Earth Day: Saving our Reefs from invasive Lionfish

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Apr 22, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

Is Bonaire Bucket List Worthy for Diving?

Lisa Niver diving at Salt Pier in Bonaire. Photo by Aalia Udawala

I love to SCUBA dive and learn about our seas. When I went to Bonaire for the first time in Nov 2016, I learned about the Lionfish issues and tasted my first tasty meal made from this invasive species. At VIP diving, they informed me about their Lionfish Hunting Specialty course that I could come back and take.

The Lionfish have invaded the Caribbean and they have no natural predators. They are not native to the area and they are devouring our reefs. I went to a summit at the DEMA conference in November 2018 to learn more. Here are some of the people working to solve this problem and how you can get involved.

MarthaWatkins Gilkes and Alex Fogg from Lionfish University filleting lionfish after the assessment dives

Lionfish University

We are a group dedicated to preserving our oceans’ reefs and native fish populations, which are threatened in the western Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico by the invasive lionfish. We formed this non-profit to share information and resources relating to the infestation of this invasive species.

Our goal is to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining these fragile ecosystems in the global community, and to fund efforts to mitigate the devastating effects of this invasive species.

Lionfish University recently was invited by private donors from the Mill Reef Club on Antigua to make an exploratory trip to assess the state of the marine ecosystem of the island, due to concern about declining health of their reefs. A team of five Lionfish University volunteers headed by Dr. Steve Gittings, chief scientist of the NOAA Marine Sanctuary System, completed a survey of the reefs focused on damage due to the lionfish invasion. A general stakeholders’ meeting was held to gauge the level of knowledge and possible participation on the part of fishermen, artisans, chefs, restaurants, the Fisheries Department and others. Dr. Gittings will be preparing a report of the findings and suggested control methods. If a return visit is requested the Lionfish University group may possibly teach islanders to put on a derby/festival as well as workshops in trap building, jewelry making and culling techniques, among others. The team was interviewed by a local TV station, radio station and newspaper, and did a presentation to a local community group to raise awareness about the lionfish invasion, and steps that can be taken to help restore reef health. Every individual’s effort makes a difference!

L to R Crew member, Alex Fogg, Mehgan Heaney-Grier, Dr Steve Gittings from NOAA on fishing boat off of Antigua. Alex speared 45 invasive lionfish in 20 min of bottom time while Mehgan and Dr Gittings did an assessment of reef health.

Visit St. Lucia and learn about Lionfish

At Scuba St Lucia, they approach the lionfish invasion from many different angles. They actively teach the PADI Invasive Lionfish Tracker Course. In the last 2 years they have certified 128 students in the safe and effective ways of culling Lionfish. We strongly believe in the certification process as it teaches proper buoyancy and thinking beyond the lionfish. Many untrained spear fishermen are doing damage to the reefs by aggressively spearing the lionfish causing their spear to hit the reef.

At the Anse Chastanet Resort, they have a Lionfish aquarium on property and educate divers and non-divers alike and every Tuesday there is a presentation featuring the lionfish aquarium.

Karolin Troubetzkoy from Scuba St Lucia and Lisa Niver at DEMA

They partner with the St. Lucia dive association (ANBAGLO) to participate in lionfish derbies. Scuba St. Lucia won the last derby. 1^st place for the most lionfish caught (230LBS in 4 hours), 1^st place for the largest lionfish caught and 2^nd place for the smallest lionfish caught. After the derbies we put on a cooking and educational seminar in the local town of Soufriere, St. Lucia, the locals LOVE to eat the meat.

At the Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resorts, lionfish is on the menu and there is a Gourmet Lionfish Dinner offered every Friday night. “Eat Them To Beat Them” is our Executive Chef’s Degustation menu with paired new world wines showcasing the quality and taste of this very unique fish. Whether served as sashimi, ceviche, simply grilled or stewed creole style, lionfish is always delicious.

Lionfish photo by Scuba St Lucia

For Earth Day 2019, Scuba St. Lucia will host a dive against debris and a lionfish culling day to help promote conservation of our delicate reef eco-system. Scuba St. Lucia Team members actively cull lionfish when not busy accommodating our guests. We remove at least a few hundred pounds monthly. As well we monitor for increasing or decreasing numbers of lionfish.

Save the Planet, Eat Lionfish and use the “Cook Lionfish” Cook book

Why Cook Lion fish?
Lion fish are native to the Pacific, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Unfortunately, they have found their way into the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Experts believe that the cause of the lion fish invasion is the dumping of unwanted lion fish from aquariums into the Atlantic for over 2 decades. Lion fish have no natural predators in these waters and are ferocious predators themselves, like vacuum cleaners that suck the life out of the ocean. The invasive lion fish are a very real threat to our coral reefs and ecosystems. They breed rapidly, releasing 15-20,000 eggs every 4 days and even the larvae have few predators! They eat juvenile fish and cleaners such as shrimp, that keep reef fish free from parasites. They are feeding on our key species such as juvenile parrot fish, algae and coral fight for photosynthesis. The parrot fish help keep the coral alive by feeding on the bad algae. If the algae smother the reef, the coral will die and there is no chance of recovery. It is estimated that marine plants produce between 70-80% of the oxygen that we need in order to survive. Without coral reefs, life as we know it cannot exist. The “eat em to beat em” campaign was launched by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 2010 to encourage a seafood market as a means of mitigating the species’ impact on reef communities.

In 2003, Polly Alford founded a conservation diving organization in Belize. She encountered her first lion fish in 2009 and was subsequently shocked by the rapid invasion. Her organization introduced a project to remove them, collect data and create local and national awareness.
In 2016 Polly decided to enroll her twin sister, Claire (a chef in the UK) in a project to combine their skills and write a lion fish cookbook. The objective was to write easy to follow recipes using lion fish, to create tasty dishes for home cooking.
The recipes in this book demonstrate the versatility of this fish and the good news is that lion fish is not only delicious but also high in omega 3. We wrote this book to encourage you to cook one of the most sustainable foods available whilst helping to reduce this potentially catastrophic environmental problem. Buy the book on Amazon: “Cook Lionfish” Cook book

Do you want to cull Lionfish?

Texas Lionfish Control Unit is ready to help you help the planet!

They are committed to the local control of lionfish in Texas, the Gulf of Mexico, and any waters where they have become invasive and detrimental to the ecosystem. We are aware that, at this point, eradication is not possible, but we will work towards removing as many lionfish as we can and giving native fish a chance to survive and thrive.

Join an expedition, take a training course or join an eco-trip at their primary hunting ground in Pensacola, Florida – the Lionfish Capital of the World. Pensacola is the home of the Lionfish World Championship Spearfishing Tournament.

Lionfish are an invasive species first introduced into the ocean in Florida and rapidly spread throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and South America. They are an ecological disaster. Lionfish are voracious eaters, consuming large quantities of native reef fish (30-40/hour). There are no known predators here to keep populations in check. They spawn every 3-5 days, averaging 50,000 eggs per spawn and are widely distributed by ocean currents. Lionfish indiscriminately eat ecologically and commercially important fish in an area, leaving reefs barren and dying. TLCU works with NOAA National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Texas Parks & Wildlife, Harte Research Institute, and other organizations on lionfish related education, removal, and research.

Invasive lionfish disrupt the balance of the ocean ecosystem. They unsustainably consume juvenile native fish and outcompete other predators for food sources, thus depleting the natural resources. Removal of lionfish restores the balance of the native fish community, saving the health of the coral reefs, and protecting the fragile eco-system that we depend on. As we train more divers, and increase public awareness, we increase the number of people that are removing lionfish.

Texas Lionfish control Unit Brady Hale and Lisa Niver

Want to learn more about Lionfish Derbies?

Visit Reef Environmental Education Foundation for more information. A lionfish derby is a single day competition to collect and remove as many lionfish as possible. Teams collect lionfish by netting or spearing while SCUBA diving, free diving, or snorkeling. Teams begin competing at sunrise and are required to bring their catch to the scoring station by 5:00 pm. Each fish is measured, and prizes are awarded for teams catching the most, biggest, and smallest lionfish. The public is invited to watch scoring, taste free lionfish samples, watch filleting and dissection demonstrations, and ask questions about lionfish.

Why are Derbies important?

Although invasive lionfish are widely dispersed throughout the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico, a large portion of the general public still does not know about the problem. In addition, there are many myths and much misinformation regarding the biology and ecology of lionfish. Lionfish derbies serve to educate participants and the public and raise awareness of the problem. Significant local, national, and international media coverage of derby events has helped facilitate education to those not geographically connected to the invaded range.

Since 2006, REEF has been working in close partnership with government agencies and partners throughout the region to help develop lionfish response plans, train resource managers and dive operators in effective collecting and handling techniques and conduct cutting edge research to help address the invasion. To aid in this effort, REEF currently enlists interested divers and snorkelers to join organized lionfish research and removal projects and encourages public participation in helping address the invasion.

DEMA Lionfish Update

Join a Lionfish Eco-Tour

At Coast Watch Alliance, they are bringing awareness to and actively combating invasive lionfish through community outreach and awareness, organized and systematic lionfish harvesting, and commercial market and supply infrastructure development for lionfish foodstuffs and processed products.

What if you get Stung? Information from DAN – Divers Action Network

If you are stung, remain calm. Notify the dive leader and your buddy. The priority is to safely end your dive, returning to the surface following a normal ascent rate. Do not skip any decompression obligation. Click here for first aid providers steps.

Want to build your own Traps? NOAA can help

NOAA and its partners have developed and released designs for new lionfish traps that could provide the first realistic means of controlling invasive deep-water lionfish populations and support the development of a lionfish fishery. Learn more about the lionfish traps.

The Invasive Lionfish Web Portal is a clearinghouse for all vetted invasive lionfish information and serves as a platform to promote discussion and inquiry. The authors of the Web Portal, which include U.S. federal employees, non-profit managers, research scientists, state biologists, professors, and Ph.D. students, bring a wealth of knowledge and experience on the lionfish invasion.

DEMA SUMMIT 2018:

Join esteemed panelists to discuss the latest invasive lionfish issues, including innovations driving future directions for the dive industry, fishing communities and markets. Brief presentations by panelists will be followed by an open question and answer session and discussion. Discussions will focus on how to continue to engage divers and the public in participating in removal efforts, derbies and what information managers and scientist can provide to help improve these efforts.

Presented by:

Brian Asher; Coast Watch Alliance; Lionfish Northern Gulf of Mexico and LRAD

Alli Candelmo, PhD; Reef Environmental Education Foundation; Derbies and Research

Alex Fogg; Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners; Emerald Cost Convention Center and Visitors Bureau, Commercial Lionfish Fishing

Stacy Frank; Lionfish University; Summary from Field Reporters, Outreach

Steve Gittings, PhD; NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries; Lionfish FADs and Traps

Stephanie Green, PhD; University of Alberta, Lionfish Research: Learn more about The Green Lab

Bob Harris; DEMA Legislative Consultant; Messer Caparello, PA, Diver Involvement

Jay Maly; Scuba St. Lucia; Ecotourism, St. Lucia Spearing and Trapping Efforts

Georgi Merlusca; Scuba St. Lucia; Ecotourism, St. Lucia Spearing and Trapping Efforts

Lionfish Summit at DEMA Nov 2018

Learn more in this article from Dive Training by Grant Currin: US VS. THEM: AN UPDATE ON CONTROLLING INVASIVE LIONFISH IN THE CARIBBEAN

What happens at International Media Marketplace in NYC?

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Apr 18, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

What happens at IMM in NYC?

Thank you to IMM (International Media Marketplace) NYC 2019. This was my first time at your conference and I loved it. Please see my video below to experience the one day event.

VIDEO: International Media Marketplace

“The International Media Marketplace [IMM] Program has played host to over 2,500 international media and 1,425 exhibiting companies, since 2013.
To date the event has facilitated over 50,000 one-on-one appointments between international media and travel and tourism brands across 15 IMM events.”

Photos from Facebook:

I started my morning by finding friends from the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Did you know the entire state of Indiana has unique places to visit. I have not been yet and I cannot wait to go!

I saw so many of my favorite travel writing friends and PR teams. It was like a travel college reunion!

Who did I meet with?
Jekyll Island Club Resort – Rachel Morrison
Marriott International – Caribbean & Latin America – Tavia Robb
Visit California – Angie Pappas
Choose Chicago | DQMPR – Stephanie D’Adamo
Visit Phoenix – Douglas MacKenzie
Visit Tucson Dan Gibson
Fairmont Whistler – Lynn Gervais Henderson
Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau – Tim Zahner
LDPR for Sydney/Destination New South Wales – Laura Davidson
Fairmont Waterfront – Kristyna Vogel
Visit Santa Rosa – Chris Vomvolakis
Visit Philadelphia Cara Schneider
Visit South Africa
Visit KC (Kansas City, MO) – Toni Alexander
CityPASS – Deborah Wakefield
Wyndham Destinations – Juliette Gebken-Mayi
Parks Canada – Guy Thériault
G Adventures – Kim McCabe
Silversea Cruises – Brad Ball
Destination Quebec, Canada | DQMPR – Yves Gentil
Tourism Vancouver: Saschie Maclean
Rocky Mountaineer: Jina and Nicole
Carnival Cruise Lines: Vance Gulliksen
Princess Cruises – Gabriella McNamara
Fairmont Banff Springs- Angela Moore
Churchill Wild — Vanessa Desorcy

Thank you to Nick Wayland and the entire IMM team for an incredible day of networking.

From IMM:

“IMM is now established as the industry’s leading event for the media to meet travel and tourism brands.

Exhibitors each enjoy a dedicated branded table where they can meet top travel journalists, editors and broadcasters to discuss their news, events and developments.

As a single-day networking and relationship-building opportunity for journalists and travel & tourism brands, IMM is unrivaled.”

THREE GREAT REASONS TO ATTEND IMM…

IMM is the go-to-event for travel journalists to meet brands from across the global travel and tourism sectors.

IMM is the opportunity of the year for all journalists whose work encompasses travel, from travel editors to features, news and photo editors across consumer and specialist media

IMM’s Meetings Manager allows journalists and exhibitors to make the most of their day

Meetings Manager enables journalists and exhibitors to book 15-minute meetings in advance, maximizing opportunities for stories, fact finding and fostering relationships.

IMM takes place in the heart of New York

IMM’s home is the Javits Center in New York City. Situated on the west side of Manhattan, the Center is served by outstanding transport links.

Watch me on TV! Thank you KTLA Los Angeles!

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Apr 7, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

Travel Advisor Lisa Niver on KTLA TV with Lynette Romero and Mark Mester. Spring into Summer Travel with Rocky Mountaineer

Thank you KTLA, Lynette Romero, Mark Mester, Ashley Adams-Regan, Angel Kim, Kimberly Cornell and the entire news team for welcoming me back to KTLA.

