Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/52639
{ ST YLE } Keeping It Honest { By Lisa Marsh } { TR AVEL } All Access { By Laura Kiniry } Looking to brush up on your culinary skills or learn a new sport on your next trip abroad? You're in luck: Since 2001, Oakland, Calif.–based ACCESS TRIPS has special- ized in exotic learning vacations for skill and thrill seekers of all abilities. Along with already-popular guided tours like cooking in Thailand and snowboarding in Switzer- land (they offer six activities in 16 coun- tries), the adventure-travel company has recently launched a seven-day Mexican Culinary Retreat along the country's west coast, in which participants try their hands at traditional dishes like shrimp pancakes and ceviche under the direction of one of the country's top chefs, Hugo Gutierrez. Nights are spent in luxury cabanas, and the slow-paced itinerary includes plenty of downtime for idling in a hammock or wan- dering around the local fishing village of Sayulita, just north of Puerto Vallarta. Also new is the ability to combine Access Trips' preorganized mountain biking and surfing excursions in Costa Rica and Nicaragua to create a customized multisport journey of up to 14 days. Trips range in difficulty from beginner to advanced, and guests can mix and match according to their comfort level. With such added flexibility, it really is pos- sible to have your beach and mountains too. Tours start at $1,066, excluding airfare; www.accesstrips.com The birth of your first child can make it difficult to stay eco-friendly. The number of disposable diapers and wipes that you could go through is mind-boggling. Faced with this quandary, actress and mother Jessica Alba partnered with Brian Lee, Sean Kane and Christopher Gavigan to form THE HONEST COMPANY. Keeping children's well-being in mind, the company creates nontoxic, eco- friendly baby-care essentials (including diapers, wipes, skin-care products and home-cleaning goods) that promote a healthy life as well as a sustainable future. The products are available by monthly subscription and are delivered directly to your home. The first shipment includes a collection of items, and subscribers can choose which products they want to receive in future shipments. The company gives back, too, donating a percentage of its profits to the Los Angeles charity Baby2Baby, which provides supplies to needy families with small children. A seven-day trial kit with nontoxic, eco-friendly essentials is available for free; subscriptions from $40. www.thehonestcompany.com AA.COM/AMERICANWAY JANUARY 15, 2012 17