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.

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.

From duty-free shopping and Seven Mile Beach to the Cayman Islands National Museum, Pedro St. James National Historic Site, Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, and a rum distillery tour, this quaint capital offers something for everyone.

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.