Not many people can say they have visited Antarctica (just over 56,000 tourists visited during the 2018-2019 season out of the world population of almost eight billion, equaling 0.007% of the population), but English teacher Lisa Quinn and her family are planning to check the continent off their bucket list soon. An avid traveler, Ms. Quinn began her adventures when she was given the choice between a sweet sixteen party or a trip to London for her birthday. Choosing the trip, she returned with amazing memories and no regrets, kicking off her love of travel.
So far, Ms. Quinn has visited six continents, 58 countries and 163 cities. She is arranging a trip to Antarctica for winter break next year to complete her goal of visiting all seven continents. She plans to spend a total of 20 days, which will be spent traveling to the destination and visiting both Antarctica and Patagonia (located in South America).
Her dream plan begins with seven days in chilly Antarctica. While there, the itinerary revolves around observing animals (seals, birds and hopefully, a polar bear), lots of hiking and taking countless photographs. She also plans on taking a “polar plunge,” where she will put on a wetsuit and plunge into the icy ocean water, despite it being below freezing. The part of the trip is definitely not for the faint-hearted, but Ms. Quinn and her family are looking forward to the challenge.
Next, her family will take on Patagonia in South America. Patagonia has two sides- Chile and Argentina- and they have yet to decide which side they would like to visit as both have a variety of amenities to offer. Their adventures in Patagonia might involve greeting new animals, doing physical activities (hiking, walking, climbing), horseback riding, kayaking and exploring marble caves, which are known to be the most beautiful cave network in the world.
On a less joyous note, one of the main reasons Ms. Quinn and her family want to visit is because global warming is likely to ruin the cold landscape soon. “I don’t know how much longer it’ll look like itself,” she said. “In ten to 30 years, [Antarctica] will have a different look. I want to see one of the most prestigious places on the planet that is clean. I want to breathe in that air and I want to get as close to a penguin as possible without being in a zoo.”
Since the pandemic, Ms. Quinn has contacted numerous companies in an effort to get sponsored for trips. Her attempts were successful; some companies have offered to sponsor her trip, but she would prefer to visit with her family instead of by herself as the companies did not offer to sponsor their trips. Ms. Quinn’s almost 14-year-old daughter Lilly has been accompanying Ms. Quinn in travel adventures since birth. Ms. Quinn says traveling has “shaped her- they have made her more patient and more of a global citizen.”
Traveling is close to Ms. Quinn’s heart because of the memories that come with the adventures. Trips create memories to laugh about at the dinner table and experiences that allow families to bond. Even though a trip eventually ends, memories last forever.
No matter where she goes, Ms. Quinn always makes the best of every moment. “[My life motto is] to take the trip, buy the shoes and eat the chocolate,” she said. “Life is short, today is someday and always live for the moment.”
