By staff writer Vicki Lathom. Photos Copyright © Vicki Lathom. The Great Dismal Swamp, in the North Carolina and Virginia section of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, sounds like a depressing place. Think dark, craggy trees draped with moss, stagnant water and strange noises coming from within. However,...

Story by staff writer Ann McElfresh. Photos Copyright © Ann McElfresh. I FEEL THAT in today’s crazy, hectic world there isn’t enough relaxation to go around. There are times that even travel-for-pleasure can be tiring. How many times have you heard the phrase, “I need a vacation to recover from...

By staff writer Vicki Lathom. Photos Copyright © Vicki Lathom. IT’S CALLED THE Route 66 for boaters. The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, also known as “The Ditch,” is the inside route for cruisers to go north and south along the east coast without going out into the ocean.  Made up of rivers...

Story by staff writer JM Merchant. Photos Copyright © Joanna Abram. Auckland. Also known as Dorkland, its inhabitants humorously refer to themselves as Jafas (Just Another F****** Aucklander). This city is one of the biggest tourist draws in New Zealand. It’s also where I spent the greatest percentage...

By staff writer Vicki Lathom. Photos Copyright © Vicki Lathom. Feature photo: Starfish in a boat’s spotlight on Little Bahama Bank THE BAHAMAS are much heard about but little understood. People think of Nassau, the hotels of Paradise Island, and giant cruise ships. The Abacos ain’t nothing...

By staff writer Vicki Lathom. Photos Copyright © Vicki Lathom. TEMPERATURES IN THE mid-70s, a tropical breeze and palm trees seem to be an unlikely combination to celebrate a traditional Christmas. But it works for cruisers hanging out in the Bahamas for the winter at Abaco Boat Harbour. Around December,...

By staff writer Vicki Lathom. Photos Copyright © Vicki Lathom. Feature photo: Taken in the 70s, Bill and Vicki Lathom on board Gypsy, in the harbor at Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands. BEGINNING BOATERS have one bad thing in common: not leaving enough wiggle room in a schedule to keep them out...