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5 Ideas about food that aren't true


5 Ideas about food that aren't true. You’ve probably heard the “5-second rule,” the notion that if you pick up dropped food quickly, it remains germ-free. Actually, a high school student busted this myth in 2003, with a simple study involving gummy bears and cookies.

When Jillian Clarke put these foods on floor tiles infected with E. coli bacteria for five seconds, then analyzed the food for bacteria, she found that in all cases, the food was contaminated, putting anyone who ate it at risk for a nasty case of food poisoning. The teen’s research was honored by the Annals of Improbable Research with the 2004 Ig Nobel Prize in public health, the New York Times reports.

A more elaborate study, involving tiles, carpet and wood infected with Salmonella, and slices of bread and bologna, found that bacteria can survive on these surfaces for up to four weeks in large enough quantities to make people sick. What’s more, salmonella is transferred to food almost instantly on contact, researchers from Clemson University report. Here’s a look at other common food myths.

Myth #1: Raw Foods Are Always More Nutritious than Cooked Ones

Fact: While followers of raw-food diets claim that eating uncooked food preserves all of the nutrients, research shows that this idea is half-baked. It’s true that heat destroys certain water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin C, but cooking boosts levels of other nutrients.

For example, ketchup and tomato sauce contain up to six times more lycopene than raw tomatoes. Several studies show that this powerful antioxidant reduces risk for prostate and colon cancer, as well as heart disease. And since lycopene is fat-soluble, you need to eat cooked tomatoes with some fat (such as olive oil) to help absorption.

Myth #2. Skipping a Meal Slows Your Metabolism

Fact: Missing a single meal does not put your body into “starvation mode,” but may cause you to eat more at the next meal, because you’re hungrier. Research shows that it actually takes about two to three weeks of consistently low-calorie intake or at least 24 hours of eating absolutely nothing before there’s any significant change in your metabolic rate.

One study found after one to three days of total starvation, there’s a temporary rise in basal metabolic rate, while prolonged starvation lowers it, with the sharpest drop in obese people (explaining why it’s often difficult for very overweight people to slim down even on a very low-calorie diet).
Find out whether 23 popular diet plans actually work.

Myth #3: High-fructose Corn Syrup is Worse than Sugar

Fact: The idea of that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is particularly harmful is “one of those urban myths that sounds right, but is basically wrong,” says the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a health advocacy group. In reality, both table sugar and HFCS are almost identical, nutritionally, with similar effects on the body’s levels of insulin, blood glucose, triglycerides, and hunger hormones.

The real problem isn’t the type of sweetener we eat, but the fact that Americans are consuming way too many empty calories, a key culprit in the obesity epidemic. The American Heart Association recommends a maximum of six spoonfuls of sugar for women, and nine for men, without singling out any specific type, such as HFCS, as the sole dietary villain. Any food ingredient ending in “ose” is usually a form of sugar.

Myth #4: Fruit Juice is Healthy

Fact: While an apple a day may keep the doctor away, that’s not true of apple juice or other fruit beverages. While many people consider fruit juice a healthier option than soda, data from the Harvard Nurses' Study found that women who drink one or more glasses of fruit juice a day are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

Conversely, the researchers found that women who eat three servings of fruit or vegetables a day had significant lower risk of diabetes than did those who ate fewer servings. Not only does eating fruit and vegetables provide healthy fiber and vitamins, but they’re filling, reducing the risk of weight gain (which in turn, raises diabetes risk.)

Myth #5: You Need a High-Protein Diet to Build Muscle Mass

Fact: To bulk up, you need weight training plus extra calories. However, there’s no need to gulp down high-protein shakes and meat galore—a myth that’s been circulating since the 6th century BC, with an ancient Greek strongman claiming that the secret of his athletic prowess was eating 20 pounds of beef a day.
While protein is a crucial nutrient for building, maintaining and repairing body tissues, a very high-protein diet boosts the threat of heart disease, impaired kidney function, bone fractures, and some cancers, including those of the colon and breast, according to Physicians for Responsible Medicine. In the typical Western diet, most people eat at least double the amount of protein needed for good health.

