://www.chester.com/

Penrhyn Male Choir - May 17 ( Women on Wales excursion)

During our tour of Wales we have arranged a special visit with the Penrhyn Male Choir at their rehearsal room in Bethesda. This is one of Wales’s oldest and best known male choirs – first established in 1890. Watching them perform is a unique and special opportunity!

For a video glimpse of the Penrhyn Male Choir please click on this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB9nX0xZHo0

For the complete itinerary for the May 2010 Women on Wales tour please visit the UPCOMING TOURS SECTION of our website:

http://www.broadhorizonsnetwork.com/upcoming.html

Tulips and Windmills River Cruise 2009

2009-05-06T19:43:00.000-07:00

Storybook windmills and the largest flower spectacle on earth!

Our beautiful cruise ship - the River Empress provided us with the opportunity to see Holland the way it is meant to be seen - from the water.

Over 9 glorious days we sailed past storybook windmills and the country's patchwork, rainbow coloured countryside.

We put in at charming ports, giving us the opportunity to explore the fascinating towns of Antwerp, Bruges, Veere, Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Nijmegen, Enkhuizen, Hoorn and Amsterdam.

Highlights included visits to some of the country’s greatest treasures such as the Rijksmuseum (home to the paintings of Rembrandt and the country’s finest works), as well as the magnificent Kroller - Muller Museum.

Throughout the trip our cruising experience was enhanced with a luxurious ship, outstanding cuisine and a superb crew.

Below is my trip diary of our days together. The trip was filled with many wonderful moments, as well as terrific travel companions. Thank you for being part of this exceptional travel experience!

All the best,
Susan Pearson,
Founder, BH Escort
Tulips and Windmills Tour –April 2009

Tulips and Windmills River Cruise 2009

2009-05-06T19:02:00.000-07:00

Our Travel Diary - Holland and Belgium

Tulips and Windmills River Cruise

April 13, 2009
With great anticipation we board our overseas flight to Brussels.

April 14, 2009
Welcome to Belgium! After a short drive from Brussels to Antwerp, we board our ship – The River Empress. In Antwerp, the diamond capital of the world, we’ll spend our next two days. The heart of the town is an easy walk from the ship. The opportunity for amazing photography is everywhere – to be honest, I think I filled my first memory card in Antwerp!

April 15, 2009
On our walking tour we visited the delightful Grote Market (Market Square), in the middle of the city, as well as the inspirational Cathedral of our Lady (built from 1352 – 1521). Surrounded by stunning guild houses that boast ornate 16th century facades topped by gilded figures, there are architectural reminders of the Renaissance everywhere. It is absolutely beautiful!

April 16, 2009
Our second day while based in Antwerp takes us to Bruges, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We viewed the town as its original visitors did – from onboard a canal boat. It is easy to see why Bruges is often called “Venice of the North.” Bruge is a very historic and picturesque town that should not be missed, when visiting Belgium!

April 17, 2009
After cruising throughout the night we arrived in the beautiful little town of Veere by daybreak. Following a fantastic breakfast we departed for nearby Neeltje Jans to visit an engineering marvel known as the Delta Works. This was an extremely interesting presentation that helped us understand how the Dutch are coping with the threat that the sea poses.

By afternoon we were back on our floating hotel for a relaxing (and delicious) lunch. With our ship docked in the cozy harbour of Veere, we spent the afternoon strolling through the cobblestone streets of Veere and enjoyed its abundance of medieval charms. The advantage of river cruising is that you are only footsteps from the quaint cafes and shops of each town where you dock.

Back onboard by 4pm we set sail for Rotterdam, the second largest harbour in the world. With the April weather being the best they’d seen in 25 years, we admired the scenery from the top deck, as we enjoyed a cocktail before dinner. (the crew joked that we had brought the warm weather from Canada)

Local treats
Zeeland (literally land of the sea) is well-known for its mussels, eels, oysters and shrimps and most restaurants serve freshly caught fish. Among the typical dishes you’ll find in restaurants are filled lobster and mussel soup.

April 18, 2009
With our arrival in Rotterdam, we set out for the Kinderdijk Windmills. The relaxing drive was enhanced by blue skies, spring blossoms and glorious weather

Kinderdijk is a small village at a distance of only 16 kilometres from Rotterdam and a little bit less than 10 kilometres from the city border of Dordrecht, the oldest city in Holland. Kinderdijk is unique for its 19 windmills dating from the 1500s.

Kinderdijk is the only place in the world where you can find so many windmills concentrated on such a short area. This is one of the reasons why Kinderdijk has been added to the UNESCO world heritage list.

In case of emergency the windmills still can be used and have been operational up to the Second World War. As we learned at the Delta Works project: The Dutch citizens have large history in their battle against the water.

To visit the website Kinderdijk click on this link below:

http://www.kinderdijk.org/hist.shtml

A Dutch Treat was in store for us that evening! Following a fabulous dinner, we were entertained with a special performance of the Shanty Choir “De Maeze Sanghers” As a talented choir who sing purely for the joy of it, they were great fun and we all loved them!

April 19, 2009
We spent the morning cruising, all the while admiring gorgeous scenery. By noon our ship had arrived in Nijmegen. A beautiful port, this charming town boasts a high concentration of outdoor cafes along the Waalkade which runs parallel to the river.

After another wonderful lunch onboard, we departed for a scenic drive to the world renowned
Kroller - Muller Museum.

At the Kroller - Muller Museum we admired the incredible collection of Vincent Van Gogh. Although Van Gogh sold only one painting in his life, the aftermath of his work is enormous. This collection of 278 works by Van Gogh was left to the Dutch state by Helene Kroller- Muller who spent her life and fortune amassing this incredible collection.

To visit the Kröller-Müller Museum website click on this link: http://www.kmm.nl/

April 20, 2009

On our arrival in Enkhuizen after breakfast, we enjoyed a lovely walking tour in this 650 year old town. After lunch we sailed to the next port of Hoorn. From a leading seaport in the 1600’s to a welcoming town known today for its delicious cheese and vibrant horticulture, Hoorn has a rich and fascinating history. Again, I filled a digital memory card here! I couldn’t resist the sight of all the tall ships and the rich maritime history of Hoorn.

During the afternoon some of the gals chose to soak in the ambiance of Hoorn or explore the shops of this charming little town, while others chose to take advantage of the Bulb-Grower Experience. On this optional tour the ladies drove past endless colourful fields between Enkuizen and Hoorn. They were given exclusive access to the flowering fields, as well as valuable information about flower bulb cultivation from a local grower.

