8 Nights - Southern Caribbean Halloween Cruise - Celebrating 25 Years of LGBTQ Business

Miami, Florida

Miami is a sparkler of a city set against the water. It was originally settled at the mouth of the Miami River by the Tequesta Indians, and the downtown area still hugs the junction of the river and Biscayne Bay. To the south along the water, Coconut Grove is 3 mi/5 km away. The cities of Coral Gables and South Miami are approximately 6 mi/10 km to the west and south. Beyond that to the west is Kendall—a vast stretch of condos, homes, shopping malls and restaurants that reaches the edge of the Everglades. To the south is Homestead and, beyond that, the Florida Keys. Miami Beach is a finger of land separating Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic, connected by five causeways to the mainland. At its southern tip is South Beach, now known as the Art Deco District or SoBe.

Miami is a right now kind of city. Its history is short, so there isn’t much in the way of antiquities. What’s interesting about Miami is its neighborhoods: Little Havana, Miami Beach, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, among others.

You’ll probably need a car—or a series of taxis—to get around in spread-out Miami. If your time is limited, we suggest you concentrate on a few sights. But if you have a day or more, you’ll have time to tour downtown and then branch out to the delightful diversities of Greater Miami.

At Sea

Enjoy the whole day at sea.

At Sea

Enjoy the whole day at sea.

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

St. Thomas is one of the premier shopping spots in the Caribbean. The Danes declared it a free port in 1724, and it’s been a magnet for bargain hunters ever since. Good deals are to be had on designer clothes, gold jewelry, gemstones (set or unset), china and glassware, cameras, watches, leather goods, perfume, porcelain and liquor. But don’t assume everything is a bargain—check sale prices at home beforehand so you’ll know a deal when you see one. The best prices are on electronics, cameras, and watches—if you know what you are looking for (down to the exact model). If the price seems too high at one store, try bargaining. If it still seems too high, leave and visit another store.

St. Thomas has a number of attractions other than shopping. Many of them center around the island's views. Popular sites for viewing the sights include Mountain Top, Drake's Seat, the Estate St. Peter Greathouse Botanical Garden, and the Paradise Point Tramway. On a clear day, one can see islands, a top-down view of Charlotte Amalie, sailboats, and the deep-blue water of the Caribbean.

St. Thomas has some nice beaches. One should avoid deserted stretches, however, because crime is a concern. The more populated and safer beaches will satisfy visitors. Magens Bay is the island's most famous beach. Sapphire Beach faces the neighboring island of St. John. The beach is beautiful and the views are great. Coki Beach is both attractive and a good spot for snorkeling.

Tortola

Tortola. The main island of the BVI, Tortola (tor-'tO-l&) (see road map) means "Turtle Dove

Basseterre, St. Kitts

Discover a peaceful setting virtually untouched by tourism on the island of St. Kitts. Visit Brimstone Hill Fort, an impressive construction atop Mt. Liamuiga that is one of the wonders of the Caribbean.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

An island under two flags, St. Martin/St. Maarten is French and Dutch. Philipsburg is on the Dutch side and famous for its duty-free emporia and casinos.

A short drive will bring you to Marigot, a charming French Colonial outpost featuring shops filled with French fashions and imported Gallic goodies, as well as beautiful beaches.

Gustavia, St. Barts

Gustavia is the main town and capital of the island of Saint Barthelemy. Originally called Le Carenage, it was renamed in honor of King Gustav III of Sweden.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Old San Juan is stunning. Narrow streets lined with colorful Spanish colonial buildings are punctuated with shady plazas. Giant wooden doors grace the facades of the oldest buildings (some date back 500 years), most of which have undergone facelifts recently. Bougainvillea spills off balconies. Around every corner, you’ll find a new treat: an old Spanish wall, a tiny chapel, intricate street statuary or a marker noting an historic event that took place at that spot. You could easily walk the cobblestone streets for hours and not be bored. But you’ll likely miss something you’d regret later. So arm yourself with a map and select a few places that interest you most; then walk or catch a trolley to as many sights as you can visit without rushing. Allow time to rest in one of the shady parks or plazas and enjoy a pineapple piragua (snow cone).

Historic San Juan comes alive in a city and rum distillery tour. Spend a full day swimming and exploring the rainforest. During the evening, let the night reverberate with the Latin rhythms of a Rumba Show.

With so many jewelry stores in Old San Juan, you’d think that jewelry would be a bargain. Think again. Check the prices at home, so you’ll know if you’re getting a deal. In general, shopping in Puerto Rico is no bargain, and goods aren’t duty free, although U.S. shoppers won’t pay sales taxes as they would at home.

For the best buys, stick to local arts, crafts and—of course—rum; most other products can be found cheaper elsewhere.