Having it all
As diverse as the Dominican Republic is geologically, so are its vacation choices. To some the island is full of swank resorts and night life pulsating to merengue and non-stop casino action. Then there are those who come to enjoy a thousand miles of sugar-white beaches, or challenge some of the most beautiful and difficult golf courses in the world. Outdoor enthusiasts are drawn to trekking and biking through the magnificent mountain ranges which are scattered throughout the island, often dramatically rising straight up from the sea. In Old Santo Domingo, history aficionados can witness the buildings and streets that were once inhabited by Columbus, Ponce de Leon, and Cortez.

Smiles abound with friendly locals
Though some people will be taken aback by the poverty, ramshackle roads, weaving high speed taxis, and seemingly endless chaos in the hustle and bustle of Santo Domingo, almost all will agree that the local people are among the warmest, friendliest, and most interesting of the Caribbean.

Christopher Columbus arrived off the north shores of the Dominican Republic in 1492. His own diary makes references to the incredible beauty of the island and the extreme tenderness and friendliness of the original inhabitants -- The Taino Indians. Unfortunately their trust of Columbus was exploited, and the Tainos soon disappeared into the history books as their population was enslaved to work in Spanish mines. Those who resisted quickly perished.

The oldest city in the "New World"
In 1496 Christopher Columbus's brother, Bartolomeo, founded the first permanent and now the oldest European settlement in the new world, Santo Domingo. At the time, the entire island -- the largest in the Caribbean after Cuba -- was known as Hispaniola, and the colonial city of Santo Domingo served as the jumping-off point for further Spanish colonization of the Caribbean and the Americas.

For the next 300 years the island was the scene of constant warfare between European powers. The French carved out the western third of the island that eventually became known as Haiti. The Dominican Republic struggled through several wars of independence, in 1821 from Spain, and in 1844 from Haiti.

Caribbean island with a Latin American beat
Through it all, the people have remained warm, open, and friendly. They are passionate about music and dance. Merengue greets you at the airport, travels with you in your taxi, and is probably playing in the lobby as you arrive at your hotel! While you will hear the latest hits from America or Europe, you will also be able to experience a wide range of Dominican music (with influences from Africa and Latin America), including Salsa, Caribbean Jazz, Folkloric and the Tumba (horn) styles of neighboring islands. And if you want to enjoy another great local passion, ask about baseball. Outside of North America, the Dominican Republic has the most active players on the rosters of US Major League Baseball.