10 ways to rock the Caribbean

REMEMBER that so-called endless winter we were all whining about not long ago?

Safe to say it ended. Just be careful what you wish for.

Peace out, North Face gear. Hello humidity, deodorantly challenged mass transit and school kids reclaiming the streets for three months.

Of course, big-picture wise, these are all small prices to pay for killer weather.

The problem is, we don’t always make the most of it in this city. Summer isn’t just about barbecues and beer and sexy-people watching. That’s only a good 90 percent of it.

The other tenth presents an opportunity to get out there in the world. And there’s one place tailor-made for the season: your old friend, the Caribbean.

BACK TO SCHOOL: Diving the British Virgin Islands.

For the most part, there’s no smog. No traffic. No cities in any familiar sense.

No frills, really — and we mean that in a good way, because you are hard-pressed to find an excuse to stay indoors.

Here are 10 ways to get out to the islands (when it’s at its absolute cheapest, by the way) and do stuff — fun stuff — for a change.

1) WALK IT OFF IN GRENADA

On the few occasions it garnered any press in our neck of the woods, the Spice Isle was either hosting some Cold War-era military shenanigans or a roof-eating hurricane. Otherwise, nada. Totally off the grid. A tragedy, since Grenada’s one of the lusher, more nature-flush places in the entire hemisphere. From the gazillion waterfalls (Seven Sisters is a series of seven falls all along a single trail) to the exotic-bird-and-flora-filled Grand Etang Lake and Forest Reserve, it’s a hiker’s paradise to say the least. Lace up and hit it.

Info grenadagrenadines.com

2) DIVE THE BVI

The British Virgin Islands are best viewed through a diving mask, and there are plenty of rich and protected marine areas all around the five dozen islands and cays that comprise it. Off Ginger Island, Alice in Wonderland is a dive site so named for its mutant, ’shroom-looking coral, suspiciously a favorite among local lobster and eels. But if boat carnage is more your speed, check out the remains of the RMS Rhone off the coast of Salt Island. A British mail ship, she was eviscerated — and consequently exploded before sinking — at the hands of an unidentified hurricane back in the 1860s. Not certified to dive? Hit up Blue Waters Diving in Road Town, Tortola, for some much-needed summer school (bluewaterdiversbvi.com).

Info bvitourism.com

3) JAMAICA’S JERK STORE

Only 2 years old, Jamaica’s island-wide Jerk Trail now has 20 stops along the way where you can sample its native, slave-inspired cuisine. From Jo Jo’s Pork Pit in Kingston, to Border Jerk in Negril, you’ll have no shortage of spice in your life. Check out the map of the trail on Jamaica’s official tourism site, gas up and get going.