I loved sharing RockyMountaineer train travel with you. Thank CHOO!

Lynette Romero, Lisa Niver and Mark Mester on KTLA TV March 31. 2019

Did you see us on TV yesterday? Watch it now: Click here

Lisa Niver at KTLA TV March 31 2019

What was the KTLA Spring into Summer Giveaway? First Passage to the West Classic for two people in Rocky Mountaineer’s Goldleaf Service.

Get your Rocky Mountaineer Questions answered here in my post that answers all of my “dumb” questions. Having worked for years on a cruise ship, when I started to think about my first Canadian Rockies train journey, I realized I had many questions. I thought you might appreciate the answers here and let me know any other questions you have.

Special Hotel Night Promotion book by June 28, 2019: First Passage to the West Classic

“Available for guests traveling in 2019 season, blackout dates apply. Guests booking qualifying packages of five days (four nights) or more receive one free hotel night in Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary or Victoria. The free hotel can be applied as a credit within the package (to one of the four nights – however, Victoria is excluded from this), OR it can be applied at the beginning or end of the package to extend the journey by one night. Bookings can be made by contacting Rocky Mountaineer or your local travel agent.”

This was my fourth time on KTLA in 2019.

Learn more about my earlier segments:

Critics Choice Awards with Waldorf Astoria and Glamsquad

President’s Day Founding Fathers and Mothers Giveaway in Philadelphia with Visit Philly

Lisa Niver on KTLA with Lu Parker and Glen Walker

Oscars Countdown to Gold with Kimpton La Peer and Glamsquad

and from 2018

Thrill and Chill in Palm Springs

Lisa Niver Live on KTLA with Lu Parker, Mark Mester, Kaj Goldberg.

Valentine’s Giveaway to Ogden

Thanksgiving Giveaway Getaway to Napa Valley

Happy 85th Birthday Dr. Jane Goodall and Thank you!

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Apr 3, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

Happy Birthday Dr. Jane Goodall and Thank you!

Dr. Jane Goodall turns 85 today and she has changed the way we understand primates on our planet with her 50 years of love and research in Africa and around the world.

When she was a little girl, her mother “supported her love of animals that she was born with.” She brought earthworms to her bed to investigate them when she was one and a half and her mother helped her bring them back to the garden so they would live. When she was four and a half, she was on a family holiday in the country and went to visit the hens in the henhouse for four hours. Her parents were so worried the police were called but when she was found, her mother patiently listened to her observations about the animals.

Video: Dr. Jane Goodall at LA Zoo in celebration of United Nations International Day of Peace on September 23, 2018

Goodall explained to a group at the LA Zoo in celebration of United Nations International Day of Peace on September 23, 2018 about how her time in the henhouse is how we create scientists: “be curious, ask questions, search for the right answer, decide to find out for yourself, make mistakes, not give up and learning patience.”

Goodall wanted to learn more about animals and read books in the library and saved her pocket money to buy books at the second hand bookshop. When she was ten years old, she bought the book, “Tarzan of the Apes.” She told the crowd that she “fell passionately in love with the lord of jungle but he married the wrong Jane.”

Lisa Niver and Dr. Jane Goodall

She told us, “That was when my dream began. I will go to Africa when I grow up, I will live with wild animals and I will write books about them.” As with many dreamers who dream great dreams, Goodall told us, “Everybody laughed at me. They said, ‘Jane how will you go to Africa? You don’t have any money. The dark continent is far away.” Goodall explained that: “Girls did not have opportunities like that back then.”

Dr. Jane Goodall speaking at the LA ZOO for UN International Peace Day

But her mother said: “Jane, if you really want to do this thing, you are going to have to work really hard, take advantage of all opportunities but don’t give up.” And Goodall explained that “I have taken that message to young people all around the world particularly to children in deprived communities. I wish my mom knew how many children and people have come up to me and said: Jane you have taught me that since you did it, that I can do it too.”

Goodall stayed in school until she was eighteen but did not have enough money to go to college. When a school friend invited her to Africa, she worked for six months as a waitress to get enough money to go to Kenya by boat. There were no tourist planes at that time.

While in Kenya, she was introduced to Louis Leakey, the curator of the Natural History Museum, who spent his life searching for our earliest ancestors. Leakey offered her a job and suddenly she was surrounded by people who could answer all her questions about plants, birds, animals and insects. It was Leakey who decided Goodall was the person he had been looking for to study the animal most like us —the chimpanzee. She made the observation that a chimpanzee is capable of using a piece of grass to fish termites from their nest that he is capable of modifying an object by picking a leafy twig and stripping the leaves which is the beginning of tool making. At the time, it was believed that only humans used tools. This observation allowed Leaky to go to National Geographic Society and they agreed to provide money to carry on with the study with photographer, Hugo Van Larete to document their work. The recent Geographic Documentary called Jane, Making Use is footage from their work together.

Celebrating Roots and Shoots at the LA ZOO

Leaky arranged for Goodall to go Cambridge and work to receive aPhD in animal behavior. She told us her days at the research station were the best of her life. She spent hours every day in the rainforest understanding the interrelatedness of all living things.

In 1986, at a conference at the Chicago Academy of Science, there were people studying chimpanzees in 6 parts of Africa. Goodall learned about chimpanzees being treated badly in circuses, about research facilities doing painful procedures on chimpanzees and about forests disappearing. Goodall said she “went as a scientist planing to continue my wonderful life, but left as an activist and knew I had to do something.”

She visited medical research labs and saw the conditions, went to some of the bad zoos and led to a campaign to release all chimps into sanctuaries. She learned about the plight of African people living in and around chimpanzee habitats with crippling poverty, lack of good health and education facilities and very often the ethnic violence. She wanted to save the chimpanzees and the local villages. In 1994, they started programs with twelve villages and worked to restore fertility to farmland, create youth education programs, add more health facilities, create water management programs, develop microcredit for an environmental sustainable program, scholarships to keep girls in school after puberty and information about family planning. It was so successful that now 72 villages are involved and it has spread to 7 other African countries.

Goodall said that “people have become our partners in preserving the environment for future of their own children and not just to save the chimpanzees but to save the future of our environment for all.”

In 1991, Roots and Shoots began with 12 students in Goodall’s home in Dar El Salem, Tanzania. The students told her: “they were not just worried about wildlife, also worried about homeless children with no where to live, illegal dynamite fishing that was destroying the coral reefs, some were worried about the poaching in the national parks and why wasn’t the government prosecuting the poachers.”

Dr. Jane Goodall speaking at the LA Zoo

Her main message has been: “Every single one of us makes an impact on this planet every single day. We all have a choice as to what kind of impact we are going to make. Are we going to leave the world a little better after today or don’t we care?”

Goodall explained that she does have hope for the future. There are now young people participating in Roots and shoots in 80 countries, with 150,000 active groups and it is growing all the time. There are 2,000 groups in China, and it is growing fast in Canada, Latin America, across Europe and in many African countries. The first groups have just started in the Middle East. She continued: “Young people who are so passionate and so determined to make change and so empowered and you cannot help but have hope. It gives me my greatest reason for hope. We are not the only beings with personalities, minds and emotions. It is changing how we think and act each day.”

Dr. Jane Goodall speaking at the LA Zoo

Goodall told us “if we get together, if we each realize that each day we make a difference, and collectively we make a huge difference, if we realize at least in democracies, we can influence the government and as purchasers we can influence business in the way it conducts its business, there is a lot of hope in the future but only if we all get together. The young people and Roots and Shoots that is our great hope for the future, the young people, their parents and their teachers. We can make this a better world.”

Happy Birthday Dr. Jane Goodall and

thank you for all you have done to change the world.

Lisa Niver at the LA Zoo to hear Dr. Jane Goodall

I heard Dr. Jane Goodall speak at the LA ZOO for UN International Day of Peace on September 23, 2018.

March 2019 WeSaidGoTravel News: Spring is Here

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Mar 28, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

March News 2019 with We Said Go Travel:

Look for me on March 31st at 9:45am on KTLA TV with my 4th segment so far in 2019.

Watch the first three here:

KTLA Oscars: “Countdown to Gold!” Feb 24, 2019
KTLA President’s Day: Visit Historic Philadelphia Feb 18, 2019
KTLA Star Treatment: Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and Glamsquad

For Women’s History Month, I had many new stories!

Thank you to Ms. Magazine for my story on Google International Women’s Day.
Thank you to The Female Quotient for publishing my article about Ruth Bader Ginsburg on her birthday.
Happy 85th Birthday to Gloria Steinem. I wrote about her book, My Life on the Road.
Thank you to Saturday Evening Post for publishing my article about 12 Female Founders and PR Mavens and their bucket lists!

Find me in the news:

I am a SCUBA Dive expert on Mic
I was in the PARK RECORD with Patricia, Wayne and my dad!
I was interviewed on Travel Writer’s Radio about my 50 Things Before 50 Project.
I was Influencer Interview #50 on Intellifluence

Thank you to Rise Global! In March, We Said Go Travel and I are AGAIN #3 on the top 1000 Travel Blog list! AND I am the TOP FEMALE TRAVEL BLOGGER! Yahoo! #travel1k

I loved being in NYC with my family and going to International Media Marketplace as well as the New York Times Travel Show. Please enjoy the videos of my time at the conferences. I also went to the Los Angeles Travel Show.

VIDEO: Travel Conferences in Los Angeles and New York City

Learn more about my writing and see all my latest outlets with this pdf.

Thank you to everyone who entered our 2018 Travel Photo Award.

I am publishing the fantastic photos once a day! Click here to see the most recently published entries. Once all the entries are published in July 2019, I will announce the finalists. I expect to announce the winners in September 2019.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND MY TRAVEL VIDEOS?

Here is the link to my video channel on YouTube where I have 917,691 views on YouTube! Thank you for your support! Are you one of my 2064 subscribers? I hope you will join me and subscribe!

Thank you for watching my videos, reading my stories, following along on social media and asking me about booking your travels!

Where do you want to wander? Find more information about me and my luxury travel advising as an independent affiliate of CRUISE and RESORT, Inc with Virtuoso Luxury Travel Network on my new microsite!

My fortune cookies said:

“Nothing is impossible to a willing heart“

“Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the conquest of it.“

“All things are difficult before they are easy.”

Are you making it happen in 2019? Good luck in taking the next small step to make your 2019 goals come true! Thank you for your all of your support. Lisa

Discover more on my social media accounts: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and at LisaNiver.com. My social media following is now over 140,000 and I am verified on both Twitter and Facebook.

Coming SOON my photos and video from Sandals Montego Bay in Jamaica

Jamaica Sandals Montego Bay Sunset by Lisa Niver

Who is the TOP FEMALE Travel Blogger on the top 1000 list?

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Mar 25, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

Are you wondering who is the TOP FEMALE Travel

Blogger on the top 1000 list?

Wonder no more! It is ME!

I have been listed as the top female in 2018, Feb 2019

and now in March 2019 again!

Thank you for your support!

And #3 on the top 1000 list!

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on

my journey with We Said GO Travel!

I am so honored that this happened during Women’s History Month!

Did you see me on TV?

BROADCAST:

KTLA Oscars: “Countdown to Gold!” Feb 24, 2019

KTLA President’s Day: Visit Historic Philadelphia Feb 18, 2019
- 5.8 million impressions on Twitter. social links
KTLA Star Treatment: Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills for award season
- 2.9 Million impressions on Twitter Jan 19, 2019

KTLA Travel Smart: Chill and Thrill in Palm Springs Aug 30, 2018
KTLA Valentine’s Giveaway Getaway to Ogden Utah, Feb 2018
- 7.3 million impressions on Twitter
KTLA Money Smart segment on Napa Valley Travel, Nov 2017
- 2 million impressions on Twitter

Lisa’s bio:

Lisa Ellen Niver, M.A. Education, is a television host, travel journalist as well as a passionate artist, educator and writer who has explored 101 countries, 6 continents and sailed for seven years on the high seas. She is the founder of We Said Go Travel which was read in 212 countries in 2018 and named #4 on the top 1000 Travel Blogs. Find her talking travel at KTLA TV and in her We Said Go Travel videos with over 900,000 views on her YouTube channel. She has hosted Facebook Live for USA Today 10best, is verified on both Twitter and Facebook, has over 140,000 followers across social media and ran fifteen travel competitions publishing over 2500 writers and photographers from 75 countries.

She has been a finalist for five Southern California Journalism Awards in the past two years and won an award for her Jewish Journal article. Niver has written for AARP, American Airways, Delta Sky, En Route (Air Canada), Hemispheres (United Airlines), Jewish Journal, Luxury Magazine, Ms. Magazine, Myanmar Times, National Geographic, POPSUGAR, Robb Report, Saturday Evening Post, Scuba Diver Life, Sierra Club, Ski Utah, Smithsonian, Trivago, USA Today 10best, Wharton Magazine and Yahoo. She is writing a book, “Brave Rebel: 50 Adventures Before 50,” about her most recent travels and challenges. Look for her underwater SCUBA diving, in her art studio making ceramics or helping people find their next dream trip.

See all my videos, TV segments, articles and social: Click Here!

Are you subscribed to me on YOUTUBE?

I now have over 900,000 views!

Lisa Niver on KTLA with Lu Parker and Glen Walker

Happy 10th Anniversary Sandals Foundation!

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Mar 18, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

Recently I was able to visit the Flanker Resource Centre in Montego Bay which is supported by Sandals Montego Bay and the Sandals Foundation. The after-school program provides children with hot meals and many resources including a computer center and an X-BOX room. I was thrilled to learn that over the last decade, Sandals Foundation has assisted nearly one million people in the Caribbean.

Guests at Sandals Resorts or Beaches Resorts can donate in support of a particular project, or participate in the Pack for a Purpose® program and bring needed supplies to local schools, purchase merchandise and items from Caribbean Artisan Collections available in the Sandals and Beaches Resort Shops or get hands on through unique voluntourism excursions, such as the Reading Road Trip, that take them directly into local communities.

Sandals Foundation is “the philanthropic arm of Sandals and Beaches Resorts which is committed to investments that create a positive and sustainable impact on the people’s lives, their communities and the environment. Founded in 2009, the Foundation focuses on programs and initiatives in the areas of Education, Community and the Environment and 100% of donations goes directly to support the people and communities we support in the Caribbean.”

Some key examples of the Foundation’s projects to-date include:

Education: Worked with 578 schools across the region providing capacity building for teachers, awards scholarships to deserving students, initiatives to promote literacy and technological advancement in schools.
Environment: In partnership with CLEAR Caribbean, established restoration programs inside Saint Lucia’s Soufriere Marine Management Area and trained local stakeholders to build, install and monitor two coral nurseries. So far, over 2000 corals have been propagated.
Community: Launched the Women Helping Others Achieve (WHOA) program, an initiative aimed at positively impacting marginalized women across the Caribbean and helping them find the inspiration to transform their lives through vocational training, counseling, agricultural programs and more.

