So I’ve never been to Florida but I think the ONE thing I want to see when I go is a Manatee. It just amazes me how huge and graceful they are. The video below is taken by one of the keepers at the Parker Manatee Aquarium in Bradenton, FL. Bradenton is located just across the bay from Anna Maria Island which I’ve heard offers great beaches and a nice retreat when compared to the more lively large cities of Bradenton and Sarasota.

This video is from a loggerhead turtle hatch that was on the gulf coast of florida somewhere. Anna Maria Island is home to the Anna Maria Turtle Watch. Every spring and summer volunteers walk the beaches at sunrise to report nesting and hatching activity. Imagine seeing these little babies crawling to the sea every morning!

Ideas for your trip to Anna Maria Island:
Lodging:

• Harrington House - a Holmes Beach Bed and Breakfast
• Island Real Estate offers a wide variety of Anna Maria Island Vacation Rentals

Dining:

• Beach Bistro - billed as the “best little restuarant in Florida”
• Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant and Pub looks like it’s more my speed!

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I’ve never been diving - but it sounds like so much fun - especially if the water is warm. I was researching an article about Grand Cayman and thought the warm blue waters looked so inviting. I found some really informative websites that tell about the different areas to dive on Grand Cayman.

• http://www.caymanislands.ky/watersports/diving.aspx
• http://www.diversdown.net/
• http://www.donfosters.com/

If you go - leave me a comment and let me know how it went!

Grand Cayman is a small island - with a wide variety of activities to keep any traveler interested and entertained. If you’re looking for a relaxing beach getaway or the adventure of a lifetime - consider a trip to Grand Cayman - you wont be disappointed.

For the leisure traveler - enjoy a day on Seven Mile Beach and build an elaborate sand castle. For a change of scenery - move around the north tip of the island to Rum Point and laze the day away next to aqua-blue waters. All of the beaches on Grand Cayman are public up to the high water mark - so find a public access and go exploring.

Leisure travelers will also enjoy the duty-free shopping in George Town. Here you’ll find the best duty-free selection in the Caribbean. Enjoy browsing through a good selection of traditional duty free items such as watches, china and crystal, perfumes and fine jewellery-including authentic treasure coin jewelry.

Grand Cayman is an adventure-junkie mecca. Enjoy World-Class scuba diving and snorkeling - along with para-sailing, sea kayaking, sailing and jet ski rentals. There are a wide variety of vendors along Seven Mile Beach - check with your accommodation provider for their recommendations and suggestions.

The highlight of any Grand Cayman vacation is a boat trip into the North Sound. Learn to dive for conch (in season), enjoy a seafood lunch prepared by your crew, then snorkel the reef and “Coral Gardens.” All trips include a stop at famous Stingray City where you can play with and feed the String rays in shallow water.

Overall - Grand Cayman has something for everyone - couples and families - honeymooners and retirees.

Guide:
If you’re looking for lodging try these:

• Cayman Island Condo Rentals from Cayman Condos
• Comfort Suites Grand Cayman

Restaurant best bets are:

• Arthur Treachers
• Billy Bones Beach Bar

If you’re planning a trip to or through Maryland, check out this great stash of information on all 31 of the Maryland Scenic Byways brought to you by the Maryland State Highway Administration.

There’s a free printable online brochure for each route. They are organized by region, making it easy to find the roads suitable for your journey. Expect photos, maps and detailed information, including how you can enjoy these scenic roads as alternatives to busy highways. You’ll get plenty of unexpected ideas on how to keep your road trip educational, interesting and fun.

Many of the car tours have historic significance - everything from prehistoric Indian trails through Civil War times. Others take you through areas of natural wonder and scenic beauty, such as Deep Creek Lake in the western part of the state. Don’t drive through Maryland without taking advantage of this great resource.

Maui was recently honored as the “Best Pacific Island” by premier travel magazine, Conde Naste Traveler, for the 16th straight year. It was also deemed the “Top Pacific Rim Island”, #2 for The Best Island in the World” and as the #2 “Overall Destination in the World”. So what in the heck are you waiting for? Board a boat or a plane and get to Maui soon!

Why Maui? That’s easy - You don’t need a passport. You understand the language and the money and no matter what you want to do, you can do it here in style. Here are some of my top picks:

Maui Condo Rentals

Kahana Sunset, on the northwestern “thumb” of the island, offers enough to do right there that you won’t ever need to leave the resort, but it is not so remote that you can’t jaunt elsewhere. These sweet oceanfront condos all have their own lanais, daily maid service and every modern convenience and World Class golf is right next door.

Maui Luau

If you only go to one Hawaiian luau in your life - and you must go to at least one -the Old Lahaina should be your choice. It’s probably the most authentic representation of native culture and tradition and even Emeril loves their food.

Maui Beach

D.T. Fleming State Beach on Maui’s west coast, a perennial favorite, was again named “America’s Best Beach” in 2006. It’s a public beach with lifeguards, rest rooms and picnic tables, has great waves and gives you that classic Hawaiian beach feel. Plan on spending the day.

If you only go to one Hawaiian Island, make it Maui!