Antigua is an island that has always lived by the wind. In the late 18th century, when Horatio Nelson was still a captain, he made the island Great Britain's most important Caribbean naval center. Today the superbly restored dockyard that bears his name at English Harbour is home base for April's Sailing Week, the Caribbean's premier yachting event - and its most boisterous beach party.
As for beaches, Antigua's promoters like to say that the island has 365 of them, one for every day of the year. Certainly there are more beaches than you could ever stroll during a long holiday, and most of them have calm, clear water - so why count?
Beaches and historical attractions are the primary reasons Antigua (the better known half of the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda) has become one of the more popular (and developed) destinations in the Caribbean. Nevertheless, megaresorts have not established a strong presence here, and even with a handful of casinos, Antiguan nightlife tends to be on the quieter side. But come daybreak, you'll find plenty of activities - including cruises, dive trips, and shopping - to keep you entertained
BEACHES
Several of Antigua's more popular beaches, Dickenson Bay among them, can get crowded, especially when cruise ships are in port. To find new terrain, hail a taxi or rent a car and head to the windward, eastern side for beachcombing and snorkeling at Long Bay or Half Moon Bay, arguably the island's most beautiful stretch of sand. Between those two lies Nonsuch Bay, where you'll undoubtedly find a secluded stretch of beach to call your own.
SAILING
Cruisers and bareboaters alike will find friendly waters and full marine supplies here, and at most hotels small craft are available for guests. There are also round-the-island day sails and catamaran cocktail cruises for those who don't want to hold the tiller themselves. But these really are racing waters: Competitions are held on Thursdays and Saturdays all year long, and major regattas dot the calendar. Sailing Week, the granddaddy of them all, takes place at the end of April, when hundreds of boats from around the world converge on the island for ten fun-packed days of races and parties.
SIGHTSEEING
Climb to the gun emplacements of Shirley Heights and survey one of the great historic sites in the West Indies - Nelson's Dockyard and the fortifications of English Harbour, which these days is filled with yachts rather than British warships. The spectacular vista extends to the neighboring isles of Montserrat and Guadeloupe. Down at the waterfront, the displays of antique sextants, compasses, and other nautical gear at the Dockyard Museum evoke the age of wooden ships.
ANTIGUA
Antigua is a land of stunning beaches - the ultimate kids' playground. (Add a mask and tropical fish and say good-bye to the Game Boy.) But there's much more here, too, most notably living history. Antigua was once home to a thriving sugar industry, thousands of slaves, and 31 fortifications built by the British to maintain control of their domain. The result, more than 200 years later, is a fascinating living classroom.
Southeast of Parham, on the road to Devil's Bridge (where erosion has created a spectacular seaside geologic formation), you can explore Betty's Hope, an impressive sugar estate built in 1650. Kids will love examining the workings of the operating windmill and the cane-crushing machinery, and proficient readers can learn plenty from the exhibits in a former horse stable that has been converted into a small museum.
With cravings for sugar history satisfied, you can move on to the south side of the island to wander the famous Nelson's Dockyard Museum and National Park in English Harbour, the world's only surviving Georgian dockyard. Built in the 18th century, it provided safe haven for Britain's West Indies fleet. Many of the handsome buildings were constructed from bricks and stone that ships carried as ballast when sailing from England, to be exchanged for paying cargo in the form of sugar, rum, and molasses. Adm. Horatio Nelson, for whom the dockyard is named, actually had little to do with the place; arriving in English Harbour when he was 26 for a three-year posting, he referred to Antigua as "this vile spot" and "this infernal hole."
Your clan will no doubt come to a very different conclusion, especially if you take them to seashell-laden Darkwood Beachducana - a hunk of grated sweet potato and fresh coconut steamed in a banana leaf. on the southwest side of the island. Colorful fish scurry through narrow underwater canyons just off shore, casuarina trees keep things cool on the beach, and a small beach restaurant serving local food makes lunch easy and fun. Be sure to treat your kids to
I wouldn't leave the island without spending a day with Eli Fuller, who runs Adventure Antigua and is intimately acquainted with the ecosystem of the north coast. Aboard his small motorboat, you'll learn about the endangered hawksbill turtle, which, between May and November, lays its eggs on the beach at swanky Jumby Bay Resort. Look for ospreys, frigate birds, herons, and pelicans. With the help of Fuller's keen eye, you'll also likely see spotted eagle rays, stingrays, and barracuda gliding by below. He'll also teach your kids about the importance of healthy mangroves, take you snorkeling at Pelican Island, feed you lunch Robinson Crusoe-style on deserted Guiana Island, and lead an exploration of Hell's Gate's hidden caves.
