Fiji May Be The Ideal Honeymoon Destination
Q. My fiancee and I are looking for a honeymoon destination that is off the beaten path and offers both relaxation and adventure. We’ve ruled out Costa Rica, Hawaii and the Caribbean because we’ve been there. Any thoughts?
A. The South Pacific island nation of Fiji could be exactly what you are looking for. On a visit three years ago, my wife and I found a culturally diverse land of white-sand beaches, soaring cloud-wrapped mountains, vast fields of sugar cane, miles of gorgeous coastal roads, flower-draped hillsides, a variety of pleasant lodgings (from modest to luxury), plentiful tropical fruit, friendly people and very few other American tourists - sort of like what Hawaii must have been 50 years ago.
For adventure, we hired a car and driver at the Sheraton Fiji Resort (1-800-325-3535) in Nadi to explore the mountainous interior of Viti Levu, the largest of Fiji’s 300 islands. For relaxation, we settled in at Toberua Island Resort (1-800-354-7471), a private island (one of the smallest) off Suva with 14 thatched-roof bures, all with sea views. Call the Fiji Visitors Bureau (1-800-932-3454) for more information.
Q. My family of four (children, 10 and 11) is planning a trip next year to four national parks in the Southwest: Arizona’s Grand Canyon (North Rim); Utah’s Bryce Canyon and Arches; and Colorado’s Mesa Verde. Is two weeks too much time to spend in the wearying heat and in the sameness of canyon and desert landscapes? And what can you tell us about camping and lodgings?
A. You seem worried about being bored. Don’t be. Each park has its own appeal, and each awes me in its different way each time I return. The Grand Canyon dazzles in its enormity; Bryce and Arches are the Red Rock Country’s most fascinating geological oddities; and Mesa Verde preserves the most impressive cliff dwellings of the ancient Anasazi Indians. Book a trail ride into the Grand Canyon (801-679-8665); hike the “hoodoo” trails of Bryce; ascend the rock-top trail to Delicate Arch in Arches; and (if heights don’t trouble you) climb the towering ladder to Balcony House, a major Mesa Verde cliff dwelling.
Excessive heat shouldn’t be a problem. The North Rim and Bryce are situated above 7,000 feet in generally cool, evergreen woodlands where you are apt to need a sweater when the sun goes down. Mesa Verde, at almost the same altitude, also can get chilly. The sun sometime sears at Arches, but the climate is dry. I found the summer weather at all the parks invigorating.
You can camp at all four parks, and all except Arches offer moderately priced lodgings within the park boundary. Cabins at the North Rim and at Bryce can be booked through Amfac Parks & Resorts (303-297-2757). At Mesa Verde, Far View Lodge (970-529-4421) is a motel-like facility with, yes, grand panoramas into the distance. For Arches, lodging in the Moab area can be arranged through Moab-Canyonlands Central Reservations, (1-800-748-4386). For camping information: Arches (801-259-8161); Bryce (801-834-5322); Mesa Verde (970-533-7731) and the North Rim (1-800-365-2267 and 520-638-7888).
Q. My husband and I want to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary by taking a five-day rafting trip with our children and their spouses. We’re an active group, but we’re looking for an outfitter who takes care of the campsite chores. What do you suggest?
A. To begin, call America Outdoors (423-558-3597), an association of rafting firms, for a free “Outfitters Directory” listing more than 400 member outfitters in 38 states and 52 countries, all licensed and insured. Then choose the river and the style of rafting that appeals to you. Some rivers offer a relaxing float; others will test your courage and stamina. Even the type of raft can make a difference.
The Rio Grande, which flows through Big Bend National Park in Texas, is a gentle river with modest rapids, allowing lazy contemplation of the scenery. Far Flung Adventures (1-800-359-4138) of Terlingua, Tex., offers five-day floats at a cost of about $99 per person a day. The guide does all the muscle work - on the water and off.
For more rigorous whitewater excitement, consider rafting the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, which plunges over 80 major rapids in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho. To navigate it, Rocky Mountain River Tours (208-756-4808) of Salmon, Idaho, offers three choices on each trip: a raft in which the guide paddles (guests this summer have been as young as 6 and as old as 83, says owner Dave Mills); a raft where you are expected to assist in paddling; and a do-it-all-yourself kayak for more experienced river runners. A six-day trip is about $1,395 per person.
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