April 21, 2009 This morning at 0800 we arrive in Holland’s largest city, Amsterdam where every street has a story to tell! To get an overall feel for the city we start off with a scenic tour that takes us past all the important landmarks of this beautiful city. The highlight this morning is a visit to one of the most prestigious museums in the world - Rijksmuseum.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Following our morning city tour, we visit the Netherlands’ greatest museum, the Rijksmuseum. In this turreted neo-gothic museum, there are 150 rooms full of the country’s finest works, including Old Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn (1606 -1669) magnificent The Night Watch (1642) on the upper floor. The enormous king-size canvas is Rembrandt’s best known painting and one of the worlds most famous, has a grand hall all to itself. The Rijksmuseum houses the largest and finest collection of Dutch paintings anywhere in the world!

To visit the wonders of the Rijksmuseum please click below: http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/

By early afternoon we return to the ship, anxious to see what delicacies our chef has prepared for lunch. To give everyone some free time we have our afternoon at leisure. Amsterdam is such a captivating city that there are countless ways to enjoy your time here. The Anne Frank House is a very popular destination and many of the gals chose to make that their first stop.

A precious piece of history preserved – The Anne Frank House, Amsterdam
The hiding place of Anne Frank is one of Amsterdam’s most visited sites. The swinging bookcase that hid the secret door to the attic is still there; so are the black and white pictures she clipped from movie magazines and pasted on her wall. I think you’ll agree that a visit to the attic of her modest 1635 canal house is very powerful.

To visit the Anne Frank Museum website please click below: http://www.annefrank.org/content.asp?pid=20&lid=2

Farewell Dinner – Tonight we enjoyed a very memorable dinner with the captain and the crew. Following incredible food and wine we were entertained onboard by the Broadway show tunes of “Lady Gray.”

April 22, 2009
Today, we enjoy the greatest flower spectacle on earth – the Keukenhof Gardens – a historic, once royal park where more than 6 million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths cover 70 acres. Ten miles of footpaths wind past imaginatively manicured flower beds, fountains, tree shaded ponds and large greenhouses that showcase some 500 tulip varieties, among them the purplish “black tulip”. Click here to view Keukenhof http://www.keukenhof.nl/

Back at the ship by early afternoon we relax over another fabulous lunch. This afternoon we see everyone choosing their favourite activity. Some gals head for the shops, several board a canal boat for an enchanting cruise past stately canal side houses, each built with fanciful gables, and others choose to pamper themselves onboard the ship with a relaxing afternoon.

Prior to dinner we met for a private champagne reception, as well as had a few laughs over our “Lyrics of Holland” contest. You’ll recall this was a challenge we put out there to write a poem about our river cruise adventures. Congratulations to Susan Greer for her prize winning poem!

Our evening was spent with yet another five star dining experience. Following dinner, our cruise tour manager, Wouter organized a walk through the famed “red light district” for cruise passengers who were curious about this notable area. Interestingly, a nocturnal stroll through the medieval heart of downtown ranks on most tourists’ agenda up there with the museum shrines to Van Gogh and Rembrandt!

Amsterdam has long been known as an “open city” and these denizens of the night are registered, regulated, taxed, and represented by a union since 1984. Throughout the walk Wouter gave us a very informative explanation of this unique area and then guided us back to our ship.

April 23, 2009
Today, we say farewell to the fantastic crew of the River Empress and Wouter, our wonderful tour manager

We leave the ship with memories that will last a lifetime of this fascinating destination. I think I speak for everyone, when I say that we would love to return to Holland and Belgium!

To see our trip photos that include the greatest flower spectacle on earth, please click on this link: http://www.broadhorizonsnetwork.com/album/viewgal.php?cat=&subcat=Hol849

Enjoy!

Here we GROW!

2009-04-04T13:10:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to announce that Broad Horizons has recently become a division of Uniglobe Instant Travel Inc.

This exciting news was announced on March 17, 2009, when BH officially became the "female-friendly" travel division of Uniglobe Instant Travel.

Being part of the Uniglobe family is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Broad Horizons.

As a full service travel agency Uniglobe Instant has the expertise and efficiency to handle all of our travel arrangements, so that we can offer an assortment of fantastic tours for women and focus on having fun with YOU!

We'd love to hear from YOU! Contact us anytime with your travel questions or trip ideas.

Email info@broadhorizonsnetwork.com

Phone: 519-660-6398 Toll Free 1- 877-844-5444

BH + Uniglobe = Benefits to YOU!

2009-04-04T12:33:00.000-07:00

Being part of the Uniglobe family will mean even greater travel opportunities for the women of Broad Horizons.

You'll love our exciting new themes such as Wine, Women & Song, The Gourmet Trail, European Christmas Markets, Cultural Treasures, Stately Homes & Stunning Gardens, Stay and Play (golf) or Mind, Body & Spirit, as well as a variety of other fantastic programs.

Small and mid-sized groups on escorted land tours mean personal attention from your BH Group Leader, Tour Manager and Local Guides.

Great Value - Everything included on a BH group tour would cost much more, if you were to do the trip on your own. We do it all for you, even handle the luggage!

Obtain best pricing on air from your closest gateway, as well as group rates on airfare

Stays at first class hotels, quaint inns, resorts and spas

Free time to explore & shop, offering you authentic experiences

Safety, as always, the highest safety standards will be upheld as you travel with Broad Horizon's group of fabulous females.

Twenty-four hour emergency hot line wtih Uniglobe Instant Travel Inc
Call 1-866-459-9004 Quote Code YXUWJ2100

Special services: Perhaps you like the idea of getting away on your own or with a few friends for the weekend or a shopping trip to NYC. No problem! The BH team is ready to coordinate your own private travel getaway that's easy and fun-filled!

We'd love to hear from YOU! Contact us anytime with your travel questions or trip ideas.

Email info@broadhorizonsnetwork.com
Phone: 519-660-6398 Toll Free 1- 877-844-5444

Calling all inspirational women! Big Sisters need your help!

2008-09-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

Big Sisters' Laurie Wilde with Mary Anne Bracewell during the Man Overboard! cruise

Now that Broad Horizons has increased their membership with even more members onboard, we figured this was a great time to do even more good things for other women across the country!

As a company, we share a committment to providing all women with enriching & inspiring experiences. By teaming up with Big Sisters, we hope to inspire a whole new generation of young women to aspire to an exciting, enriching & empowered life.

