David Kriso“Do you remember, the twenty-first night of September? Love changin’ the minds of the pretenders, while chasin’ the clouds away. Our hearts were ringin’, in the key that our souls were singin’. As we danced in the night, remember. How the stars stole the night away”. Those are the lyrics from the 1978 Earth, Wind, & Fire hit song “September”. Yes, the final weekend of summer has come and gone. Three months have gone too fast. Can anyone share what they did this summer? Who did what? Did anyone do anything fun and exciting? Did anyone have any new experiences? Did anyone try anything new? Ultimately, did anyone fall in love? When it comes to the travel bug, summer is a very narrow window. So much traveling do in so little time! The Fall has officially begun. What’s on the must-do travel list for next summer? Before hitting the Fast Forward button, let’s focus on what the travel bug will bring in October through May. Before summer comes again, it’s time to reflect back before moving forward.
Summer is not just about fun and excitement, but about breaking barriers. Has anyone tried anything new? Aside from complaining about the heat, haze, and humidity, has anyone thought of exciting ways to combat it? In the New York area, summer is cruising time. Summertime is travel time! Cruising is the best mode of travel to let the travel bug do its thing. During the summer, the cruise ships were jam packed. Each and every ship, regardless of cruise line, were fully packed with cruisers of all ages. From Bermuda, to the Bahamas, to the Caribbean, or even to Canada, the cruising season couldn’t have been more exciting. Sailing under the Verrazano Bridge yielded thousands of photographs and memories. Not only has cruising out of the New York area forged many photographic memories, but one can imagine how many sunsets were photographed by cruisers all together. While watching the sunset, cruisers would see the beaches of Coney Island off the port side and Sandy Hook’s beaches off the starboard side. Those beaches are now going to sleep. While they’re asleep, the other beaches further south will awaken the travelers’ senses. As the seasons change, the travel bug migrates south.
As the sun sets on the summer in the northeast, the fun and excitement down south never disappoint. In Savannah, GA, there’s no place like Tybee Island. Tybee Island is a barrier island and small city just twenty minutes from downtown Savannah. It is known for its historic attractions, including the 18th century Tybee Island Light Station and Museum. Adding to it are the five miles of beaches, marshes, and tidal pools. Tybee Island offers a mix of relaxing beaches, casual dining, and eclectic shops. Tybee Island features an array of outdoor activities including dolphin tours, kayaking, and biking. Notable attractions include the Tybee Pier and Pavilion, and the Tybee Island Marine Science Center. Lastly, who would want to leave out nearby uninhabited Little Tybee Island, which provides a blend of history and beach-focused leisure for visitors. No matter where the travel bug awaits, the memories are there to be made.
During the summer, everyone flocked to Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ) and Dorney Park (Allentown, PA). Great Adventure features Hurricane Harbor, while Dorney Park features Wildwater Kingdom. These parks have gone to sleep for the winter .At the conclusion of the season, Six Flags America near Washington, DC will sadly close its doors forever. What will Washingtonians go for thrills next summer? In between each summer lies a mystery. While employees rest and prepare for next season, the fun and sun are will always shine in Florida. In Orlando, Walt Disney World is always the place to be. There’s nothing more exciting than sailing on Disney Cruise Line out of Port Canaveral. If getting away from the heat and humidity is a must, the Cypress Cove Resort in nearby Kissimmee is a must-do. Not only does it have a large pool and children’s playground, but it also has a large natural lake (alligator infested). Not to worry, the alligators are friendly. It’s best to appreciate the alligators as they are. To feel ultra safe, there is a yellow barrier separating the swimming area from the rest of the lake.
Further south in the Magic City of Miami, the excitement continues. In Miami, during the winter, the travel bug lives strongly. The beaches are never closed. Speaking of beaches, South Beach is sure to never close. In Miami Beach, famous Haulover Beach calls beach goers from all over to join the fun in the fun down south. Haulover Beach is the largest clothing-optional beach on the Atlantic Coast. Just like Sandy Hook’s Gunnison Beach on the New Jersey Shore, Haulover Beach openly invites beach goers, travelers, and locals combined. There’s no telling who is who, who is what, or who is from where. Haulover Beach is a beach destination where everyone is welcome and the salt water is forever refreshing. At best, sandcastles are sure to be enthralling and awe-inspiring. With the warmth of the Florida sun, the sand never gets cold. Sandy bottoms are year-round. At Haulover Beach, there is definitely no shortage of cotton tails. Speaking of Miami, February 3-14, 2026, the Bare-Necessities Tour & Travel Company based in TX will be chartering the Norwegian Pearl for the annual clothing-optional cruise. The Norwegian Pearl will be doing an eleven-day round-trip voyage from Miami to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Anyone looking to soak up some pure sun at sea? Who’s looking forward to a real beach party at Norwegian’s Great Stirrup Cay? The website for Bare-Necessities Tour & Travel Company is www.cruisebare.com.
“My thoughts are with you. Holding hands with your heart to see you. Only blue talk and love, remember. How we knew love was here to stay. Now December, found the love that we shared in September. Only blue talk and love, remember, the true love we share today.” Summer has its share of memories; memories of every nature combined. The song by Earth, Wind, & Fire doesn’t lie. Why would it? As we look back on all the fun and excitement from the past three months, it’s time to turn the page, end another chapter, and close the book. What will the summer of 2026 be about? What will the travel bug have in store then? What theme parks will be visited? What beaches will be visited? Where will the passion for cruising lead next summer? Regardless of weather, what cities around the world will be the visited? What new traditions will be started? What tempting opportunities await? Every summer season is different. Every summer season is a time to try something new, travel to someplace new, or do summer activities no one has tried before. The summer before should always encourage great things in the summer to follow. Just like in the song, “September”, summer is a photo album filled with precious memories. Photo albums are meant to be filled all ways and always. And so the song concludes, “The bell was ringin’, Oh oh our souls were singin’. Do you remember, never a cloudy day. Ba-dee-ya…” Sing now!
