Tasmania – Islands

10 Haunted Islands That Will Creep You Out

Donna Heiderstadt — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 20:48:08 +0000

Dunvegan Castle, located on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, is rumored to be haunted by ghosts. Shutterstock

It’s that time of year when everything creepy is cool, scary tales go viral and the more haunted a hotel or house is the better. But think about this: If that spooky place overrun by the spirits of the not-so-dearly departed is on an island — and you’re surrounded by miles and miles of water — where you gonna go, who you gonna call? So if you love a good fright, consider a visit to these 10 haunted islands, where it doesn’t have to be Halloween for ghosts to taunt you.

Sicily

If seeing a ghost isn’t scary enough, how about seeing the decaying corpses of real people — thousands of them? You can on Sicily, where the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo touts itself as “the place where the living meet the dead.” Its passageways are lined with of skulls and bones as well as 45 naturally mummified intact bodies. And then there’s the eerily serene face of two-year-old Rosalia Lombardo, who rests in a glass coffin after being so well embalmed in 1920 that she appears to be sleeping. Sweet dreams? Maybe for her, but not for you! Shutterstock

Key West

“Fright-seeing” is big business in Key West, where a half dozen ghost tours recount some pretty macabre stuff, including a creepy turn-of-the-19th-century doll named Robert on display in Fort East Martello and Captain Tony’s Saloon, located in a building that once housed a morgue (skeletons where found under the floorboards during a renovation) and is adjacent to a hanging tree (a woman in a blue dress who was hung there is said to appear from time to time). Even Earnest Hemingway’s legendary Key West home is reportedly haunted — by both him and his second wife, Pauline, along with a black-and-white cat that guards the estate’s cat graveyard. Shutterstock

Bermuda is beautiful — perhaps hauntingly so. Ground zero for spookiness is historic St. George, a 400-year-old town with a reputation for hosting ghosts, including the last woman to be tried for witchcraft in Bermuda and Captain George Dew, who reportedly plays a harpsichord at the Old Rectory B&B. Other spirited apparitions around the 21-square-mile island: Hugh Gray, a hotelier who met a mysterious demise in 1920 and is said to walk the pink-sand beaches of Bermuda’s western end, and Laura Cox, who irately haunts the Orange Valley Road house where she died in 1861. Shutterstock

Santa Catalina

There are said to be so many ghosts on this island 20 miles off the coast of Los Angeles that those who dabble in the supernatural claim it’s an energy portal that draws spirits back here. Ghost Tours of Catalina details all the creepy occurrences on this island that’s otherwise pretty much a paradise. The Art Deco-style Catalina Casino is reportedly haunted by a worker who died during its construction (he’s been seen in the men’s rest room) and an elderly woman in a white robe (she appears in the mezzanine-level women’s restroom). Western author Zane Grey’s ghost has been spotted walking the streets of Avalon. And the spirit of actress Natalie Wood, who drowned just offshore, is said to roam a beach in Two Harbors. Shutterstock

Night Marchers — the name alone is enough to scare the aloha out of you. Legend has it that they’re the spirits of ancient Hawaiian warriors who walk the streets carrying torches (whatever you do, don’t look at them!). Factor in the Choking Ghost of Waikiki, who attacks as you sleep, and you might be convinced that Oahu has a seriously devilish side. Even the Hilton Hawaiian Village is said to be haunted by a young woman in a red dress. Shutterstock

Jamaica

One of Jamaica’s ghosts is so celebrated she has a Montego Bay golf course and a 1973 Johnny Cash song named after her. Annie Palmer, known as the White Witch of Rose Hall, is an island legend — she’s said to have been a cruel early 19th-century plantation owner who tortured her slaves and murdered her three husbands — and nighttime ghost tours of the Rose Hall Great House in Montego Bay are popular. Whether Annie was real and now haunts the mansion is up for debate (spoiler: she was real, but the legend perhaps not so much), yet creepy occurrences have been reported. Shutterstock