Across the country, there are thousands of 'Little Sisters' waiting to be matched. In Sarnia-Lambton alone, there are over 50 girls looking for a mentor. Do you have the time?

Over the years, we've had the pleasure of getting to know so many of you personally - and what a generous, intelligent and fun group of women you are! If you - or anyone you know - can spare a bit of free time, Big Sisters would sure love to hear from you.

There are programs to suit everyone's schedules and skills.

SAMPLE PROGRAM LINE-UP
The following programs are offered through Big Sisters of Sarnia Lambton. Contact your local agency to find out about the programs offered in your community! http://www.bbbsc.ca/

Big Bunch Program:
Could you volunteer for 2 hours every other week for six months? Big Bunch is a new program for Little Sisters waiting for the perfect 1 on 1 match. Three Big Bunch volunteers are matched with 2 waiting list girls & together they meet to have FUN every other week for six months.

Go Girls! Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds:
This mentoring program is designed to encourage physical activity participation, healthy eating choices, and the development of positive self-image among girls ages 12-14. Go Girls! incorporates fun, educational games and activities to stimulate mentor/participant relationship building as well as self-reflection and group discussions about healthy living and emotional, social, and cultural issues.

This mentoring program is seven weeks in duration (2 hours per session) and is facilitated by female volunteers, enrolled in post secondary education, aged 18-25.

Traditional Big Sister-Little Sister Match Program:
Little Sisters are are great kids anxiously waiting to have fun with someone like you. Their ages usually range from 6 to 16, and all are excited to be a part of this program. For this very important role, you must be at least 18 years of age and be able to dedicate 3-4 hours per week to your Little Sister for a minimum of one year.

Associate Member Program:
To be an associate member, you can choose your own level of commitment, but are not matched with a Little Sister. You might help with fundraising events, volunteering at activities or being on the Board of Directors. If you have any special skills that might benefit Big Sisters - give them a call!

Find out more online:

Canadian Website: http://www.bbbsc.ca/
American Website: http://www.bbbs.org/
Sarnia-Lambton Website: http://www.sarniabigsisters.org/

Man Overboard Cruise! (Pics - Part 1!)

2008-08-29T13:08:00.000-07:00

Broad Horizons co-founder, Susan Pearson

Simply click on the individual pictures to enlarge them for a better view!

Broad Horizons co-founder, Meredith Pearson

Catching up with past travel pals ahead of the cruise - what a perfect day!

Man Overboard Cruise! (Pics - Part 2!)

2008-08-29T12:17:00.001-07:00

Simply click on the pictures to enlarge them for a better view!

Laurie Wilde from Big Sisters & Mary Anne Bracewell from Broad Horizons

Laurielle Penny & Charlyn Krahn from Worldwide Quest International

Sarah Bracewell & Meredith Pearson from Broad Horizons

Michelle Callipari from Trafalgar Tours & Mary Anne Bracewell

Laurielle Penny - Director of Sales - Worldwide Quest International

Man Overboard Cruise! (Pics - Part 3)

2008-08-28T11:30:00.000-07:00

For a better view, simply click on the photos to enlarge them!

The Trafalgar Canada Team! Jackie Coulson (VP of Sales), Michelle Callipari (Sales Manager - SW Ontario), Michelle Jones (Marketing Manager)

Broad Horizons Summer Reunion - Sarnia Lambton Riverside Retreat! (Part 2)

2008-07-25T14:50:00.000-07:00

As part of our ongoing efforts to find out what's of interest to our members RIGHT NOW, we try to gather as much information as possible in a fun and casual way. This time, we held a raffle for some fantastic prizes including a Liz Claiborne travel jewellery box, two travel toiletry cases, courtesy of one of our preferred suppliers, Collette Vacations, and 2 beautiful, hardcover cookbooks: Both in line with our upcoming trips to Greece and Italy! All the gals had to do was fill out a little ballot listing their favourite travel destination, as well as their ultimate future destination - That's it!

For those of you who live out of town, we also try to offer opportunities for you to win some great little perks: On every trip we offer a prize draw for those of you who take the time to write a testimonial for our website. And for those who have travelled with us in the past, you know about all our other little surprises!

The picture above shows some of the gifts from our recent riverside reunion. You'll also see a beautiful watercolour, painted by Elaine Bisson from Ottawa, who travelled with us to Ireland in May and found inspiration in Helen Dillon's Garden. Elaine also won a set of Waterford crystal candle sticks in Ireland for writing a beautiful poem, which you can see on our main website in the 'Travel Diaries' section: http://www.broadhorizonsnetwork.com/diaries.html

Thanks Elaine! You're such a talent.

Broad Horizons Summer Reunion - Sarnia Lambton Chapter

2008-07-25T14:43:00.000-07:00

On a sunny summer day (Wednesday July 24th - to be exact!) the ladies of Broad Horizons got together along the beautiful shores of the St Clair River to catch up with past travel pals and enjoy the sunshine! About 30 of us made it to the riverside retreat and enjoyed an afternoon of great food, white wine spritzers and a few exciting announcements! For those of you who couldn't make it to this event, you'll be finding out some exciting news very soon! Stay tuned!

Since we have members all over the world, it's pretty much impossible to get us all together in one spot...but moving forward, we're really hoping to offer more opportunities for past travellers to get together. If you're interested in hosting a local BH reunion, just let us know and we'll help you organize everything! In the meantime, we hope you enjoy these pictures - Look closely, you just may recognize some of your past travel companions!

Have a great weekend - Enjoy the sunshine!

-Meredith & Susan

P.S. Simply click on the pictures to enlarge them for a better view!

Make it a Girl's Night Out! Be a Pied Piper & Movie Night's On Us!

2008-07-09T11:15:00.001-07:00

On July 18, Mamma Mia - The Movie opens in theatres across the country. This is a “must see” before we embark on our Greek Getaway! Set in the Greek Islands, the scenery is spectacular and it promises to set the stage beautifully for our upcoming trip to Greece (September 23 - October 4, 2008).

There are only a few spots left on our Greek Getaway, but not to worry, there is still time to earn those valuable pied piper credits by bringing a friend. If you have someone in mind, why not invite them to Mamma Mia? Nothing’s more fun than a girls night out!

Enjoy the movie together and share the joy of our upcoming trip, as you lose yourself in the spectacular views and lifestyles of the Greek Islands.

