San Juan, Puerto Rico

FLIGHT: 3½ HOURS

2 Despite a series of natural disasters and economic struggles in recent years, Puerto Rico’s tourism industry is back in full swing and boasting several new hotels, including Palacio Provincial ($219 and up, Calle Cristo esq. Calle San Francisco, Old San Juan, 787-425-0164, palacioprovincial.com), an elegant 43-room luxury hotel in a 19th-century Colonial building with a rooftop bar and swimming pool.

Forgo the seaside resorts where tourists flock, and visit the beach where the locals go at Playa Ocean Park (free, Calle General Patton, Ocean Park). Be sure to bring some cash so you can rent a lounge chair and buy snow cones, empanadas and ice cream from roving vendors. On the way there, stop at Kasalta Bakery ($12-$25, 1966 Calle McLeary, 787-727-7340) to pick up Cuban sandwiches and pastries for a picnic lunch.

Santurce es Ley (facebook. com/santurceesley) is a grassroots arts initiative that has produced an incredible display of street murals over the years by artists from around the globe in Santurce, a working-class neighborhood and arts district. Spend a couple of hours strolling along Calle Serra from Avenida Juan Ponce de Leon to Avenida Las Palmas. When the sun goes down, hit lively, casual Esquina Watusi ($1$8, 801 Calle Cerra, 787-388-7434) to hang out on the street corner drinking Medalla beer and people watching.

For a unique fine dining experience, Cocina Abierta ($16-$39, 58 Calle Caribe, Condado, 787-9461333, cocinaabierta.net) serves seasonal small plates that combine Puerto Rican cuisine with global flavors, such as mofongo (mashed plantain) with Peking duck.

PHOTOS BY SUZANNE VAN ATTEN/ FOR THE AJC As opposed to seaside resorts for tourists, Playa Ocean Park is where the locals go to the beach in San Juan, while a street mural by Dominican artist Angurria (left) is among those that can be seen in Santurce, a working-class neighborhood and arts district.