About us
CLICK HERE to see our main meetup events calendar http://www.socialfundation.com
Meet with people who like adventures - getting thrills through adventurous sports like camping, caving, climbing, hiking, kayaking, skiing, skydiving, whitewater rafting, just to name a few.
We also do festivals and other fun events. and go on day and week long trips.
We plan most of our events for fun as well as adventure.
We camp on many of our events and trust me you will make some cool friends.
We strive for adventure, fun & friendships. So come check us out you won't regret it!
Featured event
Meetup on Orient Express! Paris Venice Prague Vienna Budapest Istanbul !
The Orient Express. . . you heard about it many times. The romance, the mystery, the adventure! Of course - the opulence too!
While the original Orient Express train is now part of history, our journey revives its spirit—crossing Europe from Paris to Istanbul, echoing the legendary route that once defined luxury rail travel.
This experience brings back the magic of the rails—without the inflated cost of old-world extravagance. Instead, we focus on service, comfort, and contemporary refinement, blending iconic train travel with thoughtfully curated experiences.
We retrace the route of the original Orient Express using a mix of modern night trains, high-speed day trains, and select short flights, creating a seamless and unforgettable journey.
Our route takes us to:
Paris → Venice → Vienna → Prague → Budapest → Istanbul
Included:
- Train transportation between 4 cities.
- 2 nights on an actual night train with sleeping compartment
- Air transportation Paris / Venice and Budapest / Istanbul
- 11 nights in First Class hotels with best central locations
- Daily breakfast + select lunches and dinners
- All transfers (hotels, train stations, airports)
- Guided tours in every city
- Entrances to many museums.
- And more thoughtful touches throughout the journey
We travel as a group, and also have the flexibility of hop-on, hop-off tours and museum passes with "skip the line" so you can enjoy complete independence. The trip is designed for curious, like-minded travelers who value both freedom and shared experiences.
It is all included in the price!
You are free to do your own thing, cater to your special interests, visit other sights and locations in the cities, while still being guided and helped with all the arrangements. A balance of independence when you want it and being included in all group activities when you prefer it.
The idea is: come alone, meet new like-minded people and make lifelong memories . . . without being stuck with the "one size fits all" tour formula.
Here is a basic thumbnail:
· Paris – 3 nights
Evening flight to Venice
· Venice – 1 night
Night train to Vienna
· Vienna – 1 night
Evening train to Prague
· Prague – 2 nights
Night train to Budapest
· Budapest – 1 night
Evening flight to Istanbul
· Istanbul – 3 nights.
Sleeper Cabins on the trains and First Class centrally located hotels in each city.
What was The Orient Express?
It was long-distance passenger train service that began in 1883 with the original endpoints being Paris to Istanbul. The original name became synonymous with intrigue and was a showcase of luxury with comfort at a time when traveling was still rough and dangerous.
In Istanbul the Pera Palace Hotel, built in 1892, was the accommodation at the terminus. And we are staying in it!
The original Orient Express ceased operation in 1977 and we are not using the original old train. It no longer exists.
EVERY aspect of this trip is epic.
- Visit picturesque and storied cities.
- Enjoy trains and experience the enchantment of the rails.
- In the end you will have visited 6 countries: France, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary and Turkey!
The tour starts in Paris on Sep 20 and ends in Istanbul on Oct 03.
$5490 total cost per person, double occupancy.
$7090 total cost for solo occupancy.
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE AIRFARE. This allows for your flexibility and convenience. We are happy to give you an airfare quote.
To attend: $500 deposit. CLICK HERE for a Secure Deposit Link
Your Deposit is Fully refundable to 90 days before the event (less any PayPal fees).
Final payment due 60 days before departure.
CLICK HERE To receive detailed itinerary and inclusions.
CLICK HERE for the main link for this event
RSVP there to get notice on any conversations or discussions.
AND/OR if you have questions?
CLICK HERE to Direct Message to Anna
CLICK HERE to Direct Message to Marc
AND/OR
We do a Zoom Q & A ( CLICK HERE to RSVP on the Q& A zoom).
Come to the zoom, ask any questions and meet other attendees.
Great way to get the info you want without all the other fluff.
We believe in good decent social. We have a set of sister groups we post our local free, local/regional camping, and our overseas events too.
CLICK HERE to see all our other fun and social meetup events.
SOT 200318-10
Live the adventure instead of only dreaming it!
Upcoming events
11
Mt Kilimanjaro Trek! 1 of the 7 Summits. Join us on this bucket list adventure
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, 2401 Smith Boulevard, Arlington, VA, 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 $600Trip 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 CookRSVP 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 REQUESTTo 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 ZoomThe 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 200318-10
3 attendees
Featured International Meetup Trips for 2026 & 2027
·OnlineOnlineThis Zoom Overseas Q & A is a monthly event.
Video Link: https://meet.google.com/irp-rnyi-fgb No software or download needed. Just open in a browser.
The date gets moved right before the event occurs. This way all the links posted to events keep working.
We have some truly EPIC Overseas events ahead. And Epic Adventure leads to Copious Questions.
To solve that . . . Let's Talk! Join us for a Q & A Zoom where you can ask all your Q's and get all your A's.
