T R A V E L June 2008 BEST PLACES TO GO Tropical Islands PLUS Authentic Festivals Unplugged Resorts and Cocktail Journeys FUN ACTIVITIES TO DO SECRET ISLAND ESCAPES THE MOST MYSTERIOUS RUINS IN THE PACIFIC U.S. $4.99 CAN $5.99 1 www.infinitetravel.com
From the Editorial Director T R A V E L Summer 2008 In the last year I ve prowled every section of the Virgin Islands. There is so much information about these tropical islands; I decided to write information for a magazine I created called Infinite travel, which stands for Endless Travel. So as a premiere of the first issue I will explain what it s all about. Pg 10 Pg 23 Pg 44 Pg 68 My mission of this magazine is to help you and your spouse find your dream vacation and to show you the fun activities you can do such as Snorkeling, Swimming with Dolphins, Sailing and etc. Infinite Travel is a contemporary magazine. It s fun but yet very informative and very in with the times. It attracts people by my choice of using vibrate colors and beautiful imagery of places to travel. Infinite Travel is unlike any other traveling magazine because it directs towards couples only it is not family oriented. Some of the featured stories for this months issue are: Best places to go relating to tropical islands, activities while on vacation, secret island escapes and the most mysterious ruins in the Pacific. Every month the subject matter changes to other vacation spots throughout the world. However, every issue will have some consistency dealing with the departments and columns of the Mag. such as discovering new things in different places, mail from our readers commenting on Infinite travel and our explorers who contribute to the information of the magazine. Entrepreneurs, artists, adventurers everywhere we look, we see creative risk takers whose efforts and achievements reward our fascination with this amazing world. When we look around the world and ask, What s new? there is never a shortage of astonishing answers. Beth Lesley, editor@infintietravel.com June 2008 InfiniteTravel.com
Table of Contents T R A V E L June 2008 Features 10 23 44 Best Places to Go Tropical Islands Any where From the Virgin Islands to Hawaii with plenty of fun activities and good restaurants. Fun Activities At Different Tropical Islands Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Swimming with Dolphins, taking tours and etc. Make your vacation worth while! Secret Island Escapes Dream Resorts Have a exclusive place for you and your partner. Make all your dreams come true. 68 Most Mysterious Ruins In the Pacific Hike to storied ruins, dive legendary reefs and learn local tales from island guides. 1
June 2008 InfiniteTravel.com
BEST PLACES TO GO Tropical Islands Written By Beth Lesley Hawaii, one word that makes you think of great beaches. The waves running through your toes as you relax in the warm sun. Believe or not there is more to this island than what meets the eye. Everyone tends to just think of beaches and sun, moreover, you will see what I mean. The outdoor activities in Hawaii are almost unending. Whether you get to these activities by land, air, or sea you will find something to do in Hawaii. If you are a hiker, you will find tons of luxury trails all over Hawaii. Whether you are a beginner or expert these trails satisfy everyone s needs. One of the best hiking spots, Haleakala, can be found on Maui. However, there is also Diamond Head, located in Oahu, which offers a forty-five minute hike to the top. If you make it all the way, you will know why you took the time to do it. It s the most breathtaking views of Waikiki, Honolulu and the Pacific Ocean. That big island has the Hawaii Volcanoes National park which houses the Kilauea Iki trail. It starts at the Thurston Lava tubes and offers five miles of Hawaiian Beauty scenery. 101
If Hiking is not something you are interested in you could go biking instead. Haleakala offers downhill rides, which are enjoyable in both exercise and scenery. There is this Garden of the Gods on Lanai. It is suppose to look like the surface of the moon with very colorful rocks. Another popular way of enjoying the scenery is going h o r s e b a c k r i d i n g. O n e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s l a r g e s t ranches, a sprawling 175,000 acres, Parker Ranch is on the big island where you can pretend you are a cowboy for the afternoon and into the night. Depending on when you want to visit Hawaii there is also skiing for you to enjoy. From late November through April, the peak of Mauna Kea, located on the big island is covered with snow. In addition there is also an Ocean of course. This is for sure an area not to overlook. Gentle waves along with shallow waters makes it easy to learn how to surf at Waikiki Beach. Hanauma bay offers snorkeling while off Lanai s south shore are the Cathedrals, which is a awesome scuba diving location. Deep-sea fishing can be found off Kailua-Kona and the Tuna and Marlin are ready to be caught. If you like kayak, head over to Kauai and go along the Napali Coast for some spectacular views. If you are interested in seeing the island from the sky, almost every island in Hawaii offers hang gliding lessons or helicopter rides. If you are a little more adventurous, y o u c a n g o s k y d i v i n g o n O a h u. H e r e, a l i c e n s e d instructor will jump out of the plane at 13,000 feet. Napali, Hawaii Wakiki Beach, Hawaii June 2008 InfiniteTravel.com
St Thomas, Virgin Islands Virgin Islands where the waters are turquoise, swarming with vibrantly luminous marine life, against the sparking white sand. First off there is St. Thomas that has several beaches you can go to depending on what kind of atmosphere you are looking for. Snorkeling at Coki Beach, St. Thomas Lindberg Bay, also known as Emerald Beach, is beautiful. Palm trees and sea grape trees line the shore and provide shade. It is a great beach for laying back and relaxing. The water is usually always calm which makes it perfect for swimming, wading or floating along. The beach is home to Emerald Beach Resort and Island Beachcomber Hotel. Both have open-air beachfront bars to enjoy the breeze while having a refreshing drink. There is also a water sport booth offers kayaks, snorkeling, diving, peddle boats and windsurfers among other fun activities. Another beach is called Coki which is a pretty beach located on Coki Point. The crystal clear water is usually very calm and deepens gradually. However shade is limited but