Once prized as an easily carved, vibrantly colored material for jewelry and other decorative arts, coral reefs are now one of the most endangered ecosystems on earth. Appreciate its value by giving your spouse and yourself a snorkeling trip to a coral reef.

An artful presentation of a coral-viewing vacation (this one is to the island of Culebra) requires only a little time and craft: Fill a clean jar with sand and a tiny palm tree, paint the lid coral-orange, and write a note on a map of your destination.