Looking for a nice off the beaten path way to spend a weekend afternoon? You can hop in the car and head to Lago Dos Bocas toward the center of the island, where you can enjoy a free boat ride around the lake or, to make a longer day out of it, go to one of the lakeside restaurants and enjoy drinks or a meal while admiring the views.

El Yunque National Forest has a lot more to explore besides the forest along Road 191. If you have a little extra time and want to get a little more rain forest immersion, you can take a short drive up Road 186, above the El Verde area in Rio Grande, and find a hidden waterfall just steps from the road.

Tropical Trail Rides recently opened a new horseback riding excursion in Hacienda Campo Rico, just outside of San Juan. We recently had the opportunity to go on a horseback outing with them in their new location and we had a lot of fun.

We like to discover and write about little-known places to visit and things to do here in Puerto Rico. Cueva Ventana is one of those places. The information available about it was scarce, but once we figured it out, it turns out to be very easy to get to. And the view is fantastic!

Culebra is a little island that is a nice day-trip away from the main island of Puerto Rico. We have been to a few beaches there and have never been disappointed. When we were invited by East Island Excursions to check out their Culebra Get-away trip, we were excited to go.

Puerto Rico has a number of food and drink festivals that should make any foodie (and the rest of us!) smile. The next one coming up is Saborea Puerto Rico. The name even means to savor, to relish or to enjoy in Spanish.

There are a number of beaches in the Luquillo that will suit most people — a protected cove, some snorkeling, boogie boarding and surfing beaches. Take your beach blanket, beach chairs and cooler, and have a great day in the sun.

What do you get when you cross scavenger hunts with GPS technology? The "sport" called Geocaching. You can grab your GPS unit and try to find one of the 350 treasures hidden around Puerto Rico. You may be pleasantly surprised by what else you discover about the island during your hunt.

Puerto Rico is the self-proclaimed Rum Capital of the World, so what better place to come and enjoy the best rums from all around the world? This year marks the second annual Taste of Rum, the official Rum Festival & International Rum Competition of Puerto Rico, being held in Old San Juan on March 21, 2010.

Puerto Rico has many great "selling points" to attractive visitors to our shores — beaches, forests, adventure, history, food, music and friendly locals. Being an inexpensive vacation destination is not one of the island’s strong points. However, don’t be discouraged. With some careful planning, you can have a fun-filled vacation and still remain within your budget.