Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with Haiti and is the larger and more affluent country on the island. Home to the oldest city in the "New World," as well as to Christopher Columbus and generations of his descendants, this tropical paradise offers equal measures of history and culture to its famous sand, sun and surf. While beautiful scenery and incredible weather are constants across the island, each city or town has a flavor all its own. Santo Domingo is the capital and home to much culture and history. Playa Dorada is known for all-inclusive resorts and is a great place to relax and enjoy the ocean. Cabrera, and specifically Playa Grande, has some of the finest golf and arguably the best beach in the world, but also some incredible freshwater lagoons. The Samana Peninsula is great for whale watching, and don't miss a visit to the incredible El Limon waterfalls. And for the young, hip crowd, Cabarete is a great spot for adventure and water sports by day as well as clubs and discos by night. There are also some open-air markets to stroll, with artists, vendors, sculptors, and many quaint little restaurants and cafes. Even though the all-inclusive resorts and exciting nightlife give the Dominican Republic a definite allure for adults, this is a great vacation spot for families as well. Kids will love all the activities on the island, if you can ever get them off the beach. Your family can try some horseback riding, surfing, boogie boarding, wake boarding, water skiing, kiteboarding, ocean kayaking, mountain biking, and canyoning, as well as several great water parks, jungle river tours and glass-bottom boat tours. If you're looking for a chance to get away, soak up some sun and find island adventure, look no further than the Dominican Republic.