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Articles for ‘Sports Travel’ Category

Kauai: Hawaii’s island of adventure

Friday, November 20th, 2009

Kauai (Courtesy: Kauai Visitors Bureau)

Kauai (Courtesy: Kauai Visitors Bureau)

By Lena Katz

When people say you may spot dolphins off the shore of Kauai, they don’t mean just one or two. Noisy, fun-loving, fearless spinner dolphins cruise the Na Pali coast in pods, swimming alongside the sailboats and wowing the humans with airborne antics and graceful waterborne power. Spinners can’t be trained, and they can’t survive beyond a few days once taken from their natural habitat. They’re one of many unforgettable Hawaii vacation experiences that can only be experienced with Mother Nature’s permission, and if you’re willing to go a little out of your comfort zone to reach them.

Kauai’s nickname is “The Garden Isle” but its gardens are not merely the pretty floral kind. It’s got thousands of acres of backcountry and jungle where bold visitors can hike or zip line, kayak to waterfalls or four-wheel through swamps — ALWAYS with a tour guide, of course — even the locals know better than to go running around the ancient jungle by themselves.

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Posted in Beach Vacation, Eco-Tourism, Family Travel, Hawaii Vacation, Romance, Sports Travel | No Comments »

Las Vegas: Skip the Strip and enjoy the outdoors

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Hoover Dam (Photo: E.C. Gladstone)

Hoover Dam (Photo: E.C. Gladstone)

By E.C. Gladstone

Think you’ll be cooped up inside one of our Las Vegas hotels your entire time here? Think again. Despite the deserved reputation of our mega-resorts as never-need-to-leave wonderlands, fact is, the Vegas valley is filled with more outdoor activities than most visitors imagine. Now that the weather has cooled a bit, I thought it would be a great time to tell you about them.

First among our outdoor attractions would have to be the Hoover Dam, the marvel of the modern world whose construction put Las Vegas on the map. Little more than a half hour from the Strip, the tour that takes you 537 feet down into the power plant is a fascinating education in construction engineering, water usage and electricity generation for the old or young, and certainly worth the drive. (Several reputable tour companies run bus trips as well: the tour is the same no matter who takes you there.) On the way, you can check out Boulder City’s State Railroad Museum, bighorn sheep-dwelling Hemenway Valley Park, and Bootleg canyon zip lines.

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Posted in Eco-Tourism, Family Travel, Gambling Vacation, Las Vegas Vacation, Sports Travel | No Comments »

Top domestic beach vacations: Hilton Head and Amelia Island

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

By Lena Katz

With summer in the rearview mirror and Thanksgiving around the next curve, the landscape may look a little dreary to you these days. Maybe it’s time for a quick change of scenery. Quickie beach vacations, golf getaways or spa weekends are an easy way to perk up a blah autumn. Last installment was all about the Florida Keys—considered by many to be the ultimate Florida beach vacation spot. This time, we focus other domestic destinations: Hilton Head and Amelia Island on the western Florida coast.

Hilton Head

Hilton Head

Hilton Head

While Hilton Head Island has a storied history dating from Colonial times, it wasn’t until the 1950s when builders developed Sea Pines Resort that really transformed the island into a tourist destination. From the start, the intention was to maintain the simplicity and serenity of island life, while bringing in a range of high-end experiences and accommodations that could satisfy wealthy clientele. Today, the island has 24 golf courses, including Harbour Town Golf Links which hosts an annual PGA tournament. Apart from this it remains fairly pristine: Bike trails wind around groves of 100-year-old trees, while inlets and slow-moving creeks offer kayak fishing. People walk out to meet the incoming fishing boats in the harbor daily, selecting fresh catch to bring home and grill up, or eating at one of the waterfront restaurants.