Across the 19 Sandals and Beaches Resorts, they support hundreds of different projects. I wanted to share 10 of them here in honor of the 10th birthday of the Foundation. The sustainable projects include school improvements, restoration and conservation of marine habitats as well as training and community development programs across Antigua, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Turks & Caicos.

Sandals Foundation Projects

Flanker Resource Centre (Montego Bay, Jamaica)

The Flanker Resource Centre aims to increase the level of awareness of residents of the Flanker community through education, life skills, parenting and skill training and increase the literacy and numeracy levels of residents to aid in reducing unemployment. The Sandals Foundation has been supporting the centre for several years, investing in the centre’s After-school Care and Extended Support (ACES) Programme which provides a safe, structured environment in which at-risk youths from the community can benefit from dedicated counselling and mentorship, guided support with their school work and assignments, and participation in supervised afternoon activities which encourage positive social behaviour. The Foundation has also supported the Flanker Marching Band, providing them with instruments, theory books, stipends for the band coordinator and teachers, uniforms for performances and payment for music exams. The Sandals Foundation also constructed and outfitted the second floor of the centre which has offices, recreational space, a kitchen and has an Xbox room which serves as an incentive for the kids that participate in the Centre’s programs.

West End Infant School (Negril, Jamaica)

The Sandals Foundation, in partnership with Ministry of Education, Youth & Information (MOE) and The CHASE Fund constructed and opened the state of the art West End Infant School in 2017, providing 160 children between the ages of 3-6 from Negril and neighbouring communities with a new and conducive learning environment. The institution graduated its first cohort of students in June 2018. This is the third Early Childhood Institute constructed by the Sandals Foundation.

Sandals Foundation: West End Infant School

Providing Access to Continued Education (PACE) (Nassau, Bahamas)

PACE is a programme for teen mothers to ensure that they have the opportunity to complete high school, reduce the incidence of repeat pregnancy among teen mothers, improve the quality of life for the mothers and their babies and ensure that teens are fully educated on the negative impact of repeat teen pregnancies. The Sandals Foundation, over several years, organized major fundraisers and brought on significant partners such as Coca Cola to construct a multi – purpose building to provide the teen moms with a conducive space to continue their education. The Foundation has also donated computers and funded skills training programmes for the teen mothers.

Grenrop “Women in Agriculture” (Grenada)

This program is a partnership with the Grenrop Group which supports women farmers to expand their business and become competitive participants in the value chain. The Foundation has provided capacity building for these female farmers through training, purchase of seeds and equipment, construction of a shade house and assistance for the farmers to develop successful and sustainable agricultural enterprises supporting the local industry and improving their quality of life. The Foundation helps to create linkages for the farmers with the hotel sector as a means of creating a sustainale market for their products.

Sandals Foundation Project: Grenrop “Women in Agriculture”

Hurricane Relief (Turks and Caicos)

The Sandals Foundation invested over $200,000 in the renovation of three Turks and Caicos schools damaged by the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Repairs to the Enid Capron Primary school included roofing, electrical work and other infrastructural improvements to the Stubbs which houses the school’s sick bay, the school kitchen, the computer room and teacher resource room. Construction of the new library at Clement Howell High School, funded by the Sandals Foundation was well underway when the hurricanes hit in September 2017 and the newly refurbished structure suffered some damage. The school also suffered damage to its canteen. The Sandals Foundation completed construction of the state of the art library and made the repairs to the school’s canteen which included replacing the roof, patio, doors and windows. Ianthe Pratt Primary School received repairs to their kitchen, library, hallways, classrooms and had a new stage constructed for their performing arts area.

Sick Kids/ Sandals Foundation Partnership

In 2017, the Sandals Foundation became a Catalyst Donor to the Sick Kids vs Limits campaign, committing to donate US$600,000 to the programme over five years. The Sandals Foundation had already donated US$400,000 to the SickKids-Caribbean Initiative which seeks to build local capacity to advance the study, diagnosis and treatment of paediatric cancer and serious blood disorders across the region. The Foundation funded a two year fellowship for Barbadian Dr. Chantelle Browne-Farmer who became the second paediatric haematologist/oncologist in the Eastern Caribbean. Funding from the foundation also provided training for nurses from the Caribbean in paediatric oncology. In 2015 Sandals Foundation and SickKids also came together to open a Telemedicine Room at the Victoria Hospital in St. Lucia part of a program to link Paediatric Oncologists throughout the Caribbean to each other as well as to the Sick Kids Hospital.

Mount St. John’s Medical Centre Paediatric Ward (Antigua)

Pre-term babies born in Antigua were given a greater fighting chance following the gift of two comprehensive Infant Care Centres from the Sandals Foundation. The units valued at almost US$20,000, provide critical care such as temperature control, monitoring of vitals, weighing and respiratory assistance, to preterm babies when the need arises. To date, 397 preterm babies have utilized the machines. In 2018 the foundation made a second donation of medical equipment to the paediatric ward. This donation included vital sign monitors, electronic scales, paediatric beds, hand held pulse oximeters and cardiac monitors and is set to benefit almost 1000 children per year.

Sandals Foundation: Mount St. John’s Medical Centre Paediatric Ward

Great Shape! Inc./ Sandals Foundation EyeCare and Dental Programmes

Since 2009, the Sandals Foundation and Great Shape! Inc. have provided free eye care and dental services to over 240,000 people in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Grenada and Turks Caicos. Sandals Resorts and Sandals Foundation provide accommodation, funding for transportation/clinics and on the ground logistics for iCare and 1000 smiles. Through the iCARE programme, Great Shape! Inc. has provided prescription, reading and sunglasses, free cataract surgeries, and laser surgery to save the sight of patients with open angle glaucoma and PRP diabetic retinopathy. Through the 1000 Smiles dental programme, they have provided dental services of sealants, dentures, extractions, fillings and blood pressure screenings, Oral education in schools is also promoted through the distribution of toothpaste and toothbrushes and teaching children how to properly care for their teeth. The program also aims to build the capacity of local dental students and help outfit rural clinics with equipment and supplies making ongoing dental care possible.

Marine Sanctuaries/Coral Nurseries

The Sandals Foundation manages two marine sanctuaries and supports an additional four in Jamaica, helping to protect the islands’ depleting fish stocks and strengthen the resilience of their coral reefs. In 2017, The Boscobel Marine Sanctuary became Jamaica’s first rotating fish sanctuary, which allows for sections to be open periodically throughout the year, increasing the benefit of the sanctuary to the surrounding community by not only expanding its boundaries, but also allowing fishermen to benefit from the increase in fish biomass. The Sanctuaries in Jamaica also contain coral nurseries, helping to replenish the coral reefs. Investment in Coral Nurseries has now expanded to St.Lucia in a 3 year partnership with CLEAR Caribbean to increase coral health and train locals in coral restoration. To date, 6000 pieces of corals have been planted.

Youth in Sports

The Sandals Foundation has proven that engaging youths through structured sporting activities is an effective way of teaching life skills and providing opportunities for the young people to secure a better future. Through its Care for Kids Junior Golf Programme in Jamaica, Game Changer Football and Basketball Programs in Barbados, Grenada and St.Lucia, Swalings Football Partnership in Antigua and Tiger Tennis in school program in St. Lucia, the Foundation has engaged hundreds of young people across the Caribbean, providing opportunities for international exposure, providing and securing tertiary scholarships and improving the capacity of local coaches to effectively train and guide the youngsters.

Remember, “the Caribbean Sea connects more than 700 islands and coastlines, which is a source of livelihood for thousands of people. The role we all play in supporting protected areas and teaching the next generation the importance of caring for their precious environment is crucial now more than ever,” said Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation. “The Sandals Group of companies and Sandals Foundation have intensified our efforts by reducing plastic pollution through our operations and in our communities as well as ensuring we engage all the key stakeholders in our efforts.”

Last year, in partnership with Oceanic Global, a non-profit focused on providing solutions to issues impacting our oceans, all 19 Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts eliminated the 21,490,800 single-use plastic straws and stirrers used across the resorts each year, along with plastic laundry bags and plastic bags throughout gift shops. As of February 1, 2019, all resorts have eliminated Styrofoam. The company is currently exploring opportunities to eliminate other plastic across its resorts by September 2019.

For more information on the Sandals Foundation, including how to donate to any of its programs and projects, please visit www.sandalsfoundation.org. To view the Foundation’s latest annual report, please visit https://sandalsfoundation.org/Sandals-Foundation-201-Annual-Report.pdf.

I loved my visit to Sandals Montego Bay and cannot wait to visit another one of their beautiful resorts and see more of the Sandals Foundation projects.

Thank You! I am the Top Female Travel Blogger on the #Travel1k Top 1000 Travel Blog list!

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Mar 12, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

Thank You!

I am the Top Female Travel Blogger

on the #Travel1k Top 1000 Travel Blog list!

And #3 on the top 1000 list!

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on my journey with We Said GO Travel!

I am so honored that this happened during Women’s History Month!

Did you see me on TV?

BROADCAST:

KTLA Oscars: “Countdown to Gold!” Feb 24, 2019
- 5.2 million impressions

KTLA President’s Day: Visit Historic Philadelphia Feb 18, 2019
- 5.8 million impressions on Twitter. social links
KTLA Star Treatment: Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills for award season
- 2.9 Million impressions on Twitter Jan 19, 2019

KTLA Travel Smart: Chill and Thrill in Palm Springs Aug 30, 2018
KTLA Valentine’s Giveaway Getaway to Ogden Utah, Feb 2018
- 7.3 million impressions on Twitter
KTLA Money Smart segment on Napa Valley Travel, Nov 2017
- 2 million impressions on Twitter

Lisa’s bio:

Lisa Ellen Niver, M.A. Education, is a television host, travel journalist as well as a passionate artist, educator and writer who has explored 101 countries, 6 continents and sailed for seven years on the high seas. She is the founder of We Said Go Travel which was read in 212 countries in 2018 and named #4 on the top 1000 Travel Blogs. Find her talking travel at KTLA TV and in her We Said Go Travel videos with over 900,000 views on her YouTube channel. She has hosted Facebook Live for USA Today 10best, is verified on both Twitter and Facebook, has over 140,000 followers across social media and ran fifteen travel competitions publishing over 2500 writers and photographers from 75 countries.

She has been a finalist for five Southern California Journalism Awards in the past two years and won an award for her Jewish Journal article. Niver has written for AARP, American Airways, Delta Sky, En Route (Air Canada), Hemispheres (United Airlines), Jewish Journal, Luxury Magazine, Ms. Magazine, Myanmar Times, National Geographic, POPSUGAR, Robb Report, Saturday Evening Post, Scuba Diver Life, Sierra Club, Ski Utah, Smithsonian, Trivago, USA Today 10best, Wharton Magazine and Yahoo. She is writing a book, “Brave Rebel: 50 Adventures Before 50,” about her most recent travels and challenges. Look for her underwater SCUBA diving, in her art studio making ceramics or helping people find their next dream trip.

See it on Twitter:

The 27 Feb 2019 update of #travel1k Top 1000+ Travel Blogs is out. Look up top #travel #bloggers at https://t.co/3JGZJartfU via @risedotglobal. pic.twitter.com/Hr1souEFmn

— Riseboarders (@riseboarders) February 28, 2019

Are you subscribed to me on YOUTUBE?

I now have over 900,000 views!

We Said Go Travel Youtube over 900,000 views! March 2019

Lisa Niver on KTLA with Lu Parker and Glen Walker

Make It Happen

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Feb 28, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

Feb News 2019 with We Said Go Travel:

In 2019, I have been honored to share THREE segments on KTLA TV in Los Angeles for Critics Choice Awards, President’s Day and most recently on “Countdown to GOLD!” as part of the Oscars! Watch them all here:

KTLA Oscars: “Countdown to Gold!” Feb 24, 2019
KTLA President’s Day: Visit Historic Philadelphia Feb 18, 2019
KTLA Star Treatment: Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and Glamsquad

Thank you to Rise Global! We Said Go Travel and I are #3 on the top 1000 Travel Blog list! AND I am the TOP FEMALE TRAVEL BLOGGER! Yahoo! #travel1k

Lisa Niver is #3 on the TOP 1000 Travel Blog list #Travel1K

Thank you to Ms. Magazine for publishing my story about a women’s economic development project in Zambia in their Winter PRINT issue, “A Bicycle Built for Many,” and my article about social media and loneliness, “Unfiltered: Why Jessica Abo’s Book is the Perfect Galentine’s Day Pick!”

I have written for USA Today 10best since I returned to the USA in 2014 but in January, I had my first photo slideshow about my trips to Africa, Canada and Mongolia! Enjoy “Clear your mind in these open spaces made for exploring.”

Thank you to Hannah Lott-Schwartz for featuring me as a travel and cruise expert in her Travel and Leisure article, “10 Amazing Ways to See the U.S. by Cruise Ship!

As part of my interview on GRIT for Thrive Global, I was featured in Buzz Feed as well!

Thank you for following my travels! Here is part two of our adventures in London and my first ILTM conference in Cannes in December.

From Cannes:

Thank you to everyone who entered our 2018 Travel Photo Award. I am publishing the fantastic photos once a day! Click here to see the most recently published entries. Once all the entries are published in July 2019, I will announce the finalists. I expect to announce the winners in September 2019.

Thank you to Patricia Schultz for being our Travel Influencer Interview #100! I hope you get to see 1000 Places Before You Die!

Thank you TEAM ILTM 2018!

WHERE CAN YOU FIND MY TRAVEL VIDEOS?

Here is the link to my video channel on YouTube where I have 899,320 views on YouTube! Thank you for your support! Are you one of my 2031 subscribers? I hope you will join me and subscribe!

Thank you for watching my videos, reading my stories, following along on social media and asking me about booking your travels!

Where do you want to wander? Find more information about me and my luxury travel advising as an independent affiliate of CRUISE and RESORT, Inc with Virtuoso Luxury Travel Network on my new microsite!

My fortune cookies said:

“Don’t be discouraged because every wrong attempt discarded

is another step forward!”

“The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.”

Are you making it happen in 2019? Good luck in taking the next small step to make your 2019 goals come true! Thank you for your all of your support. Lisa

Discover more on my social media accounts: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and at LisaNiver.com. My social media following is now over 140,000 and I am verified on both Twitter and Facebook.

Oscar Countdown to Gold

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Feb 25, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

Are you ready to “Countdown to Gold?”

Kimpton La Peer Pool by Lisa Niver

What will you win?

Get all glammed up by Glamsquad and receive their new Glamsquad hair products
Dinner for two at Viale dei Romani
Stay two nights at Kimpton La Peer Hotel

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Eleanor Roosevelt

Thank you to everyone who believed in their dreams and magic and created films we wanted to watch.

