Beaches
14 Under-the-Radar U.S. Islands
- /home/discountdealsonh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://www.discountdealsonhotels.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/underrated-us-islands-hero.jpg&description=14 Under-the-Radar U.S. Islands', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/discountdealsonh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 69
https://www.discountdealsonhotels.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/underrated-us-islands-hero.jpg&description=14 Under-the-Radar U.S. Islands', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
Through the simple act of hopping on a ferry, crossing a bridge, or boarding a very short flight, these islands off of the U.S. shoreline—also off the well-trodden paths of island seekers who flock to destinations like Cape Cod and Catalina Island—transport you to what feels like a different world. And although the food and physical settings may vary on each—from lobster rolls on Block Island to ahi poke on Lanai—one thing they all have in common is a leisurely approach to living. Get ready to slow down, engage the senses, and savor the spirit of each of these under-the-radar islands.—Kristine Hansen
Mount Desert Island
Maine
Made up of four towns—Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Tremont, and Southwest Harbor, plus Acadia National Park—much of the “urban” activity is in Bar Harbor (home to the West Street Hotel, with a rooftop pool) while other areas keep a slower pace. Just 10,000 people live in on the island, which is the second biggest along the Eastern seaboard.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island Guide
Washington Island
Wisconsin
This rural Door County island flaunts a lavender farm with a gift shop and café (with macarons imported from Paris), 80 miles of paved cycling trails, and a good cup of joe at Red Cup Coffee House. Overnight accommodations are sparse but a ferry from Jackson Harbor makes several trips per day. Don’t leave without walking across Schoolhouse Beach’s smooth stones for some rustic reflexology.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Door County Guide
Raspberry Island
Alaska
Within the Kodiak Archipelago, this is an island best suited for those who really want to get away—but you can easily find luxury (plus salmon fishing and bear sightings) at the Kodiak Raspberry Island Remote Lodge. Kodiak is the closest town, reachable through a 30-minute ride on a float plane or 90-minute ferry ride.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Southcentral Alaska Guide
Orcas Island
Washington
The largest of the San Juan Islands (with 4,500 residents), it’s easy to get here from Anacortes on a ferry. Tour working artist studios using this handy map, and check out the horseshoe-shaped island’s highest point, Mount Constitution, in Moran State Park. Get a taste of local life at Once In A Blue Moon Farm’s lodging, two miles from the ferry.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Orcas Island Guide
St. George Island
Florida
A perk in booking a vacation here is the large waterfront accommodations—thanks to the island’s thriving vacation-home market. Stroll the white-sand beach at St. George Island State Park, surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico, and when you feel “called to the city,” escape over the St. George Island Bridge to Apalachicola, a tiny town with namesake oysters, art galleries, and antique stores.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Emerald Coast Guide
Block Island
Rhode Island
Access the island (pop. 1,000) via the year-round ferry from Point Judith, a small plane from Westerly, or seasonal ferries from Newport, R.I. In addition to 17 miles of beach, there’s the Block Island Historical Society Museum, Water Street shopping, and lots of lobster rolls. Forty percent of the island is protected through conservation; rent a bicycle or moped to explore.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Block Island Guide
Chinoteague Island
Virginia
Chincoteague ponies roam this island that’s home to around 3,000 residents. Two museums—the Museum of Chincoteague and Beebe Ranch—explain local history while the latest arrival to the food scene is the two-year-old waterfront Jackspot. Quite a few hotels are on or near the shoreline: Refuge Inn is just a few blocks in and rents out bicycles.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Virginia’s Eastern Shore Guide
Ocracoke Island
North Carolina
Just-caught seafood is in abundance at this Outer Banks island: dig in at Howard’s Pub & Raw Bar. Ocracoke Harbor Inn—with private decks on most rooms—is one of the many family-owned small hotels. About 90 percent of the island is part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, a good spot for birdwatching.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Ocracoke Island Guide
Pine Island
Florida
Most Lower Gulf Coast travelers drive to Sanibel and Captiva, overlooking this nearby island with its more laid-back feel (and no traffic lights). Despite a lack of beaches, mangoes and lychee thrive here and fishing is the top draw. Outdoorsy types can go for a hike at Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Pine Island Guide
Fire Island
New York
