NEVIS
Charming
little Nevis’s plantation owners of old made
the island a centre of gracious living. In recent years it has become an
exclusive Caribbean retreat. Don’t let the
quiet mood deceive you. There’s scenery, history and activities enough for even
the most restless of visitors.
WHAT
TO SEE
Beaches
Nevis’
pride is famous Pinney's Beach, a 4-mile stretch of soft sand and palm trees
backed by a beautiful lagoon, uncrowded and with calm seas. Other beaches to
visit - good for swimming, fishing and snorkelling - lie along the northern and
western coasts.
Charlestown
The
delightful capital, with its weathered ‘gingerbread’ buildings and dazzling
bougainvillea, offers intriguing reminders of the island’s past. Call in at
Alexander Hamilton’s birthplace and Museum of Nevis
History - and the Horatio Nelson Museum, housing a collection of the
admiral’s letters, documents and furniture from his flagship (Nelson met and
married Frances Nisbet here).
The
Bath
House
The
Bath House was originally one of the Caribbean’s oldest hotels and spas. You can visit the
ruins of Bath House and Spring House and even take a mineral bath.
St
John’s
Figtree Church
A
tattered marriage certificate in this ancient church reads: “Horatio Nelson,
esquire, to Frances Nisbet, widow, on March 11, 1787”.
Botanical
Gardens
As
well as terraced gardens and arbours, this impressive 8-acre retreat in the
shadow of Mount
Nevis features natural
lagoons, streams, and waterfalls and extravagant fountains. Not to be
missed!
Eden
Brown Great House & Estate
Dating
back to the 18th century, this is Nevis's ‘haunted house’ - or rather ruins –
with a sad story of a bridegroom and best man who killed each other in a duel
and a bride who became a recluse.
Fothergill’s
Nevisian
Heritage Village
On
the grounds of a former sugar plantation-cotton ginnery, this ambitious project
traces the evolution of the island’s social history, from the Caribs to the
present day.
WHAT
TO DO
Sports
Watersports
are featured at Oualie Beach in the north (the liveliest spot)
and Pinney’s Beach, with waterskiing and banana boat rides also offered at the
latter. Kayaks are a good way to reach more isolated snorkelling locations (near
Cades
Bay explore a village which
was washed into the sea). Deep-sea fishing is easy to arrange, as are charter
sail boats and motor yachts for day sails, sunset cruises or trips to other
islands. Divers can explore the grottos of The Caves and many shipwrecks in the
area.
Ashore enjoy hikes,
mountain-biking and horse riding through the rainforest – and golf on a Robert
Trent Jones Jr. 18-hole Championship Course. See
At a Glance section for more
information on scuba-diving and golf.
Shopping
Cotton
Ginnery Complex is a small shopping mall at the waterfront in Charlestown where you’ll
find local arts and crafts, while boutiques and galleries in the capital sell a
range of items such as batik, ceramics, carvings and stamps. Look out for the
Café des Arts, a pretty Creole house that’s part-gallery and part-garden
café.
Nightlife
Nevis
probably has more beaches than bars! There’s sometimes evening entertainment in
some hotels. Elsewhere, music and dancing can be found (mostly at weekends) at
several venues, some attached to restaurants. These can attract a lively crowd
before and after dinner. Beach bars also sometimes stay open into the evenings,
often with a busy night of the week that draws the crowds.
ST
KITTS
It
would be quite understandable – though a great shame – if while on St Kitts you
surrendered totally to the temptations of hotel pool, dining terrace and that
hammock beneath those shady palms. Don’t neglect the island’s beautiful scenery
and its many landmarks . . .
WHAT
TO SEE
Beaches
Tranquillity
and old-world charm are the essential appeal of St Kitts - but don’t overlook
its beaches. All public, the best are of white sand, uncrowded and at the
island’s southern end, with the surf mostly calm away from the east (Atlantic) coast. So, pack a tote bag with sun glasses, a
good novel, sun screen, and a pleasant attitude, and a cooler with ice, lots of
drinks and an opener – it’s really frustrating when you forget that. Now, you are ready to explore the
beaches!
The
Southeast
Peninsula
A
tour will show you not only secluded beaches but also attractive lagoons that
are home to monkeys and tropical birds living in this protected area.
Frigate
Bay
Frigate
Bay
is the island’s main resort area, boasting two fine beaches, hotels, a golf
course and casino.
Basseterre
St
Kitts’ colourful little capital, graced with tall palms, retains something of
the flavour of both French and British occupation, with Georgian buildings in
evidence at Independence
Square. Look out for the octagonal Circus. Modelled
on Piccadilly Circus, no less!
Brimstone
Hill
St
Kitts has heaps of history, nowhere better appreciated than at this huge
partially restored 17th century fortress, spread over 38-acres and
known as ‘The Gibraltar of the West Indies’.
Built by the British to repel French attacks, it stands some 800 ft high,
commanding spectacular views over Saba and St
Eustatius.
Bloody
Point
Bloody
Point is the site of a joint effort by the British and French to annihilate the
local Carib Indians, some 2,000 of whom died here.
Old
Road
Town
At
Old Road Bay,
this is the site of the first permanent European settlement in the West Indies in 1624.
Romney
Manor
Explore
the exotic 6-acre garden setting of this somewhat restored house (supposedly
once owned by Thomas Jefferson) and surrounding cottages that duplicate the old
chattel-house style.
WHAT
TO DO
Sports
St
Kitts’ sports resources will probably not satisfy the seriously energetic -
though arrangements can normally be made locally for snorkelling, waterskiing,
sailing, windsurfing and scuba-diving (see
At a Glance section for more
information on scuba-diving).
Golfers will find an 18-hole international championship course at Frigate Bay and a 9-hole course at Golden Rock.
Several hiking trails lead into the mountains or through the rainforest.
St
Kitts Scenic Railway
Travel
round St Kitts in just under four hours on the preserved ‘Sugar Train’
narrow-gauge train that once transported sugar cane! Enjoy an air-conditioned
picture window view and an upstairs open-air observation spot. You can enjoy
complimentary tropical beverages along with the sweeping rainforest and ocean
views lining the scenic route.
Shopping
Basseterre
offers duty-free shoppertunities for jewellery, china, perfumes and more. Look
out for locally produced batik and hand-painted cotton dresses and T-shirts –
while island arts and crafts include hand-painted ceramics, papier-maché items and jams. Be sure to
visit Port Zante on the Waterfront, behind the Circus, featuring luxury shops,
galleries, and restaurants.
Nightlife
Nightlife
on St. Kitts tends to be a little elusive until you learn which and when the
island’s limited number of bars and clubs feature music (sometimes live) for
dancing. Hotels may offer reggae music, calypso and occasional steel bands on
some evenings. St Kitts also boasts a casino.