Poveglia

This island in the the Venetian lagoon is said to be the most haunted island in the world — and while you can’t visit it (unless you trespass like some YouTube posters have), you can enjoy an unsettling boat ride around it as a guide spins macabre tales of tragedy, suffering and death. That’s because Poveglia is thought to be home to the decaying bones of more than 160,000 plague-infected and mentally tortured souls who were confined here over many centuries. Shutterstock

Known for its mellow vibe and mischievous green vervet monkeys, Nevis is a 35-square-mile tropical Eden, except at the Eden Brown Estate where a tragic turn of events at a wedding almost 200 years ago has purportedly cursed the property ever since. Details vary among locals who perpetuate the tale, but a dispute between the groom and his best man resulted in a duel to the death — of either the groom or both men. The distraught bride-to-be is said to haunt the abandoned sugar plantation, now in ruins. Shutterstock

Related: 3 Ghost Tours in the Caribbean

Isle of Skye

So it seems the spirits on this Scottish island go way beyond single-malt whiskies! Skye is home to Dunvegan Castle, where friendly music-loving ghosts perform melodies in a room with no musical instruments and play bagpipes in the south tower. And the ruins of Duntulm Castle are reportedly home to four ghosts, including Hugh MacDonald whose tortured spirit haunts the dungeon where he starved to death and a housemaid who accidentally dropped a clan chief’s son out of a window and still cries in anguish. Shutterstock

This Australian island’s tortured history — it was a brutal 19th-century British penal colony — has created lots of creepy lore. Visitors can hunt for apparitions in the prison cells and autopsy room at Port Arthur Historic Site, where 1,000 inmates died over a 47-year period and nighttime ghost tours are full of frightful details, or wander the historic streets of Battery Point in Hobart and the dark alleyways of Launceston where ghosts are said to roam. And then there’s the island’s resident Tasmanian Devils, whose screams are enough to give anyone nightmares. Shutterstock

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10 Best Islands for Wine Tasting

Donna Heiderstadt — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 02:52:41 +0000

10 Best Islands for Wine Tasting Shutterstock

Yes, vineyards may be more commonly associated with valleys than islands, but plenty of great destinations that are lapped by bays and oceans also have noteworthy wine regions producing everything from refreshing Rosés to robust Cabernets. So if you love islands and wine tasting — and don’t want to choose between the two on your next vacation — check out these 10 options, some located close to home and others halfway around the globe.

Vancouver Island — Canada

Vancouver Island Shutterstock

While British Columbia’s grape-growing is centered in the Okanagan Valley, the 37 wineries on Vancouver Island mean there’s plenty of sips to be savored. The first winery opened here in 1992 — and only a few varietals, namely Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Merlot and Gewürztraminer, thrive in this seaside setting — but tastings are complemented by the island’s top culinary offerings. Many vineyards are in the Cowichan Valley between Victoria and Salt Spring Island, so it’s possible to whale watch in the morning and then enjoy a gourmet lunch and wine tasting in the afternoon.

Elba — Italy

Elba Shutterstock

This arid Italian island located off the coast of Tuscany — and best known as the place where Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled in 1814 — has been making wine since ancient times. Modern viticulture now centers on Sangiovese, Trebbiano, Vermentino and Moscato, but you can also try varietals you might not be able to taste at home, such Elba Ansonica (a golden-hued white that can range from dry to sweet) and Elba Aleatico (a deep-red fruity dessert wine).

Tasmania — Australia

Tasmania Shutterstock

Famous for the endangered Tasmanian Devil as well as kangaroos and wombats, this heart-shaped island off the southern coast of Australia has also spent the past two decades developing four distinct wine trails that showcase cool climate varietals such as Pinot Noir, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. Choose from the Tamar Valley Wine Route (near Launceston and known for its gourmet dining), the Southern Wine Trail (near Hobart and offering access to artisanal cheeses, smoked salmon and fresh apples), the East Coast Wine Trail (great to combine with the scenic Great Eastern Drive) and the North West Wine Trail (near Devonport and the wildlife of Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park).

