CARIBBEAN & BAHAMAS

Warm shallow waters and golden sandy shores provide the picture postcard setting of the Caribbean. The Leeward Islands – situated away from the trade winds – harbor Antigua, a destination for nesting Hawksbill Turtles, and the twin volcanic peaks of Nevis and St. Kitts. Be sure to drop anchor off Greta Garbo’s favorite isle, the chic yachting hub of St Barts, now prized for its legendary sailing regatta.

In contrast, the bountiful Windward Islands possess the unspoiled charm of the Grenadines, Princess Margaret’s beloved Martinique and St Lucia’s mighty Pitons. Bathe in mud baths, stroll through botanic gardens and find romance on Grenada, the fragrant Spice Isle.

The soaring peaks of the subtropical Virgin Islands are favored for their plentiful diving opportunities. The islands are divided between British and United States colonies, though only a handful are inhabited. Climb Mount Sage on Tortola. Cruse Sir Francis Drake’s Passage to Norman Island. On beautifully preserved St. John, encounter silvery horse-eye jacks. When it’s time to swim with the pigs, head to the sunbaked Bahamas. Sandy-bottom bays lined with wreck dives and coral reefs abound. Just a stone’s throw from the sunshine state of Florida, the balmy Bahamas make white sandbar picnics your everyday reality.