Most of the Caribbean has long since lost its authenticity, being overrun by cruise ships, high-pressure touts and one too many Jimmy Buffet wannabes. But there are still a few places where you can find …

(Originally appeared as a 9/4/12 blog entry at HuffingtonPost.com.) In 1998, I left a boyfriend who admitted he couldn't commit to anything more than putting food in the cat's bowl. We were in our early …

As I walked through U.S. customs down the hall and out the electric doors into the Los Angeles sunlight, I was excited to see my mother. My mother, upon seeing me, both smiled and then …

The Virgin Islands are a great travel destination. While the islands are American territories, accept U.S. dollars, and speak English, there remains an exotic, faraway flavor about them. West Indian culture strongly influences the islands …

As usual, my father disappeared while I was still sleeping. For a second, I wondered what a 65-year-old tourist would be doing alone in the middle of Havana at 8 in the morning. Then I …

Wow. Where to even begin. My grandmother was born and raised in St. Catherine Parish, Jamaica. For as long as I can remember, she's always described Jamaica as "a beautiful and fun place." This summer, …

Stashed high above the brilliant turquoise waters of the Caribbean lies the small village of Nine Mile. Protected from the majority of rum-swilling tourists by a seemly impossible narrow curving road, the hamlet is home …

1. Old San Juan. With its well preserved Spanish colonial-style architecture, Old San Juan continues to charm locals and visitors alike. Lively nightlife can be found in and around the city, and if you like …

It’s easier for Americans to get to Cuba then you might think. There are several points of departure – one of the best is Cancun, Mexico, offering daily flights to Havana. With an abundance of …

One by one, our group of eight slipped into the cool rushing water of Dominica’s Dublanc River. Cool and invigorating, the water rushed by us like soft jets from a Jacuzzi. After a 45-minute trek …

To see the sights of the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System, start by driving on a winding, mountainous road through the lush greenery known as El Yunque in Puerto Rico. If …

The Dominican Republic is a rich tapestry of colors, geography, cultural influences, even climate – all enhanced by a rich history. Upon its discovery in 1492, it was described as a “paradisiacal island of high …

When I think of Puerto Rico, I remember pulsing Latin and reggae music, sunsets that look poured from an artist’s palette, inviting stretches of beaches and colorful towns bustling with shops, art and tantalizing eateries. …

If you thought life in the Caribbean was laid back, Vieques, an island municipality to the east of the Puerto Rican mainland, takes it to the extreme. Most of the island looks and feels like …

As winter’s chilly arms embrace us, my thoughts drift back to sun-drenched days on Grand Cayman’s pristine beaches. Relaxing with a strawberry daiquiri in one hand and an engaging novel in the other, my days …