Hvar — Croatia

Hvar Shutterstock

Croatia has a wine culture that dates back more than 2,300 years and the sunny island of Hvar has a climate regulated by the Adriatic Sea that makes it ideal for growing grapes. Hvar wines are produced mostly from indigenous varietals — such as Plavac mali and Marastina — and the island now has a wine road and plenty of wine tours to make tastings at the terraced vineyards near Svirče, Vrisnik, Vrbanj, Pitve and Dol that much easier and enjoyable.

New Zealand

New Zealand Shutterstock

You’ll never run out of tasting opportunities in New Zealand — and you’ll have two islands to sip on. On the North Island near Napier, you’ll find the Hawke’s Bay region, the country’s oldest and second largest with 72 wineries producing mostly Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah. Near Wellington, the Wairarapa region has 42 wineries namely offering Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. On the South Island, a must-visit is Marlborough, which savvy winemakers put on the map in the 1980s with their aromatic Sauvignon Blanc.

Mallorca — Spain

Mallorca Shutterstock

To taste a half dozen varietals you’ve probably never heard of — such as Manto Negro, Giró Blanc, Callet and Fogonu — head to this Spanish island in the Mediterranean that has long been known for its beaches, but is also home to dozens of wine estates. Two of this mountainous island’s wine regions, Pla i Llevent and Binissalem, have been awarded the Spanish D.O. (Denominación de Origen) and visitors can opt for a variety of wine tours with transport options that include a van, train, bike or boat

Madeira — Portugal

Madeira Shutterstock

This Portuguese island, located in the Atlantic off the coast of North Africa, has a legendary wine named after it: Madeira was used to toast the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The island has produced its namesake — a fortified wine that’s heated during the fermentation process, aged between five and 20 years and available as Dry, Medium Dry, Medium Sweet or Sweet — since 1753. Tastings in the main city, Funchal, reveal distinct differences between the categories and among the wine houses producing them.

Long Island, New York

Long Island Shutterstock

Beyond the suburban neighborhoods and strip malls of its western counties, Long Island boasts a bucolic wine region worth visiting. Along the rural roads of its North Fork, located about 90 minutes by car from New York City, vineyards and tasting rooms in Jamesport, Cutchogue, Mattituck and Southold draw weekenders and day trippers eager to try the Merlots, Cabernets, Chardonnays and blends that its winemakers have been producing for four decades. You can also shop farm stands for local produce and dine at restaurants offering farm-to-table menus and fresh seafood.

Santorini — Greece

Santorini Shutterstock

The Greeks have been making wine for several millennia and they’ve even managed to coax some terrific whites, reds and rosés from the volcanic landscape of this sunny but windswept island. Here, grapevines sprawl outward on the ground rather than climb upward (to absorb all the moisture they possibly can) and the result is a pleasant surprise. Tours that visit two or three wineries are popular — or you can simply sit on a terrace in the photogenic village of Oia at sunset and try a few glasses of local Assirtyko (an aromatic white) or Mavrotragano (a rich, dry red).

Sardinia — Italy

Sardinia Shutterstock

Italian, si, but Sardinian first and foremost. This postcard-perfect Mediterranean island that’s an autonomous region of Italy but has its own flag as well as cultural and culinary idiosyncrasies, also stands apart when it comes to wine. The favored white is light and refreshing Vermentino (grown mainly in the Gallura region) while among reds Sardinians adore deep-red, full-bodied Cannanou (aka Grenache), gown in Alghero, Sassari and Sorso.

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Best Islands to Live On: Meet the Expats

Islands Staff — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 00:31:12 +0000

We say it every year: “I will move to an island.” Need an extra push? We asked these expats for their advice on moving to paradise and how to make it happen.

Read more in our Ultimate Best Islands to Live On Guide.

