Happy Friday! This is Adventure Fix, the weekly email for people who like to wander off the trail.

Let’s take a peek at today’s lineup:

• Adventure Cruising: A voyage through the San Juan Islands

• Films: Spitting Distance

• Wildlife Encounters: Diving with leopard seals in Antarctica

• Botanical Expeditions: Observe the largest carnivorous plants in the world

A voyage through the San Juan Islands

Embarking on a six-day cruise through Washington’s San Juan Islands is a voyage into a world of natural beauty and incredible wildlife experiences.

The journey begins in Bellingham, where a small yacht awaits, designed to carry only a handful of passengers—eight or twelve at most—ensuring an exclusive and personal experience.

This type of boat is ideal for adventure cruising because navigating in a small boat gives you access to hidden bays and coves that are off-limits to larger vessels.

As the yacht sets sail, it charts a course across the San Juan channel, the gateway to 130 small islands that scattered the Pacific Northwest. Each island is a unique canvas of rugged cliffs, mossy beaches, and ancient forests.

Keep a lookout on deck for signs of marine life. It’s not uncommon to see humpbacks breach the surface or for a pod of orcas to slip through the water. When the boat is underway, check the bow for dolphins who love to play in the boat’s wake.

There is plenty of time for off-the-boat exploring. Glide alongside rocky cliffs in a sea kayak, and hike the mossy beaches and old-growth forests as bald eagles soak overhead.

Explore more:

• San Juan Islands Multi-day Voyage (tour)

Spitting Distance

In the heart of the South Pacific, on the remote island of Ambrym in Vanuatu, a team of intrepid explorers attempt to descend into an active volcano to get as close as possible to the spitting lava lake.

Spitting Distance chronicles their extraordinary mission to descend 1600 feet into the treacherous crater of the Benbow volcano.

The boiling lava, a molten ballet of nature's might, becomes a mesmerizing focal point, immersing viewers in a sensory experience that leaves an indelible mark.

Yet, Spitting Distance is more than an adrenaline-soaked adventure.

It peers into the lives of those who call this volatile region home, a place where daily existence is entwined with the ever-present specter of eruption.

This juxtaposition of human civilization against the backdrop of nature's unbridled force provides a stark reminder of the delicate balance we maintain with our planet's most formidable elements.

What’s even cooler is one of the stars in the film, Ulla Lohmann is an Adventure Fix subscriber.

Watch Spitting Distance for free here »

Diving with Leopard Seals in Antarctica

Seeing a playful leopard seal appear from out of the blue is the ultimate highlight of Antarctic diving.

These magnificent creatures are graceful and powerful predators that are known for their distinctive behavior towards divers.

With their sleek bodies and distinctive spotted coats, leopard seals are a mesmerizing sight as they glide effortlessly through the icy depths.

February and March mark the peak season for such encounters when leopard seals are more actively exploring the Antarctic waters. The backdrop of pristine, ice-strewn landscapes and crystal-clear waters further enhances the awe-inspiring nature of this adventure.

Explore more:

• Diving with Leopard Seals in Antarctica (article)

Observe the largest carnivorous plants in the world

Embarking on an expedition to observe the largest and most spectacular species of carnivorous Nepenthes pitcher plants in their natural habitat is a journey into a world that seems plucked from the pages of science fiction.

Venturing to the tropical islands of Borneo and Palawan, participants are greeted by a botanical wonderland where nature's creativity knows no bounds.

Nepenthes produce highly evolved leaves that form cup-shaped traps to catch insects and other animals as big as rats.

The grandeur of species like the imposing Nepenthes rajah and the awe-inspiring N. attenboroughii is matched only by the menacing presence of N. edwardsiana and N. macrophylla, each a testament to the diversity of these carnivorous giants.

Yet, the surprises do not end there. Along the way, fortunate adventurers may stumble upon the gargantuan Rafflesia, a flower so colossal it defies belief.

The expedition to observe the giant Nepenthes is an invitation to witness nature's boundless creativity and to immerse oneself in the splendor of some of the planet's most magnificent and mysterious flora.

Explore more:

• Giant Nepenthes Adventure (tour)

• Giant Nepenthes Expedition (video)

Space Tourism: Virgin Galactic’s 1st mission is taking paying customers to space.

Film: Tea with the Tuaregs.

Parenting: Nature can be as engaging as video games.

Animals: Footage that captures a rarely seen sperm whale birth, it’s beautiful.

Book: Earth Almanac - Nature’s Calander for Year Round Discovery 

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