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If you’ve developed a taste for the flavors of the Caribbean during your cruise, stop at this small spice shop to take some home with you. It’s hard to miss, since it’s located upstairs from the ferry dock. The owners hand-mix most of their signature spice blends. The top seller, Cruz Bay Grill Rub, is a potent dry rub that combines nutmeg, cinnamon, fennel and other spices. The shop also sells island-made candles, rum balls and hot sauces—but watch out for the one made with searing Scotch bonnet chili peppers, a favorite in the Caribbean.

Cape Renard, which lies on the south side of the entrance to Flandres Bay, is known for its distinctive rock outcroppings known as Una Peaks. The cape was discovered in 1898 by the Belgian Antarctic Expedition under Adrien de Gerlache and was named for Professor Alphonse Renard, who was renowned for his work on the structure and mineral composition of igneous and sedimentary rocks. Una Peaks, also known as Cape Renard Towers, are two towers of basalt, each topped by a cap of ice.

At the mouth of the Amazon, Marajó is the world’s largest fluvial (that is, river) island. With an area of 40,100 square kilometers (15,500 square miles), it is just a little smaller than Switzerland yet with a population of only some 250,000 residents. During the rainy season, much of this flat island becomes a vast lake. It is a popular destination for surfers, given the large waves created by the island’s tidal bore, and bird-watchers, who come in search of colorful species from scarlet ibises to blue herons.

If you’re driving out to the beaches or bars of St. Kitts’ southeast peninsula, make sure to stop for an envy-inducing photo op at the top of Timothy Hill. Up here, your 360-degree view includes the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, Friar’s and Frigate bays, Nevis, and the hilly peninsula itself.

Why we love it: A grande dame of the Gulf Coast with a glamorous history and luxurious amenities to match

The Highlights:
- A spot on the National Register of Historic Places
- Family-friendly amenities like watersport rentals and a kids’ club
- A stunning spa with a rooftop terrace overlooking the beach

The Review:
Known to many as the Pink Palace, The Don CeSar is a beachfront icon. Real estate scion Thomas Rowe built the hotel in 1928 as a tribute to his lost love, turning it into a popular destination for such acclaimed Gatsby era figures as Clarence Darrow and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Following his death in 1940, the U.S. Army purchased the hotel to be used as a hospital and convalescent center for airmen returning from World War II, but let it fall into disrepair after the war. Thanks to locals, The Don was saved from the wrecking ball in 1971, reopened as a full-service resort in 1973, and added to the National Register of Historic Places just a year later.

Today, the hotel continues to preside over the windswept dunes of St. Pete Beach, drawing guests with promises of ocean views and epic sunsets. The setting is so iconic, in fact, that movies like Once Upon a Time in America feature scenes with The Don in the background. The 241 contemporary rooms and 36 suites boast coastal charm, with crisp white linens and louvered windows accented by pops of turquoise and peacock blue. Two outdoor heated pools, a private beach, a game room, and complimentary bicycle rentals keep families entertained, while an 11,000-square-foot spa caters to couples seeking romance. When hunger strikes, guests have their pick of everything from a casual cafe, traditional beach bar, and nostalgia-inducing ice cream parlor, to a poolside grill and award-winning restaurant serving local produce and seafood.

Growing up I did not have access to anything like Disney so for a weekend I too was a kid again and love it :). I loved the rides and I really loved the parade. Both the kids and us were mesmerized by the colors and music. I recommend going during the off season and on a week day. That way the lines are really short and the waiting time is not more than 10 minutes.

A Saint-Tropez institution since the 1950s, La Ponche has served all comers, from luminaries like Picasso and Sartre to fishermen and tourists. The restaurant feels a bit secluded, hidden around a corner in a small square overlooking a tranquil bay. Seafood takes precedence on the Mediterranean-influenced menu. Take your pick among tagliatelle with lobster, grilled prawns, mussels, and the catch of the day, be it sole or sea bass. Outdoor tables with a view encourage sticking around for another bottle of rosé—and should you really get comfortable, there are 18 luxury hotel rooms at your service.

After opening in 2014, it didn’t take SALT Plage long to start appearing on lists of the world’s best beachfront restaurants. At the Christophe Harbour dining destination, guests gather on a palm-shaded deck overlooking White House Bay for craft cocktails and Caribbean fare, served from a corrugated steel bar that manages, like the menu, to project both a casual and sophisticated vibe. Live music and full-moon parties make this the place to be for sunset and beyond.

