long beach yacht club logo

• Attractions
• Sports & Recreation
• Arts & Culture
• Spas & Salons
• Day Trips & Nearby
• Catalina Island
• Whale Watching
• This Weekend in Long Beach
• Annual Events
• Restaurants
• Cruise Terminal Information
• Getting Here
• Transportation
• Visitors Center
• Special Offers
• Convention Center
• Client Services
• Meeting Facilities
• Service Providers
• Request for Proposal
• About Meet Long Beach
• Contact Meet Long Beach
• Plan Your Trip
• Maps & Directions
• Travel Professionals
• About Visit Long Beach

LONG BEACH YACHT CLUB

Established in 1929, Long Beach Yacht Club is recognized as a leading club in the International yachting community for its commitment to excellence in yacht racing and welcoming the world to Long Beach. Now in its 59th year, the Club's signature event, Congressional Cup, the premier and longest running event of its kind in North America is recognized worldwide and brings in sailors and guest from around the world. in addition to hosting numerous local, national, and international yachting events, the Club's member families enjoy year-round calendar of social, yachting and junior activities at its beautiful clubhouse on the shore of Alamitos Bay. We welcome our local community and visitors to take advantage of our banquet and sailing facilities.

LONG BEACH YACHT CLUB 6201 Appian Way Long Beach, California 90803

6201 Appian Way Long Beach, California 90803

• (562) 598-9401
• Fax: (562) 430-8471

This website uses cookies to optimize your visitor experience. Learn More

Neighborhoods

Home to a perfect blend of wonderful and welcome communities.

Plan Your Trip

Whether you’re visiting Long Beach, California for business, fun or both, you’ll always find something unconventional to do.

Events in Long Beach

Special events in Long Beach invite visitors to experience a variety of festivals, sporting events, concerts, and celebrations throughout the year.

Do you dream of a grand wedding in a historic building rich with architectural detail? Will your company’s next big party take over three floors and include a live band

A concert segment was discreetly filmed Saturday in Long Beach, with Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Billie Eilish, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Billie Eilish performed on the sand in Long Beach, CA to announce the Olympics coming to Greater LA in 2028.

With yet another awesome Long Beach summer winding down, here are a few must-see, must-do activities and destinations to experience before you call it a (holi)day. Have fun!

If you fancy felines, Long Beach is right up your alley, Cat! How cat-centric is the city? Well, not only does it boast a cat lounge and a cat art

Like so much of the city’s food scene, fine dining in Downtown Long Beach honors both tradition and innovation and does it in a sophisticated and welcoming atmosphere. Featuring some

It’s a wonderful treat to get your nails done, and having well-groomed hands and feet can help you feel confident when giving a presentation or meeting with clients. If you’re

Around the time of the city’s founding in the late 19th century, Long Beach was a seaside agricultural town, with sheep farms, sugar beet fields, and other crops and livestock

So much of what makes Long Beach special are the businesses, restaurants, landmarks, and historical places that you can only find here. Here is a rundown of some of the

Not only does Long Beach have one of the country’s most exciting dining scenes, but it also offers a bevy of choices to enjoy great food while enjoying the great

It’s hard to imagine many places better to watch the 2024 Paris Olympics than Long Beach. After all, few cities can match Long Beach’s Olympic credentials, whether it’s producing more

The Long Beach food scene is so varied that even French fries can be enjoyed in any number of styles via any number of cuisines. Under layers of flavorful meats

Of all musical genres, most might associate Long Beach with West Coast hip hop of the ’90s, made popular by Snoop Dogg, Warren G, and others who brought "the LBC"

In Long Beach, hot dogs transcend the ordinary with a creative flair that varies, and sometimes marries, sweet to spicy to squid ink. These culinary innovations blend both traditional and

Long Beach Yacht Club

Shop New LBYC Merch!

Dining & Menus

Become A Member

Regatta Calendar

OUR WORLD IS  WATER

Learn  more, you are  here.

Check your email next week: menus, meals, and happy hours make their debut!