Nate Marr, Vieques

Moved From: Boston, Massachusetts Current Job: Captain, Marauder Sailing Charters Why He Moved: It was supposed to be a vacation from his nine-to-five in financial planning. A happenstance joke about buying the sailboat he’d taken for a snorkel tour led him to owning the boat within the week. Best Advice: On a remote island you can get everything you need, but not everything you want. Bye-bye brand loyalty, hello care packages. Zach Stovall

Eric Anderson, Roatan

Current Job: Raising his son, Axel, looking after property purchased on the island more than 40 years ago, volunteering in the community Moved From: California Why He Moved: Dad was the first expat on Roatan back in the 1960s, when it was hard to locate on a map. Eric eventually moved to live full-time for the year-round climate, diving, and daily pace. Best Advice: Don’t expect to move here and veg out and do nothing. It might be slow, but we rarely turn on the TV or get bored. Reaching out to help others and providing jobs for local people (even basic yard work) are great ways to be accepted. Jon Whittle

Jamison Witbeck, St. John (USVI)

Moved From: Charleston, South Carolina Current Job: Charter boat owner and captain Why He Moved: Living a simpler lifestyle. Our kids are learning a lot about how to do more with less. Best Advice: Figuring out what to do with your stuff is often the hardest part of making a big move. I say give it all away. It’s freeing.

Heather Evans, Bequia (St. Vincent and the Grenadines)

Moved From: Brooklyn, New York Current Job: Owns the Sugar Reef Inn Why She Moved: To downshift, simplify her life and read books. Went from working at a Wall Street investment firm to running the inn. Best Advice: The restaurant part of operating an inn is far more challenging than the inn itself.

Marc DeLucia, Vieques (Puerto Rico)

Moved From: Austin, Texas Current Job: Runs a paddle-board tour company Why He Moved: A friend invited him to visit the island after college. He came with $3,000 to his name. The natural and tropical surroundings persuaded him to make the move permanent. Best Advice: Give it time. It takes about a year to get acclimated to a small island. Resist the urge to go back home for at least that long. Zach Stovall

Arnaud and Tania Erhart, Vieques

Current Jobs: Owners of Isla Nena Scuba Moved From: New York Why They Moved: The grueling pace of work and life in The City. They were envious of expats they’d met on an around-the-world dive adventure, but they needed to keep their US Green Cards (he being French and her German). Partnering with local conch and lobster fishermen who know the waters better than anyone, they now bring divers to the island’s most secret spots. Best Advice: Don’t come expecting a vacation. You’ll work harder than you ever have. And practice patience above all. Everything you try to achieve will take much longer than you expect. Zach Stovall

Didier Zanette, New Caledonia (South Pacific)

Moved From: France Current Job: Artifact collecting and trading Why He Moved: A former banker, he wanted to be closer to his ultimate adventures. For example, trekking through swampland in Papua to reach the Kombai and Korowai people. He ran out of food and had to eat grubs. He was the first white man the Korowai had seen. Best Advice: Don’t make the move for money. For me it’s the adventure. If it were all about money, I would have stayed in banking.

Jennie Green, St. Thomas

Current Job: Founder of a beachwear company, Tryad. Moved From: New York Why Her Family Moved: They’d bottomed out financially in New York and were living on a sailboat in New York Harbor. So they followed a friend to St. Thomas and helped run a marina store. Best Advice: An island can be very limited, especially after living in a major U.S. city. Entertainment is sparse, and you might not find the food you want at the store (especially vegetables). Many transplants leave after a short time, so being less needy with low expectations can go a long way.

Andy Deuchars, New Zealand

Moved From: Northern California Current Job: Co-owner of Renaissance Brewing Company Why He Moved: To get a fresh start. He’d been laid off from his winemaking job in California and his sister had moved to New Zealand five years earlier. Best Advice: It helps to have work experience and knowing people on the island where you move. Connections are important.

