20,000 HOLES IN ONE Walking onto an ice covered lake for this California born and reared Saturday morning golfer was a new and somewhat scary experience.  Fortunately, I was somewhat familiar with my surroundings because the day before I had been given a preview of the lake and the tournament area by local fishing guide, Walleye Dan.

SWEDEN IS FOR THE BIRDS Many European birdwatchers may have heard of Falsterbo, a migration hot spot situated at the southern tip of Sweden . It was once a fashionable place to travel to for European birdwatchers in the 1970s. As the birding world became more accessible and long-haul destinations began to appeal more, little gems like Falsterbo became less fashionable.

WILDERNESS WONDERS IN ALASKA The Denali National Park and Preserve is a six-million-acre wilderness habitat for over 160 species of birds and 40-plus species of mammals, the most famous of which are Alaska’s “Big Five” – caribou, Dall sheep, grizzly bear, moose and wolf.

GO WILD IN EUFAULA Think of it as wet, wild and wonderful. By its proper name, it’s the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge, an inviting expanse of 11,184 acres that straddles the banks of the Chattahoochee River in southeast Alabama and southwest Georgia.

NAMIBIA'S PRIMEVAL TREASURES It had been almost six years since I first visited Namibia in 1995 during the wet season of summer. Large mammals had attendant young and the European migrant birds were moulting prior to journeying to northern breeding grounds. This time I travelled with Chris Hines, Namibia's best bird and wildlife guide.

GENTLE GIANTS OF THE GALAPAGOS Between the 17th and 19th century the gentle giants were ruthlessly hunted to feed whalers and their crews with the tasty meat and fat as rich as butter. Every ship's hold bulged to capacity with the tortoises that survived without food or water for as long as a year or more.

THAT BAJA FEELING This is where Searcher Natural History Tours, owned and operated by captain Art Taylor and his naturalist wife, Celia Condit, annually host visitors on eight, nine, 11 or 12-day whalewatching and wildlife expeditions.

ISRAEL IS FOR THE BIRDS Northern Israel presents the best autumn birding in Europe and a result of this recce; I was able to check that the Palestinian attacks were suitably contained in non-birding areas. This ruled out the Mount Hermon specialities, but Syrian Serin and Sombre Tit are hardly high on most birdwatchers' wants list.

SPECTACULAR TREASURES OF THE PYRENEES The Pyrenees Mountains form an impressive and beautiful rugged border between France and Spain. Several peaks easily cross the 3,000m threshold and small patches of snow remain on the highest ground all year.

VIRGINIA IS FOR LLAMAS At the Applewood Inn in Lexington, Va., about 2 1/2 hours from Washington, DC, Linda Best and husband Chris offer two-hour midmorning llama treks along several different routes through the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. Llama trekking--which is basically hiking accompanied by llamas, which are used as pack animals--is far more common out west but gaining in popularity here.

BRITAIN'S SECRET WILDLIFE Britain has long been a popular destination for travellers, but like so many countries its inhabitants promote what they think tourists want to see. Pick up any brochure and you will see Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and Stonehenge.

ESTONIA - THE BALTIC'S BEST BIRDING Of these, Estonia is the most northerly and a mere 20-minute flight across the Gulf of Finland, with whom it has many affinities. On a main migration flyway, beside the Baltic Sea, Estonia is the place to be, if you are a lister. In recent years, the European record for seeing the most species in a 24-hour period has been smashed - in Estonia.

THE GOONEY BIRDS OF MIDWAY ATOLL The comical antics of wobble-footed, funny-faced albatross's or 'Gooney birds' may be familiar to the avid natural history program watcher on television, but few people could name the home of these entertainers let alone its location.

THE EXPLORER'S BUG IS A HIT IN PERU I have ridden the typical Euro birder train and mused about the great journeys of the ancients such as Pallas, Seebohm and Blyth, but hardly envisaged myself on an ornithological expedition in Peru.

TUNDRA BIRD TALES A birding paradise in the Arctic Circle can cause quite a stir for those unfamiliar with the beauty that surrounds the frozen north. This is especially true for some of us who live where scarce migrants only visit en route to or from their northern breeding grounds and are rarely seen in full breeding dress.

NATURE'S BEST SIDE OF RIO Rio is full of surprises, beautiful surprises. Besides the carefree, fun-loving Cariocas (Rio's residents), nature has bestowed a great honor on this corner of South America with an overflow of natural attributes that are as mesmerizing as the scenery that unfolds throughout the city.

PUERTO RICO COMES NATURALLY ENDOWED Puerto Rico is an island brimming with natural treasures. The landscape seems singularly untouched, although generously open to observation and inquiry.

MINNEWASKA STATE PARK - A CENTURY OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS New Paltz, N.Y. A state park with more than a view? That's Minnewaska, crowned with quartzite conglomerate bedrock. Little did I envisage that a picnic would materialize into a lesson on the park's rare geological and ecological features and a chance meeting with a happy couple and their wedding party.

South Africa - Spellbound by Nature and Animals It's a cliché come true: touring South Africa is the holiday of a lifetime. Especially if you like wine and wild animals.

Beausoleil Island, Yours To Explore -   Once you're up in Honey Harbour the peace and tranquility transforms the way you feel and think and even move. Personally, I see it as reconnecting with nature, so I am doubly elated to join the Delawana boat ride to Beausoleil Island for a day's outing.

Georgias's Natural Beauty - Callaway Gardens  - Not everyone who finds a rare flower (the Prunifolia azalea) can indulge in their passion for beauty in their gardens spread throughout a 14,000-acre property. But thanks to the legacy of love for azaleas left by Cason Callaway and his wife Virginia, every one of the millions of visitors to Callaway Gardens are more than welcome to enjoy the blooming flowers, native to certain parts of the west-central region of Georgia.

Going My Way at the Beaches of South Walton  -And loving every minute of it! - The water sparkles like sapphires and emeralds, the deep blue-green hue cast by those precious stones. The lily white sand sits resplendent in all its glory as the gentle waves roll idly by, and I can still feel the gentle sea breezes caressing my face after an early morning walk. This is The Beaches of South Walton.

Muskoka By Nature - It's all in the stars. And according to Robin Tapley, 37, resident Muskoka naturalist for ClubLink Resorts Nature Trails Eco-Adventure program, everyone's a winner especially when it's an Astronomy Night "Tour The Night Sky"session at the Grandview Inn. Stargazing is no longer just for lovers looking into each other's eyes, although not many of us will envy each other for this indulgence.

Up and Away in Costa Rica's Rainforests - I felt like an eagle soaring high above the rainforests of Costa Rica, but while his quest would be his next prey or a treetop for landing, I would be content with viewing the vista through my eyes and my camera lens at the flora and fauna that makes this area a nature lover's paradise.

Running With Wolves - Located two hours from Toronto, this 15-acre habitat offer visitors a rare glimpse at Grey Timber Wolves, common natives to Canada's northern communities, but an endangered species in the United States.

Oh those Cuddly Koalas - a 'hands-on' Australian experience with wildlife