When your girlfriend books (and we’re sure they will) you will receive $100 off your trip to Greece. As an added bonus, simply send us the ticket stubs from Mamma Mia and we will be pleased to reimburse the cost of the show. (*Please note that this offer applies only to Pied Pipers and any friend who books a spot on our Greek Getaway.)

And that’s only the beginning of the fun you will have together! Get ready for your Greek adventure that promises to be our best trip ever!

To view a preview of the movie visit: http://mammamiamovie.com/

I am certain you’ll find Mamma Mia exhilarating. The music and scenery are captivating and to be sure, it is the perfect way to lead up to our Greek Getaway. For sure we’ll have some ABBA CD’s playing on the coach! So ladies, mark the calendar and plan to hit the theatres after July 18 for Mamma Mia – I guarantee you’ll love it!

See you soon………..Susan

May 31, 2008 Announcing the Fan Favourite!

2008-06-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

We're just back from spectacular Switzerland, Austria and Bavaria. Travelling to some of Europe's most beautiful countries was a dream come true!

Our guide Sarah created a very memorable experience for us throughout the entire tour. From the moment we touched down in Zurich to our final days in Vienna, our days were filled with beauty, captivating culture and fun.

Always a tour highlight is our poem/ song contest, which is our own BH version of CDN Idol. On each trip the gals have the opportunity to submit a poem or song that captures the essence of our trip. The entries are read (or sung) on the last night. To be sure, this adds to the fun of our last night together, plus the ladies can print them from our website and include them in their trip scrapbook.

The contest winners were Cheryl McGuire and Carol Robinson who had the highest score with their song, "Our Favourite Things." Not only did the girls write this clever little ditty, but they performed it at our farewell dinner. Our trip ended on a "perfect note" in a city where music fills the air.

Pictured above are Carol Robinson and Cheryl McGuire. Presenting the grand prize is BH founder Susan Pearson. And the grand prize was...... you guessed it - a genuine Swiss watch.

May 2008 - Ireland - 40 shades of green

2008-05-17T15:47:00.000-07:00

May 2008 – Ireland – 40 shades of green

Our trip to Ireland Apr 30- May 8 was fantastic! Fabulous scenery, wonderful food, incredible music, unique Irish experiences, as well as a terrific group of women made the trip extra memorable. (special thanks to our guide Deidre and driver Tom for their expertise and delightful personalities)

To celebrate our time in Ireland we invited the ladies to participate in our “Lyrics of Ireland” contest. Entries could be submitted in the form of a poem or song and the idea was to capture the trip in lyrics. Their memories of Ireland were then shared with everyone, as we bid farewell to the emerald isle.

The entries were read on our last night in Dublin and the gals were provided with score sheets to rate the poems. The winning entry was announced at our farewell dinner at the world famous 16th century Abbey Tavern in the lovely fishing village of Howth, Ireland.

The grand prize winner was Elaine Bisson’s poem “Ireland, Old Friends- New Acquaintances – The Adventure Begins!

Elaine received a beautiful pair of Waterford Crystal candlesticks and her poem has been presented to the president of Waterford Crystal, Waterford, Ireland, as well as Tourism Ireland.

Our “Lyrics of Ireland” contest was a huge success. We had so many requests for copies of the poems that we have included them in our TRIP DIARIES webpage. Our thanks to everyone who submitted poems, your participation created a wonderful keepsake of the trip and a memorable evening for everyone.

For this trip, my trip diary is in the form of a poem as well. I hope you enjoy reading “Our Irish Adventure”

Cead Mille Failte!
Susan Pearson,
Founder/Director
Broad Horizons

The best Christmas gift for women who have it all!

2007-12-14T13:50:00.000-08:00

With only 10 shopping days left until Christmas, many of you still might be scrambling around the countryside searching for the perfect gift for those special women in your life. If your mother, grandmother, sister, aunt or female friend is the type of women who already ‘has it all’ – we can help!

If you’re a husband who would love to see your wife visit a destination she’s always dreamed about (while freeing up some time for you to take that boys fishing or golfing trip you've been thinking about – wink wink!), or a child with siblings who are also at a loss for what to get mom for Christmas, why not go together and get her something she’s guaranteed to love!?

Broad Horizons is Canada’s leading women’s - only travel network and organizes custom group trips for – you guessed it – women only! The 2008 line-up is second to none and Broad Horizons offers gift certificates in any denomination to use towards the trip of a lifetime for your favourite woman.

If she’s travelling solo, we offer a fantastic room-mate match program and single rooms are also available on most of our trips. Mother/daughter trips continue to be a popular choice or maybe you’d want to conspire with one of her friends and see if she’d like to come along too! (We offer a $100 ‘Pied Piper’ credit for any new referrals, which can be applied to the cost of your trip.)

No line-ups or traffic – this is some serious hassle-free shopping! All you have to do is email or call us at info@broadhorizonsnetwork.com / 1(519) 862-2868/ 1-877-844-5444 – and we’ll quickly take care of all the details. It’s as easy as that.

We will be accepting Christmas gift certificate orders up until December 23rd and can quickly e-mail you a beautiful, printable, certificate so there’s something to open on Christmas day!

Happy Holidays!

-Your friends at Broad Horizons

PS-If you're one of our current members and are coveting one of our upcoming trips - there's still time to drop some serious hints to your family and friends! Just let us know what trip you're interested in so we can advise your family when they call...then don't forget to act surprised on Christmas morning! (It'll be our little secret...shhhhh....)

Broad Horizons - LIVE on the Today Show!!

2007-11-29T08:22:00.000-08:00

It's our last day in NYC and did we ever go out with bang! A number of us fought off some fierce fatigue and made our way back to Rockefeller Center to watch a live taping of the Today Show on NBC. We saw the usual suspects: Matt, Ann & Al and also got up close and personal with pro basketball player, Magic Johnson and pop sensation, JoJo! Here are a few pics with more to follow! What a great way to end our stay in New York!

Music, Magic and 30,000 bulbs...or so we heard....

2007-11-28T20:00:00.000-08:00

Hello from New York City!

Well, we've had another action packed day in the city that never sleeps! This morning we enjoyed a personal shopping tour of Soho, Nolita and the famed Canal Street and got the inside scoop on where to get the best buys. We hadn't planned on returning to our hotel before setting out for tonight's big event at Rockefeller Center - but boy can these ladies shop!!! With aching shoulders and plastic bag-burned hands, we trucked back uptown to our hotel, dropped off the bags, popped a few M & M's (a delicious wholesome dinner) and made our way back downtown to soak up the atmosphere around the famous tree lighting - and sadly, that's all we got!