Buddy and Casie Stone, Vieques

Current Jobs: Chef and owners of Next Course Restaurant Moved From: Arizona Why They Moved: The expense of home ownership in St. John would be high. The cost of living and the expense of real estate in Vieques were far more attractive. Best Advice: Come down and find a job that gives you enough to get by at first. Then figure out what the island needs and work your butt off to provide it through a business. Zach Stovall

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27 Island Photos That Will Make You Want to Travel

Cami Miller — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 22:25:04 +0000

Even if you’ve been everywhere on the continent, these dreamy locales (aka your new bucket list) will inspire serious wanderlust.

Easy & Affordable Caribbean Vacations | Best Islands to Live On | 5 Exotic Escapes Close to Home

Dominican Republic

Every week, about 50,000 people visit Punta Cana, the DR’s all-inclusive hub. Sanctuary Cap Cana stands out because it’s removed from the others. Zach Stovall

Motu Teta, Tahiti

If this doesn’t make you want to pack your bags, we don’t know what will. Jon Whittle

Grenadines

By boat is the only way to reach Chatham Bay, an epic snorkeling spot that stretches along the west coast of Union Island. Jon Whittle

Seychelles

On Mahe Island (the largest among the Seychelles), views like this one at the Constance Ephelia Resort are among the best in the Indian Ocean. Jon Whittle

Kauai

The Na Pali flyover never gets old, even for locals who say views of the 17-mile-long coast and 3,000-foot cliffs still bring them to tears. Jon Whittle

Zanzibar

The hotel is the Blue Oyster in Jambiani, but what stands out here is the octopus curry… and yeah, that view. Zach Stovall

Check out the space at this private island resort: six beaches, 1,800 acres and just 52 rooms. Jon Whittle

New Zealand

Behind those rocks is an actual working farm called Mount Nicholas Station. Stay overnight, then take the sheep-shearing class in the morning. Zach Stovall

The rice terraces around Sidemen Valley are dug by hand. Each small rice stalk is parted the same way — by hand. Zach Stovall

Greece

Aboard [Southern Cross Timer](http://www.southerncrossbluecruising.com/) is the idle way to see the Greek Isles. Here in Kalymnos, spotting a sponge diver is likely. Jon Whittle

Oahu

The Byodo-In Temple, featured as a stand-in for Korea in the TV series Lost, was buil to honor the 100-year anniversary of the Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. Lori Barbely

Tasmania

Claiming to have the world’s freshest air, this island off Southern Australia has a rugged coast that’s a magnet for whales from October to December. Jon Whittle

Panama

On the mainland and on its islands, Panama is thought to have more bird species than the U.S. and Canada combined. Jon Whittle

Tahiti

Bora Bora’s first overwater bungalows were built in the early 1970s. Overwater bungalows are still the no. 1 reason people travel to Tahiti. Jon Whittle

Fiji

Is it any wonder that Fijians are considered the most contented people in the world? Jon Whittle

St. Lucia

The towering Pitons flank the private hillside villas at Sugar Beach. Zach Stovall

Langford Island, Australia

The sands of the Whitsunday Islands are often hailed as the cleanest and squeakiest on the planet. Jon Whittle

Tahiti

Tahiti’s first overwater bungalows were built in 1968. They are now the ultimate South Pacific escape. Jon Whittle

New Caledonia

Of the 100,000 annual visitors to New Caledonia, only 12,000 make it out to the archipelago’s Loyalty Islands. Jon Whittle

Maine

The Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse on Mount Desert Island is a photographer’s dream. It’s also home to a family. Jon Whittle

Panama

The 16 islands in the Islas Secas archipelago remain as pure as the snorkleing haven around them. Jon Whittle

Hawaii

Mist emerges from lava rock at Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Park on the always active Big Island. Jon Whittle

Sicily

Castello di Venere takes in the last glimpse of daylight high above the Province of Trapani. Jon Whittle

Seychelles

The island of La Digue is best known for gigantic boulders on the beach and enormous tortoises in the bush. Jon Whittle

Jamaica

A daybed at the Geejam Hotel straddles the foothills of the Blue Mountains and the Caribbean Sea. Zach Stovall

Kauai, Hawaii

The Na Pali coast is named for the “high cliffs” that keep the beach almost inaccessible. Jon Whittle

Belize

This hut serves as a real-estate office in the only Central American country where English is the official language. Jon Whittle

The post 27 Island Photos That Will Make You Want to Travel appeared first on Islands.

