Bridgetown, Barbados' UNESCO-listed capital, blends colonial history, rich culture, and white-sand beauty. At The Careenage, pastel buildings overlook the Constitution River, with a plaque marking the city's role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Nearby Carlisle Bay offers turquoise water, soft sand, and shipwreck dives with turtles and tropical fish. Explore street food, Broad Street shopping, rum bars on Roebuck Street, and Nidhe Israel Synagogue and museum.

Bequia Island is a rustic, unspoiled Grenadine gem: virgin beaches, quiet bays, rum shacks, and a laid-back feel with only about 6,000 locals. Admiralty Bay is a stunning natural harbor, and tiny Port Elizabeth has a market, turtle sanctuary, and model-ship stalls. Hike Mount Peggy for views, then relax on Princess Margaret Beach or other golden-sand coves. It's a place to slow down, swim, read, and enjoy fresh catch, barbecue, and rum cocktails at beach bars.

Martinique, the largest Windward Island, lies 4,261 mi (6,817 km) from Paris but feels distinctly French with West Indian flair. Its cuisine blends French and Creole influences. The island is lush with tropical flowers, fruit trees, banana and pineapple fields, sugarcane, mountains, and rain forest. Hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, tanning, and duty-free shopping are popular, and cruises often visit St-Pierre, buried by ash from Mont Pelée's 1902 eruption.

Gustavia, St Barthelemy's capital, is a chic Caribbean harbor town of red roofs, yachts, boutiques, bars, and French flair. From the lighthouse, you can gaze over waters loved by celebrities and divers. The island was first named by Columbus in 1493, later a Swedish colony, and returned to France in 1878; its heritage remains at Fort Karl above Shell Beach. Nearby are shell-strewn shores, turquoise waters, and quiet gems like Colombier Beach-ideal for a sunset rum cocktail.

Roseau, Dominica's capital on the west coast, blends Caribbean beauty with a strong colonial past. Enjoy volcanic beaches, great snorkeling and diving among coral, marine life and underwater volcanic activity. Explore banana and cocoa plantations, the lively Old Market Square, and the former British fort for sweeping views. Visit the botanical gardens, rainforest waterfalls, and Boiling Lake in Morne Trois Pitons National Park, then relax in hot springs or with a rum punch.

Grenada, the "Isle of Spice," blends lush scenery and rich flavor: nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon and cocoa fill the air at St George's market, while jungled hills, rainforest waterfalls, banana and cocoa groves, and the Grand Etang caldera showcase its fertile interior. The capital features a charming waterfront of Georgian buildings and terracotta roofs, and the coast offers white-sand beaches, turquoise seas, Grand Anse, and hidden palm-fringed coves. Enjoy it all with a local spiced rum punch.

St Lucia is a vivid Caribbean island of turquoise seas, green volcanic Pitons, jungle waterfalls, and bright coral reefs. Its beaches and dive spots are rich with colorful fish, while marigot Bay, once a backdrop for Doctor Dolittle, adds cinematic charm. Spot parrots in the palms and dolphins offshore, relax on Vigie Beach, and photograph the dramatic Pitons. In Castries, visit the Cathedral Basilica and the lively market for spices, bananas, and mangos.

Bridgetown, Barbados' UNESCO-listed capital, blends colonial history, rich culture, and white-sand beauty. At The Careenage, pastel buildings overlook the Constitution River, with a plaque marking the city's role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Nearby Carlisle Bay offers turquoise water, soft sand, and shipwreck dives with turtles and tropical fish. Explore street food, Broad Street shopping, rum bars on Roebuck Street, and Nidhe Israel Synagogue and museum.