After returning to our hotel, I flipped to NBC to watched the live telecast and quickly saw that unless we camped out the night before there was no way we could've got anywhere near tonight's festivities. We knew it was a long-shot anyway...but I was pretty shocked to see how few people got anywhere near! After all, this is New York - the BIG APPLE in the U.S.A!! Surely they would have BIG SCREENS and BIG SPEAKERS!! Ah well....I guess you can't always believe in the stereotypes....and those in the know do say that New York is like a completely different country. I guess they were right...Darn it.

NYC Pics

2007-11-28T05:38:00.000-08:00

The gang's all here!

2007-11-27T20:28:00.000-08:00

Welcome to NYC! I’m happy to report that everyone made it safe and sound and our New York adventure is off to a wonderful start!
No trip to NYC during the holidays would be complete without a trip to Radio City Music Hall to see the famed Christmas Spectacular – and spectacular it truly was! We started off our day with a backstage tour of the esteemed Music Hall, where we learned all about its interesting history and even got to meet one of the Rockettes! However, it really is a small world because of all the places in all the world, Erin (our new Rockette friend) was from West Bloomfield, Michigan – only a short drive from the Canadian border and very close to Sarnia, Ontario where many of our travellers reside.

Following our backstage tour, we enjoyed a delicious dinner in a restaurant overlooking Times Square. While the food was excellent – it couldn’t compete with the real star of the show: The incredible views. It really felt like we were in a movie!

Next, it was back to Radio City for the big event. This year, Radio City Music Hall is celebrating its 75th anniversary and they really pulled out all the stops! It would simply be impossible to put it into words…so you’ll have to wait until your friends/family return home so they can tell you all about it!
Until next time…Good night from New York!
PS-Don't forget you can click on the pics above and enlarge them!

Update from NYC!!

2007-11-25T10:04:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

A quick update for you from NYC: I decided to fly in a day early just to make sure that everything is in order for when the majority of our group arrives tomorrow. I'm delighted to report that the staff here at the Hotel Newton are just lovely - friendly, polite and couldn't be more helpful. The hotel itself is in a great location and has loads of ammenities near by. I've taken a couple of pics for you, to demonstrate! For those of you with a bit of a caffeine habit, you'll be thrilled to hear that there is a Starbucks right across the street! There's also a newstand right next door to the hotel, as well as a great little diner (Key West Diner) and a nice looking Thai restaurant.

I'll keep this one short because I have a lot to do today! I'm heading downtown to scope out everything else for the rest of the trip. I hope you all have a great flight (it's a quickie!!) and I'm looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

Meredith

PS-Sorry for posting the wrong date re: the tree lighting...It's Wednesday, not Thursday, that you'll want to tell your friends and family to tune-in to NBC!

Tune in to NBC: Wednesday November 28 - 8:00 pm

2007-11-23T11:51:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone!

Just a quick note to remind you all to tune-in to NBC this Thursday, November 28th at around 8:00 pm for the 75th Annual Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center in NYC!! Our holiday New York! New York! tour departs on Monday and we'll all be braving the cold to witness this historic moment!

Hosted by Al Roker, this year’s tree lighting extravaganza will feature Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Barry Manilow, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, and Ashley Tisdale, performing current hits and holiday classics.

Thousands of people from all over the world will travel to Rockefeller Center to take part in this star-studded event...but if I know these ladies, we'll have no problem muscling our way to the front! Keep your eyes peeled!

Day Ten - Nice - Paris

2007-10-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

Today we had the opportunity to live like the locals & ride the French 'Bullet Train' - the TGV. En route from Nice to Paris, we saw some of the most spectacular scenery: Incredible coastal & mountain views. This is really the best way to travel the great distance from Nice to Paris! The TGV (Train a Grand Vitesse / High speed train) travels at an astonishing rate of 180 miles an hour!

After arriving in Paris, we travelled to our four star hotel (with the most comfortable beds EVER!) and had time to freshen up before our farewell dinner in beautiful, bohemian Montmartre. Escargots, french onion soup, duck l'orange & beef bourguignone were just a few of the delicious options for dinner. Oh and who can forget the incredible entertainment!? A cross between an aging Ozzy Osbourne and Rod Stewart, this wrinkly rocker was a real crowd pleaser and helped us to have one of the best nights of the whole trip! All in all a great way to spend our last night in the City of Lights. Au revoir Paris!

Day Nine - Nice Orientation & Monte Carlo Excursion

2007-10-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

After breakfast today, we enjoyed a petit train ride through the city of Nice. Highlights included the Promenade des Anglais, the Place Massena and the Old Town, Vieux Nice. The train also climbed the large hills in Nice to take us to the Chateau Park where we had awe-inspiring views of the city, the Bay of Angels and the Alps in the distance.

Later today, we drove to the Principality of Monaco to visit Monte Carlo and its famous casinos! Congratulations to Pauline who was our biggest winner!

Day Eight - Aix-en-Provence - St Maximin - Cannes

2007-10-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

Look closely in the middle square at the top - Could this be the skull of St Mary Magdalene?

Julie Andrew's handprints out front of the Film Festival Centre in Cannes

Enjoying a spectacular, sunny day in Cannes...

After spending a final night in Aix-en-Provence, this morning we made our way to Saint Maximin-la-Ste-Baume, which, according to legend, houses the skull of St Mary Magdalene in the Basilica. There was an eery fascination in seeing the tiny skull behind the safety of the glass enclosure in which it is kept.

Next, it was on to sophisticated Cannes where we saw the Film Festival Centre (a modern eye-sore on the landscape of traditional Cannes, to be honest!) and the sidewalk of famous handprints. We then had time at leisure to wander around the beautiful streets, walk down to the sandy beach and enjoy a spot of lunch along the seaside. From here, we made our way to jet-set Nice, situated on the glittering shores of the Cote d'Azur where we enjoyed a dinner of local specialties, including a delicious Salade Nicoise.

