Unique in all the world, the lacy Creole look and carefree bon temps atmosphere of the Big Easy set it apart. Walk the balconied streets of the French Quarter to Audubon Park, sip chicory coffee and bite into a snowy beignet at Cafe du Monde, or recapture the antebellum gentility of Creole mansions and plantation homes in the surrounding parishes.
Montego Bay: visit her outstanding underwater marine park at Cornwall Beach. Explore the Chester Castle Great House set on some 200 acres, or tour Rose Hall, a restored plantation house.
The tiny island of Aruba is the smallest of the ABC Islands, which include Barbados and Curacao. Aruba lies about 15 miles north of Venezuela and has limited vegetation. The landscape consists of cacti and the curiously wind-bent divi divi trees. You may also be interested in climbing atop some of the huge boulders and exploring some of its caves. Of course, the main attractions to this island are its magnificent beaches against the turquoise waters full of spectacular marine life, which lure scores of sunbathers, snorkelers, and divers each year to the island.
Though small, Aruba has room for some luxury as well. If you travel along Palm Beach, you will find the several miles of this white sand lined with a string of hotels with glitzy casinos, restaurants and exotic boutiques. The crystal-clear waters of this beach are ideal for swimming and all kinds of watersports. However, if you prefer to stay dry, you are more than welcome to enjoy Aruba''s exotic underwater world from the glass bottom boats or on a submarine excursion.
If you are a veteran Caribbean traveler, Curacao is a good choice for you. At the beaches, you will see a range from snowy white sand to volcanic pebbles. Most of Curacao''s beauty lies around the island in its coral reefs. These coral reefs are so beautiful that they are drawing in an increasing number of divers and snorkelers.
The original Dutch settlers of Curacao did well in bringing a bit of home with them. This is seen in the appearance of the colonial buildings painted in shades of yellow, orange and blue. But no one can mistake this island as a part of the Amsterdam as the climate is dryer, the soil is barren and cacti thrive easily.
The main attractions of this island are the historic Dutch architecture, shopping, nightlife, diving and snorkeling, nature areas, caves, swimming, the Sea Aquarium, casinos, and restaurants. With all the unique culture and varied attractions Curacao has a pleasant mixture of all the best things in the Caribbean. This island is definitely good for more than laying on the beach.
Charming Cartagena is one of the most fascinating towns in South America. The old city, almost completely surrounded by lagoons, bays and the Caribbean Sea, is still girded by its 17th-century fortifications. Once these guarded the gold and treasures of the New World, bound for Spain; now they shelter ornate churches and convents, the dramatic Palace of the Inquisition, and other historic gems.
But truth be told, this isn't a tourist town per se, compared to other destinations in the Caribbean Sea . Nevertheless, there are things to see and do while you are in port.
Sitting just off the gorgeous Yucatan coast, Cozumel revels in its mythic white-sand beaches and world-class coral reefs. Yet Cozumel is also the last stronghold of the Mayas, who settled the island in 300 A.D. Residents still speak Maya, and sometimes wear traditional Mayan clothing. Nearby stand the great pyramids and temples of their ancestors.
Unique in all the world, the lacy Creole look and carefree bon temps atmosphere of the Big Easy set it apart. Walk the balconied streets of the French Quarter to Audubon Park, sip chicory coffee and bite into a snowy beignet at Cafe du Monde, or recapture the antebellum gentility of Creole mansions and plantation homes in the surrounding parishes.