Located in the southern Caribbean just 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela in South America, the Dutch island of Aruba has a little something for everyone, whether you enjoy relaxing in the sun, seeking out adventure or shopping in high-end stores. The capital city of Oranjestad, on the island's western shore, features a mix of stores ranging from high-end clothing and jewelry to stores that feature local Aruban crafts. Oranjestad also contains the liveliest nightlife scene on the island with several popular bars and clubs.
For those that prefer adventure to shopping, Aruba's rocky eastern coast is the perfect setting for an ATV tour, riding up along the coast until it gives way to a barren, cactus-lined desert. Aruba is also a great place for parasailing and jet skiing, and offers miles of beautiful white sand beaches. If you are just looking to relax in the sun, the island's year-round average temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit is perfect for doing just that.
St. Maarten, an island that is split down the middle and owned by both the Dutch on the south half of the island and the French on the northern half, is a vibrant and colorful island that takes its influences from many different cultures. Featuring a number of picturesque beaches, rolling hills and mountains that jut up from the horizon, St. Maarten is an island that offers everything from sunsets for relaxing to rainforests where you can zip-line through the trees high above the ground below.
For one of the coolest experiences on the island, visit Sunset Beach Bar on the Dutch side of the island right by the runway of Princess Juliana International Airport. Here you can sit on the beach and watch as jumbo jets come in for a landing, no more than 50 feet over your head. After that, you can visit one of the many delicious restaurants on the island featuring either Dutch or French cuisine and then hit the casinos or clubs at night.
The most well-known of the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to caribbeantravel.com, St. Thomas is a top vacation spot for tourists all over the world. The island's capital city, Charlotte Amalie, is a bustling port city dating all the way back to the 18th century days of pirates. Today is a popular docking spot for cruise ships. During the weekend as many as four cruise ships can be docked in Charlotte Amalie Harbor at once, flooding the downtown shopping area with tourists. The island also features beautiful beaches such as Magens Bay with picture-perfect views and great locations to snorkel, fish or scuba dive.
Containing nearly 700 islands and spread out over 100,000 square miles of ocean just south of Florida are the islands of the Bahamas. An independent island chain with its own self-sustained government, free from the rule of the British parliament since July of 1973, the Bahamas are a great destination for lovers of sun, relaxation and delicious seafood.
The capital of the Bahamas is Nassau, located on the island of New Providence and features Atlantis, one of the largest and sought-after vacation resorts in the world. Containing its own private beaches and one of the largest outdoor aquariums and water parks in the world, Atlantis is an ideal vacation spot and favorite place for adventure enthusiasts and families alike.
