More from Southern Living Travel....

- Tulum, Mexico

An easygoing beachfront escape on the Maya Riviera. The temperatures rarely dip below 70, even in February, so pack plenty of linen for the pleasant sea breeze. Southern Living recommends 2 hotels, Zamas (zamas.com) and Hemingway (hemingwaytulum.com). Hotels offer plenty of amenities including hammocks just made for napping.

The best swimming in Tulum is found underground in cave pools, or cenotes (cheap snorkeling!).


Check out Mayan ruins founded upon 40-foot cliffs. Taking in all of he ruins in one afternoon can mean a lot of walking, but it's worth every step. Afterwords, grab freshly made roadside tacos.


For dinner, indulge at an open-air restaurant Que Fresco at Zamas.

Southern Living Magazine Recommends...

- For Families
Harbor Island, SC

The island has 3 miles of secluded beach visited mostly by pelicans, herons, and horseshoe crabs. Each day begins with a sunrise that turns the Atlantic into a pink sea framed by golden marsh grasses. Stay at the low-rise villas or at the oceanfront homes, some large enough for family reunions. While on the island try a shrimp burger at the Shrimp Shack, climb the lighthouse at Hunting Island State Park, or grab a beer at a local Johnson Creek Tavern.


- For Boat-and-Beach Outing
Keewaydin Island, FL

Eight glorious miles of nearly footprint-free sands lie hidden on this tiny tropical island between Marco Island and Naples. There's no bridge to get to the island, so you'll need a boat. On weekends, the Burger Barge pulls up on the sand serving sandwiches, ice-cold sodas and beer.


- For Offshore Fun
West Ship Island, Gulf National Seashore, MS
About 11 miles southeast of Gulfport, so hop aboard Ship Island Excursions ferry for an hour-and-15 minute ride across sparkling waters.

- For Escaping the Crows
Driftwood Beach / Jekyll Island, GA

This secret shore is on the northern tip of Jekyll Island and offers solitude and haunting beauty. Ghostly tree-skeletons rise from the sand, overlooking the St Simons lighthouse. You can ride horses on this beach - Three Oaks Carriage Company, run out of the historic Jekyll Island Club hotel, leads treks across Driftwood Beach.


- For the Explorer
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, Palm Coast, FL

This golden state park is rocky, covered with "coquina" or sand that is actually made of crushed shells. Each rock looks as it were sculpted by a trained hand. The rocky coast is more for strolling than swimming.

Got a sunburn?

Green tea turns out has more and more uses. To treat a painful sunburn, fill a spray bottle with chilled green tea, and spritz onto burned areas twice per hour. Green tea is a natural anti-inflammatory, so it will cool skin and relieve irritation. If Martha Stewart recommends it, I'm willing to try it. But as always, pack on a lot of sunscreen and constantly reapply so that you don't have to use this tip!!