Vieques and Culebra

Although the rest of Puerto Rico rings with the adrenaline rush of Latin America, this pair of palm-ringed islands has the laid-back vibe of the Caribbean. It's understandable when you realize that Vieques and Culebra, off the main island's northeastern coast, are also a stone's throw from St. Thomas and St. Croix. Most famous is Vieques, in the headlines for years when protests led to the shutdown of a much-derided U.S. military base. Development is coming in fits and starts, with boutique hotels and trendy eateries that wouldn't be out of place in Miami Beach. Culebra is even more off the beaten path. It's lack of infrastructure -- only one of the lodgings has more than a dozen rooms -- means its never gets too crowded, which keeps beaches like beautiful Playa Flamenco pristine.