All posts in Travel

Feast on this: island dining, German-style

Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:47pm by sarahsekula No Comment

Published in Cayman Airways Skies Just listening to Chef Roland Schoefer for a few minutes is a sure-fire way to make anyone’s stomach growl. With dramatic gestures and flair, he’ll explain — in his distinct German accent — the cheeses, spices and sauces that he incorporates into his delightful dishes. When you dine at his…

Adventure spas

Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:32pm by sarahsekula No Comment

Published in Breathe Magazine Endorphins pumped through my 33-year-old body as I headed for the clouds in northern Chile. More specifically, I was nearing the top of El Toco, an 18,645-foot extinct volcano. Huffing and puffing, I couldn’t help but grin through my exhaustion. At the top, I would be taking in dreamy views of…

Expanding Your Horizons

Posted on February 3, 2012 at 12:31pm by sarahsekula No Comment

Published in Where Orlando magazine These five unusual Central Florida attractions are a surefire way to learn something new and have a blast at the same time. Perhaps you’d like to master back flips on the trampoline, swim alongside eagle rays the size of a small car or dabble in the world of aerial arts….

10 great places to escape the crowds at Disney

Posted on January 1, 2012 at 12:41pm by sarahsekula No Comment

Published in USA Today There comes a time when even the most enthusiastic Walt Disney World visitor needs a breather. “The parks are delightful, but they’re also overwhelming — so it’s nice to have a resting spot in mind,” says Rona Gindin, who, as the author of The Little Black Book of Walt Disney World,…

ISLANDS brings young couple together

Posted on November 14, 2011 at 2:03pm by sarahsekula No Comment

If there’s one thing Jim Ward loves more than photographing Hawaiian spinner dolphins, free-falling into waterfalls and carving up waves in White Plains, it’s his girlfriend, Alicia Franco. If it wasn’t for this spunky bikini model, he wouldn’t be living in Oahu at all. Quick recap: Alicia was thumbing through the June 2010 of ISLANDS when she landed on page 22. There was her dream man (aka Jim). Toothy smile. Golden tan. Washboard abs.

10 great places to experience the simple life

Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:49am by sarahsekula No Comment

If you need to get away from it all this holiday season, take your stressed-out self to a place where life is a bit less complicated.

Train travel: Rocky Mountaineer-style

Posted on November 8, 2011 at 12:35pm by sarahsekula No Comment

My train-riding experience — except for a few jaunts around Europe — has mainly consisted of trips around Florida via Amtrak. Those trips, as many train trips are, were for one purpose: to get from point A to point B; they definitely had nothing to do with sightseeing. With that said, there was a lot left to be desired. When I heard about a luxury train in Canada, The Rocky Mountaineer, I knew it was gonna be good. Here are the highlights:

Swell time in Barbados

Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:44pm by sarahsekula No Comment

The west coast of Barbados was exactly what I expected: powdery beaches, posh hotels and a sparkling coastline. The east side, with its rough and rugged character, was a different story.

When your office is the GBR

Posted on October 22, 2011 at 12:13pm by sarahsekula No Comment

As a 6-year-old, John Scotese took his first scuba diving excursion in the cloudy waters of Lake Michigan. There, he caught a glimpse of one fish.

Forgotten Florida

Posted on September 17, 2011 at 8:02am by sarahsekula No Comment

Published in Where Orlando GuestBook September 2011 by Sarah Sekula Central Florida’s idyllic landscapes and iconic Cracker-style cottages reminiscent of Old Florida, are often overshadowed by the area’s well-known theme park attractions. And that’s exactly why you should pay them a visit. When 80-year-old Herb Hiller hops onto his bright blue, 18-speed Trek touring bike,…

Forgotten Florida

Posted on August 23, 2011 at 10:41am by sarahsekula No Comment

Published in Where Orlando Guestbook August 2011 When 80-year-old Herb Hiller hops onto his bright blue, 18-speed Trek touring bike, he’s in heaven. And when he pedals through a place that screams Old Florida, well, that’s downright magical, he says. In fact, since moving to Florida in 1958, he’s covered more than 30,000 miles on…

High-flying fun in Orlando

Posted on August 23, 2011 at 10:29am by sarahsekula No Comment

Oftentimes a vacation offers a chance to climb out of your comfort zone and plunge right in to some- thing you might not try at home—something out of the ordinary and maybe even a bit bizarre.

Back to nature

Posted on June 30, 2011 at 5:36pm by sarahsekula No Comment

To spend a day soaking up all the quiet respites that Central Florida has to offer, first put on your most comfortable footwear. Then sneak away for a fun-filled trip through Mother Nature’s vast offerings.

