New York to Miami

Bonnaire is one of the ABC islands in the Netherland Antilles of the Caribbean Sea. Excellent diving is found here in the clear waters.

The capital of St. Barthelemy, Gustavia is purely French. Though named after a Swedish king, Gustav III, and still retaining some of its Swedish influence, the small group of inhabitants are mostly young, very chic and very French.

Cricket, anyone? This is the sort of thing one is likely to hear in this teddibly, teddibly British isle–or, to be accurate, collection of 150 islands, the six largest of which are connected by bridges and causeways.

Though most proximate to North Carolina, the islands retain a distinctly British flavor, dotted with traditional pubs and somewhat formal, in a friendly sort of way (short shorts are a no no, and bathing suits are appropriate only for bathing).

Residents are known as “onions,” after the sweet, succulent Bermuda onion that was an enormous part of the islands’ economic base a century ago. Now the big business here is tourism, and it’s thriving, no doubt due to the turquoise waters and incredible scuba diving afforded by the surrounding coral reefs. There’s much to enjoy, and taking a tour is an excellent way to get yourself oriented.

Key West, (wèst) city (1990 pop. 24,832), seat of Monroe co., S Fla., on an island at the SW end of the Florida Keys, c.150 mi (240 km) from Miami, 90 mi (145 km) from Cuba. It is the southernmost city of the continental U.S., a resort and artists’ colony and fishing center. Winslow Homer painted there; Ernest Hemingway, whose home is a museum,
wrote there.

Each of its five boroughs is a county: Manhattan (New York county), an island; the Bronx (Bronx county), on the mainland, NE of Manhattan across the Harlem River; Queens (Queens county), on Long Island, E of Manhattan across the East River; Brooklyn (Kings county), also on Long Island, on the East River adjoining Queens and on New York Bay; and Staten Island (Richmond county), an island SW of Manhattan across the Upper Bay.

The nation’s largest city, New York is a major U.S. port, the country’s trade center and with its banks and stock exchanges, the financial center of the world.

Theaters, nightclubs, shops, and restaurants draw millions of visitors. With all the sights to see, New York is sure to be a fun filled getaway!

They called it worthless. That’s right-the Spanish explorer Alonzo de Ojeda, who claimed Aruba for Spain in 1499, said the island wasn’t worth colonizing. What could he have been thinking? With beautiful beaches, fine snorkeling and watersports, today’s visitors to Aruba enjoy fabulous nightlife, delicious local seafood, and the genuine friendliness of Aruba’s unique population.

The Spanish may not have been impressed, but the Dutch were. Arriving in force in 1634, they’ve entwined their culture, language and cuisine with that of the natives, giving the island a flavor all its own.

The island is now home to fabulous resorts, a golf course, a casino and outstanding shopping. The scuba and snorkeling in the clear waters is world famous.