Taste for Adventure

Tomales Bay, despite its proximity to San Francisco, is a pristine and isolated outdoors destination. At once a protected marine sanctuary and adjoining a National Seashore, Tomales Bay offers a glimpse into the unspoiled past of Northern California's coastline. Here, Marcus Daniels, a local artisan, passionately creates wooden kayaks (called baidarkas), according to a four thousand year old, native Aleut tradition. He offers a workshop where students can skillfully craft their own, personalized boats from rough pieces of scavenged driftwood. Host Chris Turner, after building his own kayak, paddles with a local outfitter to a beach campsite on the shores of Point Reyes. Later, Chris ventures to the neighboring town of Inverness, where a converted hunting lodge from the early 1900s is now a hidden lodge retreat, boasting plush beds, warm lighting, fireplaces in every room, and an all-organic kitchen. With Chef Daniel DeLong, Chris ventures to a local oyster farm to select and taste the bounty of Tomales Bay, then returns to the lodge with a clutch of oysters to help Chef create a meal of grilled skate accented with fava beans and a fresh cream sauce.

Just south of the Alaskan panhandle, British Columbia's North Coast is a maze of forested islands and winding sea channels, with little evidence of human development to be seen for hundreds of miles. Every summer, the King Pacific Lodge is floated by tugboat through this wilderness and moored to an island inhabited only by black bears and bald eagles. With no roads to the lodge, host Chris Turner instead takes a floatplane to the front door, and sets up base camp for a few days of adventure and good eating! First up is a hike through the surrounding rainforest, where wild berries and mushrooms line the established bear paths. The old-growth trees here can exceed 1500 years in age. A kayak excursion to neighboring Campania Sound is next, where Chris and his guide keep a lookout for orcas and Dall porpoise. The lodge's chef, Jonathan Chovancek, has his own ideas of exploration that involve wading, knee-deep, into tidepools and giving Chris his first taste of sea urchin, directly from the ocean. Back at the lodge, Chef uses urchin to finish his salmon soup, which is enhanced by edamame and alaria seaweed.

New Zealand, as an island nation, has plenty of coastal destinations. It can come as a shock to many travelers when they discover a massive range of mountains on the South Island. These are the Southern Alps, and one of the most adventurous areas you can find in the country. Host Chris Turner begins at the southern end of the range, in Mackenzie Country, where an enterprising kiwi invented the sport of "heli biking." The premise is simple: a helicopter brings a mountain biker to the top of a ridge, and the rider bombs down to the valley on a guided run. Pausing to catch his breath, Chris then ventures into the heart of the Southern Alps to the foot of Aoraki/Mount Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand. Here, another unique adventure awaits: guided kayaking on a glacial lake and richly-told stories of the history of New Zealand's mountain climbers. At the neighboring Hermitage Hotel, Chris meets with chef Franz Blum and prepares a roasted lamb entrée with potato roulade. Farther north, Grasmere Lodge offers a deluxe overnight stay, and is hidden within the folds of the mountains. Here, Chris assists the chef with a dish featuring Cervena, a locally-raised hybrid of deer and elk venison.

In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to reach New Zealand. In Tasman Bay, he met with the native Maori, and on this historic spot, the adventure still continues in Abel Tasman National Park. Host Chris Turner joins up with a local outfitter on a multisport tour of the Abel Tasman Coastal Track. For three days and two nights, Chris hikes and paddles the sun-drenched parkland, and stays in an historic homestead, where the same family has owned the property since the 1840s. The trail itself weaves through fern trees and along pristine estuaries, where the trail can become submerged at high tide. Venturing into the interior via helicopter, Chris books a "farmstay" with a posh lodge retreat. No luxury comes without price, as Chris learns when he takes a 4X4 tour of the vast farmland, then assists the farm manager with a little sheep wrangling in the pens. In the lodge kitchen, Chris cleans up and meets the chef, who prepares a delicious monkfish appetizer with a southeast Asian flavor.

