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The People Who Know Adventure Best

We know adventure because we live it. Guess what we do with our vacation time? That's right, we travel. And in preparing you for your ideal adventure, Adventure Center consultants draw upon personal experiences as well as videos, pre-departure booklets and recommended reading lists.

A wealth of experience

Together, we've been to over 115 countries. We encourage you to read a bit out us and reach out to us - tap our knowledge!

The Adventure Travel Specialists

	Vivian Wong - Adventure Specialist - Vivian joined Adventure Center in 2005 after discovering the joy of independent travel. Her favorite place is Southern America. She loves fabulous scenery, friendly people and animals (penguins, whales, seals, and more). She enjoys hiking around waterfalls and scenic trails, finishing the day with a delicious hearty meal. Future Travel Plans: Trekking to Everest Base Camp. Can't Travel Without: MP3 Player loaded with songs that would last for hours, best gear for killing time in air transit (flight delays, stopovers, airport strikes, etc). Favorite Trip: Cusco & The Inca Trail

	Vicky Papa - Adventure Specialist - Vicky has been with Adventure Center for over 6 years. She enjoy travelling, belly dancing, scuba diving, wildlife and photography. Vicky has travelled to over 35 countries. Future Travel Plans: Dog sledding in Sweden. Can't Travel Without: Sarong, camera, notebook/pen, wet wipes. Favorite Trip: La Ruta Maya

	Carmel Moore - Adventure Specialist - Carmel has been working at Adventure Center since 2003. In her spare time she loves swimming, cycling, hiking, boogie boarding, reading and travel. Her favorite place in the world is Antarctica, where she would really love to go back and spend more time exploring the area. Future Travel Plans: Africa, either Madagascar or West Africa. Can't Travel Without: Camera. Favorite Trip: Spitsbergen, East Greenland & Iceland

	Ben McFadden - Adventure Specialist - Ben first traveled overseas in high school to play soccer in Belgium and immediately the desire to travel took hold. When the opportunity to study abroad in London came up in college Ben seized it, spending every available weekend traveling throughout Europe. All of this traveling gave Ben the desire to work in tourism. He got a job working at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills and after two years, Ben embarked on a yearlong adventure around the world spanning 6 continents and 23 countries. He finally stopped to live in Sydney, Australia for a while before departing back to the US. Upon his return he moved from his native California to Chicago. Future Travel Plans: East Africa. Can't Travel Without: Camera, power converter, quick dry towel, ipod, combination lock for luggage, sunglasses. Favorite Trip: Thailand in Depth

	Risa King - Adventure Specialist - Risa has worked at Adventure Center for 17 years. She enjoys yoga, reading, and sampling unusual food. In her spare time she often shops at her favorite dollar store while searching out all meanings of life. Last year while in the Galapagos she discovered an unknown species soon to published in "Darwin's Secret Memoirs." You might find her dusting and cataloguing her ancient collection of rare menorahs. Future Travel Plans: Bring Buddhist sand mandelas to the the Namib Desert. Can't Travel Without: Swiss army knife with tiny scissors, Supersoft nose-blowing handkerchief, Dust mask cloth bandana. Favorite Trip: Discover Sri Lanka

Administration and Operations

	Dallyce Macas - President & CEO, Adventure Distribution - North America - Dallyce joined sister company Trek Escapes in 2008 to continue the legacy of Canada's first adventure travel company. In 2009 Dallyce undertook the exciting task of integrating Trek Escapes, iExplore and Adventure Center under a single administration. Dallyce brings years of industry experience to Adventure Center including running her own travel concierge company and working with of a variety of global travel organizations. Dallyce has considerable travel experience and most importantly a passion for adventure. Travel is in her blood and some of the regions travelled to include the UAE, the Arctic, Iceland, Europe and the South Pacific. Her passions include hiking, heli-skiing and cycling. Future Travel Plans: Cycling in France Can't Travel Without: Her Blackberry Favorite Trip: Pedalling Through Provence

	Anne Fearnehough - Operations Manager - Anne is the newest member of the Adventure Center team. Anne enjoys teaching Pilates, ballet dancing and learning about different cultures in her spare time. Her favorite holidays are on the beach or in the water snorkeling with the fish. Anne also loves camping, hiking and exploring California's mountains, forests and coastlines. Future Travel Plans: Japan, Thailand, Egypt Can't Travel Without: Sarong, parasol, sunscreen, camera & iPod. Favorite Trip: Highlights of Morocco

	Alan Abonyi - Marketing Manager - Alan got his start in travel at a very early age, spending most of his childhood living in Europe and the Middle East. Having worked for the airlines for several years, Alan celebrates his 22nd anniversary with the company in 2010. His travels have taken him to 70 countries world-wide, but bush-camping in Africa remains one of his top experiences. Alan's latest hobby is scuba diving. Certified in the chilly waters of Monterey Bay, Alan now prefers the tropical waters of the South Pacific. Future Travel Plans: Diving in South Africa and Mozambique. Can't Travel Without: Cameras for both above and below the water, and my inflatable travel pillow. Favorite Trip: Galapagos Islands Cruise

	Stefan Conde - Sales & Operations Assistant - Stefan is one of the newer employees at Adventure Center having started in June of 2006. He highly recommends a visit to Palawan in the Philippines where you can find your own private white sand beach. Stefan studies capoeira, an Afro/Brazilian martial art, and enjoys hiking, getting lost on the California coast, playing video games and as you can see from his picture, DOMINATING 80's dance contests! All challengers are welcome. Future Travel Plans: Include Tibet, Nepal, Jordan and India. Can't Travel Without: A comfortable pair of slippers, extra socks (because wet socks are the most uncomfortable thing in the world), a camera, and a good travel companion whom I won’t want to kill after a month of travel. Favorite Trip: Cairo to Istanbul

	Kasia McCarthy - Senior Operations Specialist - Kasia, which is short for Katarzyna, originally hails from Poland. She joined Adventure Center in 2004. She came to California via Mexico after she went on an adventure camping trip and met her future husband. Among Kasia's favorite travel moments were a sunrise at the Mayan ruins of Calakmul, a train trip across the hinterlands of Russia, and celebrating the New Year at Copacabana. Future Travel Plans:: A trip to Vietnam to explore the rich culinary tradition and a voyage to Antarctica aboard a Russian frigate. Can't Travel Without:: Travel diary. Favorite Trip: Backroads of Botswana

	Christine Supawit - Customer Relations - Christine joined Adventure Center in 2000. Her favorite place to travel is Asia, where she enjoys the varied cultures, friendly people and delicious food. One of her favorite activities when traveling is exploring ruins of exotic temples. Future Travel Plans: Asia, where she enjoys the varied cultures, friendly people and delicious food. Can't Travel Without: Sarong, can be a sheet, towel, emergency cover-up. Favorite Trip: Burma - The Golden Land