So, you’re ready to escape the relentless cold and snow.  You want to defrost on a toasty beach and float mindlessly in warm azure waters.  You are ready to fall in love with paradise.  It must be time to book a sunny getaway.  Now you just need to choose that perfect spot to warm you, relax you, and entertain you all at the same time.

But true love can be hard to find!  With so many tropical destinations available to us, deciding on one can be challenging, and finding the perfect fit can take years of trial and error.  SO, we’re going to peruse the profiles of some of the most popular locations – Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Florida, LA & Southern California, Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Thailand – to play Sun Destination Matchmaker.

All of these sunny oasis’ are warm and beachy, with plenty of culture, food, and outdoor activities.  But, for the most idyllic beaches, head to  Hawaii, Thailand, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, or Jamaica.  If pop culture is your thing, hit up SoCal or Florida.  For the richest culture and history, explore other-worldly Thailand or close-to-home Mexico.  Outdoor enthusiasts will be happiest in Hawaii, the Dominican, or Costa Rica.  And for extraordinary diving and snorkeling, visit Jamaica, Mexico, Thailand, Dominican, and the Bahamas.  Let’s take a closer look at each, in alphabetical order (so I don’t pick favorites), to highlight some of their best “come hither” features:

Name:  Bahamas
Age:  51
Hobbies:  diving & snorkeling, relaxing on stunning beaches, seeking out secluded coves,  romantic getaways, partying it up with island nightlife.
Looking to Share:

• Andros Reef
  The third-largest barrier reef in the world, with 140 miles of coral, sponge and hidden caverns.  Swim with the parrot fish, moray eels, giant eagle rays, and maybe even the odd sea turtle or shark.  On the far side of the reef, the bottom drops into a 6,000ft abyss known as the Tongue of the Ocean.
• Pink Sands Beach
  This 3.5 mile long stretch gets its hue from thousands of broken coral pieces, shells, and calcium carbonate materials.

Name:  Costa Rica
Age:  194
Hobbies: white-water rafting, kayaking, surfing, scoping out rare birds, hiking, fishing.
Looking to Share:

• Monteverde Cloud Forest
  An almost mythical forest, complete with dripping mist, dangling mossy vines, wild ferns and bromelaids, and gushing creeks.
• Volcan Arenal
  This volcano was dormant for hundreds of years and exhibited a single crater at its summit, covered by dense vegetation. In 1968 it erupted unexpectedly, destroying the small town of Tabacón.
• Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
  Expansive white sand beaches backed by an evergreen forest that grows right up to the high tide line. You’ll also enjoy mangrove swamps, lagoons, and beach vegetation. There are 109 species of mammals and 184 of birds. The park includes 12 little isles just off the coast; these often visited by a number of dolphins and, at times, migrating whales can be observed.

Name:  Dominican Republic
Age:  171
Hobbies: relaxing on white-sand beaches, exploring colonial architecture, dancing and nightlife, diving, snorkeling, and other outdoor activities.
Looking to Share:

• Santo Domingo’s Zona Colonial
  This is the oldest city in the new world. Check out cobblestone streets, and beautifully restored mansions that look as if they are still under Spain’s rule.  Nightlife here isn’t too shabby either.
• Playa Rincon
  This secluded Caribbean beach is one of the most beautiful in the Dominican Republic. The white sand stretches about four kilometers and remains very secluded, far away from any resorts or hotels, only a few restaurants and bars are to be found on the beach.

Name:  Florida
Age:  170
Hobbies:  disappearing on secluded islands, frequenting quirky roadside attractions, rocking out to live music, enjoying gay nightlife, diving (sometimes just snorkeling) through shipwrecks.
Looking to Share:

• Miami
  A mayhem of latin-world expectations.  Visit cigar-filled dance halls with salsa and bolero music, or exclusive nightclubs with latin hip-hop. Enjoy flavours of the Caribbean, Cuba, Argentina, Spain and more.
• Gainesville
  Perhaps due to its strong student population, the city is at the heart of independent music in Florida, having produced numerous musical acts from a variety of genres. The natural surroundings, including parks, lakes and the adjacent Paynes Prairie State Reserve provide a green getaway from the bustle of city life.
• The Everglades
  One of North America’s unsung wild places – a beautiful, rugged, subtropical landscape experienced by a few adventurous souls each year.

Name:  Hawaii
Age:  56
Hobbies:  sipping coconut milk on picturesque beaches, splashing in waterfalls & swimming holes, hiking & backpacking, long scenic drives, enjoying delectable foods.
Looking to Share:

• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
  Hike miles of trails running through this park, crossing lava flows. Go on day hikes, lava-tube adventures and backcountry treks.
• Waikiki’s beaches & nightlife
  With Leahi (Diamond Head) as your backdrop, the calm waters of Waikiki are perfect for a surfing lesson.
• Road to Hana
  Top down, sunscreen on: It’s time to head out along the Hana Highway (Hwy. 36), a wiggle of a road that runs along Maui’s northeastern shore. The drive takes at least 3 hours from Lahaina or Kihei — but plan to take all day. Going to Hana is about the journey, not the destination.

