| This winter, the cold blasts and driving snow aren't just | | | | rich fishing areas, calm waters for boating and |
| hitting the usual spots. Virtually every region of the U.S. | | | | kayaking, and even a manatee preserve. |
| mainland has been hit my major winter storms, with | | | | U.S. Virgin Islands: The Virgin Islands, east of Puerto |
| significant snowfall being seen as far south as | | | | Rico, are split into an American side and a British side. |
| Atlanta-all within the first official month of winter. If | | | | The American side, which happens to be larger than |
| you've been affected by this weather, you may be | | | | the British, includes the beautiful and bustling capital of |
| dreaming of warmer climates by now. But what if you | | | | Charlotte Amalie set in the middle of the biggest island, |
| don't have a passport, or what if you just don't have | | | | plus many lovely bays, beaches, and smaller outlying |
| the money to travel long distances? | | | | islands. In addition to the picturesque inland territory, the |
| You don't have to go far to enjoy a luxuriously warm | | | | main island of St. Thomas has miles of perfect |
| tropical vacation. Plus, you might be surprised by how | | | | white-sand beaches. |
| far you can go without your passport. Read on, and I'll | | | | Winter high temperatures average in the upper 80s, |
| fill you in on a few of the top tropical spots in U.S. | | | | and there is barely any rain in the months of January |
| territory. | | | | through March. Across from St. Thomas, you can also |
| Hawaii: Hawaii is the first place that comes to most | | | | visit the island of St. John, containing the Virgin Islands |
| people's minds when they think of tropical islands in | | | | National Park. |
| U.S. territory, and for good reason. Hawaii is a | | | | Northern Mariana Islands: The Northern Mariana Islands, |
| genuinely one-of-a-kind island chain, with some of the | | | | a commonwealth in union with the U.S., is an island |
| most beautiful beaches in the world, plus complex | | | | chain about 2000 miles south of Japan, and about |
| natural landscapes that afford visitors boundless | | | | 3000 west of Hawaii. For visitors, the top activity in the |
| opportunities for adventure. Visiting Hawaii during the | | | | Northern Mariana Islands is scuba diving. Divers can |
| winter is the perfect way to rejuvenate your spirit with | | | | swim through vast coral reefs, swarms of life, and |
| some fun and relaxation. | | | | wrecks left over from World War II. |
| Florida and the Keys: In January, the average high | | | | Guam: Guam, an island territory at the south of the |
| temperature in Key West-the southernmost point of | | | | Mariana Islands, featuring picturesque towns, friendly |
| the lower 48 states-is 75 degrees. It doesn't get much | | | | people, and beautiful, isolated beaches. For visitors |
| nicer than that. And much of southern Florida is the | | | | from the U.S. mainland, one popular destination is the |
| same. The Miami metropolitan area has a winter | | | | War in the Pacific National Historic Park, which contains |
| climate similar to San Francisco in July, and the | | | | former battlefields, trenches, and historical structures |
| western gulf coast is similar. The Fort Myers area in | | | | from the World War II battles that took place on |
| particular is ideal, with its beautiful white sand beaches, | | | | Guam. |