Long Beach Yacht Club © 2024

6201 E. Appian Way • Long Beach, CA • 90803

CLUBHOUSE: 562.598.9401

History lesson: LBYC was created back in 1929 to promote yachting and competitive sportsmanship on a world-class level — although interestingly enough the club’s first activity was to host a powerboat race. Nearly 100 years later, we also have a reputation that matches the scope and scale of our mission. Members take part in regattas, invitationals, championships, trips, and other events, and of course, access to our fleet of Catalina 37 One Design racing yachts and solings. 

We’ve expanded and evolved to offer members an all-inclusive definition of what it means to be a yacht club. Our year-round calendar includes a full range of power and sailboating programs, stand-up paddleboarding, fishing trips, and travel...nearly any and every recreational activity you can enjoy on, in, and close by the water. After all, we’re ultimately here to have fun, meet some great fellow members, perhaps compete for some bragging rights…and enjoy time with family and friends at this unique private waterfront retreat. Speaking of fun, your first assignment is to look over our curated new member experiences and choose a personalized activity! CAMERON MACLAREN Yachting Director

SAILING, YACHTING, CRUISING AND  MORE

Select one of the complimentary new member experiences and complete the form below.

NAVIGATE YOUR NEW MEMBER  EXPERIENCE

FIRST SOLING OUTING Even if you don’t have your Soling certification, we’ll arrange a captain for a Soling Sail For Two , to help you experience the excitement and fun of our day-sailing fleet!

FAMILY PADDLEBOARDING OUTING The family that takes to the water together, stays together! Enjoy an active, fun Family Paddleboarding Outing & Lunch - tour the Harbor, and after you’ve worked up an appetite enjoy lunch on our pool deck! 

If you are an experienced sailor, powerboater, or cruiser, you’ll find many opportunities to expand your skill set, and add to your knowledge base. If you’re new to sailing or boating — that’s fantastic! We have a full range of introductory programs where you can learn to sail, take part in our regattas and racing, and feel comfortable and confident on the water.

MEET YOUR  ON-THE-WATER  TEAM

ROB RICE Interim Sailing Director [email protected] Pro Tip:  Come down to the Sailing office and let’s find a way to get you and your family on the water! We have year-round junior sailing here at the club, so there is always something for your young ones to enjoy. Go Team LBYC!

All staff members can be reached via our main clubhouse number: 562.598.9401

WELCOME TO LIFE ON THE WATER

New Member Onboarding

WEEK ONE STARTS HERE

Congressional Cup LBYC’s Congressional Cup regatta is known as the “grandfather of match racing.” It’s the oldest continuously-held sailing match race event in the world, and pioneered the concept of on-water umpiring. This regatta sets the standard for top-level match racing, and the list of past winners reads like a Who’s Who of America’s Cup champions including Dennis Conner, and Ted Turner.

The crimson blazer the congressional cup trophy is accompanied by the equally sought-after crimson blazer — sailing’s equivalent to the masters green jacket in golf, and are sources of incredible pride for lbyc members and staff., lbyc burgee for those members new to sailing and the larger yacht world, a burgee is a distinguishing flag of a boating organization. the club and our members fly the lbyc burgee while under way and at anchor, day or night. by club lore, the use of a red star in our burgee is an acknowledgment to lbyc member eddie fink, who won the star class world title in 1932…although there is an extensive history that suggests the red star was in the original burgee and has remained there ever since., group fun lbyc groups offer activities for a variety of interests. as just two examples, the cruising group conducts trips all over southern california via land and sea, including a recent trip to the british virgin islands. with over 25% of members participating, our anglers group is one of the most active, featuring an annual vacation trip, travel to various tournaments, and activities for the kids, wet wednesdays formality aside, our regular wet wednesday regattas are a great way to gain sailing experience, get your sea legs back, or further hone your racing skills. we encourage everyone to come out, catch a ride on one of our catalina 37s or solings, meet fellow members…and enjoy some after-race socializing. if racing isn’t your passion, you can join the scoring team on the bridge deck or take a ride on the iconic loynes to get a glimpse into the world of race management., adult instruction our club is a leader in developmental adult sailing programs for those members with little or no sailing experience, or those who've spent time away from sailing and want to refresh their skills. introductory sailing classes are available, as well as intermediate and advanced instruction as you gain experience both sailing and racing. , junior sailing lbyc has a rich history of competitive sailors that have grown through our renowned junior sailing program. our mission is to promote and teach the sport of sailing and seamanship to the youth of the club, and our board of governance has a historic commitment to supporting our youth programs in every capacity..

