Other Caribbean Destinations Part III

St. Kitts & Nevis

Once super-wealthy from the 'white gold' of sugar, this tiny nation remains super-rich in scenery, history, culture, class and charm. St Kitts was first of the Lesser Antilles to be colonized by Europeans, hence the nickname: Mother Colony of the West Indies.

The incredible beauty of these islands makes it understandable why so many nations and people have desired deeded ownership. Lower slopes of St Kitts glimmer with the emerald green of sugar cane stalks. Fertile fields rise to a rain forest and then on to mountain peaks atop stunted woodlands. The mountains are sometimes sheathed in fluffy white clouds that supposedly reminded Spanish explorers of snow-capped peaks back in Spain. The name "Nevis" is believed to have derived from nieve, the Spanish word for snow.

St Kitts is the larger of the two islands and the site of the island capital: Basseterre. This picture-postcard town is chockablock with charming West Indian architecture backed by mountains such as Monkey Hill and the South Range. About half of the island's population lives in Basseterre. The French name Basseterre dates back to the days when the island was French colonial. The gentrified Fortlands residential section of Basseterre is the site of the Governor-General's residence - not open to the public, however. The highest point is the volcano Mount Liamuiga, also known as Mount Misery and noted for being (almost) inactive. A road from Basseterre leads to Frigate Bay, once the site of early-morning duels by ticked-off members of high society. Today, however, golf clubs and jet skis have replaced dueling pistols as the most popular way to defend one's honour, at least in the sports line.

From the St. Kitts tourism website (http://www.stkitts-tourism.com/)

Intoxicating natural beauty, sunny skies, warm waters, and white sandy beaches combine to make St. Kitts one of the most seductive spots in the Caribbean. Christopher Columbus first spotted St. Kitts in 1493, when it was populated with native tribes, but the Europeans did not colonize until the British arrived in 1623. Its strategic location and valuable sugar trade led to an advanced and luxurious development that was among the best in the Colonial Caribbean.

While development has been of the highest quality, it has fortunately remained in low quantity, so St. Kitts remains un-crowded and unspoiled, famous around the world for excellent preservation of the ecosystems. Nature lovers will want to take advantage of the various tours through lava formations, tropical forest areas, and seaside lagoons. Boating tours and scuba diving expeditions are also favorite activities. Plantation homes have been transformed into grand, intimate inns. Quaint shopping areas and beautiful Colonial architecture draw visitors to the tiny towns. If a quiet vacation in a luxurious and alluring corner of paradise is what you seek, you'll find it on St. Kitts.

Anguilla

Sometimes a resort is known for what it doesn't have - such as casinos, jazzy nightclub action, duty-free shopping plazas, nudist-friendly beaches, cheap junk food and the like. Such is the case on the eel-shaped island of Anguilla where serenity, divine dining, multi-starred hotels and body-pampering spas - plus some 33 beaches - are the main tourist draws. Forget that other stuff.

Architecture is another Anguillan plus, and represents a myriad of styles and cultures. Maundy Bay is wrapped in Moorish-type villas where your welcome drink is apt to be an island herbal magical medical cure called "bush tea." Other encounters of the architectural kind include resorts done up in Spanish Mediterranean fashion, rainbow-hued Caribbean clapboard houses, Greek-island structures in glistening white and cobalt blue and wrap-around verandahs on West Indian-styled bungalows.

And another thing - as befits a proper English place, no skinny dipping, for heaven's sake! For un-English, clothing-optional beach escapades, take the 30-minute ferry ride from Blowing Point Harbour to French and saucy, nude beach-friendly St Martin.

But why on earth would you want to leave behind Anguilla's world-class diving, sailing, yachting, windsurfing, health spa and fishing opportunities in the blue-green, gin-clear seas of an island media types have christened as: Tranquillity Wrapped In Blue.”

U.S. Virgin Islands

St. Croix:

St.Croix's rich culture and history, along with its beautiful beaches and world-class recreational activities, create an experience unlike any other in the Caribbean. Since the day Christopher Columbus first arrived at Salt River on St. Croix more than 500 years ago, sugar and rum have shaped the island's life and land. Fifty-four sugar mills, each with imposing windmill towers and factory chimneys, still rest in the shadows of stately eighteenth-century and nineteenth-century homes. Located on the west end of the island, Estate Whim Plantation is just one example of these "greathouses." With acres of rolling green hills,
St.Croix's plantation estates also bore crops of okra, cabbage, corn, and other vegetables still prominent in Caribbean cuisine. As the sugar industry declined after the 1960s, tourism became the most important industry on the island. Christiansted and Frederiksted, the two main towns of St. Croix, flourished as commercial ports during the eighteenth century and nineteenth century. Distinct architecture reflects the seven flags--Spanish, Dutch, British, French, Knights of Malta, Danish, and American -- that have flown over the island. Today, visitors to St. Croix can enjoy a number of indoor and outdoor activities, from fine dining, shopping, and a casino, to golf, scuba diving, and horsback riding

St. Johns

St. John, the smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, retains a tranquil, unspoiled beauty uncommon in the Caribbean or anywhere else in the world. Settled in the early 1700s by Danish immigrants attracted to the island's potential as a sugar cane-producing colony, St. John soon
blossomed into a thriving society. The ruins of the Annaberg Sugar Plantation and other smaller plantations on the island attest to the island's agricultural history.

