Travel

Old San Juan echoes with centuries of history, dating back to the arrival of Christopher Columbus on the island in 1493 and the massive 16th-century Spanish forts overlooking the sea.

An explosion of scarlet, purple and other vivid colors of lush tropical foliage sets off a gleaming white sand beach that rims the azure sea.

It took scant minutes after arriving on Martha’s Vineyard to get a fix on what the island is all about.

Every family member enjoyed tasting five mini-bars. We allowed the chocolate to melt on our tongues, as instructed, while trying to distinguish a wine-like list of textures (from smooth to granular), smells (including woodsy and fruity) and tastes (citrus, coffee, nutty).

Myrtle also has history-rich towns, reminders of southern plantation life and intriguing cultural tidbits.

Lying on a white sand beach at the edge of the turquoise sea, I could have been at any Caribbean destination.

Dressed in their distinctive “plain people” attire, the Amish offer for sale a variety of fresh-baked breads and pies, homemade fudge and other hard-to-resist, diet-busting foods.

At first glance, the setting is typical of France. A young boy saunters by carrying a long loaf of bread. Patrons at an outdoor café sip wine and speak in rapid French that defies my menu-level prowess.

If you are a fan of our country’s national parks, you’re in good company. More than 300 million people – about equal to the entire U.S. population – enjoy the National Park system every year. And 2016 is a special year, because the National Park Service is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The words “national parks” often conjur up images of soaring landscapes and dramatic terrain, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Among the more than 400 units in the park system are smaller, lesser-known sites around the country that have their own special appeals. They include magnificent scenery, overlooked chapters of American history and intriguing learning experiences.

In Gilroy, California, people line up to purchase watermelon, ice cream and chocolate, all of which are laced with fresh, pungent garlic. Underwater divers off Florida’s Looe Key are serenaded by sounds ranging from a song sung by the Beatles to the high-pitched call made by humpback whales.