Chartered in 1839, Galveston Island, located on the upper Texas coast of the Gulf of Mexico, was the principal port into the southwest during the 19th century. This coastal town has experienced a recent revitalization, making it one of America’s newest beach resorts. Better than the beautifully restored Victorian architecture of its historic downtown district, is the southern hospitality of Galveston’s residents.

Long before Cancun became a popular destination, Cozumel was well-known as a diving spot and home to the world famous Palancar Reef, which gives divers the opportunity to view thousands of brilliantly colored fish. Non-divers can kick back on a sun-drenched beach, or enjoy any number of seaside activities, such as shopping in colorful marketplaces or dining in an open-air café.

Tucked between Playa del Carmen and Belize, Costa Maya’s brilliant Caribbean seas, silky sand beaches and verdant jungle appear to be unchanged since ruled by the vast Mayan empire more than 1,000 years ago. The only break in the emerald horizon is the occasional beach hut. Secluded jungle settings lend an air of mystery. Wild twining orchids, bougainvillea and stately ceiba trees abound. Don’t miss the 8-foot-high stucco faces at Kohunlich’s Temple of the Masks or the Grand Pyramids at Chacchoben.

Cruise to Mahogany Bay and you’ll feel like you won the island lottery. With silky-sand beaches and diamond-clear seas, the island of Roatan is one of the Caribbean’s hidden gems. And there’s no better way to experience this natural paradise than on a cruise to Honduras. The largest of Honduras’s Bay Islands is a real beauty, built on a backbone of volcanic rock and ringed by the world’s second largest coral reef. Carnival cruises to Roatan promise superb diving and fishing, plus totally swoon-worthy beaches. The lush landscape of the wildlife reserves and pristine marine parkland of Roatan awaits you on your cruise to Mahogany Bay in Honduras.

Chartered in 1839, Galveston Island, located on the upper Texas coast of the Gulf of Mexico, was the principal port into the southwest during the 19th century. This coastal town has experienced a recent revitalization, making it one of America’s newest beach resorts. Better than the beautifully restored Victorian architecture of its historic downtown district, is the southern hospitality of Galveston’s residents.