Carolina is a large municipality just east of San Juan, best known as the home of Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport and Isla Verde, the resort beach strip that technically falls within Carolina's borders rather than San Juan's. Most visitors pass through without realizing they have left the capital, but Carolina has its own character worth noting.
Isla Verde beach is one of the best urban beaches in the Caribbean — a wide crescent of fine sand with calm, turquoise water and a string of beach bars and restaurants behind it. The surf break at Pine Grove, at the eastern end of Isla Verde, draws local surfers. Beyond the beach strip, Carolina has a pleasant historic centre with a colonial church and the Museo del Niño, a children's museum popular with families.
For most travelers, Carolina functions as an extension of San Juan, and the Isla Verde area is a solid alternative to staying in Condado or Old San Juan — slightly cheaper, with better beach access. The airport is right here, making early departures painless. The Piñones area to the east, a stretch of mangroves, lagoons, and beachside kiosks selling alcapurrias and bacalaítos, is one of the best casual food experiences in Puerto Rico.