5 Must-Sees of Puerto Rico

With the polar vortex not taking a hint and leaving, it's cold here in Indiana. So cold I forgot what it feels like to be warm. I'm going to take a walk down memory lane, however, and reminisce about our week-long getaway to Puerto Rico this past Thanksgiving.

The palm-tree lined beaches of Luquillo and Culebra coupled with fresh seafood and island music provided the perfect island getaway. With temperatures in the 80's and the sun always shining, we didn't hesitate to enjoy every last minute of our vacay.

Puerto Rico has been a commonwealth of the United States since before the 1900's. It's home to American-style roads, many American retailers, such as Shoe Carnival and Walmart, and English is an official language, along with Spanish. The U.S. dollar is the currency, and if you're American, you do not need a passport to visit. I found the mix of Spanish language, Caribbean life, and American influence to create such an interesting, vibrant feeling.

The following Puerto Rican gems are in no particular order, but are all worthy of a visit.

1. El Yunque National Forest

El Yunque National Rainforest overlooking Luquillo

As the only rainforest in the U.S.,  El Yunque National Park provided a tropical fauna-filled backdrop to a morning hike. We took the 25 minute trail to La Mina Falls, a very easy hike suitable for families with children of all ages. Our destination, the falls,had a natural pool for wading. Make sure to get an early start though because not soon after we arrived, so did a swarm of other tourists. On your way out of the park, stop for a refreshing coconut at the snack shack.

Sara, Derek & Adam in the falls

Love the foliage!

We had to stop for fresh coconuts on the way out of the park. They were chopped open with a machete.

2. Local Cuisne - Mofongo

Mofongo

After looking around on Trip Advisor, we settled on El Rincon del Sabor, a local restaurant in the back of a local souvenir shop, with the owner as our waiter and the food prepared by his wife. There was not much seating, but we snagged a table and enjoyed a Puerto Rican specialty- Mofongo. Comprised of mashed plantains and a delicious meat sauce, the meal was flavorful and unique. Other local dishes include fresh seafood and pina coladas!

Coconut Shrimp & Rice

3. Culebra

Playa Flamenco

Puerto Rico has two large islands off of its northeast coast - Culebra and Vieques. Both are easily accessible from the harbor of Fajardo. For less than $5 roundtrip, we cruised to Culebra and visited the world famous beach - Playa Flamenco. If you're in the mood for powder white sand, crisp blue sky and water that holds numerous shades of blue, then go here. Disappointment is not possible, unless of course you miss the ferry in Fajardo. I recommend arriving to the ferry terminal atleast an hour before departure. We took the early ferry to Culebra (and even saw a sea turtle along the way!) and after a 10 minute taxi ride to Flamenco, we settled under a palm tree and wished the day would never end.

4. Old San Juan

Exploring the vast fields of El Morro

You can't visit the island of Puerto Rico without visiting Old San Juan for at least a day. Resembling a small European town but with more heat, Old San Juan satisfied all of our shopping and sightseeing needs for the trip. The town has two forts - Castillo de San Cristóbal and  Fort San Felipe del Morro. El Morro, the more popular of the two forts provided sweeping views of both countryside and sea. Stand on the fortress walls and imagine incoming ships appearing on the horizon.

Old San Juan emanates a friendly, vibrant feeling of Caribbean life and Puerto Rican hospitality.

Exploring the walls of El Morro

El Morro

Quaintness of Old San Juan

5. Luquillo Beach

For a relaxing, calm beach close to San Juan but away from the touristy crowds, visit Luquillo Beach. We stayed in the small town of Luquillo, about 5 minutes away from this expansive park. With a rainforest view to our left and calm, warm water to float in, we spent a wonderful Thanksgiving Day soaking up the sun and relaxing on this well-known beach. For a quick, local lunch, visit one of the 60+ kioskos outside of the park perimenters. You can't go wrong with a Puerto Rican taco or empanada!

Playa Luquillo

I've really only brushed the surface of this magnificent island. For accomodations away from the tourist areas of San Juan, I recommend this condo unit. I'd also highly recommend renting a car, it's the only convenient way to get around the island. For a more detailed look at our trip to Puerto Rico, read my sister's blog.