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!!

Fun activity to do on a vacation OR staycation..

This was published in InStyle mag as an idea for a staycation.  But if you're traveling with a large group of friends, family, or just visiting friends, it's definitely a fun thing to do.

- Go on a scavenger hunt

A bike ride:  get at least 8 friends together, divide into teams, and give each group a list of photos they need to snap around town in order to win the hunt.  For example, a yard sale sign, an orange jellybean, a statue with a wig, etc.  End with a victory beer and a bbq or dinner at a local joint.

Unusual places to stay in the south by Southern Living Mag

- Riverboat in Chattanooga, TN

Stay at the boat for $99 and up.  Be sure to check out Rock City and Ruby Falls.


- Edisto River Treehouse, Canadys, SC

 For $125 per person, stay inside these rustic wooden tree houses overlooking the Edisto River.


- Beckham Creek Cave Haven, Parthenon, Arkansas

Imagine sleeping in a cave with 5 bedrooms, a waterfall, and a helipad.  It does come with a price, $1,000 a night, but it can accommodate up to 10 people.

Great Hikes by Southern Living Mag

Georgia

- Tenstate Gap to Neels Gap:  about 20 miles from Dahlonega off State 348 (exit for US 19).
- The hike:  walk sound over Cowrock and Levelland views of Yonah Mountain's sheer rock face.  It's rugged and takes a half-day.  Inquire at Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi (US 19 south of Vogel State Park) about rides to trailhead.

Tennessee

- Spence and Russell Fields Loop:  20 minutes east of Townsend, in Cades Cove Campground in Great Smokey Mountains National Park.
- The hike:  follow Anthony Creek Trail at Cades Cove up to the AT.  The mountaintop's two fields offer stunning vistas.  Great overnighter (register with the National Park service in Cades Cove).


Virginia

- Hawksbill Summit Trail:  start at Skyline Drive milepost 45.6 in Shenandoah National Park.
- The hike:  climb through a balsam and spruce forest that starts and ends at Skyline Drive and winds past a stonewalled overlook at the summit.  A moderate hike with a photo-op payoff.

More active vacation spots from Southern Living mag

- Rio Grande River
New Mexico

here the limestone canyon walls stretch more than 1,000 feet above the Rio Grande River.

- Virginia
Little Stony Man trail

- Pennsylvania
Tuscarora - Overall Run Trail Loop
It has everything - waterfalls, terrific views, and the remains of farms and buildings.