The beaches that grace the northern shores of the island of Oahu have become known as the best for surfing in the northern hemisphere winters.  Accordingly, there is plenty of north shore Oahu real estate that looks out onto the crystal blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.  Waimea Bay is just one of several popular beaches and surf hotspots. Located in Haleiwa, the bay is located at the mouth of the Waimea River and was actually first visited by foreigners in 1779 when Captain Clerke and the HMS Resolution stopped in the bay.

Historically, this was the only Oahu anchorage by the expedition following the death of James Cook a few days prior at Kealakekua Bay.  An important ancient Hawaiian temple still overlooks the bay.  Today, however, Waimea Bay is a popular place for tanning and bodysurfing in the summer months and a raging surf spot in the winter.  The Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau is held annually at the bay and only takes place when waves are at least twenty feet high.  The 2004 tournament featured the largest waves, with some reaching thirty, forty, and even fifty feet in height.  A lot of popular surf photography also takes place at Waimea Bay.

With its first Cayman Cookout food festival, hosted early this year by über-chef Eric Ripert of Blue at the Ritz Charlton, Grand Cayman, and of Manhattan’s le Bernardin, the island served notice: Once best known for its diving, the isle now deserves equal acclaim for its dining. In recent years, a profusion of foreign-trained chefs has touched down, creating Caribbean-fusion menus that make for surprising and memorable meals. The island’s local talent shines too at several popular restaurants and casual roadside eateries that specialize in traditional Caymanian cuisine.

Calypso Grill

If you judged it solely by its name and location – overlooking the sport-fishing docks at Morgan’s Harbor – you might expect this to be one of those typical island fry houses that focuses more on its rum drinks than its menu. But chef George Fowler takes advantage of all that fresh fish in his backyard to turn out tune spring rolls and Wahoo ceviche appetizers, and entrees such as grilled ginger tuna, and grouper filled with crabmeat and spinach. Nab a table on the deck and linger over the sticky toffee pudding, which justly deserves its island-wide raves. 345-949-3948; calypsogrillcayman.com; average.

The Cracked Conch

This venerable island institution, perched above the sea at West End, has renewed its 25-year-old reputation for fine dining with the arrival of chef Gilbert Cavallaro, formerly with the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Cavallaro puts a fresh spin on the standards, serving up conch chowder with bacon, leeks and coconut milk, and jerk-glazed pork belly on sweet potato puree. Entrees include seared snapper with chorizo potatoes, and green sea turtle (ethically farm-raised on the island), braised with wilted lettuce, onions, mushrooms and coconut rum. 345-945-5217; crackedconch.com.ky; average dinner entrée: $28.

The Lighthouse Restaurant

Ready for Italian-Asian-Caribbean fusion? That’s the mash-up at this Grand Cayman landmark, where owner/maitre d’ Giuseppe Gatta presides over a small battalion of ultra attentive waiters and Indian chef Remy Azavedo puts his signature on dishes like the tea-cured-tuna tataki roll and grouper cooked in a banana leaf with Thai spices. Lobster-and-shrimp gnocchi, classic lasagna and chicken parmigiana pay homage to the Italian side of the equation. 345-947-2047; lighthouse.ky; average dinner entrée $30.

Vivine’s Kitchen

Natie Caymanian Vive Watler holds court in the kitchen at this seaside restaurant beside her East End home. Take a seat on the terrace overlooking Gun Bay and order off the blackboard menu, which offers a rotating variety of traditional dishes, including conch and whelk stews, fish ‘n’ fritters, and curried goat. To wash it down, there’s fresh mango juice or sorrel. 345-947-7435; average lunch/dinner entrée: $10.

Norma Jean’s

No visit to Grand Cayman is complete without a stop at one of the island’s roadside stands. Each Thursday and Friday, starting around 5 p.m and ending when the food is gone, Norma Jean Obando serves serious chicken and ribs with tangy, sweet barbecue sauce from her spot alongside a parking lot overlooking the north end of Seven Mile Beach, with coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, and peas ‘n’ rice on the side. Most folkd do take-away, but there are a few tables, so you can enjoy your ‘cue with a view.  North West Point Road and Town Hill Road, West End, no phone or website; average dinner entrée: $10.