CAMERON MACLAREN Yachting Director [email protected] Pro Tip:   The whole family can learn to sail in group classes or private instruction using our brand-new fleet of club solings. For experienced sailors, get your Skipper Card to go day sailing or to start racing in club regattas.

CHASE YOUNG Dockmaster Pro Tip:   N/A

CRAIG JARVIS Director of Marine Operations [email protected] Pro Tip:   Check out Congressional Cup and Wet Wednesdays! Also, take advantage of the paddle boards and reach out to myself or the front desk for paddle board or dock reservations.

•  Print This Page
•  Text Size
•  Scroll To Top

The Long Beach Sailing Foundation's mission is to encourage and promote national and international amateur sailing and to facilitate maritime education and community sailing opportunities. We are a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization formed to own, maintain and manage a fleet of identical Catalina 37 sailboats donated by Frank Butler, the president of Catalina Yachts, for use in Long Beach Yacht Club  signature event, The Congressional Cup .

Throughout the year, you will see and hear about our programs designed to support STEM education, sailor development, and Community Outreach.  These programs are made possible through the support of our donors and our partnerships with Long Beach Yacht Club, the US Sailing Center, and many members of our local sailing community.

The Long Beach Sailing Foundation was formed in 1991 to own, manage and maintain the Catalina 37 fleet, donated by Frank Butler, the president of Catalina Yachts. The Sailing Foundation supports the boats to an identical standard in all performance-related areas: weight, equipment, rig tuning, and sails. This is possible through the tremendous efforts of dedicated board member volunteers, contractors, and supporters like Catalina Yachts and Samson Rope Technologies, who are all key to helping us fulfill our mission.

If you want to ensure that the sport of sailing thrives and is accessible to all those in our community who are open to the experience of sailing and all the relationship and educational opportunities it provides, please donate to the Long Beach Sailing Foundation.

General / Unrestricted​

Education ​ ​

Photo: Chris Poole Undefeated Champion of the 58th Congressional Cup

The Congressional Cup

The world’s top match-racing skippers return yearly to Long Beach Yacht Club for the annual Congressional Cup regatta.  The skippers man the fleet of 11 identical Catalina-37s furnished by The Long Beach Sailing Foundation .

A reckoning is coming for Florida's condo owners as buildings face millions in repairs

After five decades working as a teacher and school administrator, Janet Stone envisioned a relaxing retirement in her condo overlooking Florida’s Atlantic coast.

Instead, she’s gone back to work teaching preschoolers with disabilities and living with her son in Las Vegas to pay off a $100,000 bill from her condo association — her portion of a multimillion-dollar project to replace the 53-year-old building’s deteriorating concrete.

“I shouldn’t say it, but it really sucks to work every day and not have a cent and have to wonder, ‘Can I afford groceries this week?’” said Stone, who purchased her condo in Ormond Beach, Florida, for $400,000 in 2021. “Every penny I make goes towards that concrete restoration.”

Across Florida, aging condo buildings are facing rising expenses and millions of dollars in structural repairs to comply with new regulations following the collapse of the Champlain Towers condominium, which killed 98 people in 2021. While new building requirements are intended to prevent a similar tragedy, the costs are pushing some condo owners to the brink financially and jeopardizing one of the last bastions of relatively affordable housing along Florida’s coastline.“We’ve got to get these buildings back in shape, but for those that are renters and for those that are owners on fixed incomes it means they may have to find other housing,” said Florida House Rep. Vicki Lopez, who helped craft the legislation and whose Miami district includes more than 600 condo associations. “We already have an affordable housing crisis in Florida, so this perfect storm has arrived at a very difficult time.”

