| As the world shrinks, the desire to visit its final frontiers | | | | Josef and Fox glaciers; numerous outfits rent |
| becomes more and more pressing in the eyes of | | | | equipment and take scores of tourists out onto the |
| many travelers. We all want to see it before the | | | | blue ice. The Chilean fjords and numerous glacier fields |
| concept of a frontier vanishes completely. For some, | | | | have also seen a steady increase in traffic. Tourists |
| this has changed the concept of the typical vacation. | | | | flock to see the San Rafael glacier calve into the |
| Taking a long vacation used to be pretty | | | | Laguna San Rafael. Perhaps this rush is not just about |
| straightforward: pick a tropical island or archipelago, sit | | | | our frontiers disappearing as a concept, but physically |
| on the beach, and have a margarita. Today's tourists | | | | as well; global warming has drastically shrunk a number |
| are much better traveled, and view travel as not | | | | of glaciers worldwide, at a disturbingly alarming rate. |
| exclusively about relaxation. Stronger emphasis is | | | | Cold travel does not have to be purely about natural |
| being placed on adventure and exploration. With that in | | | | beauty, either. The town of Kemi, in Finland, has housed |
| mind, many are heading for the unknown, the | | | | the world's largest snow castle since the mid 1990s. |
| abandoned, and the downright COLD regions of the | | | | This magnificent ice castle, three stories high and more |
| world. | | | | than half a mile long, receives hundreds of thousands |
| Cruises to Alaska to see the fjords and glaciers are | | | | of tourists every year. The ice chapel makes it a |
| now almost as common as the traditional Caribbean | | | | popular wedding destination. Also in the same region is |
| variety of cruise. With a warm cabin and great meals, | | | | Santa Claus Village, where the man himself lives (a |
| more people are willing to brave the elements to get a | | | | tourist trap for children if there ever was one.) |
| glimpse at awe-inspiring natural beauty and marine | | | | Of course, the destination that tops everyone's bucket |
| wildlife such as whales and pods of orcas. | | | | list is the continent of Antarctica. Much to the dismay |
| Tierra del Fuego, on the opposite pole, also attracts | | | | of many environmentalists, visiting the "Frozen |
| more and more visitors every year. The capital city of | | | | Continent" becomes easier with each passing year. |
| Ushuaia boasts many nearby ski areas, to be sure, but | | | | The most popular cruises to Antarctica are based out |
| the majority of people do not visit the city for this. | | | | of Tierra del Fuego. You cross the stormy Drake |
| Tierra del Fuego National Park has some excellent | | | | Passage before reaching the continent itself. At this |
| trails, the area is quite beautiful, and all the major cruise | | | | point, smaller groups of people are taken out via |
| lines operate out of Ushuaia. People come because it | | | | zodiac boat to make landfall, look at penguins, and to |
| is at the end of the world. | | | | just plan marvel at the ethereal beauty of this place. |
| Glaciers are also rapidly becoming prime tourist | | | | It is definitely on my bucket list! |
| destinations. New Zealand is known for the Franz | | | | |