St. Croix was a good suggestion. Does your wife like to snorkel? The Fredricksted Pier is also great for snorkeling. There is shopping and restaurants and a small casino. You can take a tour one of the rum factories and that's a lot of fun. It was originally a Danish territory and its history is a little different from most Caribbean islands. They drive on the left even though it is now a US territory. It got a bad reputation for crime several years ago but that has been changing; just use common sense and stay away from sketchy looking areas.
Provo in the T&Cs is a British island and it is a lovely place to visit. It has much of what you are looking for, including one of the most beautiful beaches I have seen. It has restaurants and shops but it is not as developed as Grand Cayman. But the diving is best from a liveaboard IMO; you are likely to have long boat rides to the better dive sites.
Curacao is a Dutch island, it is larger and more developed than Bonaire but the diving is similar. It has better beaches than Bonaire. There are a lot of hills but also some level areas for walking. Visiting the Ostrich Farm is fun and there are museums, including a maritime museum and a large fort.
Everyone says that Bonaire is boring if you are not a diver, but there are beautiful watersports, restaurants and some shopping, a small casino. You can visit the slave huts and the large national park (which is like driving through the jungle). It has an interesting topography with mangroves, salt flats, desert, beach (not a lot of beach). It is a very nice place to relax and it is definitely off the beaten path.
Both Curacao and Bonaire have persistent problems with petty thievery and you cannot lock the car or leave anything of value inside the car.
Have you thought about Hawaii? Beautiful islands, lots to do, and some excellent diving - different from the Caribbean but still very nice. Long plane ride to get there, though.
Have fun!
Provo in the T&Cs is a British island and it is a lovely place to visit. It has much of what you are looking for, including one of the most beautiful beaches I have seen. It has restaurants and shops but it is not as developed as Grand Cayman. But the diving is best from a liveaboard IMO; you are likely to have long boat rides to the better dive sites.
Curacao is a Dutch island, it is larger and more developed than Bonaire but the diving is similar. It has better beaches than Bonaire. There are a lot of hills but also some level areas for walking. Visiting the Ostrich Farm is fun and there are museums, including a maritime museum and a large fort.
Everyone says that Bonaire is boring if you are not a diver, but there are beautiful watersports, restaurants and some shopping, a small casino. You can visit the slave huts and the large national park (which is like driving through the jungle). It has an interesting topography with mangroves, salt flats, desert, beach (not a lot of beach). It is a very nice place to relax and it is definitely off the beaten path.
Both Curacao and Bonaire have persistent problems with petty thievery and you cannot lock the car or leave anything of value inside the car.
Have you thought about Hawaii? Beautiful islands, lots to do, and some excellent diving - different from the Caribbean but still very nice. Long plane ride to get there, though.
Have fun!
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