In Florida, like across the country, the soaring cost of housing has become a major pressure point on household finances. Home prices in Florida have increased 67% since 2020 and homeowners insurance was up 42% last year. In the vast majority of Florida counties, the median-income household can’t afford the median-priced home, according to NBC News’ Homebuyers Index .

Older condominium buildings have provided an alternative for those who have been unable to afford a single-family home or are looking for a lower-maintenance alternative. The buildings are often home to retirees — some of whom have lived there for decades — along with single-income households and renters.

But now, affording to live in even those buildings is becoming out of reach for some. Under legislation passed by the Florida state Legislature following the Champlain Towers collapse, condo buildings over three stories and older than 30 years must pass a structural inspection by the end of the year. That requirement applies to roughly 900,000 condo units across the state. It also requires condo associations to keep a minimum amount in their reserves to fund future repairs, requiring many buildings to increase their monthly association dues.

In Miami, residents at the Palm Bay Yacht Club, where two-bedroom units have sold this year for between $400,000 and $500,000, are having to pay $140,000 each toward a special assessment for a range of building improvements. Owners at the Surfside condos in Daytona Beach, where a two-bedroom unit is currently listed for $415,000, have paid between $50,000 and $60,000 in assessments to have their building’s concrete repaired and windows replaced. In Orlando, owners at the Regency Gardens, where two-bedroom units are listed for around $160,000, were told they would have to pay $22,000 each for building upgrades, but residents have recently removed the board and are working to lower the price tag.

In the worst cases, residents are being told they have to evacuate their buildings because of structural deficiencies found during inspections, said Greg Batista, a professional engineer who has worked in Florida for more than 20 years.

He said he’s currently working on a building in Miami Beach that residents may have to vacate because of safety concerns, and he recently worked on a 20-story condo building in Hollywood, Florida, where the three-story parking garage had to be vacated until the structure can be repaired.

Stone purchased her condo at the Surfside Club in Ormond Beach to be closer to her daughter and grandchild. As a widow, she hoped living in a condo would provide a greater sense of community, less maintenance, and an added layer of security compared to a single-family home.

Within a year, she was notified that she owed a $100,000 special assessment to the condo association for concrete restoration, new windows and an increase in the association’s reserves. Stone said she had used most of her retirement savings for the down payment on the condo and didn’t have the money for the assessment. Condo owners unable to pay an assessment can be foreclosed on by their condo association.

She considered selling, but the assessment was driving down property values in the building. A unit similar to the one Stone paid $400,000 for in 2021 is currently listed for $335,000 after multiple price reductions.

Her only option, she said, was to go back to work. She reapplied to the school in Las Vegas where she had been working before she retired and is now teaching 3- to 5-year-olds with autism, she said.

“I am exhausted every single day,” Stone said. “I come home and promptly fall asleep and get up and do it the next day.”

She said her entire paycheck is going toward the condo assessment, which she estimates will be paid off after two years of working full time. After that, she plans to move back into her Florida condo, but in the meantime, she’s been living with her adult son.

“This was supposed to be the time when I was really going to retire and be close to my daughter and my granddaughter and enjoy life,” said Stone. “That didn’t happen.”

The rising costs of owning a condo have been driving up the number of units on the market and pushing down prices, said realtors. Statewide, the number of condos on the market has increased 23% over the past six months while prices are down 4.5%, according to an NBC News analysis of data from Redfin. In Volusia County, where Stone’s building is located, condo inventory is up 28% over the past six months and sale prices are down 9%.

“All the realtors are talking about how long their listings have been sitting, how things aren’t moving, and that there’s not enough buyers,” said Krista Goodrich, a realtor in the Daytona Beach area who also manages vacation rentals. “Condos are being hit the worst because the people that are buying, they’ve seen what happens when the hurricanes come, they’ve seen what happens when the condos aren’t built properly, and so they’re hesitant to buy a condo on the beach.”

