While disembarking from an international flight can feel lovely, realizing you have to spend an hour waiting in line at customs can be a real let down. Since nothing beats waltzing right through the airport terminal and into tropical escape, here are a few stunning tropical destinations that U.S. citizens can visit without a passport:

As written for Refinery29:

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (pictured above)
Year-round summer, clear skies, and emerald waters await, just a short flight away (three hours from Miami). Go horseback riding near 18th-century sugar mills (and into the ocean), head to the Danish-styled Christiansted for local charm and shopping (be sure to check out the handmade jewelry), or just hit the laid-back beaches to relax and enjoy the island’s natural wonders. Adventure-seekers can explore the rainforest and hike to the Annaly Bay tide pools. More St. Croix here.

Maui, Hawaii
Hawaii is an obvious choice for a tropical, no-passport-required getaway — but Maui, with its never-ending supply of immaculate white-sand beaches, beautiful waterfalls, and lush greens, feels wildly exotic. The Hawaiian “It” island offers top-notch water sports and activities, a volcanic landscape, a rich culture, and a range of fantastic lodging options with prime seaside locations. A sunset will never look the same once you’ve experienced it in Maui.

Key West, Florida
The Florida island city — which is connected to the U.S. by a railway and highway — is famed for its conch-style houses, laid-back lifestyle, and diving and snorkeling in the Florida Reef coral reef system (the only living coral barrier reef in the country). Loaded with quirky charm and a range of cultural offerings (don’t miss the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum), you’ll find Caribbean vibes in Old Town, and a variety of festivals ranging from fishing tourneys to art events to the wild 10-day party week of Fantasy Fest. It’s also a historically LGBTQ-friendly escape.

Vieques, Puerto Rico
While it’s just a few miles away from the mainland of Puerto Rico, Vieques feels like another world. Renowned for (surprise!) its beaches, wild horses, and eerily awesome bioluminescent bay, 70% of the island is a U.S. wildlife refuge, protecting coastal lagoons, mangrove wetlands, subtropical dry forest, and smaller islands.

See the full list over on Refinery29!🙂

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