Make the most of winter by following the sun; planes, trains, boats and buses offer quick and easy getaways at reasonable rates

Ebony, Jan, 1990

Make The Most Of Winter By Following The Sun

ARE you weary of icy winds, bone-chilling cold, massive snowfalls, slushy streets and other by-products of winter? If so, follow the sun to a perfect vacation at a Florida resort or an ideal destination in the Sunbelt or the calm of a Caribbean island.

You can choose from assorted modes of transportation: luxurious cruise ships, trains that sweep you across the landscape, buses that offer a close-up view of the scenic countryside and planes that whisk you to your hideaway in no time at all.

Despite the overstated tranquility of some hot spots in Florida and the Caribbean, there's always something happening that brings diversity to the laid-back lifestyle. At Disney World, for example, a giant movie set that spins off "rel-life" adventures and exciting shows awaits you at the new Disney-MGM theme park. Trinidad hosts its annual carnival in mid-February, and the Bahamas and other tropical islands offer vacation deals you can't afford to pass up. [Tourism is back in some areas affected by Hurricane Hugo. Only about 16 percent of the Caribbean islands were hit. In some quarters, hotels are offering moneyback guarantees to dissatisfied customers, while American Airlines is cutting fares to a few destinations.]

Nassau and Freeport entice vacationers with a rainbow of delights that appeal to many tastes. They range from spectacular marine life for the scuba diver to a wide range of outdoor activities for the aerobic crowd. There's the pulsating nightlife that prompts vacationers to party 'til dawn, and casinos provide thrills and entertainment for the gaming set. The ultimate in vacation pleasure lures visitors to the brand-new Crystal Palace Resort and Casino at Nassau's Cable Beach. It is aptly nicknamed "the Bahamian Riviera" for its European motif. Setting a new tempo in the region, the resort boasts nine restaurants, a two-story discotheque and an 800-seat entertainment center.

At other resorts in Jamaica, Aruba and islands of the Lesser Antilles, you can make your day on an endless stretch of beach, sailing with the light breeze, skimming the placid waters in a Hobie Cat, Jet-Skiing or shopping at sidewalk markets. In Barbados, you can savor excellent service as well as the delicate pink and eggshell-white beaches along 70 square miles of surf. Or you can take in Curacao's European ambience and the unspoiled charm of the many coves tucked away on the Dutch-influenced island paradise.

Among a number of airlines that fly the Florida/Caribbean area, American, Delta and United offer nonstop or direct service and attractive fares that could make your trip quite affordable.

Tremendous vacation values are available, too, in places you usually don't think of; as in ski resorts, for example. If skiing helps you relieve your workday stress, you can join hundreds of Black skiers at the National Brotherhood of Skiers' "mini-summit" March 24-31 in Lake Tahoe, Nev. Blacks, in increasing numbers, have been taking winter vacations at ski resorts in Colorado, Pennsylvania, and New England in recent years.

For the family, there are historic points of interest in Washington, D.C., and other stops along Amtrak's and Greyhound's routes, where you can combine entertainment and education for the children and adults. Packages for such trips are available at affordable rates. For instance, Amtrak's "All America" fare for a typical transcontinental journey allows up to three stop-overs and ranges from $179 to $259 per person. And Greyhound has a "Money Saver" bus fare that is hard to beat. For a $59, 30-day advance purchase, you can travel anywhere on its routes between Mondays and Thursdays. For spur-of-the-moment trips, you can use Greyhound's "Ameripass," which costs from $189 to $349 for seven-day to 30-day itineraries. Details are only a phone call away (1-800-237-8211).

Whether you are a sun worshipper or history or ski buff, now's the time to put your travel planning in high gear.