Bay Area & S. Florida WanderLusts: Local Adventures & Beyond

December 8 - December 18, 2025

Travel experts at PhotoFly Travel Club (www.photoflytravel.com) are happy to present a trip to the Pacific's up and coming destination - the Philippines! Sometimes overlooked by brand-name destinations, this archipelago has all the magic and beauty with far fewer tourists.

More info and register here: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/philippines-small-group-tours/

Email us at joinus@photoflytravel.com to get the daily itinerary and more details!

Island of Luzon - Manila (1 night)
Welcome to the capital city of Philippines! Relax after a long journey or arrive a day early to join others for an optional activity
- Discover Old Manila (optional): Discover colonial charm at Plaza Roma, the Manila Cathedral, and the UNESCO-listed San Agustin Church, before stepping into 19th-century Filipino life at Casa Manila. End our day amidst the serene beauty of Baluarte de San Diego Gardens.

Coron - 3 nights
After the included domestic flight, Coron dazzles with its otherworldly limestone karsts, emerald lagoons, and some of the best wreck diving on the planet. Explore Kayangan Lake, a stunningly clear, jungle-fringed oasis. Snorkelers and divers can weave through vibrant coral gardens and eerie WWII shipwrecks while island-hopping unveils powdery white beaches and hidden coves.

• Coron Islands Snorkel - take a boat to multiple beaches around the tiny islands for snorkeling and swimming
• Free time to relax and enjoy amenities at a luxury resort
• Highlights of Coron Town (optional) - visit a rare saltwater hot spring, stroll the seaside promenade, visit local markets, visit historical buildings, and more!
• Snorkel with dugongs (optional) - similar to a manatee, Set off on a snorkeling adventure where you have a rare chance to swim alongside dugongs in their natural habitat

El Nido - 3 nights
El Nido stuns with its towering limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, and powdery white beaches straight out of a dream. Kayak through lagoons, where emerald waters weave between dramatic rock formations and snorkel in the vibrant coral gardens surrounding this paradise.

• Ultimate Island Hopping - glide through the electric-blue waters of Bacuit Bay aboard a traditional bangka boat, stopping first at the awe-inspiring Big Lagoon, where limestone cliffs tower over tranquil waters ideal for kayaking. Nearby, the Secret Lagoon rewards intrepid explorers with its secluded beauty, accessed through a narrow crevice in the rocks. Dive into snorkeling hotspots like Shimizu Island, teeming with hundreds of fish species and unwind on the powdery sands of 7 Commando Beach
• Relax at the resort - amenities include pools, spa treatments, sunset cocktails, and ultimate comfort

Bohol - 3 nights
Bohol dazzles with its surreal landscapes. View the Chocolate Hills—hundreds of limestone mounds turning cocoa brown in the dry season. Cruise down the jade-green Loboc River, where floating restaurants serve local flavors to a soundtrack of live music. Encounter the wide-eyed tarsiers, one of the world’s tiniest primates. Coastal gems lure with powder-white sands and world-class snorkeling. End the day with a sunset stroll along Alona Beach’s palm-fringed shores and call it a wrap!

• Amazing Countryside - Bohol’s countryside packs centuries of history, natural beauty, and cultural charm into a single-day adventure. Stand at the Blood Compact Shrine, marking the first treaty between Spain and the Philippines, before stepping inside the centuries-old Baclayon Church and museum. Wander through the serene Loboc-Bilar man-made forest, a lush green tunnel of mahogany trees, then marvel at the iconic Chocolate Hills—Bohol’s most famous sight. Get up close with the elusive tarsier, one of the world’s tiniest primates before capping off our journey with a serene Loboc River cruise
• Dolphin Watching (optional) - Set sail on a once-in-a-lifetime island-hopping adventure, starting with an early morning dolphin-watching experience as these playful creatures glide through Bohol’s crystal-clear waters. Dive into Balicasag Island’s vibrant underwater world, where sea turtles drift gracefully over stunning coral gardens before stepping onto the breathtaking sandbar of Virgin Island, a dreamy stretch of white sand surrounded by endless turquoise seas.

Additional information:

• 10 N/11 D throughout Philippines
• Boutique hotels and luxury resorts
• Breakfast daily
• 3 Lunches, 2 Dinners
• All transfers & taxes included
• Inter-island airfare included ($500+ value!)
• International airfare is not included
• Email us to see daily itinerary at joinus@photoflytravel.com

Join Us!

For solo travelers, you can be paired up with someone of the same gender unless single occupancy is requested.

Price: $3,295
Single Supplement: $895

More info: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/philippines-small-group-tours/

December 8th - December 16th, 2025

Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club (www.photoflytravel.com) have invited us on another epic adventure.

Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/costa-rica-all-inclusive-group-tours/

Expect a masterfully planned tropical adventure which is always a blast. New, exciting twists and turns each year throughout the wonders of Costa Rica!

Check out the highlights below and email us for the full daily itinerary at joinus@photoflytravel.com

8 nights/ 9 day Adventure Tour

• Breakfast every day
• 7 lunches, 7 dinners (all meals included)
• Private guide & driver - local professionals with years of experience and qualifications
• Unique hotels and lodges

Included Activities
- Coffee! Doka Estate Coffee plantation is not only beautiful with amazing coffee, we’ll also learn about the production, the harvesting, the processing and the roasting of the grain. A fascinating visit whether you like the world’s most consumed beverage or not.