VIDEO: 60 Seconds in Tasmania

Islands Staff — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 02:44:29 +0000

You know about the Tasmanian devil, but that’s about it, right? Islands videographer Jon Whittle calls the island off Australia’s southern coast one of the prettiest he’s ever seen. See for yourself (and watch for a devil fight).

See more of our Islands Travel Videos.

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Video: What Does a Tasmanian Devil Sound Like?

Jon Whittle — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 04:43:13 +0000

Unless you’re Bugs Bunny, the best chance any of us have to seeing a Tasmanian Devil up close is the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park on the Tasman Peninsula in Australia.

Since the mid-1990s, these marsupials have been facing extinction as the species have been plagued by devil facial tumor disease, a contagious cancer that has decimated the devil population. The Tasman Peninsula and Maria Island are two of the places that a healthy population is being rebred.

These two devils are full grown; they only live about 5 to 6 years. That sound they make is what you might hear at night when a group of devils (they’re scavengers) fight over an animal corpse – and of course with each other.

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Islands of the Great Barrier Reef

Islands Staff — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:08:12 +0000

Dreaming of an Australasian escape but can’t decide where to go? Browse our photo essay exploring the islands of the Great Barrier Reef – including Hayman Resort and our editors’ own Top 8 list – and start planning your trip today.

Sailing the Great Barrier Reef Return to Main Page Islands of the Great Barrier Reef

Whitehaven Beach Return to Main Page Islands of the Great Barrier Reef

Hamilton Island Return to Main Page Islands of the Great Barrier Reef

Daydream Island Return to Main Page Islands of the Great Barrier Reef

Heron Island Return to Main Page Islands of the Great Barrier Reef

**Heart Reef
** Islands of the Great Barrier Reef

Diving the Great Barrier Reef Return to Main Page Islands of the Great Barrier Reef

Lizard Island Return to Main Page Islands of the Great Barrier Reef

Wilson Island Return to Main Page Islands of the Great Barrier Reef

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Top 10 Wild Islands

Islands Staff — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 04:43:12 +0000

Want an authentic island escape? We’ve assembled a list of the Top 10 purest, wildest and most eco-friendly islands, based on their efforts to preserve culture and ecology, as well as on the quality of their national parks and sustainable opportunities for responsible travelers. Agree with our Top 10 list? Disagree? Join the conversation on our Facebook page.

Vanuatu Even in the idyllic blue waters of the South Pacific, the natural colors of Vanuatu stand out. Here, ecosystems range from rainforest to grassland to coral reef, and the 3,000-year-old Melanesian culture nurtures more than 100 indigenous languages and dialects. But what really makes this island chain special is the fact that all of this still exists in a pure spectrum. Return to Main Page Thinkstock

Dominica When islands contributor Ty Sawyer describes Dominica, it sounds like something out of Tolkien: “Rippling with waterfalls, boiling lakes, thick rainforests – in many ways, this island exists in a state of natural grace.” Thankfully, Dominica is located in the middle of the Caribbean, not Middle Earth. In the Morne Trois Pitons National Park alone, there are 50 fumaroles venting volcanic gas, three freshwater lakes, five volcanoes – and ecological wonders are just the beginning. Return to Main Page Thinkstock

Papua New Guinea A 2,000-foot-high peak, 429 coral varieties, 269 bird species. And that’s only the tip of Papua New Guinea – the eastern tip, or Milne Bay province, to be exact. Nationally speaking, the numbers get bigger (more than 750 languages), but Ty Sawyer says
this Pacific destination boils down to two words: “wonderfully primal.” Return to Main Page Thinkstock