The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics advises people who are training for resistance sports, including weight lifting, to limit themselves to no more than 0.55 to 0.77 grams of protein per pound of body weight, as part of a healthy diet that also includes healthy carbs for energy and about 20 to 35 percent fat.

5 iPad apps that cats will love


5 iPad apps that cats will love. Make no mistake, your iPad isn’t just for you anymore. A simple search of “cat and iPad” on YouTube reveals thousands of videos of our feline friends transfixed by moving objects on the tablet’s big screen. In fact, this popular video of a kitty having fun playing Fruit Ninja HD went viral a few months ago, with more than 1.5 million views to date. .
There are a lot of different apps available now to amuse your cat. Most of these are on Apple’s iOS platform and work best on the iPad. It’s unlikely that the smaller screen of the iPhone will amuse your pet quite so well, and don’t be surprised if they prefer to use the smartphone itself as a toy. However, the iPad is the perfect size, and its scratch-proof glass can even resist kitty’s sharp claws. Here is a look at five of our favorites apps to keep your cat happy.

Friskies Games for Cats



This may have been the site and apps that started the craze. Friskies now have a number of iOS apps available in the iTunes App Store. Fortunately, for non-iPad tablet owners (using Android, BlackBerry or Windows 7 tablets), some of these will work as browser-based Flash applications instead. However, when we checked, we sometimes had a tough time getting them to expand to full screen. Cat Fishing and its exciting sequel, Cat Fishing 2 are both free. These should keep your kitty amused with colorful fishies swimming around which are easily patted away by curious paws. Additional free titles in the series include Friskies JitterBug, Tasty Treasures Hunt and Party Mix-Up!, a particular favorite of one of my cats who seemed to enjoy seeing the treat-shaped crunchy food bits spinnng against a black background. It would be great to see these all ported to Google’s Android Market one day for Android tablet users so they can enjoy the full feline experience.

Game for Cats

One of the earliest games for cats in the iTunes App Store for iPad owners was simply entitled Game for Cats. To this day, it still does a great job. The app is free to begin with, but an in-app purchase of $1.99 will unlock all its features. There are a couple of things for kitty to enjoy here including a laser pointer to chase. That $1.99 we mentioned lets you move the laser directly with your iPhone for total control, and also unlocks a mouse with which your kitty can play. With sounds emitted every time the cat steps on the mouse or laser, this extra level of interactivity should keep cats interested for a while.

Paint for Cats



So what happens if Mr. Tiddles is a little more creative, or tires of chasing a cartoon mouse or fish shapes around the iPad screen? Well, for the cat owner who believes they may have a true artist in their midst, why not try Paint for Cats instead? A $1.99 investment gets you this intriguing app designed by Noel Murray, who also created Game for Cats. We thought it would be fun to include this one as it is a little different. The idea here is the cat chases the mouse, but this time a painting is created as they go. Some cats may react to the cool color splotches they leave in their wake, but it’s likely they’ll really just be chasing the mouse more than anything. However, as a proud pet owner, you can print out kitty’s creation and hang it on the wall for all to see. Your cat, meanwhile, will likely be unimpressed by such pride in his or her artistic abilities and simply want more food or to take a nap.

Cat Piano Concerto



Once again, let’s step away from the usual cat-chases-mouse scenario and feature something a bit more unusual. Cat Piano Concerto could be the best (or worst) 99 cents you will ever spend, depending on how your kitty reacts to it. Perhaps more importantly, much will depend on how irritated you are by the noises it makes. Launch the app, and a keyboard appears. As you run your fingers across the keys, various meows are emitted which will possibly drive you bonkers, but may amuse your cat at least. Put your iPad down on the floor and perhaps your kitty, too, will walk across the keys. So here is one cat-friendly app that both owner and feline can potentially enjoy. It’s hard to gauge whether the cats will be enticed or frightened by a chorus of meows, but dogs in the home may get a real kick out of it. A free version is available to try out first.

