Galveston Island, Texas is known for its abundance of outdoor and water sports. There are many ways to fish in the waters of Galveston. One method is pier or rock fishing directly from the Galveston Island Seawall. Another is breakwater fishing. Aside from being quite fun, another benefit of fishing from the Galveston Seawall is that it happens to be free. Just don’t forget to purchase a fishing license; it’s required to fish in Texas for anyone between the ages of 17 and 65. Where applicable, be sure to get the three-day license.

A variety of fish can be caught along the Seawall. Some of those include Sheepshead, Sand Trout, Bull Reds, Gafftop Sail, Flounder, and more. Some may choose fishing off the rocks or pier, while others may instead go wade fishing in the breakwaters. The breakwaters of Galveston are calm much of the time. Galveston has plenty of different beaches and areas to fish from. Some are family-oriented, while others are better suited to the adult crowd. Galveston Island Sate Park boasts great breakwaters for fishing.

When some people think of Texas, they may automatically picture a place that is dry and hot. While that may be true for some parts of Texas, Galveston does not fit that bill completely. Dry it is definitely not. How well would that work for fishing?

For wade fishing and perhaps even rock fishing and pier fishing in Galveston, you may want a good pair of waterproof fishing boots . Not only can they protect the feet from getting too wet, but they can be good for walking on wet or muddy terrain. Another important thing to remember about fishing is to check the fishing schedules to be sure winds and other weather will be favorable. Remember that Galveston is an island, so it can be prone to hurricane weather.

Parts of Galveston are still recovering from a hurricane that occurred in 2008. Despite the devastating effects of Hurricane Ike, fishing in Galveston remains strong. Many travel to Galveston just for the fishing, and the 2008 storm that caused so much destruction has not seemed to destroy the love of fishing in Galveston.

Sources:
http://www.galveston.com/islandfishing/
http://outdoor.zappos.com/n/p/dp/45176513/c/128.html

Most people know about Grand Cayman Island, both for its sandy beaches and its notorious offshore bank accounts. What most people don’t realize, however, is that you can enjoy a more pleasant and secluded vacation on neighboring islands, such as Cayman Brac.

“The Brac”, as locals call it, is a premier vacation destination for those who enjoy diving, snorkeling, walking the beach, collecting shells and generally having a good time. The relaxing and peaceful atmosphere on Cayman Brac draws thousands of people every year, but it is never as populated as the more visible Grand Cayman.

Many diving enthusiasts visit Cayman Brac every year so they can explore a frigate wreck. Since the wrecks stern is located in more shallow waters, even amateur divers can take a look, and this is a great opportunity to observe all of the marine life that make its home within the wreck. You can also dive all around the island, exploring the walls, swim-thrus and reefs that characterize this magical destination.

Most people who visit the Brac do not rent cars, instead traveling the island on scooters or bicycles. They are available to rent from several vendors throughout the island and are more convenient for exploring the territory without designated roads. However, you can also rent a car or SUV if you feel more comfortable.

Mountain climbers will also enjoy the Cayman Brac, as the bluffs on the west end of the island present varying degrees of difficulty. If you prefer, however, you can hike around the bluffs in hopes of seeing some of the unique wildlife that find their homes on the island.

Temperatures on Cayman Brac are mild, with summers hovering in the eighties and winters in the mid-seventies. You’ll need your passport to travel to the Brac as well as any other identification you can bring, and you can learn about the current exchange rates at the Cayman airport.

Make sure, though, when visiting the Brac, that you bring a pair of hiking boots with high ankles. Hiking around the island will result in encounters with scrub and snakes, and foot protection is essential.

There are few places in this world that I would consider “perfect” for a vacation. Every destination has its flaws, its drawbacks, its annoyances. If I had to choose one place, however, where I would spend every vacation if possible, it would be Sanibel Island in Florida.

Sanibel Island is the ideal tropical paradise. It has pristine, white beaches perfect for making sandcastles, sparkling water with plenty of sea life, every tropical plant you can imagine and a wide array of tourist activities. All this makes Sanibel Island a home away from home for many Floridians. Of course, it doesn’t matter where you live as long as you can hop on a plane, because Sanibel Island is only a short drive from Fort Meyers International Airport.

Rather than spending your vacation in a stuffy hotel room with air conditioning that blows too cold, stay the night at one of the Gulf Breeze Cottages, which are situated right on the beach and provide a stunning view in both the morning and night. You can rent bicycles to travel around the island rather than bringing your car, and you can take short cruises if you want to get on the water.

There are plenty of sporting activities on Sanibel Island, so this is the perfect vacation for athletic travelers. Golf, tennis, boating, in-line skating , basketball and racquetball are all popular in town. You can also try your hand at parasailing or water skiing if it suits you.

