There’s no need to panic but just wanted to remind readers the 2011 Hurricane Season has begun (June 1, to be exact) and runs through November 30. Remain calm. The chances of a hurricane making landfall and ruining a summer vacation is minimal. Because of this, there is no reason to avoid vacationing in destinations where a hurricane could make landfall such as Mexico, Southeastern United States and Dominican Republic. If there is a good thing about hurricanes it’s that there’s time to plan.

When booking your summer vacation, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Know the hotel’s (or rental agency’s) cancellation policy for named storms (i.e.: hurricanes). Chances are, you won’t lose your deposit if your vacation is disrupted due to hurricane but check anyway.

Book with an airline with flexible booking options. Believe it or not, not all airlines charge a change fee so if you’re concerned your vacation may be disrupted by a named storm, book with an airline offering flexibility.

Investigate travel insurance during the travel planning process. There are several forms of travel insurance out there and if you’re insuring your trip, make sure it covers travel disruption due to hurricanes. And the time to look at travel insurance is during the travel planning process, not when a named storm is out there because chances are, if there’s already a storm churning, you’ll have a difficult time locating a policy.

If you happen to be vacationing in a destination that is expecting a hurricane, it’s important to remain calm. Tune into local news stations (radio, television, Internet) for the latest information. Follow instructions from your hotel/rental agency on what to do. If you’re remaining at the property during the storm, avoid windows, find high ground if in a storm surge area, and do not go outside. Yeah, it’s tempting to go out and surf the turbulent waves but don’t do it.

If you’re asked to leave the property, do so as soon as possible to get ahead of the traffic. Have a plan mapped out before leaving the hotel and ask front desk staff to assist you in locating alternative accommodations.  Although a named storm may be expected to make landfall in one area of a state it doesn’t mean the entire state will suffer.

Don’t let Mother Nature prevent you from planning a summer vacation. You and your kids worked hard all year long to enjoy it. Just invest in a little planning to prevent any unwanted surprises.

Image Source: Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism

Gullah culture has its roots in slavery and original Gullah were African slaves shipped across the Atlantic Ocean from West Africa to work in cotton plantations. Plantation owners built their fortunes upon slave labor while slaves created a unique culture which includes language, folktales and superstition. Today, descendants call Hilton Head Island and South Carolina’s Lowcountry coastal region home and visitors to Hilton Head can experience some of the unique Gullah culture.

Gullah religion is deeply rooted in superstition. Most Hilton Head Island graveyards are located near water to ensure spirits will travel back to Africa to be among ancestors. Broken dishes, shells, water pitchers and shiny objects are often placed on Gullah graves to prevent the deceased from returning from the dead to look for former personal belongings.

Language of the Gullah is a combination of a variety of African languages and English. This was developed through necessity since plantation owners forbade African slaves from speaking their native tongue. The Gullah dialect incorporates broken English and African words. Today, it’s a “creolized” version of English.

Distinguished crafts of the Gullah are sweet grass baskets, boat building and quilting. Hilton Head Island visitors can see remnants of the Gullah past including a once segregated school and old churches, all legally protected.

Vacationing on Hilton Head Island can extend beyond the beach and golf courses. Add a little Gullah culture by taking a tour or dining in a Gullah restaurant. These include Gullah Heritage Trail Tours which is a narrated tour through several neighborhoods. Sample Gullah cooking with a visit to Dye’s Gullah Fixins. Or, plan a February Hilton Head Island vacation to participate in the annual Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration. Learn more about the culture including food, music and art during this uplifting celebration.

Image Source: Hilton Head Island Visitor and Convention Bureau

Orlando made more than 50 million visitors smile last year and remains the most visited destination in the United States. Tourism officials released visitation figures for 2010 earlier this month and research indicates Orlando, Florida, attracted 51.455 million visitors, a 10.5 percent increase from 46.6 million in 2009.

Whoa! That’s a lot of people! Luckily, there is a wide variety of activities to do in Central Florida so it doesn’t seem like 50+ million visitors.

To attract visitors throughout 2010, Visit Orlando initiated new marketing campaigns in its top feeder markets - the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Brazil - reinforcing the tagline, “Orlando Makes Me Smile.”  A new meetings and conventions marketing effort touted Orlando as the destination “Where Inspiration Meets.” Visit Orlando also showcased the destination’s offerings to thousands of tour operators and travel professionals at numerous key travel industry trade shows throughout North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia and was instrumental in driving additional air service to Orlando from domestic and Central and Latin America carriers.

New York City, which has a goal of reaching 50 million visitors by 2012, welcomed 48.7 million in 2010 while Las Vegas, an Orlando rival for conventions and meetings business, welcomed 37.3 million for the same year.

Riding high on Universal Orlando Resort’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Sea World’s new ‘One Ocean’ show, Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ revamped Star Tours, and LEGOLAND opening Oct. 15, 2011, it’s pretty safe to say visitors will continue to vacation in Central Florida and Orlando this year. Who knows, maybe Orlando will break another visitation record in 2011.

Image Source: SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT/Jason Collier