Experienced or aspiring writers can find inspiration and a quiet place to work at the Pelee Island Book House, an inn on an island on the Canadian side of Lake Erie, midway between Learnington, Ontario, and Sandusky, Ohio. This spring and fall, there will be five- and seven-day retreats that will include workshops directed by accomplished authors in genres such as fiction, nature, poetry and memoir writing. There are also six-day self-directed residencies that allow writers to work on their own in the peaceful island setting. Cost of the author-directed retreats ranges from $600 to $1,200. That includes lodging in one of the inn’s five bedrooms, three buffet-style meals a day and round-trip ferry passage to the island. The self-directed visits are $400-$500 and do not include the ferry. Taxes are extra. Info: tinyurl.com/zf4rado

Hiking Russia’s volcanoes

The Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s Far East contains volcanoes that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are 29 still active, including Klyuchevskaya Sopka, which, at 15,584 feet, is the highest active volcano in Eurasia. Trekking Volcanoes of Kamchatka is an adventure Aug. 8-21 being offered by 56th Parallel. The 14-day/13-night trip will include hiking some of the active volcanoes where you’ll see steam vents and smoking craters. tinyurl.com/hrx3q7v