If the prospect of cold, gray days in January and February are darkening your outlook, don't despair. The island of the Caribbean-rightly famous for beautiful beaches, tropical temperatures, and friendly locals-are one place where you can always be sure of a warm welcome. From the chilled-out charm of Jamaica to the cozy embrace of Barbados of the hideaway serenity of Curaçao, to name just a few, visitors can find a little bit of everything here: miles of soft sand and turquoise sea, first-rate water sports and land activities, a variety of island cultures and heritages and dining and nightlife options guaranteed to warm you, inside and out.

More than any other attraction, it is the warm, welcoming, bluer-than-blue sea that draws visitors to this regions years after year. And depending upon where you choose to land, there so many ways you can enjoy it. One of the most celebrated-with good reason-is Negril's Seven Mile Beach, on the western tip of Jamaica. Here, there name says it all: mile after mile of glorious shoreline bustling with life, be it a game of volleyball, a soaring parasail, or a spur-of-the-moment beach party. And for those who seek a more secluded place in the sun, nearby Bloody Bay provides (despite its name) the perfect peaceful escape.

For sailor, yachtsmen and all kinds of sea salts, the region's rich nautical history and ambience will prove irresistible-especially on Antigua, the largest of the British Leeward Islands, where you may at times fell you've stepped back in time to Lord Nelson's day. Check into a charming room at the St.James's Club, Elite island Resorts' delightfully out-of-th-way haven not far from the appropriately named English Harbour, and let the waves of nostagial, along with the sea spray, wash over you.

Continuing eastward, the warm waters off the coast of Barbados are ideal for sport fishing, and freshly caught tuna, wahoo, dorado and marlin might all be on the menu here if you're patient and lucky. The south coast of Barbados is also where you'll some of the best windsurfing in the world. Experts and beginners alike flock to Silver Sands, where the conditions are challenging, yet forgiving. Scuba enthusiasts might want to head further south to Curaçao in the Dutch Antilles. Divers from all over the world come here to experience deep-sea wonders such as the Superior Producer, a sunken cargo ship where many types of coral and marine life can be found. Of course, the entire Caribbean region is a treasure trove for divers and snorkelers, with every island offering magnificent reefs and fascinating shipwrecks to explore.

Be it a hike through Jamaica's famed Blue Mountains of a horseback ride through Barbados's foothills, the Caribbean offers so much more than just sand and sea. Golf lovers, for example, can enjoy some of the finest and most challenging courses imaginable in Barbados as well as at many of Jamaica's deluxe resorts, including Grand Lido Braco on Jamaica's Runaway Bay and its sister property, the Negril Hills Club.

Spend just a day in Jamaica and the warmth of the local culture will envelop you. For some people that means shopping and haggling for handmade crafts at the local stands, while others opt to have their hair braided with beads and shells.

The Bob Marley Museum, housed in his former Kingston home, is a must-see for reggae fans. And for connoisseurs of fine Jamaican rum, there is no better way to taste the local culture than a tour of the Appleton Estate, one of the island's oldest and most sophisticated producers, located in the Blue Mountains just north of Kingston.

Marley's great passion after music was soccer, but on Barbados another sport rules. Cricket is the game of the West Indies, and at the Kensington Oval you can watch some of the best players in the world. Cricket was originally a game of emancipation for the Bajan people-a way of proving themselves against their former colonial rules. You can catch a glimpse of Barbados's colonial past by touring one of the beautifully preserved plantation house, such as Sunbury or Francia.

The many and diverse tastes of the islands are part of the conspiracy to make you feel warm all over. Be sure to sample a bite of true local cuisine, from the delectable jerk pork and meat patties of Jamaica (best washed down with a cold Red Stripe beer) to hearty Bajan staples such as cou-cou-a mixture of cornmeal and okra, often served with steamed flying fish and topped with a spicy Creole souce. And when you're ready to dance off your dinner on Barbados, St.Lawrence Gap, a 1.3 km stretch of road in the parish of Christ Church, is the place to go for lively nightlife, including local reggae and callypso as well as live jazz and blues.

All over the region, choices abound, whether you choose an all-inclusive resort that provides its own entertainment, or opt to venture out on your own to an out-of-the way piano bar, a pulsating disco, or a night of balmy revelry on the beach. During the calendar's coldest months, you won't find a warmer welcome anywhere under the sun. (*Neil Gower - Condê Nast Traveler)