Getting Glammed up by Glamsquad for the Oscars

GLAM SQUAD

Glamsquad is a must-have for award season. Whether you are on the red carpet or watching from home, Glamsquad’s beauty pro’s will get you ready. Winner will receive a Glam blowout + makeup applications as well as their brand new Glamsquad hair products.

What is GlamSquad? Glamsquad is a beauty services company that offers hair, makeup and nails in NYC, LA, Miami, DC, Boston and San Francisco/Bay Area. Glamsquad services are easily booked through the Glamsquad app or website. Their mission as a next generation beauty and lifestyle brand is to connect like-minded beauty enthusiasts through personalized in-home experiences. Glamsquad’s talented and trusted beauty professionals are hand-selected and rigorously vetted to guarantee consistent, high quality results. Using our intelligent, data-driven technology, we expertly match our professionals and clients to ensure an elevated and customized experience with every appointment.

Kimpton La Peer is “A Modern California Hotel in West Hollywood!’

High-design & style seamlessly blend together for an inviting experience at Kimpton La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood. Enjoy a thoughtful oasis in one of 105 distinctive hotel guest rooms and suites or be a part of the action at one of our lively community spaces.

Where to eat?

Which movies do you want to win?

Happy #Oscars Week!
Did you love @RBGmovie? #nominated for Best #Documentary #Feature! #OscarsWSGT ⁰Learn @Notorious_RBG_ @skirball_la #RBG #notoriousRBG More #photos: https://t.co/Kl2ywjlScy Watch #KTLA Sat & Sun for your chance to win a #WeHo #Travel Giveaway. @KTLA pic.twitter.com/PfVCOTeoMA

— Lisa Niver ✈️ (@wesaidgotravel) February 21, 2019

Getting Ready for Oscars Season

View this post on Instagram

It is #Oscars Season! Carmen and I loved being at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences at Samuel Goldwyn Theater for a presentation by the teams from Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Short Subject on Feb. 19, 2019 during Oscar Week. #OscarsWSGT @MsMagazine Thank you to all the film makers for bringing these important films and issues to life. Best Documentary Feature: “Free Solo,” Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” RaMell Ross “Minding the Gap,” Bing Liu “Of Fathers and Sons,” Talal Derki “RBG,” Betsy West, Julie Cohen Best Documentary Short Subject: “Black Sheep,” Ed Perkins “End Game,” Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman “Lifeboat,” Skye Fitzgerald “A Night at the Garden,” Marshall Curry “Period. End of Sentence.,” Rayka Zehtabchi Look for me on #KTLA "Countdown to Gold: Getting Ready" Sat 2/23 4:30pm and Sun 2/24 12:30pm and 3:30pm for your chance to win a #WeHo #Travel Giveaway. My favorites are #rbg And #periodendofsentence

A post shared by Lisa Niver ✈️ (@wesaidgotravel) on Feb 20, 2019 at 3:41pm PST

A Visit to Historic Philadelphia for President’s Day!

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Feb 19, 2019 | Blogs

I went to college at University of Pennsylvania and for four years Philadelphia was my home. It definitely seemed very cold to me in the winter compared to Los Angeles but I loved living there. I made some lifetime friends and want to share some of the great things about this incredible city. I love exploring more of the historic area of the City of Brotherly Love. Benjamin Franklin was a founding father of our country and my University (1749)!

Watch my videos from my recent visit:

WHAT TO DO:

*Betsy Ross House

*National Constitution Center

*Museum of the American Revolution

I also loved my tour at City Hall and the Mayor’s reception room. I spent the afternoon at Penn Museum or The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology which is an archaeology and anthropology museum that is part of the University of Pennsylvania and on Penn campus. I saw one of the recently renovated exhibits and the other exhibits will be renovated and open in 2020.

Lisa Niver in the Mayor’s Reception Hall at City Hall, Philadelphia

WHERE DID I STAY?

Loews Philadelphia Hotel

This historic building was the first modern skyscraper in America and is a National Historic Landmark. It was originally the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society (PSFS) building and has a bank vault in lobby. The custom designed Cartier clocks are still on every floor! Built in 1932, it had no dome or ornamentation. The steel construction with a T shaped tower allowed for more natural light and rentable space! This design allowed for the skylines of NYC and Chicago to happen. The PSFS is still on the side of the building.

WHERE DID I EAT?

Vernick Coffee Bar

James Beard award-winning Chef Greg Vernick partners with Four Seasons Hotel at Comcast Center to deliver a modern coffee bar with fantastic breakfast and lunch. The cafe is open to the public from 7am to 5pm. There is art in the lobby: Jenny Holzer’s digital art installation called, For Philadelphia, and Conrad Shawcross’s sculpture, Exploded Paradigm.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our

KTLA President’s Day Giveaway!
The winner received:

HOTEL

Two nights hotel accommodations at Loews Philadelphia Hotel (based on availability)
Hotel breakfast and parking daily

FLIGHTS:

Roundtrip, coach airline ticket Los Angeles/Philadelphia/Los Angeles from VISIT PHILADELPHIA.

MEAL:

Vernick Coffee Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center

ACTIVITIES

2 Tickets to each of these three museums:
- National Constitution Center
- Betsy Ross House
- Museum of the American Revolution

Lisa Niver at her Alma Mater, University of Pennsylvania

What Happens at ILTM Cannes 2018? Part 1

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Feb 15, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

Travel Journalists on the VIP Media Program had interactions with many incredible hotel brands.

Our first media luncheon was at Relais & Châteaux property Bruno Oger La villa Archange in Cannes. I recently stayed at Auberge Saint-Antoine Relais & Châteaux in Québec City.

I was able to meet with the General Managers and top executives as well as re-connect with travel friends like Mark Ellwood from Condé Nast Traveler and Bloomberg. I met editors like Zhu Tong from Condé Nast China, Steven Bond from Destinations of the World News Dubai and Hill Choi Lee from South China Morning Post.

VIDEO: WHAT HAPPENS AT ILTM IN CANNES?

Walking the red carpet into the venue for the ILTM Global Forum – “The Year of Health and Wellness” in the Grand Auditorium at Palais des Festivals et des Congrès was magical. We went to the ILTM Welcome Reception at the Ambassadors Suite, Palais de Festivals which was sponsored by The Italian Tourist Board and had photo booth specials with the gorgeous Italian countryside.

Over the course of the conference, I went to many rooftop and penthouse parties where I learned even more about the top brands. At the Shangri-La Hotels event, I was able to see the team from Shangri-La Hotel, At the Shard, London.

We finished our evening at San Telmo with Lucy Clifton and her team from Spotlight Communications who made my first experience at ITLM a dream. Their attention to detail was legendary and I was well prepared and organized to make the most of my time in Cannes at the conference.

Media Dinner at ILTM Dec 2018 Cannes

Day Two, December 4, 2018 started with breakfast by Hilton Luxury & Lifestyle Group at Restaurant Mantel (Table 22) 22 Rue Saint Antoine, 06400 Cannes where we learned about the new Waldorf Astoria and Aston Martin partnership as well about the underwater Conrad Maldives Rangali Island and many other new and exciting properties. I cooked with a chef at the Conrad in Miami and recently filmed at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills.

Each morning at the ILTM Media Centre, we had ‘In Conversation with’ or press conferences with big brands and destinations with top-line stories. There were five minute presentations by senior board directors, CEOs and/or Presidents with 15 minutes of questions from the floor.

Walking the floors of the conference halls I saw many travel friends in their booths and was able to make appointments to learn about the happenings with various brands.

Good Morning from Cannes by Lisa Niver

We had glorious weather and enjoyed our luscious lunch hosted by Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts outdoors at the penthouse of Résidence 67 Croisette with live music and lively conversations. I recently had a hard hat tour of Four Seasons Philadelphia at Comcast Tower.

Our Afternoon Tea Networking sessions where in the First Floor Restaurant at the Palais des Festivals and were very valuable. I was able to meet with many hotels and brands in a short amount of time and learn about new stories in many locations. I meet with Edwardian Hotels, Sweet Bocas, Jumeirah Vittaveli and more.

Sunset in Cannes by Lisa Niver

As the sun set and the sky was full of magical colors, my journalism friends and I were able to participate in several cocktail parties and events including cocktails hosted by Cheval Blanc in the Majestic Suite, Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic, Cannes. We experienced VOGA Vogue Yoga with PROUD Experiences NYC. We went on Mabruk III for the Visit California yacht party. We had drinks with IHG lifestyle and design and I loved that every event in Cannes had live music.

Sunset in Cannes by Lisa Niver

Where did I stay in Cannes? Hôtel Martinez Cannes by Hyatt. See part TWO of my video for more of my ILTM VIP MEDIA experience!

Thank you to Lucy Clifton, the entire team at Spotlight Communications and everyone at ILTM for including me in the International Luxury Travel Mart Cannes 2018.

Watch all my conference videos and look for ILTM Part 2 for more of what happened in Cannes Dec 2018.

What Happened at ILTM Cannes 2018? Part TWO

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Feb 14, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

What Happened at ILTM Cannes 2018?

Read about Part One here:
To watch Part One: Click HERE.

PART TWO:

I loved the International Luxury Travel Mart conference!
We started with breakfast with Marriott International Luxury Brands at theJW Marriott on Boulevard de la Croisette. Jennie Benzaquen shared exciting new developments throughout the brands and I even got to take a photo with the chefs! It was another beautiful December day in Cannes and we started at the conference with ‘In Conversation with’ press conferences with many top luxury brands.

Walking the floors of the conference, I spoke with many luxury brands about upcoming hotel openings, story ideas and possible adventures.

VIDEO: What Happened at ILTM Cannes 2018? Part TWO

At lunch, we had Press Roundtables in the First Floor Restaurant at the Palais des Festivals.

For Afternoon Tea, we met with a selection of exhibitors during a dedicated session at the Palais des Festivals.

Hill Choi Lee and Lisa Niver at VOGA party ILTM

In the evening, I attended the MILUX beach house cocktail party, VOGA Vogue Yoga event, Jumeirah Hotels yacht party, Nobu Hotels party.

Journalists at VOGA ILTM party

One of the best things was to reconnect with journalism friends from around the world and to make new connections.

I stayed at the Martinez Hotel and when we returned, we went to the Hyatt party which was at our hotel!

Party with MILUX at ILTM

December 6 started with breakfast at Martinez Hotel before our final set of ‘In Conversation with’ at the ILTM Media Centre. I had many one on one chats about future stories and being at the conference was superb.

Nobu Hotels Party at ILTM

The Kudadoo Maldives Lunch was held at the Majestic Hotel. I enjoyed going to all of the area hotels for our different events. At the end of the day, we went to the MILUX party and the Four Seasons Party before the final party at Hotel Martinez with the famous revolving dance floor.

Journalists at Final Party at ILTM 2018

A giant thank you to the ILTM team for including me at the Cannes 2018 event.

Thank you TEAM ILTM 2018!

Click here to see all of my conference videos!

More about ILTM Conference: “The ultimate global meeting in the annual luxury travel calendar!”

“ILTM in Cannes is our flagship inspirational show. We bring everyone to Cannes: your customers, your media and your network. It’s where the world meets the world! You will be seen alongside the absolute best in class and do more business in a week than is possible in many months. More contacts, more opportunities, more insights and more markets than anywhere else – you can’t afford not to be part of it.

ILTM introduces global travel buyers to an unrivaled collection of international travel experiences. We are the relationship brokers that provide a platform for you to do business and build relationships.

ILTM 2018 marks the launch of ILTM’s Year of Health and Wellness, kicking off in the French Riviera in Cannes. ILTM will launch research and gather a community of wellness experts that all draw the same conclusion; in the future, all travel is wellness travel, every trip is expected to enhance the physical, mental and social wellbeing of the traveller, transformation is the very promise of travel, and today’s travel brands are the solution to one of the biggest problems of our age.”

Who is #5 on the Top 1000+ Travel Blogs? #Travel1K

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Feb 9, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

Click here to see the entire list!

Lisa Niver is #5 on the Top 1000 Travel Blog List

More about WeSaidGoTravel:

pinterest 200K

YouTube 1.4 million impressions in 2018

We Said Go Travel was read in 212 countries in 2018!

We Said GO Travel is verified on both Twitter and Facebook.

See Lisa talking about TRAVEL on KTLA TV!

BIO:

Lisa Ellen Niver, M.A. Education, is a television host, travel journalist as well as a passionate artist, educator, and writer who has explored 101 countries, 6 continents and sailed for seven years on the high seas. She is the founder of We Said Go Travel which was read in 212 countries in 2018 and named #4 on the top 1000 Travel Blogs. Find her talking travel at KTLA TV and in her We Said Go Travel videos with nearly 900,000 views on her YouTube channel. She has hosted Facebook Live for USA Today 10best, is verified on both Twitter and Facebook, has over 140,000 followers across social media and ran fifteen travel competitions publishing over 2300 writers and photographers from 75 countries.

She has been a finalist for five Southern California Journalism Awards in the past two years and won an award for her Jewish Journal article. Niver has written for AARP, American Airways, Delta Sky, En Route (Air Canada), Hemispheres (United Airlines), Jewish Journal, Luxury Magazine, Ms. Magazine, Myanmar Times, National Geographic, POPSUGAR, Robb Report, Saturday Evening Post, Scuba Diver Life, Sierra Club, Ski Utah, Smithsonian, Trivago, USA Today 10best, Wharton Magazine and Yahoo. She is writing a book, “Brave Rebel: 50 Adventures Before 50,” about her most recent travels and challenges.

Lisa Niver is a Travel Expert on KTLA TV in Los Angeles

What Did We Do In London? Part Two: Shangri-La Hotel, At the Shard

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Feb 4, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

Thank you to Julie and Nancy, my dive and travel buddies from Princess Cruises, for joining me in London at Shangri-La Hotel, At the Shard. See the first part of our journey here.

Julie, Lisa and Nancy at Shangri-La Hotel, At the Shard, London

What were our Adventures?

Video: What to do near Shangri-La Hotel, At the Shard, London?

Where did we go?

Shakespeare’s Globe Theater

Tate Modern

and the Modern Couples Exhibit at the Barbican Museum.

Shangri-La Hotel, At the Shard, London even had a special map for us with points of interest on our walk to the Barbican.

Borough Market was fully decorated for the Christmas holidays during our trip Dec 1-3, 2018.

Nancy Lisa and Julie on Millennium bridge in London.

Make sure to stop for a photo at the wall of hearts and love!

At Tate Modern, I saw an exhibit of Jenny Holzer’s work which I had recently seen at the new Comcast Tower in Philadelphia.

