Travel Section 2015

Travel

Contact Us: cara.recine@thesouthern.com 1D

The Southern Illinoisan • Sunday, May 3, 2015

THE SOUTHERN READERS

AROUND THE WORLD OUR READERS SHARE THEIR TRAVEL PHOTOS

Having spent my life traveling on business, I now find Southern Illinois the perfect summer and winter vacation destination.

It’s exhilarating to kayak on Crab Orchard Lake in December — followed by an adult beverage in front of the fireplace.

GUS MAROSCHER, MARION‌

We love the U.S. Virgin Islands. We stayed there a week in the summer of 2012 and 2014. We stay on St. Thomas, but travel by ferry to St. John as well as a day sail to the British Virgin Islands. They are all so close that island hopping is a must-do.

Our favorite beach is trunk bay St. John and our favorite stop by boat is the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke.

LESLIE SHORAGA, WEST FRANKFORT‌

2D 2D

Travel

www.thesouthern.com

The Southern Illinoisan • Sunday, May 3, 2015 The Southern Illinoisan • Sunday, May 3, 2015

I took my nephew, Jack Yates, to Ferne Clyffe State Park and we saw the awesome waterfall.

Crystal Null, Cobden‌

Meeting Mickey Mouse for the first time! I also love the other picture because you can see what my son is looking at in his glasses — he was amazed! This vacation couldn’t be beat, it was magical!

Lindsey Davis, Du Quoin‌

My husband and I went to London in October for our honeymoon.

Stacey Vinson, Carbondale‌

SoutHern IllInoIS MuSIc FeStIval

“Great ruSSIan MaSterS” June 5-21, 2015

Orchestral and chamber music, ballet, opera, jazz and free admission concerts for young persons, at venues throughout Southern Illinois.

Highlights include: Russian Orchestral Music: June 12, 13 and 14 Russian Ballet: June 19 and 20 Opera Gala: June 18 and 20 Complete schedule and details at SIFest.com

The Southern Illinoisan • Sunday, May 3, 2015 The Southern Illinoisan • Sunday, May 3, 2015

3D Travel 3D

www.thesouthern.com

My husband and I went to Roatan Honduras in March and got this picture with Henry.

PHYLLIS DAVIS, THOMPSONVILLE ‌

My fiance and I went with my parents to Washington, D.C., last September. Neither one of us had ever been, and we will both tell you that is one of, if not the, best vacation we have ever been on.

We visited nearly every museum and monument and really soaked in everything there is to enjoy about our nation’s capital. It is truly an unbelievably clean and beautiful place with so much history, and it is an excellent way to restore your patriotism. The last day, my birthday, we enjoyed a little TLC time at the golf course and the pool. We stayed in a new development called National Harbor where we enjoyed the weather, the water, and plenty of good food, drinks, and live music. I would go back tomorrow, and would recommend this trip to anyone who asked. God bless America!

KELSEY WALLACE, MURPHYSBORO ‌

I went to Cancun with my boyfriend, Eric, his parents and my parents.

We did this so that his parents and my parents could meet for the first time. Eric and I met freshman year at SIUC. He proposed to me while we were on our spring break trip in the all inclusive Cancun. We went scuba diving, played beach volleyball, and relaxed. We will be moving back to his hometown near Los Angeles in May! We will miss Carbondale, because we have been to multiple places around this area, such as Crystal City Underground, Little Grand Canyon, Garden of the Gods, Shawnee National Forest and many other places.

LEYRA IMUNDO, CARBONDALE‌

We hope you’re hungry for some fun!

Get a FREE Dining Plan

Get a FREE Dining Plan when you purchase a non-discounted 6-night/7-day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels and ticket with Park Hopper ® or Water Park Fun & More Option.

For arrivals most nights August 28–October 2, 2015 October 25–October 31, 2015 November 8–November 19, 2015 and December 15–December 21, 2015 BOOk BEtwEEN APRil 27 AND July 10, 2015

When you stay at a select Disney Moderate Resort, Disney Deluxe Resort or Disney Deluxe Villa Resort, you get the Disney Dining Plan with a variety of delicious dining options!

When you stay at a select Disney Value Resort, you get the Quick-Service Dining Plan that allows you to grab yummy treats on the go!

