Eastern Caribbean: St.Kitts, Antigua & Martinique

Propelled by Latin rhythms, with a bold style all its own, Miami is a spicy melting pot of cultures. Immerse yourself in the colorful Art Deco district, vibrant nightlife, and beaches for sun-worshipers and water sport enthusiasts alike. Put some money on the horses at Hialeah Park, one of racings oldest and most prominent tracks, right next to a lake full of pink flamingos. Go adventuring in the Everglades, looking for ‘gators and manatees, canoeing through mangrove tunnels, or paddling a sea kayak through the “10,000 islands”. Flashy and full of life, it’s a great place to play.

Smallest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. John is only nine miles by three miles, and two-thirds of that area is national park. In colonial times almost the entire island was clear-cut to make room for sugar cane; now there is fervent support for protecting the new growth, much of it introduced. Hiking trails of all lengths and levels of difficulty traverse these acres, and lead through the ruins of plantations. The park also contains 5,650 acres of submerged land, with an abundance of coral gardens. Trunk Bay, one of the world’s most stunning beaches, offers a marked under-sea snorkeling trail so you know what you are looking at.

This stunning harbor, filled with pleasure boats and encircled by emerald hills dotted with pastel houses, was once the center of a bustling pirate culture, as swashbuckling knaves such as Blackbeard and Drake traded stolen wares in the port of Charlotte Amalie. Today many of their old warehouses have been converted to shops and malls, where you may spend your pieces of eight on an array of treasures those buccaneers could never have imagined. Not a shopper? Hit the water without walking the plank when you pilot your own zodiac, or an underwater motor scooter.

It’s hard to get lost in Philipsburg – one mile of colorful Creole houses long and four streets deep, it is easy to explore. It is also a place where you may find yourself on the brink of an adventure you have long imagined. Transfixed by those gutsy mariners sailing for glory in the America’s Cup? Now is your chance to race aboard one of those ace vessels as a working crew member. Thrilled by the stories of divers but intimidated by SCUBA? Try SNUBA and float carefree, tethered to the surface by a long hose and an ample supply of air. The reward: warm waters, a rainbow of tropical reef fish, sunken wrecks, and tall tales of your own to take home with you.

Get to know Nevis, one central volcano and an area five miles by seven, its circle island road less than a two-hour drive. Within that tiny space are crammed delights for every taste: a championship golf course at the Four Seasons; the exhilaration and romance of dashing across a beach on horseback; and a trek through a lush rainforest of bamboo and tropical fruit trees, entertainment provided by monkeys swinging through the branches. For history hunters there are a number of old sugar plantations in varying stages of preservation and decay. They have intriguing tales to tell, and perhaps a few ghosts for good measure.

When you spy the distinctive white baroque towers of the St. Johns Cathedral, you’ll know you have arrived in Antigua’s capital city. With a staggering 365 beaches located across the island, you can visit a new beach every day of the year. But if you only have limited time to catch some rays, take a boat tour around Antigua for a unique vantage point to find the right strand of sand that speaks to you. If you’re still undecided, Galley Bay Beach is popular and is the perfect place to put your shades on and relax under an oversized umbrella. Once you’ve soaked up enough sun, head back into town and shop ‘til you drop. St. Johns is renowned for its duty-free shops, malls, and boutiques that feature everything from haute-couture to handicrafts.

If you were to close your eyes while enjoying a “high tea in Trafalgar Square,” you would swear you were in London – if it weren’t for the warm breezes and emerald green waters enveloping you. Nicknamed “Little England” by some, Barbados is home to many museums that chronicle the island’s rich past and over 100 shipwrecks along its reefs that are a playground for divers from around the world.