MindStretch Travel Adventures

07/05/2025

We're back from our 2025 adventure in Maine. Fun times.

Way before there was YouTube, or even the Internet or World Wide Web for that matter...I've been taking kids on trips across the US and Western Europe. It wa...

09/26/2024

2025 is official! We're headed to Maine in June. We were there this past summer - It's that good. Enrollment is open and we're 33% full.

Enrollment Is Open Enrollment is open. We are limiting this trip to 12 boys and 3 adults. Click here for the application.

08/02/2024

Check out this recap slideshow video from our adventures in the Great Smokies. Everyone had a blast.

Five days isn't a lot of time, but we squeezed in a ton of amazing activities.Our next adventure will be eight days in Maine in 2025.https://www.mindstretcha...

07/26/2024

We finished up our trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park yesterday with three rides up and down the Scaly Mountain Screamer. The only screaming I heard was, "Can we go on another trip next year?"

We're planning on it!

It was a fantastic trip.

07/25/2024

We spent most of the day at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. The raft trip of over eight miles down the Nantahala was our first activity. It was a blast with no one getting dumped out. However, all the boys took a voluntary dip in the frigid waters of the river.

We had a pizza lunch overlooking the river and then had a few more minutes of shopping in the outdoor gear store.

For the afternoon, we hiked a hundred yards or so to the aerial adventure course which involves a series of climbs of various heights and difficulties. Boys could also take multiple trips on the zipline.

We went to Granny’s Kitchen for dinner (a good old country buffet) and then came back to the hotel for a couple of games of “Left, Right & Center” before settling down to do a wrap-up of the trip so far. All the boys shared their favorite activities, we talked about possibilities for 2025, had an ice cream treat (yep, for getting another sincere compliment), and then it was time for bed.

Another great day with MTA.

07/24/2024

Lots of fun today. One of the highlights was finishing up the Junior Park Ranger program and being sworn in by a ranger.

07/23/2024

07/23/2024

A full day of adventures in the NC mountains yesterday.

A whole day and evening of fun. Our big morning event was a private horseback trail ride in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Riders had a creek crossing and a walk through a tunnel, adding to the excitement of just holding on. Lunch was at Wendy’s where they received their first treat for ...

07/22/2024

The first day is in the books. I'm amazed at how much noise five boys can make in the van...but that means they're enjoying each other's company. This is going to be a great week.

Big first day. Checked in at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Ranger Station, had lunch, got our park passports stamped, met a ranger, and then headed up the mountain to Clingmans Dome at over 6,200 feet. It was fogged in at the top but clear on the way up. Great views. Saw several elk at dif...

07/21/2024

Tomorrow our second adventure of the summer begins...five days in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park area. These guys are all new to the MindStretch Travel Adventures program and we're excited to have them with us. Check here for trip news and photos as our days unfold.

06/23/2024

We made our last full day a good one. We started with a sailing trip on a hundred plus year old schooner in Casco Bay (Portland). Some of the boys got to help raise the sails. After our schooner experience, we had lunch on the docks in downtown Portland. Then, as a group, we walked around town to do some exploring. We found a candy shop, a donut shop, and an ice cream shop. No one boy bought stuff at all three.

We then headed a few miles away to Scarborough, ME to play a couple of games of candlepin bowling. It's something the boys will have to tell you about.

We returned to the hotel for about 90 minutes before heading out to dinner.

It was another great day and the end of a wonderful trip.

Here's the last of the photos. As always, thanks to Elliott Jeray for taking most of the sailing photos.

Day seven was our last full day. We started with a sailing trip on a hundred plus year old schooner in Casco Bay (Portland). Some of the boys got to help raise the sails. After our schooner experience, we had lunch on the docks in downtown Portland. Then, as a group, we walked around town to do some...

06/22/2024

Travel day back to Portland. We made a stop at Moose Point State Park to stretch our legs along Penobscot Bay. We took a short hike and the boys enjoyed skipping rocks. Followed this with lunch at Dot's Market & Deli and then made our way to the International Cryptozoology Museum - a place meant to make you believe (or not) in a variety of unusual life forms.

After checking into our hotel, we walked to IHOP for dinner (or breakfast) and finished the day with a Frosty at Wendy's.

Travel day back to Portland. We made a stop at Moose Point State Park to stretch our legs along Penobscot Bay. We took a short hike and boys enjoyed skipping rocks. Followed this with lunch at Dot's Market & Deli and then made our way to the International Cryptozoology Museum - a place meant to....