Christopher Columbus, built his first settlement in the new world, in the Dominican Republic, and in Santo Domingo, you can visit the 20-room mansion where his son Diego and his descendents lived, on the oldest street in the Western Hemisphere. Its Zona Colonia, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990, has been restored to its original splendour. Walk the streets that all the famous pirates, explorers, and buccaneers, who were here in the 16th century, tramped on. Hernan Cortes, Ponce de Leon, Sir Francis Drake and the list goes on. There are a whole lot of firsts in the city.

You can visit the oldest cathedral that Sir Francis Drake ransacked, the first university, the ruins of the first hospital, even the oldest military building in the Americas. When the kids get tired of seeing all this “old stuff”, take them to Acuario Nacional (National Aquarium), and when they tire of that, right across from the National Aquarium, is a water park, perfect to cool off after a day of sightseeing.

Baseball is the sport here, and going to a game is not to be missed. Santo Domingo’s two professional teams play at the Estado Quisqueya.

This is a city of music; merengue, bachata, and salsa, you’ll hear it everywhere.

And yes of course there are all-inclusive resorts close by to pamper the whole family. Down Highway 3, about 50 kilometres are three Barceló all-inclusive resorts. Barceló is a chain that Canadians return to over and over again.

The 433 room, 3.5 star  Barceló Talanquera Beach Resort is perfect for families, with lots of beach activities, five pools - two for kids, and a kids’ club for the 4-12 set. There’s a certified dive centre, lots of deep dive sites, a long chain of sea caves and sea channels to explore.

The 500 room, 4.5 star Barceló Capella Beach Resort, beachfront on Villas Del Mar Beach is just five minutes from an 18-hole championship golf course. You can walk to shops and restaurants. It too has a kids’ club. Across a laneway from the beach and the Barceló Capella Beach Resort, and also the Barceló Colonia Tropical. With just 40 rooms, it is a cosy property loved by many people in the travel industry because it is small and intimate.

You’ll have access to the facilities of the Barceló Capella Beach Resort. There’s also a casino nearby.