Drawn by year-round warm weather, colonial-era architecture and the freshwater Lake Nicaragua, travelers from around the world are flocking to Granada. Eco-tourists will love visiting the dormant Mombacho volcano, sailing on the lake and ziplining through the trees. Fans of spa treatments and shopping will find plenty to do, too.

This beautiful fishing village is a Nicaraguan gem, a magnet for surfers and sunbathers. At night, the beach still pulses with activity, thanks to a few popular beachfront bars and nightclubs. Surf clubs abound—catch a wave with an expert instructor if you’re a hang-ten rookie, trying to hang with the surfer big boys.

There are no two identical Bahamas holidays. With options as diverse as its 700 islands, the Bahamas may seem schizophrenic: is it a family destination, a place for lovers to sneak away, a gambling mecca, a cruise-afficianado’s chief port of call or a shopper’s world market? The answer is, yes. It’s that, too.