Hot Spots: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Thinking about a winter escape to a sun-splashed beach where you can park yourself in the sand? How about San Juan, where the average daily temperature is a balmy 80 degrees.You can hit the beach at Condado, Isla Verde or Ocean Park, among other sandy outposts, and soak up the rays. Or if you're feeling adventurous, try a little windsurfing, kiteboarding, or scuba diving. If beach-bumming isn't your thing, San Juan offers the allure of a major city. In Old San Juan you can visit one of the western hemisphere's oldest churches, Iglesia de San Jose, or head to the Museo de Nuestra Raiz Africana to see the influence of Africa on Puerto Rican culture.

When the sun goes down, Puerto Rico's nightlife goes into high gear for everyone with options raging from traditional to modern. Dance the salsa or merengue into the night; taste Puerto Rico 's saborcriollo, or local flavor; win big at the black jack table; and watch live shows and theater. Known as the "Dining Capital of the Caribbean," Puerto Rico offers everything from criolla dishes to international cuisine. Puerto Rican cuisine, a blend of Taíno (the indigenous people of Puerto Rico ), Spanish and African traditions, gives diners the opportunity to experience the island through exotic and unique ingredients and flavors. An island favorite, tostones, fried green plantains, is enjoyed alone or as a side dish for mogongo, another ubiquitous delicacy of mashed plantains and meat or seafood in a delicious garlic and tomato-based sauce. For a little spice in any meal, local pique, the native hot sauce, is found in many restaurants.

To satisfy and please virtually every palate, restaurants run the gamut of international options from pizza to fine French cuisine, many with a tinge of Puerto Rican flavors. Trois Cent Onze lures some of the most demanding foodies for provincial cuisine of southern France . Parrot Clubis an inspired Nuevo Latino location that has long been popular with locals and also offers a vibrant nightlife. It's neighbor, Dragonfly, blends Asian influences with Nuevo Latino ingredients. Restaurant Pikayo, located in The Puerto Rico Museum of Art and known for setting culinary trends, offers a splendid combination of traditional Puerto Rican cookery and a touch of Cajun. Criollo cuisine is also found at Ajili Mójili, located in Condado, where guests can partake of a unique and tasty voyage and gain insight into the island's culture.

After dinner, Puerto Rico 's nightclubs and discos invite visitors to dance, listen to Latin rhythms and enjoy the island's friendly people. The ancient city of Mesopotamia comes to life at Babylon , a disco located in the Wyndham El San Juan Hotel. With a balcony that surrounds the central dance floor, guests are placed at "center stage," the place to be as the sounds of salsa, merengue and popular music fill the dance floor and the crowd with high energy. Rumba Night Club, located in Old San Juan, is a casual ambience place to dance at the rhythms of rumba and salsa music. Located in Isla Verde, The Water Club Hotel is home to the hottest spots in town, Wet Lounge and Liquid Bar. Wet, the rooftop lounge is a great place to have a drink and relax in a cozy environment while enjoying soft music. Liquid is the lobby bar featuring Jazz, Brazilian and R&B rhythms in water-themed surroundings. Other hot spots for nighttime Puerto Rican fiestas are Martini's Nightclub (located at the San Juan Grand) and El Chico Bar (located at the Wyndham El San Juan).

Puerto Rico 's casinos draw visitors with the hope of fame and fortune. From black jack to roulette tables to poker, visitors are invigorated by the prospect of winning big. The Casino at The Ritz-Carlton, the largest in Puerto Rico , combines decorative elements of the 1940's with rich and brilliant tropical colors to create an exquisite casino setting. The San Juan Grand Beach Hotel & Casino provides visitors with an escape into a captivating world. Guests become awestruck by the glamour of the casino's enormous Murano chandelier. Gamblers can also strike it rich at other casinos including the Sheraton Old San Juan & Casino, the Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino, the Radisson Ambassador Plaza Hotel & Casino, and the newest casino, the Stellaris Casino at the San Juan Marriott Resort.

Several venue offer options for visitors interested in catching dance, theater or musical performances. The Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré, located in Santurce, houses a festival hall, drama hall and experimental theater. The historic Teatro Tapia, built in 1832, hosts a variety of staged productions and cultural events. LeLoLai music and dance performances are a permanent fixture on the island and are a great introduction to Puerto Rican culture. Five different shows take place during the week in different sceneries.