While some buildings will need little or no work, Florida building engineers, real estate lawyers and realtors say many are now having to pay the price for years of lax maintenance, subpar building standards before the 1990s, and the effects of Florida’s saltwater on the concrete and rebar that holds the structures together.

“When you put the maintenance on a second tier and you don’t do simple but very important things, such as painting the building, that has a very bad effect on the long-term longevity of a building,” said Batista. “But a lot of people, they’d rather put nice carpet in the lobby as opposed to taking care of real issues.”

For developers, the cost pressure on condo owners is providing an opportunity because many older properties dominate prime oceanfront real estate. In some cases, the value of the land may exceed the value of the building once the cost of bringing it up to code is factored in. If enough owners are unable or unwilling to pay for the necessary repairs, developers can attempt to buy up the building and redevelop the property.

“These properties are in very desirable locations. If you build a new project on them, in many cases luxury condos, it could fetch $3,000 to $5,000 a square foot,” said Joseph Hernandez. “That is a tremendous development opportunity.”

Developer Edgardo Defortuna, whose firm Fortune International Group has developed some of South Florida’s most high-profile luxury buildings, said his firm is eyeing several older condo buildings in prime waterfront locations in Miami Beach and downtown Miami that could be torn down and replaced with luxury high-rises. But he said it can be difficult to convince enough owners to sell even at above-market prices.

“I think that many people have yet to really face the music or understand that it is better to sell than to stay around and fund those really large improvements and reserves that you need to in order to comply with the law,” Defortuna said.

Jeremy Maurice, who was the condo board president at Stone’s building when the repairs were approved, said he felt the board had little choice but to fund the repairs and blamed the cost on a lack of proper maintenance to the building’s concrete over the decades.

“If you don’t do anything, this building will become worthless and you’re going to have to sell to a developer and it’ll be knocked down,” said Maurice, who said he had to use some of his retirement savings to pay for the work. “So there’s no choice, really. You have to do the work. And that’s a hard pill to swallow. I don’t think anyone is jumping for joy. But that’s what happens when prior boards don’t do their job.”

But the decision ended up pitting the building’s owners against each other, with some owners saying the work was unnecessary.

“It was extremely toxic. That is an understatement,” Maurice said. “I don’t talk to some people there today. I’ll be polite, but I won’t talk with them anymore because they treated me so badly. They cussed at me at meetings, sent anonymous emails, just nasty, nasty stuff.”

At the Palm Bay Yacht Club, condo owners were told they would need to pay for a $33 million construction project, prompting a group of residents to sue the condo board , the building management company and the firms hired to complete the work. The lawsuit alleges the owners are being overcharged for the project, citing exaggerated measurements and items outside the scope of structural repairs such as cosmetic and amenity improvements. It also claims the condo association has previously mishandled funds.

Steve Davis, a lawyer representing the defendants, denied the allegations and said the work was legally required under the 40-year recertification needed for buildings in Miami-Dade County and that owners were charged for only the necessary work that was done. He said the Palm Bay board did everything possible to help the unit owners.

Among those suing is Cristian Murray, who bought his condo in 2016 and had recently retired after working as a health care administrator at the University of Miami for 20 years. Now, he’s planning to go back to work to pay off the $140,000 special assessment.

To make the payment, he took out a 20-year loan on which he’s paying $1,000 a month on top of the $3,000 a month he owes toward his mortgage and other condo association fees.

“Pardon my language, but we’re screwed,” Murray said. “These guys ruined my early retirement plan.”

Lopez, who helped craft the legislation, said she is looking for ways to provide relief to condo owners once Florida’s Legislature reconvenes next year. She said she’s collecting data to understand the full impact of the legislation to determine what adjustments may be needed.

Stone would like to see the state Legislature give buildings and condo owners more time to comply with the regulations so they would be able to spread out the costs. While she thinks the requirements will be a good thing in the long run, she doesn’t foresee being able to recover the money she’s had to spend on her condo.

