The weather is starting to cool down, making one of our favorite times to visit the Caribbean even better. For much of the region, the fall is the nadir of the off season — but for die-hard Caribbean travelers, it means the chance to find lower rates, smaller (or nonexistent) crowds and the feeling of having destinations entirely to yourselves. So where should you go in October? The latest monthly edition of 7 Places to Visit brings you inspiration for seven very different but equally fascinating destinations in the Caribbean, from St Croix to Aruba.

Hillside House, legendary Bahamian artist Antonius Roberts’ must-visit gallery and studio in Nassau.

Downtown Nassau It’s an amazing thing to see the growth of downtown Nassau, which has become a vibrant, walkable, art-packed destination in just a few years. Whether you want to tour galleries or museums, dine at world-class restaurants like Cafe Matisse and Graycliff, explore the new Heritage Village or spend the afternoon on pulsing white-sand beaches, there’s a whole world here — without ever needing to head to Paradise Island or Cable Beach. It’s quietly become one of the more sophisticated, culturally rich places to visit in the region. And the hotels are wide-ranging, too, from the aforementioned Graycliff to the underrated British Colonial Hilton.