Galveston, on a barrier island off Texas's northern Gulf Coast, blends preserved Victorian architecture with beaches. Stroll the Strand for 19th-century brick facades, boutiques, and eateries. Visit Moody Gardens for marine life, a rainforest, and science exhibits. Explore museums on seaport history, WWII naval vessels, railroads, and offshore oil. Finish with Gulf seafood at waterfront restaurants.

Cozumel, Mexico's largest inhabited island, is famed for world-class coral reefs praised by Jacques Cousteau in 1959. Diving is the main draw, but you'll also find Mayan culture, white-sand beaches, and lively neighborhoods. Highlights include the UNESCO-listed ruins of Chichen Itza, the jungle mangroves and Mayan ruins of Faro Celerain Ecological Reserve, and shopping for crafts, jewelry, replicas, cigars, and tequila along Rafael Melgar and Plaza del Sol.

Belize City was founded in the mid-17th century by British lumber harvesters. The city was ideal for the British as a central post because it was a natural outlet for local rivers and creeks down which the British shipped logwood and mahogany. Belize became independent in 1981, following a United Nations declaration to the effect. A British military force was maintained in Belize until 1993, when the government announced Belize would be handed over on January 1, 1994.

Travel from this Guatemalan port city through verdant countryside to Quiriguá's 8th-century stelae and pyramids. Visit Las Escobas Springs in Cerro San Gil, a protected rainforest with 400+ bird species. Explore Rio Dulce National Park in the lush Motagua Valley, then boat to the 17th-century Castle of San Felipe, once guarding Spanish supply ships. Browse Puerto Barrios for local handicrafts and try picante black beans and rice.

Warm Caribbean waters with excellent diving, white sand beaches, and tropical sunsets are some of the attractions of the Bay Islands. Roatan's major source of income is tourism, particularly because of SCUBA diving attractions. The underwater environment is rich and extensive with reefs surrounding the islands, often within swimming distance of the shore. Caves and caverns are a common feature, with a variety of sponge and the best collection of pillar coral.

A relaxing tropical adventure awaits in the heart of Jamaica. Stroll hand-in-hand on perfect white sandy beaches with clear blue skies above. The famous Hip Strip (Jimmy Cliff Boulevard) offers an array of restaurants, bars, and shops. For a taste of the unexpected, explore the Rose Hall Great House, the largest existing sugar plantation mansion, renowned for its haunting tales of the White Witch, Annie Palmer, while sipping a witch's brew.

Discover a touch of old Amsterdam in a Caribbean paradise. Pastel waterfront buildings give this Dutch island its charm. Don't miss the colorful floating market, a short walk from Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge. A World Heritage site, Punda preserves hundreds of national monuments, including Fort Amsterdam, the Governor's Palace, Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue-one of the first in the New World-and the colorful Penha building.

The city blends Dutch and Spanish architecture. Now a Dutch city named for the House of Orange, it became Aruba's capital in 1979. Beyond the beaches, start at Wilhelmina Park, a tropical waterfront garden with Caribbean breezes, then visit the Archaeological Museum of Aruba or the Numismatic Museum of Aruba, which displays coins from 400+ countries. Fort Zoutman (1796), the island's oldest Dutch building, gained Willem III Tower in 1867 and now offers views, music festivals, and craft fairs.

Just 50 miles north of Venezuela, Bonaire is part of the Netherlands Antilles, which includes St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, Saba and Curacao. In 1951, the first hotel opened on Bonaire, and tourism has been the dominant industry ever since. With a dazzling array of fish and coral reefs and spectacularly clear water (100-ft visibility), Bonaire offers some of the best dive spots in the Caribbean.

Sunny Florida skies, year-round warmth, nightlife, and a diverse culture define this cosmopolitan city. South Beach draws crowds, while the Art Deco District is the world's largest collection of Art Deco architecture. Shop from Bal Harbour to Lincoln Road and Coconut Grove, enjoy Cuban culture on Calle Ocho, or visit the historic Venetian Pool. There's something for everyone in this "Gateway to the Americas."