The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same package. Tickets and options must be used within 14 days of first use. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Advance reservations required. Offer excludes 3-bedroom villas, campsites and is not valid at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort—The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms. Dining plan excludes gratuities and alcoholic beverages. Children ages 3–9 must order from children’s menu, if available. Some Table-Service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase. Walt Disney Travel Company CST# 1022229-50 NVST# 2006-0198 ©Disney RTSWDW-15-41471

Contact us today!

618-549-7347 | 866-382-2632 banda@bandatravel.com www.bandatravel.com

4D 4D

Travel

www.thesouthern.com

My husband and I took our girls, my sister and mother to Pensacola Beach, Florida, for a relaxing beach vacation. This is my youngest searching for shells.

NIKI ALVARADO, DU QUOIN‌

I went out to San Francisco to see my son and had a blast!

CRYSTAL NULL, COBDEN ‌

On a solo trip, I stopped in Hong Kong to get a picture of the sun coming up over the mountain at Hong Kong international.

Then I flew to Tokyo, and stopped by some cool bars.

SCOTT WEAVER, MURPHYSBORO ‌

The Southern Illinoisan • Sunday, May 3, 2015 The Southern Illinoisan • Sunday, May 3, 2015

The Southern Illinoisan • Sunday, May 3, 2015 The Southern Illinoisan • Sunday, May 3, 2015

www.thesouthern.com

5D Travel 5D

My husband and our youngest daughter, Jillian, at the Sea World Water Park in 2011. We never thought in a million years that she would like water slides, but she begged and begged to ‘do again!’

ANGELA REINHARDT, JOHNSTON CITY‌

As a family of five who lives on a tight budget, we’ve never been able to take a large family vacation. But we do go camping every year with my dad, stepmom and sisters at Crab Orchard lake. We cherish the memories we make and these are just a couple of my favorites. This is our oldest son, Zach, teaching our youngest, Kayden, to fish.

KRISTY NEVILLE, JOHNSTON CITY‌

Our family took a vacation to Florida in December 2014. We visited Everglades National Park on Dec. 28. The park covers more than 1.5 million acres, which includes numerous hiking trails, sawgrass prairies and marshes, tropical hardwood forests, mangrove swamps and coastal estuaries. Although we visited many of the areas of the park, the activity we enjoyed the most was hiking the Anhinga Trail. From the Royal Palm Visitor’s Center, we walked the Anhinga Trail, which is about a mile of abundant wildlife viewing. The paved walkway takes visitors through a sawgrass marsh and a boardwalk over Taylor Slough. Around every corner, the path allows visitors to observe an abundance of wildlife in the marsh area.

MICHELE RUSHING, GOREVILLE ‌

6D 6D

Travel

The Southern Illinoisan • Sunday, May 3, 2015 The Southern Illinoisan • Sunday, May 3, 2015

www.thesouthern.com

My husband and two sons went with me on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. This picture is on their private island of Labadee.

KIM LUNDQUIST, SCHAUMBURG ‌

My kids and I traveled to Disney World in Florida in March. This is a picture of my daughter, Sophia, with Sofia the First. Both have red hair, blue eyes!

Our vacations, to us, are whenever we can get away from work and spend time together as a family. We have taken mini-vacations, which are weekend trips to softball tournaments or Thanksgiving break with friends in Arkansas. We have taken one big family vacation, in 2009, which was a trip to Disney, which was priceless.

AMY ATTEBERRY, DU QUOIN ‌

VALARIE HODGES, HARRISBURG ‌

52 Years

of Creating Vacation Memories 193 Years of Professional Travel Planning Experience

THANK YOU!

We are Proud to Have Served Southern Illinois for more than 52 years & Even PROUDER of OUR STAff Who Have Made it Possible!

T, JEWET ULTANT JOYCE ONS VEL C A R T R RS SENIO 19 YEA

A N, BECK M A NT VICK I L CONSULT VE R T R A EA R S SENIO 4 4 Y

DAVID CORACY, PRESIDENT 45 YEARS

EILEEN WALKER, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 28 YEARS

1-866-382-2632 | 618-549-7347 www.bandatravel.com • Find us on

H SENIO ELEN COR A R TR A VEL C CY, O 37 YEA NSULTANT RS

M SENIO AR I SCHNEI R TR A DER , VEL C ONSUL 20 Y EA TANT RS

!