Day Seven – Winery & Lourmarin Excursion

2007-10-22T14:23:00.000-07:00

Today we had the opportunity to explore one of the prettiest villages in France – truly a hidden gem! The tiny village of Lourmarin is off the beaten trail and charmed us immediately with its sandstone castle and many art galleries. Many of us indulged in some one of a kind art – which we will hang in our homes and look back at with incredible memories of our time together in France. For such a tiny village, the ammenities in Lourmarin are vast – Incredible art galleries, tasty restaurants & stylish boutiques all awaited us. After an introduction to the town and some time for shopping, we took part in a delicious wine tasting, where we tasted this year’s Beaujolais Noveau – among many others. Once again, I’m not sure if the wine was just ‘That Good’ or if it was the beautiful Bruno with his dimples and broken English that charmed us into opening up our pocketbooks! Either way – it was a wonderful morning.

Later, we travelled a few short minutes outside of Lourmarin to a traditional family-run restaurant with a blazing fire and the most friendly staff I’ve ever encountered in France. We were made to feel like family, as we enjoyed a lunch of local specialties: Warm goat’s cheese salad to start, Pork with les herbes provencal as the main course and a choice of 4 mouth-watering desserts. Unlimited home-made wine rounded out this delicious meal and memorable day.

Day Six – Aix-en-Provence Sighseeing & Optional Marseilles Excursion

2007-10-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

This morning we enjoyed a city tour of our homebase, Aix-en-Provence, with our local guide Chantelle. Aix-en-Provence is a young and lively city filled with innumerable options for eating and shopping. On our tour, we explored the Cours Mirabeau and Place de la Rotande as well as the local fruit and vegetable market, the Hotel de Ville (City Hall), and the cathedral. Chantelle also gave us the inside scoop on all the best places to shop for specific items. We’ve all be shopping a fair bit…not surehow we’ll get it all home!

Later this afternoon, many of us took an optional excursion to the coastal city of Marseilles – a truly magical city with a strong North African influence. After a bit of sightseeing, we also had time to enjoy a drink along the waterfront. Although it’s nearly the end of October, we’ve been blessed with summer-like weather with temperatures around 24 degrees! Absolute bliss.

Day Five – Aix-en-Provence, Provencal Culinary Experience in Peter Mayle’s “Menerbes”

2007-10-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

After a harrowing drive through the Provencal countryside – which included some serious hairpin turns – our driver, Vito, got us to our destination safe and sound. Menerbes is the most charming town, made famous by Peter Mayle’s book, ‘A Year in Provence.’ Upon arrival in the picturesque Luberon village of Menerbes, we enjoyed steaming hot coffee and warm, fresh croissants before taking a tour of the village with our eccentric and charming guide Amir – who gave us the inside scoop on the who’s who of Menerbes society. Truly fascinating stuff! Next, it was into the kitchen with Laurent – a renowned professional chef – who gave us a lesson in Provencal culinary traditions. Together, we learned to prepare a delicious three course meal and later we enjoyed the fruits of our labour when we sat down to another wonderful lunch. This truly is the ‘Flavours of France’ tour!

Later tonight we had time at leisure to explore the city of Aix-en-Provence where we stayed for four nights. From out city-centre hotel, we were ideally located to explore the hundreds of great shops & restaurants that were literally only footsteps away.

Day Four – Beaune, Montelimar, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence

2007-10-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

Shopping in Avignon

Another success!! Hope you've all be keeping track of how much Mary Anne's been buying!!

In front of the papal Palace in Avignon

'Sur le pont d'Avignon...dah dah dah dah dah dah dah...'

At the nougat factory in Montelimar...

With the wonderful Harvey (pronounce Arvay)

Today we travelled past the vineyards of Macon & Beaujolais and the valley of the river Rhone to Montelimar, famous for its delicious nougat. Here, we stopped to visit a nougat factory and enjoyed a wonderful introduction to the art of nougat making, courtesy of our charming host, Harvey. We’re still not sure if anyone actually likes nougat or if they just couldn’t resist buying some goods from the equally delectable Harvey! Unfortunately they didn’t have a bag large enough to take him with us!

Afterward, we headed south to the papal city of Avignon, where we had the opportunity to see the papal Palace and the broken bridge made famous by the popular French song… “Sur le pont d’Avignon…” A few days later, we’re still having trouble getting that our of our heads!

I know you were wondering about these...

2007-10-18T13:23:00.001-07:00

After I posted the comments about the French restrooms being a surprising source of amusement, I got flooded with requests for proof! Here's a little G-rated demo of how these things work - and proof that they do indeed still exist. I give you free reign to laugh at my expense - but just this once! :)

More random pictures from the road!

2007-10-18T09:45:00.001-07:00

Here's our whole group before our dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower!

(Note: You can click on each of the pictures below to enlarge them)

And during...

Incredible views...

What a night to remember....

Sante!

Day Three - Epernay (Champagne Region) & Beaune

2007-10-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

(Wine tasting in the Beaune wine caves)

(Could our friend Rollande Mercier be one of THE famous Champagne Merciers?)

Indulgent: The best word to describe our third day in France. Today we travelled through Brie country to Epernay in the hear t of Champagne, where we stopped to visit the Mercier champagne cellars and taste some of this celebratory drink.

Later, we travelled via Dijon through the Burgundy vineyards (several dozen champagne bottles clanking all the way!) to the quaint, medieval town of Beaune – the uncontested wine capital of Burgundy and one of the most exquisite litle french towns. Since it had been at least a couple of hours since our last drink, we were all feeling rather parched & decided it was about time for another glass of wine. Luckily, we had pre-arranged a Burgundy wine tasting so no one had to go thirsty – what a relief!

After a stroll through the charming town and some major power shopping, we returned to our hotel and enjoyed a dinner of local specialities: Beef Bourgignon and you guessed it: more Burgundy wines.

Champagne before noon, wine before AND during dinner along with authentic French cuisine…not a bad way to pass the day!

Side note: One unexpected source of humour continues to be the French restrooms. Although the ‘hole in the ground’ style of toilets aren’t as widespread as they once were – to our amazement, amusement and dismay (after all…you actually have to use them!!) – they’re still pretty popular!

Views of the Right Bank from the Eiffel Tower

2007-10-15T22:26:00.000-07:00

The Eiffel Tower

2007-10-15T22:24:00.000-07:00

The Moulin Rouge!

2007-10-15T22:23:00.000-07:00

We made it!!

2007-10-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

Bienvenue a Paris!

Well, I’m happy to report that the entire group made it to Paris safe and sound – and with all their luggage! (Well….except for Susan… but let’s face it, if you’re going to lose your luggage, there couldn’t be a better city than Paris in which to pick up a few new pieces!!)

