ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, "LAND OF 365 BEACHES"
BY CLAY LARROY
BY CLAY LARROY
Leisure
travel is
a wonderful experience that everyone should have in their lifetime. Even
business travel can be made enjoyable. There are some aspects of travel that
can detract from your enjoyment. When
planning to fly for a trip, don't forget any frequent flier miles you might
have racked up. It does you no good to hang onto those once you've already gone
on your big vacation. Even if you don't have enough miles to cover the whole
trip, many airlines will allow you to discount your rate using your miles. When you want to
plan a vacation contact me!
Things to see and do in Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua's Rainforest
Get a bird's eye view of Antigua's rainforest. Boldly stride or
nervously creep along a high wire course made up of zip lines, swings,
suspension bridges and a controlled parachute jump (www.antiguarainforest.com.)
Barbuda
Visit the less-developed Barbuda for its wild beauty, deserted
beaches and heavily wooded interior abounding in wildlife. The main town, known
as the village, is Codrington. It sits on the edge of a lagoon. Laid-back and
old-fashioned, visitors share the winding streets with donkeys and goats, and
fast food outlets and noisy bars don't exist.
Beaches
There are hundreds of beaches on Antigua but some of the best
include Half Moon Bay, stretching for nearly a mile on the south eastern coast
and popular with windsurfers and snorkelers. For those seeking peace and
quiet, the southwestern point off Johnson's Point is tranquil and the nearby
Turner's beach has great views out to Montserrat. On the north coast
Dickenson's Bay is safe and popular with families, and nearby you find quieter
beaches and can even sneak off to uninhabited inlets such as Prickly Pear
Island.
Betty’s Hope
The islands' colonial history is brought home at
partially-restored Betty's Hope, Antigua's pioneer sugar plantation. The
surviving structures are two stone sugar mills and a still house which form an
open air museum and good picnic spot. It was built by Sir Christopher
Codrington who named it after his daughter Betty.
Bush Safari
Go for a bush safari in Barbuda. Stop for a picnic in the shade
and watch for the wildlife amongst the sparkling salt ponds.
Cricket
Cricket is played to the highest international standard as well as
by enthusiastic amateurs in villages all over the islands. Antigua produced one
of the finest cricketers the game has ever seen, Sir Vivien Richards and the
country's national stadium in St Johns is named after him. The Sir Vivian
Richards Stadium was built for the 2007 Cricket World Cup and is found close to
the airport. It is possible to visit the stadium.
Antigua's most picturesque drive takes you down the scenic route
of Fig Tree Drive. The 32km (20miles) of winding roads travel through the lush
tropical hills and rainforest and rise to the steep farmlands around Fig Tree
Hill before descending to the coast. Fig is the Antiguan name for banana and
along the way you'll see not just bananas but mangoes and coconut groves.
Frigate Bird Sanctuary.
Situated in the Codrington Lagoon, the Frigate Bird sanctuary is a
forty minute boat ride across the water. It is a spectacular sight even for
non-bird watchers. In the mating season from September to April this rare bird
displays a huge red breast to attract a female mate and they lay one egg on a
nest built precariously on the mangrove.
Great Bird Island
Take an excursion to Great Bird Island from Dickenson Bay.
Glass-bottomed boats afford leisurely views of the reef, and a restored pirate
ship sails around the island and takes passengers for day or evening trips,
with food, drink and entertainment included.
Highland House
At Barbuda's highest point of 38m (125 ft) are the ruins of the
estate once run by Sir Christopher Codrington. Highland House, formerly known
as Codrington House, dates back to the 18th century. Just 5km (3 miles) from
Codrington Village still stands the 17m-high (56 ft) Martello Castle and tower,
a fortress with a raised gun platform that was originally built by the British
to defend the island. Both spots offer great views.
Indian Town Point
The wild side of Antigua can be seen at Devil's Bridge, a limestone
arch on the shore of Indian Town Point on the eastern side of the island where
at high tide the Atlantic waves come crashing through boreholes in the rocks
near the bridge. Indian Town Point is thought to have been an Arawak campsite
before the Europeans colonized the islands. Guided tours are available.