10 great places to bar-hop

Posted on May 20, 2011 at 5:11am by sarahsekula No Comment

We’ve compiled a list of destinations that sport a slew of bars. Will Cockrell, Men’s Journal articles editor, shares with Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY a list of super-swanky to lowdown dives.

10 great places get your hands dirty

Posted on April 21, 2011 at 6:49pm by sarahsekula No Comment

Reindeer-farming. Mud-bogging. It’s all in a day’s work for Mike Rowe, who is the host of Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs With Mike Rowe.

10 great places to have scientific sleepovers

Posted on March 17, 2011 at 4:45pm by sarahsekula No Comment

If snoozing aboard a submarine or waking up next to a lion sound far-fetched, think again. Themed sleepovers across the USA are all the rage.

Freedom Found

Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:05am by sarahsekula No Comment

It was supposed to be a purposeful trip, going far beyond the Bollywood glitz and the Taj Mahal’s magical allure to discover the burdens of a developing country. It was all of that (and then some).

10 great places to dog sled

Posted on March 3, 2011 at 6:25pm by sarahsekula No Comment

If you’re intrigued by the Iditarod, but aren’t ready for more than 1,150 grueling miles of frozen tundra, ease into the dog-powered sport with a lesson.

10 great places to spot A-listers

Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:28pm by sarahsekula No Comment

If you’re in Hollywood for the Oscars on Sunday, you’ll spot plenty of A-listers. However, you also can track them down in less obvious places, too.

10 great places to grow into the new year

Posted on January 1, 2011 at 12:05pm by sarahsekula No Comment

Whether your New Year’s resolution is to learn a language or scale a mountain, there’s likely a vacation venue that can help you pursue your goal.

True Orlando

Posted on January 1, 2011 at 12:02pm by sarahsekula No Comment

The City Beautiful is much more than roller coasters and Hollywood pixie dust. Poke beyond the theme parks (which are plenty fun) and you’ll find an action-packed city waiting for you.

Treasure Hunters: Eyes on the Prize

Posted on December 12, 2010 at 5:22pm by sarahsekula No Comment

Published in the First Coast Guestbook Winter 2010 The seaside playgrounds of the First Coast have more to offer than meets the eye. Just take a closer look: What’s waiting below the surface is just as fascinating. By Sarah Sekula Off the shimmering shores of Amelia Island, underneath layers of the ocean’s floor, priceless amounts…

10 great places to have a royal good time

Posted on December 10, 2010 at 6:16am by sarahsekula No Comment

If you’re itching to go to London, the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in April is a grand excuse. Go ahead, pack your bags.

10 great places to find a lucky charm

Posted on November 19, 2010 at 9:03am by sarahsekula No Comment

Wednesday might be St. Patrick’s Day, but you don’t have to be Irish to be favored by fortune. Whether you smooch them, tickle them or jitterbug around them, good-luck monuments can leave you feeling, well, lucky. Frank Nelson, world traveler and author of All You Need is Luck (iUniverse, $13.95), shares some auspicious getaways with…

10 great ‘Harry Potter’ filming locations

Posted on November 19, 2010 at 5:35am by sarahsekula No Comment

Many spots in the wildly popular Harry Potter films are make-believe, but there are plenty of real-life locations that any die-hard Potter fan will love.

London Hot Spot Puts Diners Through Hoops

Posted on November 17, 2010 at 5:03pm by sarahsekula No Comment

CIRCUS, LONDON: At Covent Garden’s Circus restaurant, nibble on Pan-American favorites like spicy crab cakes and barbecue-glazed short ribs while you’re wowed by aerialists and contortionists performing on the “stage” table (which later becomes a dance floor for diners). Dishes are shareable—better yet, so are drinks, which are served up in punch bowls. Top it…

Party on: Caribbean carnival countdown

Posted on November 1, 2010 at 5:27pm by sarahsekula No Comment

The best thing about the Caribbean is there’s always a carnival happening somewhere. Here’s a look at the 2011 carnival events.

Give coral a chance

Posted on November 1, 2010 at 4:32pm by sarahsekula No Comment

The Caribbean’s coral reef system serves as the ultimate maritime mecca. Home to tube-like sponges and waving sea fans, they are one of the most biologically diverse environments on the planet.

10 great places to go incognito

Posted on October 29, 2010 at 10:26am by sarahsekula No Comment

For those who can’t get enough of Halloween, there’s more than one time of year to traipse around in disguise. We’ve tracked down some of our favorites.

10 great travel freebies

Posted on September 17, 2010 at 7:31am by sarahsekula No Comment

Discovering a discount or two on vacation is a surefire way to put a smile on your face. But tracking down a must-see destination that doesn’t cost a dime, well, it doesn’t get much more satisfying than that.