If you’re dreading the next three or four months of cold winter weather, perhaps it’s time to consider cashing in your miles or shopping the air fare sales so you can head to warmer climes at least for a week or two. Here are five of my favorite destinations, all of which have allowed me to lower my carbon footprint by camping when I get there or staying in a low-impact eco-lodge, anddoing some volunteer work.
1) Cinnamon Bay Campground, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands – Our family started going here when my children were literally toddlers (including one in diapers), and we returned several years in a row, usually in February, when the kids had a nice long break from school.St. John is considered a temperate rain forest; it also has the mountainous terrain that once-active volcanoes left behind, in addition to gorgeous beaches and fantastic snorkeling and scuba diving. Plus, much of the island is a national park, and the U.S. Park Service offers all kinds of activities for young and old alike. We always take their mountain-to-beach hike, which walks us past petroglyphs and around the three-dimensional webs that golden orb weaver spiders weave. Bring your own tent for “bare site” camping, or rent one of theirs, which includes clean sheets, picnic tables, and a barbecue. You can also rent a “cottage,” which is really two cement walls and two screened and curtained walls, but also some electricity. All showers and bathrooms are communal, but that never bothered any of us. Lower your carbon footprint by flying direct to St. Thomas, and then taking a ferry to St. John.
2) Whale Watching and Sea Kayaking, Baja California – February and March are the perfect times to go whale watching around Mexico’s Baja peninsula. This finger of land separates the Sea of Cortez from the Pacific Ocean; its sandy cliffs strike a gorgeous contrast to the deep blue ocean below and the robin’s egg blue sky above. You’ll kayak around Espiritu Santo Island, then head to Magdalena Bay and the safety of motorized skiffs, which will put you right in the middle of pods of 40-foot long migrating gray whales. Camp on the dunes above the beach, stargaze at night, and enjoy whales breaching in the bay while you eat breakfast in the morning.
3) Birding, Biking and Shelling on Sanibel Island, FL – If you’ve never been to Sanibel, you’re in for a treat. Located in Florida’s Gulf Coast, about an hour’s drive from Tampa/Fort Myers, this is the beach that’s famous for the billions of pale pink shells that cover its shores. It’s paradise for nature lovers, too, especially birders. The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge hosts abundant bird life; if you go December through March, you’ll see the most birds, though I was there Memorial Day week one year and wasn’t disappointed. There are several hiking and biking trails where you might spot alligators and birds like the white ibis. There are also two designated kayak/canoe launch sites, and places to fish for snook and spotted sea trout. Enjoy a sunset sail out of Captiva, Sanibel’s “sister” city. There are plenty of camp grounds on Sanibel and in the Fort Myers area as well.
4) Camping, Rock Climbing and Hiking in Joshua Tree National Park, California – If you’ve never been to Joshua Tree, you’re in for a real treat. This national park, located in southern California, encompasses two deserts: the higher Mojave, and the lower Colorado. The Little San Bernardino Mountains hug the park’s southwest edge, giving you many different ecosystems to choose from. The park takes its name from the unusual looking Joshua trees you’ll find there, but there are plenty of juniper, pinon pine, and various kinds of desert oaks, as well. The rock outcroppings, formed more than 100 million years ago as magma cooled beneath the surface, give the place an otherworldly feel. Camp in any one of the nine campgrounds on park grounds, though be aware that only three offer water and flush toilets. NOTE: Temperatures during the winter range in the 60s, but it does get down to freezing at night, so if you decide to camp, bring cold weather gear. Hiking ranges from natural trails to back country roads that are more rugged and challenging. There are thousands of rock climbing routes, too.
5) Canoeing and Kayaking on the Rio Grande – The Rio Grande sounds magical, and it can be. It follows the southern boundary of Big Bend National Park in west Texas for 118 miles. If you go the distance, you’ll see three major canyons: Santa Elena, Mariscal, and Boquillas. Take a half-day float trip, or extend your visit to seven days. Bring your own canoe, kayak, or raft, or sign on to a guide service. There are plenty of local outfitters that will provide guides, rent you equipment and give you up-to-date information on the river. You’ll have to bring your own water as well as food – and a passport if you plan to get out of your boat and step onto the Mexican side of the waters. If you have the time, spend a few days hiking and camping in the park’s back country, where you’ll find primitive campsites, some of which you can drive into on dirt roads that are best traversed with a four-wheel drive vehicle.
Do you have a favorite winter get-away? Please share!
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
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