Tag Archives: Plan

Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, Plan, Trip Ideas

Florida Snapshots: Dania Beach Pier

August 17, 2015

At fishing piers scattered along Florida’s southeastern coast, saltwater anglers can wet a line without having to wade into the surf or charter a boat. A favorite location in the Fort Lauderdale area is the Dania Beach Ocean Fishing Pier. Located just south of the John U. Lloyd Beach State Park, and a quick drive from the cruise ship terminals of Port Everglades, this structure stretches 800 feet offshore from the beach, giving land-bound fishermen an easy opportunity to reach deeper waters where the big fish swim.

No problem if you left your tackle at home, as you can rent fishing gear and buy bait on site. And so long as you are dangling a line from the pier, you don’t need a state fishing license. In addition to the tackle shop, the deck provides shaded benches, restrooms and cleaning tables. The pier is open from 6 a.m. to midnight, and it’s not just fishermen who come to walk over water. The view alone is worth the modest admission fee, and an evening stroll is a perfect complement to a meal at the adjacent Quarterdeck Restaurant.

Bahamas, Bahamas-Out Islands, Caribbean, Plan, Trip Ideas

Island Escapes: Exumas by Land and Sea

August 8, 2015

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A short sail from the glitzy resorts of Nassau, a very different side of the Bahamas awaits. Stretching for more than 100 miles southward, the string of small islands known as the Exumas divide the emerald-green shallows of the Bahama Banks from the sapphire-blue depths of the Tongue of the Ocean. This is a yachtsman’s playground, filled with scenic anchorages, deserted white-sand beaches and coral reefs teeming with fish life. But you don’t have to play captain to enjoy a slice of Out Island life, as destinations along the archipelago can be reached by airplane, ferryboat or one of the iconic Bahamian mail boats. Day-trippers can also explore these islands by signing up for one of the speedboat tours or seaplane adventures that depart from New Providence Island each day.

An aerial view of the Exuma chain of islands. While shallow sand banks stretch to the west of these islands, the waters to the east drop abruptly to depths of a mile or more. Photo: iStock

A favorite destination is the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. This nature preserve encompasses more than 18 small islands and 175 square miles of seabed, including some of the Bahamas’ best coral reefs. Most visitors arrive at the park headquarters on the island of Warderwick Wells. A stop at the visitor’s center provides background on this unique park, which became the world’s first above-and-below-water preserve when established in 1958. A seven-mile network of nature trails crisscross the island, leading to panoramic views from Boo Boo Hill, blowholes, the remains of a Loyalist plantation and a driftwood-laden shore that is a beachcombers delight. But the park’s greatest rewards are reserved for those who don mask and snorkel and immerse themselves in the marine environment. A great starting point for a snorkel tour is the beach at Pirate’s Lair. And yes, this island was once a favorite hideout for the Brethren of the Coast.

A typical underwater scene at the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park, with an angelfish hovering over a stand of soft corals and sponges that provide shelter for a school of small snapper. Photo: iStock

Today, thanks to the encompassing protection of the Bahamas National Trust, this idyllic collection of island gems is safe not only from marauding privateers, but also from the influences of development, and the ravages on commercial fishing. The entire park is subject to a no-take policy that includes all forms of terrestrial and marine flora and fauna. Fortunately, you are free to carry your memories home with you, and these are reward enough.

British Virgin Islands, Caribbean, Plan, Trip Ideas

Caribbean Snapshots: The Baths, Virgin Gorda, BVI

August 8, 2015

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There’s nothing like it anywhere else in the Caribbean. At The Baths, giant granite boulders are scattered helter-skelter along a white sand beach, as if a giant had abandoned his rock collection. Located on the island of Virgin Gorda, in the British Virgin Islands, this unique rock formation is the eroded remains of an ancient volcanic upheaval.

The bathers who flock to this oversized rock pile care less about the geology than the topography, which includes a trail that meanders through shaded grottoes and tidal pools hidden within the rocks. After negotiating the boulder maze, explorers can linger at the adjacent beach. The Baths are visited by day trippers from as far away as St. Thomas, so its best to arrive early if you want to stake out a prime piece of sand.

Caribbean, Plan, St. Lucia, Trip Ideas

Caribbean Snapshots: Marigot Bay, St. Lucia

August 8, 2015

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Ringed by green hills that provide shelter from wind and waves, St. Lucia’s Marigot Bay is what mariners call a hurricane hole. But you shouldn’t wait for bad weather to visit this scenic harbor, which author James Michener once called “the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean.” Quieter than the big hotel scene in the northern resort area of Rodney Bay, and less isolated than the cloistered resorts in the Pitons region, Marigot Bay strikes an idea balance between natural beauty and appreciated amenities.

