San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital, blends old and new. Founded in 1521, it was a key Spanish colonial port; El Morro still guards the harbor. Old San Juan, behind thick stone walls, keeps blue cobblestone streets, plazas, and colorful heritage buildings, and serves as the island's cultural hub. Nearby Santurce is the trendiest district, with shops, restaurants, and nightlife. Minutes away, Condado and Isla Verde offer iconic palm-lined Atlantic beaches.

St. John, the smallest of the three main U.S. Virgin Islands, is a pioneer in Caribbean eco-tourism. Over half its 20 square miles are undeveloped, protected as Virgin Islands National Park, created in 1956 from land donated by Laurance Rockefeller. Its beaches, coast, and seas are also protected. Days center on hiking, swimming, snorkeling, and sailing. Cruz Bay is the commercial hub and ferry landing from St. Thomas. A winding road leads to quiet Coral Bay and its sheltered harbor.

Virgin Gorda is known for dramatic geology, unspoiled scenery, quiet coves, and beautiful beaches. Gorda Peak National Park offers panoramic views, while the Baths-its best-known landmark-features huge granite boulders, tidal pools, grottoes, and arches around Devil's Bay and Spring Bay. Spanish Town and Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour are the main hubs. Visit the copper mine ruins or Little Fort National Park, and explore the boat-access-only North Sound, home to upscale resorts and watersports.

Saint Barthélemy, or Saint Barth, offers refined Caribbean luxury with a relaxed, barefoot-elegant French style. Its harbor capital, Gustavia, is lined with yachts, boutiques, galleries, and fine French-Caribbean restaurants. The island's white-sand beaches range from secluded Colombier to chic Baie de St. Jean, and its laid-back days give way to lively nightlife after dark.

Dominica, the "Nature Island," is all about eco-adventure, with natural highlights like Boiling Lake and Champagne Reef. On Prince Rupert Bay, Portsmouth is the island's second-largest town and a good base for Cabrits National Park and the Indian River. Visit 18th-century Fort Shirley for colonial history, take a quiet boat ride through mangroves, or head to the Lagoon area for a wide yellow-sand beach and laid-back restaurants and bars.

Canouan is a secluded Grenadine retreat with soft white-sand beaches, coves, turquoise seas, and offshore reefs for snorkeling and diving. Its name comes from an Arawak word for turtles; turtles nest on windward sands amid coral reefs, sea fans, and tropical fish. On the southern leeward coast, Charlestown is the main settlement, with a natural anchorage for sailboats and yachts. Mount Royal offers scenic hiking trails and tropical wildlife.

San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital, blends old and new. Founded in 1521, it was a key Spanish colonial port; El Morro still guards the harbor. Old San Juan, behind thick stone walls, keeps blue cobblestone streets, plazas, and colorful heritage buildings, and serves as the island's cultural hub. Nearby Santurce is the trendiest district, with shops, restaurants, and nightlife. Minutes away, Condado and Isla Verde offer iconic palm-lined Atlantic beaches.