Roland’s Garden

There’s no written menu. A yellow mutt named Sir Alex wanders freely among the tables. If you want wine or beer, you have to brown-bag it. And irascible-yet-lovable chef/owner Roland Schoefer tells his guests: “If you don’t like what I’m cooking tonight, then you don’t eat.” Nevertheless, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll not only like but also be overwhelmed by Schoefer’s copious culinary offerings, starting with appetizers of gravlax, cheeses and homemade sausage; followed by quiche, sauerbraten, pork chops, fresh fruit, scallops in bacon and homemade bread; and finishing with tiramisu, chocolate mousse and coconut rum cake.

Trained in Germany, Schoefer opens the gardens outside his home to guests each Thursday through Sunday night. There’s room for only five or six tables, so reservations are essential. And there’s no bill at the end of the evening; simply leave the amount you think the meal was worth. Think generously. Breakers, 345-926-7670; chefroland.com; typical contribution per person for a multicourse meal is $45 to $50.

For a long time, Curaçao was content to let its beachier Dutch Caribbean siblings Aruba and St. Maarten steal the holiday spotlight – but no longer. Over the last decade, the island has charted a steady course to cultivate its vacation appeal, and now, as the projects come to fruition, is the ideal time to see Curaçao’s charms for yourself. sophisticated capital city Willemstad has more in common with European hamlets than typical tropical hot spots; there are also quiet, sandy bays tucked into indolent coves, a handful of dive sites that rank among the Caribbean’s best, and a wildly cosmopolitan array of restaurants, museums, shops, and casinos.

ON THE WATERFRONT

Guarding the entrance to Willemstad’s St. Anna Bay, the 183-year-old Rif Fort may never have seen combat, but the site is seeing action nowadays with the addition of a new cruise-ship dock, a resort and a mall. The hub of the development is the Renaissance Curaçao Resort and Casino. A 237-room Marriott hotel with the capital’s first “beach” – a saltwater swimming pool fronting the rock shore, its sandy bottom cleaned by starfish; palm tress and cabanas round out the scene. While many rooms face the ocean, avoid those with a view of the interior atrium unless you want to audit a conference.

Nearing completion on a heretofore undeveloped coastline at the entrance to the natural harbor Spanish Water, the 348 room Hyatt Regency Curaçao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina is the focal point of a new 1500-acre residential community, Santa Barbara Plantation. Surrounded by desert terrain, the resort exterior is draped in marble quarried from Tafelberg, the peak rising above the property. Rooms feature Indonesian teak accents and views overlooking Barbara Beach, now wrapped by a marina and pier. A major draw will be the Pete Dye-designed 7.200-yard golf course, snaking gingerly across the spare landscape. The  $150 million project is slated to open in January.

ALL-ACCESS HOTEL

Curaçao is now home to Caribbean’s first hotel catering specifically to guests with mobility issues. Each of the 19 rooms at Dolphin Suites has oversize doorways, roll in showers, and user-friendly furnishings sporting and inviting, modern black-and-white design. A kitchen or kitchenette fosters a homey environment, and baby-sitting can be arranged. The hotel’s Brucker Biofeedback Center provides therapy designed to improve mobility for people with paralysis, and the Sea Aquarium across the street uses dolphins in programs for children with physical or mental challenges.

The popular Lions Dive & Beach Resort has upgraded its older rooms and added a third restaurant and 25 svelte apartments, each with sliding doors, opening onto broad balconies. The hotel is also now home to what could be the only 50-meter lap pool at a Caribbean resort, an infinity-edged beauty that reaches for the shore.

The historic neighborhood surrounding Avila Hotel continues to spruce up, perhaps spurred on by expansions and improvements at the hotel, now in its 60^th year. The new Octagon wing is sleek and contemporary, its 68 rooms featuring the latest mod cons; the premiere unit is the 1,544-square-foot Bolivar Suite with wraparound balcony. Above the rebuilt main restaurant, there’s a new first-rate gym, featuring a TechnoGym KinesisWall, and the Santai Spa.