After checking into our lovely modern hotel and taking a bit of time to freshen up, the BH ladies put on their finest glad rags and enjoyed an unforgettable evening at the Eiffel Tower! Sumptuous food and delicious wine were only out-done by the great conversation, as old friends caught up on the latest news and new friendships were quickly discovered.

Day two in Paris was action-packed and saw us enjoying a guided city tour where we saw such highlights as ‘Les Invalides’ (the current site of Napoleon’s Tomb), the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Avenue des Champs Elysees, The Ritz Hotel, The Alma Tunnel, The Grand Palais and of course the Louis Vuitton flagship store! (Just to name a few…) Many of us also enjoyed an optional guided visit to the Musee du Louvre before boarding a bateau for a sightseeing cruise down the River Siene. After a quick costume change at our hotel, many of us then went on to experience what was perhaps the biggest highlight of the day: A dinner & cabaret show at the infamous Moulin Rouge! What an amazing experience to sit amongst friends, sipping champagne and enjoying such an authentic Parisian experience. As you can see from the pictures, it was also just the thing to bring any mild wallflowers out of their shell! It’s only day two…and the fun has just begun!

Until next time…stay tuned!

PS – It’s 1:20 a.m. and we have to be up in only a few short hours…so I promise to write more about the great times we’ve been having once we get out of the busy city and into the beautiful, peaceful countryside. Tomorrow’s first stop: The Champagne Region!

Paris! (October 11, 2007)

2007-10-12T01:34:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

After a great Air Canada flight, we made it safe and sound to beautiful Paris! We were a bit early getting in, so our hotel room wasn’t quite ready when we first arrived. Being the crafty travellers that we are, however, we asked them to direct us to the fitness centre where we found a room filled with soft chaise loungers – just the thing to rest our weary bodies. Although we tried to fight it, we just couldn’t combat the fatigue and ended up taking a quick nap right there! An hour later, we were checked into our beautiful hotel room, where we had time to freshen up a bit before hitting the stylish Parisian streets. Our first stop was the infamous Rue de Champs Elysees and the impressive Arc de Triomphe, where we witnessed an unexpected memorial service at the site of the unknown soldier.

We spent the rest of our first day strolling the Champs Elysees, doing a bit of shopping (it goes without saying right!?) and digging in to our first delicious French meal – complimented by a refreshing glass of Bordeaux – which, for the record, is cheaper than buying a Coke!
Today we’re off to the Musee du Louvre and a bit of sightseeing (and more shopping! )in Le Marais. Tomorrow, the rest of the group will be flying over and we are so looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday! Safe journey ladies – see you soon!

-Meredith & Natasha

Paris! (October 11, 2007)

2007-10-12T01:32:00.001-07:00

Paris! (October 11, 2007)

2007-10-12T01:28:00.001-07:00

Flavours of France - We're off!!

2007-10-10T12:17:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

Well, it won't be long now til we're all in France! I'm flying over a few days early to get the lay of the land and make sure everything is just perfect for your arrival! I can't wait to see you all!

In the meantime, you might want to share the link to our blog with your families and friends. (http://broadhorizonsnetwork.blogspot.com/) For the first time ever, we'll be posting pictures and updates 'from the road' - so your friends and family back home can feel a part of your journey!

Also, each entry will be archived (by month) so you can re-live the good times we shared once the trip is over.

I'm afraid I have to keep this entry short because I'm just on my way to the airport! I wish you all a safe and enjoyable flight to Paris and look forward to welcoming you there!

A bientot!

Meredith

PS - That's Mary Anne and Susan in front of the Arc de Triomphe, the last time we were in Paris!

Meet our new team members!

2007-09-21T15:14:00.001-07:00

We're delighted to announce that there are a number of new faces on the Broad Horizons team! With several years of combined travel experience and a real passion for living la dolce vita, they'll be planning local BH events and spreading the word in a community near you! If you'd like to make contact with one of our regional reps, simply contact our head office at info@broadhorizonsnetwork.com and we'll send you their contact details! Don't forget to keep checking back with the Broad Horizons Blog on a regular basis to see what and who else is new! In the meantime, we hope you'll enjoy reading the bios of our latest BH reps!

Cathy Schneider - Calgary, AB

2007-09-21T15:09:00.000-07:00

A native Calgarian, Cathy is new to the travel industry and excited about bringing the Broad Horizons experience to women in Alberta.

As the sole woman in her house (aside from her wonderful dog, Maggie!), Cathy places great emphasis on her female friendships. As many esteemed female authors have commented, there’s just something incredibly special about that particular bond.

Before getting involved in the travel industry, Cathy achieved a Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy and worked as an Occupational Therapist for 15 years – mainly with disabled children in Southwestern Ontario.

After taking some time off to raise her two sons, Cathy found herself ready to do something just for her – So with her husband and family’s support, here we are.

“It is a privilege to work with a company that focuses on fun and friendships. After putting others first for so many years I totally embrace the Broad Horizons motto, ‘Ladies, this time it’s your turn.’ I feel it’s finally time that I start taking care of myself and doing things that I’m passionate about – among them, travel, my family and helping other women realize that it’s their turn too!”

Gloria Olson - Regina, SK

2007-09-21T15:08:00.000-07:00

Certified travel counsellor, Gloria Olson, is one of the latest editions to the Broad Horizons team and will be spreading the word about the benefits of female-focused travel across central/western Canada.

Based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Gloria runs her own full service travel agency (Travel Professionals International) and has been working in the travel industry for over seven years. However, her passion for travel has been present her whole life.

In addition to her ample travel industry experience, Gloria is also a perfect fit for Broad Horizons because she understands the varied reasons why women choose to travel alone. Among them, one of her own reasons:

‘My husband thinks that one trip a year is enough, while my dream is to someday travel more days than I work!’

Living in Saskatchewan, most of her travels have taken her to warm, winter sun-spots to escape the cold winter months. She lists Mexico, Dominican Republic and Jamaica among her favourite hotspots and looks forward to her annual girls-only Las Vegas shopping trip, every year.

Gloria is excited at the prospect of starting a Broad Horizons chapter in central/western Canada and is looking forward to helping women experience the thrill of what the world has to offer!

Susan Vincent - Saskatoon, SK

2007-09-21T15:06:00.000-07:00

Nicknamed the ‘gypsy’ by her friends and family for her fervent wanderlust, Susan Vincent has been working in the travel industry for over 12 years.

Born in Winnipeg, Susan also lived in Vancouver and Calgary before making Saskatoon her home, where she lives with her husband and two young children.

