| Aside from its Major League Baseball fame, | | | | 2600 BCE. Since then several waves of |
| the Dominican Republic is an intriguing | | | | Antillean people have come and gone until the |
| retreat of colonial history amid progressive | | | | Spanish conquest in 1492. Indigenous culture |
| development and tranquil white beaches | | | | can still be observed in the very remote |
| fringing mountainous wilderness. World | | | | central mountain ranges of the island, but |
| renowned resorts dot the Punta Cana coastline | | | | the populations are sparse. Santo Domingo and |
| of the Dominican Republic while the nation | | | | the second largest city of Santiago offer |
| claims the oldest city in the New World, | | | | several museums, festivals and art exhibits |
| Santo Domingo, along its southern shore. For | | | | dedicated to the history of the island as a |
| such a small nation, it is fairly easy to | | | | whole. |
| book cheap and convenient airfare to the | | | | |
| Dominican Republic through any of the four | | | | From Dancing to Diving in the Dominican |
| international airports; however, most | | | | Republic |
| travelers will find airfare to the Dominican | | | | |
| Republic through the capital of Santo Domingo | | | | For a less cultural journey to the Caribbean, |
| or the resort region of Punta Cana. | | | | the ideal destination for most is the eastern |
| | | | coast of Punta Cana and the surrounding |
| Geographically, the Dominican Republic shares | | | | turquoise and white island communities. Spend |
| the island of Hispaniola with the independent | | | | your days lavishly lounging in a resort |
| nation of Haiti. While two very independent | | | | designed by Oscar de la Renta near Tortuga |
| nations today, the history of the island is | | | | Bay or take part in some killer windsurfing |
| far less clear cut. The first European | | | | and kiteboarding on the breezy waters of |
| settlement of the New World was established | | | | Cabarete. Family friendly all-inclusive |
| on Hispaniola after Christopher Columbus | | | | getaways are sprinkled among vacation rentals |
| landed in today's Dominican Republic. Santo | | | | in the outlying areas for the more |
| Domingo is the landing site of Columbus as | | | | independent, outgoing types (or those who |
| well as the original colonial center ruled by | | | | prefer a secluded beach experience). |
| Columbus' brother Diego. The Museo | | | | |
| Alcázar de Colón is a | | | | There are also several options for nightlife. |
| fantastically restored museum within Diego's | | | | Funky bars serve tropical drinks with a twist |
| original home. The French were granted the | | | | and decked out discos play an eclectic mix of |
| western third of the island now known as | | | | beats and rhythms. The exotic dance known as |
| Haiti. | | | | Meringue also originated in the Dominican |
| | | | Republic and many hotels and clubs offer on |
| Dominican history dates back earlier than | | | | the spot lessons for beginners through |
| most of the Caribbean islands, possibly to | | | | advanced. |