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Subscribe to RSSTODAY's Sara Haines makes Batik sarongs, shakes a traditional cocktail and shows how you can add adventure to your vacation by island-hopping across the Bahamas.
Ready to expand your horizons? Chart a new path to paradise with this guide to the lesser-known gems.
Slideshow: See the islands to escape to
Curaçao
Best for: Social butterflies and sun-worshippers.
The largest and most cosmopolitan of the Dutch-allied ABC Islands (along with Aruba and Bonaire), Curaçao also has some of the region's best weather — it lies outside the storm-prone Hurricane Belt.
Dominica
Best for: Adventure junkies and solitude-seekers.
Dramatic, rain-forest-cloaked peaks, bubbling volcanic lakes, excellent diving and a 115-mile-long hiking trail that leads from one end of the island to the other. The drawback? No direct flights from the U.S.
Grenada
Best for: Just about anyone.
The Spice Isle has every tropical flavor: mountains, forests and waterfalls: black- and white-sand beaches; laid-back, affordable guesthouses; and bucolic villages that haven't been tarnished by tourism.
Montserrat
Best for: Thrill-seekers (that volcano's still technically active).
Check out the Soufrière Hills volcano (it created a modern-day Pompeii out of the former capital in 1995) from the observatory or just enjoy the empty beaches, lush hiking trails and robust marine life.
St. Kitts
Best for: History buffs and animal-lovers (vervet monkeys hang around some beaches).
Long in the shadow of pricier Nevis, St. Kitts is home to a thriving West Indian culture and remarkably preserved architecture. A few 17th-century plantation homes have been converted to inns.
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shame on you for not including any of the united states virgin islands in this article! you can have an exotic caribbean vacation and still keep your dollars in the USA- a priority in this economy! st. croix, usvi has gorgeous beaches, danish architecture (we bought the islands from denmark in 1917) tons of history (columbus landed there, alexander hamilton was raised there) great dive walls, artisan shopping, rum factory tours. best of all you are still in the united states.
Chart a new path to paradise with this guide to the lesser-known gems.
All for keeping dollars in the USA, but read the article!! It’s the “lesser known gems”, not the overly priced and overly visited gems.
have you heard of st. croix? before now that is?
Shouldn't we all avoid the islands? I mean MSNBC has run countless stories on how man made CO2 is going to melt all the ice and raise sea levels and drown a bunch of islands.
But then MSNBC runs stories on how we are supposed to put more man made CO2 in the air and visit these islands.
Even the Maldives is doing it. The Maldives is the poster child for the threat of rising sea levels. The Maldives government has staged underwater demonstrations to highlight how endangered the islands are from mans thoughtless production of CO2. But the Maldives is also building new airports and resorts to bring even more tourists to the islands. But more tourism will mean more CO2. The very same CO2 that they claim is going to destroy their nation.
I wish MSNBC would decide where it stands. If it believes in man made global warming then it should get rid of its Travel section and even berate President Obama when he recently mentioned increasing tourism along the Gulf coast.
Or if MSNBC believes that tourism is good and that people ought to take vacations and travel and spend money then it ought to take a good hard look at the newest studies and data (really read the climategate emails perhaps?) that show man made global warming to be a scam and run reports on that.
Economy, Pour yourself another cup of hot chocolate. Mix in some Peppermint Schnapps. Turn on FOX Noise and rub your belly for luck. Cause with 7 Billion people and counting man made warming is about to come knocking on your door. Better make sure it's locked securely.
Lordy lordy. Leave it to the right wingers to complain about a simple little vacation 'top 5'. Must you suck the fun out of everything?
Grenada is the definition of Paradise! Thanks MSNBC.
Stay away from the Gay Hating Island of Jamaica at all costs! And forget about the Bahamas...gay haters too!
St. Kitts is beautiful, but the vervet monkeys who are so popular with tourists are also (sadly) trapped and exported to research and testing labs in the U.S. Visit StolenFromParadise.com to learn how you can help stop this cruel trade.
St. Kitts is a beautiful unspoilt island. Breathtaking views, secluded beaches, fun beach bars, friendly locals and historical plantations/ruins.
Visit www.lizpereirastourstore.shutterfly.com for a variety of activities.
I lived on Dominica for 2 years as a child; then went back to visit as an adult while on leave 1 time during Navy Nurse Corps days. Very primitive when I was a kid--we lived on the most rugged& primitive side of the island. It was high adventure, gorgeous, & "my island"--the place I most considered "home" among the places I've I've lived & would beagain if I could go back to live & work there in some capacity; but not feasible now. The people are wonderful--generally joyous & generous & hospitable, despite their poverty. The simple life is so refreshing.
St. Kitts is a beautiful island! My family and I visit at least once a year. The suspense of my debut mystery novel, Desperate Measures, takes place on St. Kitts. Among the twist and turns of the plot I cover some of the beautiful landmarks and history of the island, such as Brimstone and Black Rock.
Cindy Cromer
www.cindyhuefnercromer.com