The best camping near Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve

Is this the actual spot where Columbus landed? Well, it's certainly close to here—but that's far from the only reason to visit this historical park. Take an evening tour in a see-through kayak through the bioluminescent waters.

Pontoon tours in the daytime also let you explore the whole Salt River Bay area. Knowledgeable boat captains can fill you in on the wildlife of the area. Keep your eyes peeled for mangroves and jellyfish—and if you're a birder, you'll go crazy over all the amazing birds in the area. This area has also been home to quite a few shipwrecks, and some of the masts still rise above the water.

The Visitor Center has some interesting local artifacts as part of its documentation of 2,000 years of human history in the Caribbean. Get out your camera, because the views from here over Salt Bay are definitely worth a few shots.

You're in the tropics here, so bring that mosquito repellent if you don't want to spend your visit scratching. This is probably not the best spot for lounging on the beach, but that bioluminescence tour in a clear-bottom kayak is unbeatable.