On our walk to the Barbican, I loved seeing the old city wall of London. Walking in London you can feel the history of the city. From Shakespeare’s Globe Theater to the old city walls, it is such a different perspective than walking around a young city like Los Angeles

We lunched around the corner from the museum at The Coriander. Spending time with Julie and Nancy was special to me because I worked with both of them onboard Princess Cruises. I feel fortunate to have fantastic supportive friends like them who are willing to travel with me.

Nancy, Julie and Lisa at lunch in London!

As we walked back, we wandered through St. Paul’s Churchyard and walked across the Millennium Footbridge.

At night, we walked across Tower Bridge and enjoyed the views of Tower Bridge from our stunning hotel.

We loved the views from Shangri-La Hotel, At the Shard, London. See more in the next video all about the property with my gorgeous suite, the highest sky pool in all of Western Europe and GONG the Sky Bar.

Have you always wanted to stay in a sky hotel? Visit Shangri-La Hotel, At the Shard, London with me.

Video: Have You Always Wanted To Stay In A Sky Hotel?

The rooms are stunning and the view is beautiful.

I loved watching the ships in the water go under Tower Bridge.

Shangri-la Hotel, At the Shard, London by Lisa Niver

Julie and I loved the view so much we had a picnic in our room in our robes.

Pick your robe: a white terry cloth robe or a Japanese yukata robe. I wore a yukata to the 52nd floor to visit the Sky Pool, GONG the sky bar and work out at the fitness center with a view.. This is the highest pool in Western Europe!

Our picnic at Shangri-La Hotel, At the Shard, London

We ate breakfast at TING and tried almost all the choices on the buffet. There are Asian, English and American specialities!

Our room at Shangri-La Hotel, At the Shard, London by Lisa Niver

Click here for more info about Shangri-La Hotel, At the Shard, London.

Read about our adventures in London PART ONE and click here for all of our London videos. After London, I flew to France for my first ILTM conference in Cannes.

What Did We Do In London? Part One The Rubens At The Palace

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Jan 21, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

On my way to my first ILTM conference in Cannes, I decided to visit London. I was lucky that my friend, Julie, decided to join me.

Do you want flying to be fun again? My first stop was at The Private Suite at LAX.
My bags were checked in for me, I went through security in their private area and I had my own suite to relax in. I ordered lunch, watched TV and even played outside.

There are drinks, sweets, and amenities galore. I highly recommend it if you want to feel like a V-VIP—a very very important person. There is a toy menu for kids of all ages so no matter your age you will be entertained. I loved traveling directly to the terminal by private car (2018 BMW 750). It is a truly luxurious experience.

The Private Suite was the perfect way to start my adventures in London!

VIDEO: Will You Love the Private Suite at LAX?

What did we do in London?

Thank you to The Rubens at the Palace for a fantastic stay. Our address was literally Buckingham Palace Road and we were steps from the Palace where the Queen was in residence. We saw the Palace at daytime and night time. We walked through Hyde Park and saw the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. We loved afternoon tea at Egerton House Hotel which is also part of Red Carnation Hotels. In the evening, we saw COMPANY at the Gielgud Theater. The show is a twist on the original with Bobbie as a female bachelor this time. I visited Harrods for the first time and loved all the holiday decorations in the store and around the town.

VIDEO: Do You Want To Explore London With Me?

We found a changing of the guard:

“The Four ‘O’ Clock Parade, also known as the Dismounting Ceremony and Punishment Parade takes place at 16:00 hours in the courtyard in front of the Horse Guards building.(Facing Whitehall).

The guards are inspected by an Officer and then the mounted guards take the horses back to the stables for the night.

Two dismounted sentries will then guard the entrance until 20:00 when the gates to Horse Guards are closed and then one sentry will remain on duty until 07:00 when the gates re-open.

The 4 ‘o’ Clock Parade started in 1894 when Queen Victoria found the entire guard drinking and gambling while on duty.

As a punishment, she said they had to be inspected every day at 4pm by an officer for the next 100 years!

The 100 years finished in 1994. However, the reigning Queen wanted the parade to continue as a tradition.”

VIDEO: Did You See The Punishment Inspection?

Lisa and Julie at The Rubens at the Palace

Lisa and Julie at High Tea at the Egerton House Hotel

The Rubens at the Palace at night

Is there anywhere better than London at Christmas? Thanks for featuring our wonderful properties, looks like you had a blast!

— Red Carnation Hotels (@red_carnation) January 17, 2019

Fantastic vlog!! 😍 @rubenshotel @red_carnation @wesaidgotravel @SurfnSunshine https://t.co/Ja0AAOo8ol

— Egerton House Hotel (@Egerton_Hotel) January 18, 2019

Award Winning Giveaway for Critic’s Choice on KTLA

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Jan 12, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

Watch Sam Rubin and Jessica Holmes on KTLA on January 13, 2018 from 2 to 4pm live or on livestream and you can WIN an award winning giveaway curated by We Said Go Travel.

What will you win?
2 nights at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

Dinner for Two at Jean Georges Beverly Hills

Hair and Make-up from GlamSquad

This package is worth over $2000!

WATCH KTLA Live or LIVE STREAM

I recently stayed at The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and I love the superior king room which is part of this award winning giveaway.

Enjoy the view from the balcony at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

Executive Chef Steve Benjamin told us about his award winning dishes at Jean Georges. Dinner for two is part of this winning package.

Filming with Executive Chef Steve Benjamin in the kitchen!

Get all glammed up for your stay with GlamSquad.

Thank you to GlamSquad for making me look like a star for my KTLA Segment!

LIVE UNFORGETTABLE

“Perfectly located in the heart of Beverly Hills, Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills exemplifies the very best of the California good life. From the moment you step inside, you’ll know you’ve arrived at the center of extraordinary.”

Sunset at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

GLAM SQUAD

Glamsquad is a must-have for award season. Whether you are on the red carpet or watching from home, Glamsquad’s beauty pro’s will get you ready. Winner will receive :“one month of glam” 2 blowouts + 2 makeup applications (Valued at $300)

What is GlamSquad? Glamsquad is a beauty services company that offers hair, makeup and nails in NYC, LA, Miami, DC, Boston and San Francisco/Bay Area. Glamsquad services are easily booked through the Glamsquad app or website. Their mission as a next generation beauty and lifestyle brand is to connect like-minded beauty enthusiasts through personalized in-home experiences. Glamsquad’s talented and trusted beauty professionals are hand-selected and rigorously vetted to guarantee consistent, high quality results. Using our intelligent, data-driven technology, we expertly match our professionals and clients to ensure an elevated and customized experience with every appointment.

Thank you to Kimberly, Jason and the entire KTLA team!

Thank you to Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and GlamSquad.KImb

What Will You Love At DEMA?

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Jan 10, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

What happens at the DEMA Dive Show?

Watch my video and see!! This is from the Nov 14 to 17, 2018 conference in Las Vegas:

VIDEO: What happens at the DEMA Dive Show?

DEMA is the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association show which is the largest trade-only event in the world for companies doing business in the scuba diving, ocean water sports and adventure/dive travel industries. It attracts hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of dive and travel industry professionals from around the world each year. The next show will be in Orlando on November 13-16, 2019.

During the show, I saw Wyland who I had met earlier in 2018 on the NCL Bliss. I love learning from Jean Michel Cousteau! He spoke with Scuba Radio and gave a talk about underwater wonders.

Video: What will you learn from Jean Michel Cousteau?

Did you know Bonaire is a blue destination? I loved my trips there and to the Solomon Islands.

Have you heard singing in Fiji? Enjoy the music in my video.

Where do you want to dive next? I want to go to the Galapagos and PNG for my first visits.

I learned about diving in Oman at the Aggressor talk.

Thank you to everyone who is working together to deal with invasive lion fish. I cannot wait to learn to spear lion fish and take the new specialty class.

Read my dive articles and watch my dive videos and adventures here.

I look forward to seeing you underwater! Lisa

see photo gallery on We Said Go Travel

Susan and I became associate members of the Women Diver’s Hall of Fame!

Where did I stay in Vegas?

2018 An Amazing Year: WSGT December News

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Jan 4, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

Dec News 2018 with We Said Go Travel:

Happy December and festivals of light. I hope you are bringing light to your corner of the darkness!

Where did I wander in 2018? What happened this year? I was on TV, I went traveling, my YouTube channel grew and grew and I went to so many different conferences. Read all about it here: Where were Lisa’s Wonderful Wanderings in 2018?

Thank you to Ms. Magazine for publishing my story about empathy:

The Virtual Search for IRL Empathy
Read all of my Ms. Magazine stories here. I am honored to write for this incredible magazine. My first print story for Ms. Magazine will be in the Winter issue in January 2019.

We Said Go Travel was read in 212 countries in 2018.

Thank you to Artworks PC on Main Street in Park City, Utah! I am so excited to have my art on exhibit in your gallery! Read more about my art here.

Thank you to Erin from Explore with Erin for including me in her Travelocity article on where to celebrate Christmas.

Thank you to Travel Awaits for interviewing me for their series. Read: Interview With Adventure Travel Blogger Lisa Niver:

“.@wesaidgotravel talks about staying in gers in Mongolia, skiing in Banff, classes in Thailand, and more!”

“Remember you do not have to go alone in this world. Take a buddy and try something new! It is amazing!” – We Said Go Travel

Thank you again Travel Awaits!

Thank you to Lindsey Tiger for including me in her Travel and Leisure article: talking about using my MacBook Air on plane rides.

Thank you to everyone who entered our 2018 Travel Photo Award. I am publishing the fantastic photos once a day! Click here to see the most recently published entries. Once all the entries are published, I will announce the finalists most likely at the end of summer 2019.

In December, I traveled to Las Vegas for the DEMA Scuba show and I enjoyed London with friends before ILTM Cannes 2018. I will share photos and stories next month.

See VIDEOs from all the conferences I went to this year:

WHERE CAN YOU FIND MY TRAVEL VIDEOS?

Here is the link to my video channel on YouTube where I have over 857,133 views on YouTube! Thank you for your support! Are you a subscriber? I hope you will join me and subscribe!

Recent video from my trip to Philadelphia:

My YouTube channel had over 1.4 million impressions in 2018.

Thank you for your support! My YouTube channel has over 850,000 views and 1948 subscribers.

Thank you! I am so proud of all I have accomplished this year. Thank you for watching my videos, reading my stories, following along on social media and asking me about booking your travels!

I am now planning and booking travel! Where do you want to wander? Find more information about me and my luxury travel advising as an independent affiliate of CRUISE and RESORT, Inc with Virtuoso Luxury Travel Network on my new microsite!

My fortune cookies said:

“Your keen sense of humor will make you many good friends.”

“Your laugh and enthusiasm pleases those around you.”

“Cheerful company and a merry time are ahead for you.”

I hope you have enjoyed many festivals of light this holiday season and that you feel you have accomplished many of your 2018 goals. I cannot wait for 2019 so I can have more exciting adventures and share great stories.
Thank you for your all of your support. Lisa

Discover more on my social media accounts: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and at LisaNiver.com. My social media following is now over 140,000 and I am verified on both Twitter and Facebook.

.@wesaidgotravel talks about staying in gers in Mongolia, skiing in Banff, classes in Thailand, and more! https://t.co/xoPI3uYTem

— Travel Awaits (@TravelAwaitsNow) December 26, 2018

On Fohr card, I have 131,729 followers on December 12, 2018

On Buzzoole, I have 205,000 followers on Dec 12, 2018.

Thank you for your support!

Happy New Year!

Travelocity: Taking Christmas To A Whole New Level

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Jan 2, 2019 | We Said Go Travel

Author’s note: Thank you to Erin from Explore with Erin for including me in her Travelocity article about Christmas at a whole new level!

Europe Cruise

Lisa from We Said Go Travel regals me with her tales of Christmas Markets across Europe.

“I went to my very first European Christmas markets and tasted my first Gluhwein. I highly recommend the Budapest Christmas market as well as the Central market of Pest. On our morning Vienna bus tour, we saw the sights of the city and a few of the sixteen Christmas markets. We walked around the historic city, St. Stephen’s Church and explored the largest Christmas market.”

Stayed: “I sailed on the Danube River to see dozens of Christmas markets with Viking Cruises. My home for the voyage was the Viking Atla from Budapest to Nurenberg. I absolutely loved that the floors of the bathroom were heated! It felt amazing on chilly mornings!”

Favorite Activity: “My favorite thing on the ship was learning to make Apple Strudel and then getting to taste it warm with vanilla ice cream. One day, we went to an incredible gingerbread shop. There were so many holiday tastes and so many ornaments to buy! I loved sailing during the holidays.”

Enjoy the videos from my travels on the Romantic Danube with Viking Cruises:

6 Destinations Taking Christmas To A Whole New Level

by Erin Holmes, Gnational Gnomad

Christmas is coming! Which means now is your chance to escape the winter or embrace the snow. If you’re ready to leave behind Christmas in the burbs this year and head out somewhere really special, Erin Holmes of Explore With Erin has you covered. Having celebrated Christmases all over the world, here are her picks for the best Christmas destinations.

I love Christmas. I love presents and family and friends and all the food. But sometimes Christmas can be overwhelming. Sometimes there is just so much to do and so much to plan that somewhere along the way Christmas lost a little bit of its magic.

So one year the kids and I up and left. We jumped on board a Christmas cruise and spent Christmas day in the middle of the ocean in the South Pacific somewhere. It was magical.

Read the full article on Travelocity

Lisa Niver on Viking Alta for the Christmas Market Cruise on the Romantic Danube

Read Erin’s interview of me in her series, Nomad No More.

Read my interview of Erin in my Travel Influencer series.

Erin Lisa and Alex at Blogher August 2016 in Los Angeles

Thank you to Erin for including me in her Travelocity article, “10 Creative Ways To Stay Fit While You Travel:” Pack a Hula-Hoop

I was also in Cacinda Maloney’s Travelocity article about “Best Places to Visit in the USA in 2017:” Scottsdale, Arizona

Explore with Erin and We Said Go Travel at Travel Media Showcase

Where were Lisa’s Wonderful Wanderings in 2018?

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Dec 21, 2018 | We Said Go Travel

Where did I wander in 2018?

What happened this year?

Television:
I was on KTLA talking travel!

Lisa Niver Live on KTLA with Lu Parker, Mark Mester, Kaj Goldberg.

My KTLA TV segment about Ogden, Utah had over 7 million Twitter impressions! Watch it here.
Did you see me LIVE on the 1pm news with KTLA? We did a giveaway getaway about Palms Springs! Watch it here.
SMT (Satellite Media Tour) about Monterey County
- From NBC 12 News: Visit the Place Where Big Little Lies Calls Home
- ABC Action News: Big Little Truths: The Gems of Monterey County
- Fox5 The Morning Blend: Spring Travel With Lisa Ellen Niver
- Find all my video, article and social links on my LisaNiver website

I spoke at the Hollywood Improv!

