Culture meets couture

While the Puerto Rico Tip-Off teams break for a day Saturday, Nov. 22, it’s the perfect time to explore Old San Juan. The centuries-old heart of the town has been loving restored. It’s a looking glass into old-world European charm and Spanish Colonial architecture. Balanced amid world-class shopping (Tommy Bahama, Coach … need we go on?) on Calle de Cristo – the main shopping drag – are three not-to-be-missed historical churches. Plenty of museums and cultural exhibits dot Old San Juan’s streets and alleyways. One of the more unique visits is the Museo de Casa Blanca, formerly the home of Juan Ponce de Leon. Built in the 16^th century, the museum now features a broad collection of multicultural artifacts. And don’t forget Museo del Nino, where kids of any age can play all day while pocketing plenty of knowledge. If that’s not enough fun, Casa Lila offers a cheese-making workshop, and another outfit offers the Coffee Cupping tour for those who just can’t stop thinking about those Pumpkin Spice Lattes.