Those on the Fortune 500 list can join the lineup of gleaming mega yachts that winter here. But Marigot is also within reach for the rest of us, as tucked amid the palm-lined shores of the harbor are accommodations ranging from quaint B&Bs and budget-friendly three-star properties to exclusive villas and a five-star resort. Dining and entertaining options also run the gamut from dress-up-fancy to come-barefoot.

Marigot is also the launching point for a wide range of water sports. A short boat ride away are the reefs of the St. Lucia National Marine Reserve, and a 45-minute drive brigs you to inland attractions such as rainforest hikes and the famous “drive in volcano” at Sulphur Springs Park.

Caribbean, Plan, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

50 Shades of Blue: St. Thomas Beaches

August 8, 2015

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Best known for shopping, dining and nightlife, this US Virgin Island sometimes gets passed up as a beach destination. But with 40 stretches of sand, quiet coves and harbors dotting the island coastlines, even the most passionate beach goer will be satisfied. And, after a day on the sun-drenched shores there’s still plenty of time for an afternoon of shopping before happy hour. Magens Bay Beach from above is the one of the most beautiful and popular beaches in the Caribbean. Photo: Christian Wheatley/iStock

Florida, Plan, Sarasota, Trip Ideas

Florida Snapshots: Siesta Key

August 2, 2015

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What does it take for a stretch of sand to be named “America’s Number One Beach”? That depends on the findings of coastal geologist, Dr. Stephen Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach. He travels the nation’s coastlines with a list of criteria used to rate each beach, scoring for everything from views, access, trash and litter to temperature, sand softness, currents, water color and more. On 2011, these rankings earned the shores of Siesta Key top honors. But this is no surprise to anyone who has visited this Gulf Coast oasis of sun and sand, as it has always been at the top of their list.

Some say it’s the sand at Siesta Key that makes it so memorable. It’s so soft it feels like you are walking on sifted flour, and it remains cool on bare feet, even in the heat of summer. Unlike many beaches, which are made of pulverized coral, the sands of Siesta Key are 99 percent pure quartz, a quality that has earned the recognition as the whitest and softest sand in the world. The water color is equally alluring; in the winter months it’s an inviting aquamarine and during the heat of the summer it shimmers lime green under the sun. The waves are gentle rollers in December but come July the sea is a pancake-flat, perfect for that first time on a paddle board tour or just bobbing on a float.

The eight-mile stretch of Siesta’s coastline includes three beaches, just south of Siesta proper is Crescent Beach which runs into the popular snorkeling spot known as Point-of-Rocks. The southernmost tip of Siesta Key turns into Turtle Beach, a quieter strand favored by beachcombers and shell collectors. The island’s namesake strip remains on the top of most beach goer’s list, catering to everyone from grandparents to toddlers. The active set has volleyball, rollerblading and bicycling. Hippie-types love the sunset drum circles, and sand artists come to the annual sand castle contest every November. We like it year round.

Caribbean, Plan, Trinidad & Tobago, Trip Ideas

Caribbean Snapshots: Pigeon Point, Tobago

August 2, 2015

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One of my absolute favorite beaches in the Caribbean is Tobago’s Pigeon Point. It’s hard to find a more idyllic, with palms bent over the water’s edge, a sugary sand beach and a blue-green sea. Daytime skies are Dutch blue with puffs of white clouds floating overhead. As the sun sinks over the Caribbean the western horizon comes alive in vivid warm tones that fade to black as stars come out in nighttime sky free of city lights.

Windsurfers have favored this point of land for years, with grassy lawn to rig up and picnic tables to lounge around after a session on the water. Today, paddle boarders cruise the shoreline and snorkelers head to nearby coral gardens. World famous Buccoo Reef lies just offshore. Once named the third most spectacular reef in the world by Jacques Cousteau, this protected marine park captivates with its underwater coral formations, which can be seen by topside visitors aboard glass bottom boats. Snorkeling trips ferry groups to Nylon Pool, where they can stand waist deep in a sandy grotto surrounded by living reef.

The 125-acre park known as Pigeon Point Heritage Park charges a modest admission fee of $3. There are bathrooms and showers, beach chairs for hire and an onsite restaurant that serves up a tempting menu of fish sandwiches and cold beer. Perfect after a day on the water.

