Along Playa Dorada's 3 mile long beach, each hotel has its water sports department that may include windsurfing, pedal boats, kayaks, banana boat, water ski and gliding equipment and snorkeling.

Playa Dorada also boasts excellent tennis facilities including the Occidental Tennis Academy by Guillermo Vilas top world tennis player, not to mention one of the world's finest golf courses. Designed by acclaimed welsh architect, Robert Trent Jones Sr., it is judged to be one of his most challenging 18-hole championship courses.

Website: Tennis Academy by Guillermo Vilas

Website: Golf Playa Dorada

Website: Golf Playa Grande

Although there seems to be enough to keep everyone entertained at Playa Dorada, the more adventurous or just plain curious have lots to explore beyond the resort area. This is, after all, a land of sugar cane fields, rainforests, mangroves, rivers, mountains, waterfalls and no less than 16 national parks. As a result, ecotourism is a big item in the Dominican Republic, with its exceptional flora and fauna just waiting to be discovered!

Whether by bus, bicycle, jeep safari, four-wheels or horseback, there are excellent tours that take the intrepid into the thick of things. You can choose from year-round canyoning and river rafting in Jarabacoa to whale-watching in the winter season in Samaná Bay; from hiking to the Imbert waterfalls to visiting small fishing villages or the mangroves of the Gri Gri Lagoon; from catamaran cruises to exploring mysterious indian caves with petroglyphic drawings that evoke our native past; from discovering the rich Jewish heritage of Sosúa and visiting its deeply moving museum and synagogue to arranging a "walk about" in the postcard-pretty town of Puerto Plata, just a few minutes from Playa Dorada.

For those who enjoy diving, there's Sosúa Bay, only 25 minutes from Playa Dorada. It is a sheltered, crystalline bay, featuring diving conditions for divers of all levels, with approximately 12 sites, ranging in depth from 10 to 30 mts.

Founded in 1502 by order of Christopher Columbus, the name of the city literally translates to port of silver, aptly chosen for the silvery hues of its natural harbor.

The fortress of San Felipe still keeps a silent vigil today. Started in 1541, the fort was completed in 1577. An awesome structure, it was intended to defend Puerto Plata against intruders. Exploring the old fort recreates the spirit of Puerto Plata's colonial past, rich in pirate legends and the romance of conquest.

Located over one hour from Playa Dorada is La Isabela, the first European settlement in the New World where Christopher Columbus and his Spanish crew celebrated the first Catholic Mass in America, thanking God for guiding them to a safe place.

3 hours away is Santo Domingo, the first city of the New World and the nation's capital, offering important historical attractions and monuments.

We can't live in the past, but it's a nice place to visit and Puerto Plata's turn-of-the-century charm is evident in its Victorian architecture.

Many of its gracious gingerbread homes date back to the republican period, whereas the gazebo in Puerto Plata's central park square was recreated from original sketches.

Concerts in the park, young ladies in European lace enjoying seafront carriage rides, lazy sunsets that linger forever, a mountain that seems to kiss the sea... all these images of Puerto Plata's past at a time when it was known as "a town of 30 coaches", are easily recalled.

Today, Mt. Isabel de Torres still towers over the town. Reaching 2,565 feet above sea level, the mountain is crowned by the sculpted Christ figure, similar to that atop Rio de Janeiro.

A lovely botanical garden is a feast for the eyes as are the sweeping panoramic views of Puerto Plata and the northern coastline.

The town of Puerto Plata bustles with interesting shops, restaurants, bars, patio cafes, and the Amber Museum. Here, you'll find a wonderful display of amber in all its colors. This valuable stone, shaped from the fossilized resin of trees, tells a story millions of years old!

With its perfect blend of cultures, architecture, flavors and rythms, Playa Dorada and its surroundings provide the ideal mix for a unique vacation experience.

One thing appears certain. Playa Dorada is a jewel of many facets. No longer a best kept secret, it has evolved into one of the truly great holiday destinations ... versatile, attractive and very accessible!