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Beach & Water Sports

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Agents & the Web: Finding the Best Deal on Your Next Cruise

Today, practically everybody has a website, and the difference between so-called web-based cruise sellers and more traditional travel agencies can be blurry to the beginner. Here's…

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Cruising 101: A Beginner's Guide to Onboard Entertainment

You may be stuck on a ship in the middle of nowhere, but that doesn't mean that your cruise line won't want to make you feel like you're in New York, Paris, or -- more likely -- Vegas.…

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Underwater Upkeep: Helping Biscayne National Park's Reefs

With only 5% of it above water, Biscayne National Park is one of the country's more unusual parks. That watery realm holds some incredible vistas, vistas such as reefs teeming with…

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How to Go Green on Your Next Cruising Vacation

You don't have to leave your good habits in your home port: There's a lot passengers can do to reduce waste and energy use. So go ahead, heed these basic tips. It's easy to be green.

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How to Have an Authentic Bahamas Vacation

Most visits to Nassau bypass the Bahamas' greatest assets -- its exuberant culture, down-home cooking, and -- most of all -- its friendly, welcoming people. To get a true feel for the…

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Go Deep: Diving Four of the World's Top Shipwrecks

Most of the world's best shipwreck sites are in stunning international locales, making a scuba vacation more than just a dip in the ocean. And once you've dived one shipwreck, the…

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Boy's Club: Male-Friendly Spas & Treatments

Over the last decade, men have snapped up ever larger chunks of the spa-going population. Here are places where boys can be boys and still be men, plus a few that offer male-friendly…

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Kids Eat and Stay for Free: Great Value or Money Grab?

The 'kids stay and eat free' promotion is nothing new, but is it a bargain, or a bait and switch? Here's a handful of deals that really will save you money.

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Affordable Villas & Bungalows in Exotic Locations

Here's how to transform your vacation from an ordinary getaway to a peaceful experience filled with five-star service -- minus the matching price tag.

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Cruising Under the Radar, Caribbean Edition: Going by Sail Power

With its blue waters, vast skies, and reliable trade winds, the Caribbean is tailor-made for sailing ships -- but they're harder to find than you'd think. Here's a rundown of your…

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Park of the Week: Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a park that changes constantly thanks to the tides, waves, and currents that provide daily pressure on this narrow ribbon of sand.

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Little Kids, Big Savings: Resorts Woo the Preschool Set

For families with preschoolers, fall is the very best time of year to grab a getaway at a top family resort.

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Take Your Pick From 8 Perfect French Polynesian Beaches

Whether you're staying in one of French Polynesia's water-side resorts or cheaper digs inland, you're still well-positioned for relaxing afternoons and picture-postcard-worthy…

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See the Great Outdoors Without Leaving New York City

Woody Allen is not the only New Yorker who gets anxious leaving town. Many of us prefer to experience the great outdoors right here in old New York.

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Shore Bets: 6 Chesapeake Summer Destinations

The moment the summer sun comes out, boats ship out to waterside Maryland towns. A boat's not necessary, though -- almost all of them are less than 90 minutes from the Bay Bridge by…

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The Able Traveler: Accessible Beaches for Everyone

If you are a little unsteady on your feet, beaches can be downright dangerous. But that doesn't mean you have to give up sand and the surf altogether: there's a wide range of…

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Take a Dip at the Park System's Best Beaches

From the rocky shorelines of Acadia National Park off the coast of Maine to the cobblestone beaches of Olympic National Park in the Pacific Northwest you'll find the right beach for…

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Affordable Tropical Beach Vacations for the Family

From Tahiti to the Caymans: Even some of the most exotic destinations have made concessions and are offering incentives to bring your family over.

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All Aboard: Family Sailing Adventures Around the World

Your family can sail the seven seas -- or at least one of them -- and you don't have to be rich and famous to afford it.

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Plunge Deep into the Caribbean's 5 Best Dive Resorts

Whether you're a master or novice looking to get certified -- here are five Caribbean spots where you can get your dive on in style.

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Park of the Week: Virgin Islands National Park

The Virgin Islands National Park isn't the only U.S. park that can be reached only by ferry, but it may well be the prettiest.

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Travel Troubleshooter: Deconstructing My Honeymoon in Aruba

When our reader finds out the pool at her resort is closed, she faces the prospect of a ruined honeymoon. The hotel says sorry, but offers no alternative except use of a nearby pool.…

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5 Caribbean Bargains for February and Beyond

It's February and it's cold. Thankfully, prices for travel Costa Rica, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and other Caribbean destinations are getting much cheaper.

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Why Krabi, Thailand Really Rocks

The golden yet gritty sands of Thailand's beaches can't compete with the powdery white strips elsewhere, but he background scenery sure can: The craggy limestone towers and photogenic…

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Get Wet: 3 Underwater Adventures for the Whole Family

These picks offer a selection of swimming and snorkeling escapes in the U.S. and the Caribbean that are suitable for the young and old alike.