Holbrook Travel

06/14/2025

What’s it really like to visit the Galápagos Islands? 🌊🐢 In this breathtaking video, Road Scholar travelers share what they discovered on a journey through one of the most extraordinary ecosystems on Earth - from snorkeling with sea lions to spotting Blue-footed Bo***es, iguanas, and giant tortoises.

We’re proud to help provide this incredible learning adventure for Road Scholar, supporting lifelong learners as they explore the islands that inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution.

🎥 Watch the video here:

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the Galápagos as you learn about iconic wildlife, delicate ecosystems, volcanic activity and the science-altering legac...

06/07/2025

It’s a busy week, we’re at two conferences at once! Jill Hays is at the Western Field Ornithologists Conference in Yakima, WA, and Debbie Jordan is at the Colorado Field Ornithologists Conference in Grand Junction, CO. Come find us at our booths, we’d love to chat about birding tours and answer all your questions! 👋🐦

Check out these photos from Jill! She’s been enjoying some great birding in Yakima River Canyon and making new connections.

06/05/2025

We had a fantastic time at the American Public Gardens Association Annual Conference in Denver! 🌿 Our Garden Tours Director Sandy Schmidt and Holbrook Ambassador Debbie Jordan enjoyed connecting with attendees, answering questions about our garden tours, and meeting so many passionate members of the public gardens community. Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth, we loved seeing both new and familiar faces! 💚

We look forward to helping more garden enthusiasts turn their travel dreams into reality through our carefully crafted international itineraries. 🌸 Explore more of what we offer here: https://www.holbrooktravel.com/follow-your-interest/garden-tours

05/29/2025

Please join us in welcoming one of the newest members of our team, Patty Ford! An avid birder with more than 12 years of experience in marketing and sales, Patty recently joined the Holbrook family as a Specialty Travel Consultant. ✨ Her passion for conservation and community has also led her to become president of her local Audubon chapter, the Manatee County Audubon Society, with whom she traveled to Ecuador this past April. She shared some great photos of the group’s adventure across the Chocó-Andes region, which included visits to birding hotspots like Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve, Antisana Ecological Reserve, Refugio Paz de las Aves, and many more. 🏔🦜 Along the way, they got to observe more than 300 bird species, many of which are endemic, and learn about the invaluable conservation efforts of local communities. This marked Patty’s first Holbrook adventure, and we look forward to seeing all the places she will visit in the future as part of our team! 🌎

📸 courtesy of Patty Ford

05/25/2025

One of the most fulfilling parts of our job is the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships with our clients that span many years and travel adventures. 🌎🧳 Since 2009, we have been helping Mandy Black and the students of Chenango Forks High School discover the countless treasures of Costa Rica across different remarkable spots in the country. As a Spanish teacher, Mandy has been leading her students on trips that focus on language learning, cultural immersion, and gaining understanding and appreciation for the fascinating biodiversity, geology, ecology, and history of Costa Rica. 🇨🇷

This year, the group began their immersive journey in San José with homestay families and attended language classes at the Costa Rican Language Academy. Then, they continued their cultural exchange and exploration in Arenal, Sarapiquí, and Tortuguero. 🏔🦜🐢 Along the way, they got to enjoy many meaningful interactions with local communities through a cooking class, dance class, chocolate tasting, several talks and guided hikes, a visit to Escuela San Gerardo to meet and play with local students, and a reforestation project with the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center. Check out these photos of their unforgettable experience full of learning and adventure!

📸 courtesy of Mandy Black and Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center

05/15/2025

We’re having a great time so far at the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival! 🐦 If you’re in attendance, be sure to stop by and say hello to Jill at our table in the Migration Marketplace tent, which is open from 11 am to 4 pm today through Saturday, and on Sunday from 11 am to 2 pm. Also check out our gift basket in the online silent auction; proceeds from the auction benefit the IDBF Stewardship Fund, which supports research, conservation, and education-related activities locally, regionally, and worldwide.

05/12/2025

Last week, we had the honor of attending Girls Place, Inc’s 20th annual Hats, Hearts, & Handbags fundraiser, a celebration supporting over 40 years of empowering girls in Alachua County. 🎩💜👜 Every dollar raised at this event goes directly to Girls Place programs that help young girls thrive, including after-school care, athletics, summer camp, and leadership development. These programs give girls ages 5–14 the tools and encouragement to grow into strong, confident women who lead and inspire their communities.

This year was our first time participating, and we were excited to join the table decorating contest. Our team at Holbrook Travel designed a travel-themed table, inspired by our mission to create meaningful connections between people, cultures, and the natural world. Our trailblazing founder Giovanna Holbrook's energy, vision, creativity, and heart paved the way for where we are today. We want to inspire the next generation of young women with her story, and encourage them to travel with the purpose of opening their minds, building empathy, fostering global understanding, and supporting local communities everywhere they go.

We were thrilled to receive the Newcomer Award for our table design! Being part of this event and contributing to an organization that does so much to uplift girls in our community was deeply meaningful. Thank you to Girls Place, Inc for all that you do!

📸 by Sarah Mandile and María Ramírez

05/09/2025

Happy National Public Gardens Day! 🌳🌷🌵 Today also kicks off this year's "Go Public Gardens Days" event, a celebration that runs through May 18 and is designed to encourage people to visit, value, and volunteer at public gardens in their area and when they travel.

Through their essential work in research, conservation, education, and outreach, public gardens and arboreta help expand our understanding of the natural world. They provide habitat for birds and other wildlife, while offering a respite for their human visitors. And they play an important role in engaging and empowering members of their local communities and beyond. ✨

Check out our blog post to learn how you can find a garden near you and take part in this year's event, including a fun photo scavenger hunt!

May 9 is National Public Gardens Day, which also kicks off this year's Go Public Gardens Days! This celebration of public gardens runs through May 18 and is designed to encourage people to visit, value, and volunteer at public gardens in their area and when they travel.