- Pierella Butterfly & Ecological Gardens - Located in the Sarapiquí lowlands, this family-run garden was established 20 years ago as a project to breed butterflies for export. Over time, it has been transformed into an area of 5 hectares changing from a simple butterfly nursery to a true ecological garden that now hosts a great diversity of environments and wildlife to explore. Join our naturalist guide and experience Pierella’s great birding trails with amazing photo opportunities and wildlife everywhere we look!

- Vida Campesina Farm - An organic farm lets us see real life in the Costa Rican countryside with a farming family.

- Arenal Volcano National Park Guided Lava flow hike - Lava rocks and occasional eruptions, this volcano is surrounded by lush rainforest and second growth that cover the old lava flows and river sides.

- Llanos de Cortez Falls - Considered one of the best waterfalls in the country! Great swimming by the falls no to mention amazing photographs.

- Optional Early Morning Bird Watching - There are dozens of endemic species and for bird lovers, it may be possible to arrange guided walks to find these treasures in the rainforest.

- Wetlands Boat Tour Floating safari - Variety of resident and migratory birds plus three different species of monkeys, iguanas, sloths, turtles and caimans.

- Rincon de la Vieja National Park - Famous for its abundant volcanic activity, we’ll explore Las Pailas Trail within the National Park, not only for the volcano, but plenty of wildlife to photograph within an impressive tropical forest.

- Hacienda Guachipelín - Positioned at the foot of the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, adventure beckons at this boutique resort. Thrilling experiences include swinging like Tarzan on the many cables and ropes of the Canyon Canopy Tour, or cruise down the rapids of Rio Negro on a Tubing Adventure (optional). Relax your weary muscles in natural volcanic thermal springs or spectacular waterfall pools.

- Relax at one of best beaches in Costa Rica, Hermosa Beach - We’ll finish the adventure at this pristine, world renowned beach! The taupe sand beach is bathed by clear waters and some great waves (if the conditions are right). Many water sports can be enjoyed including fishing, swimming, windsurfing, and others.

• All taxes, fees, transfers included (excludes airport departure tax)
• International airfare not included

Email us to see daily itinerary at joinus@photoflytravel.com

Join Us!

For our solo travelers, we will pair you up with someone of the same sex unless single occupancy is requested.

Price: $3,095
Single Supplement: $895

Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/costa-rica-all-inclusive-group-tours/

Christopher Sergel’s play is a faithful adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s coming-of-age-novel about rival teenage gangs in 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Greasers come from troubled working-class backgrounds, contrasted with the Socials, whose members are from upper-middle-class families. Like the novel, the play centers on 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, a member of the Greasers gang, as he recounts the violent aftermath after his friend Johnny fatally stabbed Socials member Bob. This adaptation places much of the violence off-stage and minimizes the strong language and mature content of the novel and movie, making it a fitting choice for high school productions. The characters are crafted with compassion and nuance, offering opportunities for rich character study and conversations about violence and social status.

You may not realize it, but part of the reason "The Outsiders" feels so authentic is because the novel it's based on was, in turn, based on real-world events. S.E. Hinton started writing the book when she was just 15 years old, seeing it published just a few years later. Given that knowledge, it's hardly surprising that the youthful exuberance is so damned believable in both the novel and the film. As for the relentless tension between the "Socs" and "Greasers," Hinton took her inspiration from watching interactions between rival teen gangs in her own town whose hatred for one another was so combustible they entered the school building by separate entrances to avoid daily tussles (via MentalFloss).

Though Hinton's novel wisely refrains from outright demonizing either gang, "The Outsiders" is told from the point-of-view of a "Greaser," leading one to naturally align with that particular faction. Seems that choice was very much by design as the author revealed in an interview published by The Outsiders Fan Club she mostly hung out with the "Greasers" in her high school days, "Ponyboy's gang was inspired by a true-life gang, the members of which were very dear to me." In turn, Hinton's affection for those living life on the wrong side of the economic divide not only helped inform one of the best-loved young adult novels in history, but a true classic of '80s cinema to boot.

FYI - In our season kick off, they always offer us a group dinner, plus they give us a swag bag with memorabilia from some of the shows. In this swag bag, we received the book, THE OUTSIDERS. I am not a big reader, unless it is an audio book, but i will read this book. I started it this morning and I am on about page 5, it gripped me. If you are a reader and are going to this show, i will pass this book on to someone, i will have a drawing, so if you want to be included in this drawing, send me a text (8133809233) or an email (sbbroadway@aol.com) - i also received a journal from Hell's Kitchen - I will put anything related to the 25/26 season in that journal, i do not have the photogenetic brain some people think i have. Other items in that swag bag - THE WIZ pins (4 of them), Kimberly Akimbo magnet, stereophonic pin (perfect for me cause it is an S, an elephant keychain, and a notebook keychain (the key to my heart) and i especially love my AND JULIET TOTEBAG, and a water canister from HELLS KITCHEN.

So don't hold back on this show. It is very rare a book will grab me on page 5, considering i like to use my ears for reading a book and not my eyes.

https://youtu.be/ViqjwH99OgQ?si=I5s91jVtQKkHtchC