Dreaming of Bora Bora's turquoise water and green peaks without the 20+ hour flight? Meet St. John. About 60% of this tiny Caribbean island is protected as Virgin Islands National Park, so you'll find untouched beaches and lush hills instead of crowded resorts. Snorkel Trunk Bay, where the National Park Service installed underwater stone plaques along a reef trail. Swim with green sea turtles in Maho Bay, then hike trails that end at beaches where you can wade in and snorkel over coral. But while the scenery may feel South Pacific, but the culture is all Caribbean. Instead of Polynesian dance and overwater bungalows, you'll find Afro-Caribbean food, Danish colonial history, and laid-back island villas. St. John falls in our Comfort tier: most visitors stay in villas, condos, and small hotels, and you'll need a ferry to get there. Budget travelers can save by camping at Cinnamon Bay Campground inside the park. Since St. John is a U.S. territory, no passport is required. Bora Bora's beaches with its own island flavor, a few hours from home.