Sunny Isles Beach ranks as one of the best vacation destinations in the entire South Florida area. It’s far enough from the hustle and bustle of Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale to be a relaxing family resort. At the same time, it’s close enough (about 30 minutes) to those hot spots that you can enjoy the shopping, partying, people watching and nightlife for which they are famous.

With water, water everywhere, the resort community occupies a strip of land bounded on one side by 2 1/2 miles of white sand beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. The IntraCoastal Waterway runs along the other side and, if you venture a bit east onto the mainland, you’ll find Oleta River State Recreation area for sea kayaking and mantee watching.

For some reason unknown to me, fishing is not allowed on the beaches on either side of the island, so there’s only one place to fish in Sunny Isles - the historic Newport Pier. Luckily, it sticks waaaay out into the Atlantic where the snapper, jack and blues abound.

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Destin began as a fishing camp, grew up as a commercial fishing center and and now provides some some of the best sport fishing opportunities in the world. The reason is mostly it’s location.

A boat can leave Destin Harbor and be in 60 foot deep water within just a few miles. Within 10 miles, it can be dropping lines in 100 feet of water. And because fishing has always been the lifeblood of the area, the locals have jealously guarded their marine environment and expanded reefs that attract fish to their shelter.

Today, Destin Harbor is home to the largest and best-equipped deep sea fishing fleet in Florida. If you visit Destin, be certain to set aside at least one day to take a charter fishing trip. The captains and crews really know their stuff and will take you where the big fish swim to try your own luck.

Aaaaaaaah…the Emerald Coast. Sounds exotic, doesn’t it? And expensive? And far away? Well, it’s none of those things.

The Emerald Coast is the section of northwestern Florida and southern Alabama that extends along the Gulf of Mexico - an area of silky white sand beaches that runs roughly from Mobile to Apalachicola.

How did it get it’s name? If you ask a local, they’ll likely tell you it’s due to the clear, emerald-green waters they enjoy. My bet is a crafty marketer needed something to call it other than the Redneck Riviera, as it’s also known.

The area is a driving destination for vacationers from all over the southeast and offers something for everyone. However, it’s important that you do a little research before you pack, as different areas of the coast have very different personalities.

Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach is one of the most affordable and best known vacation resorts along the Emerald Coast and offers a wide variety of accommodations, from cozy cottages to high rise luxury condos. Be certain to get knowledgeable, professional help in choosing the vacation rental type and location that’s right for you to insure either a quiet family vacation or a more exciting spring break experience. There’s something for everyone in Panama City Beach!

Destin
This is a more sedate, upscale area for an Emerald Coast vacation. It occupies the tip of a peninsula laden with golf courses. Destin is a world famous deep-sea fishing and sea-shell collecting area. It offers respite for families and others who are interested in a quiet and relaxing trip to the beach. Your best bet for lodging along this stretch of shoreline is a Destin vacation rental, where you can enjoy all the comforts of home at a reasonable price. Condos, villas, townhomes and private beach houses are all available and many offer most of the amenities of a hotel. You get much more room and privacy than a hotel at about the same price.

Apalachicola
This is the place you want to go if you’d like to experience Florida the way it used to be. The laid back atmosphere compliments the historic district, which is undergoing revitalization. This is also where you should go if you love fresh seafood-especially oysters- and want to eat it everyday. Nearby are miles and miles of undeveloped beaches, a national forest, nature preserves and several state parks.

Gulf Shores
Gulf Shores, at the opposite end of the Emerald Coast from Apalachicola is a family destination resort for southern Alabama, particularly nearby Mobile. It offers a variety of beaches, along with boat rentals and fishing and natural areas preserved in a pristine state. Kids love seeing the nesting sea turtles that visit each year.

Mountain biking is big in Tahoe and with plenty of up and down, the emphasis is on definitely on “mountain”.

Terrain
Trail surfaces tend to be dirt cushioned with soft, but squirrely pine needles and are usually studded with angular rocks that add to the challenge. Depending upon where you ride, it’s not unusual to traverse long rock garden sections which can consist of sharp, broken shale. Don’t forget your patch kit and pump. Savvy locals carry a spare tube and tire, as well. With cold streams everywhere, be prepared for wet feet and brakes. It’s not usual to find downed trees across the paths, which sounds like a minor inconvenience until you relalise the giant tree trunks are often 3 feet thick.

Tahoe Rim Trail
It’s possible to circumnavigate the lake on this system of trails, but it is a hugh undertaking requiring a lot of planning. Try some of the day trip sized sections instead.

Nevada

The eastern side of the lake, which is in Nevada, offers spectacular rocky trails that wind along the lake rim high above the water. Check in with a local bike shops when planning your ride. They can help you run a shuttle and are up-to-date or which days you can bike and which days are reserved for horseback riders. Some offer guided tours, as well.

California
The southwestern section boasts some great California State Parks, such as Sugar Pine Point, where you can hit the trails right from your campsite and wind up and into the hills. There are easy family-friendly paths leading around the parks and down to the lake, as well.

Author’s Pick
One of my favorite places to just ride for fun and exercise is the Nordic Ski Center on the west side of the lake. Some of the paths have natural and man-assisted obstacles and whoop-de-doos that let you practice your skills. This is a maze of wide trails and nearly all of them will return you to your starting point at the Nordic Center parking lot. However, check the map and keep your bearings or you may find yourself descending through the wrong drainage and end up miles away.

Ski Areas with Mountain Biking
Some of the numerous ski resorts around Tahoe offer lift-assisted riding in the off-season. Northstar, at the north end of the lake is probably the most popular with the adrenaline crowd and has more than 100 miles of trails and a mountain bike park where competitions and training are held throughout the summer.

Road Biking
Although there are plenty of riders who do it, they are much, much braver than I am. The traffic can be thick and irritable on the curvy, two lane, mostly-shoulderless roads that wind around Lake Tahoe. I’ll stick to the trails!

Your schedule miraculously clears for the upcoming 4 day weekend - what kind of fun can you plan? How about a last minute Caribbean vacation to the beautiful island of St. John? Yes - certain times of the year planning a last minute trip can prove to be difficult and expensive - but knowing where to go and who to ask can make planning an impromptu trip easy and exciting.

Take stock of what is available. Do you have some frequent flier miles you can cash in? Don’t forget about the voucher from that last trip you took and got bumped to a later flight because of the weather or an overbooking. Sometimes last minute trips become expensive because the airfare is outrageous. If you’re traveling in off season, last minute fares could save you money, the airlines will be looking to fill empty seats.

Where do you want to go? The U.S. Virgin Islands offer a great getaway without a lot of hassle. and best of all - you DO NOT NEED A PASSPORT! That’s right, if you visit the U.S. Virgin Islands, you don’t need to hassle with a passport. As of January 2007 about 73% of Americans did NOT have a passport.
You have four days, what do you want to do? A day on the beach is a must. What about some shopping or snorkeling? Do you like to golf or fish? Plan some time for laying in a hammock by the villa and getting some much deserved rest. Visit the island travel pages to plan some of the activities you’d like to try. Because you’re traveling last minute, it might be a good idea to call and be sure you can book a tee time or a trip with one of the deep sea fishing charter companies.

All in all - a last minute trip is within reach if you have realistic expectations and you prepare accordingly. Don’t expect the trip of a lifetime, you didn’t have time to plan all of the activities you’d have to try to make it unforgettable - but you can get a taste of life on St. John and enjoy yourself away from the rat-race for a few days.