Off the coast of Long Island, Fire Island offers celeb-chef dining (Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Le Dock) and splendid beaches. Take in the island from a bird’s-eye view via Fire Island Lighthouse’s tower and sink your toes into the sand at Fire Island National Seashore. Follow the ferry schedule here.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Fire Island Guide
Sea Island
Georgia
Sea Island and Georgia’s Golden Isles are 83 miles south of Savannah. Pamper yourself by checking into the Cloister at Sea Island, a Mediterranean-esque luxury property with a spa and five miles of beach. Immerse yourself in nature either horsebackriding on the beach or a kayaking through marshes and inlets.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Golden Isles Guide
Lanai
Hawaii
Hawaii’s smallest inhabited island—often dubbed “the pineapple island”—welcomed the posh and re-imagined Four Seasons Resort Lanai earlier this year. From the inland Garden of the Gods’ rock towers to Shipwrecked Beach (so named for an offshore wreck), plus green turtles on Polihua Beach, there’s something for every nature lover.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Lanai Guide
Treasure Island
California
This artificial island was built for the 1939 World’s Fair in San Francisco Bay. Considered a San Francisco neighborhood complete with MUNI access, there’s a flea market (with food trucks) the last weekend of the month and the Treasure Island Music Festival each October.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Bay Area Travel Guide
Kiawah Island
South Carolina
Located 21 miles southwest of Charleston, Kiawah is all about low-country luxe. A golfer’s paradise with five championship courses, there are also 10 miles of beach and 30 miles of bike paths. Spend the night at the boutique Andell Inn and check out the shops at Freshfields Village next door.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s South Carolina Guide
Beaches
4 Great Cruises from Baltimore in 2014
There’s something special about living near a city like Baltimore: When you want to escape, you can head to the port right off I-95, put your car in long-term parking, and board a ship in search of new experiences near and far. Though you may not be aware of it, Baltimore is growing its reputation as a homeport city; if you haven’t thought about booking a cruise out of the “Crab Cake Capital of the World,” now may be the time. According to Maryland’s Department of Transportation, 250,000 travelers sailed out of the Port of Baltimore in 2012 and, in 2013, Royal Caribbean’s newly renovated Grandeur of the Seas joined the ranks of the ships that call the port home.
CRUISE TO THE BAHAMAS
If you’re sick of cold, gray skies, a trip to the sunny Bahamas may be just what you need to get through the rest of this ugly winter. Carnival Pride, a Spirit-class ship, homeports out of Baltimore part of the year (and Tampa for the balance). While this is an older ship—she made her debut in 2002—it’s a favorite because of its size. In today’s world of mega cruise ships, Carnival Pride is a “mid-size” ship that welcomes 2,124 travelers per cruise. The ship still has everything you may need at sea—from nearly a dozens bars to an array of restaurants and in-room dining to Broadway-style shows and a terrific kids program. This itinerary to the Bahamas includes three days at sea so go ahead and treat yourself and book a few spa treatments and spend at least one full day by the pool. The ship stops at Port Canaveral near Orlando, where shore excursions include day trips to Walt Disney World, Universal, and Sea World as well as activities like canoeing and kayaking. This cruise also calls on Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas. A lot of people spend the day in Nassau at Atlantis, but the line also offers options like a beach day at Balmoral Island or a catamaran sail and snorkel trip. More snorkeling adventures can be found in Freeport and there’s also a fun dolphin encounter.
Dates: Jan. 19, 26; Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23; March 2, 16, 23; Apr. 6; May 11, 25; June 8, 22; Jul. 6
Cruise Fares: As low as $429 per person for 7 nights.
CRUISE TO BERMUDA
Not everyone will be able to snag vacation time for a cruise this winter but there are also excellent options out of Baltimore form April through October. Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas offers six- and seven-night itineraries to Bermuda. Both options include three nights docked at Kings Wharf plus two or three sea days. Beaches of pink sand, dramatic cliffs, quaint villages evoking the country’s British roots, and green-as-can-be golf courses are just part of what makes Bermuda so intoxicating. Most shore excursions are active, like scuba, snorkeling, fishing, and kayaking, but you can also opt to be more of an observer with Royal Caribbean’s island exploration tours and glass-bottom boat excursions. While the 1,950-passenger Grandeur of the Seas is one of the line’s oldest ships, launched in 1996, she underwent a $48-million upgrade in 2012 and now has many of the same features as Oasis-class ships. The cabins were upgraded and new dining options were added, making this ship is an excellent choice for a weeklong getaway.