CELESTIAL DINING

Perhaps Angelique M.C. Schoop, and island pharmacist, didn’t need a second career, but she found one by opening Angelica’s Kitchen, a cooking school conducted in her childhood home.The 1896 abode has been gently remodeled to accommodate groups that sign up for classes led by Clarita Pieter-Hagenaar. A spoonful of island history and culture goes down nicely with wine and salsa music while the meal is prepared. Across the street, Schoop’s Angelica’s Delight is open all day for pastries (sweet or savory), coffee and champagne; the Sunday brunch has become a fast success.

Although Willemstad lacks a natural beachfront, the sun shines in on the new Moon Beach Club, Lounge & Restaurant. Set in a rejuvenated older neighborhood on the rocky coast, a sandscape surrounds a pool perched next to the sea – 15 guilders ($8.50) buys a cabana or space-age lounge ned for the day. The elegant design eschews tropical embellishments in favor of geometrics – cubes and spheres in white accented with bright yellow pillow. At the restaurant, dig into Black Angus tournedos, Mediterranean vegetable risotto, and oysters with pepper, shallots and red wine vinegar.

GO WEST

New Hempshire-imports David and Sunshine Livingston bought a house in remote Westpunt and quickly realized a Curaçao water bill ran quite a bit more than a New England one. To make ends meet, they opened an informal restaurant. Sol Food, serving grilled meat and fresh fish, salads, burgers and “the best pizza in Banda ‘bou.” The couple happily shares a wealth of insider tips alongside scrumptious brownies.

PADDLE POWER

When Ryan de Jongh became concerned about the financial stability of CARMABI, a local foundation studying and protecting Curaçao’s ecology, the took matters into his own kayak and paddled around the island to help raise funds. His 33-hour, 93-mile voyage raised $67.000. Buoyed by the success, he’ll embark November 1, 2009, on a 22-day solo paddled from St. Maarten to Curaçao, a 977-mile journey hop scotching through the eastern Caribbean. Join de Jongh on his (more leisurely) afternoon Eco Kayak Tours on Wednesdays through the mangroves of Piscadera Bay, next to the Hilton hotel.

A true beach vacation is a relaxing getaway to a sandy beach perfect for lounging in the sun, sipping refreshing cocktails, and forgetting about all your worries.  Beach vacations have become one of the most important milestones in some families’ annual plans.  Selecting a hotel-resort can make or break a beach vacation as there are so many elements that contribute to a trip’s success.  Many families choose to rent a vacation rental, usually a beach cottage, that is waterfront and includes all of the amenities travelers would expect from home.  However, the majority typically choose to stay at a hotel or resort.  This latter option provides a seamless experience that includes beach time, nightlife, and overnight accommodation.

The Grand Wailea is located in upcountry Maui and is one of Hawaii’s most renown beach vacation resorts.  Featuring stunning ocean views and surrounded by mesmerizing gardens and lush tropical greenery, the resort not only encompasses a beautiful white sand beach but also includes a renowned arty collection, 780 rooms and suites, a full-service spa, championship golf, a variety of dining venues, eleven tennis courts, and even a children’s camp.  A number of organized on-site activities, including water sports, cultural explorations, and lifestyle classes, can add to an already fabulous time at the beach.

Looking for a beach that has much more to offer than just smooth sand and pristine water? Clearwater Beach is the ideal choice. Topping the lists of Florida’s most popular beaches, Clearwater Beach attracts visitors from all over the world and upholds its reputation for having beautiful white sand beaches and crystal clear waters.

Not only does Clearwater Beach offer a day of fun in the sun, but also fishing, walking, and sightseeing from Pier 60, which extends into the Gulf several hundred feet. However, the fun doesn’t end when the sun goes down. Clearwater Beach’s nightlife comes alive when artists, crafts-persons, and entertainers take over Pier 60.

In order to accommodate visitors who can’t resist staying more than just a few days in the area, numerous large and small hotels are located nearby, as well as great restaurants, bars, cafes, shops, and boutiques. Located right across the street from the public beach is Clearwater Harbor, which offers sightseeing boats, fishing charters, dolphin-watching cruises, and a dinner cruise. Another major attraction is the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which is also a center for the rescue and rehabilitation of sick and injured marine animals.

Clearwater Beach is located only minutes away from Clearwater, Tampa, and St. Petersburg, which add to Clearwater Beach’s convenience and ability to entertain.

