As the Emerging Sustainable Destination for 2021, the focus on eco-friendly things to do in Antigua and Barbuda has been given high priority. The award originally put this quintessential Caribbean destination on my radar. Restarting travel with a significant concentration on the responsible travel sector emphasizes the significance this two island nation has placed on their environment.
With a reputation as a luxury Caribbean destination, the islands rely heavily on tourism for their economy. It is indeed promising to see the government working to limit the negative environmental and socio-cultural consequences of unplanned tourism. With limited resources, the importance of responsible tourism and an eco friendly return to travel in the future is a welcome discussion, properly placed front and center.
Now that travel is back on the horizon, I’m keen to maintain my fitness when on the road.
After arrival in a destination, whether it be from a road trip, train or plane travel, a good stretch will improve your mood and revitalize your energy.
As I age, proper stretching is even more important for preventing injury. Ensuring a daily bit of exercise has become just as much a priority when I travel as remembering to pack my sunscreen and important travel documents.
Across my twitter feed comes some exciting news about my travel essentials list. “United and Abbott are partnering to make return to the US from international travel worry free with an at home testing kit”. My heart skipped a beat, as I had an upcoming trip to a more remote area of Mexico and finding a lab was proving challenging.
Apparently, a kit was now CDC approved to expand testing for international travel into the US. This new travel essential could be packed in a carry on and would allow travelers to take a COVID-19 test themselves within the 72-hour time window, a game changer as far as I was concerned. The BinaxNow COVID-19 Home Test from Abbott Laboratories is one of the few on the market being accepted by airlines.
Looking for old world charm, privacy and one of the loveliest, bold, peninsula coastlines in Maine? A trip to the Proust Neck Cliff Walk and Black Point Inn should be on your summer vacation agenda. New England has her pretty on in the summer, and this little piece of Maine is about as good looking as it gets. Established in the late 19th century for summer cottages, it’s no wonder this breezy oceanfront spot jutting into Saco Bay remains a favorite seasonal getaway.
Winslow Homer found the area particularly inspiring and worked in his painting studio on the Prouts Neck point from 1883 until his death in 1920. The sunsets, the herring run, the fog, the schooners, he captured them all, along with the dramatic changes of weather and light, in his remarkable style on canvas.
Yes, California wine country is back, and sustainable wineries have so much to offer their wine loving visitors. Just as other industries are returning with a new focus on the environment, is it any wonder that wine connoisseurs will benefit from a focus on the health of the terroir as well?
It’s been a tough year for the nation’s wine garden. Fires, climate change and Covid have taken their toll, but it was so exciting to see the area coming alive again during my recent visit. What I discovered is that many are rebounding better than ever with a renewed focus that will benefit both the land and visitors to the vine. For those looking for a weekend getaway with plenty of outdoor space, California wine country is calling.
