Located outside the Caribbean's hurricane belt, the flat desert island of Aruba remains a rain-free, 82-degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year -- barring a few drizzly days that keep the island's stunted trees and cacti alive. This former Dutch colony is only 21 miles from end to end, and pulls a large collection of international travelers. But with over 75 percent of it 1.5 million yearly visitors hailing from the U.S. alone, it's pretty Americanized. English is spoken widely, U.S. dollars are widely accepted, and major American hotel chains abound. Read more
