Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1173720
AACREDITUNION.ORG | 23 FLOAT OFF THE DEEP END IN THE GRENADINES One of the last outposts to awaken to Caribbean tourism, the 32 isles stretching from St. Vin- cent to Grenada that make up the Grenadines have always been a best-kept-secret in yachting circles. Pristine sandy coves. Storybook old har- bors. Isolated coral reefs. Traffic-free cays with postcard looks hanging off the Atlantic rim of the Caribbean Sea. St. Vincent is the obvious gateway into the Grenadines. You can plant yourself there or take off on an unforgettable sailing adventure through some of the most out-there hideaways in the Caribbean, which include Canouan, Bequia and the Grenadian island of Carriacou. Even farther out are the Tobago Cays, a group of mirage-like isles shielded from the Atlantic Ocean by a horseshoe barrier reef where the diving is superb and the "crowd" is just you. Full-service yacht charter companies can provide the keys (and access to virtually everything that floats) to one of the outer Caribbean's most pristine nautical kingdoms. discoversvg.com SEEK PURE CONTENTMENT IN CURAÇAO Few compact tropical islands offer as broad a range of hassle-free amenities and diverse attractions as oft-overlooked Curaçao. Start in the historic hub and capital of Willemstad, a lively port and UNESCO World Heritage Site lined with sherbet-hued, Dutch Colonial architecture, 17th-century forts converted into inviting restaurants and shops, a "floating" market and the island's 350-year- old Punda commercial district — a shopper's nirvana. Curaçao's developed southwest coast is furnished with alluring splashy attractions. Its oceanfront Sea Aquarium lets you safely pet and hand-feed sharks and a nearby Dolphin Academy gets guests swimming with bottleno- ses in a saltwater lagoon. There may be no better Caribbean island for a fun-for-all road trip with requisite curbside he Caribbean. One destination can connote several things at once: rest and relaxation; luxury and romance; adventure; and warm, turquoise-hued freedom from windshield- ice-scraping latitudes. The only thing better than saying, "Caribbean" is saying, "I'm headed to the Caribbean." All of those picture-perfect Caribbean destinations are a surprisingly quick flight and entire world away. Here are just a few — of many — you should include in your itinerary. Island service American Airlines offers more than 108 weekly flights to 38 destinations during peak season. The airline will be the first U.S. carrier to serve St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVD) with nonstop year-round service from Miami International Airport, which starts in December. Enjoy direct flights to Aruba (AUA) from Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New York and Philadelphia. American also offers nonstop service from Grand Cayman (GCM), Providenciales and Turks and Caicos (PLS).