8 Night Aruba, Curacao & Grand Turk

Fort Lauderdale lies along the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the New River, 25 miles north of Miami. Its warm tropical weather attracts many people throughout the year. For sun-worshippers, the city has six miles of beaches. There are also many recreational waterways with extensive boating facilities, access to every conceivable watersport, a variety of fascinating museums and trendy restaurants, and an array of entertainment venues.

There's a place for those who want to slow the pace of life. That place is Grand Turk, the capital of the Turks and Caicos. That's not to say that shore excursions on Grand Turk don't run the gamut from horseback riding to stingray swims to catamaran tours—and one of the biggest draws here is diving, with the islands lying along the third largest barrier reef in the world. But traffic is sparse, and with a population of less than 4,000, everybody really does know everybody else's name. There are no fast food restaurants or chain hotels. You may even see a horse or donkey, once a means of transportation during the days of Grand Turk's salting industry, roaming along Governor's Beach or through the narrow alleys in historic Cockburn Town.

Curaçao is the largest of the six islands that comprise the Netherlands Antilles. It gained autonomy from the Netherlands in 1954, but the Dutch influence is still very visible in Willemstad's architecture and culture. With the growth of the oil industry in Curaçao in the early 20th century, workers and their families came to the island from more than 50 countries, providing a varied and vibrant population. Everyone should experience the sights, sounds and energy of this unique destination.

Fort Lauderdale lies along the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the New River, 25 miles north of Miami. Its warm tropical weather attracts many people throughout the year. For sun-worshippers, the city has six miles of beaches. There are also many recreational waterways with extensive boating facilities, access to every conceivable watersport, a variety of fascinating museums and trendy restaurants, and an array of entertainment venues.