Five beach vacation ideas
"Now is the winter of our discontent"... so said Shakespeare; and in northern climes we often get very discontented indeed, with cold and snow and dark. The remedy? Head south for a holiday.
Below are five far-flung resorts that offer something a little different in a beach vacation.
Beach Vacation Idea #1:
Molokai Ranch and Lodge
On a white-sand shore on the small Hawaiian island of
Molokai, guests stay in comfortable "upscale tents". Each double-unit canvas bungalow sits on a wood platform, and has a queen-size bed in one unit, twin beds in the other; solar-powered lights; private bathroom with hot-water showers; and lanai. (For the less adventurous, a 22-room Hawaiian Lodge is available.)
The Molokai Ranch and Lodge has 54,000 acres of land, including seaside cliffs, and lush valleys. Outdoor fun includes sea kayaking, cultural hikes, mountain biking, horseback trail rides. For kids, the Ranch's Kamali'i Ed-venture has nature walks, excursions to the horse stables or to tidal pools, and Hawaiian arts and crafts.
In expensive Hawaii, the Molokai Ranch offers a more affordable beach vacation. Check the web site for special Packages.
-- this property is closing; see Molokai Resort site for updates--
Beach Vacation - Idea #2:
2. Maui: Grand Wailea Resort and Spa
Once upon a time, a big swimming pool or two was enough to make hotel guests happy. Nowadays, resorts compete fiercely in water-fun: with lagoons, waterfalls, water-slides, lazy rivers...
Take, for example, the extravaganzas at the Grand Wailea Resort: the 4850 sq. ft. Hibiscus Pool, and-- more importantly, for families-- the 25,700 sq. ft. Canyon Activity Pools. Nine pools and six levels are connected by a river that carries swimmers along, at speeds that range from lazy currents to white-water thrills. There's jungle pools, a white-water slide, Tarzan rope swing, caves... also, an infant pool.
You might even forget to go to swimming in the ocean.
Read more about Maui's pricey-but-luxurious Grand Wailea Resort and Spa, for families; see See photos, too.
continue to more beach vacation ideas for winter: The Atlantis, Bahamas resort with giant "waterscape"; Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Maho Bay Camps, USVI-- another reasonably-priced "upscale camping" beach vacation.
