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With an average temperature of 75 degrees and 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Fort Lauderdale’s gorgeous beaches are just the beginning of the city’s attractions. Venturing into the water allows for scuba diving, deep-sea fishing or an airboat tour of the Everglades with a live gator show. Often called the “Venice of America” for its many canals and waterways, Fort Lauderdale is also a lovely place for a stroll. A trek along the Riverwalk reveals a tropical landscape lined with restaurants, art and entertainment and continues down Las Olas Boulevard for a posh shopping spree.

Closer to Cuba than to Miami, the southernmost city in the continental United States can feel like a country all its own. Home to free spirits, scuba divers and six-toed cats, Key West is defined by its quirky charm. People go barefoot, chickens roam the streets and eclectic culture rules. Architecture lovers will appreciate classic Caribbean villas, unique Keys conch houses and Victorian and Queen Anne gingerbread homes. Shopping opportunities range from many music and book shops to trendy designer boutiques.

St. Lucia’s capital, Castries is a busy working port on the island’s northwest coast. City sights include the vibrant murals of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the lively Castries Market, a source for crafts as well as the fruits and produce that feature prominently in the island’s celebrated Creole cuisine. Just north of Castries, Pigeon Island National Park is home to two beautiful beaches and the ruins of the British-built Fort Rodney, whose hilltop lookout offers incredible views over the northern part of the island and the surrounding seas. Outside the capital lies St.

Canouan is one of the Grenadines’ most exclusive retreats, a rugged, hilly island of soft white-sand beaches, secluded coves, sparkling turquoise seas, and extensive offshore reefs perfect for snorkeling and diving. Its name comes from the Arawak word for turtles, which regularly nest on the windward sands and are part of a vibrant marine eco-system of hard and soft corals, sea fans and colorful tropical fish. On Canouan’s southern, leeward coast, Charlestown is the main settlement, set on a lovely natural anchorage that shelters sailboats and yachts.

Bequia is known as the Grenadines’ “big” small island for its captivating combination of great natural beauty, classic Caribbean experiences and unhurried ambience, all in just seven square miles. The capital, Port Elizabeth, is a yachting town with a village feel, set on the scenic natural anchorage of Admiralty Bay. At the bay’s western end, Princess Margaret Beach is one of the island’s many stunning stretches of sand. Turquoise waters and colorful reefs ring Bequia, offering great snorkeling and diving. A hike in the forested, hilly interior is rewarded with views of St.

A Prohibition-era haven for rum runners, a paradise for sports fishermen and a gambling destination just two hours from Miami, the islands of Bimini have long benefited from their proximity to mainland Florida. The adventures of writer Ernest Hemingway and other famed anglers sparked the transformation of the Bahamian outpost into a destination in the 1930s. Fishing remains a major draw, alongside the hotels, casinos and nightlife that are concentrated along North Bimini’s beautiful beaches.

Barbados is a sophisticated tropical beauty steeped in English heritage and enlivened by the warm Bajan culture. In the capital of Bridgetown, the well-preserved Old Town and historic Garrison district represent an impressive British legacy designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. The island’s lush interior is largely covered in forest and fields of sugar cane, a source of prized rums and great colonial fortunes. Attractions include restored great houses, a wildlife preserve, the underground formations of Harrison’s Cave, first-rate golfing and some 60 beaches of incredible variety.