PlentyOfFur

Not every app for cats needs to be playful. Did you know there is even a social network now for cats and dogs called PlentyOfFur? Admittedly, pet owners are likely to get a lot more benefit from this app than the cats themselves, but don’t tell kitty that. This free iPhone app (and its accompanying website) is certainly not supposed to be taken too seriously, and acts like a tongue-in-cheek Facebook for your pets. Put up a profile, share pictures and let your kitty find some new friends. Although it’s a fairly new service and still needs more sign-ups to make it really tick, PlentyOfFur also offers access to forums where pet owners can discuss diet, behavior and other issues or even share a few jokes. Perhaps when kitty is ailing one day, there will be some useful advice here once more cats sign-up!

And for you Android fans...



Admittedly, we’ve been a bit more iPad and iPhone focused with these apps. But frankly, there is very little in the way of fun, cat-focused apps in the Android Market right now, except for informational ones. This is likely to change quickly as Android tablets continue to surge in popularity.

In the meantime however, why not improvise? You may recall a viral video just recently of a bearded dragon playing a game called Ant Smasher on an Android smartphone. When I tried this app out on one of my cats he was fairly intrigued by the little creepy crawlies. Be warned, however, though the app is initially free, you’ll need to pay to unlock all its content.

If Ant Smasher and other games of its ilk don’t amuse your kitties, why not get creative with some animated live wallpaper on your Android tablet and see if your cat reacts to the movement? They may be partial to a Koi Pond or Aquarium one, for example. And, if in doubt, there is always the Android version of Fruit Ninja to try out (available for smartphone or tablet). Just maybe you’ve got the next viral video kitty superstar on your hands.

20 list head-turning prom dresses under $100


20 list head-turning prom dresses under $100. You can do prom on a budget and still have your dream dress. Check out these amazing styles that you can afford and still have money left over for the perfect shoes! 

Bright Star


Two Tulle For School

$98, promgirl.com

Lace to the Finish

$92.99, modcloth.com

Shimmer and Shine

$75, mygirldress.com

Passionate in Purple

$98.99, gojane.com

Paris is Dancing

$98, unique-vintage.com

Shades of Gray

$64.99, gojane.com

Naturally Neutral

$89, promgirl.com

Ruffle Your Feathers

$99.99, modcloth.com

Teal There Was You

$89.99, mygirldress.com

Silver Lining

$64, unique-vintage.com

Teal the Show

$82.99, gojane.com

One Shoulder Bee Darlin Dress

$99, promgirl.com

Purple Haze

$88, unique-vintage.com

Ready or Knot

$75, mygirldress.com

American Gothic Glamour

$98, unique-vintage.com

Be a Gem

$99, promgirl.com

Dancing After Midnight

$68.99, gojane.com

Trailblazer

$99, promgirl.com

All Laced Up

$85.99, gojane.com

Daring dress for Demi Moore's daughter (Video and Photos)


 Daring dress for Demi Moore's daughter (Video and Photos). While Demi Moore is back home in L.A. after spending time in a treatment facility, her daughter Rumer Willis hits a movie screening in Miami Monday night looking happy and gorgeous in a sexy dress with a plunging neckline. Plus, Dakota Fanning stuns in silver at the Cosmopolitan Fun Fearless Awards in NYC, and actress Tracey Gold has a different view on homosexuality than her "Growing Pains" co-star Kirk Cameron.





10 things you should never move yourself

10 things you should never move yourself


 10 things you should never move yourself. A do-it-yourself move can be a lot of things: stressful, long, tiring... and that's if you're lucky. If you also have heavy, bulky, or fragile items, it can also get downright dangerous. Yes, certain things, like brain surgery, bomb defusing, and piano moving, should really be left to the professionals. With that in mind, here are 10 items that experts consider dangerous for do-it-yourself moving and may warrant a call to the pros.



#1 Item to Never Move Yourself - Piano


Big. Check. Delicate. Check. Heavy. Triple check. That piano that provides so much entertainment during parties is public enemy No. 1 for you on moving day.

In fact, a piano is probably the most dangerous item to move because of its weight and fragile nature, according to John Bisney, a spokesman for the American Moving & Storage Association. He suggests hiring pros for all piano transportation.

Upright pianos, which are more compact than grand pianos due to a vertical frame and strings, can be moved by you and a few strong friends, says Bisney. But it won't be easy. "Do not move the piano through the house or onto the truck on its wheels. Instead, put it on a four-wheel dolly and be sure to well-pad the keys and the foot pedals," he recommends.

