I grew up in New England, so I thought the cold murky green ocean was “normal.” Then I went to Hawaii, in 1982, and my love of warm tropical paradises began.

Since then, I’ve traveled to a number of places closer to the equator than where I started. The lush colorful foliage, the clear warm water, the warm welcoming people all mix together in a sweet cocktail of sensual pleasure to soothe the body and soul.

Here are photos from a 2003 trip to St. Kitts (British West Indies) and Haiti. I was there to assist my Family Health International colleagues in reporting and documenting the lifesaving work they were doing to prevent new HIV infections and care for those living with the virus. The newly opened Marriott, in St. Kitts, and the Villa Creole in Port-au-Prince, provided luxurious surroundings to relax at the end of the day.

There are also photos from three different trips to one of my favorite places: South Florida. From the palm-lined promenade along Fort Lauderdale Beach, to the glamorous 1930s Art Deco hotels of Miami Beach, to the turquoise waters of Key West, I’ve enjoyed this special place each time I’ve gone. And I can never get there often enough!