Located in the Low Country coastal area, this is part of the Sea Islands system. It’s a quick drive from Savannah/Hilton Head airport, though it’s actually across the state line in South Carolina. At four hours’ driving distance from Charlotte and Atlanta, it’s a popular weekend getaway for residents of those cities as well as people flying in from the Midwest. Many of the big hotel chains have a presence here. Marriott Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa recently completed a revamp and opened a new spa with 15 treatment rooms. The Westin is a frontrunner as far as spa goes: the chain’s Heavenly Spa program, which draws upon indigenous ingredients from whichever region the spas are located, has a variety of inspirations to work with on this Low Country island. Signatures are the indigo massage and sweet grass wrap and—for people coming in with stiff shoulders after a day on the greens—a heated golf ball massage. For anyone who prefers to experience all the island’s dining and shopping, the Holiday Inn is right across from Coligny Plaza, which boasts more than 60 shops and restaurants. (more…)

Posted in Beach Vacation, Family Travel, Florida Vacation, Spa Vacation, Sports Travel | No Comments »

Clearwater, FL home to the 2009 Foster Grant Ironman

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

By Joanna Citarella

On November 14 more than 1,800 athletes (plus myself and countless other spectators) will converge on Clearwater Beach, FL for the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship triathlon.

The start of the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship

The start of the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship

This race is the real deal, the holy grail of triathlons and the stakes are high with a purse of $100,000 split between the top 10 athletes. Participants will travel from all over the world and must complete a 1.2-mile swim in the Gulf of Mexico, a 56-mile bike ride through Pinellas County and 13.1-mile run through downtown Clearwater and the neighboring beach communities—all within 8 hours.

Admittedly this does sound like hard work, and not for everyone, but as I pondered my own upcoming Clearwater, Florida vacation (and by the way, the fall is a great time to visit Clearwater with average temperatures in the high 70- to low 80-degree range—perfect for enjoying the great outdoors) I thought it might be useful to share a few suggestions that will hopefully inspire you should you decide to reconnect with your inner athlete on your next vacation (yes, there is one hidden inside each of us!).

Swimming, skimming and sailing
The award-winning beaches of Clearwater and St. Petersburg, lend themselves to a little more than just sunbathing and paddling. Year round, the Gulf of Mexico enjoys warm and generally calm waters—excellent for a family vacation. The translucent waters of Caladesi Island State Park are great for swimming, and at Fort Desoto Park, there are two well-marked swimming beaches. While the gentle swells of the Gulf of Mexico aren’t entirely conducive with traditional surfing, there is plenty on offer for the water sports enthusiast. Children spend endless hours skimming on boards along the shallows, and for the more daring, kite surfing is extremely popular. If you want to venture a little further offshore, try your hand at sailing, with several schools in the area offering everything from basic skills training to advanced certification. (more…)

Posted in Beach Vacation, Family Travel, Florida Vacation, Sports Travel | No Comments »

Through the eyes of Emma: Mt. Kilimanjaro

Friday, October 16th, 2009

By Emma Simmons

I traveled to Tanzania after graduating from college to volunteer at Mt. Meru Day Care and the Rift Valley Children’s Village with a close friend of mine. Prior to our trip we mentioned climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, but did not put that on our itinerary until we were living in a town outside of Arusha. The moment we decided to make the trek sticks in my mind like a flash of light: While watching a local soccer game on a late Sunday afternoon in the company of new friends, I saw the clouds quickly roll by and there she was  ”like olympus above the Serengeti” as brilliantly described Toto’s 1983 hit song, “Africa.” The moment the summit came into view, we looked at each other and without question or each other’s approval we knew we had to make it to the top.

The four of us reaching Uhuru Peak, the "rooftop of Africa"

The four of us reaching Uhuru Peak, the "rooftop of Africa"

We chose a friendly, knowledgeable local guide company and selected our route up Machame, with its disparate pathways it’s also referred to as the “Whiskey Route.” We arrived at the Machame gates to a sea of porters loading the last of each group’s gear, placing the bags on their heads and taking off up the path. Starting up the path, we were quickly taught to go pole-pole (slow in Swahili) to pace and acclimate ourselves. Each day up the mountain the vegetation surprised us with a change: We passed through thick forest, moorland, highland desert and up to the summit with views of glaciers rapidly changing.

