Are you tired of dull gray skies, cold rain and icy winter winds? Would you rather look at a world famous beach, enjoy the warmth of the sun on your face and feel a cool breeze caress your shoulders? If so, take a break from winter and head for Aruba.

This tropical island is located in the Caribbean Sea just 19 miles off the coast of Venezuela. A self-governing member of the Netherlands, Aruba’s culture is a unique mix of Dutch, Spanish and Indian influences. The official language is Dutch, but English and Spanish are widely spoken. Currency is the Aruba florin, but American dollars are accepted island-wide.

Also known as the desert island, Aruba enjoys temperatures in the 80’s even during the winter months. The island lies outside the hurricane belt and receives less rain than the rest of the Caribbean. The result is a desert like interior complete with arid landscape, cacti and wandering goats. The northeastern, windward coast is wild and rugged with pounding waves and a ruined pirate castle. Palm Beach is on the leeward side of the island where the Caribbean Sea is calm and serene. This long stretch of soft white sand is dotted with palm trees and bordered by lush foliage and high-rise hotels. Along Palm Beach, the resorts have banished the desert landscape in favor of well maintained, luxuriant, flowering gardens.

The Hyatt Regency Beach Resort and Casino is a 12-acre property right on Palm Beach. The best rooms have a view of the pool, beach and ocean. From our balcony, I could hear the morning call of the resident macaws and see the brilliant emerald of the Caribbean Sea. While in the distance, I could see the rooftops of Oranjestad and the upper decks of the massive cruise ships anchored in the harbor.

The hotel’s multilevel pool comes complete with a waterfall, waterslide, swim up bar and is surrounded by a spacious sun deck. The pool area opens directly onto the beach where towels, lounge chairs and grass sun umbrellas are provided by the helpful hotel staff. Guests can also receive food and beverage service while relaxing on the beach. The grounds include a freshwater lagoon stocked with tropical fish and a family of black swans. The resort offers four restaurants, tennis courts, casino, a fitness center and Camp Hyatt for children. You and your family can have a fun-filled vacation with out ever leaving the property.

If you do want to explore, there are bus, jeep and horseback tours of the interior and windward coast portions of the island. Tours include the natural bridge, California lighthouse and other attractions. However, the main activities on Aruba are water sports and gambling. The casinos are small but abundant and most are located inside a hotel or resort making it possible to dine, dance and gamble under one roof. The dress is casual resort wear and minimum age is 18.

Enjoy an evening of gambling and then get up early enough to go for a morning sail. In the morning light, the Caribbean Sea is a luminous emerald interspersed with pools of deep navy and sprinkled with gold from the rising sun. Spend the afternoon scuba diving, rent a jet ski or just float away on the gentle sea.

Snorkeling is great fun for the whole family. Red Sail Sports offers half-day snorkeling tours on their custom-built catamaran. Equipment, basic instructions and lunch are provided. During the excursion, Red Sail will drop anchor at three different locations for snorkeling.

For a perfect evening on Palm Beach, take a stroll down the promenade to Azzurro’s. This little Italian restaurant is located right on the beach with a panoramic view of the water. From Spaghetti Pomodoro to Lobster Thermador, the food is delightful. Relax over a fine meal and watch the sailboats head into the setting sun while the evening sky fades from blue to a rich burnished gold.