Tag: Beach Travel

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An Iconic Outer Banks Lighthouse is Ready for Visitors Once Again

April 3, 2013 at 9:44 AM | by | Comments (0)

It’s already April, and that means it is officially time to start thinking about warm weather vacations. If you’re thinking about taking the family—or just the friends—down to the Outer Banks of North Carolina this summer we’ve got some good news for you. One of the area’s iconic lighthouses just kind of finished a pretty lengthy rehab and renovation, and it’s getting ready to show itself off once again to both tourists and locals.

A couple years ago the Bodie Island Lighthouse at Cape Hatteras National Seashore was already going under the knife for a nip and tuck, but the engineers discovered that it was in worse shape than originally thought. Fast-forward to the present and it’s just finishing up some aesthetic improvements, as well as some structural upgrades to ensure that it’s good-to-go for years to come.

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Where To Go With Your Tax Refund: Orange County, California

March 28, 2013 at 2:01 PM | by | Comments (0)

Tax day is coming, and you're probably excited...but not because you look forward to sifting through receipts and credit card statements. You're excited because you're getting a fat refund. Probably. The economy may be on its way back up, but you should try to stretch that tax refund as far as you can...like with a little "you did a great job last year" trip—a Tax Refund Vacation.

We’re back in California this week, as when it comes to domestic getaways we just can’t get enough of The Golden State. Sure Napa is fine and dandy, but sometimes we need more beach to go with our vacation. That’s why we say to cash that refund check as soon as possible—or confirm your direct deposit—and head off to Orange County.

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Wish You Were Here: The 333 Islands of Fiji

Where: Fiji
March 18, 2013 at 2:32 PM | by | Comments (0)

You guys, we're in Fiji! Yes, the islands in the South Pacific which are home to some of the happiest people on earth, according to a Gallup poll and the islands' official slogan ("where happiness finds you").

We've been here for a few days, and we're kinda getting into that overwhelming positivity despite our cynical city selves. Surrounded with lush tropical surrounds and warm weather, beautiful views and the sound of the ocean, you can't blame anyone for loving life and enjoying every second. We might be drinking Kool-aid Fiji water, but we think this place is pretty magical.

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Where To Go With Your Tax Refund: Florida's Beaches (After Spring Break)

March 14, 2013 at 1:32 PM | by | Comments (0)

Tax day is coming, and you're probably excited...but not because you look forward to sifting through receipts and credit card statements. You're excited because you're getting a fat refund. Probably. The economy may be on its way back up, but you should try to stretch that tax refund as far as you can...like with a little "you did a great job last year" trip—a Tax Refund Vacation.

We know what you're thinking, Florida, really? Yes, really. The mere mention of the sunshine state can conjure up images of screaming kids and Mickey Mouse, but Florida also offers some of the country's best food and beaches.

If it's a little R & R you're after, head to the Gulf Coast, where the white sand beaches in Sarasota, Pensacola, and Tierra Verde were recently named among the best in the entire country.

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Where To Go With Your Tax Refund: Hawaii, Duh.

March 12, 2013 at 10:36 AM | by | Comments (0)

Tax day is coming, and you're probably excited...but not because you look forward to sifting through receipts and credit card statements. You're excited because you're getting a fat refund. Probably. The economy may be on its way back up, but you should try to stretch that tax refund as far as you can...like with a little "you did a great job last year" trip—a Tax Refund Vacation.

You’ve always dreamed about heading to Hawaii. It’s been close to happening a couple of times, but we know how it is—something else has always gets in the way. Well thankfully you just got a decent tax refund—the internet says the average should be around $2800—so we say it’s time to head off to the paradise.

It’s not as expensive as you might think, but it is far away. At least that’s the case for those of you heading to the Aloha State from the eastern side of North America. Thankfully the new nonstop flight between New York-JFK and Honolulu from Hawaiian Airlines has made things seem a little bit closer, and the new nonstop service has added a little bit of competition to that market.

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Where To Go With Your Tax Refund: Bali

Where: Bali, Indonesia
March 7, 2013 at 11:02 AM | by | Comments (0)

Tax day is coming, and you're probably excited...but not because you look forward to sifting through receipts and credit card statements. You're excited because you're getting a fat refund. Probably. The economy may be on its way back up, but you should try to stretch that tax refund as far as you can...like with a little "you did a great job last year" trip—a Tax Refund Vacation.

With what we can only hope is winter's final squeeze on the majority of the 'Lower 48', this blizzard is one of the best reasons to escape the blustery weather is to plan a vacation to a tropical location which gets you way far away, albeit with a few sleepless flights. While many come to mind, one in particular we would recommend highly: Bali.