“I’m going to be there until I die because I’m not going to recoup that money before I die,” she said. “If I could ever recoup my money, I would probably look at selling and getting a single-family home again. But I don’t see that happening, not in my lifetime.”

Shannon Pettypiece is senior policy reporter for NBC News.

[{{{type}}}] {{{reason}}}

{{texts.summary}} {{#options.result.rssIcon}} RSS {{/options.result.rssIcon}}

{{{_source.title}}} {{#_source.showPrice}} {{{_source.displayPrice}}} {{/_source.showPrice}}

{{{_source.displayUrl}}}

{{{_source.displayDate}}}

{{{_source.description}}}

{{#_source.additionalFields}} {{#title}} {{{label}}}: {{{title}}} {{/title}} {{/_source.additionalFields}}

59th Congressional Cup 

April 24 to 28, 2024, registration and practice april 23, live stream with live commentary from tucker thompson.

Current Weather Conditions at Long Beach

Back to Back Wins for Poole

Williams and Poole lead Semis

Cole Tapper Advances

First 4 to Quarterfinals

Poole Wins 2024 Congressional Cup

2024 Sunday Brunch and Finals Prep

2024 April 27 Photos

2024 Junior Congressional Cup

2024 congressional cup videos.

CONGRESSIONAL CUP TEASER 1 DAY FINAL

2024 congressional cup drone videos.

Note: use the Load More button at bottom to view more

59th Congressional Cup 2024 F1M2 Tapper v Williams start

59th Congressional Cup 2024 F2M1 Brady v Williams start

59th Congressional Cup 2024 F2M2 Attili v Borch start

59th Congressional Cup 2024 F2M3 Tapper v Thomson start

59th Congressional Cup 2024 F2M4 Egnot Johnson v Berntsson start

59th Congresional Cup 2024 F2M5 Poole v Hood start

59th Congressional Cup 2024 F3M1 Williams v Borch start

59th Congressional Cup 2024 F3M2 Berntsson v Thomson start

59th Congressional Cup 2024 F3M3 Egnot Johnson v Tapper start

59th Congressional Cup 2024 F3M4 Monnin v Hood start

59th Congressional Cup 2024 F3M5 Dickson v Poole start, F3M3 Egnot Johnson v Tapper finish

59th Congressional Cup 2024 F4M1 Thomson v Borch start

I've been to 30 tropical islands. From Bora Bora to Barbados, here are the top 5 I'd visit again.

• I've visited more than 30 tropical islands around the world, but five stand out from the rest.
• Bora Bora and Curaçao's beautiful beaches make them the perfect places for a relaxing vacation.
• Barbados has tons of activities, such as touring a rum distillery and visiting Rihanna's childhood home.

As a travel writer specializing in tropical destinations , I've been lucky enough to have visited 30 islands around the world. Because of my extensive travels, people often ask me which islands I'd return to.

This isn't surprising, considering how many people plan to travel across the globe each year — in a survey at the start of the year, 30% of Americans said they had international travel plans in 2024. But it's not always easy to figure out which tropical destination is the best vacation spot for you.

Each island I've been to has been idyllic and unique, but a few lingered in my salt-spray-tinged memories long after my tan faded. Here are the five islands I always recommend to other travelers.

I couldn't get enough of Bora Bora's beauty and great cuisine.

This South Pacific haven screams "paradise." Though getting there was a long journey — I had to take a 16-hour flight from New York to Tahiti, followed by an hourlong flight to Bora Bora — the island was absolutely otherworldly.

The island, formed by an extinct volcano, is surrounded by a calm turquoise lagoon that's basically a huge wading pool. I remember marveling at rows of romantic bungalows with glass floors and thatched roofs overlooking the water.

The island's Mount Otemanu, shrouded by clouds, was also a postcard-worthy sight from any angle.