Your last stop will be Great Bird Island where, depending on what time of year it is, you might add falcons, noddies, terns, and tropic birds to your life list. Settling back with a rum punch while the kids swig local island juices - passion fruit, tamarind, guava, and lime - you can watch the sun set, and contemplate a full day whose memories are sure to linger for a long time.
Barbuda
You've probably know Antigua: resorts aplenty, more than 300 beaches, a favorite with sailors... But what about Barbuda? In the West Indian dual nation of Antigua and Barbuda, she is the forgotten stepchild - and for some sophisticated travelers, that's all the more reason to count their blessings.
Barbuda is actually about half the size of her glamorous sibling (and only a 20-minute flight away). However, as sister islands go, A & B are worlds apart. Barbuda has more than its share of glorious (and virtually deserted) beaches, but most of the island is low and scrubby, and the small population (about a thousand) is centered in the small town of Codrington.
Nature lovers will enjoy the island's famous Frigate Bird Sanctuary, the reefs offshore provide pristine snorkeling and are home to centuries of shipwrecks. The getaway-from-it-all factor? A solid 10. Aside from guesthouses, lodgings are mostly limited to a handful of upscale resorts. (How upscale? Well, Princess Diana was a frequent guest at one club.) If you haven't heard about Barbuda, it's probably because it's in a West Indian time warp, the way the much of the Caribbean was decades ago.
BEACHES
Getting to the beach on Barbuda isn't always easy - you'll need a boat in many cases. But that's why you'll never have crowd problems, even along the more than 8 miles of reef-protected strands that border the southwest coast. For even more seclusion, sail to the northwestern shore, north of Palmetto Point, where a narrow spit of pink-tinged sand stretches for another 10 miles or so, with a vast lagoon on one side and the blue sea on the other; it's one of the Caribbean's finest beaches.
NATURE
The Frigate Bird Sanctuary in northern Codrington Lagoon is one of the largest bird preserves in the Caribbean, a fitting home for perhaps the sky's most graceful flyer - with a knack for stealing fish from other seabirds by harassing them in mid-air until they drop their catch. The mangroves where the birds nest can be reached only by small boat (tours are available from Antigua), and the best time to visit is during mating season (August to November).
SIGHTSEEING
Take a taxi (there are no car rentals) to visit some caves (one extends a mile underground), then step into the island's history with a stop at the ruins of Highland House. Throughout the 1700s, it was the estate of the Codrington family, which controlled the island - and its slaves - for more than a century, it sits on Barbuda's highest point. It offers a view memorable in part because so little has changed over the centuries.
We chose a water excursion when the Crown called at Antigua, Circle Antigua by Sea, on a catermaran. The Atlantic side is very rough, and I mean very rough. Was fun though, lots of fun..........for me, anyway.
We chose a water excursion when the Crown called at Antigua, Circle Antigua by Sea, on a catermaran. The Atlantic side is very rough, and I mean very rough. Was fun though, lots of fun..........for me, anyway.
Was it with the ship...?????? How much?????? Tell us more....please.....
We chose a water excursion when the Crown called at Antigua, Circle Antigua by Sea, on a catermaran. The Atlantic side is very rough, and I mean very rough. Was fun though, lots of fun..........for me, anyway.
Yes explain please Thanks for the info on rough waters too cause my DH can't handle that, so we dont wanna go to that side eeks!
Was it with the ship...?????? How much?????? Tell us more....please.....
Yes, we pre-ordered the excursion from Princess. It was $99 per person then. The excursion is called "Circle Antigua by Sea With Lunch".The Catermaran is called 'Excellence'. You pass by Jumby Bay, where the rich & famous(Oprah Winfrey, Pat Riley to name a few) have homes, Bird Island and Devil's Bridge. Stop at deserted Green Island for the first beach break, about 3 hours. Lunch was great, you have a choice of chicken or fish with rice, and veggies. There was rum punch, fruit punch. After leaving the beach, you'll have some more rough water, not much before you get to the Caribbean Sea where the water is calmer. There is another shorter beach break, 40 minutes before you go back to the pier.
On this excursion, you enter English Harbor, and view Nelson's Dockyard from the water. You'll see the ship filmed in the original 'Pirates Of The Caribbean" movie, as well as expensive yachts.
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Originally Posted by Ziggy7
Yes explain please Thanks for the info on rough waters too cause my DH can't handle that, so we dont wanna go to that side eeks!
U're welcomed Snookums. If your DH can't take rough water, this is not an excursion you'll take him on.