As for grand pianos, Bisney says that because of their massive size and fragile legs, they usually require riggers, who specialize in moving pianos.


#2 Item to Never Move Yourself - Pool Table


Your pool table is another source of wonderful entertainment that is anything but fun on moving day.
They are dangerous to move because of their slate - the large, flat surface that is usually made of actual slate rock, according to Bisney. Slate is heavy, and if lifted wrong, it could spell major back trouble.

It's also very fragile, with corners that need thick padding to protect. Plus, it should be shipped vertically, not horizontally. "Crating the slate is by far the best way to ship it," says Bisney.

Because of a pool table's weight, Bisney says that most people hire pros for the moving process. "Also, have a professional company reassemble and re-level the table in the new residence," he advises.


#3 Item to Never Move Yourself - Fish Tank


How does it sound to walk backward downstairs holding a big glass box? Pretty dangerous, right? Yes, it's a little ironic that something as soothing as a fish tank can be more dangerous than using box cutters blindfolded come moving day.

That's because fish tanks are extremely fragile once the water is removed, says Bisney. In particular, the glass panel edges are considered weak points. Break those, and you will have sheets of glass flying loose. For that reason, he suggests hiring pros for the job.

But if you must brave it alone, Bisney does offer the following advice.

"If you have pillows, put them inside the tank to stabilize it, being careful not to put stress on the seams, then fully pad-wrap the tank," says Bisney. Finally, try to assemble it in the new residence so your fish can get back in their home as soon as possible. This lowers the possibility of your fish dying.


#4 Item to Never Move Yourself - Fine Art


Believe it or not, fine art can cause a range of dangers. Lifting sculptures or statues improperly can end in a visit to the chiropractor, while dropping paintings can end in a visit to the art restorer. Neither ends up being cheap.

In addition, Bisney says, the smallest ding can devalue or even ruin a work of art. For that reason, he suggests considering pros. Just make sure that they have experience moving fine and precious art.
"Valuable art should be custom-crated before moving it from its display area for maximum protection," he adds.


#5 Item to Never Move Yourself - Exercise Equipment


Want a real workout? Try lifting that treadmill instead of running on it.
"Treadmills, stationary bikes, weight sets... Don't try to move these yourself unless you've reached your weight-lifting goals," says Bisney. "Even then, such home gyms present a special challenge, since they're designed to be stable during operation and typically use an especially heavy frame and base."

If you decide to hire professionals, one thing to remind them of is to be especially careful going in and out of doors. "[Exercise equipment] often damages the woodwork around your doors," he says. This, of course, results in another kind of workout: sanding and painting.


#6 Item to Never Move Yourself - Big Screen TV


Attempting to move your 60-inch plasma might be the best entertainment your household sees all year. "These are heavy, with sharp corners and often large sheets of glass. So they're dangerous not only to you but, like fine art, also dangerously expensive if you drop them," says Bisney.

He suggests either hiring pros or purchasing special boxes. Two- or four-part mirror containers work fairly well. Or you can ask your local retailer for extra TV boxes.

"The main thing is to avoid letting anything come in contact with the screen itself and to move it upright," says Bisney.


#7 Item to Never Move Yourself - Washer and Dryer


Here's another set of heavy, bulky items that pose a real danger to your back and property.
They're also expensive to replace, so your bank account is in as much jeopardy as your back.
And if you've got the front-loading type, look out. A two-wheeled dolly can easily damage the internal workings of the machine. For this reason, you should use a four-wheeled dolly or hire pros, says Bisney.
Even though top-loaders are constructed differently and offer a little more protection to their inner-workings, they are still dangerous to move, Bisney adds. But if you're going to try, one good tactic that he suggests is to wrap the machine in plastic wrap. Therefore, the door can't swing open and the paint is protected from scratches.


#8 Item to Never Move Yourself - Plants


Unless you're into cacti, your plants are probably not too dangerous. At least to you, anyway.
To your couch, clothes, and anything else that's susceptible to dirt or water stains, plants are more frightening than a frat party. For this reason, you might want to consider hiring pros for moving your plants.
Plus, says Bisney, "It can be tricky to make sure plants themselves survive a move." Temperature is the enemy, according to Bisney. To reduce time spent in a hot truck, plants should be the last thing loaded and the first thing unloaded.