Name:  Jamaica
Age:  53
Hobbies:  diving & snorkeling, jamming to some sweet tunes, playing around in waterfalls & rivers, relaxing at resorts, savoring new foods.
Looking to Share:

• Beaches
  Tiny Lime Cay, only reachable by boat, is perfect for snorkeling and picnics.  Hellshire Beach heaves with Kingstonians and reverberates with loud music and wooden shacks doing a roaring trade in fried fish.  Winnifred Beach (north coast) draws locals with azure waters and weekend parties.  Negril’s white sand Seven Mile Beach is ideal for sun bathing and jet ski.  And diving in Montego Bay is ideal.
• Kingston Nightlife
  Take advantage of Kingston’s nightlife at one of the many nightclubs and lounges featuring live music, dancing and quiet corners for conversation.  Many spots also offer tapas and late-night menus to match with a beverage of your choice.  Dress up to the nines and get ready to bump and grind with the locals.
• Boston Bay
  Boston Bay is famous throughout Jamaica (and elsewhere in the world) as being the birthplace of Jerk food.

Name:  LA & Southern California
Age:  165
Hobbies: theme parks, strolling along beaches, scenic drives, nightlife, celebrity spotting.
Looking to Share:

• Disneyland and the San Diego Zoo!
• Downtown LA
  Downtown LA is everything LA has to offer.  Cutting edge creative arts, melting pot of world cultures, and civic spaces to rival NY or Chicago.
• Santa Monica
  Everything about Santa Monica sizzles, from hundreds of funky shops and restaurants to more than three miles of white sandy beach.

Name:  Mexico
Age:  194
Hobbies: exploring pyramids & temples, wandering through historic colonial towns, beaches, shopping, enjoying Mexican cuisine.
Looking to Share:

• Riviera Maya
  The Riviera gets a bad rap for overdevelopment, mostly thanks to Cancun.  Elsewhere, though, there are many places to kick back in solitude, from beachside fishing villages to cosmopolitan hot spots.  Blue water, white sand, lush jungle – what more could you ask for?
• Tulum
  Enjoy modern takes on traditional Mayan massage and spa treatments, or sunbathe on gorgeous Yucatan beaches within site of well-preserved ancient ruins. A rare mix of beach, archeology and village, Tulum is a romantic getaway like no other.
• Oaxaca Coast
  With several varied, relaxed beach destinations, and the near-empty shoreline between them strung with long golden beaches and lagoons full of wildlife, it’s hard to go wrong.

Name:  Puerto Rico
Age:  117
Hobbies: savoring unspoilt beaches, learning about pirates & history, seeing wildlife, relaxing at resorts, enoying tantalizing cuisine and rum cocktails at sunset.
Looking to Share:

• Old San Juan
  Take in the cobblestone streets, pastel colonial buildings and grand fortresses.  By day, lose yourself in historical stories, by night join the crowds of fun-loving locals.
• El Yunque Tropical Rainforest
  The only tropical rain forest in the US Forest System. Noted for its biodiversity, the forest is home to more than 400 different plant species. It has more than a dozen maintained trails for hiking, picnic pavilions, stone towers, rivers, waterfalls, and an interpretive visitors’ center.
• Bioluminescent Bays
  In the waters of Mosquito Bay (Vieques) there are organisms named Pyrodinium bahamense, Dinoflagellates (dinos). These “dinos” are responsible for this amazing natural phenomenon. When the “dinos” come into contact with another organism or are shaken they produce a bright burst of blue light.

Name:  Thailand
Age:  777
Hobbies:  sipping Saporo on a beach, diving & snorkeling, trying new foods, visiting temples & ruins, all kinds of outdoor adventure.
Looking to Share:

• Bangkok
  Shop at the world’s biggest markets, check out some fun bars, sublime eats and urban exploration.  Learn Thai cooking or Thai massage.
• Phuket
  The island’s sin city of Patong is the biggest town and busiest beach. It’s the ultimate gong show where beachaholics sizzle off their hangovers and go-go girls play. But ultimately the island’s affinity for luxury far outshines its other stereotypes. And with deep-sea diving, high-end dining, and white beaches all within reach, it really is hard to say farewell.
• Ko Pha-Ngan
  Slacker, hippie-at-heart Ko Pha-Ngan has become so synonymous with the wild and massive Full Moon Party on Hat Rin that the rest of the island gets forgotten. It’s at this time that budgeting serenity seekers can retreat into bliss.