Share this page on

WHAT'S OLD IS NEW

Although Old San Juan is filled with colonial architecture, it's also bustling with modern restaurants, shops and nightlife. Save some time to wander the streets, browse galleries full of local art, and grab a bite to eat and some refreshments-including a piña colada at Barrachina, which claims to be the birthplace of the coconut-y drink.

GET FORTIFIED The amazingly preserved colonial city of Old San Juan, with its magnificent architecture and cobblestone streets, is home to two fortresses: San Felipe del Morro, more commonly called "El Morro," on the west, and San Cristóbal on the east. Built on San Juan Bay in 1539, El Morro helped prevent seaborne enemies from entering the harbor, while the 27-acre San Cristóbal-the largest fort ever built by the Spanish in the Caribbean-protected the city from those approaching by land.

STAR SEARCH Part of the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center, Arecibo Observatory (www.naic.edu) is the site of the world's largest single-dish radio telescope. (At 1,000 feet wide and 167 feet deep, it covers an area of about 20 acres.) Also the world's most sensitive radio telescope, it is used to research radio and radar astronomy, and observe the solar system. At the visitor center, check out interactive exhibits and learn a bit about astronomy and atmospheric science.

ANIMAL HOUSE About 20 minutes from Cabo Rojo, get up close and personal with the creatures at Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo (www.parquesnacionalespr.com) in Mayagüez. From butterflies and bugs to zebras, lions and elephants, the island's only zoo has it all.

Lessons in History

Ponce, Puerto Rico's second largest city- also known as "La Perla del Sur (Pearl of the South)"-was a center of international commerce in the 1800s.

When visiting, be sure to check out the Serrallés Castle (www.castilloserralles.org). The architectual marvel was built in the early 1930s for the city's wealthiest family and features a tranquil Japanese garden.

Before Ponce was a center of trade, it was home to the Igneri tribe (predecessors to the Taínos). Discovered in 1975, the area now known as the Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center dates to 25 AD and is the oldest ceremonial complex discovered in the Antilles. Its museum houses artifacts from this prehistoric culture, as well as a reconstructed village.

DID YOU KNOW? Ponce Museum of Art (www.museoarteponce.org) was designed by Edward Durell Stone, who also created New York City's Museum of Modern Art. It's currently undergoing extensive renovations, but the temporary gallery at Plaza Las Americas (www.plazalasamericas.net) in San Juan is a worthwhile alternative. While at the mall, browse the more than 200 stores, including the only Macy's in the Caribbean.

• Fast Pass

  For the new AirTran Airways routes to Montego Bay, Nassau and Aruba, you’ll need a passport. Luckily, getting one fast has never been easier.
  read more ›
  
  

• MAP QUEST

  YOUR MISSION: TO NAVIGATE NEW YORK LIKE A PRO. THESE GUIDES WILL HELP YOU HIT YOUR STRIDE.
  read more ›
  
  

• YOUR OWN PRIVATE ISLAND

  Have you ever dreamed of packing up, retreating to a remote slice of the world and escaping everyday life for a while?
  read more ›
  
  

• A new take on museum tours

  A new take on museum tours
  read more ›
  
  

• What's coming up in 2009

  What's coming up in 2009
  read more ›
  
  

• The List - Asheville

  
  read more ›
  
  

• On the Town - Indianapolis

  
  read more ›
  
  

• Mission Control

  Creating a direct, powerful company mission statement can help your bottom line.
  read more ›
  
  

• What's in Storage

  Don't toss out old emails and files like yesterday's garbage. With easy-to-use archiving sysems, saving has never been simpler or more valuable for your business.
  read more ›
  
  

• Biz Bits

  Surf the web from practically anywhere with wireless routers specifically designed for mobility.
  read more ›