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.

Colonial architecture isn’t the only thing colorful about Nassau, this capital city and financial center has a history that includes slaves, Spanish explorers, pirates, and Indians. From sunning on pristine beaches to exploring ancient forts, Nassau offers many unique opportunities. For the most spectacular view, climb the 65 hand-carved limestone stairs of the Queen’s Staircase, named in honor of Queen Victoria.

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.

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.

One of the South’s loveliest and best preserved cities, Charleston is an 18th century town, its skyline low rise and defined by the steeples of 181 churches. Historic buildings have been restored and repurposed for residential and commercial use, and a most enjoyable stroll can be had past the many lovely private homes. The old South lives on in the area’s plantations, including the classic columned mansion of Boone Hall, the model for Gone With The Wind’s Tara. History buffs will want to head to Fort Sumter, where the first shot of the Civil War was fired by Confederate forces.

Famous for its twin peaks shaped by the upheaval of a now extinct volcano, St. Lucia is one of the truly unspoiled islands in all the Caribbean. Here you’ll find a variety of landscapes and eco-systems not found anywhere else in the region, including rain forests, mountains and beaches that truly deserve the “pristine” designation.

This is the capital of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and it lies on the Southwestern coast. The famous Botanical Garden is the oldest one in the Western hemisphere and incorporates 20 acres of gardens and rare St. Vincent parrots.

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.

The fascinating history of the West Indies tends to be overshadowed by the islands’ breathtaking natural beauty. But it’s quite a story, and Dominica is the place to hear it. It was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by Europeans, due primarily to the fierce resistance of the native Caribs, after whom the sea is named. The 3,000 Carib Indians living on Dominica today are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean. It was their tradition to color their bodies with a red dye, and the Spaniards, believing that this was their natural color, spread the rumor of a red-skinned race.

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.

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.

The largest of the British Virgin Islands and home of the capital, Road Town, Tortola has a way of making time feel like it’s standing still. Literally—don’t rely on the town clock in Road Town’s central square to stay punctual, the hands move on their own schedule. But that’s also the secret to really enjoying Tortola—the sooner you adjust to “island time” the sooner you can start to enjoy this topical paradise.

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.