The Explorer Travel Club

The Explorer Travel Club offers travel opportunities that support the Museum's mission. Each of these unique adventures is led by a Museum curator or educator, whose professional expertise will enhance your travel experience.

The Museum participates in Cleveland Partners in Travel, a collaborative effort to promote the travel opportunities offered by the Explorer Travel Club and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

For More Information

All trips subject to change. Call for the most up-to-date information available. Contact Bob Bartolotta at (216) 231-4600, ext. 3254, or email rbartolo@cmnh.org.

Travel Opportunities with the Explorer Travel Club

Coastal Shore Bird Migration, Plymouth Beach

Thurs, July 29 to Mon, Aug 2, 2010
Cost is $650 per person double occupancy and includes Museum van transportation, accommodations and some meals, admission fees.

Shore birds by the thousands stage and migrate along coastal Massachusetts. This is also breeding habitat for Piping Plover and Roseate Tern. Learn about the work of the Goldenrod Foundation and Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, all near historic Plymouth Rock and Plimoth Plantation.

Limit 8. Price does not include cost of dinners and optional whale watch.

The Wilds – Exploration of a Restoration Success Story

Thur, Aug 12, 2010; 8 am to Fri, Aug 13; 8 pm

Members (Single Room) $200 (Double Room) $150; nonmembers (Single Room) $225 (Double Room) $200. Price includes one night stay at The Lodge at the Wild and travel by Museum van. Meals not included.

If you haven’t seen the awesome globally-endangered animals, expansive prairies, soaring raptors, diminutive songbirds, and beautiful butterflies, then this is the trip for YOU! Our stay will include a night in the lodge overlooking a beautiful lake at The Wilds. Bring your cameras, binoculars and safari attire and join the fun! Limit 8.

Wildlife of the Pantanal: A Journey to Brazil’s Wetland Jewel

Sixteen days from August 29 – September 13, 2010 with optional 8-Day Extension to
Bird the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforests

$7,394 per person double occupancy INCLUDING airfare.
Optional 8-day extension is $8,962. $1,000 due at time of registration.
1/2 of total cost due by April 24, 2010.

The Pantanal is the largest wetland in the world and is home to the greatest wildlife concentrations on the South American continent. The wide open spaces of the Pantanal provide excellent wildlife viewing. Expect to see huge numbers of caiman and waterbirds herds of capybara, small groups of marsh deer and anacondas. With luck we could see giant anteater, giant river otter, tapir, maned wolf, ocelot and even the elusive jaguar. The birdlife is no less spectacular including flightless rheas, giant jabiru storks, colorful toco toucans and, the symbol of the Pantanal, the endangered hyacinth macaw. We will visit both the northern and southern portions of the Pantanal during our trip in order to maximize our chances of seeing the greatest diversity of wildlife. We also offer an exciting and bird-filled post-trip extension to Cristalino Lodge in the Southern Amazon. Limit: 16.

Hike the Red River Gorge

Sat, Sept 4, 2010; 11 am to Mon, Sept 6; 5 pm

Members: $100; nonmembers: $120

Join us on a Labor Day weekend camping trip to the River Gorge in the Daniel Boone National Forest of Kentucky. We will drive down to Kentucky on Saturday, set up camp, and enjoy and evening beside the camp fire. Sunday we will hike the 10.6 mile Chimney loop trail, which is listed on Backpacker Magazine's top 100 day hikes. Hikers will experience spectacular views of the gorge as well as get up close and personal with 300 million years of geological history including some of the only natural bridges in the eastern United States. We will head back to Cleveland on Monday. Fee includes transportation from Cleveland, tent camping, and all meals from Dinner on Saturday through lunch on Monday. Limit 10.

Equinox Weekend Adventure

Fri, Sept 24 at 4 pm to Sun, Sept 26 afternoon.

Members: $70; nonmembers: $80

Change is in the air. The dog days of summer are ending and the "tween" season of cooler mornings and mild days are upon us. Spend the weekend immersed in nature exploring Conneaut Creek waterfalls, hemlock forests, swamps and sand dunes at several Museum Natural Areas. Other activities include guided morning bird walks, night hikes, campfire and stargazing. You’ll spend two nights in cabins at Camp Calvary along the shores of Lake Erie in Ashtabula County. Meals are provided starting with Saturday breakfast thru Sunday, lunch. Limit 20.

Sandhill Crane Migration/Indiana Dunes

Thurs, Nov 18 at 8 am to Sat, Nov 20 at 8 pm

Members: $300 (double)/ $350 (single); nonmembers: $375 (double)/$450/single

Join us in experiencing the spectacular views of the gathering of immense numbers of Sandhill Cranes at the Jasper-Pulaski Preserve. Views of the flight, feeding, communication and sometimes awkward landing patterns are certain to delight all who attend. After the Cranes, we’ll travel north to visit Indiana Dunes. Price includes round trip travel via Museum van from Cleveland to Valparaiso, IN and Indiana Dunes, plus two nights' stay at the Courtyard by Marriott in Valparaiso. Meals not included. Travel time to Valparaiso is approximately 5 hours. Limit 16.

Gulls & Waterfowl along the Niagara Frontier

Thurs, Dec 16 at 8 am to Fri, Dec 17 at 9 pm

Members: $155 (double)/ $185 (single); nonmembers: $200 (double)/$225/single.

Come enjoy the last vestiges of autumn hanging on with the chance to see great waterfowl along the Niagara River. Plan to stay in Fort Erie, Ontario. The butterfly conservatory will also be open for a visit. NOTE: This trip will be in CANADA, so you must bring your passport. Price includes round trip travel via Museum van from Cleveland to Fort Erie, Ontario, plus one night’s stay at the Comfort Inn Fort Erie. Meals not included. Travel time to Fort Erie is approximately 3.5 hours. Limit 16.

Also see Adult Field Trips for more travel opportunities.