When I told my friends and family that I was going to Maui—which requires a half-day of travel from Miami—for a mere four days, they all thought I was nuts. My philosophy was: "Why not? I have the opportunity, and I’m going to make the most of it." I’m a girl who knows how to pack a lot in, and I had every intention of doing so on my first visit to Hawaii.

Another confusing factor? I already live near a beach. I can cross the street, put my phone on DND and find that R&R in my own backyard. Which is why, growing up in Miami, my family avoided relaxing, tropical vacations at all costs. Why spend time and money traveling from one beach destination to another? We scoffed at the idea of lying poolside on a trip.

Yet here I was, doing the exact thing that was ingrained in my head —in one of t

See Full Page