{"id":17806,"date":"2021-03-17T21:48:54","date_gmt":"2021-03-17T21:48:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carnival.com\/awaywego\/?p=17806"},"modified":"2022-02-01T18:25:52","modified_gmt":"2022-02-01T18:25:52","slug":"no-passport-needed-tropical-u-s-destinations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carnival.com\/awaywego\/travel\/no-passport-needed-tropical-u-s-destinations","title":{"rendered":"No Passport Needed: Tropical U.S. Destinations"},"content":{"rendered":"

No passport? No problem!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Looking for somewhere truly tropical that\u2019s still part of the United States? While you’re probably thinking of Hawaii<\/a>, there may be more options than you realize! Not only are these three islands warm all year, they also qualify as domestic travel. So no passport, no customs required\u2014just fun in the sun!<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are the top attractions you\u2019ll find in our top three passport-free warm weather destinations:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
A tropical rainforest in the United States?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Puerto Rico<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

In this tropical American territory, be sure to check out:<\/span><\/p>\n

The jungle<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Did you know Puerto Rico has the only tropical rainforest in the United States? El Yunque is near San Juan, and it\u2019s great for jungle exploration! Hiking trails, natural pools, and tropical animals are everywhere (like the coqui frog), but the crown jewel is La Coca Falls, once thought to be the fountain of youth.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The forts<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Puerto Rico is home to, not one, but two massive, 16<\/span>th<\/span>-century Spanish forts. Castillo San Felipe del Morro at the tip of the city is the most famous and you can learn about its history in battles at the museum. Fort San Cristobal is the largest Spanish fortification in the Americas\u2014plus it offers an incredible ocean view.<\/span><\/p>\n

The food and drink<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

There\u2019s no shortage of delicious eats in Puerto Rico\u2014like traditional beef empanadillas (thicker empanadas). But you\u2019ve gotta try a national favorite, \u201cMofongo.\u201d It\u2019s a mash of not-yet-sweet plantains, garlic, and pork rinds shaped into a ball and served in a broth with beef or even octopus. And if you like pi\u00f1a coladas, order the national cocktail with the island\u2019s famous Bacardi rum.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
St. Thomas offers quite the views!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

St. Thomas<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

In the \u201cgateway to the Caribbean\u201d, you\u2019ll want to experience:<\/span><\/p>\n

The beautiful bay<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

The gorgeous, crescent-shaped Magens Bay has the go-to beach and clear blue water that\u2019s perfect for taking a tropical dip. For even better views, trek up Skyline Drive to the highest point on the island, where you can see the entire bay and neighboring islands on the horizon.<\/span><\/p>\n

The underwater adventures\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Whether you prefer snorkeling or scuba diving, St. Thomas is the spot. The island reefs are home to sea turtles, manta rays, and parrot fish. But what makes it unique? Shipwrecks! Besides the beautiful coral reefs, fish make their home in the many submerged vessels of St. Thomas, so snorkel above them or dive down for a closer look.<\/span><\/p>\n

Duty-free shopping<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Who doesn\u2019t love a good deal? St. Thomas is called the \u201cduty-free shopping capital of the world,\u201d so you\u2019ve got to scope out the stores. Head to the many local shops in the downtown area of Charlotte Amalie to find jewelry, island rum, and crafts for souvenirs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Did you know Key West is only 90 miles from Cuba?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Key West<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

While part of Florida, this island is often called, \u201cthe Conch Republic,\u201d and is actually a closer distance to Havana than Miami. It\u2019s also a stop on <\/span>mini cruises<\/span><\/a> from Miami to Cozumel! Don\u2019t miss:<\/span><\/p>\n

Historic houses:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a second \u201cwhite house\u201d in the U.S. and it\u2019s in Key West. Really! The \u201cLittle White House\u201d was frequented by President Harry S. Truman and he even issued official documents there. You can learn everything about the LWH\u2019s history in the present-day museum. But a more popular Key West home belonged to the famous writer Ernest Hemingway and visitors will learn about his life, books, and his six-toed cats.<\/span><\/p>\n

Smathers Beach:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Sun, surf, umbrellas, and food trucks\u2014what more could you ask for? Key West\u2019s largest public beach is lined with palms for a Caribbean feel and offers spectacular sunsets. Once you plop down in the sand, you won\u2019t want to get up. But if you do and are feeling active, you can also<\/span> rent kayaks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Key lime pie:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

These \u201ckeys\u201d go together. In fact, Key limes are named for the Florida Keys! For the best pies? Visit Kermit\u2019s Key West Key Lime Shoppe for perfectly tart, sweet treats. And the options go beyond pies to sauces and marinades, so you can kick up your cooking at home!\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"No passport? No problem! Looking for somewhere truly tropical that\u2019s still part of the United States? While you’re probably thinking … read more<\/a>","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":17808,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-caribbean","category-travel"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNo Passport Needed: Tropical U.S. Destinations<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carnival.com\/awaywego\/travel\/no-passport-needed-tropical-u-s-destinations\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"No Passport Needed: Tropical U.S. Destinations\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"No passport? 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