Some other Excursions offered by Princess are; Antigua Scenic Drive($46PP), Nelson's Dockyard & Island Drive($59 adult, $47 Child 12 & Under), Best Of Antigua($69, $55), Scenic Antigua & Beach($84, $67).
You'll get an 'Adventures Ashore' brochure with your package from Princess with all the available excursions.
Most of Antigua's shops are clustered on St. Mary's Street or High Street in St. John's. Some stores are open Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to noon and 1 to 4pm, but this varies greatly from place to place -- Antiguan shopkeepers are an independent lot. Many of them close at noon on Thursday.
Duty-free items include English woolens and linens. You can also purchase Antiguan goods: local pottery, straw work, rum, floppy foldable hats, shell curios, and hand-printed fabrics.
If you're in St. John's on a Saturday morning, visit the fruit and vegetable market at the south end of Market Street. The juicy Antiguan black pineapple alone is worth the trip.
One prime hunting ground in St. John's is the Redcliffe Quay waterfront on the southern edge of town, where nearly three-dozen boutiques are housed in former warehouses set around tree-shaded, landscaped courtyards. Our favorite is A Thousand Flowers (tel. 268/462-4264), which sells linens, all-natural fiber, rayon, and other fabrics.
At the Gazebo (tel. 268/460-2776), expect a little bit of everything, from a mass of south-of-the-border pottery to Indonesian wood items, and (our favorite) stunning blue-glaze plates. Additional Redcliffe Quay shops include Isis (tel. 268/462-4602) for unique Egyptian jewelry, cotton gowns, and handicrafts; and The Goldsmitty (tel. 268/462-4601), where precious stones are set in unique, exquisite creations of 14- and 18-karat gold.
Noreen Phillips, Redcliffe Quay (tel. 268/462-3127), is one of the island's major fashion outlets. Cruise-ship passengers beeline here for both casual wear and beaded glitzy dress clothes. Exotic Antigua, Radcliffe Quay, St. Mary's Street (tel. 268/562-1288), specializes in Caribbean-made gifts and clothing, including T-shirts and casual wear, and handicrafts.
At Lipstick, Heritage Quay (tel. 268/562-1133), you can browse a daunting array of cosmetics and perfumes, some of them locally made, many of the others imported from the U.S., Britain, and France. Shoul's Chief Store, St. Mary's Street at Market Street (tel. 268/462-1140), is an all-purpose department store selling fabric, appliances, souvenirs (more than 300 kinds), and general merchandise.
Heritage Quay, Antigua's first shopping-and-entertainment complex, features some 40 duty-free shops and an arcade for local artists and craftspeople. Its restaurants and food court offer a range of cuisines and views of St. John's Harbour. Many shops are open all day, Monday through Saturday.
At the foot of St. Mary's Street, stop in at The Camera Shop (tel. 268/562-4738), a Kodak distributor and photofinisher selling film and brand-name cameras. Fashiondock (tel. 268/462-9672) is known for its duty-free Prada, Moshino, and Gucci accessories, plus other Italian styles. Sunseekers (tel. 268/462-4523) carries the largest collection of duty-free swimwear in the Caribbean. Colombian Emeralds (tel. 268/462-2342) is the world's biggest retailer of these gemstones. Albert's Jewelry (tel. 268/462-3108) sells the best selection of watches on Antigua, plus china and crystal. Nick Maley, a makeup artist who worked on Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, founded Island Arts, upstairs at Heritage Quay (tel. 268/462-2787). You can purchase his own fine-art reproductions or browse through everything from low-cost prints to works by artists exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Rain Boutique, Lower St. Mary's (tel. 268/462-0118), sells casual clothes, formal wear, hats, scarves, shoes, jewelry, and handbags.
At Falmouth Harbour, Seahorse Studios & Gift Shop (tel. 268/469-1457) specializes in batiks, T-shirts, signs, and table linens. Their affiliated branch at English Harbour, Seahorse Art Gallery (tel. 268/469-1457), sells paintings, engravings, and watercolors, with lots of emphasis on seascapes.
The best for last: Head for Harmony Hall, in Brown's Bay Mill, near Freetown (tel. 268/460-4120), following the signs along the road to Freetown and Half Moon Bay. This restored 1843 plantation house and sugar mill overlooking Nonsuch Bay is ideal for a lunch stopover, a shopping expedition, even an overnight. It displays an excellent selection of Caribbean arts and crafts. Lunch is served daily from noon to 3:30pm, featuring Green Island lobster, flying fish, and other specialties. Sunday is barbecue day.
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Thanks for the info on rough waters too cause my DH can't handle that, so we dont wanna go to that side eeks!
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