The Kinnekulle area on the south bank of Lake Vänern is a paradise. Home to 18 nature reserves, the unique geology and chalky soils provides the perfect growing conditions for plants like ramps, ivy and various rare species like wild orchids. Kinnekulle is often referred to as “the flowering mountain.” In May, seeing the white ramps bloom thickly over the lush fields of Munkängarna nature reserve and smelling their subtle scent of garlic is something you just have to experience for yourself. A former chalk quarry at the edge of forest is a lovely picnic spot, and there are a number of fishing holes. There are also many medieval churches in the area, some of which date back to the 12th century.

If shopping is on your agenda, be sure to stop at Mongoose Junction, at the north end of Cruz Bay where North Shore Road heads out of town. The open-air mall is small but attractive, made of local stone and mahogany and landscaped with tropical plants. Mongoose Junction is packed with art galleries, restaurants and boutiques selling locally made clothing and jewelry. Before you leave, check out St. John Scoops, which makes almost 100 flavors of ice cream and sorbet (like mango, passion fruit and salted caramel) and serves them up in hand-rolled waffle cones. Delicious superfood smoothies are on the menu, too.

In the colorful seaside town of Dingle, you’ll find the Chart House, a lovely modern restaurant in a low, stone cottage with a garden that provides many of the goodies found on the menu. Dishes are served with a creative twist, including black pudding wrapped in filo pastry with pear and lime chutney, and roast rack of Kerry lamb with cumin-spiced red onion marmalade. And of course, Dingle Bay is the source for much of what goes into the fresh seafood chowder. The limited early-evening menu, served from 6 to 7 p.m., is a good value.

Only accessible by foot or horseback, Grand Gulch is a tributary canyon where water eventually flows to the San Juan River, which then ultimately flows into the Colorado River and Lake Powell. Home to the Anasazi people between 700 and 2,000 years ago, the area is rife with artifacts, from dwelling structures to artwork—all in impressive condition thanks to the cautious and respectful treatment of those who visited before you. Baskets were among the earliest relics to be found and potsherds can still be discovered here, hidden in the right spots to protect them from the weather.

At the entrance of Lake Izabal stands a stone citadel. Built in the mid-1600s by the Spanish, the imposing structure thwarted thieving pirates from attacking the lake, which was used as a storage facility for transport goods. El Castillo de San Felipe later served as a prison. There are cannons and weapons along with sweeping natural vistas. The site is also home to myriad wildlife, including a variety of monkeys.

The Thompson Hotel, Toronto, opened in 2010 as a modern, translucent glass building soaring above its low-rise, red-brick neighbors and staking a claim as a symbol of glitz and glam in the King West neighborhood. Thanks to its fashionable in-house bars and restaurants, the hotel is a popular fixture both with locals and with the Hollywood set who visit each September for the TIFF film festival. The acclaimed Studio Gaia team designed the rooms, which have bold, dark-wood flooring and hot accents of orange playing off cool white walls. Heated marble floors in the bathrooms, spacious tubs, and sheets with high thread counts all contribute to the sense of luxury, and floor-to-ceiling windows ensure that rooms are flooded with natural light. After check-in, guests can use their room key to access the private elevator up to the rooftop bar, with its 360-degree views of the city. The rotating menu of seasonal cocktails is especially delicious.

Why we love it: A centrally located stay with a homey feel and a floating bar

The Highlights:
- Self-contained cottages that feel like home
- A prime location near the Petite Cavigny marina
- A floating bar for sundowners and live music

The Review:
If you’re looking for a home rental but still want a hotel staff, Le Phare Bleu is the way to go. At this village-style resort, the suites and cottages come with kitchens and living areas for a home-away-from-home feel, plus classic Caribbean decor and wide verandas with hammocks or porch swings. Spread throughout a tropical garden, the villas also happen to be right next to the Petite Cavigny marina—an ideal location if you’re setting off on a sailing trip from Grenada.

Elsewhere on the property, there are two small beaches (though they can be muddy because of the marina); kayaks, paddleboards, and a Hobie Cat for guests to use; and a shared pool. If you’re craving company—and a break from cooking—there’s also the Island Fever Tropical Tavern, which offers food all day and breakfast until 3 p.m. on Sundays (don’t miss the rotis). On Friday evenings, make your way to the floating bar that is the Lightship. A lighthouse boat that was built in 1900 and served for decades off the coast of Sweden, it’s now where hotel guests go to party, with live music, a rum bar, and tasty snacks all night long.