Bimini Islands, Bahamas

I love the half-hour flight from Fort Lauderdale to this little island, where the water’s dramatic change from cobalt to preternatural aqua signals your arrival to one of the friendliest wild dolphin habitats in the world. After a short boat ride out of the harbor, you just might be snorkeling with 20 Atlantic spotted dolphins on shallow banks―unforgettable!

On-site secret: The more you can spin, flip, and dive like a dolphin, the more the dolphins will play with you.

Keep an eye out for: young dolphins, which may be quite small and have few or no spots. Adults are more speckled. When to go: year-round, but summer offers warm conditions and calmer seas; 800/348-4644 or biminiundersea.com.

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