THE LARGEST ANDMOST
developed of
Honduras’ Bay Islands, Roatán is renowned as
a scuba destination—it’s located just off the
continental shelf, along the world’s second
longest barrier reef, and rays and sea turtles
are impressively abundant—but there’s plenty
more. With its casual vibe, sandy streets and
low prices, the West End is ideal for travelers
looking for a Jimmy Buffett–esque experience,
while the more upscale West Bay area offers
luxury accommodations, haute cuisine and
Roatán’s world-famous powdery, alabaster
sand beaches. If non-marine creatures are
more your thing, Roatán also has a popular
iguana farm and a tropical butterfly garden, at
which you can learn, among other things, that
the “common owl” is more common than it is
owl. (And is, in fact, a butterfly.)
ROATÁN, HONDURAS
MOUNTAINTOP GOAT PENS;
golden moscato
vineyards; ancient mule paths that weave
through chestnut trees and flowering juniper;
swaths of wild violets that surge across rocky
outcroppings to touch the Mediterranean.
Elba is southern Italy in miniature, right down
to the food and the historical intrigue. And
speaking of the latter, you’re probably won-
dering about that whole Napoleon business.
Yes, the famous French emperor was exiled
to this former mining island for nearly 10
months in 1814–1815; today, you can visit the
two sprawling estates from which he directed
vast improvements to the island’s transporta-
tion, education and health infrastructure.
Mostly, however, Elba is known as a place
for vacationers with a penchant for kayaking,
mountain biking, windsurfing, climbing and, of
course, wine drinking. Exiled, indeed.
ELBA, ITALY