New Zealand's greatest secret destination is Southland: aptly named, as it's on the southernmost tip of the South Island. Here, you can enjoy solitude in a vast and open land, ranging from rocky coastline to old-growth forest, and from pastureland to golden, gorse-lined river valleys. On the fringes of Fiordland National Park, the Hump Ridge Track beckons the adventurous backpacker to ascend from the beach to high alpine tundra with incredible vistas. Host Chris Turner enjoys a three-day hike (the locals say "tramp") through this landscape, admiring the views from the ridge as the track snakes around eerie sandstone monoliths, and braving close encounters with the sassy kea - the world's only alpine parrots. Afterwards, Chris heads inland with local fishing guide, "Bunny" Burgess, to cast flies for brown trout on the world-famous Mataura River. Here, in a hidden streamlet, he lands a ten-pound trophy after an epic struggle. Tired and hungry, Chris relaxes at nearby Nokomai Station, an historic shepherd's retreat, recently renovated into a charming B&B. Here, a local chef grills up a fillet from one of Chris's smaller catches, and presents it on a bed of local greens.

For centuries, Marlborough has drawn visitors from around the globe. In the late 1700s, Captain James Cook was a frequent guest of the native Maori people in this sheltered area of New Zealand's South Island. Today's traveler is lured by the promise of abundant sunshine and plenty of outdoor adventure! In the southern Wairau Valley, some of the world's finest Sauvignon Blanc is being crafted, and host Chris Turner saddles up his road bike to tour this New World wine region. Heading north, Chris then ventures to the Marlborough Sounds - three sunken river valleys that form a twisted maze of hidden coves. In these pristine waters, Chris finds some of the finest seafood harvests in the country: green-lipped mussels are a regional delicacy, and farm-raised salmon is at hand. At the mouth of Queen Charlotte Sound is tiny, isolated Motuara Island. Amid the melodic trills of native bellbirds, Chris treks through this sanctuary where Captain Cook once planted the Union Jack to claim the islands for the Crown of England. The Bay of Many Coves Resort, a luxury retreat that can only be reached by boat or helicopter, boasts one of the finest restaurants in the Sounds, and Chris drops in to see what's cooking!

Siskiyou County is one of the most remote and rugged areas of Northern California. An ancient road to Oregon winds through the heart of this land, and although centuries of visitors have explored this pristine country, very few have settled here. Although vast in size, Siskiyou County is sparsely populated, with over half its area designated as public land and national wilderness. Beginning in the remote Scott River Valley, hosts Chris Turner and Joanna Curlee take a bike tour over miles of county road and up winding mountain passes, before settling in for a yurt overnight and a hearty barbecue at a scenic overlook. Farther south, in the little railroad town of Dunsmuir, Chris and Joanna enroll in a weeklong workshop to learn how to hand-craft the prized possession of anglers everywhere: an authentic bamboo fly rod. Once completed, his gorgeous masterpiece gets a workout on the Upper Sacramento River, where the wild rainbow trout are jumping. Dunsmuir also has some great restaurant finds, including Café Maddalena, where chef Brett LaMott prepares authentic, gourmet Mediterranean cuisine from Spain, France, Italy and North Africa. For Chris and Joanna, he creates grilled duck breast with chorizo over white beans.

Jack Trout takes Chris Turner and Joanna Curlee on the Upper Sacramento River fly fishing float in Shasta County. There's always true adventure and lots of jokes when Jack Trout is around.

West of Napa, there's a California wine valley that's every bit as beautiful, with much more open space. This is Sonoma, and the best way to experience it at one time is by joining hosts Chris Turner and Joanna Curlee in a vintage biplane tour! Back on terra firma, Chris and Joanna pedal through the wine country, stopping only to take in the views and to dine on a gourmet picnic lunch. In the neighboring Russian River Valley, quiet getaways like the Village Inn offer great meals. In this case, it's fresh Sonoma lamb shank prepared osso bucco style.