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Making a Weekend on St. Maarten Happen: What To Do

February 28, 2013 at 5:28 PM | by | Comments (0)

Wondering when is the right time to jet down for a long weekend on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten? Right now, that's when. We did it and you can too, easily. All this week we'll be sharing the details on making the dream of sunning, sipping cocktails and spotting St. Maarten's notoriously low-flying planes a reality.

Everyone knows Maho Beach, where the airplanes land within a few hundred feet of the SPF-slathered bodies of gawking tourists, but there's more to St. Maarten than that. Rest assured that we'll bring you an entire guide to making the most of Maho tomorrow, but we can't forget the food and frolicking of other nooks of the island.

Here's four long weekend activities on St. Maarten (aside from plane spotting):

Clothing optional sunbathing

Look, St. Maarten is a tropical island split into French and Dutch sides, so prude land this is not. The most famous of the "clothing optional" beaches is Orient Bay, though it's quite a long drive which can be a challenge if you're only planning to spend a long weekend on St. Maarten. Still, the is very welcoming for ladies who prefer to tan au naturale, and Maho Beach's Sunset Bar & Grill famously lets topless ladies drink for free.

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Making a Weekend on St. Maarten Happen: Where to Stay

February 26, 2013 at 6:48 PM | by | Comments (0)


One of the Sonesta's two pools has this awesome view of Maho beach & the end of the runway

Wondering when is the right time to jet down for a long weekend on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten? Right now, that's when. We did it and you can too, easily. All this week we'll be sharing the details on making the dream of sunning, sipping cocktails and spotting St. Maarten's notoriously low-flying planes a reality.

We're going to give it to you straight: the toughest bit of a planning travel to St. Maarten is figuring out a hotel that won't break the bank and isn't too far away from the good plane spotting at Maho Beach. The high season of winter takes hotels near sold-out levels, prime properties that look like hotels are actually condos or time-shares, and the island doesn't have an abundance of nice hotels as it is.

All that being said, there are a few to consider:

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Making a Weekend on St. Maarten Happen: How to Get There

February 25, 2013 at 11:38 AM | by | Comments (0)

Wondering when is the right time to jet down for a long weekend on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten? Right now, that's when. We did it and you can too, easily. All this week we'll be sharing the details on making the dream of sunning, sipping cocktails and spotting St. Maarten's notoriously low-flying planes a reality.

First off, you gotta get to St. Maarten. It's an island, by the way, so access options are limited to air and sea. Believe it or not, a nonstop flight from the US east coast to St. Maarten takes just over four hours; that's less than flying coast-to-coast and just a little less than going to Ireland. We know where we'd rather be.

For your reference, here's the Four Ways to Reach St. Maarten:

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Put on Your Thongs! It's Australia Day

Where: Australia
January 28, 2013 at 11:24 AM | by | Comment (1)

It's celebration time in Australia! The entire nation has taken the time to wish the country a very Happy Birthday in what can be called the equivalent to our Fourth of July, Australia Day. This holiday is the national day for Aussies all around the world and as you would expect, BBQs, beach and brews are part of the fun of the long weekend. Today (Monday) is Australia Day, observed.

One of the biggest celebrations is at the iconic Bondi Beach where the iconic flip-flop maker Havaianas attempts to break a world record for the largest amount of people on a beach with inflatable—you guessed it—flip-flops. (Here's a tip: if you're down under, call them "thongs")

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Wish You Were Here: Gold Coast, Australia

October 2, 2012 at 1:33 PM | by | Comments (0)

The mercury is beginning to drop and autumn is right around the corner. At the same time, things are doing the opposite and heating up Down Under. Soon, the sun will be shining with the southern summer in Australia

We come to you now from the Gold Coast of said continent. The name of the specific city: Surfers Paradise. With beach after beach as far as the eye can see, we understand why it's considered the playground for the nation. Sun, sand and surf are some of the more popular attractions for the region, but nature walks, wineries and paragliding are all part of the fun.

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Three Awesome Beaches on the Southern Stretch of California's Pacific Coast Highway

Where: Pacific Coast Highway, CA, United States
August 28, 2012 at 2:10 PM | by | Comments (0)

So you want to get out on the open road, huh? Let’s face it—there are many great reasons to hop into your car and watch the big city shrink in your rearview mirror. Whether a road trip is wrapped up in familial obligations or you're just going on a photo drive on backroads, we've done it all and no matter where we are heading we prefer it to be a scenic route.

Today we want to talk a bit about one of the classic picturesque drives in this here country: California's famous Pacific Coast Highway.

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