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" My favorite holidays are those where I learn a new skill, expand my knowledge or discover a new destination. I have often seen that quote about &amp;quot;scaring yourself&amp;quot; a little bit every day. Scary or not, pushing our mental, physical or geographic limits can make for a memorable holiday and a good story to tell.   Here are a few ideas: Kitty Hawk Kayak and Surf School - Outer Banks, N.C. Learn to surf or paddle board from the pros while enjoying beautiful beaches and warm sea breezes. Camp programs, lessons for girls only or group instruction provide a wide array of options for would-be wave runners. Crabbing, hiking, kayaking and other surf side activities combine to make this a great vacation spot. Contact: 1 (866) 702-5061;www.khkss.com Sanctuary Baines&amp;#039; Camp. Botswana. Go walking in the bush with three orphaned and semi-habituated elephants, Jabu, Thembi and Morula. Learn from &amp;quot;elephant whisperers&amp;quot; Doug and Sandi Groves about how the animals&amp;#039; innate bush-sense enables them to survive in a wild environment. Join the magnificent creatures for a nature walk and observe how they strip leaves from branches with their trunks and shower in the delta lagoons. .Contact: southernafrica@sanctuaryretreats.com; www.SanctuaryRetreats.com Surfing Montreal, Quebec Canada. Several hundred miles from the nearest ocean beach you&amp;#039;ll find this unlikely surfer&amp;#039;s paradise. A standing wave in the St Lawrence River provides adventure-minded families the opportunity to learn river surfing while enjoying a holiday in this charming and multicultural city. From now through September 1, 2010, the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth offers a package that includes lessons from a pro, equipment rental, a daily breakfast buffet and energy snacks. Contact: www.Fairmont.com;http://surfmtl.com. Dive Deals. Fort Lauderdale, FL. June is &amp;quot;Learn to Dive&amp;quot; month. In the Greater Fort Lauderdale area, many of the major dive operators used the designation to launch discounted Scuba certification programs. Offers, most of which are valid through the summer, include free dives,Dive and Stay packages offering a 4th night free, and other benefits and amenities. A simple, one-stop shopping web page helps dive enthusiasts and those new to the sport, find deals and assistance in getting certified online.For additional added value, check out the VIP, two-for- one offers. Contact: (800) 22-SUNNY; www.sunny.org/learntodive; www.sunny.org/vip/  Rocky Mountain Round-up. Week -long and four-day three-nightpackaged trips in the Rocky Mountains offer activities that include a trip to theRocky Mountain National Park,river rafting,horse-backriding throughwildflowers on Beaver Creek Mountain plusscenic gondola rides at Vail and Keystone followed by family-friendly naturalist hikes and mountaintop picnics. You can also enjoy historical walking tours through the old Victorian mining town of Breckenridge followed by cowboy campfire dinners and storytelling. educational information about local flora and fauna, geology, geography and history of the region is also integrated into the family-friendly activities. Contact: 888-538-EPIC (3742); www.EpicSummer.com. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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