Diving is becoming a favored sport; with more than 400 wrecks recorded from the 15th to the 19th century in the waters surrounding St. Kitts and Nevis, take a dive and see what you can uncover. Other activities include surfing, snorkeling, hiking, tennis and golf. Of course, afternoon tea is a must, as is watching cricket matches. It's all part of the traditional charm of this emerging hot spot.
The capital of Basseterre is situated on the south shore of St. Kitts. Begin your tour of the city at the Victorian-style Berkeley Memorial Clock in the town square, called The Circus. A few blocks north, St. George's Anglican Church is a fine example of the island's spring-back attitude. Destroyed four times, it was also rebuilt four times. West of Basseterre, Old Road Town, the site of the first English settlement, was the capital of St. Kitts until 1727. Dieppe Bay on the northwest coast has charcoal-colored sand and a pier that can get busy. Watch the colorful sloops pull in with the day's catch. At Black Rocks frozen lava formations have been whittled by the waves.
NEVIS
Across the channel, Nevis was the birthplace of statesman Alexander Hamilton and the wedding site for Lord Horatio Nelson and Fanny Nesbit. Outside of
Charlestown, you can find the ruins of the Caribbean's first resort: the
Bath Hotel and
Bath Springs, which opened for business in the late 1700s.
A number of fine beaches grace the shores of 36-square-mile Nevis, but Pinney's and Newcastle seem to be the all-around favorites.
DON'T MISS
– Touring Nevis' plantation inns
– Savoring High Tea at the Golden Lemon on St. Kitts, a proper treat
– Taking in the view from Brimstone Hill Fortress
