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Winter Vacations - Brief Article

Ebony, Jan, 1999 by Joy Bennett Kinnon

Chasing the sun and sand by land and by sea

When the weather outside is frightful, tropical Florida and the surrounding islands are so delightful, so if you're really ready to go--let it snow.

Because you'll soon be basking in the warm winter sun, sipping tropical punch under a bright blue sky, unpack the shorts and dig out the sleeveless dresses--and where did you put that hat and those shades? It's time to lose your winter blues and find some hot fun in the wintertime.

It's time for couples, families, and students planning spring break, or for retirees ready to experience Carnival festivities, to get up and go.

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For those on a budget, and who isn't, the first step is making sure you're getting a great deal. This takes planning that can be done the old-fashioned way--with lots of legwork, by surfing the web for travel discounts or reductions and/or by contacting a reputable travel agent in order to cut through the maze of bargain travel deals and to find out firsthand information on the best travel locations, reasonably priced hotels and package airline and hotel deals. American Airlines and other air carriers offer bargain rates to the Caribbean and other islands and Florida.

Speaking of Florida, that classic American vacation spot is a great place to start your search for the sun. The state is custom-made for couples and chock-full of family festivities. For sand seekers and water lovers, the state boasts 1,800 miles of shoreline and 1,200 miles of sandy beaches. Southwest Florida is home to the Lee Island Coast. This area has more than 100 barrier islands hugging over 50 miles of sandy beaches that provide some of the best shelling in the United States. In 1996, 1.7 million vacationers flocked to this vacation paradise. Ever since Black slaves ran away from Southern plantations and joined the Seminole tribe as interpreters and advisors, this area has had a strong African-American presence.

For those seeking sun, sand and nightlife, destination Miami should be high on your list. From Broadway shows to old-fashioned blues bars, there's something for everyone. The area offers many major shopping areas, more than 7,000 places to eat from outdoor cafes to intimate candle-lit restaurants, natural wonders like the Everglades National Park and popular sports and cultural attractions.

Handy video cameras and other types of cameras will be present at a popular African-American family festival, the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities, scheduled this year from Jan. 27-31 in her hometown of Eatonville, Fla., located approximately 10 miles northeast of downtown Orlando. This is the 10th anniversary of the festival held to celebrate the life and work of the 20th century writer, folklorist and anthropologist.

While in the Orlando area, don't forget to visit that Mecca of family fun--the Walt Disney World Resort. For the young and the young at heart, Disney plans a year of unprecedented growth in 1999, bringing eight major new entertainment adventures, a new theme hotel and the second Disney Cruise Line ship by fall 1999.

The resort features a 30,500-acre entertainment and recreation center featuring four theme parks, three water adventure parks, Discovery Island zoological park, 26 resort hotels, 99 holes of golf on six courses, and Downtown Disney, an entertainment-shopping-dining complex encompassing the Marketplace, Pleasure Island and West Side. Located at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 20 miles southwest of Orlando, the Walt Disney World Resort is open daily year-round.

For those who are not land-locked, a vacation at sea might be just the ticket. Royal Caribbean International, a global cruise company, has great routes to the sun, from the Bahamas and the Caribbean to Hawaii, Mexico, the Panama Canal and beyond. In 1999, for the seventh year in a row, the cruise line and the National Professionals Network (NPN) are offering a unique nine-day cruise to Europe and the Southern Mediterranean, Aug. 5-14. The cruise also features Sailing to Success Executive Seminars, an evening of African Elegance, when guests wear African regalia, and live entertainment. Past entertainers have included Ben Vereen. The cruise also includes the fourth annual NPN "Living Legend" Awards. Past recipients have included Kweisi Mfume, NAACP president and CEO, and William H. Gray III, president & CEO of the UNCF.

Award-winning beaches are what pushes winter-weary travelers to island destinations this season. Off the coast of South Florida, the Bahamas beckon. If watersports appeal to you, then prepare to suit up! The Bahamas have some of the best diving and snorkeling in the Caribbean.

If cuddling is on the menu, Bermuda will fill the bill. The Bermuda Department of Tourism has created a new guide, Bermuda for Two, to steer couples to the most romantic, picturesque nooks and crannies throughout this 21-square-mile island. For those who have jumped the broom, Jamaica has been named in several surveys as the top honeymoon destination in the world. From lazing in a hammock enjoying a spectacular sunset to scuba diving, there's something for any couple's idea of a dream honeymoon.

Winter Vacations - Brief Article

Ebony, Jan, 1999 by Joy Bennett Kinnon

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