For the Sunshine Seekers

While we bold northerners welcome the first snowflakes and the recreational activities that come with the snow and colder weather, most of us also relish a mid-winter respite as we lumber toward the springtime finish line. For travelers in search of inspiration for their next winter escape, here are some hand-picked favorites of AAA Minneapolis Travel Advisors.

Sunshine and ocean breezes never go out of style with land-locked Midwesterners, but AAA Travel Advisors know that folks want soul-enriching experiences too, and this Central American country delivers both. Tourism in Costa Rica has exploded over the past couple of decades, and a bounty of adventure travel and experiential journeys help visitors tailor the perfect mix of local culture and quality beach time.

“Two very popular areas of Costa Rica are the Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in the mountainous central region, and the northwest Pacific coast, known as Guanacaste,” says Xanthe Ostrowski of AAA’s Maple Grove branch. “I recommend spending about three to four days in each, with just one 4-hour drive between the two. Visitors to the Cloud Forest can get up close to a stunning array of animals and plants, including one of the world's largest butterfly gardens. They can hike, zipline, go river rafting or birding, and even sample some of Central America’s best locally sourced coffee and ice cream. On my last trip, I encountered sloths, monkeys, snakes, spiders, and even toucans—it was an unforgettable experience.

"West of the area’s international airport in the city of Liberia is the Guanacaste Region, which includes the exclusive Peninsula Papagayo and popular beaches like Hermosa and Matapalo.“This is where I send clients looking for an exceptional all-inclusive vacation experience,” says Ostrowski. “If they want smaller, privately owned beach hotels or authentic dining and lively nightlife, I recommend the town of Tamarindo. It’s a bit farther south, yet still close to the region's eco-adventure activities.” The most popular activity? Helping guide baby turtles from their nests into the ocean.

For Carri Loken, veteran Travel Advisor at AAA Minneapolis in St. Louis Park, a trip to San Diego embraces an easy-living vibe. Her early morning routine includes a leisurely Starbucks stop en route to Palisades Park on Pacific Beach to watch the surfers, and she spends her afternoons on the beach chairs and nearby promenade of her favorite hotel, the casual yet elegant Catamaran Beach Resort & Spa. When she wants to go all-in, she spends some time at the beach-encompassed Mission Bay, which is not only the country’s largest man-made aquatic park but also the home of family-friendly Belmont Amusement Park.

San Diego may be a sun-lover’s destination, but visitors can experience more than just the beach. Loken suggests staying at least five days to sample the city’s history and culture. Daytrips include an excursion to the nearby seaside town of La Jolla or a harbor cruise featuring the city's skyline and local marine life, but it’s the legendary Hotel Del Coronado that has beckoned tourists since the late 19th century.

The hotel is part of a charming beach community on Coronado Island, just across San Diego’s Big Bay, and it is easily accessible by trolley. Guests rent bikes, kayaks, and paddleboards; stroll the beaches; and savor the island’s history through the well-preserved architecture and extensive art galleries. “I also urge my clients to visit Old Town San Diego,” Loken says. Often referred to as the birthplace of California, it’s here, in the heart of the city, that nine hotels and more than 100 unique shops share real estate with historic buildings and a state park dedicated to the preservation of the state’s earliest Spanish settlement.

Naval history thrives here, too. Along San Diego Bay’s waterfront are 10 museum ships, including the massive USS Midway, a historic Naval Air Carrier commissioned in 1945 after WWII. After serving 47 years, this ship is now one of the most popular naval warship museums in the United States.

As one of the Caribbean’s southern-most islands, Aruba benefits from delightful trade-winds that cool the island despite its arid climate. Sherri Schreckenghaust, the branch manager at AAA’s Minnetonka branch, is sold on Aruba for this reason. “The temperature is typically 82 degrees year-round, and what’s more, it lies just south of the general hurricane path originating across the Atlantic, so it’s not affected by strong weather patterns. There are miles of sugary white sand beaches—one for each day of my vacation. I can snorkel, scuba dive and even ride in a semi-submarine through turquoise water so clear it’s almost like glass.”

Among the sunniest of the Caribbean islands, Aruba typically sees rain in shorter bursts—and often overnight—on the relatively few days it occurs at all. Shreckenghaust suggests that vacationers looking for a break from the sunrays should visit Arikok National Park, which showcases nearly 8,000 acres of diverse natural habitat and geological wonders. Recreational explorers can marvel at the unique pillow-shaped lava (formed by underwater volcanic rock that comes in contact with seawater) and caves carved out of limestone. Depending on the cave, you might be able to see some centuries-old drawings made by indigenous island-dwellers and early European settlers, too.

It’s easy to be happy in Jamaica, laughs Nicole Mohrbacher, a “sun and sand” expert in AAA’s downtown Minneapolis branch. The lush, mountainous Caribbean island has attracted visitors for decades because of its endless beaches, hidden waterfalls, and rugged coastlines, but what most surprises people—and what brings them back again and again—is the warm, generous spirit of the Jamaican people. On a recent educational trip, Mohrbacher observed the heartfelt gestures everywhere she turned. “Restaurant and hotel employees look you in the eyes as they place their hand over their heart, signaling their gratitude. I felt like an honored guest,” she says. An early adopter of all-inclusive resorts, Jamaica offers moderate to luxurious alternatives throughout the island, especially along the northern coast between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, and west to Negril. But accommodations are as diverse as the landscape. Tucked among grand commercial properties are intimate boutique hotels, moderate guesthouses, and fully-staffed villas, offering perhaps fewer amenities but more exposure to local culture.

No matter where you stay in Jamaica, you’ll fall in love with the local food. The famous Jamaican jerk seasoning, a unique blend of West African spices, is the island complement to chicken, pork, and seafood. Great examples can be sampled throughout the island, but Mohrbacher especially recommends Scotchies in Montego Bay. “The meat is barbecued over pimento tree wood, chopped into pieces and served in tin foil. Fancy? Not so much. But it’s an out-of-this-world flavor experience.”

For other-worldly eco-adventures, vacationers can hike Blue Mountain, explore hidden caves and undersea treasures, or channel Jamaica’s 1988 Olympic bobsledding team on a warm-weather ride through the rainforest. Mohrbacher’s personal favorite (and TripAdvisor’s No. 1-rated excursion) is an evening at Glistening Waters Luminous Lagoon in Falmouth, on the north coast. It’s a late-night cruise into a shallow bay where the ocean merges with fresh water and millions of tiny, harmless phosphorescent microorganisms illuminate the waters with just a touch. The phenomenon, known as bioluminescence, is an ethereal bluish glow seen only in a few places on earth. Visitors are encouraged to jump into the water for a swim, sparking a spectacular glow wherever they move. Bystanders can simply sit back and marvel at the trails of light created by darting fish or dip their hands in the water to create a light show of their own.

As the sun dips ever earlier beneath the frozen landscape, we can settle into our parkas and mittens and embrace our iconic winter wonderland. If we’re among the lucky ones, we will have an escape plan to feel the warmth of the sun on our face and the soft rolling waves beneath our feet. And if not, well, there’s always planning for next year with the help of AAA Travel Advisors.