ST. KITTS AND NEVIS, "QUEEN OF THE CARIBEES"
BY CLAY LARROY
Traveling
can be a great way to meet new people and experience other cultures. New
friends are waiting to meet you in places you have only dreamed of traveling. It
can be a wonderful way to see all that the world has to offer. Travel can be a
hobby and an adventure that will lead you to unexpected places. The Caribbean
is a close locations to take vacations. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!
Things to see and do in St Kitts And Nevis
Basseterre
Basseterre, the picturesque capital, located near the seaboard of
the west coast, retains the flavor of both French and British occupation, and
there are many Georgian buildings surrounding Independence Square. Other sights
in or near the capital include: The Circus, the public market, St George's
Church, Craft House, Brimstone Hill Fortress (a UNESCO World Heritage Site),
Black Rocks, Romney Manor and the Caribelle Batik Factory, the Primate Research
Centre, Frigate Bay Development, the southeastern peninsula and Mount
Liamuiga's volcanic crater.
Brimstone Hill
At Brimstone
Hill, set your eyes on one of the most impressive New World forts, built on the
peak of a sulphuric prominence, known as 'The Gibraltar of the West Indies'. It
commands the southern approach to what were the sugar mill plains, and boasts a
splendid view of the nearby islands of Saba and St Eustatius. Built in 1690,
Brimstone was the scene of a number of Franco-British battles during the 18th
century.
Charlestown
Charlestown, the capital, is a delightful town, with weathered
wooden buildings decorated like delicate gingerbread and great arches of
brilliantly colored bougainvillea. The town contains several reminders of
Nevisian history, such as the Cotton Ginnery, Alexander Hamilton's birthplace
and museum, the Court House, the War Memorial, the Alexandra Hospital and the
Jewish Cemetery. Some of the plantation houses have now been transformed into
superb hotels, such as the famous Nisbet. Other sights in or near Charlestown
include: Nevis Philatelic Bureau, the Public Library, the Market, Bath House
(one of the oldest hotels in the Leeward Islands), Eva Wilkin's studio, Eden
Brown's Great House, Fig Tree Church, Nelson Museum, Bath Hot Springs, the
Botanical Gardens of Nevis and the Newcastle Pottery.
Frigate
Bay
Frigate Bay is the main resort area on the island and boasts two fine beaches,
hotels, a golf course and a casino.
Hiking
trails
There are
several hiking trails leading into the mountains or through the rainforest.
Local guides can be arranged through hotels.
Horse riding
Horse
riding in the rainforest or on the beach can be arranged through hotels.
Pinney's
Beach
North of
Charlestown is Pinney's Beach, one of the best on the island, an expanse of
silver sand, backed by palm trees. Head further north still to Black Sand Beach
and Hurricane Hill, which offer excellent views of both St Kitts and Barbuda.
Swimming
Swimming is
excellent; most hotels have freshwater pools and some have their own beaches. Scuba-diving and snorkeling are
catered for and beach hotels generally have equipment. Several Basseterre
skippers are equipped to take scuba parties. There are dozens of unexplored
wrecks around the islands. Sailing boats
can be hired from beach hotels, although Nevis has very limited facilities.
Fast boats and waterskiing equipment are
available for hire. Fishing trips can be
organized. Deep-sea fishing is a specialty.
Shopping &
nightlife in St Kitts And Nevis
Local crafts include
carvings, batik, wall hangings, leather art and coconut work. Local textiles
and designs are also available. Stamp collectors should note the excellent
Philatelic Bureaux in Basseterre and Charlestown. Duty-free shopping is
relatively new to St Kitts and, as yet, only a few shops feature imported
merchandise at substantial savings. Nevis' hot pepper sauce, ranked among the
Caribbean's best, is a good take-home item and can be bought at the Main Street
grocery in Charlestown. There are shopping malls on St Kitts these include TDC
Mall and Pelican Mall. Friday and Saturday are the busy market days, and
visitors should not miss the chance to witness this abundance of exotic food
stalls, accompanied by lively local chatter.
Opening
Hours
Mon-Sat 0830-1200 and
1300-1600; some shops close early on Thursday.
Nightlife
Very
low key. A number of hotels and inns have string or steel bands to dance to on
Saturday nights in the peak season, and there is a disco called J's Place at the
foot of the Brimstone Hill Fortress in St Kitts. Reflections Night Club,
also in St Kitts, is open until the small hours. St Kitts has two casinos in
Frigate Bay, complete with slot machines, roulette wheels and blackjack tables.
In Nevis, Club Trenim is
recommended. Otherwise, entertainment centers around the pleasant bars of the
inns and hotels.
REFERENCE SITES
“Adventure is worthwhile.” – Aesop
No comments:
Post a Comment