For the first time ever, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill last week to curb global warming. No country understands the issue of climate change more than Greenland. At the same time that some of the country’s coastal sea-ice routes are melting and tundra flowers are blooming earlier than ever, the country has seen an uptick in tourism–perhaps because people want to experience the cold beauty of this country before it is too late.  

The cables are up to help hikers climb the vertigo-inducing Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. This 10-hour  iconic American hike is not for the out-of shape or the faint-of-heart. To get an idea of both the agony and the ecstasy involved , check out this informative and inspiring video.

I follow soultravelers3 on Twitter. Given that they are limited to 140 words per posting, I had a hard time figuring out what they were up to. That is until they uploaded this video of their daughter, Mozart, playing the violin in all the countries — Italy, Morocco, Spain, Turkey, France, Croatia, Greece — the family has visited so far on a multi-year, open-ended journey. Part of their plan in seeing the world is to “unschool” their adorable and musically talented kidlet. (Given her name, I wonder how her parents would feel if she sucked at the violin.) Their website is a great travel resource, full of videos and tips. As I watch their family’s adventures, I’m reminded of my fantasy of what having children would be like. I imagined a life full of adventurous journeys with children who loved —  loved — seeing new places. Almost ten years later, here’s reality: My  three kids like to travel, but could never embark on this kind of experience. The constant transitions, lack of structure, new friends every few weeks would result in serious emotional chaos. What are your experiences of traveling with your kids?

Q: A reader wrote asking for tips about traveling to the pacific islands of American Samoa, specifically the National Park of American Samoa.  A:  American Samoa is a five hour flight from Honolulu, and Hawaiian Airlines only flies into Tutuila, the main island, on Thursdays and Sundays. The National Park is located on three islands: Tutuila, Ofu and Tau. A twin prop plane will take you to the remote islands. Because weather challenges can delay those inter-island flights, the experts at the National Park of American Samoa recommend a stay of at least ten days if you want to experience all three islands. That sounds like good advice to us because each island offers very unique experiences. Tutuila has a well-maintained hiking trail system through its rainforest. Ofu has what is agreed to be some of the most gorgeous stretches of beach in the world. Tau is more secluded and is perfect for the adventurous traveler who likes to have a guide (you tell someone at the park the night before you need one, and a cousin or friend will appear the next morning) hack their way through trails with a machete. In terms of accomodations, the place to stay on Ofu is Vaoto Lodge, which has nine guest rooms and serves meals family style. On Tutuila and  Tau, a great way to experience local culture is to take part in the park’s “home stay” program. More like a bed & breakfast than a standard hotel, the home stay program allows you to live with a local family for a fee of between $30 and $40 a night. Snorkeling is a big draw on Ofu (the water is not readily accessible on the other two islands), with over 250 species of coral. But you’ll need to bring your own snorkels, masks and fins as there aren’t any for rent on any of the islands.  

Much has been made in the past day about a New York Times story chronicling Swiss hikers taking to the trails in the nude. “There’s not much to discuss,” one hiker told the Times. “It’s freedom. First, freedom in your head; then, freedom of the body.”

The hikers were interviewed on the trails of the Appenzell region, an idyllic slice of the Alps near the Austrian border. I’ve written about the area in this story for the Star Tribune. There were lots of laughs and peculiar sights along the way, but, alas, no nakedness. What I experienced was more akin to this video of senior citizens lapping the youngsters who clogged the trails.

Q. A reader called about a trip she is hoping to take to Scotland. She was wondering if it would be cheaper to travel as a passenger on a cargo freighter than fly.

A. The short answer is no. Booking a passage on a cargo freighter averages just over $100 per night. Because the freighters are working ships, a trip to Europe from North America can take between 7 and 13 days each way. But freighter travel is usually cheaper than traditional cruises and often offers a more adventurous way to experience the sea. Travelers report that because there are so few passengers (many cargo ships have room for no more than 12 guests), they get to know the crew better.

If you like to have a lot of unstructured time to read, write and look at the stars, a freighter cruise could be for you. Again, because they are working ships, you also have to be open to the possibility that your end destination could change depending on weather or business conditions.

A few resources to get you started include freighter-travel.com and Freighter World Cruises.