Local Markets
Salivate and haggle over the riot of colorful fruits, vegetables
and spices available at one of the best local markets in the Caribbean,
situated in the south end of town at the junction of Valley and All Saints
Roads.
Museum of Antigua and Barbuda
Discover Antigua and Barbuda beyond the beaches and resorts: the
Museum of Antigua and Barbuda is Antigua's oldest building. It is housed in the
old Court House, built in 1750. Exhibits explore Antigua's geological origins
as well as more modern exhibits such as Sir Viv Richards' cricket bat.
Nelson’s Dockyard
One of Antigua's most famous landmarks, Nelson's Dockyard in
English Harbour dates from 1745 and was home to Admiral Horatio Nelson until
1787. It has been lovingly restored after years of decay and today these
historic buildings house a museum, craft and souvenir shop, restaurant, hotels
and marina. The surrounding national park includes the whole of English Harbor
and Shirley Heights which can be visited from the Dockyard.
Potworks Reservoir
Potworks Reservoir is the result of the Potworks Dam, completed in
1970, and is the largest expanse of freshwater in the Eastern Caribbean holding
about one billion gallons. The western edge is great for bird-watching.
Redonda
The deserted island Redonda, an uninhabited rocky islet, lies
about 56km (35 miles) northeast of Antigua and is the third island that makes
up the nation of Antigua and Barbuda and Redonda. The island is famous for its
unusual monarchy – no less than four people have laid claim to the 'throne'-
and it has an eccentric and amusing history and small population of burrowing
owls, a bird now extinct on Antigua.Boat trips to the island are available.
Shirley Heights
The view from Shirley Heights extends across the harbor and out
to neighboring Caribbean islands of Montserrat and Guadeloupe. This collection
of gun emplacements and military buildings is the atmospheric setting for a
barbecue with live music every Sunday. Close by is the cemetery, containing an
obelisk commemorating the soldiers of the 54th Regiment.
St John's Cathedral
Although it has been rebuilt three times because of hurricane
damage, the present day St John's Cathedral with its dramatic white towers is
an imposing landmark built in 1845. It is worth a visit and contains some items
from the churches that previously stood on the same spot and the bronze figures
of St John the Baptist and St John the Divine are said to be taken from a
French ship in 1756.
Stingray City
A drive to the pretty fishing village of Seatons (www.stingraycityantigua.com)
introduces visitors to the delights of interacting with rays, followed an
exhilarating speed boat ride takes you to one of Antigua's off shore islands
and a shallow stingray pool where one can touch, play with and feed stingrays
in a safe environment.
Two Foot Bay Caves
The Caves at Two Foot Bay are popular with visitors to Barbuda and
easily accessible although a guide is recommended. Bats, crabs and tropical
birds can be seen as well as petroglyphs or rock drawings made by Barbuda's
early settlers, the Arawaks. Access is through a circular chamber through a
hole in the cave roof. There are a number of other caves to explore on the
island, some with interesting vegetation and wildlife.
Warri
You can't avoid Antigua and Barbuda's national game of Warri - an
ancient board ('count and capture') game that was traditionally played using
shells placed in cups: you see it played on most street corners and may even be
asked to join in. A National Warri Festival is held every year.
Watersports
Antigua and Barbuda offers an impressive range of watersports
including windsurfing, water skiing, beach-combing, surfing, snorkelling, scuba
diving, jet-skiing, kayaking, hobie and sunfish sailing. With over 365 beaches
to practice on you'll be proficient in no time.
Yachting and Sailing
Antigua hosts many international yachting events and regattas
throughout the year, but even inexperienced yachtsmen and women can take the
helm. A number of hotels offer sailing lessons and experiences, while seasoned
sailors can charter their own yachts. Those preferring to seek out a secluded
cove or sheltered beach and anchor for a day of peace and quiet can do so by
hiring a dinghy.
“The island is ours. Here, in some way, we are young forever.”
Enjoy life and travel often, the more you travel, the more memories you create!
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