Situated right at the tip of South America and surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, the Caribbean is not just the top playground for the Americas, but also boasts movie-set beauty, coconut tree-clad mountains, verdant valleys of sugarcane and bananas, and seashores galore. Even the cities here radiate with glorious architecture and the towns dotting the region had been established long before the automobile.

Caribbean islands are soaked with South American culture and influenced with a hint of the European. There are world-class hotels, resorts, restaurants, activities, attractions, and shopping. More than fifty island destinations are waiting for you to come and explore the extensive directories of accommodations and activities. To top it all off, the Caribbean Islands are famous for exotic warm weather.

Consider these top picks when planning your awesome Caribbean island vacation:

The Bahamas: New Providence

Most visitors assume that this area is called "Nassau". The island is the site of the nation's capital, named after the Dutch Prince of Orange-Nassau in 1695 after he took over the British throne. About two-thirds of the Bahamian population lives on the island is New Providence, and millions of dollars are invested in the areas of Nassau, Cable Beach, and Paradise Island. New Providence has recently established a name for itself as one of the premier Caribbean island destinations.

Considered an offshore financial hub, New Providence is most noticeably a fabulous shopping bazaar and Caribbean island travel destination. Stroll along the world-famous Bay Street and side streets and relax in the Caribbean carnival atmosphere. Or visit one of the outer islands of the Bahamas -- the famous Nassau and Paradise Island, linked to each other by a bridge.

Visitors find all sorts of treasures in the Bahamas, but it's most popular for the true island groove. The soul and essence of the Bahamian culture is the drumbeat. The drum establishes the heartbeat of all national music, including Junkanoo, rake 'n scrape and goombay.

Vacation in Bermuda

Bermuda is an isolated paradise located right in the middle of the great chasm, in the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe. This, combined with a history of English settlement, creates an island with a culture as unique as its topography.

This Caribbean island destination is spotlessly clean, quaint, orderly, and extraordinarily beautiful. Imagine pink and green. Pink for the pastel shades that cleanse this 21-square mile island. And green for the color of money that Bermuda's offshore banking and insurance sectors produce. Plus, it is only a convenient two and a half hour flight from most major cities on the U.S. east coast.

Bermuda lacks the slums, outside advertisements and fast food outlets that spoil so many other vacation destinations. You won't miss these modern conveniences, which pale in comparison to the many glorious sights of this Caribbean island travel destination. From the colonial architecture of the tidy homes that line the streets, to the fragrant tropical flowers, Bermuda is every bit grace and splendor.