Caribbean Islands Vacation

The Caribbean is more than just beautiful beaches. Here are some suggestions for travelers looking for food, adventure, or just a place to relax.

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Aruba is just 20 miles long by 6 miles wide, but there is no shortage of adventure here. Explore the island’s dark caves and its tropical waters full of marine life and shipwrecks. Rent a 4-wheel-drive vehicle and check out the back roads of the rugged north coast or the countryside. Aruba is famous for its windsurfing, so that’s a “must try” during a visit to this happy island.

The British Virgin Islands, also known as the BVIs, are some of the least developed in the Caribbean, but this makes for a great place to relax. More than 60 islands make up the BVIs, with Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, and Tortola being the most populated. Don’t worry though they still have plenty of secluded areas to soak up the sun.

Tobago is a small island just 27 miles long and 7.5 miles wide, so it’s sometimes overlooked. But this island is great for adventures in the water. The sea is crystal clear, offering some of the Caribbean’s best diving. Exotic sea life can be seen in the bays or as your float over the reefs. Most of this island is blissfully empty, which also makes it feel like your own private paradise.

So set out and find a Caribbean island for any activity you so choose.

Travel Activities to Escape Winter

Winter can make some people feel blue, which means it’s a much-needed time for an escape. Here are three travel activities that will help you survive the cold.

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First, bask in some light therapy. The bright lights of Las Vegas might do the trick. Check out the shops, slots, spas, and restaurants that line the neon strip. While you’re there, get tickets to a live show, ride a roller coaster, or watch the Bellagio water show. In Vegas, there’s rarely a dull moment, and the colorful lights are certain to cheer anyone up.

Second, soak in the hot springs. Saratoga Springs, New York, is just south of the Adirondack Mountains and 40 minutes north of Albany. Besides horse racing, it is also known for its carbonated mineral springs. Hot springs have been linked to healing, so it’s the perfect relaxation getaway. Plus, Saratoga Springs ties with San Francisco for the most restaurants per capita, so you certainly won’t go hungry.

Finally, take in the red rocks, the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona, that is. The fiery canyons and sunsets in the Southwest can reverse any gray day of winter. This area typically has much milder temperatures than the rest of the country, too, which makes it great for winter camping, hiking, or stargazing. And there are many national parks nearby to explore.

So shake off the cold-weather blues and find yourself somewhere fun this winter season.

National Parks for Winter

National Parks usually top travel lists in the spring, summer, and fall, but at here are three national parks that should be on your winter travel list, too.

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Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, doesn’t allow snowmobiles or ATVs, but that is part of what makes it so pristine. It’s Canada’s oldest national park and features landscapes ranging from hot springs to glaciers. In winter, visitors can snowshoe or cross-country ski the trails around the park and Lake Louise. And the delightful mountain town of Banff is a great access point.

If cold isn’t really your thing, then peer into an active volcano at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This park encompasses more than 200,000 acres on the Big Island and features the most active volcano in the world, alongside desert and forest terrain. Besides hiking the volcano, visitors can bike the roads, hike through lava tubes, or even ride horseback to the Pacific Ocean.

California’s Death Valley National Park is one of the hottest and driest places in the world, which means winter is the perfect time for hiking and camping here. This park ranges in elevation from 282 feet below sea level to more than 11,000 feet above. Death Valley’s 3.4 million acres, the largest park in the continental U.S., will give you more than enough room to explore.

So if you love national parks, don’t think you have to wait until winter is over to enjoy them.