Dates: Apr. 26; May 9, 23; June 6, 20; July 4, 18; Aug. 1, 15, 29; Sept. 12, 26; Oct. 10
Cruise Fares: As low as $469 per person for the six-night itinerary and as low as $649 per person for seven nights.
CRUISE TO THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN
Grandeur of the Seas also offers a 10-night Western Caribbean itinerary out of Baltimore with two sea days followed by stops at Labadee, Haiti; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten before spending three more days at sea and returning to port in Maryland. The longer length of this cruise makes it popular with people—like retirees and those with young children who aren’t yet in school—who can take off more than a week at a time.
Dates: Jan. 21; Feb. 8, 18; Mar. 8, 18; Nov. 1, 11, 29; Dec. 9, 27
Cruise Fares: As low as $619 per passenger for 10 nights.
CRUISE CHESAPEAKE BAY
For people who think they’ve already sailed every itinerary there is, we suggest American Cruise Lines’ glorious seven-night Chesapeake Bay voyage that blends just the right amount of history, culture, and the great outdoors. The cruise takes guests to Yorktown and Williamsburg, Virginia, to view Civil War battlefields and colonial homes. The ship also calls on Tangier Island in Virginia along with Crisfield, Cambridge, Oxford, St. Michaels, and Annapolis in Maryland. From aquariums to National Historic Landmarks and the U.S. Naval Academy to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, you’re guaranteed to visit places you’ve never been before. Three ships—American Glory, Independence, and American Star—sail this unique itinerary in May, June, and November.
Dates: May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; June 7; Nov. 2, 8
Cruise Fares: As low as $3,245 per person for six nights. Seven-night cruises as low as $3,750.
Andrea M. Rotondo is a freelance writer based in New York City. She covers cruise news and luxury travel trends for Fodors.com and writes for a variety of outlets, including her website Luxury Travel Mavens. Follow her on Twitter: @luxtravelmavens.
Beaches
9 New Things to Do in Oranjestad, Aruba
If you haven’t been to Aruba lately you might not recognize Oranjestad. The small city has been refreshed and rejuvenated with both locals and visitors in mind, and there are more innovative improvements to come.—Susan Campbell
Linear Park
Aruba is creating the longest linear park in the Caribbean to provide a smooth paved trail ideal for walking, jogging, biking, and sightseeing. The trail begins at the airport and stretches along the sea to downtown Oranjestad with plenty of resting spots, refreshment stands, and dining options along the way. Catch a stellar sunset at Surfside Beach and try out the new public workout equipment or take a dip in the sea along the trail. The main park plaza has also become a popular outdoor venue for events like marathons, yoga, and cultural festivals.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Market
Located beside the downtown bus terminal, the new local market has grown to become a visitor favorite. With 40 buzzing stalls—all with permanent coverings to shield them from the elements—it’s an ideal spot to find locally made items and affordable Aruban souvenirs. The owners entice local creators to showcase their wares there, so you’ll find unique items like sand art, wood carvings, oil paintings, seashell jewelry, and all manner of cool handmade keepsakes. You’ll also find excellent local fare on site, including BBQ and fresh fruit shakes, and there’s free parking as well.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Bon Bini Festival
Beyond the Bon Bini Festival held every Tuesday showcasing local food, music, and dance at Fort Zoutman, Oranjestad is seeing all kinds of new events popping up throughout the year. There are many spinoffs, from the annual music festivals to arts and crafts fairs, and Queen Wilhelmina Park on the marina often has free entertainment like the new “Crazy Wednesdays,” where the Renaissance sponsors a new show every week. There are often live bands at the many dining spots and new events like “Eat Local Restaurant Week” and street food festivals are also bringing more life to downtown.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Plaza Daniel Leo
The downtown grid is also punctuated with many new outdoor plazas. These were designed to be the lungs of the little city and ideal spots for resting, replete with fountains and benches. Enjoy people watching in busy Plaza Daniel Leo or enjoy Plaza Torismo’s wide-open spaces at Linear Park. There’s also a new Plaza at Parden Baai where the trolley begins, and at Plaza Nicky you can sample Aruba’s only locally roasted java at Coffee Break Aruba.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Arts
Aruba has a vibrant art scene, and now at Cas di Cultura you’ll find the island’s first permanent display of Aruban art sponsored by UNOCA. The new downtown Cosecha building is another permanent home where Aruban artists and crafters can display and sell their work. There are also many cool new outdoor sculptures scattered about downtown, including the “Blue Horse” series, a tribute to the island’s past importance as a horse-trading port. And visit Korteweg’s Facebook page to see when their outdoor pop-up art exhibits will magically transform an entire street into a cultural happening.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Trolley
