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The municipality of Luquillo (loo-kee-yoo) is as laid back as it sounds. Often referred to as the "Sun Capital" because of its consistently warm weather, Luquillenses (what the locals are called) and tourists alike are enamored with its beaches.

Most of Luqillo's beaches are located off Highway 3. One of the most popular is the one that shares its name with the municipality. To describe Luqillo Beach as "the poster child" of Puerto Rican beaches might sound like a travel reviewer with a limited vocabulary, but it really is a compliment to this crescent-shaped beach that is simply one of the finest the Caribbean has to offer. The lines of shady coconuts palms are a signature of the beaches in Luquillo. Shielded from the Atlantic by coral reefs, its lagoon is ideal for swimming. The warm waters would be a welcome break for anyone looking to seek relief from their colder hometowns. Besides delighting beach goers with its sun-baked golden beaches, Luquillo Beach manages to put to bed many of the pet peeves of beach goers with its ample parking space and shower areas.

Beaches are a staple for most tourists who flock to Puerto Rico but the residents of Luquillo would testify to the fact that it really is more than just sand and ocean. Not many know that there are lots of tourists out there who flock to Puerto Rico just to tour the many dining locations. Even the most discerning diner can be catered to, with Luquillo's stable of eateries that range from serving local fare to those with a more cosmopolitan outlook.

Near Luquillo beach is a line of twenty odd dining shacks collectively known as Restaurant Row where you can indulge in some of the finest seafood and other local fare. If you want to stick to western cuisine while on holiday, head to Brass Cactus Bar and Grill which prides itself as the most prominent establishment in the northeast. A crowd favorite has to be the daily Happy Hour (4-6pm) during which all drinks and appetizers can be purchased at half price. Every Friday from 10 pm to 2 am, guests get to exercise their vocals during the karaoke session.

To recoup some of that hard-earned dough that has been spent gorging on the delectables of Puerto Rico, pay a visit to some of the gaming establishments in town. Luquillo boasts of a few up-scale casinos that would cater to seasoned vacationers. If Lady Luck abandons you, comfort yourself with the in-house concerts provided by some of the casinos.

Luquillenses celebrate locals dishes and beverages prepared with coconut during the three-day long Festival de Platos Tpicos (Typical Dishes Festival) held usually in November. Taking place in the Town Square of Luquillo, you will get to witness gourmet competitions and the Puerto Ricans' obsession with chicken! Besides getting to taste some of the local delights such as carne fritas and lechon, there will also be a showcase of Puerto Rican music and crafts.

A perfect day at Luquillo can be aptly summed up by a common local toast: Salud, amor y pesetas (Health, love and money)! Keep an open-minded and you will find all these and more in Luquillo!

Learn more about this author, W.H. Garcia.
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