Armchair Traveler

Come share the wonders of the world in the virtual company of other UMRA travel enthusiasts. We have four, 90-minute programs each year, and for 2025-26 these programs will again be offered via Zoom. Each program shares travel highlights from two speakers. 

See all UMRA events. Preview future program topics; scan the diverse topics and speakers for the entire year.

We have seen Mongolia, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Germany, Hong Kong, China, Poland, the Muir Trail, Italy and more. Next year's programs will include: Scotland, US Baseball Fields, Tanzania, Jerusalem and Egypt, Japan, Norway and Sweden, Rwanda, the San Juan Islands and British Columbia Coast and more.

See all 
UMRA events.

A Zoom invitation will be sent to all UMRA members via email a month before each program. For now, mark your 2025-26 calendars for 10-11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 24, November 19, January 21, and April 22. Contact Lynn C Anderson for more information or if you would like to share travel photos and memories in 2025-26.

 
 

Share your upcoming events. Submit event information in the Event Submission form

Upcoming Events

Tempio Voltiano

Culture, history, and geology—along the Rhine and Iceland

Event date:

Cathy Lee Gierke will present photos and talk about her cruise on the Rhine river, Italian Switzerland, Lake Como and Iceland -- and the history, culture and geology along the way.

See Past Events

News & Stories

Recordings and media are here.

Tour Egypt and Lebanon

Event date:
Ann Hill Duin and her husband Doug Duin shared their recent “bucket list” tour of “Egypt: Temples, Tombs, Time.” Bill and Sheryl Lazarus took us on "A Tour of Lebanon, 2022."  See the video.

Rwanda and the British Columbia Coast

Event date:
The April 23, 2025 Armchair Traveler Program featured Ceeya Patton-Bolman sharing insights, maps, and photos based on her 20 years of experience in Rwanda, and Gene Allen sharing pictures, maps, and information about the British Columbia Coast and its San Juan and Gulf Islands.

Japan, Norway, and Sweden

Event date:
UMRA’s first Armchair Traveler program of the new year included two presentations featuring travels in Japan with Wayne “Ironwain” Potratz and in Norway and Sweden with Lynn Anderson.

Israel, Egypt, and Tanzania

Event date:
UMRA member Paul Letourneau takes us on a safari in northern Tanzania and Brenda Knapp-Polzin shares photos and insights from a 2023 family trip to Israel and Egypt.

Knowing Iceland

Event date:
For our Armchair Traveler Program on January 24, 2024, Kate Maple took us to western Iceland.  Her photos are incredible and her descriptions are informative and poetic.  She and her friend and traveling companion Michelle Schermann had an amazing experience exploring some lesser-known parts of Iceland and we had an amazing experience hearing all about it and seeing amazing pictures.
Banana Island

From northern Spain to western Africa

Event date:
Enjoy the recording of UMRA’s first Armchair Traveler program of 2023–24. Nanette Hanks shared fabulous pictures and information about the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. Tom O'Toole told us about his return visit to Sierra Leone in West Africa.

See Past News