Now there’s a fun new way to explore the newly refreshed streets and attractions of Oranjestad, and better yet—it’s free. Aruba’s eco-friendly battery-powered trolleys loop the downtown region and offer hop-on/hop-off access from nine stops beginning at the cruise terminal. Two cars are double-decker for great views, and both have shaded seating options. The trolleys move slowly on dedicated tracks and all cars are wheelchair accessible. Aruba is the only island in the Caribbean with this cool mode of transportation.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Dining
Aruba has more than 200 fine-dining spots covering a vast range of cuisines, and many of them are located in Oranjestad. The Renaissance Marketplace houses a variety of restaurants; new dining options there include Sea Salt for fresh fish and Sidebar for gourmet burgers and craft bourbon cocktails. And the new Wilhelmina Restaurant close by has been drawing crowds eager to try their avant-garde international menu. On Surfside Beach just down the linear park path, you’ll also find West Deck for great local fusion fare and Barefoot for romantic sunset dinners on the sea.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Shopping
Oranjestad has always been a hotbed for retail therapy seekers looking for upscale jewelry, gold, silver, diamonds, and Swiss watches or designer fashions at very good prices. But now the well-established family run businesses behind modern malls like the Renaissance are also benefitting from a new influx of foot and trolley traffic. Specialty stores are also moving into the new malls like Margarita Plaza, offering sportswear, baby items, footwear, and duty-free cosmetics and perfumes.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Main Street
Oranjestad’s original “Main Street” was once Caya G. F Betico Croes, directly behind the Renaissance Marina hotel, but over time the neighborhood became badly neglected and business slowed down because visitors—especially cruise ship passengers—preferred to stick close to the marina’s L.G. Smith Blvd., where the souvenir market stalls are set up. But now, the old main street has rebounded thanks to the new trolley, and the newly completed palm tree-lined pedestrian-only portion of the street.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Beaches
World’s Coolest Underwater Lodgings
Undersea hotels represent one of the newest frontiers in hospitality. From Zanzibar to Sweden, beautiful underwater properties with one-of-a-kind views have been popping up around the globe, featuring some of the most unique rooms that travelers can book. Meanwhile, closer to home, many celebrated US aquariums offer sleepovers that aren’t just for kids anymore. Check out our picks for places that allow you to sleep under the sea (or at least pretend that’s where you are).
By Rachel B. Doyle
The Manta Resort
Pemba Island, Tanzania
Pemba, a verdant Indian Ocean island in the Zanzibar archipelago, has long been enticing divers with its pristine coral reefs and clear waters. Now the chic Manta Resort has taken the aquatic worship one step further, last month opening Africa’s first underwater hotel room. Submerged 13 feet underwater, the room has eight large, lit windows through which guests can gawk at a Technicolor parade of fish and cephalopods. A ladder leads to a sundeck and lounge.
Insider tip: Guests can have meals sent out to them by boat, such as grilled snapper with rosemary bread, followed by chocolate mousse and spiced pineapple.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Tanzania Guide
Jules’ Undersea Lodge
Key Largo, FL
The granddaddy of underwater hotels, Jules’ Undersea Lodge–a former marine lab that opened as an inn in 1986—has an unusually high bar to entry. All guests desirous of spending the night need to know how to scuba dive. There’s no other way to enter this two-bedroom retro hideout, 30 feet below the surface in a mangrove-laden lagoon. The customary underwater dinner is pizza from Papa John’s, but guests can upgrade to local lobster or filet mignon.
Insider tip: Don’t want to commit to a whole night among the angelfish and barracudas? Jules’ also offers a three-hour lunchtime “mini-adventure” for $150 per person, pizza included.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Key Largo Guide
Hydropolis Underwater Hotel and Resort Dubai
Dubai, UAE
Where would they build the most ambitious luxury hotel under the waves? Dubai, of course. The Emirate that brought you a man-made island in the shape of a palm tree now hopes to unveil the Hydropolis Underwater Hotel, in a Hyde Park-sized complex 66 feet under the sea. Guests staying at one of the 220 suites will be greeted at the “land post” on Jumeriah beach and taken by submerged subway to the main part of the hotel. The developers say that they hope to welcome 3,500 guests a day, once they overcome “financial constrictions.”