If you decide to move your plants yourself, Bisney says to, "use plastic trash bags under the planter, dampen some newspaper, and cover the exposed soil."
"This will keep the soil moist, but not allow dripping and water damage. Pull the trash bag up to the plant and secure it to the plant to keep the soil and damp newspaper inside," says Bisney.


#9 Item to Never Move Yourself - Wine Collection


There are two options here. One, have a really raging pre-move party and drink all your wine. Two, be very careful how you move dozens or even hundreds of your glass wine bottles. After all, there's a reason that bottles are the first thing that people grab in a bar fight: they can be really dangerous to humans.
To reduce the chance of breakage, Bisney suggests using professional movers. If the wine collection is considerably valuable, moving specialists should be hired.

Just remember, says Bisney, try to limit extreme temperature and movement. Most professional movers are adept at dealing with wine collections, but if you move it yourself, use your car, he recommends. Cars have better shocks and are (usually) climate controlled.


#10 Item to Never Move Yourself - Jungle Gym


Here's something that will take all the fun out of that jungle gym. Yes, there's nothing quite like getting wrapped in chains and then bonked on the head with a steel pole. Or your new truck might take a blow to its rear window while transporting the jungle gym.

Bisney says that jungle gyms pose a great danger to do-it-yourself movers because of their bulk. They also require tools to take apart the pieces. And a jungle gym's size makes it difficult to load in a truck.
Bisney suggests contacting professional movers. But if you do move it yourself, be sure to completely disassemble all moving parts. Also, plastic wrap poles and chains together when possible. Finally, load the pieces on the bottom of the truck and secure them with line

Undiscovered island vacation spots (Top 10)


Share Quiet nights . . . lazy walks . . . spectacular sunsets to view à deux . . . genuine interaction with folks who actually live there . . . off-the-beaten-path islands offer secret spots and stunning surprises in every corner of the world. There are hundreds of possibilities. Here are 10 of the best:

Tobago, CaribbeanFor Eco-Rich Vacations


The tiny island of Tobago—unlike its boisterous cousin, Trinidad—is a Caribbean island made for travelers seeking peace, quiet, and time spent with pristine nature. Visitors can hire a guide and hike through the western hemisphere’s oldest protected rain forest, accompanied by song from some 58 different species of birds. The island is also ringed by shallow-water reefs, giving snorkelers, divers, or passengers in glass-bottomed boats the chance to spot some 300 types of coral, plus giant tube sponges, massive rays, graceful sea fans, and fish sporting more colors than Crayola.

Hike the trail along Tobago’s North Coast for great photos. Kids love to swim in the Nylon Pool, a fish-rich shallow area in the Lagoon. The hotels, including the award-winning Coco Reef Resort & Spa, have a delightfully local feel. It is said that Tobago cooks have “a sweet hand,” creating dishes that magically blend Creole, African and West Indian flavors, often complemented by good local rum. Best of all, Tobago is very eco-friendly. In 2007, the island won the “World’s Leading Green Destination” honor at the World Travel Awards.

Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
For a New Definition of Pristine


Tourism is developing in Vietnam so quickly that last year’s great island “find” swiftly becomes this year’s overcrowded destination. Pretty Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, currently remains pristine and affordable. There’s a betting chance that that may last, since 70-80 percent of the mountainous island is protected as the Phu Quoc National Forest. The island‘s close proximity to Cambodia also means that there is an almost-invisible military presence on the north coast.

This still-affordable destination is home to plantations and fish-sauce factories and miles of deserted beaches, including the aptly named Long Beach. Nights are so dark that constellation spotting becomes a competitive sport. Rent motorcycles (and drivers too if you want) to visit camera-worthy fishing villages. Take out a sea kayak or dive the reef. The Sea Star Resort, one of many fine beach hotels, is close to good restaurants. Don’t expect a wild bar scene. Do expect to cherish the extraordinary quiet—at least for now. If Vietnam is smart, it will help keep this beach-rich island green and pristine.  

