Every year, the town of Aibonito hosts the largest plant show & sale on the island. It features flower & plant displays, a large section for plant sales, live local music shows (of course) and food kiosks. This year, the festival will be from June 29 to July 8, 2012.

Balneario Cerro Gordo is a really nice government-run beach in Vega Alta, along the northern coast, with all of the amenities that anyone could ask for. It is just 45 minutes from San Juan, yet it has a far away feel — much more local than city. It is a favorite of locals from the surrounding areas (and one of my favorites) in the central northern coastal area.

We explore at lot of places in Puerto Rico, and I love it when we find something unusual that is relatively unknown. A recent find for us was Ojo de Buey along the coast in Dorado. This natural rock formation resembles the head of on ox, and it held special meaning for the pre-Taino inhabitants of the area. You may want to do a little exploring and check it out for yourself!

Old San Juan is one of my favorite places in Puerto Rico. The history, the architecture, and the photo opportunities all make it a must-visit place. You can walk around in the city and see what there is to see. But for a whole different perspective, how about sitting back and relaxing while taking in the views of the old city from the sea? We recently took a trip in the San Juan Bay with Sailing Dreams, and it was one of the most relaxing hours I have ever spent in Old San Juan.

If you like to snorkel, then the island of Culebra is calling your name. Hardly developed, this tiny island has miles of shoreline, and lots of healthy sea life and coral formations. Which makes for what is arguably some of the best snorkeling available in Puerto Rico. To make things even better, most of the great snorkel spots are easy to get to right from the beach. So grab a mask, snorkel and fins, and jump in!

If you’re a waterfall person, we have another one for you — Chorros del Río la Planta in Arecibo. While not a destination in itself, this waterfall is a great quick stop while visiting something else in the Arecibo area.

Riding a horse along the sand on a tropical beach is just a dreamy experience for most riders. You can "catch" that dream just minutes from El Yunque National Forest at Catch a Dream Ranch. We recently did just that, and enjoyed 90 minutes of fun, with some great picture opportunities to boot!

I like turtles. So when April comes around, we head to the Luquillo town plaza to celebrate the annual Festival el Tinglar. Since 2006, the Sierra Club has sponsored this event to help promote awareness and conservation of the wonderful natural environment in this part of Puerto Rico. This year’s Festival el Tinglar is on Saturday, 14 April 2012. We encourage you to stop by!

We consider the cliffs of Cabo Rojo, near the lighthouse, to be one of the most beautiful places in Puerto Rico. We have found that, as you explore the area around the lighthouse and head northwest, you will see how these rugged cliffs have been worn and sculpted by the ocean waves over time. There are all sorts of arches, little caves, and other amazing rock formations along this coastline. The photo opportunities are endless!

We are fortunate to have El Yunque rain forest as our backyard, so we have had the opportunity to hike all of the trails in El Yunque National Forest. Los Picachos trail is a short, side spur along El Yunque peak trail that is definitely worth the effort it takes to get there. Los Picachos trail heads to the east, and leads to an incredible 360° view.

Spring is in the air, so that means that is is time for Plant Shows here on the island! There are a number of orchid and plant shows on the island, featuring displays, sales, and seminars. If you love tropical plants and flowers, be sure to mark these dates on your calendar!

The oceans and seas around Puerto Rico are full of amazing creatures. And every winter, humpback whales join us for a 2-3 month period to rest, mate, and care for their young before heading back up north. You will have the best chance of spotting them from mid-January though mid-March in the west coast regions.

To make the most of the Parguera area, you need to get out on the water and visit the mangrove islands and/or the biobay. In order to do this, you obviously need to have access to a kayak or a boat of some kind. One option is to rent a little skiff. It is a fun, easy, and inexpensive way to get around to see the mangrove cays and maybe do a little snorkeling.

Black sand beaches sound so exotic, don’t they? On the big island of Puerto Rico, we have found only two beaches that have black sand, and both of them are in the Barceloneta/Manatí area on the north coast. This particular black sand beach, called Playa La Boca, is easy to get to, and is available 7 days/week.

Parque Nacional Balneario Punta Santiago is a government-run beach in Humacao that is advertised as offering facilites and the things that one needs for a nice day at the a beach – like life guards, bathrooms, and food kiosks. Do not be fooled. The balneario has been abandoned by the government. It is in disrepair and in need of serious maintenance. It is a real shame.