My Art was in the gallery, Artworks PC, on main street in Park City, Utah! And in an art show at The Clayhouse in Santa Monica, California.

“Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” @DeanKarnazes Thank you to everyone for all of your support for my #art, my #writing, my #videos and my #travels. I am honored.
More #Photos: https://t.co/5HkzQUg9XV #ArtworksPC #ParkCity #ceramics pic.twitter.com/miF8NECMng

— Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) August 7, 2018

Conferences: Click here to see all of the conference videos

ILTM Cannes 2018
DEMA in Las Vegas November, 2018
AdWeek in NYC with the Girls’ Lounge
Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas in August 2018
Travel Classics Montreal
AT&T Shape at Warner Brothers
Scuba Show 2018 in Long Beach, California
VidCon: The YouTube Conference
Canada Media Marketplace in San Francisco
Google International Women’s Day
Walk with me at the Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show

2018 Finalist for three categories of Southern California Journalism Awards:

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY REPORTING: Smithsonian
TRAVEL REPORTING: Popsugar Fitness
PERSONALITY PROFILE: Saturday Evening Post

Lisa Niver and We Said Go Travel are #4 on the Top 1000+ Travel Blogger List

Travel Adventures and Videos

Videos about recent trips to Las Vegas, London and Cannes are in the works!
Philadelphia for LBBC Butterfly Ball
NYC for BIANYS walk
Walking with Polar Bears with Churchill Wild and visiting Winnipeg and Toronto
Country #100 and my first Africa Safari with Abercrombie and Kent to Tanzania and Kenya
Meeting Wyland on the NCL Norwegian Bliss
Canada from Vancouver to Montreal and skiing in Banff
Viva Las Vegas: Staying at Cosmopolitan, Helicopter to the Grand Canyon and Cooking class with Christina Tosi
Ogden Skiing
Park City Skiing
Sky Diving for my birthday with GoJump Oceanside!
SharkSchool

Lisa Niver in the Grand Canyon

Lisa’s articles:

Ms. Magazine:
Scuba Diver Life Is it Safe to Swim with Jellyfish?
AARP : “How to Stay Fit on Vacation: 6 easy exercises you can do when you’re away from home.”
Wharton Magazine: How to Succeed in Hollywood Wharton students met with alumni in show business through the Wharton Industry Exploration Program
ScubaDiverLife: A Visit to SharkSchool in Playa del Carmen: When a shark attack occurs, it’s often the animal who gets the blame. SharkSchool in Playa del Carmen aims to change that perception through research and education.
American Way for American Airlines: Is Your Experience “PAWS-itive” at the Airport?
Saturday Evening Post: Live Your Own Life: The Journey of Paralympic Athlete Saylor O’Brien
Frankly Penn: What can you do with a Women’s Studies Degree?
Wharton Magazine: Shark Tank Star’s Secrets to Business Success
Robb Report: 5 Sky-High Heli-Skiing Adventures
Skiing with the National Ability Center in The Inertia

Enkereri school children in Maasai Mara. Photo by Matt Payne

Lisa in other people’s articles:

Thank you to Nora Roberts for including me in her Creditwalk article: “30 of the Smartest Travel Moves Ever Made”
I was highlighted as a Virtuoso Luxury Travel Advisor in the print edition of Virtuoso Life Magazine!
Women’s Health: Your Biggest Regret
Travelocity: 10 Creative Ways To Stay Fit While You Travel: learn about my hula hooping in Erin‘s article
Thrillist: Why People are Weirdly Obsessed with Southwest Airlines
Five Star Holiday: Travel Bloggers Favorite Items
The Good Life Radio Show:
- Talking Travel with Mike Wreyford
- Nov 2018 Talking Travel with the Good Life
My Career Advice in The Ladders
See me in the Top 10 Travel Blogs for Entrepreneurs
Nomad No More on Explore with Erin
How One Woman is Inspiring a Traveling World on Vagabondway

What happened in:
2017

2016

2014

More articles, TV, videos (nearly 900,000 views), social (over 140k) at LisaNiver.com

Lisa Niver at the Hollywood Improv Feb 2018

Where were Lisa’s Wonderful Wanderings in 2018?

I am Grateful: WSGT November News 2018

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Nov 29, 2018 | We Said Go Travel

Nov News 2018 with We Said Go Travel:

I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday and time with the people who are important to you. My aunt and uncle hosted 48 family members for a wonderful dinner with not one, not two but three turkeys! Thank you to everyone who has asked about my mother, she continues to recover amazingly quickly from her fall and has a great attitude!

Thank you to Ms. Magazine for publishing two more of my stories:

Polar Bears Can’t Vote, So You Have To!

Dr. Stephen Petersen, head of conservation and research at Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre, has only one word of advice for the environmentally conscious this week: “Vote.” …. Polar bears are at the top trophic level of the food chain, and climate change is having a massive impact on their lives. As their environments evolve, Petersen is calling for more marine protected areas and doing work to protect the denning areas where polar bears have their babies. But there are many species that need to be protected—birds in Papua New Guinea, orangutans in Indonesia and polar bears in the Arctic among them.
Are You Ready for the Feminine Revolution?

I have been told that I am too sensitive or too emotional. I’ve been told that I use too many capital letters. I have been told repeatedly that my emails scared someone, that I should tone it down to appear professional. (I was even named “Most Likely to Clap Her Hands for No Reason” in my high school yearbook.)

It’s true: I have always been enthusiastic and had more obvious feelings than others in a room. That’s why I loved reading The Feminine Revolution: 21 Ways to Ignite the Power of Your Femininity for a Brighter Life and a Better World, by Catherine Connors and Amy Stanton, which flipped the narrative—and encouraged women like me to reframe old standards that have claimed that “traditional” feminine traits are weak or bad.

I am honored to write for this incredible magazine. My first print story for Ms. Magazine will be in the Winter issue.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE ON MS. MAGAZINE

Thank you to Mike Wreyford for having me on his radio show, The Good Life, for my 3rd visit. Listen to us here: Talking Travel on The Good Life.

Thank you to everyone who entered our 2018 Travel Photo Award. As soon as my tech wizard gives me the okay, I will start publishing the fantastic photos!

Walking with Polar Bears by Lisa Niver with Churchill Wild near Hudson Bay

Recent Travels to Canada and Vegas:

Did you see all of my stories and videos from my Adventures in Canada with Churchill Wild:
Part One: Do You Want to Walk with Polar Bears?
Part Two: Are You Ready for an Adventure? Walk with Polar Bears
Part Three: How Do You Get To Churchill Wild?

and my time in Winnipeg: Are You Ready to Discover Wonderful Winnipeg?

Have you always wanted to go behind the scenes at the Bellagio Fountains? Join me for a private daytime fountain tour:

VIDEO: Join Me Behind the Scenes at the Bellagio Fountains

Learn more about my Vegas adventures with Virtuoso when I stayed at ARIA this summer:

What FUN Happened At Virtuoso Travel Week?
What Happened At Virtuoso Travel Week?

WHERE CAN YOU FIND MY TRAVEL VIDEOS?

Here is the link to my video channel on YouTube where I have over 842,627 views on YouTube! Thank you for your support! Are you a subscriber? I hope you will join me and subscribe!

Recent video from Nashuva Band: Happy almost Chanukah! May your holiday season be filled with music and light.

Thank you! I am so proud of all I have accomplished this year. Thank you for watching my videos, reading my stories, following along on social media and asking me about booking your travels!

I am now planning and booking travel! Where do you want to wander? Find more information about me and my luxury travel advising as an independent affiliate of CRUISE and RESORT, Inc with Virtuoso Luxury Travel Network on my new microsite!

My fortune cookies said:

“Don’t be afraid to take that big step.” And

“Our greatest glory is not in never failing but in rising every time we fall.”

I hope your entire year will be filled with celebrations!
Thank you for your all of your support. Lisa

Discover more on my social media accounts: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and at LisaNiver.com. My social media following is now over 140,000 and I am verified on both Twitter and Facebook.

Lisa Niver’s selfie with a Polar Bear with Churchill Wild

Are You Ready to Discover Wonderful Winnipeg?

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Nov 26, 2018 | We Said Go Travel

I went to Winnipeg in order to get to Churchill to walk with the Polar Bears. Click here to see my articles and videos about that bucket list experience. I was not expecting to discover a city full of treasures! It is located in the center of Canada with a population of 800,000 and was the third largest city during the height of the Railroad. What did I see and do? Watch my video: Exploring Wonderful Winnipeg

What to see and do in Winnipeg?

International Polar Bear Research Centre is located at Assiniboine Park Zoo and houses rescued polar bear cubs from Churchill. I met with Dr. Stephen Petersen to talk about the Polar Bears and how we can help the environment. Read about what he told me in Ms. Magazine.

View this post on Instagram

Thank you to Dr. Stephen Petersen from @assiniboineparkzoo for talking to me about #PolarBears and how we can help them. Thank you to @ms_magazine for publishing my article: “Polar Bears Can’t Vote, So You Have To!” http://msmagazine.com/blog/2018/11/05/polar-bears-cant-vote/ Thank you @carmenriosss #MsMagazine @StephenResearch #Vote for people who care about the #environment. @churchillwildsafaris #ChurchillWild #manitoba411 #gowpg #onlyinthepeg #winnipeg #manitoba #ExploreMB #canada #ExploreCanada @tourismwinnipeg @TravelManitoba #saveourseaice #conservationcounts #assiniboineparkzoo #Polarbear http://msmagazine.com/blog/2018/11/05/polar-bears-cant-vote/ @stephenresearch

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Nov 6, 2018 at 11:15am PST

The Inuit Art Centre will open its own new building at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in 2020 and will have the world’s largest collection of public Inuit art to share with the world.

View this post on Instagram

Thank you to #WAG for sharing your art collection with me and taking me into my very first museum vault! I cannot wait to come back in 2020 and see these treasures displayed in your new centre! Did you know that The Winnipeg Art Gallery was founded in 1912? It is Canada’s oldest civic gallery and the 6th largest in the country! The new building that will house the Inuit Art Centre with the world’s only glass vault and will be the world’s largest public collection of contemporary Inuit Art with over 13,000 pieces of contemporary and traditional artworks. In 2020, when the new centre opens on Manitoba’s 150th birthday, The WAG Inuit Art Centre will display half of this extraordinary collection permanently. The full collection will be shared online to help students around the world deepen their understanding of Inuit culture. @wag_ca #InuitArtCentre #inuitart #atwag #finditdowntown #art #museum #gallery #winnipegartgallery #wpgevents #manitoba411 #gowpg #onlyinthepeg #winnipeg #manitoba #ExploreMB #canada #ExploreCanada @tourismwinnipeg @TravelManitoba

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Oct 28, 2018 at 10:52am PDT

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights opened in 2014 and is inspiring change with human rights stories from around the world. https://humanrights.ca

View this post on Instagram

“It always seems impossible until it is done.” Nelson Mandela At the incredible Canadian Museum for Human Rights, there is an exhibit about Nelson Mandela. I loved the entire museum. I hope that everyone travels to wonderful Winnipeg to see the first national museum to be built in nearly half a century, and the first outside the National Capital Region. The purpose of the museum is to “explore the subject of human rights with a special but not exclusive reference to Canada, in order to enhance the public’s understanding of human rights, to promote respect for others and to encourage reflection and dialogue.”[4] It held its opening ceremonies on 19 September 2014. I highly recommend a visit to this museum and to the many spectacular attractions in Winnipeg. I believe we all need to focus more on being respectful and knowledgeable about each other. @cmhr_mcdp #Winnipeg #OnlyinthePeg #ExploreMB #canada #ExploreCanada #AtCMHR #AuMCDP @theforkswinnipeg #HumanRights #Museum #Peace #Hope #Diversity #Inclusion

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Oct 21, 2018 at 1:24pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

“Trust is earned in the smallest moments. It is earned not through heroic deeds, or even highly visible actions, but through paying attention, listening and gestures of genuine care and connection.”Brene Brown Shabbat Shalom! When I was in Winnipeg at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, I learned about Viola Desmond and how she is being honored on the new $10 bill. “Desmond is the first black person — and the first non-royal woman — to be featured on a regularly circulating Canadian bank note.” “It was long overdue for a banknote to feature an iconic Canadian woman,” said Stephen Poloz, Governor of the Bank of Canada to applause in both Winnipeg and Halifax. “Desmond is often described as Canada’s Rosa Parks after she refused to leave her seat in the “whites only” section at the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow, N.S., in 1946. Desmond, 32, was dragged out of the theatre by police and jailed.”https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/cmhr-10-dollar-bill-1.4567809 @cmhr_mcdp #Winnipeg #OnlyinthePeg #ExploreMB #canada #ExploreCanada #AtCMHR #AuMCDP @theforkswinnipeg #HumanRights #Museum @tourismwinnipeg @TravelManitoba

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Oct 26, 2018 at 3:00pm PDT

Who inspired the character of James Bond 007?

Sir William Stephenson was a solder who was from Winnipeg and his code name was Intrepid.

View this post on Instagram

Did you know that the real life James Bond, Sir William Stephenson, was from Winnipeg? His code name was “Intrepid.” I learned about him on the #Winnipeg trolley tour. People have been gathering at The Forks where the tour starts for 6,000 years. Maybe you should visit too! I loved learning about the history of Winnipeg and the stories of the people. I cannot wait to go back to this great city! It was so much fun! I highly recommend it. @WinnipegTrolley #winnipegtrolley #assiniboinepark #innattheforks #travelmanitoba #tourismwinnipeg #winnipegtrolley #citytour #meetmeattheforks #OnlyinthePeg #ExploreMB #canada #ExploreCanada #007 #jamesbond #jamesbond007 https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2015-featured-story-archive/the-intrepid-life-of-sir-william-stephenson.html The Intrepid Life of Sir William Stephenson Pilot, prisoner, inventor, spy – Sir William Stephenson lived a courageous life full of adventure and derring-do. (Many people consider him one of the real-life inspirations for James Bond.) In honor of his 118th birthday last month, here are a few tales of one of WWII’s most infamous intelligence officers, the man code-named “Intrepid.” Stephenson, born in Winnipeg, Canada on January 23, 1897, distinguished himself at a young age. In WWI he was a fighter pilot in the Royal Flying Corps, bringing down 12 German aircraft. Shot down and captured on a mission, Stephenson managed to escape in October 1918. After the war ended, Stephenson became an entrepreneur and inventor, but he grew concerned about the growing power of Nazi Germany. He was a friend of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who sent Stephenson to New York City in 1940 to run the British Security Coordination Office, the operational and liaison arm of UK Intelligence in the US. The job made Stephenson Britain’s top intelligence officer in the United States.

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Oct 23, 2018 at 11:38am PDT

Where to relax?