SCHEDULE
6:00 to 7:30pm Pacific Time is Q & A about our Overseas Events.What to talk about? Most of the convo will be on the following:
Jun 5, 2026 Costa Rica Eco Adventure
Jun 18, 2026 Mt Kilimanjaro Trek! One of the 7 Summits
Jun 27, 2026 Serengeti Photo Safari! Africa’s Best Wildlife Show
Jul 05, 2026 Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda
Aug 03, 2026 Alaska Inside Passage & Glacier Cruise from San Francisco
Sep 09, 2026 France Culinary Explorer! Food
Sep 20, 2026 Meetup on the Orient Express
Dec 04, 2026 Vietnam & Cambodia (with Angkor Wat)
Feb 10, 2027 Thailand: Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi Island
Mar 16, 2027 Galapagos Islands Expedition
Apr 25, 2027 Everest Base Camp Yoga Trek
Apr 28, 2027 Best of Portugal with Camino de Santiago
May 13, 2027 Unforgettable Croatia! The Pearls of the Dalmatian Coast
Nov 26, 2027 Ensenada Thanksgiving Weekend CruiseWe are currently working on Italy, China, Patagonia, and Antarctica. Keep an eye on our calendar.
If you are interested in more information for any of these trips, please reply to this email or fill out this form: https://forms.gle/cQdqYw74gAYqphXX8
I will send you a detailed day-by-day itinerary for those events.Our events are all very safe, fun, curated, and organized.
Questions about Hotels, Flights, Meals, Museums, Power Plugs, Converters, Money Conversion or whatever!!
All the folks currently signed on to our events are invited to come and ask all the Q's and get all the deets they want to. They will also get them in writing too, but we know a lot of folks rather a face and voice compared to an email. It's that whole human interaction thing!
*To join the zoom FILL OUT THIS GOOGLE FORM and we will email direct on the day of to remind you.
127 attendees
Alaska Glacier Cruise from San Francisco (10-Night) via The Inside Passage
BWI Marshall Airport, 7050 Friendship Road ,, Baltimore, MD, USHere is a true Meetup to fill your summer with joy, adventure and new friends!
Join us for a 10-night Alaska Inside Passage & Glacier Cruise that’s packed with impact, not just time at sea. Let’s trade the summer heat in the city with glacier-draped landscapes, wildlife, and endless scenic seas and share it with like-minded people!Why This Meetup Trip Is Pure Magic?
- We sail round-trip from San Francisco, making travel easy for all Californians.
- Discover Alaska’s stunning fjords, glaciers, and coastal towns—epic scenery everywhere you look.
- It’s more than a standard cruise—this is Meetup community time at sea, with mixers, games, and social adventures included!
Our Route:
- Mon Aug 3 – Embark from San Francisco at 4:00 PM
- Tue–Wed Aug 4-5– Fun Days at Sea (relax, explore onboard!)
- Thu Aug 6 – Juneau, 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Fri Aug 7 – Skagway, 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Sat Aug 8 – Tracy Arm Fjord, glacier cruising!
- Sun Aug 9 – Ketchikan, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Mon Aug 10 – Prince Rupert, BC, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Tue–Wed Aug 11-12 – More at Sea — swim, spa, dance!
- Thu Aug 13 – Arrive San Francisco at 8:00 AM
Our Ship is Carnival Luminosa:
- Opened 2009, refurbished 2022—bright, welcoming, and full of light.
- Onboard features: Alchemy Bar, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, RedFrog Rum Bar, Playlist Productions, Punchliner Comedy Club, Cloud 9 Spa, and Serenity retreat.
- The ship keeps the fun going with bars, shows, a spa, and more!
Special Group Pricing:
As a Meetup group, we’ve locked in a special rate:- $1,244 per person for an interior cabin, double occupancy, all taxes & port fees included (limited availability)
- Upgrades available to ocean-view, balcony, or solo cabins. Click here for options and prices
Only RSVPs with deposit guarantee your cabin—space is limited!
Deposit: $450 per person, refundable (less PayPal fees) until April 25, 2026, when the final payment is due.We’re making this cruise a real Meetup experience:
- Reserved group dining so we can all eat together.
- Cocktail Mixer with Open Bar one evening—Cheers to that!
- Ice-breaker games, scavenger hunts, mixers & more.
- Built-in group of new friends—travel alone, with friends, or family!
Optional Shore Excursions:
Want to do more off the ship? We’ll organize optional group outings like:- Glacier & whale-watching tours
- Scenic rail rides in Skagway
- Walking tours or local eats in Juneau & Ketchikan
You choose your adventure—participate as much or as little as you like!
Who’s Invited?
Everyone! Singles, couples, families, solo travelers—all ages welcome. This is a trip about meeting awesome people and having fun, not relationship status.See and Feel the Vibe!
Peek at photos from past Meetup cruises to get the feel for our fun community:
👉 Trip Photo Gallery (Thanksgiving Cruise Memories)Ready to Sail?
- RSVP on Meetup to join the discussion and get updates.
- Submit your $450 deposit to hold your spot. Click Here
- Fill out the Attendee Info Form so we can match cabins and share details.
Questions? Message Ekaterina (Kate) directly.
We also do a monthly Q&A Zoom for all our international trips — come meet others attending and get your questions answered.
We do a monthly Q & A Zoom for all our international trips, including this one.
Click Here to RSVP to our Zoom
Meet others attending, be social, or come and get any questions answered.We believe in good decent social. We have a set of sister group we post our local free, local/regional camping, and our overseas events too.
Click Here to see or join our other eventsThis isn’t just a cruise—it’s a Meetup Alaska Adventure at Sea! Craggy fjords, wildlife, glaciers, and lifelong memories await. Ready to trade your backyard for glacial views?
SOT 200318-10
3 attendees
Past events
1366
Group links
Members
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