A trip to Norway just isn't complete without a visit to one of its distinctive fjords. These gorgeous sea channels, shaped by glacial movements, are places of incredible beauty and vast open space. Hosts Chris Turner and Joanna Curlee are touring Nordfjord, one of the most welcoming fjords in the country. Beginning at the storm-battered coast of Westkapp, they tour an ancient island monastery ruin. This place was once a busy medieval port, but today, it's a relaxing sanctuary from the stresses of everyday life. Farther up the fjord, Chris and Joanna discover a stable that houses a unique breed of horse. The fjord horse is native to this area, and these friendly steeds are hardy and gentle, offering visitors a ride up the mountainside to a beautiful overlook. At the end of the fjord, two vast glacial lakes feed into the sea. This remote location is a perfect backdrop for a kayak voyage, where Chris and Joanna paddle under waterfalls and within sight of massive glaciers. Their tour wraps with a special, pan-seared wild salmon dish, prepared with a saffron and Pernod cream sauce, by a master chef in the heart of Nordfjord.

On the coast of Norway, just a few miles south of the Arctic Circle, the island of Vega boasts a temperate climate and a rich cultural tradition. People have been living here for thousands of years, harvesting the bounty of the sea and thriving on coastal trade. Hosts Chris Turner and Joanna Curlee have ventured to this ancient seascape to discover its secrets, and begin with a hike up the legendary peak of Torghatten. Near the summit, a massive hole pierces the mountain, and the trail snakes through it to the other side, ending with a broad view of thousands of tiny islands, stretching to the horizon. A short ferry trip later, and Chris and Joanna enter a fisherman's village on Vega, where they find the Eider House - a museum showcasing the ancient local tradition of down harvesting. To see the practice firsthand, they hop aboard a fishing vessel and voyage to a tiny cluster of rocks in the Atlantic, where nesting ducks supply the world's finest down. A catch of local crab is the centerpiece to a seafood feast, prepared "down-home"-style by a local chef in his own kitchen. The meal is served with a unique and tasty Vega variation potato salad.

There are thirty-one destinations in Norway's National Park system, and most are located in remote and dramatic mountain landscapes. This means the outdoors enthusiast can find pristine wilderness conditions without the crowds - what a perfect escape! First, it's off to Børgefjell National Park in Northern Norway, straddling the border with Sweden. Before hosts Chris Turner and Joanna Curlee tramp over moss and tundra in the high country, they set up a base camp at a local farm, which offers delicious meals and comfortable rooms. Inside the park, the native Sami people have gathered to mark their reindeer, as they've been doing for thousands of years. Chris and Joanna are invited to share a meal inside a kåta (a Sami tent). Farther south, in Jostedalsbreen National Park, you'll find Europe's largest mainland glacier, and beautiful, steep-sided valleys with massive waterfalls. Joining a hundred years of travelers, Chris and Joanna trek to the base of the Briksdal Glacier, strap crampons onto their boots, and climb its icy slopes. Afterwards, they retreat to a nearby farm for a traditional Norwegian meal: leg of lamb with lingonberry sauce.

It's argued that no American landscape could be more beautiful than Yosemite Valley, and three and a half million visitors every year back up that claim... but you shouldn't let the crowds discourage you from visiting. Ninety-five percent of the park is backcountry wilderness, and compared to the main valley, it's every bit as stunning, but without the wall-to-wall tourists. Hosts Chris Turner and Joanna Curlee find the best way to experience the beauty of the park with solitude and comfort is to book a trip to the High Sierra Camps. Besides breathtaking views, each of five camps provides tent cabins with beds, fully-prepared meals and hot showers. There are no roads to the camps, so all guests and gear arrive by foot or by pack mules. Chris and Joanna choose the latter, and experience the Merced River Canyon from the saddle, letting the mules do the climbing as they gaze upon Half Dome and Nevada Falls. Yosemite is the birthplace of modern rock climbing, so Chris and Joanna pay their respects to the glacier-sculpted cliffs and ascend a short but challenging slab in the Valley. At Yosemite's finest lodge, the Ahwahnee, the kitchen has as great a reputation as the surrounding park. Chef Percy Whatley prepares a gourmet organic lamb roast with lavender spice and an artichoke-potato side dish.