I had my first Scandinavian Spa experience at Thermëa – Winnipeg. It is very close to the city but feels 1000s of miles away. As they say, “Discover Thermëa: The ultimate relaxation experience!” There are 4 outdoor baths, 4 saunas including one with Eucalyptus and an indoor/outdoor restaurant. You can make s’mores and relax in a hammock.

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As I have told you before, I really loved my time in Winnipeg. I had my first Scandinavian Spa experience at Thermëa – Winnipeg. It is very close to the city but feels 1000s of miles away. As they say, “Discover Thermëa: The ultimate relaxation experience!” There are 4 outdoor baths, 4 saunas including one with Eucalyptus and an indoor/outdoor restaurant. You can make s’mores and relax in a hammock. See you there! @thermeawinnipeg #thermëa #coldplunge #spa #hotcoldrelaxrepeat #hotandcold #relax #winnipeg #manitoba #eatinyourrobe #refresh Open 9a-10pm all year round – except Dec 25th.www.thermea.ca

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Oct 27, 2018 at 8:07am PDT

Where to see art and meet the artists?
First Fridays in The Exchange

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As an artist, I love to see other people’s studios and talk with them about how they create. Cheryl took me to First Fridays in Winnipeg and I saw where her photography is exhibited at Warehouse Artworks. I also met Lennard Taylor and saw his designs and shop. Marielle, Lennard, Cheryl and I talked about how important it is NEVER GIVE UP “Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” Harriet Beecher Stowe “Positivity, confidence, and persistence are key in life, so never give up on yourself.” Khalid The world needs more art and peace and creativity. Thank you to all the artists and galleries for a wonderful night in the Exchange. https://www.warehouseartworks.net/ https://www.firstfridayswinnipeg.org/ https://lennardtaylor.com/ #manitoba411 #gowpg #onlyinthepeg #winnipeg #manitoba #ExploreMB #canada #ExploreCanada @tourismwinnipeg @TravelManitoba

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Oct 30, 2018 at 11:21am PDT

Where to stay?
I loved Inn at the Forks and was lucky enough to have drinks with local writer, Shel Zolkewich at SMITH.

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“As soon as I saw you, I knew a grand adventure was about to happen.” – Winnie The Pooh This quote from Winnie the Pooh is so appropriate! I met Shel at Travel Classics in Montreal and was thrilled to spend time with her in Winnipeg. I learned that the story of Winnie the Pooh was based on a bear who lived in the London Zoo who was from Winnipeg so his name became Winnie. A boy named Christopher used to visit the bear with his father who wrote a story about them! There are so many incredible places to see in Winnipeg. I loved my first visit! #OnlyInThePeg #Winnipeg #ExploreMB #ChurchillWild #explorecanada #canada #meetmeattheforks

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Oct 20, 2018 at 11:00am PDT

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As election fever takes hold of the United States, I wanted to share another post from Winnipeg and the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. What Are Human Rights?https://humanrights.ca/exhibit/what-are-human-rights How do you put human rights in a museum? You have to tell the stories of the people. Come experience the exhibits and think about what has happened on our continent, across our globe and what is happening right now. The goal is to illuminate human rights and leave uplifted and inspired. School groups are welcome and there is a special family day on Sundays. Right now, they have these exhibits: Nelson Mandela: Struggle for Freedom: Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years, but he never gave in to hate. Walk in the footsteps of the man they called Madiba and learn the legacy of his struggle for freedom. Witness the struggle for freedom that changed everything. One Woman’s Resistance: Viola Desmond’s Story How far would you go to fight for your rights? By refusing to change seats and by fighting her conviction in court, Viola Desmond directly challenged segregation in Canada. She will be on the new $10 bill in Canada read more: http://bit.ly/2PIwgcM I hope that we can achieve what Nelson Mandela wished for: “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.” @cmhr_mcdp #Winnipeg #OnlyinthePeg #ExploreMB #canada #ExploreCanada #AtCMHR #AuMCDP @theforkswinnipeg #HumanRights #Museum #Peace #Hope #Diversity #Inclusion

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Nov 4, 2018 at 10:50am PST

Read Polar Bears Can’t Vote, So You Have To! on Ms. Magazine

Do you want to walk with the Polar Bears?

Read and watch all of my Churchill Wild Adventures:
Part One: Do You Want to Walk with Polar Bears?
Part Two: Are You Ready for an Adventure? Walk with Polar Bears
Part Three: How Do You Get To Churchill Wild?

How Do You Get To Churchill Wild?

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Nov 23, 2018 | We Said Go Travel

This is Part Three of my adventures walking with Polar Bears with Churchill Wild at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge. Click to read Part One and Two.

Are you wondering how to visit the Polar Bears? See my videos below for the steps to get from Los Angeles to Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge.

Video #7: How do you get to Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge?

Churchill Wild Adventure Begins…September 2018
At Churchill Wild, you can walk with the polar bears.
I flew from Los Angeles to Vancouver, then Vancouver to Winnipeg and stayed overnight at The Grand Hotel across from the terminal. My first night I had dinner with another writer, Shel at the Blue Marble.

I met my group at the hotel the next day. We had an orientation meeting and dinner at the hotel and in the morning woke up and walked back across theto the airport.
We flew from Winnipeg to Churchill and then took a Cessna flight up to Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge by York Factory and Hudson Bay.
I was so excited to glimpse our home from the air and we saw polar bears too.
There are 8 rooms at the lodge.
We put out bags in our rooms and went to get our boots and jackets to get ready for our first ride on the arctic rhinos and go exploring.

Video #8: Fly from Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge to Churchill

Enjoy the views and fly with me from Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge to Churchill. I sat front right seat and took as much video as I could to share with you!

Video #9: Do you want to see POLAR BEARS?

Walking with Polar Bears September 2018 with Lisa Niver.
Please enjoy my videos of polar bears from my trip to Nanuk Polar Bears Lodge.
I traveled with Churchill Wild. I decided to make a video of only the polar bear footage for you to enjoy. Please see the other videos for wolves and everything else that happened! Safe Travels! Lisa

Video #10: Do you want to see WOLVES?

Walking with Wolves September 2018 with Lisa Niver.
Please enjoy my video of wolves from my trip to Nanuk Polar Bears Lodge.
I traveled with Churchill Wild. I decided to make a video of only the wolf footage for you to enjoy. Please see the other videos for polar bears and everything else that happened! Safe Travels! Lisa

Read and watch all of my Churchill Wild Adventures:
Part One: Do You Want to Walk with Polar Bears?
Part Two: Are You Ready for an Adventure? Walk with Polar Bears
Part Three: How Do You Get To Churchill Wild?
On Ms Magazine: Polar Bears Can’t Vote, So You Have To!

Are You Ready for an Adventure? Walk with Polar Bears

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Nov 19, 2018 | We Said Go Travel

This is Part Two of my adventures walking with Polar Bears with Churchill Wild at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge. Click here to read Part One. When are you going to touch the Arctic?

I absolutely loved this experience. Please enjoy my videos to see what our days were like riding the Arctic Rhino and walking with wild animals.

Lisa Niver’s selfie with a Polar Bear with Churchill Wild

VIDEO: Watch My Video And See Where We Walked with Polar Bears!

Today (September 3, 2018) was another day of polar bears and wolves and wolves and polar bears! I might rename it Nanuk Polar Bear and Wolf lodge because we have seen so many wolves. Churchill Wild has been here for 25 years and we are wondering when are you coming to see the polar bears and the wolves!
Enjoy my videos to see what a day is like exploring with Churchill Wild!
I was glad that they lent us rubber boats and rain pants and coats. We walked in some very muddy conditions. They also had walking sticks that you could borrow! I especially liked the blankets that we could use in the Arctic Rhino. You can make friends, be in nature and see amazing creatures! I loved it!

Churchill Wild Arctic Safaris: Getting ready to see Polar Bears

VIDEO: Did we see Polar Bears at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge?

Video from Sept 5, 2018 Our last day at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge
Churchill Wild and Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge I have had the most incredible time! I cannot wait
to come back. How cold was it? I wore all my clothes! Make sure to check the weather for York
Factory and not Churchill!

Thank you for watching my videos with wolves and polar bears! When are you going to touch the Arctic?

VIDEO: Can you see the Northern Lights with Churchill Wild?

Is it on your bucket list to see the Northern Lights?
Come to Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge where we saw the Aurora Borealis for more than an hour.
We saw all different colors and the lights were dancing all across the sky.
It was truly one of the most magical things I have ever seen.

Where did we stay to see Polar Bears?

Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge with Churchill Wild

Click here to see all of my Polar Bear videos!

I wrote about the Polar Bears from my visit with Dr. Petersen at the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre, Winnipeg, Canada for Ms. Magazine. Click here to read: “Polar Bears Can’t Vote, So You Have To!”

Group photo Churchill Wild Sept 2018 Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge

Happy Birthday to Me: Oct News 2018

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Oct 25, 2018 | We Said Go Travel

Oct News 2018 with We Said Go Travel:

Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes! I am so proud of all I have accomplished this year. Thank you for watching my videos, reading my stories, following along on social media and asking me about booking your travels! I was LIVE on the 1pm KTLA NEWS!

Did you see me? Click here to see it AGAIN!

Lisa Niver on an Arctic Safari with Churchill Wild finding polar bears!

Thank you to Ms. Magazine for publishing my story: “Reverse Mentoring with GenMaverick: The Five Best Lessons I Learned From Teen Feminists.” I was honored to be asked to be a mentor/catalyst for Maverick. This story is from the Maverick Live Summit in April 2018.

“At the inaugural Maverick Live Summit in Los Angeles, teens took the stage to celebrate the new app’s intent to empower young girls to use their voices—and shared honest stories about their paths to incredible accomplishments. From being on “Grown-ish” to being the first African-American woman ever to qualify for a U.S. Olympic speed skating team, the passionate young women who gathered in Los Angeles for the summit showed the crowd of teens that anything is possible and encouraged them to be creative and empowered.

Collectively and individually they told each other and the crowd: “Take risks! Dream big. Let your voice be heard!”

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE ON MS. MAGAZINE

My Travel Photo Award is open until November 1, 2018. Thank you to everyone who participated in all of my writing competitions and the first photo award. Submit your photo for our current Photo Award THIS MONTH!

Did you see all of my Africa stories and videos from my trip to Tanzania and Kenya with Abercrombie and Kent?

Part 1: Where Did I Travel on My First African Safari?

Part 2: Are You Ready? Today We Are Going to the Serengeti!

Part 3: What is the Best Way to Travel from Tanzania to Kenya?

Part 4: How can you see Black Rhino, Maasai Warriors and Hula Hoops?

Part 5: Do You Love The Animals of Africa?

Thank you to Abercrombie and Kent for sharing so many of my photos from our East African safari on their Facebook page:

Travel expert and writer, Lisa Ellen Niver, recently returned from a safari in East Africa with A&K. Here she shares some of the highlights from her recent adventure.We Said Go Travel

Posted by Abercrombie & Kent USA on Thursday, October 11, 2018

WHERE CAN YOU FIND MY TRAVEL VIDEOS?

Here is the link to my video channel on YouTube where I have over 826,000 views on YouTube! Thank you for your support! Are you a subscriber? I hope you will join me and subscribe!

Recent videos from walking with Polar Bears in Canada with Churchill Wild:

I am now planning and booking travel! Where do you want to wander? Find more information about me and my luxury travel advising as an independent affiliate of CRUISE and RESORT, Inc with Virtuoso Luxury Travel Network on my new microsite!

My fortune cookies said: “Don’t be discouraged because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward,” and “Courtesy costs nothing.”

I hope your birthday and entire year will be filled with celebrations!
Thank you for your all of your support. Lisa

Discover more on my social media accounts: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and at LisaNiver.com. My social media following is now over 135,000 and I am verified on both Twitter and Facebook.

Lisa Niver at the opening summit for Maverick Live, April 2018

Do You Love The Animals Of Africa?

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Oct 11, 2018 | We Said Go Travel

Please enjoy part 5 of my video journey through Tanzania and Kenya with Abercrombie and Kent Luxury Tailor Made Journeys.

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four and the final videos Part Five:

I loved being on my very first African safari. I filmed so much footage of the animals and I wanted to be able to share it with you. Please find videos below that are mainly of one animal. If you want to see where we stayed, what we ate, how we got from place to place please see the first 13 videos in this series here.

Video #14 Do you want to see ZEBRAS?

Please enjoy my videos of zebras from Tanzania and Kenya in Tarangire, Serengeti and Maasai Mara from my safari in July 2018.

Video #15 Do you want to see GIRAFFES?

Please enjoy my videos of giraffes from Tanzania and Kenya in Tarangire, Serengeti and Maasai Mara from my safari in July 2018.

Video #16 Do you want to see LIONS?

Please enjoy my videos of lions from Tanzania and Kenya in Tarangire, Serengeti and Maasai Mara from my safari in July 2018.

Video #17: Do you want to see ELEPHANTS?

Please enjoy my videos of elephants from Tanzania and Kenya in Tarangire, Serengeti and Maasai Mara from my safari in July 2018.

Thank you Abercrombie and Kent! Lisa Niver

Thank you Abercrombie and Kent! I loved my safari adventures! Lisa Niver

Video #18: Do you want to see BABY ANIMALS?

My two favorite things to see on safari in Tanzania and Kenya were baby animals and animals crossing the road. I made this video of just baby animals and animals crossing the road.

Click here to see all of my African Safari videos

Click here for more information and rates!

Part 1: Where Did I Travel on My First African Safari?

Part 2: Are You Ready? Today We Are Going to the Serengeti!

Part 3: What is the Best Way to Travel from Tanzania to Kenya?

Part 4: How can you see Black Rhino, Maasai Warriors and Hula Hoops?

How can you see Black Rhino, Maasai Warriors and Hula Hoops?

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Oct 8, 2018 | We Said Go Travel

Please enjoy part 4 of my video journey through Tanzania and Kenya with Abercrombie and Kent Luxury Tailor Made Journeys.

Part One, Part Two, Part Three and now here is Part Four

Video #9: Will I Love a Safari in Maasai Mara?

#9 Safari in Mara Triangle July 14 2018 and staying at Sanctuary Olonana with Sanctuary Retreats

Staying at Sanctuary Olonana in the Maasai Mara: the rooms are gorgeous, breakfast is fabulous and they even have challah in Kenya. They have everything at Sanctuary Retreats. Cross your fingers we see a rhino today. We have seen 4 of the Big 5 so far.

For our game drive with Duncan, we saw a large family of olive baboons and zebras. We went through Oloololo Gate and explored. We saw elephants, zebras, a lion and a lioness, a water buck, another large male lion, spotted hyena, another lioness, grey crowned cranes, warthog, kingfisher and many many more elephants. At the end of this video playlist are movies of several animals who we spent a lot of time watching: See more footage of elephants, giraffe, lions and baby animals.

