Nestled in the heart of the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, in the eastern portion of the Greater Antilles. Known for its tropical climate and gorgeous beaches, I traveled here not to spend time at a resort, but to explore Santo Domingo, the country’s capital. The view out the plane window offered amazing views as we approached.

I enjoy discovering unique aspects of each place I visit. While Larimar wasn’t the sole reason for the destination, the country’s national stone certainly piqued my interest and I couldn’t wait to go hunting for some jewelry.

The city was wonderful, and my hotel was in the middle of the historic district, steps from El Conde, a lively pedestrian-only street. Before arriving, I hadn’t heard of El Conde, so I was pleasantly surprised to find it lined with hundreds of souvenir shops, cafes, and local businesses. Walking west down El Conde brought me to Independence Park, which was free to visit. There, you can see where the outer wall connects to the original city wall, built in the 1500s.

Walking east along El Conde took me past Parque Colon, a beautiful square surrounded by restaurants and anchored by a stunning church. Just beyond the park is the riverfront, also lined with cafes and interesting places to explore.

I ended up purchasing several pieces of Larimar jewelry from the various gift shops and the Mercado Modelo, the city’s large artisan market.

The KAH KOW Experience was a fun activity that I highly recommend. The tour provides the history of chocolate as it spread throughout the world before allowing visitors to create their own chocolate bar. While our chocolate cooled, we sampled delicious treats from the cafe and browsed the fantastic gift shop.

Other discoveries included church ruins and an old fort, all within walking distance from our hotel. The area offered so much to explore without the cost of taxis or shared transportation.