Plentiful beaches, bountiful reefs, eco-tourism adventures and an historical naval dockyard make the twin island nation of Antigua and Barbuda special.

It’s great to travel with friends—that is unless your shared vacation turns you into enemies. That can happen to even the most complementary of couples. We know. We tarnished a good friendship by not talking frankly ahead of time.

Every July I think of President Abraham Lincoln. His concept of liberty for all resonate for me on America’s Independence Day. A better understanding of Lincoln’s legacy as well as the aftermath of his assassination is the goal of the Ford’s Center for Education and Leadership,D.C.

Time travel makes history engaging, especially for kids. Few major cities make it as easy and as interesting to drop-in on the 18th century as does Philadelphia, America’s first capital, where you can talk with early patriots and erstwhile colonials as they ponder and plan a break with Britain.

Summer is a great time to visit any city, especially Washington, D.C., a place that offers plenty of opportunity to play outdoors in between exploring the capital’s top spots. To prevent your trip from feeling like a forced march through museums, take time to enjoy some of the District’s oases.

Going on an adventure? Then don’t leave home without a well-stocked emergency medical kit. If you have food allergies and don’t speak the local language, take along food translation cards that indicate what you cannot eat.

legacy. Taking an eco-cruise with Captain Charlie Birch is a great way to spot the horses, see less-visited stretches of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and to learn about the region’s clamming and oystering plus enjoy two hours of boating.

For sand and surf lovers, Virginia Beach is a good bet. We like the area because its 35 miles of coastline including 20 miles of sandy shores gives us options: a bustling, boardwalk fronted ocean beach, quiet shores for strolling, as well as calm waters for kayaking on the Chesapeake Bay.

Richmond’s Virginia Museum of Fine Arts surprised us. After a $150 million expansion, the facility blooms with new galleries, a sculpture garden and two eateries. With more than 545,000 square feet on 13.5 acres, the revitalized museum makes Richmond an art lovers’ getaway.

Boomers have always been the first to embrace new things aimed at the betterment of body and soul. Spas aimed at Boomers, from luxury retreats to affordable getaways, incorporate mediation, yoga, energy balancing, color and cold therapies and, increasingly, Medi-Spa treatments.