Curaçao
There’s nowhere quite like this Dutch-Caribbean island, which has a uniquely cosmopolitan culture that’s part African and part European, yet authentically Caribbean. While there are more than 30 beaches to welcome your bum, visitors shouldn’t miss a trip to the Punda district in the capital of Willemstad, where the island’s iconic pastel-painted buildings line the waterfront, and the 19th-century Queen Emma swinging bridge connects Punda with the Otrobanda neighborhood. You and yours will need at least a day to explore the more than 4,000 cacti-studded acres of Christoffel National Park, where you can hike to the summit of Christoffel Mountain and cross your fingers for a sighting of one of only about 200 remaining Curacao White-Tailed deer. In late September, Curacao Pride Week is an inclusive celebration of love with beach parties, cultural events, and a joyful parade through the streets of the capital.
Where to stay: Baoase Luxury Resort has 23 Bali-inspired villas, suites and rooms (some with outdoor tubs and showers) designed and built by the couple who owns it.
Grand Cayman
Just an hour’s flight from Miami, Grand Cayman is the perfect long weekend getaway for time-pressed, sand-seeking twosomes. Recreational scuba diving was popularized here back in the 1950s, but now there are plenty of other reasons to visit the largest of the trio of Cayman Islands. Lively Seven-Mile Beach is a well-deserved fixture on best beach lists, and nearby petite Smith’s Cove is an oasis for swimmers who prefer a more secluded experience. On the island’s northern tip, Rum Point Beach Club is where the Mudslide was created, so belly up and sample one (or three!) of the more than 400 signature vodka-based drinks they serve each day. And no visit is complete without a trip to Stingray City, a sandbar where you can plunge into chest-deep water to pet and hand-feed Southern Atlantic rays. (Local lore says that if you’re brave enough to kiss one, you’ll always return.)
Where to stay: Smack on Seven-Mile sands, the 266-room Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa has a literary-themed lounge that’s perfect for late-night cocktails.