Central America, Costa Rica, Plan, Trip Ideas

Costa Rica Snapshot: Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste

July 21, 2015

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In the northwestern corner of Costa Rica, a trio of scallop-shaped bays open into the Gulf of Papagayo. Each offers a sandy beach, waterfront accommodations and spectacular sunsets, but it is the middle of the three, Playa Hermosa, that is the choice of many in- the-know travelers.

The scene on this mile-long stretch of gray sand is a bit more laid back then that at the flanking beaches of Playa Coco and Playa Panama, and you’ll never have to fight to find room to spread a beach blanket. Calm surf makes it a favorite with swimmers and snorkelers, and the clean waters have earned Hermosa the coveted title of a Blue Flag certified beach.

The beachside town of Hermosa offers a range of accommodations, restaurants, bars and shops. After beach time, there are several national parks nearby including Parque Nacional Palo Verde and Parque Nacional Rincon de la Vieja. Best of all, this is one of the easiest resorts in Costa Rica to reach. Fly into the Liberia International Airport and you can be on the beach at Playa Hermosa in half an hour.

Barbados, Caribbean, Plan, Trip Ideas

Island Escapes: Barbados Beach and Garden Adventure

July 20, 2015

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Barbados offers some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Along the island’s western shore, genteel resorts overlook dazzling white sands and calm Caribbean waters. Travel east, and the vistas change to surf-washed shores swept by Atlantic trade winds. Few visitors choose to vacation on this wilder coast, but many will make day trips.

One of the best east-coast itineraries takes in two of Barbados’ most popular natural attractions, both of which lie in the quiet coastal village of Bathsheba, less than an hour’s drive from any resort on the island. Start your day with a relaxing visit to the Andromeda Botanical Gardens. Once the private passion of a local horticulturalist, this six-acre garden is now under the care of the Barbados National Trust. Within the manicured grounds, guests can wander verdant pathways to take in more than 600 varieties of exotic tropical plants, including orchids, palms, ferns, heliconia, hibiscus, bougainvillea, begonias and cacti. Signature sightings include a sprawling banyan tree and a talipot palm, which is one of the largest species of palm trees in the world. The trek is easy, suitable for all ages, and visits can include an on-site shop selling local handicrafts.

Well-maintained pathways lead visitors through the verdant grounds of the Andromeda Botanical Gardens, where more than 600 species of exotic tropical plants flourish. Photo: Flavio Vallenari/iStock

Just down the road from the Gardens is Bathsheba Park, which becomes base camp for an afternoon at the beach. Here you’ll find washrooms, changing facilities, and a green lawn to spread out a picnic. Those who didn’t pack a lunch can always visit one of the small local restaurants or street food kiosks near the beach. With Atlantic rollers crashing over rocky shores, Bathsheba Beach is not for swimmers. Some of the world’s best surfers come to ride a wave known as Soup Bowl; less adventurous bathers can relax in the calmer tide pools near the shore, or wade into the foamy shore break. According to island lore, this frothy white mix, which is said to provide restorative properties, is reminiscent of the milk baths that the beaches namesake biblical queen used to maintain her immaculate complexion. Whatever healing properties Bathsheba’s waters might have, the view certainly refreshes. In addition to a world-class surf break, this stretch of coast offers dramatic rock formations, with huge boulders scattered along the beach and rising precipitously from the shallows.

Surfers come to Bathsheba Beach to challenge the wave known as the Soup Bowl. Closer to shore, bathers immerse themselves in the foamy crests, which are said to provide healing properties. Photo: iStock

After the beach, Bathseba offers one more indulgence. For more than 100 years, the Round House has sat cliffside overlooking the breaking waves of the Soup Bowl. It’s the perfect setting for a happy hour celebration, and the kitchen provides ample incentives to linger over a rum cocktail or two and dinner. For a taste of the island, try some Baja pumpkin fritters. Followed by flying fish with breadfruit cou cou.

Hawaii, Maui, Plan, Trip Ideas

Hawaii Snapshots: Spreckelsville Beach, Maui

July 9, 2015

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Most visitors to Maui will only see the Spreckelsville coastline from the air, as it is located just beyond the end of the runway at Kahului Airport. This two-mile stretch of less visited waterfront actually includes five individual beaches set in coves separated by headlands.

The distinctive red lava bluffs seen here are located just to the west of the stretch of sand known as Sprecks Beach or Euro Beach. Often buffeted by trade winds and washed by surf, this undeveloped beach is better suited for long walks or shore side relaxation rather than swimming.

But the same conditions that might discourage bathers attract windsurfers, and when conditions are right, some of the world’s best congregate here to harness the winds and ride the waves. Those seeking calmer waters can travel a half-mile to the east, where more benign conditions prevail at aptly named Baby Beach.

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