The rule requiring passports for travel outside the United States has caused many American families to look to U.S. territories for a Caribbean vacation, namely
Puerto Rico
and the
U.S. Virgin Islands
, says Kyle McCarthy, editor of Family Travel Forum, an online company that has four family-travel publications.
"More and more, parents want a historic or cultural element in addition to beach, and Old San Juan has fortresses and historic monuments," she says. "Kids will be exposed to a foreign language, yet English is common, so that's the best of both worlds."
El Yunque
rain forest
provides a perfect ecological snapshot. An area on the north shore called Dorado has undergone a lot of development recently, and competition has meant good prices, McCarthy says.
St. John
, which is much less developed than
St. Thomas
or even
St. Croix
, is McCarthy's second choice for families in the
U.S. Virgin Islands
because of its combination of good beaches, water sports and historical plantations and gardens.
If passports aren't an issue, McCarthy recommends
St. Lucia
. "It's very lush, has a small rain forest, a small volcano. The
Piton Mountains
are good for hiking, and they have great water sports." It is lightly developed and draws European families, so the children will be exposed to a variety of languages and cultures. The downsides: You'll likely have to take a small plane to get there, and the roads aren't very good.
Kids who are
Pirates of the Caribbean
fans might get a kick out of visiting the
Bahamas' Grand Bahama Island
, where the last two movies in the series were filmed, and
New Providence Island
to check out the Pirates of Nassau Museum. If you want a taste of Disney gone educational, the Atlantis resort on
Paradise Island
will fill the bill. It's big and a bit pricey but filled with activities for kids and teens, including a recently expanded water park.
St. Kitts
and
Nevis
also get high marks for families, because of such well-preserved natural attractions as a lush rain forest, dormant volcanoes, and a friendly, safe atmosphere.
Jamaica
has many activities that children will enjoy, and some resorts will provide a nanny and/or a kids' club. If you plan to spend most of your time inside a resort, safety is not an issue, but it's not the best of islands for cruising around on your own with children.