Mnemba Island, Tanzania
For Ultimate Privacy 


It is so quiet on Mnemba Island, just off Tanzania’s larger island of Zanzibar, that you can hear the silence. This very private African island, managed by &Beyond Africa, consists of only 10 luxurious bandas – cottages hand-woven from palm matting. Sit on your spacious front porch and watch adorable, dog-sized miniature deer amble by. Scuba dive, deep-sea fish, or snorkel to your heart’s delight, or simply enjoy a massage for two in the cool of your banda. Dinner is served on the beach by candlelight.

The tab here is high: $1,500 per person, per night in peak season (all meals and activities, including multiple dives, are included) and $1,155 per person, per night at other times. The high price tag is justified by the level of laid-back luxury, privacy, and service. Guests also typically tour Zanzibar, home to historic mansions built by Arab traders and visit gardens rich with the scent of spices. While in the capital, Stone Town, shop for colorful local crafts and snap photos of the statue of Freddy Mercury, the late Queen lead singer who grew up there. 

Guernsey, Channel Islands
For Book Lovers


A few years back, it seemed like every second person was galloping through the pages of "The Guernsey Potato Peel and Literary Society," set on the Channel Island of Guernsey during World War II. Fans of that novel will find that Guernsey—far sunnier and warmer than England, and just two-and-a-half hours away by boat—has changed little since the 1940s. While the island remains “loyal to the British crown,” it is, in fact, much closer to France than England. It is also a major off-shore tax haven, which means that it is both prosperous and pretty (as in well kept).

The tourist board happily provides maps for fans of the novel, enabling them to visit off-the-beaten path places that they’ve read about. Less bookish visitors can hike nearly 30 miles of cliff paths above the sea, stroll past fields filled with Guernsey cows, and explore gardens bright with flowers. If you can’t actually make the trip, you needn’t worry. The film version of the novel, directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Kate Winslet, will debut next year. Best advice:  If you do go, try to add on a visit to the tiny island of Sark, the smallest of the Channel Islands— totally car free, and rich with fields of wild flowers.  

Molokai, Hawaii
For Finding the “Old Hawaii”



Love the climate? Love the gentle breeze from the trade winds? Hate the high rises and freeways of Waikiki? Pack your camping gear, or book a room at the classic Hotel Molokai (now the island’s only hotel, though condo rentals are available). Book well in advance if you wish to visit Kalaupapa National Historical Park, where the Belgian priest Father Damien ministered to victims of Hansen’s disease (leprosy) and ultimately died from the disease. Choices to get to this sad but scenic site include riding a mule down and back up a 2.9-mile trail, with 26 switchbacks, along the world’s highest sea cliffs; hiking down; or flying in aboard a six-seat plane.

However you get there, Damien Tours’ excellent guides tell the rich story of this spectacularly beautiful and bitterly poignant place. In winter, hoards of humpback whales pass by the island. Whale-watching trips are available, but the giant mammals also glide right past Hotel Molokai. Shop for the locally grown (and really strong) coffee at Molokai Coffee Company on the Farrington Highway, and go back on Saturday evening to enjoy some live jazz. 

Roatán, Honduras
For Diving Away from the Crowds



The water surrounding the truly off-the-radar, 2-by-40-mile island of Roatán is so clear that as the plane circles over the Caribbean Sea before landing, it is possible to spot, and even to identify, dozens upon dozens of tropical fish in every color imaginable. Even many veteran Caribbean travelers couldn’t find Roatán, the largest of Honduras’ Bay Islands, on a map. Yet it abuts the second-largest barrier reef in the world, letting snorkelers see hundreds of different fish in rainbow colors, and offering divers the adventure of a lifetime, including tackling a couple of challenging wreck dives.

An added incentive: It’s much less expensive to take diving lessons on Roatán than almost anywhere else in the Caribbean. Non-divers go just to enjoy sand and sea, and to catch the glorious (some say the world’s best) sunset from West End Beach. The recent addition of a cruise terminal, as well as condo developments targeted toward American retirees, may be changing the scene a bit. Best advice: Go now, while this long and skinny island remains cheap and serene.