For anyone concerned that it’s too much of a challenge, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is not technical and is a very manageable hike. Reaching its summit, however, is a different story. After completing a seven-hour hike (following a decision to do the climb in six days rather than seven) to reach the 15,500-foot-high Barafu Camp, we ate a nice dinner and had our usual warm chai tea before crawling into our sleeping bags to rest our eyes for a brisk three-hour nap. We woke at 11:30 p.m. to start our final ascent to the rooftop of Africa. I donned every article of clothing and gear I had rented from a “storefront” in Moshi, including every pair of socks I had to ensure the two-sizes-too-big rental boots would fit. Fortunately, this all helped brave the quickly dropping temps and strong winds. (more…)

Posted in Eco-Tourism, International Vacations, On the Road, Sports Travel | No Comments »

Non-traditional family vacations: Skiing in the Southeast

Friday, September 25th, 2009

By Mark McCullough

Lynchburg, Va., perched in foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is known for its tobacco history and connection to the late Jerry Falwell, the outspoken evangelical leader and founder of Liberty University. What it is not known for is its skiing, but that is is all about to change. Liberty University has put Lynchburg on the map as the single venue for synthetic skiing/riding park in North America.

A border getting some air on the slopes

A border getting some air on the slopes

My family and I stumbled upon this on an end-of-summer getaway as were traveling through Lynchburg and the sun was setting on a beautiful August day. Just above the Liberty U. Campus is Candler Mountain, where there is a collection of hiking and biking trails frequented by students, and great vistas open up of the Peaks of Otter Lodge and the Blue Ridge Parkway. We drove up the mountain to catch the sunset and discovered a ski lodge to the likes of Colorado’s Beaver Creek or Utah’s Alta ski areas, complete with stone fireplaces, bear rugs and many big game trophies mounted on the exposed log walls. (more…)

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Posted in Family Travel, Orbitz Parent Panel, Ski Resorts, Sports Travel, Travel Tips | No Comments »

With great diving and unique food, Curacao is no gamble

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

Curacao Hotels

Curacao

By Lena Katz

With 10 contenders flying to Curacao in August to compete for a half-million dollar prize, this Netherlands Antilles island is a treasure-hunting hot spot in 2009. However, cash prizes aside, Curacao’s always been one of my favorite Caribbean vacation destinations, thanks its adorable beach hotels, reasonable prices and colorful culture.  Although just a few lucky folk are going to get greenbacks out of their summer vacation experience, everyone who’s ever visited can tell you that Curacao has all kinds of treasure to offer.
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Posted in Beach Vacation, Caribbean Vacation, Food & Wine, International Vacations, Sports Travel | No Comments »

Fishing for fun at Walt Disney World

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

The writer's son shows off his catch.

The writer's son shows off his catch.

By Pete Gruenthal

To kick off our kids’ summer vacation, a buddy and I decided to hang a “gone fishin” sign out and take our 8-year-old boys bass fishing.  My son Jason (pictured) and I were new to bass fishing (Mike and Troy are seasoned fishermen), so we decided to try out Bass Nitro Fishing at Walt Disney World. We booked a 2-hour afternoon excursion from Disney’s Contemporary Resort marina for the waterways of Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon.

We could tell this was going to be great time when our guide Travis pulled up in a tournament-style boat fully prepped with all the gear we needed and stocked with sodas and waters for a June afternoon in the Florida sun.

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Posted in Disney Vacation, Family Travel, Florida Vacation, Orlando Vacation, Sports Travel | 2 Comments »

Summer vacation: Free weekends at national parks

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

family travel (ORBITZ) — The National Park Service is making it easier for people to enjoy the natural beauty across the United States during this summer vacation.

The agency is offering three free weekends this summer:

  • June 20-21
  • July 18-19
  • August 15-16

During the free weekends, more than 100 parks that usually charge entry fees will waive those fees. The free weekend offer doesn't include camping charges, tours or other concessions. However, some park vendors have listed special offers for savings during the free weekends.

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Posted in California Vacation, Family Travel, Florida Vacation, Freebies & Discounts, Hawaii Vacation, Sports Travel, Travel News | No Comments »

Skiing, scenery in Banff and Lake Louise

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

By Vicky Alkhovsky

When looking for a good spring ski vacation destination, the Canadian Rockies quickly came to mind. I’d always wanted see Banff, so staying at Lake Louise and skiing nearby was the natural choice.

Though the traditional blues and greens of Lake Louise are spectacular, there is a grace and serenity to the quiet, snowy landscape visible from the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise at the base of the lake.

Sights along 1A in Banff National Park speak for themselves in the language of breathtaking beauty. Several inches of fresh snow enhanced every view. Check out my photos:


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

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When Vicky Alkhovsky isn’t working as a software engineer at Orbitz, she’s off to find her next outdoor adventure.

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Posted in International Vacations, Photography, Ski Resorts, Sports Travel | No Comments »

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