She decided to enter the travel industry for the purest of reasons: The sheer love of travel and exploration. Before joining Broad Horizons, Susan worked as a customer service agent for charter airlines such as Air Transat and Canada 3000. She also worked as a branch manager for Thomas Cook Travel.

After taking some time off to have her children, Susan found herself missing the travel industry and decided to start her own travel agency (www.jetaways.ca). With several travel designations under her belt (Norwegian Cruise Lines Specialist, Sandals & Beaches Specialist, Disney Specialist) Susan knows the importance of being an expert in her field and has teamed up with Broad Horizons to bring the very best in female-friendly travel to the women of Saskatchewan.

When asked about her dream holidays, Susan listed an African safari, a visit to Uganda to see the gorillas, a chilled-out beach holiday in the South Pacific and an around the world cruise – So don’t be surprised if you see these on a future Broad Horizons trip line-up!

Wendy Lawlor - East Gwillimbury (York Region), ON

2007-09-21T15:03:00.000-07:00

Based in East Gwillimbury, Ontario, Certified Travel Counsellor Wendy Lawlor, is one of the latest additions to the Broad Horizons team and will be spreading the word about the benefits of women’s travel in the York Region.

With over eight years of industry experience, Wendy has developed a strong reputation for offering her clients superb travel advice, inspiring holiday ideas and excellent service. Her amazing experience and passion for travel made her a natural choice to represent Broad Horizons in York Region and we are delighted to welcome her aboard!

Everyone involved with Broad Horizons – from our team to our members – shares a commitment to lifelong learning and Wendy is no different. Although she has several years of travel experience, she continues to look for new learning opportunities. Among other designations, Wendy is a Shamrock Specialist, certified by the Irish Tourist Board; a Hawaii Destination Specialist; a Marriott Hotel Excellence Specialist; a Disney Specialist; and a Master Agent for Secrets, Dreams and Sunscape Resorts and Spas.

Prior to joining the travel industry, Wendy was in corporate accounting for thirteen years. Needless to say her attention to detail is second to none! Her favourite destinations include the Mayan Riviera in Mexico and Barbados – Tropical destinations that take her away from the cold Canadian winters. She also lists Australia, Greece and a European cruise as dream destinations she hasn’t gotten around to yet.

Wendy says: “Travelling with like-minded people is what makes Broad Horizons so special. With Broad Horizons, you never have to miss out on an opportunity to travel just because you can’t find someone to go with this time. How empowering!”

Michelle Hayward - Halifax/Bridgewater, NS

2007-09-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

Michelle is based in Bridgewater, located on the beautiful south shore of Nova Scotia. As a mother of four and currently the sole female in her household, Michelle understands the importance of female bonding and companionship.

Michelle has a strong belief in the value of life-long learning and shares our passion for travel. To ensure that all Broad Horizons members have the same opportunities, chapters are being set up across the country with Michelle’s chapter being the first in Nova Scotia.

A seasoned travel consultant, prior to setting up her own full-service travel agency (Hayward’s Travel TPI, a division of Travel Professionals International), Michelle spent several years as the executive director of a provincial sport organization and was also a French tutor. Michelle’s passions include her family, travel, history, badminton and anything French.

Michelle is really looking forward to sharing the Broad Horizons experience with ladies on the east coast!

Angela Randell – Chezzetcook, NS (Eastern Shore)

2007-09-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

Angela is based in Chezzetcook, located on the peaceful Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia. Born in British Columbia and raised between North Vancouver, British Columbia; Mississauga, Ontario; and Burgeo, Newfoundland, she has been traveling most of her life...Loving every minute of it!

After high school Angela studied Travel and Tourism, followed by an amazing career as a flight attendant from 1996 until 2002. She then worked with and managed a travel agency until the birth of her handsome son in 2004.

In 2005 she teamed up with Travel Professionals International (TPI), opened her own travel agency, Randell Travel, and has never looked back:

“The world has so much to offer. Having travelled to so many places, it’s difficult to choose my favourite destination or best travel experience. Every destination holds so much wonder and I am truly in awe over the splendours of the world around us. From your own backyard to the depths of the Amazon, each person passing through will see and experience something uniquely different.”

"When I first learned of the Broad Horizons family I thought, ‘Wow! What an amazing concept!’ My passion is travel and my goal is to help all women see the world and drink it in with the same love as I do. I have a young, energetic, talkative, outgoing personality and am honest and hardworking – hard playing as well! I cannot wait to start our journey together. So pack your bags and fasten your seatbelts, ladies…this flight is ready for take off!”

Upcoming Trips & Fe-Mail

2007-09-11T17:03:00.000-07:00

Hi ladies,

Hope you're all well!

Just a quick note to let you know that the next issue of Fe-mail will be sent out at the beginning of next week and will be our biggest issue yet! Inside, we'll reveal the full details of the 2008 trip line-up, information about our new custom group program (including how you can earn free travel!), as well as a 'French cheat-sheet' for those of you who are joining us on our Flavours of France tour in October!

If you've ever been to France in the past - or if you have your heart set on going in the future, you'll want to check out this two page write-up by Meredith's former flat-mate, Parisian journalist, Marie Hallard.

As well, the next issue of Fe-mail will fill you in on everything that's new at Broad Horizons! It's been a busy few months for the team and we have so much to share!

If you haven't signed-up as a BH member, you won't receive this exciting issue! Don't delay...visit our website and sign up today! http://www.broadhorizonsnetwork.com/

Speak to you all soon!

Welcome to the Broad Horizons Blog!

2007-08-27T08:48:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies!

Over the last few months, we've been looking for new ways of keeping our website fresh while also creating a forum for our members to comment on key issues, provide feedback to questions and generally just voice their opinions.

Our solution? The Broad Horizons Blog. By visiting our website (www.broadhorizonsnetwork.com) and clicking on the 'News' section, you will automatically be transported here - to the Broad Horizons Blog - which will be updated regularly with news that is relevant to you, our members. We'll post pictures, articles and questions from our head office team, as well as from our chapter leaders and regional representives.

Three of our primary goals at Broad Horizons are to consistently deliver innovative trips based on member feedback, to create opportunities for you to get involved with our team and other members and to keep you up-to-date on relevant news. We hope that the Broad Horizons Blog will help us do just that.

As with anything, the Broad Horizons Blog is only what you make of it. So, we encourage you to check-in regularly and invite you to get involved by posting comments of your own.

Until next time...