I love the Virgin Islands and the beautiful aquamarine crisp clear waters, and the white sandy beaches that my feet sink into. You can go to the Saint Thomas Virgin Islands without a passport that makes it a quick convenient getaway. You can even make plans ahead and have a beach side wedding. So what’s holding you back from getting away or making your wedding plans today? Saint Thomas has the only heart-shaped bay in the world, Magen’s Bay, Saint Thomas. It sounds like the perfect wedding day! The only things you need is a swimsuit, some comfortable clothes and comfortable shoes that can get you across the rocky terrain, and be prepared to walk a lot of steps up and down to the beach. But the beautiful scenery and relaxing wave sounds are worth it all! I got through it all wearing my waterproof Crocs and taking some resort clothes for dinner and excursions. You’ll want to make sure while there that you visit, Black Beard’s Castle. It’s a favorite of all the deranged pirate’s fans.
Other places you can travel without a passport:
Puerto Rico
The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico is one of the closest Caribbean islands to the mainland United States, and it does not require a passport to enter if you are an American citizen. This scenic and tropical port of call is a favorite for cruisers and has an average year round temperature of 80 degrees. The island has miles and miles of white sand beaches for the sun worshippers and lots of history. The island feels like Latin America, but English is the main language and the dollar is the standard currency, even though many people jokingly call it the “peso” here.
Hawaii
Although they are far away from the mainland of the U.S., the Hawaiian Islands are the nation’s 50th state, and like any other state, there is no need for a passport to come ashore if you are an American. The chain of islands stretching from Kauai in the west to the Big Island of Hawaii in the east, are all beautiful in their own way. From the jagged peaks along the Napali Coast on Kauai, the gentle waves along Waikiki in Oahu, the plunging waterfalls of Maui and the erupting volcanoes of the Big Island there is a lot of beauty to be found in the Aloha State.
Dry Tortugas
One way to get away to an island that is beautiful and does not require a passport is to drive to the Florida Keys. U.S. Highway 1 connects the Keys, and from the sport fishing capital of Islamorada to the bars and historical sites of Key West, this place makes for a great vacation. But to truly get away from it all on an incredibly beautiful island, take a catamaran or seaplane to the Dry Tortugas National Park (nps.gov/drto) and camp out on these primitive islands 70 miles west of Key West. Since they are technically a part of the Florida Keys there is no need for a passport. But you will feel like you are secluded on another world — and the snorkeling and beach lounging available in the Tortugas is hard to beat anywhere else in America.
Guam
Much like the Northern Marianas, Guam to the south was colonized by the Spanish, changed hands during WWII, and is now a tourist destination for Japanese and U.S. nationals. (Its second-largest source of income is the U.S. military, whose Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force bases make up about one-third of Guam’s total land area.) Military aside, there is much to do on this vivid island: Tumon’s beaches are known for great snorkeling, and Guam’s teeming seas are famous among divers for visibilities up to 150 feet. Two Lovers Point, a cliff-side lookout, offers some pristine panoramas from 400 feet above the Philippine Sea (plus a dramatic legend of star-crossed lovers). And while flights to Guam don’t come cheap, accommodations do; resorts in Tumon and nearby Tamuning average around $200 per night.
I Heart America 