
What we’re about
Are you new in town? Looking to socialize? Want to make new friends or new travel mates? This group will fulfill your desire for new friends and more. There are so many people in Los Angeles and socializing with new friends should not be something we hope for but something we can do was as we wish! :)
Also, if and when you are ready and want to lead a meetup event, please contact Anna. Let's do all the fun things LA and beyond has to offer, together!
Upcoming events
5

Cherry Blossoms in Japan - The Golden Triangle incl. Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka!!!
LAX, 300 World Way, Los Angeles, CA, USJoin us on this magical trip to Japan to experience the enchanting allure of spring, where nature paints the landscape with vibrant colors. We chose this season for the unparalleled opportunity to explore some of the country’s most iconic destinations at their best: Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, and Osaka. We will also visit the Japanese Alps with stays in Matsumoto and Kanazawa. Each city boasts unique attractions and seasonal charm that will captivate our senses and leave us with unforgettable memories. A true Meetup Experience!
What is included:
- 3 nights in Tokyo
- 1 night in Matsumoto
- 2 nights in Kanazawa
- 2 nights in Kyoto
- 3 nights in Osaka
- Arrival and Departure Airport Transfers
- Transportation throughout by Coach
- English Speaking guide throughout the itinerary
- Sightseeing tours with admissions fees per itinerary
- Breakfast Daily
- 2 lunches, 5 dinners
Experience:
- Visit to shrines, temples and castles with amazing Spring Blossoms
- The Bullet train-Shinkansen
- Sushi Making Class
- Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony
- Maiko Dinner (apprentice geisha)
- Samurai Experience
What is not included:
- International Airfare
- Tips for the guide and driver
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Items of personal nature
Japan during spring is a feast for the senses, offering a harmonious blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and urban excitement. We will enjoy it all and this promises to be an unforgettable adventure with our fellow Meetup travelers!
Land Tour cost $5760 per person, double occupancy
(we match roommates for those wishing to share)
Solo occupancy additional $1050
***International Airfare not included***
The only way to guarantee your spot for this meetup is a $400 deposit.
CLICK HERE for secure deposit link:
Upon submitting the deposit, please fill out this form
RSVP to the event with your email to receive additional info.
RSVP DOES NOT RESERVE YOUR SPOT.
Deposit is the only way to hold your spot.
Click Here for secure deposit link.
Your deposit is fully refundable up to 90 days before the departure.
For airfare and other info on the trip, click here to message Anna
Click Here to fill out our google info request form to receive detailed itinerary.
We believe in good decent social. This event is cross posted to several other groups and the number of RSVPs on each is not reflective.
Click Here for the main location of this event.
Still have questions? We do a monthly Q&A Travel Zoom on all our events
Come to the zoom and ask any questions. Great way to get the info you want without all the other fluff. As well as meet us and other attendees.
Click here for General Policies and useful info about our international trips.
We have a set of sister groups where we post our local free, local/regional camping, and our overseas events too.
Click Here to see all our other fun events
Live the adventure instead of only dreaming it!
SOT 2000318-102 attendees
Yosemite! MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND w/ Valley Floor Activities-4 days/3 nights..
Location not specified yetWe have done Yosemite before on the group.
And each and every time it fills up early with lotos of people with big sadness they can not go.
Plain and simple . . . our events have limited size. So when it fill . . . it fills.
Yosemite is that amazing and iconic place that everyone loves to go.
There are Saturday/Sunday planned Easy, Medium and Hard Options.
We will divide by interest for different hikes.
The "Easy" route:
- Yosemite Falls (the easy walk)
- Tunnel View
- Glacier Point
- Bridal Veil Falls
- Mirror Lake
- The Meadows
- The River
- Ahwahnee Hotel
Planned Medium Hike:
- Vernal/Nevada Mist Trail
Planned Difficult Hikes
- Yosemite Falls
- 4 Mile Trail
- Pohono Trail
To attend this event:
- RSVP on this event
- CLICK HERE for the payment link.
- Click Here and fill out our Attendees google form (this is also what the carpool info gets built from)
Notes:
- You MUST take care of payment to be confirmed to go.
- After payment you will get a confirmation email from Paypal
- You do NOT need a paypal account. Click the process as guest, or use any credit or debit card.
- If you have a X2 or a Plus One . . . just do the link a 2nd or 3rd time.
- You may see LOTS of people RSVP on the event. Many do RSVP and not take care of payment.
- Event is limited in size. When filled the payment link will be disabled.
- If you not ready to commit yet . . .
- Click Here and fill out our google "interest" form (there is a box for "interested and keep me in the loop")
Includes:
- Site (on private land) for a three day weekend
- All Firewood & propane heaters provided.