Culture here in the San Blas Islands of Panama isn’t preserved behind museum glass – it’s carried out by the semiautonomous Kuna Indians. Only 36 of these 365 San Blas islands are inhabited, and here travelers can witness life as it has been since the 16th century: Women stitch intricate molas; children practice folk dances in the street; men fish for lobster and spider crabs from dugout canoes. See our Top 10 Wild Islands gallery. Thinkstock

Tasmania One of the last expanses of temperate rainforest on earth does not merely exist on Tasmania – it thrives on this island. The Tasmania Wilderness World Heritage Area covers 3.46 million acres (20 percent of the island) and is home to myriad threatened species, including the eponymous Tasmanian devil. But as islands editor Ty Sawyer points out, all that wilderness is tempered with a culture of luxury: “If you like a good pinot after a day of spectacular adventure, then Tasmania will fire your wanderlust.” Return to Main Page Thinkstock

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador You’ve heard the comparisons: This island is the Galápagos of this region; that chain is the Galápagos of that country. So why all the fuss? The UNESCO World Heritage List calls this mostly uninhabited chain of 19 islands a “living museum and a showcase of evolution,” citing land iguanas, giant tortoises and assorted finches among the countless varieties. Much has changed since Darwin first theorized natural selection here; invasive species and increased human activity threaten the unique biodiversity of the region. But environmental awareness still reigns. Return to Main Page Thinkstock

Sleep under a Socotra tree

You may never make it to Socotra. Situated amid political turbulence and only modestly equipped for tourists, the Yemenese archipelago is inaccessible at best. And that’s a large part of its purity. The land of dragon’s-blood trees has a long history of remoteness; ancient Phoenicians believed Socotra was home to the mythical Phoenix, and Egyptian pharaohs commissioned risky expeditions to the island for myrrh. But it’s more than a land of legend. See our Top 10 Wild Islands gallery. Thinkstock

Madeira, Portugal In the heart of the Portugese island, Madeira hides a relic of old-world Europe. Old, old Europe. The Madeira Laurisilva Forest is the largest surviving area of its kind and a glimpse into the type of ecosystem that used to cover much of Europe. Spend your days hiking through the national park, spying endemic, long-toed pigeons. Then head back to Quinta del Bela Vista, a resort in Funchal, and spend your evenings sipping Madeiran wine. Return to Main Page**
** Thinkstock

Lanai, Hawaii It may be the 21st century when you board the flight to this island. But when you land on Lanai, it will seem very much like a different time period altogether. Everywhere on the isle feels like another step back in time, from the plantation-era Lanai City (no traffic lights, no high-rises) to the natural wonderland at the Kanepuu Preserve (home to 48 species of native plants). Return to Main Page**
** Thinkstock

Channel Islands, California Southern California wasn’t always a playground for movie stars and celebutantes. There was a time when a healthy portion of the Golden State looked less like Hollywood and more like the uninhabited Channel Islands National Park, where the biggest star is a Pacific gray whale and the foxiest character is, well, an island fox. Return to Main Page Thinkstock

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Amazing Animal Adventures

Jad Davenport — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 07:46:49 +0000

From witnessing the red crab march across Christmas Island to spotting a rare Kermode bear in British Columbia—explore these 5 islands and their local habitat.
By Jad Davenport

Pose with Penguins
One of five species of penguin on the Falkland Islands, the red-eyed rockhopper is loved for its stylish plumage. You don’t have to trek across Antarctica to see them; just navigate herds of sheep and British pubs.
polarstarexpeditions.com Jad Davenport

Stalk the Spirit Bears
Rarer than giant pandas, Kermode bears emerge from British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest for a few days in September to gorge on spawning salmon. Local Gitga’at guides maximize your chances of seeing one.
kingpacificlodge.com Return to Main Page Jad Davenport

Dive with Dugongs
Although native to much of Southeast Asia, these endangered 9-foot “sea cows” are rarely seen. But you can snorkel with them at Dimakya Island in the Philippines, where 22 dugongs graze sea grass offshore.
dugongdivecenter.com Return to Main Page Courtesy of Dugong Dive Center

