Spring Fling
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The winter season has dragged on long enough, and you’re beginning to think that groundhog back in February lied. Wait, are you seriously cursing winter over a groundhog? Definitely a sign you need a vacation. If you’ve got the inclination and the cash, there’s no better cure for the winter blahs than high-tailing it out of town in search of sun and sand and fruity umbrella drinks.
Even before you pack your tankini and trashy romance novels, begin your vacation on the world wide web. The internet is bursting with last-minute flights and hotel deals, and many sites offer rock-bottom rates and fares, car rentals, and spirited comments from past customers (both satisfied and otherwise)-a great option for that spur-of-the-moment getaway.
A Trio of Tropical Trips
Whether for a long-weekend or ten days away from the headaches of winter living, any one of the following destinations might be the very ones to reconnect you with everything you’ve almost forgotten about summer…
For Rejuvenation: Maui
Not as tacky-touristy as the Big Island, nor as sedate as Kauai, Maui serves up the best of Hawaiian culture and climate without losing any charm to commercialism or crowds.
Rest: Though the beaches are popular with both locals and visitors, it’s rare to feel claustrophobic. The lengthy stretch of beach in Kaanapali is the best place to lay out your towel and toss back a Mai Tai.
Play: Snorkel, surf, ride horses on the beach, play golf at the Kaanapali Golf Course (where Tiger Woods has golfed), and splash around in the ocean.
Explore: Watch the sun rise over the island from 10,000-feet atop Haleakala Crater (a steaming volcano); ponder the colourful wonders of Honokalani Black Sand Beach; attend a traditional luau and get lei’d; dare to drive (or rely upon the mastery of a tour bus driver who does it all the time) the sometimes-daunting but unfailingly-scenic Road to Hana.
On the Web: www.visitmaui.com
For a Good Time: Miami
Birthplace of Gloria Estefan’s Sound Machine, perpetual crime scene to David Caruso, and, for Will Smith, the city where “the heat is on/all night on the beach till the break of dawn,” Miami is the preferred domestic hot spot for A-listers and in-the-know fun-seekers.
Rest: Stake out your stretch of sand on South Beach. Or check out the primo relaxation treatments at the Spa at Doral, which boasts a whirlpool, gym, and a myriad of massage and aroma therapy techniques.
Play: No need to stray from South Beach: Miami’s prime stretch of seafront is home to fabulous shopping and a Cuban-flavoured club scene that woos Paris and Lindsay back again and again. South Beach is Miami’s pre-eminent hot spot 24/7.
Explore: No excursion to Miami is complete without a visit to the Everglades (1.5 million acres of swampland, home to crocodiles and other wonders of nature you’re not going to see anywhere else); embrace your inner eight-year-old at the Miami Seaquarium or Monkey Jungle.
On the Web: Miami Events
For Adventure: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Perched at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, Cabo San Lucas offers ample opportunities for picturesque backdrops (blue water, golden beaches and red rock formations), travels through time, and relaxation of the tropical persuasion.
Rest: Surrender yourself to the comforts of one of the many high-end resorts lining the 20-mile stretch of sea coast known as the Corridor.
Play: Picnic and snorkel on Playa del Amor (Lover’s Beach); party with the locals in central San Lucas (groove to authentic Mariachi strains while you’re at it); enter the exhilarating (for some) world of sports fishing (Los Cabos is the Marlin fishing capital of the world).
Explore: Seek out the abandoned lighthouse at Cabo Falso; fill up your memory card with snapshots of El Arco, the world famous rock arch formation, where, according to the Los Cabos’ tourist board web site: “the Pacific meets the warm water of the Sea of Cortes;” journey to the past with a visit to 18th Century mission town San José del Cabo.
On the Web: www.visitcabo.com