- Flush restrooms (that are clean)
- (free)(hot) Showers available
- Restaurants and Grocery adjacent
- Pool and Jacuzzi available.
- Super Civilized Camping.
- Perfect for the beginner and first timers.
- Many come solo.
- Come alone and leave with friends. Come with friends & leave with more friends.
Tell me about food and everything else . . .
The logistics of providing food for every possible diet, as well as food prep issues is just not feasible or safe.
AND
Due to varied dietary needs and food contact issues, it's better if bring what you like and prep it.
What gear do I need?
The only specialized gear you need is Tent, Sleeping bag, Sleeping Pad (yoga mat). Everything else is household items you already have.
Special note: this is Tent camping. No RV. No Trailers. No giant campervans.
Can I park my car next to my tent?
Sniffing tires, oil, exhaust and fuel? Yuck!!! You cars will be close. But not on top of us. Cars on one side. Humans on the other. If we overflow our parking area . . . there is an overflow parking area.
Carpools?
- Carpool info goes out ONLY to paid attendees. (it really sucks to set up a carpool with a person who is not actually going)
- Carpool info ONLY goes out to those who fill out the ATTENDEES/CARPOOL FORM (this way it is reliable info)
- Carpool info goes out all at once (not as you sign on)
- Carpool info goes out 1 week before the event. Too early and most carpools fall apart. It really sucks when your ride canceled at asked for a refund a month ago but did not tell you. Carpools info sent when it is stable of who is attending.
- Carpool in week before makes sense because that's when people can really determine schedule and departure time and availability.
Refunds?
If requested 2 weeks before event start: 100% refund.
If requested less than 2 weeks: 100% Full Credit be applied to ANY future event we run.
Questions? CLICK HERE to send a Direct Message
OTHER INFO:
- Carpool info
- Newbie Camping Advice All things GEAR
- Newbie Camping Advice All things FOOD
- General Policies
This event is cross-posted to several groups. The number RSVP'd is not accurate. ONLY Paid attendees are actually going to be attending.
To See MORE of those RSVP'd
CLICK HERE to join in on the other fun events planned.
Notice: We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, age, disability, gender, gender preference, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, national identity, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, political beliefs or even for belly button lint.
We welcome all, and that includes you!4 attendees
Mt Kilimanjaro Trek! One of the 7 Summits! A bucket list adventure!!
Los Angeles International Airport, 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA, USOur Meetup is off to another hiking adventure! Mt Kilimanjaro, as the tallest mountain in Africa, is included in the 7 Summits of the world.
It is a bucket-list item for all hard-core hikers and mountain lovers.
We did this trek with Meetup in the summer of 2024 and it was a true experience of a lifetime (see photos below)
Let's get to some numbers. It is 5,895m/19,340ft
BUT . . . our starting elevation for the trek is 3795m/12541ft
As such elevation gain is 2100m/6799ft
To compare Everest Base Camp trek, is about 2754m/9035ft elevation change. And Mt Whitney is about 1828m/6000ft elevation change.
The key to being able to succeed in this endeavor lays in the route and the support system.
We are taking the Lemosho Route via the Northern Circuit. The Northern Circuit route is the longest and newest of the seven established Kilimanjaro routes. It's one of the best routes because it has the best acclimatization profile. This results in one of the highest summit success rates. Add to that stunning views, and comparatively relaxed pace. It is also much less crowded than the other Kilimanjaro routes.
As far as our support system: We will be accompanied by experienced guides, porters and cooks. They are certified, ensuring our safety and comfort. Porters will carry our gear.
We will have a high ratio of guides to hikers. Our guides will go our pace and support each and everyone of us, regardless of fitness level and pace. In other words...you go your own speed and we all get there safe.
More about our trek/trip.
As with all our international trips, we picked the best season/time of year to go for weather and wildlife. Lemosho and Northern Circuit is a scenically spectacular and varied route. At the lower elevations it has an abundance of wildlife such as elephant, buffalo, eland and lion which come over to forage during dry season.
Each of our trips is personally crafted to offer the best places and best use of time.
But I don't have the needed gear?!
You don't need much more than the standard trekker's equipment. We will provide you with a list of what is already included and what can be rented there.
Does this include food?
All meals on the trek potion are included and a cook travels with us!
What is lodging like?
We are sleeping in new and comfortable tents (carried during the day by porters)
I am new at this.
That's OK. We do plenty of prep Zooms before we depart. And in California we have a number of local outdoor day or weekend outings you can test out with us.
How dangerous is this? What if I get sick or hurt?
