Curacao

Curaçao, the "C" in the ABC islands, offers historical towns, untamed fields, and lots of outdoor recreation. (The other islands that up the westernmost islands of the Leeward Antilles are Aruba and Bonaire.) Willemstad, the capital and largest city of Curaçao, resembles an Old World European city that has been dropped in the Caribbean. Dutch colonial structures with vibrant colors reflect pinks, yellows, and blues into the emerald St. Anna Bay. As soon as you leave the city, the scenery changes to a desert setting with spiky aloe and mesquite growing on top of aged limestone cliffs.

The beach is Curaçao's main lure, though. Beautiful beaches and coves surround the island, their azure seas gently lapping against the pristine white sand. The reefs on Curaçao are teeming with marine life and provide fantastic diving and snorkeling destinations. The semi-arid island benefits from being protected from the worst of the Atlantic storm season. You can spend the entire year outside thanks to the gentle trade winds that maintain temperatures in the mid-80s.

• Country: Bonaire and Curacao