The resort is near the white sandy beaches in Sarasota. People go here to relax and enjoy the Olympic-sized pools or to walk along the sandy white beaches. At the beach are plenty of activities to enjoy including tennis, shuffle board, billiards, pool, and views of the Gulf of Mexico Coasts.

A little beach vacation advice can go a long way in saving you money. Staying at the resorts such as the Key allows you to prepare meals in the kitchen rather than eating out every day and night. Nearby the resort are some fabulous stores, which offer you great deals on seafood, meats, breads, and other food items. Save money by buying your food at one of the stores and eat at your resort.

Beach vacation packages for a Siesta Beach, Sarasota Florida beach vacation is available on the Internet. If you plan to fly to Florida to Sarasota you will find amazing discounts and deals on travel packages. Some of the beach vacation packages available include hotel, flight, and visits to the World-Class Art Museum and the Venetian Mansion. Another great tour package available takes you to John Ringling’s Museum, which is the 20th century circus fame.

You will also find package deals that take you touring to the white sandy Gulf Coast beaches in Florida and to the Sarasota Jungle Gardens. Watch your toes, since here you will see alligators touring through the Historic Spanish Points of Florida’s nature reserve area. You will also enjoy archeological exhibits and historic areas here.

Taking a Siesta Beach, Sarasota Florida vacation is always a great adventure, since you have many fun activities to enjoy. But it becomes more entertaining when you can save money on beach vacation packages and beach vacation rentals.

If you want save more money, take some great beach vacation advice and travel by car to Florida and find the best rates on cheap hotels. Use the Internet to find out where the best beach activities and spots are in Florida. You can prepare ahead of time before you go on your Siesta Beach, Sarasota Florida vacation to visit some of the most fabulous spots in Florida.

You will find beach vacation packages online which gives you an option of hotels or rentals including the Hilton Garden Inn. Another great beach vacation rental is the Sarasota Hotel and Marina. The hotel is near the airport and shuttles are available to take you to the beach and other areas around Sarasota. Near the hotel are the restaurants, the Armand Circle shops and the Gulf of Mexico beaches. At the beaches you will enjoy water sports, leisure, and beach volleyball.
Beach vacation advice is available on the Internet where you can check prices and availability. Look for the best rates on Siesta Beach, Sarasota Florida beach vacation packages. Taking a beach vacation is always fun and exciting, but when you can save money it makes it more rewarding for you and your family. Beach vacation packages offer you group rates, family discounts, and individual rates. One of the most popular beach vacation rentals includes the Siesta Key or the Tropical Breeze Resort. You can save money on hotel expenses by choosing the group or family rate packages.

The hotel is one of the leading beachside resorts near shopping malls and cafés. It is just a few minutes from downtown Sarasota. At the hotel you will enjoy a variety of amenities ranging from continental breakfast, VCR, brightly painted beach décor, outdoor swimming pool, and much more.

Another great Siesta Beach, Sarasota Florida beach rentals to consider is the Osprey Inn LLC, Americlnn Hotel and Suites, Comfort Inn Sarasota, Lido Beach Resort, and the Lido Islander. Oh and don’t forget to check out the Ritz-Carlton. The hotel has some encompassing acres of beautiful scenes that overlook the marina. There is a private club in the hotel and it is near Lido Key and the white sandy beaches in Florida.

If you are planning a Hanalei Bay, Kauai Hawaii beach vacation it pays to find great rates on beach vacation packages and to check with travel guides to find the best beach activities and spots. Planning a Hanalei Bay, Kauai Hawaii beach vacation gets easier when you have access to the most popular attractions, tours, adventures, activities and spots in Hawaii. Agents are available online, which gives you easy access to Hawaii Travel guides.

Some of the most enjoyed beach activities in Kauai include raft rides. The rafts depart from Kikiaola Harbor and take you to Waimea and along the longest white sandy beaches in the beautiful Hawaii. When you finish your Na Pali Snorkel expedition you may want to enjoy the Will Squyres Helicopter tour. On the tour you will enjoy exploring the unreachable beauty that takes you through Kauai along the Na Pali Coast to Waimea Canyon, and to Waialua Falls onto Mount Waialeale. While you are enjoying your tour you will learn about the history and legends of the island.

