Sometimes we all like getting to our island vacation destination to be easy. You know the kind I mean: an absolute minimum of stress, bother, and inconvenience. Granted, with an airport experience itself that can be stressful not to mention time-consuming, who wants to go to a lot of trouble to reach paradise? But some people do. Are they insane, nuts, or just plain masochistic? Not quite. You see, sometimes the rewards look like this: (Otto Beach on an island off Nicaragua.

As Christmas approaches, we don't have visions of sugarplums dancing in our heads. No, we Island Runaways are dreaming of islands, of course! And one island that peaked Zickie's and my interest this time of year? Christmas Island. (Christmas Island, Photo by DIBP, Flickr) While we had both heard of Easter Island, Christmas Island was a new one for us. First of all, where's this tropical paradise located? In the Indian Ocean, it turns out. Although this island is a territory o

My Jamaican husband -- and fellow Island Runaway -- Zickie has seen a lot of beaches. In fact, since we live in southeast Florida, we both enjoy a good bit of sand and sea all year ‘round. Which is not to say that either of us has become jaded. Just like many of our readers, we long for that special destination, with spectacular stretches of shoreline you simply don’t want to leave. Being near the water is a transformative experience, which I never tire of. It’s soothing, not

Do you remember that song by the Police, "Bring on the Night"? The lyrics start out, "the afternoon has gently passed me by...the evening spreads its sail against the sky." Looking at this photo that Zickie took from a hotel balcony in Puerto Rico, outside San Juan, reminds us of how intensely beautiful an island night can be. Sure, we love a sunny day, swimming in the Caribbean Sea, or hiking through Jamaica's Blue Mountains with the sky a bright cerulean blue. Yet as dusk r

by our guest Island Expert, Ruby Z. A beach is not always miles of sand, sea, and sun. Sometimes it is just plain rock, crystal clear waters, and some sun. In the middle of the Middle Sea (the Mediterranean) lies the small Maltese archipelago, which consists of three little islands, Malta, Gozo and Comino. (The Blue Grotto, Goran Miskovic) If you're visiting Malta, you must see Valletta, St. Peter's Pool, Mdina, Blue Grotto, three bays, three cities, not to mention Dingli cli

“It’s Better in the Bahamas.” You know that advertising slogan? People can make some pretty wild claims, but if you seek extraordinarily clear water in a miraculous array of blues and greens, maybe it really is…better in the Bahamas. One of my earliest “Island Runaways” took me to a remote, slender island paradise in this tropical chain. I was 5 years old, turning 6, and my Dad flew me, my mother, and my little sister in a four-seater Cessna 172 first to Nassau, to go through

TGFI. “Thank Goodness for Islands.” Why do we say this around here at Island Runaways headquarters, instead of the traditional TGIF (Thank God It's Friday)? That’s a good question, one that’s got me searching for an honest answer. Could it be that somehow our love of islands and our love of Fridays are somehow related, maybe two versions of a single concept? Obviously, we really, truly love islands. That's why we named this blog "Island Runaways." Like a lot of people, we dre

So here's a little riddle for our Island Runaways friends: which island has incredibly beautiful scenery, is NOT in the Caribbean, was invaded from time to time by the British, has a population of about 95,000 people...and begins with the letter M? Let us give you a visual hint: Any ideas? I almost traveled here years ago, but in the end, fixed on a different island instead. The whims of fate, and the convenience of a direct, short flight -- that's what made the decision. Thi

How do you rate a beach? Is it the sand: whether it’s pure white, beige, black from volcanic rock, or even a pale blush pink? Or maybe your heart lies in the ocean, with clear water shot through with mesmerizing streaks of aqua green, sapphire blue, and deep turquoise. This Island Runaways duo has seen our share of beautiful beaches, from Jamaica to Thailand, Corsica to Greece. So, today, just for you, our fellow island runaways and escape artists, we are hard at work researc

Sometimes, we don't look forward to Mondays. There's a whole heap of work waiting to be done, and a list of "must do's." But then we look at a photo of the ocean, and we Island Runaways feel momentarily renewed. O.K., we can do this! Just like this snapshot we captured off Lido Key, off the Gulf Coast of Florida. (This Sarasota-area island has a laid-back, comfortable vibe, but the scenery looks simply stunning. No wonder it's one of our favorite Florida spots.) Maybe it's ha