The extensive sugar cane farming, however, did little to affect the natural beauty of St. John. Its unspoiled forests and stunning beaches attracted the attention of wealthy families such as the Rockefellers, who sought privacy and tranquility on the island. In 1956, Laurance Rockefeller was so moved by the island that he bought and donated broad expanses of land to the National Park Service to keep St. John "a thing of joy forever."

Today, two-thirds of St. John is part of the Virgin Islands National Park, featuring fascinating trails, secluded coves, and dazzling white beaches. The Reef Bay Trail takes hikers through dense forests, plantation ruins, and rock outcroppings marked by well-preserved petroglyphs. Trunk Bay, Hawksnest Bay, Cinnamon Bay, and Maho Bay are just four of the dozens of beaches. Cruz Bay, the center of activity on St. John, contains colorful shops, lively bars, and fabulous restaurants.

St. Thomas

St. Thomas combines the natural beauty of the islands with a cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is one of the most beautiful harbors in the world and the most visited port in the Caribbean. Elegant dining, exciting nightlife, and world-class duty-free shopping are abundant in Charlotte Amalie. The city's reputation as the shopping abundant in Charlotte Amalie. The city's reputation as the shopping mecca of the Caribbean draws visitors from all over the region and around the world. A mountainous island, St. Thomas offers stunning vistas in almost every direction. While Charlotte Amalie is full of energy, St. Thomas also provides natural wonders such as the indescribably beautiful Magens Bay and stunning views of the Caribbean from 1,500 feet above sea level. Drake's Seat is particularly famous for its vistas.

Sports and activities are abundant on St. Thomas. Golf enthusiasts will enjoy the George and Tom Fazio-designed Mahogany Run course. St. Thomas is also well known for its world-class yachting and sportfishing.

Courtesy of the U.S. Virgin Islands Dept. of Tourism (http://www.usvitourism.vi/)

British Virgin Islands

Virgin Gorda is an idyllic isle, hilly in the north, flatter in the south. There are three speeds available on this relaxed island - slow, slower and dead stop. Everything is geared to water activities - especially yachting, diving, snorkelling and windsurfing.

Look at a map of this island and you will see why Christopher Columbus named it Virgin Gorda, Spanish for Fat Virgin. Actually, the island's shape suggests a reclining expectant mother. But to call the place Pregnant Virgin just doesn't seem proper. Smack in the middle of the island's seemingly pregnant belly is Gorda Peak, rising to 1,370 feet. It is a somewhat tiring climb to the top, but the stunning view is worth every drop of perspiration.

You will find the simpatico people as winsome as the island's wandering billy goats, lizards, cattle, and geckos. Eateries range from rustic/simple to classy/pricey. Their names are part of the fun, for example: Sip and Dip Grill, The Bath and Turtle, Flying Iguana, Mad Dog and Drake's Anchorage. The latter takes note of privateer Sir Francis Drake, who sailed by on his way to pillage and plunder Spanish ships. Mad Dog is all about Caribbean-based Sir Noel Coward's musical observation that only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the tropical noonday sun.

The most unusual of the many beaches is called The Baths. There, you will find boulders of film-set appearance. When the sun goes down and the moon comes up, there is a small but lively collection of spots for "limin'," as islanders call hanging out.

In 2004, Virgin Gorda was cited by Conde Nast Traveller magazine as one of "20 enduring Edens." The reason? Strict laws prohibit the wide-open "development" that has "condo-ed" and paved over many a formerly pristine Caribbean isle. Land speculation on Virgin Gorda is a serious no-no. There is almost full employment, so there is no need for any huge, glitzy resorts. Besides, new hotels would require importation of workers and helpers. The residents of Virgin Gorda like things the way they are. And who can blame them? It's so nice to live on an island that is almost a desert isle, but with scads of sea-splashed coastline. Virgin Gorda, at this writing, is so free of petty crime that hardly anybody locks his or her doors. One of the local restaurants is called Sidney's Peace and Love. That has to tell you something.”

All of the above information courtesy of www.caribbean.com unless noted otherwise.