In the afternoon after lunch at Sanctuary Olonana, we visited a Maasai village. Chief Richard said I could bring my hula-hoop. See the next movie for more of our adventures with the men, women and children of the village.

I went to see the Sanctuary Olonana Spa which has outdoor treatment rooms so you can hear the sounds of the river and hippos as you relax. Remember your bathing suit because you can go for a swim or sit by the pool.

Watch my video from July 15, our final game drive when we did see the black rhino.
Happy Travels! Lisa

Video #10: Do you want to visit to a Maasai Village?

From Sanctuary Olonana, we went to visit Chef Richard’s village.
He told us—“ As you know, there is Big 5. Do you know what is the Big 6?” Maasai Warriors!”
He was talking to us about polygamy.
You can marry more wives if you have enough cows. 10 cows for 1 wife, 20 cows for 2 wives.
We watched the Maasai Warriors do their jumping dance.I taught them to hula-hoop.
One warrior laughed so hard—he fell down!
We took photos with the men and then went to visit the women and children in the village.
I danced with the women and shared my hula hoop with them.

I loved learning Maasai: Supa means HELLO!
The children came to watch the women of the village dance and sing.
We were invited into the men’s meeting house and learned how they make fire.
I bought several beaded bracelets from the craft marketplace.
Thank you to the village for sharing their time with us and inviting us into their homes.

Video #11: Do You Want to see a Black Rhino?

#11 We saw a Black Rhino on Our Final Game Drive July 15 2018

We woke up at Sanctuary Olonana and I wandered among the beautiful trees on property.
Sanctuary Retreats, Abercrombie and Kent, AK Philanthropy and Sanctuary Retreats Philanthropy have a commitment to the communities where they are building and working. They use local staff, have an organic garden and involve the community to pick their projects. We were able to visit the school that was built by the teams in Africa. The Maasai village owns the land where Sanctuary Olonana is located and receives money for each room night.

On our safari game drives, we saw the great migration of the wildebeest, hundreds of elephants and so many lions.

Sanctuary Olonana has recently been completely renovated and reopened. I have been learning to speak Swahili and Maasai. The staff has been teaching me new words and I can say THANK YOU! Asante Sana. I loved eating breakfast with a view of the river with hippos!

Duncan took us on our final game drive and we saw Maasai with their cattle and then we found the elusive black rhino! We saw all of the Big 5 during our adventures in Tanzania and Kenya. I loved being on safari with Abercrombie and Kent. I cannot wait for your to come on your bucket list trip and enjoy the amazing animals, friendly people and the vast landscape.

Video #12: Do you want to Watch a Maasai Warrior Performance?

#12 Did we visit a Maasai Village in Kenya?
YES!
Watch the Maasai Warrior Performance with Hula Hooping Olonana, Kenya.
Did I teach Maasai Warriors to Hula Hoop?
Yes I did! What an amazing Abercrombie and Kent Small Group Journey!

We were invited to visit a Maasai Village while we were staying at Sanctuary Olonana.

I wanted to share the complete footage of the warriors.

Video #13 Do You Want to See the Maasai Women Sing?

#13 Did we visit a Maasai Village in Kenya?
YES!
Watch the Maasai Women sing and dance!

Did I teach Maasai Women and children to Hula Hoop?
Yes I did! What an amazing Abercrombie and Kent Luxury Tailor Made Journey we had in Tanzania and Kenya.

We were invited to visit a Maasai Village while we were staying at Sanctuary Olonana. I wanted to share the complete footage of the women dancing.

Click here to see all of my African Safari videos

Click here for more information and rates!

Part 1: Where Did I Travel on My First African Safari?

Part 2: Are You Ready? Today We Are Going to the Serengeti!

Part 3: What is the Best Way to Travel from Tanzania to Kenya?

What is the Best Way to Travel from Tanzania to Kenya?

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Oct 4, 2018 | We Said Go Travel

Enkereri School in Kenya. Photo by Matt Payne

Please enjoy my video journey through my first African safari and 100th country with Abercrombie and Kent Luxury Tailor Made Journeys.

Part One, Part Two and now here is Part Three

Video #6: Do you want to Sing in Swahili on Safari?

Hello from Sanctuary Kichakani! While on safari in Tanzania, I tried to learn to speak Swahili:

Jambo: Hello

Hakuna Matata: No Worries

Simba: Lion

Thank you: Asante Sana

Good Night: Lala Salama

The men of Sanctuary Kichakani broke into song while we were talking about Swahili. I loved this mobile tent camp and all of the friendly team. We saw all of the Big 5 on our adventures together!

Video #7: What is it like Traveling from Tanzania to Kenya?

How did I travel from Tanzania to Kenya?Where did I stay in Tanzania and Kenya?Did I learn to speak Swahili?
Did I love going on my first safari?

I hula hooped at sunrise outside my tent at Sanctuary Kichakani
I learned more new words! Thank you to everyone for teaching me Swahili.
Jambo means hello!Want to listen to the men singing? Listen to the entire song in the video before this one.

We left our mobile tent camp and flew from Seronera Airstrip to Tarime Airstrip which is also in Tanzania. At the airstrip, I met a group of students who are studying about tourism and hospitality. They asked me: What were the challenges to visit Tanzania? My group answered: vaccines, visas and flight distance.

We traveled overland and crossed out of Tanzania and into Kenya but there were no photos or video allowed at the border crossing. Next we traveled to Migori Airstrip.
Are there “services” at the airstrip and border? There was a bathroom at Tarime but not at Migori. There was a bathroom at the border. Remember if there is not running water in the bathroom, take the bucket, fill it with water and use that to flush the toilet.

We flew on many small planes. I loved being able to sit in the front and watch the pilot fly.
In the morning, we left Sanctuary Kichakani and Tanzania and after our flights and border crossing, we arrived at Sanctuary Olonana in Maasai Mara, Kenya.

We saw many giraffes and of course I took more photos with the animals. How close are the animals on safari? So close you can take a selfie!

In the Mara, we saw cattle because the Maasai warriors have herds of them. We were staying near a Maasai village that we would visit and also near a school built with philanthropy from Abercrombie and Kent as well as Sanctuary Retreats. See the next videos for more about the school and the village where I taught the Maasai warriors to hula-hoop.

Sanctuary Olonana was completely renovated and reopened in July 2018 just before we went to visit. I loved our welcome into the village with an escort and music. The property is on the Mara River and you can see hippos from the restaurant and all the villas.

Maurice Simiyu, Camp Manager, and his entire team invite you to come enjoy this beautiful property.

Video #8: Do You Want to Hear Enkereri Primary School Sing Now?

We visited Enkereri Primary School as part of our Abercrombie and Kent Small Group journey in Tanzania and Kenya. The Enkereri school is part of the Masai Mara Conservation Program for Abercrombie and Kent Philanthropy (AKP). To donate to the school: click here and under the donate page, select Kenya-Masai Mara Conservation Program; then under “Message”, specify that the gift is for Enkereri School and 100% of your donation will go directly to the school. Thank you to Matt Payne for the photos of me with the schoolchildren.

Enkereri school children in Maasai Mara. Photo by Matt Payne

Click here to see all of my African Safari videos

Click here for more information and rates!

Part 1: Where Did I Travel on My First African Safari?

Part 2: Are You Ready? Today We Are Going to the Serengeti!

Are You Ready to go to the Serengeti?

BY Lisa Ellen Niver | PUBLISHED Sep 28, 2018 | We Said Go Travel

Please enjoy my video journey through my first African safari and 100th country with Abercrombie and Kent Luxury Tailor Made Journeys.

Did you see Part 1: Where Did I Travel on My First African Safari?

Video #3 Leaving Tarangire, Tanzania for Safari in the Serengeti

Join us as we fly from Arusha to the Serengeti, Tanzania.
There were zebra on the airstrip.
We saw three of the Big 3 in Tarangire.
What will we see in the Serengeti?
I cannot wait to explore!

Minutes from the airport we saw TOPI, they look like they are wearing blue jeans. We saw a lion in the distance, then an elephant, I even took selfies with the elephants. Next we saw another LEOPARD! It was incredible to walk it move.

We saw animals crossing the road! One of my favorite things.
We saw our first olive baboons— there was a group of all sizes even babies! We saw banded mongoose and gorgeous scenery with a crocodile.

Our new home would be Sanctuary Kichakani for two nights which moves three times a year to follow the great migration. We ate lunch which was so great I even had seconds!

My luxury canvas tent was incredible and I love the bucket shower.
Join us for the next video to see our surprise!

Video #4 Afternoon Safari from Sanctuary Kichakani to the Hippo Pool

July 11 2018
What will you see in the Serengeti?

We saw a lion, leopard, elephants, crocodile and olive baboons?

What will we see next?
It is time to go to the hippo pool which is only about 7 minutes from Sanctuary Kichakani! I spotted a bee-eater bird, we saw water buffalo, zebra and we were allowed to get out of the safari vehicle and watch the hippos at sunset.
Should you go on safari in Africa? YES!
How close are the animals in the Serengeti? Very close! We saw wildebeest!

What will happen next?
I love the Serengeti! More animals on safari in the next video!

Video #5 Searching for big cats in the Serengeti: 8 lions and a leopard

Jambo from Sanctuary Kichakani in the Serengeti!

After sunrise we went on our game drive.
We were searching for big cats: lions, leopards and cheetahs!

We saw baby olive baboons, giraffes, zebra, warthog, wildebeest, hartebeest, dwarf mongoose and gazelles.
Our incredible guide, Filbert, brought us to an area where we saw four lions! We saw two lioness and two cubs playing. One of the lioness made a kill of a Thompson’s gazelle! It was truly amazing! We then saw a leopard bring a kill of a gazelle up into the tree tops! We went on to see four more lions during the day.

We also saw vultures, elands and more birds.
We had a picnic in the Serengeti under a tree.

Yes I did take selfies with the animals! I did hula hoop around the campfire too!
Asante Sana! Thank you to Filbert for the most amazing day!
Who did you travel with? I was on an Abercrombie and Kent Tailor Made Small Group Journey to Tanzania, my 100th country, and Kenya.

Earth Day: Saving our Reefs from invasive Lionfish

Visit St. Lucia and learn about Lionfish

Save the Planet, Eat Lionfish and use the “Cook Lionfish” Cook book

Do you want to cull Lionfish?

Texas Lionfish Control Unit is ready to help you help the planet!

Want to learn more about Lionfish Derbies?

Why are Derbies important?

Join a Lionfish Eco-Tour

What if you get Stung? Information from DAN – Divers Action Network

Want to build your own Traps? NOAA can help

DEMA SUMMIT 2018:

What happens at International Media Marketplace in NYC?

THREE GREAT REASONS TO ATTEND IMM…

IMM is the go-to-event for travel journalists to meet brands from across the global travel and tourism sectors.

IMM’s Meetings Manager allows journalists and exhibitors to make the most of their day

IMM takes place in the heart of New York

Watch me on TV! Thank you KTLA Los Angeles!

Thank you KTLA, Lynette Romero, Mark Mester, Ashley Adams-Regan, Angel Kim, Kimberly Cornell and the entire news team for welcoming me back to KTLA.

I loved sharing RockyMountaineer train travel with you. Thank CHOO!

Did you see us on TV yesterday? Watch it now: Click here

What was the KTLA Spring into Summer Giveaway? First Passage to the West Classic for two people in Rocky Mountaineer’s Goldleaf Service.

This was my fourth time on KTLA in 2019.

Learn more about my earlier segments:

Critics Choice Awards with Waldorf Astoria and Glamsquad

President’s Day Founding Fathers and Mothers Giveaway in Philadelphia with Visit Philly

Oscars Countdown to Gold with Kimpton La Peer and Glamsquad

and from 2018

Happy 85th Birthday Dr. Jane Goodall and Thank you!

Happy Birthday Dr. Jane Goodall and

thank you for all you have done to change the world.

March 2019 WeSaidGoTravel News: Spring is Here

Look for me on March 31st at 9:45am on KTLA TV with my 4th segment so far in 2019.

Watch the first three here:

KTLA Oscars: “Countdown to Gold!” Feb 24, 2019

KTLA President’s Day: Visit Historic Philadelphia Feb 18, 2019

KTLA Star Treatment: Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and Glamsquad

For Women’s History Month, I had many new stories!

Thank you to Ms. Magazine for my story on Google International Women’s Day.

Thank you to The Female Quotient for publishing my article about Ruth Bader Ginsburg on her birthday.

Happy 85th Birthday to Gloria Steinem. I wrote about her book, My Life on the Road.

Thank you to Saturday Evening Post for publishing my article about 12 Female Founders and PR Mavens and their bucket lists!

Find me in the news:

I am a SCUBA Dive expert on Mic

I was in the PARK RECORD with Patricia, Wayne and my dad!

I was interviewed on Travel Writer’s Radio about my 50 Things Before 50 Project.

I was Influencer Interview #50 on Intellifluence

Thank you to Rise Global! In March, We Said Go Travel and I are AGAIN #3 on the top 1000 Travel Blog list! AND I am the TOP FEMALE TRAVEL BLOGGER! Yahoo! #travel1k

I loved being in NYC with my family and going to International Media Marketplace as well as the New York Times Travel Show. Please enjoy the videos of my time at the conferences. I also went to the Los Angeles Travel Show.

Learn more about my writing and see all my latest outlets with this pdf.

Thank you to everyone who entered our 2018 Travel Photo Award.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND MY TRAVEL VIDEOS?

Thank you for watching my videos, reading my stories, following along on social media and asking me about booking your travels!

My fortune cookies said:

“Nothing is impossible to a willing heart“

“Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the conquest of it.“

“All things are difficult before they are easy.”

Are you making it happen in 2019? Good luck in taking the next small step to make your 2019 goals come true! Thank you for your all of your support. Lisa

Who is the TOP FEMALE Travel Blogger on the top 1000 list?

Are you wondering who is the TOP FEMALE Travel

Blogger on the top 1000 list?

Wonder no more! It is ME!

I have been listed as the top female in 2018, Feb 2019

and now in March 2019 again!

Thank you for your support!

And #3 on the top 1000 list!

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on

my journey with We Said GO Travel!

I am so honored that this happened during Women’s History Month!

Did you see me on TV?

Are you subscribed to me on YOUTUBE?

I now have over 900,000 views!

Happy 10th Anniversary Sandals Foundation!

Thank You! I am the Top Female Travel Blogger on the #Travel1k Top 1000 Travel Blog list!

Thank You!

I am the Top Female Travel Blogger

on the #Travel1k Top 1000 Travel Blog list!

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on my journey with We Said GO Travel!

I am so honored that this happened during Women’s History Month!

Did you see me on TV?

Are you subscribed to me on YOUTUBE?

KTLA President’s Day Giveaway!
The winner received:

Thank you #travel1k Top 1000+ Travel Blogs!
I am honored to be #5!