Once you’ve settled into your vacation resort and want to explore a little bit, how do you do so beyond just the pool and the restaurants? Here are a few ideas to get you out of your beach chair and off making memories on your own or with your travel mates.
  

      

ADVENTURE—GET YOUR ADRENALINE GOING  

Check your resort’s offerings for day trips or on-site activities that get your heart rate up. Try parasailing, a fishing trip, or a scuba-diving adventure. Renting your own 10-foot speedboat and exploring, snorkeling, fishing, or cruising along the coastline is an excellent option at Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina in the BVI.
   

     

CULTURE—DISCOVER LOCAL TRADITIONS 

Participate in some of the unique traditions and cultural offerings of your destination. You can learn something about the region, see new places, and gain a better appreciation of where you are. Try attending a luau in Hawaii or salsa dancing in Puerto Rico, or learn about the Chorotega Indigenous culture through local artisans and chefs at the Four Seasons Resort in Costa Rica.
   

     

CUISINE—INDULGE IN SOMETHING DELICIOUS

Culinary tastings, cooking classes, food and beverage pairings, and other foodie activities can be a great way to delve into all a resort has to offer. Create a local dish or taste something totally new and different. Resorts like Vista Encantada and Hacienda Encantada in Los Cabos, Mexico, offer classes in salsa making or tequila tasting to entertain both your mind and your palate. It can be fun and satisfying to try new foods.
  

          

NATURE—GO OUT AND ABOUT

Amp up your vacation with nature excursions, like animal-spotting or outdoor exploring. Try a dolphin-spotting trip, a hike, horseback riding on the beach, or snorkeling. At USVI’s Lovango Resort and Beach Club in St. John, as well as St. Lucia’s Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort, you can even join a coral restoration initiative.
  

EDUCATION—ENGAGE YOUR BRAIN

Many resorts offer opportunities to be mentally active, such as learning a new language, and many will also help as you practice using it. Imagine coming home with a useful new skill, or at least the start of one. For example, resorts such as Excellence Cancun offer beginner or advanced classes in Spanish.
  

    

ROMANCE—DO ACTIVITIES TOGETHER TO CONNECT AS A COUPLE

Hop on a tandem bike ride, indulge in a couples massage, book a sunset cruise, have a picnic on the beach, or simply take the time to watch a sunrise or sunset together. Wander the resort’s grounds to discover new areas to relax, or check with the concierge for activities beyond sitting at the pool. At Rosewood Little Dix Bay in the BVI, you can arrange a private beach drop via boat and enjoy your own secluded day of sun, sand, and surf.
  

GAMES—PLAY THE DAY AWAY

Get on your feet and be playful. Try games like golf, tennis, or geocaching. Do an adventure course or play games in the sand, such as giant chess, cornhole, or lawn darts. Games can spark both your silly and your competitive side. Anyone for pickleball at Club Med’s Turks & Caicos or Punta Cana locations?
     

HISTORY—DISCOVER THE STORIES 

Some resorts have historical significance within their properties or nearby. Venture out to local museums, monuments, and historical landmarks to spark your imagination, and to better understand the region. For example, book a room in the Hotel El Convento in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which dates back to the 17th century, and was once a convent for Carmelite nuns.
   

No matter what your interests or activity preferences are, venturing out and exploring beyond your vacation resort can send you home with interesting stories and a host of great memories.