Three day-old beard, expedition sunglasses, fleece jacket, Jorge fits every part adventure guide. He looks like he has just shrugged off his pack and crampons from an assault on south face of Everest. But intimidating at first, Jorge is disarmingly friendly, like every other Tico I've met up to this point. He has easy manner of someone whose hobby is also his job.

As we travel from high on Cordillera Central down into Caribbean lowlands en route to picking three other rafters, Jorge shares his knowledge of Costa Rica's history, geography, culture, and economy with us - how Cartago was Costa Rica's first capital before it was destroyed by still-active volcano Irazu; how banana workers' biggest danger during harvesting is not tarantulas, but snakes hiding in bunches; and how Jorge's favorite brand of coffee is Café Rey (I now have four pounds of it in my freezer).

Jorge's education only slightly distracts me from display our driver, Mongo, is putting on at wheel, a performance that would make NASCAR proud. Our small Toyota minivan whines with strain of Mongo's enthusiasm (read: tardiness) as we charge up dirt hills with reckless abandon, then shutter and rattle down gravel roads at break-neck speeds. I pay close attention to Jorge's lessons in an attempt to take my mind off thought that every white-knuckle hairpin turn might be my last.

With a screeching halt, we arrive at our launch point at Pacuare River. The series of cordilleras that split Costa Rica from northwest to southeast create a watershed, catching abundant rainfall from east coast and channeling it into Caribbean lowlands. As a result, there are several major rivers that drain into Caribbean Sea, and at roughly 83 miles long, Pacuare is among longer of these rivers. While other rivers (Telire, Chirripo, for example) offer rafting as well, they require multi-day carry-ins or helicopter transportation to reach river. Only Pacuare offers combination of incredible scenic beauty, adventure and convenient drop-in locations.

Our fate on river will be left in hands of guides from Costa Rica Expeditions, an adventure company based in San Jose, Costa Rica. Founded in 1978, CRE was first whitewater rafting company in Costa Rica and continues to set standard today. While some adventure companies send out as many as 20 rafts at a time, CRE outings are limited to 7 boats per trip in order to assure quality service and safety. It offers one- and two-day excursions through rapids of various degrees of difficulty (from I to IV+ depending on time of year), and a new gourmet trip, where in addition to a white water adventure, rafters are treated to top-notch dining, complete with fine linen and crystal, with quail or lobster served fresh. The guides are all native bilingual Costa Ricans ("Ticos") and average more years of rafting than any other company.

Florida is also easy to get to, temperature is pleasurable year round, it offers good value for your money and that’s just for starters. So whether you are looking for a family vacation, a romantic vacation, a relaxing vacation or getting in some golf time, there is a Florida beach vacation area for you.

Best Florida Beach Areas for Families

Siesta Public Beach Siesta Public Beach in Sarasota makes a great family beach because of its gradual slopes, shallow waters, lifeguards on duty, fine white sand and tranquil waters. It has won awards for best beach based on sand, water quality and facilities. The beach facilities include picnic areas, rest rooms, concession stands, playground, trails, and tennis and volleyball courts. If you enjoy collecting shells, try Turtle Beach, at south end of island.

Tampa Bay Area - St. Petes/Clearwater Located on West Coast of Florida, on Gulf of Mexico, Tampa Bay area is a waterfront heaven! Miles and miles of white sandy beaches along Gulf Coast offer unlimited options for a fun and relaxing vacation. When you need a break from surf and sand, there are plenty of nearby activities to keep kids amused including Florida Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, and Lowry Park Zoo.

Daytona With twenty-three miles of sparkling white sandy beaches and beautiful blue-green waters there is no shortage of beach fun for whole family. The beach is up to 500 feet wide at low tide and is perfect for castle building, cycling, jogging, fishing or just relaxing in sun. The Atlantic Ocean is great for swimming, especially during spring and summer when water temperatures range from 74 to 80 degrees. And you are only an hour’s drive from Orlando if you are so inclined.

Best Florida Beach Areas for Romance

Miami Beach A Miami romantic vacation has everything from relaxing on beach by day and dancing by night. There are lots of art deco and interesting hotels on South Beach. A short drive west will bring you to Everglades, where you can take a Scenic Boat Tour and see plenty of wildlife, including alligators. You can shop at ritzy Bal Harbor shops, and at night choose from plenty of dance clubs or mellow jazz bars and restaurants.

Marco Island Marco Island is located at southern tip of Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast at western entrance to Everglades National Park. The island is surrounded by Gulf of Mexico on one side and natural wilderness on other. There are miles of white-sand beaches, lavish real estate, shopping, dining, nightlife, attractions and lots of outdoor activities. Your recreation choices include swimming, sunbathing fishing, golf, tennis, and more. Enjoy subtropical ambience that exists in Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast.