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. Darren Frei, editorial director of ShermansTravel.com, shares with Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY favorite something-for-nothing excursions.
If you think Orlando is all roller coasters and pixie dust, prepare to be pleasantly overwhelmed. There are plenty of hidden treats to be discovered and many of them are just as action-packed. Drive past wetlands on the way to Cocoa Beach, bask among bright-winged birds and sweet-almond plants at Discovery Cove or learn a few tricks worthy of Cirque du Soleil. We’ve summed up a few stellar choices below.
It’s Friday the 13th, a date that strikes terror in the hearts of the superstitious. So why not seize the day by visiting someplace really creepy? Zak Bagans, host of the Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures, shares with Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY some of the nation’s most notorious haunts.
If you’re game for swimming alongside whale sharks, then you probably already have Discovery Channel’s Shark Week (starting Sunday) on your calendar. Andy DeHart of the National Aquarium in Washington, D.C., and adviser for Discovery shares with Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY some adrenaline-generating encounters that will have you telling more than a fish tale.
Summer is the season to gather extended relatives (yes, even the annoying ones) in one spot. Whether you prefer dude ranching, cruising the high seas or camping at an RV resort, options for multigenerational get-togethers abound. Edith Wagner, editor of Reunions Magazine, shares with Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY some favorites.
If you treasure over-the-top ensembles reminiscent of Sex and the City (SATC2 is in theaters now), then you’ll adore the boutiques Marie Claire senior fashion editor Zanna Roberts Rassi has discovered over the years. The style maven lets Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY in on her all-time retail-therapy faves. And, yes, if you plan an entire vacation around these gems, you are channeling the fashionable foursome, indeed.
Muggles rejoice! The time has finally come to experience firsthand the spellbinding world of Harry Potter and his magical friends. From the shop selling Chocolate Frogs to the villagers roaming about, every nook and cranny of the $200-million-plus attraction immerses you into J.K. Rowling’s vision based on the author’s “Harry Potter” book series and scenes from the feature films.
Jim Ward has a lot of hobbies: cliff diving, saving sea turtles, catching lobster for dinner. Why all the water? Since his childhood growing up in the southeast United States, this 27-year-old has loved beaches. So after graduating from the University of the Virgin Islands, then spending three months working on a lemur project in Madagascar, he packed his bags for Grand Cayman.
If you haven’t heard him sing yet, chances are you will soon. He’s a young Caymanian songster with an impressive musical lineage who is rising to stardom one concert at a time. Opening acts aren’t known for capturing a crowd’s attention. But that was simply not the case when 16-year-old Rico Orrett-Ebanks took the stage at last year’s Cayman Jazz Fest
If you think the delightfully bizarre world of the new Alice in Wonderland movie (opening today) exists only on the big screen, you’re in for a surprise. In reality, many places around the USA cater to the quirky and downright weird. Janet Friedman, founder of eccentricamerica.com, shares with Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY some spots that might have you thinking you fell down the rabbit hole, too.
There’s nothing like witnessing Shaun White stomp a double cork 1080 in the 22-foot halfpipe, or seeing Rachael Flatt effortlessly nail a triple Salchow. However, if you can’t join the sports-loving masses in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics, never fear. Jim Kaese, cofounder of athleticmindedtraveler.com, shares withSarah Sekula for USA TODAY his favorite ways to harness the oomph of the Olympics all year long.
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. Off the shimmering shores of Amelia Island, underneath layers of the ocean’s floor, priceless amounts of gold and jewels are waiting to be uncovered.
If you relish a bit of spontaneity, fiddle with your plans and add a few of these stops to your vacation agenda. Beyond Orlando’s theme parks and attractions there is much to discover. Life here is about strolling among hundred-year-old oak groves, gazing at majestic native birds or taking a boat ride past mega mansions and grand landscapes. Here’s a nook by nook look at ways to capture the authentic spirit of Central Florida.
Avast, ye mateys! Saturday is International Talk Like a Pirate Day (talklikeapirate.com), the perfect time to roam like a rebel. Colin Woodard, author of The Republic of Pirates, shares with Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY his favorite spots to don an eye patch and yell ‘Arrr!’
Rita Marley’s explosive 44-year music career propelled her clear across the Caribbean to the plateaus of South Africa, the crowds of New York, the South Pacific islands of Tahiti and everywhere in between. But Jamaica is where her heart is. It’s the nation of her youth and where the crooning songstress met and wed legendary reggae musician Bob Marley. In turn, their evocative music and life philosophies have intertwined ever since.
Tucked away among St. Augustine’s ancient coquina-crafted buildings, cobblestone streets and carved-wood balconies are plenty of modern finds in the form of eats, sleeps and beats. The 442-year-old city offers everything from upscale hipster hangouts to breezy beach town B&Bs to enchanting Spanish-style castles and Mediterranean revival-style architecture. It’s Old Florida at its best mixed with nouveau amusement each visit.
Celebrate your post-wedding, hubby-and-wife status at a top-notch eco-friendly resort. As you sip cocktails and settle in for a moonlight massage, rest assured you’re also scoring points for Mother Earth.
Beyond the high-spirited festivities at UCF’s Homecoming lies a genuine excuse for a vacation (even if you still live in O-town). So, pack your comfiest footwear and sneak away for a fun-filled trip. Most mosquitoes are on sabbatical, and the weather is mighty nice.
Sometimes ecotourism means camping out in the jungles of Madagascar. Other times, it’s whale watching in Indonesia. Today, as I glide through lush forests at speeds up to 25 miles per hour, ecotourism equals ziplining in Osceola County. And I’m enjoying every minute of it — even though it’s a seriously windy day in St. Cloud, and Mother Nature is threatening to drench me and my trusty Canon.
When you come from Cayman, falling in love with a snow-specific sport is not the norm. In fact, it’s so unusual that no Caymanian has ever participated in the Winter Olympics — until now. Dow Travers is used to standing out. But this time it’s not just because of his fiery red locks. In February, he became the first Cayman athlete to participate in the Winter Olympics.
