The Caribbean Island of the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is the place to go if you are wanting a wide range of things to do on a vacation that includes land and sea. The island of the Dominican Republic offers great ocean activities, great beaches, cosmopolitan cities and lush tropical forests..

The most visited resorts in the Dominican Republic are Bavaro and Punta Cana which are spread out along the beautiful beaches. The reason for this is that these resorts are great for families offering plenty of activities and many all-inclusive deals that make the pricing for a vacation right.

All day long here there is plenty to keep you occupied such as, kayaking and snorkeling after which you can enjoy activities on the beach or just laze.

Most resorts here offer special attractions and amenities that are specifically targeted at children for example, at Club Med Punta Cana the kids club is one of the largest on the island and offers three different sections to accommodate different ages. Kids at this club can enjoy a water feature with small wading pools and fountains. They also have access to miniature versions of basketball courts, tennis courts and mini golf.

A popular activity amongst kids at the Club Med Punta Cana is to take the circus lessons. Kids can learn how to juggle and fly the trapeze amongst many other circus skills.

Now at the Paridisus Palma Real you will find they have gone one step further offering a private check-in which includes activities for the children whilst you fill out the paperwork. Families are given walkie talkies so that they can communicate wherever they are at the resort. And of course there are lots of activities for all the family to take part in such as, catamaran classes and horse back riding.

For those wanting a more upscale vacation then the Dominican Republic is for you too. Dominicans do have a way with finer things with luxury resorts, aged rum and quality cigars being among local specialties.

Cap Cana is a newer development and has become one of the more luxurious spots on the island. This resort has been constructed on an absolutely perfect stretch of beach and comprises several boutiques, luxury resorts and restaurants. Seeing is believing where Cap can is concerned.

To discover the birthplace of the Dominican Republics famous cigars (said to rival the Cubans) you will need to travel inland to Santiago. Santiago is surrounded by 600,000 acres of tobacco farms. It is here that the cigar aficionado can visit cigar factories such as Fabrica Anilo de Oro where you can see the leaf-rolling and may be given a complimentary cigar or two. At the Pinar del Rio Tabacalera you can even learn to roll your own..

Another luxury product that you can enjoy on the Dominican Republic is rum. The capital of Santo Domingo is home to the famous Barcelo rum distillery and is really worth a visit. Other sights to see here include the oldest cathedral in the Americas, the Catedral Santa Maria de la Encarnacion, the Alcazar de Colon and of course the grave of Columbus which is inside the Columbus Lighthouse.

The Dominican Republic is also for lovers with its beautiful serene beaches. And the place to go would be La Romana which combines romantic resorts with a wide variety of attractions that are both man-made and natural.

The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean island that offers the quintessential island experience.

Source: Continental Airlines Guide to the Caribbean