We will be walking on an established, well used trail the entire time. Our trip INCLUDES emergency insurance. We are also Certified Wilderness First Responders and our guides are members of (AMREF) Flying Doctor.
Plain and simple, safety is our primary goal.
How much does this cost?
Kilimanjaro Mountain Trek $3950 per person, double occupancy. Land only (airfare not included). Solo supplement $600
Trip Cost includes:
- 9 nights accommodation
- 3 meals everyday on the trek
- All Fees & Entrances and Taxes
- Camping equipment such as tents, tables, chairs.
- Lead Guide, Assistant Guides, Porters and Cook
RSVP to this event shows your interest, but does not hold your space.
The only way to secure your spot for this trip is a $300 deposit:
CLICK HERE FOR SECURE DEPOSIT LINK
Deposit is refundable up to 90 days before the departure (less PayPal fees).
IF you need an airfare quote, Click here to message Anna
For more information about this or any of our other international events, fill out this form: INTERNATIONAL MEETUPS INFO REQUEST
To see pictures from our Kilimanjaro adventure in 2024 CLICK HERE
We do a monthly Q & A Zoom: Meet others attending, be social, or come and get any questions answered.
Click Here to RSVP to our Zoom
The MAIN location where this event is posted:
https://www.meetup.com/moretoexplore/events/302872805/
(RSVP there for any conversation and comments)
This events is cross posted to several other groups and the number of RSVPs on each is not reflective. We have a set of sister groups where we post our local free, local/regional camping, and our overseas events too.
Click Here for our other events:
Live the adventure instead of only dreaming it!
SOT 200318-102 attendees
Serengeti Photo Safari & Zanzibar Extension! A Journey of a Lifetime...
Los Angeles International Airport, 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA, USWe all have seen Lion King in one form or another . . . It's now time to go to the source.
Our meetup is off to Africa for The Great Migration Photo Safari! We did this amazing trip in the summer of 2024 and everybody had a blast! (see photos in the link below)
Encounter the exotic wildlife of the Serengeti! Marvel at the lions, zebras, elephants and so many majestic animals we have only seen in the zoo or in movies.
On Serengeti's vast, treeless plains tens of thousands of hoofed animals are constantly on the move in search of fresh grassland. This is a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to experience the best game viewing in Africa!
Like every trip we do with Meetup, this one is personally crafted to offer the best places and best use of time.
The itinerary is:
July 5 Arrival Kilimanjaro Intl Airport and transfer to Arusha
July 6 Arusha to Tarangire National Park
July 7 Ngorongoro Crater full day game drive
July 8 Ngorongoro to Serengeti National Park (Central Seronera area)
July 9 Serengeti (Central)
July 10 Northern Serengeti (Kogatende)
July 11 Northern Serengeti (Kogatende)
July 12 Northern Serengeti (Kogatende) to Lake Natron
July 13 Lake Natron to Arusha
July 14 Arusha to Kilimanjaro International Airport
All of these locations don't mean much to you at the moment, but after the trip you will remember them forever as some of the best places you have ever visited!
How much does this cost?
African Migration Safari $4998 per person, double occupancy.
Single supplement $750. I.e. price for a solo accommodation $5748
We offer roommate matching for those, wishing to share and save.
***Airfare is not included.***
RSVP to this event shows your interest, but does not hold your space.
The only way to secure your spot for this trip is a $350 deposit:
CLICK HERE FOR SECURE DEPOSIT LINK
IF you need an airfare quote, Click here to message Anna
Land Cost includes:
- 9 nights accommodation
- 3 meals every day
- All park fees to Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro.
- All concession fees to Tarangire and Serengeti.
- Crater service fees.
- Professional driver guide
- Open roof land cruiser vehicles
- Drinking water during the safari
We offer an Optional Extension 5-day to Zanzibar:
Price per person, Double occupancy $870.
Solo room - $1285
**Airfare from Arusha (Kilimanjaro Airport) to Zanzibar is not included**
To sign up for Zanzibar, pay the $200 deposit through this secure link
For more information about this or any of our other international events, fill out this form: INTERNATIONAL MEETUPS INFO REQUEST
Have more questions?
Click here to message Anna
Click here to message Marc
AND/OR
We do a monthly Q & A Zoom: Meet others attending, be social, or come and get any questions answered.
Click Here to RSVP to our Zoom
Come to the zoom and ask any questions. Great way to get the info you want without all the other fluff. As well as meet other attendees.
To see pictures from our Photo Safari adventure in 2024 CLICK HERE
We believe in good decent social. We have a set of sister group we post our local free, local/reginal camping, and our overseas events too.
Click Here for our other events:
Live the adventure instead of only dreaming it!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SOT 200318-102 attendees
Past events
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