Seeking beach vacation advice is always a good idea, since you can learn more about Hawaii. Hawaii has over 2000 miles of beautiful country scenes that take you to the major land masses through the Hawaii Isles from the isolated group of Isles. Near the beaches and islands are wonderful views of palm-fringed beaches where you will enjoy the sun setting on the Polynesian luau, glowing volcanoes.

When you plan your Hanalei Bay, Kauai Hawaii beach vacation, be sure to look for great deals on beach vacation rentals. If you want great views of the ocean and plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy consider a stay at the Kauai, Castle Kaha Lani Resort. The resort surrounds the island and is surrounded by lush flora and the resort overlooks the Pacific Ocean. You have amazing views of the Kauai. In the area you have plenty of shopping malls and restaurants to choose from. If you enjoy golfing this is the place for you, since the Wailea Golf Course is right around the corner.

One of the favorite spots is Koi Pond. Here you will enjoy amazing views of outdoor scenery, the garden plush pool, splash pool, sundeck, and ocean views.

Discovery the lovely Isle of Kauai is always a great experience. The Garden Isle is 50 miles from the sandy beaches of Hawaii. There is over 500 miles of paradise to enjoy. While you are enjoying your Hanalei Bay, Kauai Hawaii beach vacation here you can explore the Waimea Canyon State Park. At this part of Hawaii you will enjoy relaxing at the beach. Many people go here each year to surf, snorkel, hike, swim, and scuba their way around the Kauai Island. Also, there are helicopters available to take you to the part and guides are available to tour you through the area.

Beach vacation rentals are available for everyone. One of the most popular resorts is the Kauai, Aloha Beach Hotel. The hotel surrounds stunning landscape surrounded by 10 acres of land near the historic Waialua Bay. It is the ancient recreational area to the Kauai Royal group. The resort is close to Lydgate Park. In the area is one of the safest Islands where people enjoy snorkeling and swimming at the beach. Waialua Falls and the lovely Coconut Marketplace is just 10 minutes away from the resort. The resort is near the beach where you will enjoy an abundance of hibiscus, coconut palm trees, wild orchids, and much more.

If you are planning a Hanalei Bay, Kauai Hawaii beach vacation it is best to seek beach vacation advice. Beach vacation packages are available on the Internet for families, groups, or individuals. One of the best ways to get great deals on beach vacation packages is to consult with the Hawaii Travel Agents. These people are willing to go to the limits on your behalf to help you find the best rates on beach vacation packages.

Before you travel to Hawaii at the lovely Kauai, be sure to ask about the 5 night free deals with room and breakfast specials. The nightly rates at the Kauai, Aloha Beach Hotel are around $128 to $278 so be sure to check for great rates on beach vacation packages.

It is the perfect area to spend a weekend under your umbrella on the beach and watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. There are various activities to enjoy including kite flying, tide pool exploring, and volleyball. On the south side of the hotel is a bike path where you can ride while enjoying the beautiful scenery.

If you plan to visit Coronado Beach in January or March, be careful. During this time, there are some Gray Whales that migrate along the coastlines. They travel to Baja from Bering Sea in California. If you haven’t scheduled your trip, now it is the time to find beach vacation packages that include tours to the San Diego Harbor. On the tour you can watch the whales swim by.

Some of the excursions offered with the San Diego Harbor packages allow you to enjoy fire rings. At the beach are on-duty lifeguards and after your finish swimming in the clear blue water you can take an outdoor shower. If you have a pet, you can take him along the Ocean Boulevard. Make sure that you plan to arrive around 11 am in the morning during the summer weekends because the crowd gets heavy throughout the week days. There is free parking at the Avenida Lunar Avenida de las Arenas.

Some of the beach vacation packages include a bike tour. You will take a ride on a short ferry trip or in a car to San Diego Bay Bridge. The trip starts from downtown San Diego. Once you arrive at the Bridge you will travel down Third Street and then to Orange Avenue. From here you will go to various other areas to the Coronado Beach.

Coronado has the largest span of sandy beaches in San Diego. You will always find plenty of space for your children and you to fly kites, or dip your toes into the sandy beaches. During certain times of the year parking is challenging so be sure to look for beach vacation advice online to help you learn when the best time is to visit Coronado Beach. Ensure that you look for tips on parking.