Even after spending ages in Puerto Rico, it’s hard to believe you haven’t left the United States. Sure the US dollars marked on menus and the increasing numbers of American shopping chains lining the city blocks might remind you of the island’s 1898 annexation, but these signs are easily overwhelmed by a distinct Puerto Rican culture, not to mention the intense "Boricua" pride that comes with it. Puertorriqueños are passionate about their island, and the ubiquitous flags on every street corner, car bumper, store window, and T-shirt will serve as constant reminders of this fact. The center of Puerto Rican pride is a cultural heritage springing from a rich mix of Caribbean and Latin influences, from the bumping music of reggaetón and salsa to the widely popular mofongo, a typically Puerto Rican in which fried plantains are mashed up and used as a bowl. Like the population, the majority of nightlife and tourist attractions are located in the capital of San Juan. Old San Juan, site of the original Spanish fortifications, is the tourist capital of the island and host to quaint, colorful streets lined with restaurants and shopping. Newer parts of San Juan, such as Condado, are home to plush clubs and the more popular city beaches, while Santurce is grittier but still holds cultural attractions. Excursions outside the city offer opportunities to view the wonders of Puerto Rico’s natural environment, including El Yunque, the only rainforest in the U.S. National Park System; Ponce, Puerto Rico’s second city, filled with colonial grandeur; and ethereal bioluminescent bays that should not be missed.