Hvar, Croatia
For Celebrity Seekers 



Hvar, a beach-rich island off Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, has long been a favorite of the celebrity set, but was off most average Americans’ radar screens. Frequent sightings of the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Stephen Spielberg, and Gerard Depardieu – not to mention King Abdullah of Jordan, Princess Caroline of Monaco, and Bill Gates – add a certain allure to this very understated, very green island that shelters the rich and fabulous. Even England’s Prince Harry stopped by in the summer of 2011, venturing into an open-air nightclub called Veranda, where he famously dived backwards, fully clothed, into a swimming pool.

The addition of more hotel rooms has made it easier for less fabulous folks to vacation on the island now. Visitors can stroll past sweet-smelling fields of lavender, sip glasses of plavac (the local island-brewed red wine) under the stars, hike to rural villages, bask on quiet beaches, swim in a sea as clear as a glass of vodka, or climb up to the historic Spanjol Fortess to get great photos of Hvar’s harbor.

Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia
For Roughing It 



Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island, is a mecca for the backpackers who roam Australia’s East Coast. Rent a 4x4 vehicle on the mainland, being sure to get a special permit to drive on Fraser. Stock up on groceries too, before boarding the ferry at Hervey Bay. It’s worth the trouble. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed island offers rich rewards. Dense rainforest trees tower over the sand dunes below, endless ocean beaches offer abundant privacy, and more than 100 freshwater lakes (some too murky for swimming) add to the mix. 

Hike to see the colored sand cliffs, some 800 feet high, and explore part of the longest coastal dune system in the world. Start a “life list” to record sighting of rare shorebirds. Spot the occasional saltwater crocodile, and perhaps see a wild dingo. One popular overnight walk takes hikers from Kingfisher Bay, where the ferry lands, to Lake McKenzie, returning the next day. Also for the to-do-list: A guided tour of 5,000-year-old Aboriginal campsites and the wreck of the S.S. Maheno, which served as a World War I hospital ship. Accommodations on the island range from the somewhat luxurious resorts to rental apartments to campgrounds.

St.-Pierre and Miquelon, France
For Serious Francophiles


Dying for a perfect baguette? No need to book a flight to Paris. Just zip up to the tiny French islands of St.-Pierre and Miquelon—the last remaining bit of colonial New France—not far from Canada’s cod-rich Grand Banks. That location explains the islands’ abiding French-ness. Under the 1763 Treaty of Paris, France signed off on all North American possessions, except St.-Pierre and Miquelon, ensuring their fishing rights. During Prohibition in the United States, however, bootlegging actually beat out fishing, with nearly 2 million gallons of illegal booze passing through the tiny islands.

Go in summer, to catch the local Basque Festival (watch, but don’t attempt to compete in, the stone heaving or lumberjacking competitions), or try to catch Miquelon’s luscious Seafood Festival in August. Snap photos of the lighthouse. Take a boat tour to the Grand Banks. See wild horses and alpaca. Visit the small museum and local craft shops. Hike through rugged landscapes, relishing the quiet. Book rooms at the cozy Nuits Saint-Pierre, and try tiny local restaurants for fresh lobster, or cod cooked with French flair.  

Kefalonia, Greece
For Romantics


Pretty little Kefalonia, in the Ionian Sea, was largely off tourist’s radar screens until the 2001 release of the ultra-romantic film "Captain Corelli’s Mandolin," based on Louis de Bernières novel, and starring Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz. The filmmakers chose their location well, since Kefalonia was, and actually still is, an old-fashioned, unspoiled Greek island – rich with romantic vistas.

The island remains pretty and pristine because it lacks major tourism, and because many of its buildings are relatively new (the result of a serious earthquake in 1953). Visitors tend to rent villas high up in the hills to catch the cooling breezes, and use rental cars to explore the island’s winding roads and catch the many-miles-away vistas. True romantics can rent speed boats and cruise to isolated beaches (Myrtos on the island’s west coast is a gorgeous one), or can even zoom across the sea to Ithaca—the legendary island where Homer’s Odysseus ruled. Back in Kefalonia, nightlife revolves around the local tavernas, and is fun, but not overly raucous.