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“Look, Sarita!” says Ivan, my intrepid guide. He grins as he places his hand on top of his head, mimicking a shark fin. We’d been looking for reef sharks for the past several days, and finally while swimming along a tiny island called Chinese Hat, he spots one. “Swim down and peek into the shark hole, and you’ll see it,” he says matter-of-factly. Seriously? Perhaps this gorgeous turquoise water has clogged my ears. It sounds like his idea is to purposely insert face into shark territory.

If you’re serious about getting away from it all, a vacation spent underwater should do the trick. Not scuba certified? No problem. It’s easier than you think. Just a few short weeks before earning her diving certification, 52-year-old Shanda Owens could not picture herself donning scuba gear and slowly descending into the warm Cayman Islands waters. She had always been an adventurer, racing stock cars and hiking the Appalachian Trail and such.

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 not only Chile, but Bolivia too. My group had been steadily plodding upward for two hours now.

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. Whatever your resolution may be for the New Year, why not tackle one or two while you’re on vacation? Orlando has so much to choose from.

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, knows every nook and cranny of the parks. With the 110th anniversary of Walt Disney’s birth (Dec. 5) in mind, she shares some of the most restful Disney World spots with Sarah Sekula.

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.

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. Real Simple Magazine’s managing editor, Kristin van Ogtrop , discusses with Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY some spots in which to decompress. Block Island can be defined by what it lacks: There are no stoplights, no McDonald’s, no Holiday Inns.

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:

The west coast of Barbados was exactly what I expected: powdery beaches, posh hotels and a sparkling coastline. The east side, though, with its rough and rugged character, was a whole different story. Granted, to fully appreciate the wild side, you must first experience the mild side; and this is where my story began. After a lazy day of sampling rum concoctions at St. Nicholas Abbey, I was itching for some time in the water.

As a 6-year-old, John Scotese took his first scuba diving excursion in the cold, cloudy waters of Lake Michigan. There, he caught a glimpse of one fish. Fast forward several decades and things have changed, indeed. These days, as a marine biologist for Quicksilver Cruises Reef Biosearch, he swims alongside swarms of bright-yellow angelfish, leopard moray eels and carpet sharks. His office is the Great Barrier Reef.

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 his bicycle. Why? The thing is, while many have forgotten Florida’s past, Hiller has not. And, for him, two-wheeling it is an excellent way to connect with the Florida that once was.

Oftentimes a vacation offers a chance to climb out of your comfort zone and plunge right in to something you might not try at home—something out of the ordinary and maybe even a bit bizarre. Let’s say, for example, tumbling head over heels in a vertical wind tunnel or gliding through Central Florida’s bluebird skies at about 2,000 feet. Of course these activities come guaranteed with intense thrills and, not to mention, priceless photo ops.

I’d come to a small town in Iceland to test my prowess, to do something I wasn’t sure I could handle. No, it wasn’t eating fermented shark that had me panicky, although that was pretty formidable. And it wasn’t boating with Iceland’s Search and Rescue Team that I was worried about. No and no. That was all cake compared to summiting the tallest peak in Iceland. Needless to say, I had my quibbles.

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 in Central Florida. The natural parks here are just as plentiful as the theme parks.

If your Memorial Day plans involve seeing The Hangover: Part II, chances are you’re the party-going type. With that in mind, 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 watering holes, from super-swanky to lowdown dives.

Reindeer-farming. Mud-bogging. Camel-grooming. It’s all in a day’s work for Mike Rowe, who is the host of Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs With Mike Rowe. He shares the dirty details of some of his favorite filthy spots with Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY.

If snoozing aboard a submarine or waking up next to a lion sound far-fetched, think again. Themed sleepovers across the USA provide offbeat slumber soirées tailored to adventurous kids and their families. Jodi Butler, FamilyFun Magazine contributing editor, narrows down the choices and shares the coolest of the cool with Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY.

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).

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 or two. Whether you are a newbie or a mushing master, there are plenty of places to play in the powder and perfect your dog-driving skills. Outside magazine editor Chris Keyes recommends places to caravan with canines and shares them with Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY.

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, if you know where to look. That’s where Jen Garcia, People magazine’s assistant editor, comes in. She tells Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY some glitterati-favored locales that will have you seeing stars in no time.

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 popular establishment, Roland’s Garden, he’ll pop out of the kitchen with German specialties ranging from bratwurst to sauerbraten to pork chops. Depending on Roland’s mood, you may get thoughtfully prepared scallops wrapped in bacon, homemade bread, gravlax or beef stroganoff.

Whether your New Year’s resolution is to learn a new language, trek through a mountain range or dabble in the art world, there’s likely a vacation venue that can help you pursue your goal. Lucy Danziger, editor in chief of Self Magazine, shares with Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY getaways to revamp your image and feed your soul.

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.

If you’re itching to go to London, the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in April is a grand excuse. Amid the stately palaces, gorgeous gardens and lofty towers, you can design your own pathway to royalty. Christopher Johnson, editor of Where London and an expert on places steeped in noble history, shares his regal picks with Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY.

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 Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY.

Although many spots in the wildly popular Harry Potter films are make-believe, there are plenty of real-life locations that any die-hard Potter fan will recognize and appreciate. With Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 opening in theaters today, Andrea Spain, editor of Britain magazine, shares with Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY locales worthy of putting on your spectacles and picking up your wand.

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.

The best thing about the Caribbean is there’s always a carnival happening somewhere. Here’s a look at the 2011 carnival events. From the wild Grand Kadooment of Barbados to the boat races in Anguilla, you have plenty of choices for limin’ away with friends from dawn to dusk and dusk to dawn. In fact, you could virtually party all year long.

For clown fish and sea cucumbers, the Caribbean’s coral reef system serves as the ultimate maritime mecca. Home to tube-like sponges and waving sea fans, it’s no surprise that these celebrated sanctuaries are one of the most biologically diverse environments on the planet.

For those who can’t get enough of Halloween, there’s more than one time of year to traipse around in disguise. Jeralyn Gerba, senior features editor at dailycandy.com, tells Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY her favorite places to stylishly go incognito.