The best part of visiting Sanibel Island, however, is the shelling. Collectors of sea shells will assume they’ve died and shot straight to heaven, because there are millions of unique, colorful shells on all the beaches of the island. There is even a seashell museum on Sanibel-Captiva Road.

For your visit to Sanibel Island, I recommend a pair of comfortable sandals for long walks on the beach and strolls through town. The Birkenstock Arizonas are a great choice for men and women alike, with a contoured foot bed and raised toe bar.

I’ve always enjoyed hiking long mountain trails and cool forest paths, stopping occasionally to check out interesting plants and animals. There is something cathartic about hiking, something reflective that calms as well as provides exercise. What I’d never considered, however, was hiking through the snow. But that is exactly what has made snowshoeing so popular in Vermont.

Winter sports, such as skiing and snow sledding, are lots of fun and great exercise, but some people aren’t quite brave enough to give those dangerous sports a try. Snowshoeing is a great workout but it doesn’t present the same possibilities of peril as activities like skiing.

In Vermont, many visitors and residents enjoy snowshoeing through the state’s most popular trails, sometimes as a form of ecotourism, but more often a simple way to get exercise and enjoy the great outdoors.

Bear Mountain in Wallingford, Vermont, for example, is one of the most popular destinations for snowshoeing. The trek to the summit is steep and difficult, but the view is amazing, and this is a great way for outdoor enthusiasts to get their exercise without much danger. Of course, beginner snowshoeing hikers should try out easier trails such as Peacham Bog in Groton, Vermont.

If you think you’d like to try out snowshoeing but aren’t sure if you would enjoy it, you can usually rent the equipment at ski lodges and outdoor stores. To buy your own pair, you’re looking at an investment of between $150 and $500, depending on quality. For many athletes, however, the price is well worth it once you get out on the trail.

Snowshoeing has become such a popular sport in Vermont that there are now races to celebrate the activity, such as the PEAK Snowshoe Race in Pittsfield. Most people, however, just prefer to enjoy the trails and the sights by themselves or with their families. It can be relaxing as well as great exercise.

If you want to try snowshoeing in Vermont, make sure you bring a pair of dark-tinted sunglasses or goggles for the trip to avoid snow blindness. You’ll also want a warm hat to protect the top of your head and your ears from the frigid winds that blow during the winter.

When you think about visiting a place called Hot Springs, images of sunbathing with a never-ending stream of Mai Tais probably enter your head. But in Hot Springs, South Dakota, you’re more likely to find the fossilized bones of a woolly mammoth than a tiny cocktail umbrella.

The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota, is one of the most popular destinations for outdoor vacationers who are interested in paleontology. You don’t have to hold a master’s degree in archaeology to appreciate the magnitude of history, however, just make sure you bring your camera and plenty of enthusiasm for the lost ages.

There are several ways to vacation at The Mammoth Site. Those who live in South Dakota often plan one-day excursions to the museum and dig site, but you can also come from anywhere in the United States and stay a whole week. There is plenty to do, and there are even educational programs for kids.

Black Hills Vacations is the local travel agency that books tours and trips for people from all over the U.S. Packages include meals, accommodations, tours of The Mammoth Site and a host of other activities. If you’d rather plan your vacation as you go, you can simply show up to The Mammoth Site to explore the dig, and then go site-seeing around the rest of Hot Springs and Black Hills.

It is important to remember that The Mammoth Site is a working paleontology dig, with real researchers and real discoveries. They are open seven days a week to the public, however, and this is one of the only archaeological digs in the world where visitors get hands-on experience with paleontology.

When you visit The Mammoth Site, make sure to bring a pair of sturdy walking shoes, such as the New Balance WW977s for women or the MW966s for men. You’ll be walking quite a bit through the dig and the museum, so prepare in advance!

You’ll also want to bring several bottles of water to The Mammoth Site as well as your favorite camera.

Outdoor vacations don’t always have to be about hiking, kayaking and nature walks. One of the most exciting places to visit in Texas is Alamo Village, which is located just north of Brackettville and Fort Clark Springs in southwest Texas. Not only will you get a taste of history, but you will also get an up-close-and-personal view of a real movie set.

Alamo Village was first created as the set for John Wayne’s 1960 film The Alamo, but the village still exists today as a tourist attraction for visitors to Brackettville. It is home to the John Wayne Western Museum, which is perfect for those who enjoy learning about the Duke and his films, but it is also a great way to enjoy the outdoors.

