Travel

Traveling abroad is getting easier from the Tampa Bay area. Airlines have added a number of direct flights to international destinations from Tampa International Airport, including:

St. Augustine is the oldest city in the U.S. and a reasonable weekend road trip from the Tampa Bay area.

What’s there to do in the Los Angeles area when you’ve seen the Hollywood sign, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive and Santa Monica Pier? Turns out there’s plenty.

I recently visited my former college roommate in Washington, D.C., with no big weekend plans. Luckily, she planned a sightseeing adventure for us that’s well worth repeating:

A destination wedding combines a vacation feel and an intimate, smaller wedding into one package. Although it can be a big undertaking, here are ways to make the planning less stressful:

Before vacay this summer, equip your phone with these three great apps:

Here in Florida, we live where other travelers vacation – so why not check out your city through the eyes of a tourist? Staycations are the latest travel trend, and they save money while reducing travel stress.

We clung to the railing, our adrenaline levels rising as we approached the roaring falls during the 20-minute Voyage to the Falls Boat Tour, the powerful mists only partially held off by our ponchos. After visiting the attractions in Canadian Niagara Falls, we headed to Niagara-on the-Lake, a charming 19th-century village on the shores of Lake Ontario.

The Florida Keys are known for many things – gorgeous water, laid-back atmosphere, Jimmy Buffett. But for this sweet tooth, it means Key lime pie. Daily sampling should be a goal when you visit this string of islands.

If a daily high temperature of 45 degrees isn’t a disqualifier, traveling to Germany during off-peak times in the winter can have serious benefits. Over Christmas vacation, our family of three enjoyed a two-week vacation there for under $3,000.

The 2018 Valspar Championship is expected to feature star golfers such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, and with tickets starting at $39 a day, attending doesn’t have to break the bank.

One of my favorite laid-back vacation destinations is the southwest Florida island of Sanibel, where development is limited and nature reigns.

From a small courtroom in Sumner, Mississippi, where the Emmett Till murder trial was held, to the United States Supreme Court building, the location of the decision in Brown v. Board of Education, the new U.S. Civil Rights Trail covers more than 100 landmarks that played a role in the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Greek Islands are a popular tropical vacation destination. Santorini and Mykonos are two of the most visited islands, but if you don’t venture out further, you’ll be missing out.

If you’re like me and your New Year’s resolution is to travel more, consider a trek over the pond.

While they may not be taking a seat next to you on Space Mountain, your canine companion (or two) can now stay with you at a few of Disney’s resort hotels in Orlando. These are Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and the cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

If you are ever in Door County, Wisconsin, you’ll see traffic slow to a crawl as tourists stop to stare at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant.

Perhaps because we live in a grand era of yoga pants, we are even more fascinated by the elegant, elaborate outfits worn by the characters in “Downton Abbey.”

Egmont Key, an island off St. Petersburg, is a relaxing beach day and history lesson in one. The island, which is a 20-minute ferry ride from Fort de Soto State Park, played roles in Florida’s Seminole Indian Wars, the Civil War and the Spanish-American War.

From its beautiful beach to its energetic downtown, Delray Beach on Florida’s East Coast has something for everyone.

Western New York wineries are known for their sweet reds and whites, but many of the 20-plus stops on the Niagara Wine Trail offer creative blends and pairings. Some of the standouts:

We’ve all had those days where you insert your key in the ignition, turn it over, and … nothing. While a simple jump-start might help, it’s often difficult to pin down the cause of the issue.

Boston, just a direct flight from Tampa, is a great weekend away for lovers of food and history.

St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city, is a cool mix of historic buildings and modern drinks.

In 2004, the International Air Transport Association began pushing airlines to issue electronic tickets. Prior to that, most passengers received their tickets through the mail from a travel agent or from an airline ticket office.

We’ve rented beach houses for years, but it’s never been easier than with Sunset Reflections by Natural Retreats for a recent stay in Cape San Blas, Florida. What sets this company apart is its Xplore team, travel experts who know the destination and share their first-hand knowledge.

STAY: The 404 Hotel located in the Gulch is the ultimate boutique option. You’re in for an exclusive adventure at this five-room property with a modern European-inspired restaurant.

Cancun is a popular vacation destination, but a lesser-known retreat lies two hours south along the Caribbean coast. Tulum is a quiet Mexican town with quaint hotels, restaurants and shops where you can live like a local.

Floridians’ dislike of cold weather isn’t limited to humans. Manatees living in the Gulf of Mexico flock to warmer waters as soon as water temperatures drop below 68 degrees. Hundreds seek thermal refuge each winter at Crystal River’s Three Sisters Springs, where the water’s always 72 degrees.