Primetime Living 11.26.25 - Flipbook - Page 18
18 A Special Advertising Section of Baltimore Sun Media Group | Wednesday, November 26, 2025
TRAVEL
The World at Your
Fingertips
Unique travel experiences await
By Margit B. Weisgal, Contributing Writer
I
’ve had a friend for over 50 years, and we stay in touch pretty regularly. I hadn’t
spoken to her for a while, so I picked up the phone and called. “I’m in Morocco,”
she shouted. It was a pretty bad connection.
Elaine Barstow likes to travel. We
actually met overseas, so hearing she
was in Morocco was not terribly surprising. We caught up once she was
back in the States, and I heard all
about the company she used for tours:
Overseas Adventure Travel (www.oattravel.com).
It turns out there’s more to this company than just taking people on tours.
“Look up Grand Circle Foundation,”
she exhorted. So, I did. But first, I had
to learn about her trip.
How was Morocco? Barstow waxed
poetic about how wonderful the trip
was. “We had dinner in a camp in
Morocco, but instead of heading to the
mountains, we visited a family – grandpa, a couple animals, a mother and a
couple children. The meal was already
prepared. Then we sat inside and had
lunch. We bought provisions in town
that we gave them.
“OAT Travel has its own camp in
Morocco, like glamping, and we would
gather and talk. Subjects like economics and lifestyle, and how people lived
in addition to those we visited. Any
question was fair game, and all topics
were allowed. We donated money via
Grand Circle for underserved communities. Then Grand Circle donates
the money to those designated. In
Morocco, a group received sewing
machines. We always know who the
beneficiaries are.”
The owner of OAT Travel and Chair
of Grand Circle Foundation, Harriet
Lewis, wrote on the latter’s home page,
“To be welcomed into another culture
is an incredible gift – one that I’ve
received time and time again in my
own travels. By reaching out and connecting with communities around the
world, we learn to appreciate firsthand
not only our diversity, but our commonality … and the understanding we
gain can be life changing.”
That was how Grand Circle
Foundation enhanced the experiences
of travelers with OAT Adventures. They
give back to the world they travel.
On all their trips, you will find yourself
visiting a family, a small community, or
even a town. At each one, the people
you meet welcome you with open arms
because they’ve been the beneficiaries
of a gift of some kind from the Grand
Circle Foundation.
Lewis writes: “Whether it’s a small
school, a private home, or an entire
village, our support often makes a big
difference in the lives of the people we
visit – and they can change our lives as
well. These visits reveal the interconnectedness of our global community
and enrich your travel experience by
giving you a better understanding of
the world. Your Trip Experience Leader
will keep you informed about the sites
we support on your adventure – which
might range from an elementary school
or local orphanage to a women’s cooperative.”
And it’s not just the owners of OAT
Adventures that support them. Often,
those on tour will make a contribution
before, during, or after the journey.
Barstow talked about her other travels and why she continues to travel
with them. “They don’t charge a single
supplement, which is very important
to me. That way, I don’t have to worry
about having a friend to go with me. I
like the variety of people they attract.
They are not all singles, it’s a mix, and
you get to know the people.
“When I went to the Galapagos
Islands, two grandparents – a teacher
and a scientist – brought their teenage grandchildren. And everywhere
we go, the tour incorporates a trip to
someone’s home, or a school or some
other educational situation. So, you
always have a sense of going beneath
the surface in each country. You’re not
just seeing sites. It’s one of my favorite parts of the expeditions—because
that’s what they are to me. And all of
them are small groups, so you get to