First, gunfights take place in the streets and buildings of Alamo Village at least four times a day in the summer. You’ll find live music in the Saloon, Mexican food and cheeseburgers in the Cantina and plenty of gifts for friends and family at the Indian Post. Once you’ve had your fill of the indoor attractions, head outside where the real fun begins.

Alamo Village is set up like an actual old-west town, complete with cattle, horses, dogs, cats and even chickens. Trail rides and cattle drives are scheduled throughout the year, giving visitors a taste of what life was like so many years ago. They even have sheep-shearing and cattle-branding demonstrations by real cowboys.

Horseback riding is available all day long in Alamo Village, sometimes on the trail and sometimes in the village, depending on what visitors want. And you can’t miss the comedy gunfights that occur sporadically throughout the day – they might be loud, but they’re lots of fun to watch, and you might even get to pick up a souvenir.

Alamo Village also hosts annual cowboy races, which aren’t much like the races you see at your local track but are a hoot nonetheless. The first place winner gets a custom trophy saddle, so don’t miss out if you know how to sit a horse.

Visiting Alamo Village costs $10.75 for each adult and $5 for each child (kids under 5 enter free). When you visit, make sure you bring a pair of snazzy cowboy boots so you’ll fit in. The Durango Ranch boots are a comfortable, authentic choice.

Sometimes it isn’t enough to drive across a few states for your annual vacation. Sometimes the pressures of daily life build to such a crescendo that the need to escape goes far beyond the U.S. border. Sometimes, a vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, sounds like your definition of heaven.

As the winter begins its yearly assault on our senses and flushes us indoors with bitter temperatures, Puerto Vallarta is a welcome cocoon of warmth and freedom. In fact, winter is the best time to visit Mexico because the temperatures hover in the mid-80s, which means that you have to deal with neither oppressive heat nor frigid wind.

You’ll also find that Puerto Vallarta is less crowded during the winter months, leaving you and yours to explore the city and its adventures without the cumbersome obstacles of a crowd. From sun-lit beaches to parasailing over the water, you won’t have to wait in line like you would in July or August.

But what’s to do in Puerto Vallarta? Yeah, you know about the beaches and the snorkeling, but will there actually be enough activities to fill your vacation?

Nuevo Vallarta Dolphin Center
If you love the water and the sea life but aren’t keen about swimming in open water, the Dolphin Center is the perfect compromise. They offer several programs, which include both education and swimming with the dolphins.

Golf
There are six golf courses in the Puerto Vallarta area, each of which is designed with luxury and comfort in mind. Most are situated on high-class resorts where pro shops, restaurants and tournaments are also available.

Jeep Safaris
You don’t have to get in the water to have fun in Puerto Vallarta. There are jeep safari rides that allow visitors to explore the land portion of this beautiful city, taking you deep into the wilds where both flora and fauna flourish.

If you’ll be visiting Puerto Vallarta this year, make sure you bring along a light jacket for your trip. The evenings can be chilly, and all of the indoor establishments use air-conditioning liberally. The Volcom Skywalker jacket is a great choice for men, while ladies should check out the sporty Puma Agile.

Hunting. Fishing. Nature walks. Horseback riding. If these all sound like activities you enjoy, it’s time to pack up and head to Kansas.

Surrounded by the beautiful Kansas Flint Hills, the Box Lazy A Ranch is the perfect destination for families and individuals who enjoy the comforts of nature. This is a true working ranch, with more than 3,000 acres of beautiful rural land and plenty of activities to keep you occupied.

Although you are not confined to the ranch during your stay at the Box Lazy A, there is also no reason you would have to leave. Perfect for the outdoorsman, this beautiful retreat offers more than enough to do. Go hunting in the woods, fish at Spring Creek, ride horses along winding trails and sit on the porch of your cabin while you watch the sun set in the evening.

Not only is this the quintessential vacation for the outdoorsy type, but it is also an educational experience. If you’re from the big city, or if you’ve never been exposed to outdoor recreation, now is the best time to learn. The guides at the Box Lazy A can show you how to hunt, fish and ride while you enjoy all the benefits of the ranch.

During horseback riding lessons, for example, you can learn how to handle your horse on the trail or even learn how to barrel race. Instructors are kind, proficient and available to answer all your questions. This might also be the perfect opportunity to bag your first deer or catch your first trout.

The Box Lazy A Ranch offers lodging, as well, in the form of remote private cabins that look like they’ve been pulled directly from a painting. Meals are provided, and each of the cabins is fully furnished.

If you’re going to take a vacation at the Box Lazy A Ranch, make sure you bring along a pair of comfortable mules for lounging around the cabin and sitting out on your front porch. The Yellow Box Brooke, for example, are perfect regardless of your evening activities and can be worn both inside and around the ranch.