The local cuisine combines French and Polynesian cultures. I enjoyed meals such as poisson cru, a ceviche-like dish made with coconut milk, tomatoes, and cucumber. It was truly heaven on earth.

I loved the luxurious vibes in St. Barts.

Glittering St. Barts is full of fancy spots, with a yacht-filled harbor, designer shops along the pristine streets of Gustavia (the island's capital), and luxurious hotels such as the Hotel Manapany and Eden Rock.

I found a lively day-drinking scene at Nikki Beach , a destination that's attracted celebrity guests such as Mariah Carey, and restaurants with menus and wine lists to rival any Parisian hot spot.

But you don't have to be a multimillionaire to soak in the island's beguiling swankiness. During my visit, I spent an afternoon on a catamaran ride and did some window shopping at the home-design store Maison Pélican.

Visitors can also find elevated cuisine at various price points — I had tuna poke and chilled rosé from Ti' Corail on a laid-back beach, and it was one of my favorite meals.

I was most surprised by the many local beaches , such as the sandy Gouverneur Beach and the secluded Colombier Beach, a spot accessible only after a steep (but worth it) hike.

If you're a Francophile who adores fabulous food and an upscale feel, I highly recommend St. Barts.

St. Martin is the perfect destination for plane and food enthusiasts.

St. Martin is split into two distinct French and Dutch sides. I thought the French side had a quiet, relaxed vibe during my visit.

I lay on the beach at Orient Bay (referred to as the Saint-Tropez of the Caribbean ) and shopped at the luxury boutiques in Marigot, the capital of the French collectivity on St. Martin.

I found the Dutch side much livelier as I clubbed at the Soggy Dollar Bar in Simpson Bay and sipped rum cocktails while watching the sunset at The Rusty Parrot.

The island is also the ultimate destination for aviation geeks, as the Princess Juliana International Airport is steps away from Maho Beach. I spent hours watching planes fly directly above me.

Visitors can also island hop to nearby St. Barts and Anguilla, easily accessible by ferry or plane.

I was blown away by Curaçao's beautiful beaches and scenery.

Curaçao is known for having more than 35 beaches, so every sun-worshipper can find their perfect spot.

During my visit, it seemed that some beaches, such as Playa Piskadó, were mainly frequented by locals, so they were uncrowded and relaxed. Others, such as Grote Knip and Playa Kalki, in quiet coves, were very tranquil.

While on the island, I noticed a fun Dutch influence through food such as fried meat snacks called bitterballen. I also encountered an unexpected gin-and-tonic culture , as Dutch genever (a spirit made in Holland and Belgium) is similar to gin.

During my stay, I sipped my way through the gin-and-tonic menu at Zest Restaurant & Beach Cafe on the lively Jan Thiel Beach and, of course, tried the island's namesake bright-blue liqueur.

Handelskade, a row of brightly colored Dutch colonial buildings lining the water in Willemstad (the island's capital), was the perfect photo op.

As an added bonus, Curaçao is part of the ABC islands (the other two being Aruba and Bonaire), which are unlikely to be severely impacted by hurricanes .

I enjoyed Barbados' lively events and rum distillery.

The Caribbean is synonymous with rum, but in my opinion, no island offers as authentic an experience as this destination.

Based in Barbados, the iconic rum producer Mount Gay has been selling the spirit since 1703 . Touring and tasting at the company's distillery is a must-do for any fan of the sugarcane-based spirit.

Visitors can also make their way through Barbados' flavorful cocktails (and cuisine) at lively bars and restaurants. I loved the potent rum punch and local fish cakes at Oasis Beach Bar, as well as the seared jerk tuna and butter beans at Calma Beach Club.

The island was perpetually vibrant — it seemed like a party, festival, or concert was always happening. The snorkeling in Carlisle Bay was also amazing, as I saw parrotfish, hawksbill turtles, and seahorses.

Plus, Rihanna fans can snap a selfie in front of the Barbadian native's colorful childhood home, where her name adorns the doormat.

This story was originally published on August 9, 2024, and most recently updated on August 12, 2024.

• Main content