The Ponce Carnival is an annual week-long celebration. There are parades with wildly decorated floats, crazy costumed people, lots of music, loads of spectators, and merriment. Similar to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, it is derived from the old world tradition of a final celebration before the beginning of Lent. But over time, it has transformed into a week-long party! This year, the Carnaval de Ponce will be from February 15 to 21, 2012.

The central mountain range of Puerto Rico offers some amazing views. Of course, that is if you can get to the top of the mountains. Hacienda Madrigal in Cidra offers a fun and easy way to get to there — on an ATV. We enjoyed an hour-long ride through this beautiful hacienda, with pretty nature all around us, and a view at the top to stop and admire!

Tropcial breezes, warm nights, swimming in secluded waterfalls, private beaches, beautiful views, hot & sexy salsa dancing – forget Virginia, Puerto Rico is for lovers! There are so many ways to romance your sweetheart here that you need only to decide which one suits your style.

There are a number of wonderful sights and places to visit in the Arecibo area. If you are doing something else in the area, and you have kids, consider a stop at Fun Valley Park. This small amusement park (think permanent carnival) will keep the kids entertained while not breaking your bank account, or your vacation schedule.

For both locals and tourists alike, there are a lot of really great things to enjoy in Puerto Rico. But, when you’re busy enjoying yourself, the expenses can add up a lot quicker than you realize. But, thankfully, Puerto Rico has finally joined in the online-coupon trend that helps save everyone some money on the things they want to do.

The Cambalache State Forest (Bosque Estatal de Cambalache) offers a lovely oasis for picnics and gatherings, and it has several miles of trails designed for enjoying nature via mountain bike or walking. This is one of the few places in Puerto Rico where you can mountain bike along cool and shaded forest trails.

It is no secret that people in Puerto Rico know how to party, especially around the Christmas holidays. Announce that there will be a parade, music, dancing, libations, food – then add in local artisan crafts for sale – and it all adds up to one crazy celebration! That describes the San Sebastian Street Festival, or Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian, which will be held in 2012 from January 12th to 15th.

Amazing … That about sums up my feelings about the new Museo del Nino (Children’s Museum) in Carolina. The museum is a fun, hands-on place full of interactive, passive-learning activities. It has over 100 exhibits, each with something to play on, with, in, or around. Kids of all ages are sure to find something interesting and fun to do. I know we did!

The spirit of the Jibaro of the past is still alive today in what their values and traditions mean to today’s Puerto Ricans. The Monumento al Jibaro Puertorriqueno on Route 52 in Cayey is a testament to that strong Puerto Rican spirit.

For a great drive along the north coast, take Road 681 in Arecibo instead of Route 2 or Route 22. This coastal road allows you to stop off and enjoy a number of amazing views and beaches. While the Atlantic Ocean can be too rough to swim during much of the year, it provides a great backdrop for a nice afternoon or quick stop by the beach.

The Condado Lagoon is a nice, calm body of water in the tourist area of Condado in San Juan. It is a perfect place to spend a few hours enjoying different types of water sports. One that the whole family can enjoy inexpensively is pedal boating. We went pedal boating there recently. It was easy and fun!

What does a town do when they have a beautiful waterfront area, but no natural beaches there? Enclose the ocean, build decks around it, and make an ocean pool. That’s just what the town of Lajas did to create Playa Rosada — it boasts a nice ocean swimming area without the sandy beach, and without the risk of any "big critters" to bother you while swimming!

MLB Winter League Baseball in Puerto Rico is starting! Get out to one of the stadiums in Carolina, Caguas, Ponce or Mayaguez and support your favorite team. The action is non-stop, and it is a great family-friendly atmosphere!

I am not a camper, but I know a number of people who are, so I am always looking for places where they can camp in Puerto Rico. I can’t say I have been too impressed with most of the campsites around the island, but Monte del Estado in Maricao gets my vote for probably the nicest, cleanest camping facility.

The Northeast Ecological Corridor is a wonderful stretch of about 6½ miles of coastline, from Luquillo to Fajardo. We had never been in that area, so after some recent guests told us about the long walk they took along the beach there, we decided we needed to see it ourselves. It really is a wonderful, natural place. We hope that more awareness of Puerto Rico’s natural wonders will encourge people to want to preserve it.