there are umbrellas available for rent. Near here is shore rocky, a reef area that offers great snorkeling. It s a favorite place for visitors and also a popular stop for tour itineraries. There is a dive shop on site. A jet ski rental booth is locates just across the road, opposite to the beach and a few vendors rent snorkel gear, floats and noodles. Coki Beach is located right next to Coral World Marine Park. Next is a Beach called Morning star. This beach is the type in which you can just lay in a lounge chair, soak in the sun with a fun tropical drink in your hand or switching the gears and doing some water sports. A beachside restaurant and bar is available for refreshments and lunch. There are water sports that offer paddleboats, kayaks, sailboats, jet skis, and more. Also while visiting St. Thomas you can take a glimpse into the 18th Century city by walking up or down he 99 steps, view defense structures like a fort, canons and watch towers or learn about local history at museums and historic houses. Moreover, how about driving to the top of the highest mountain on St. Thomas for fabulous view or stopping at the famous Drakes seat for s stunning panoramic Magens Bay. You can explore these places and other interesting sites around the island on your own or on a tour with a knowledgeable guide. 112
Secondly, is St John is a little island that offers nature lovers an array of activities to partake in. Learn to sail, interested in enjoying the waters around St. John and want to feel the exhilarating rush of knowing how to sail whether on a basic level or advanced. Sailing lessons are available on St. John and on St. Thomas, which is just a short ferry ride from St John. Courses include different levels from basic to advanced. Boat Rentals are an options. Rent a boat and plan your own itinerary stop at a few snorkeling spots, have a nice picnic on a deserted beach or a trip to a neighboring island. B o a t re n t a l o p e r a t o r s w i l l provide directions and advice on good locations to visit. You can also rent a dinghy for near shore exploration and beach hopping. St John has several lookout points that provide stunning views, historic sugar plant ruins, scenic drives and the gorgeous scenery of the Virgin Islands National Park. How you take it all in is up to you. The most popular option is an island tour by taxi, but you can also rent a car and take a self guide driving tour. Thirdly is the island St Croix, which offers lots of activities to keep you busy everyday of your trip. You can kayak in the area Christopher Columbus visited in 1493 or go under the sea scuba diving on the famous wall, get pampered with massages or spend the day exploring the national parks and their beautiful scenery. Explore coral and gorgonian forest if sea fans. Swim among turtles, parrotfish, blue tangs, and so much more. The life in the ocean is amazing to see, so bring your water-proof camera. Dive operators are familiar with the various dive locations and can safely guide you to and around them. They can take you out for the first time, teach you to dive, g e t c e r t i f i e d a n d i n s t r u c t y o u f o r t h e h i g h e r l e v e l s o f d i v e certification. Fishing is another activity you could do. Some 21-world records in fishing have been set in recent years in the virgin islands, evidence of the amazing experiences that are in store for anglers. Take offshore fishing charter and test your luck at catching a marlin or enjoy a few hours of inshore fishing for snook and bonefish. St Croix is also known for its beautiful vistas and historic buildings, scenic drives and just gorgeous scenery. How you take it all in is up to you. The most popular option is an island tour by taxi, but you can also take a walking tour of the historical sites or how about an aerial tour. St. Croix has two distinct landscapes, tall green forest on one end of the island and dry, windswept scrub and grasslands on the other. A scenic drive enables you to appreciate the vast differences in the scenery. The Heritage Trail, a 72 mile driving tour connects historic site and attractions and includes many significant natural areas. The Virgin Islands are made up of more than 120 islands and cays. There are eight inhabited islands, four in the U.S. Virgin Islands and four in the British Virgin Islands. Each island has it own unique atmosphere. Ferry service and inter-island air travel makes island happing possible. There is so much to do and see on St. Croix, explore your options and decide which you will most enjoy. June 2008 InfiniteTravel.com
The Virgin Islands are made up of more than 120 islands and cays. There are eight inhabited islands, four in the U.S. Virgin Islands and four in the British Virgin Islands. Each island has it own unique atmosphere. Water Island, the most recent addition to the USVI, offers you a unique, informal and private vacation. This little bit of paradise, is largely undeveloped and un-commercialized. It offers visitors a superb opportunity to relax away from everything and enjoy a restful vacation. The island is not crowded, population 161, and is often referred to by residents and visitors as the last Virgin. A vacation on Water Island might comprise of restful days at the beach reading a novel, fishing, enjoying a casual meal with residents at the beach or deli restaurant, hiking around the relatively traffic free roads, taking a fun bike tour or taking a daytrip to St. Thomas! Water Island does not have taxis, public buses, gas stations, hotels, rental cars, a main town... it is a residential island that offers true peace and quiet as only a small island could offer. Vacation rentals are available for weekly stays on the island. Many of the rentals come with transportation; either a car or a golf cart. A small neighborhood grocery store/deli is available for getting lunch/dinner and for shopping. The store offers a provision service which on-island visitors can use to order their groceries for delivery to their vacation rental. Day trips between St. Thomas and Water Island are easy, fun and inexpensive. It is a great option for cruise ship passengers and visitors on St. Thomas. The ferry between the two islands has a regular schedule. Come over, hike around or take a bike tour, have lunch, spend some time at the beach and then head back, or come over for dinner! Start planning your vacation or day trip to Water Island and fulfill the dream vacation you always wanted. 14 1