Insider tip: This hotel also plans to offer a plastic surgery clinic, and recovering patients can stay out of sight under the sea.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Dubai Guide
Utter Inn
Västerås, Sweden
The most rustic underwater hotel of the bunch, the tiny and adorable Utter Inn gently bobs in Sweden’s Lake Mälaren. The visible part of the hotel is designed like a typical Swedish home, with an A-frame roof, red sides and white gables. Down a 10-foot ladder there’s a cozy room with twin beds and panoramic windows to watch pike and perch swim by. With no electricity, the tranquility here is absolute.
Insider tip: Use the on-board inflatable canoe to visit an uninhabited nearby island. Many of Lake Mälaren’s islands were once Viking settlements.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Sweden Guide
Poseidon Undersea Resort
Fiji
Some 150,000 people have allegedly signed up to be notified once Poseidon Undersea Resort opens for business. The five-star underwater resort in Fiji was scheduled to launch in 2008, but a combination of the global recession and the difficulty of sub-aqua building have led to it still being incomplete. Ambitious projections show an underwater library, golf course, and tennis court, while the website promises future guests the use of a personal submarine.
Insider tip: If you really want to jump the queue, contact Poseidon about booking a wedding in the undersea chapel. Just don’t set a date yet.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Fiji Guide
The National Aquarium
Baltimore, MD
Although the U.S. only has one underwater hotel, America leads the pack when it comes to aquarium sleepovers. At the National Aquarium in Baltimore, home to over 17,000 animals, overnight visitors can choose between shark or dolphin-themed sleepovers. An underwater viewing area morphs into dramatic sleeping quarters, and guests can take nocturnal tours, watch dolphin shows, or see sharks being fed. At $115 per person including breakfast and dinner, this may be the best deal in Baltimore’s popular Inner Harbor area.
Insider tip: Discounts are available for groups of over 15 people.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Baltimore Guide
The Georgia Aquarium
Atlanta, GA
Kudos to the Georgia Aquarium, the world’s second largest, for realizing adults might want to have aquarium sleepovers too. This aquarium, home to some 100,000 sea creatures, offers the 21+ crowd a package with live jazz, cocktails, and behind-the-scenes tours. Guests can then sleep in until 10 am on mattresses plopped in front of beluga whales or a giant Pacific octopus.
Insider tip: Wear comfortable shoes. This aquarium is enormous.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Atlanta Guide
The Oregon Coast Aquarium
Newport, OR
Overnight guests at the Oregon Coast Aquarium get to bed down in underwater walkways along with some 5,000 species. With its 360-degree views, this exhibit has an apt nickname: the shark tubes. The itinerary for kids includes a scavenger hunt through different marine habitats, and the package also comes with two meals for $60. The program for adults is less scripted (sadly, no scavenger hunt), but can include a tour of a nearby brewery.
Insider Tip: Bring warm clothes for sleeping–it can get chilly in the shark tubes.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Newport Guide
uShaka Marine World
Durban, South Africa
Slumber parties at this South African aquarium take place in a highly realistic replica of a wrecked 1940s steam ship outfitted with massive fish tanks. Overnight visitors to the cleverly designed uShaka Sea World can wander through four connected “shipwrecks,” where they’ll find 32 tanks boasting many species of rays, an array of incredibly poisonous reptiles, and one of the most diverse collections of sharks in the world.
Insider tip: Take your swimsuit. The uShaka complex has a nice stretch of sandy coastline.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Durban Guide
The Aquarium of the Pacific
Long Beach, CA
Leave it to Southern Californians to figure out that aquariums and meditation are a perfect match. The adults-only package at the Aquarium of the Pacific involves a yoga session, fish feeding, and an informal lecture on marine life for $80. A pizza dinner and light breakfast are included, and alcohol is available (once you’re done demonstrating chakravakasana poses to sea otters.)
Insider tip: Download the aquarium’s free “Explorer” app before going.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Long Beach Guide
-
France6 years ago
Hotel Maison Montgrand – Vieux Port
-
United Kingdom6 years ago
Britannia International Hotel Canary Wharf
-
France6 years ago
Appart’City Marseille Euromed
-
France6 years ago
Escale Oceania Marseille Vieux Port
-
USA6 years ago
The Belvedere
-
United Kingdom6 years ago
Best Western London Peckham Hotel
-
France6 years ago
Adonis Marseille Vieux Port
-
United Kingdom6 years ago
The Z Hotel Soho