Eastern Caribbean cruise

Wide white-sand beach backed by neon Art Deco hotels — busiest, and best for people-watching, between 5th and 15th Streets.

Pastel 1930s hotels with porthole windows and neon trim, packed into a few square blocks — worth a guided walk for the history.

Open-air museum of large-scale murals by international street artists, anchoring a neighbourhood of galleries and breweries.

Cuban coffee windows, cigar rollers and domino players at Máximo Gómez Park — go for a cortadito and stay for the music.

An Italian Renaissance-style villa built in 1916 on Biscayne Bay, with formal gardens and a stone barge just offshore.

The unofficial city hall of Cuban Miami — go for a ropa vieja plate or just a window cortadito and pastelito.

Pastel colonial buildings and blue cobblestone (adoquine) streets inside 500-year-old city walls — the most walkable historic core in the Caribbean.

A six-level Spanish fortress guarding the harbor entrance since 1539, with sweeping Atlantic views from the ramparts.

The largest fortification the Spanish built in the Americas, connected to El Morro by the old city walls.

The only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest system, with waterfall hikes to La Mina and coquí frogs singing at dusk.

One of two bars claiming to have invented the piña colada in the 1950s — order one and judge for yourself.

A tree-lined promenade along the old city walls with a fountain and Atlantic sunset views over the bay.

A sweeping, sheltered white-sand bay on the north shore with calm water, a bar and loungers to rent; taxis run from the pier.

Ferry over to St. John for the underwater snorkel trail at Trunk Bay in the Virgin Islands National Park; leave plenty of time to get back.

Danish colonial streets, duty-free shops and the brick 99 Steps up to Blackbeard's Castle with harbour views.

Easy shore snorkelling over reef and tropical fish, next to Coral World's underwater observatory.

Underwater observatory tower and touch pools; a good choice with kids or on a rainy port day.

Long white-sand beach on Paradise Island with calm water, loungers and water-sports rentals.

Colorful seafood shacks serving cracked conch and conch fritters, with local beer and music.

Largest of Nassau's forts, with dungeons and ramparts overlooking the harbor and a short tour.

66 steps carved by hand into limestone by enslaved people, with a waterfall and tropical garden at the top.

Handwoven baskets, hats and crafts in a covered market near the harbor; bargaining is expected.

Interactive museum with life-size ships and exhibits on the pirates who made Nassau their base.

Half-day boat trip to a calm reef and quiet beach just off Nassau, with a beach lunch.

Waterfront open-air mall right by the port with live music, Cuban snacks and boat tours of Star Island.

Sunset cruise past Star Island mansions and the Miami skyline — a good non-beach way to see the water.

A causeway ride to a quieter island beach with a 19th-century lighthouse and views back at the Miami skyline.

Waterfront contemporary art museum with hanging gardens designed into the building itself — a solid rainy-afternoon option.

An hour west to the sawgrass marshes for an airboat ride and a close look at wild alligators.