The world has given you 35 reasons to plan a vacation in thebrbeautiful waters of the Caribbean. Each island has its ownbrpersonality, and although you can swim, dine and sleep on anybrof them, your experience will be unique wherever you choose tobrsink your toes in the sand.
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The Bahamas: Paradise Island
This is a chance for your family to get lost in paradise. Conveniently locatedbrabove the water (unlike the myth) the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in thebrBahamas is a place for the whole family to experience the epitome of fun inbrthe Caribbean sun. A city of sorts by the sea, the resort boasts a waterpark,brmore than 20 restaurants and 19 bars and lounges, a casino, spa, golf coursebrand plenty of shopping.br
The six towers at the Atlantis Resort vary in price point, allowing you tobrbook an affordable getaway or a luxury vacation. The Royal Towers, whichbrmatch most closely the architecture of the iconic city, are middle of the roadbrwhen it comes to pricing, but you really won't be making any sacrifices—bryou'll still have six suite styles to choose from. A big bonus to staying in thebrRoyal Towers is you'll be in close proximity to the Aquaventure water park.br
With 141 acres of waterscape, the park features more than 20 millionbrgallons of water, Atlantean-themed towers, high-speed water slides, a mile-brlong river ride with rolling rapids and wave surges, 20 swimming areas andbra kids water-play fort. Oh, and there are 11 unique swimming pools if youbrwant to leave the adventure-ing to the kids and spend your time in a privatebrpoolside cabana. AtlantisBahamas.com
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Grand Cayman
A visit to the famous Seven Mile Beach on the west side ofbrGrand Cayman will put you in the right place (one of thebrCaribbean's most beautiful beaches) at the right time (evenbrat peak tourism times, this almost endless stretch of sandbrtends to be the least populated of the region's beaches).br
The Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort is locatedbron the seven-mile stretch and “captures the relaxing andbrcasual seaside ambience of island living.” The resort offersbr273 luxury guest rooms and 22 suites. Hungry? A fullbrAmerican-style breakfast is served each morning, or youbrcan choose to dine at one of the restaurants onsite. The resort also features a spa and fitness center, and a beachside pool.brHowever, a stay at this resort encourages more time exploringbrthe island, rather than just sitting in your poolside cabana.brMarriott.com
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Located not too far north from the Marriott resort, the CaymanbrTurtle Farm is a one-of-a-kind, 23-acre adventure marine park thatbrcelebrates Caymanians' relationship with nature through tactilebrand educational experiences. Park visitors can swim and snorkelbrwith fish and other marine life in the facility's 1.3 million-gallonbrsaltwater lagoon. Cayman Turtle Farm is home to more thanbr11,000 green sea turtles, ranging in size from six ounces to 600brpounds each. In addition to the fun it provides guests, the parkbralso houses a world-class research and educational facility thatbrfocuses on the conservation of sea turtles. Turtle.ky
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U.S. Virgin Islands: St. Thomas
Although it is described as the most cosmopolitan of the U.S.brVirgin Islands, St. Thomas still boasts that laid-back Caribbeanbrculture that allows visitors to set their own pace for this islandbrvacation. Home to the famous Charlotte Amalie Harbor, the islandbrhas a variety of hotels and resorts. However, because of its centralbrlocation to many of the activities on the island, The Frenchman'sbrReef & Morning Star Beach Resort by Marriott is a great placebrto set up home base. With harbor, garden and island views,braccommodations are only steps away from the beach.br
Dining options at the resort include a number of topnotchbrchoices that cover all the bases. The Havana Blue at MorningbrStar Beach Club has been ranked in the top five of many travelbrand food publications. The restaurant serves Latin America-brmeets-Pacific-Rim fare, and is an upscale, no-bathing-suit-attirebrestablishment. In other words, you must make reservations, andbra visit probably makes for a great date night sans kids. However,brthere are a number of casual grilles for grabbing a quick bite forbrbreakfast or lunch. Marriott.com, HavanaBlueRestaurant.combr
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Guests at the Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Beach Resortbrby Marriott will find their stay on the south side of the island putsbrthem at arm's reach of many activities St. Thomas is famous for,brsuch as St. Thomas Adventure Tours. A locally owned and familyoperated business, the facility specializes in guided excursions ofbrprotected bays, coral reefs and beaches. You can swim with sea turtles,brsnorkel over a live coral reef, or kayak along the coast to experiencebrthe beach views from a whole new perspective. Even if you have nobrprior experience, the guides are always in and on the water to assistbrguests during the tours. In addition, all tours and excursions can bebrcustomized according to preference and abilities. Transportation isbrprovided and photos are included with every tour.
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And there is something to be said for exclusivity. According tobrMichelle Felder of St. Thomas Adventure Tours, “Our guests see morebrthan they would on most other tours as we have one guide per sixbrguests, and we are the only operator at all-snorkel location, so they arebrnever crowded.” StThomasAdventureTours.com