Witness a Crab Orgy
On a day from October to December known only to them, more than 120 million sex-starved red crabs march across Australia’s Christmas Island on a month-long mating migration so grand that it closes roads.
christmas.net.au Return to Main Page

Pet the Devil
Tasmania’s namesake nocturnal demon is hardly ever spotted in the wild, but at the island’s only zoo a daily “Devil Interpretation” lets you pet a Tasmanian devil. They’re puppy soft but make wicked little snarls.
tasmaniazoo.com.au Return to Main Page Courtesy of Tasmania Zoo

Save the Lemurs
Trek in Perinet Reserve, Madagascar, and you’ll hear the haunting cries of these primates before you spot them. They’re endangered, and your tourist bucks help prevent illegal rosewood loggers from ruining their habitat.
explorerscorner.com Return to Main Page Courtesy of Wild Madagascar

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10 Unique Island Traditions for Celebrating the Holidays

Islands Staff — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 05:55:31 +0000

Around the globe the holiday season is celebrated in many different ways. From Mochi pounding in Hawaii to glowing parols in the Philippines, this festive time year is great for traveling to the islands.

Elf Crossing, Iceland
Iceland takes their Christmas festivities very seriously — they even have 13 Santas. The first Santa appears 13 days before Christmas and then the others follow, one each day. After Christmas, they leave one by one for 13 more days. And on the twelfth night, January 6th, elves and trolls come down from the mountain to celebrate with the Icelanders.
visiticeland.com Courtesy of Icelandic Ram Holidays

Mochi Pounding, Big Island, Hawaii
At this Hawaiian festival, take your turn pounding sticky rice into mochi (traditional rice cakes) for good luck in the new year — and good eats. A hearty plate lunch follows soon after your hard work.
gohawaii.com
Return to Main Page Courtesy of Honoulu Weekly

Christmas Stroll, Nantucket
Watch Santa arrive via a Coast Guard boat, then parade down Main Street in a horse-drawn carriage. Festive storefronts and carolers get you in the spirit of the season.
nantucketchamber.org
Return to Main Page Courtesy of the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce

Rainforest Week, Lord Howe Island
Hike to the top of 2,870-foot Mount Gower on this Australian island to see native plants in bloom. Look for the Giant Heath, an endemic tree found only on the summit.
lordhoweisland.info
Return to Main Page ep_stock

Islands Made for Walking, New Zealand
All you need to experience New Zealand this December is a good pair of walking shoes. Winter in the States means summer for the Kiwis. Hike the Te Araroa (“the long path” in Maori) from Cape Reinga on the North Island to Stirling Point on the South Island. The path is a project designed to connect the entire country in a public circuit of paved footpaths.
teararoa.org.nz
Return to Main Page Jiri Foltyn

Parading Parols, Philippines
Share in the Philippines’ display of Christmas spirit at the annual Giant Lantern Festival in the village of San Fernando, centrally located on the island of Luzon. The festival brings together skilled craftsmen and artists to design brightly colored, star-shaped parols (lanterns), each powered by up to 5,000 bulbs.
cityofsanfernando.gov.ph
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Saba Day, Saba
Join the 1,500 residents on this tiny Caribbean island in dance contests, barbecues and a steel-drum concert at Fort Bay. It’s a weekend — not just a day — when the island shuts down for celebration.
sabatourism.com
Return to Main Page Stefan Kuiper

Shell for a Spell, Sanibel Island
Beginning in December, Gulf storms decorate Sanibel’s 12 miles of beaches and the neighboring island parks with lightning whelks, dainty scotch bonnets, starfish, clams and patterned calico scallops. For optimum shelling, head out about an hour and a half before low tide after a new or full moon.
fortmyers-sanibel.com
Return to Main Page Heather Renee

December Summer, Tasmania
Get two for one at The Taste Festival, Hobart’s Waterfront Celebration, where two events combine to form one super-fest. Food stalls line the streets, where food-theater presentations, ephemeral art displays and food-and-wine tours take place around historic Sullivans Cove.
tastefestival.com.au
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