I prefer Island living over snowy escape. A lot of people say it doesn’t have as many activities, but my sims swim, fish ( love the boat for fishing ), beach comb, collect shells, build sand castles, lounge on blowups in the water, suntan, and jet ski, I haven’t tried the diving yet ( it is too bad you can’t see them diving under water ). Once in awhile they catch a festival. It is a great vacation spot for my sims, and brought the much needed swimming in places other than swimming pools. I also like the extra swimsuits ( though I also like the added jackets in Snowy escape ). The world is beautiful. Without this pack my sims couldn’t build sand castles, many of my sim kids have sand boxes, ( even have one by a karaoke bar in city living ) and till Island living sims children and toddlers could not play in the sand in them! There are a lot of good size lots in Sulani too. I have added a nightclub/BNB under the shipwreck lot and children's outdoor activities with BBQ, picnic table, loungers, and towels. I also added a Ship restaurant to one of the ocean lots with other activities. I have a rental in each Island, because my sims love the beach.
Because of island living we now get swimming in the newer packs in lakes and rivers. I DO wish they would add swimming to worlds like Oasis Springs ( the big lake there ), Windenburg Island, And Brindleton Bay ( at least for our selected household ). I also wish they would update Del Sole Valley with with some beach lots or bring out a beach pack based on California beaches, they could add surfing, boogie boarding, and volleyball. And, whatever happened to a regular diving board, pool slide, water basketball, and games for children like Marco Polo, and weighted ring tossing/retrieving? I would also like to see swimming in Silvadorado and Granite Falls.
Although I like skiing, sledding, boarding, climbing and hiking in Snowy escape, and the festivals, I was so disappointed that they didn’t make it where children could at least sled on mountains in other worlds in the snow ( having seasons ). They could have made a ramp we could place in the snow too for snow boarders in other worlds.
I have lived in California all my life, and love the Water, especially the beaches. So any pack with swimming an beach activities would be my preference. My active sims ( especially those that like to vacation love both worlds ).