Ft. Lauderdale
The Seminole Indians were the original inhabitants of the
area now known as Fort Lauderdale. The city itself was named for Major William
Lauderdale, who led a group known as the Tennessee Volunteers into the area
during the Seminole War.
Fort Lauderdale began as an agricultural community, full of
citrus groves. By the 1960?s, the city took on a new identity as the place for
college students to come for spring break. Hedonism and public drunkenness
became the norm for much of the next twenty years, but the residents of the once
sleepy town decided to take it back from the rowdy youngsters. The police began
to make their presence known a little more, and soon Fort Lauderdale was off the
list of top Spring Break destinations.
Today, Fort Lauderdale is a little closer to its roots, with
a gentle breezy demeanor to it. You can still have a good time here, exploring
the 300 miles of waterways that led to the labeling of Fort Lauderdale as
"the Venice of America." There are places to rent boats, and plenty of
opportunities to take a boat tour around the city. Or, get really acquainted
with the water by snorkeling or diving in the Atlantic.
There is still plenty to do in and around Fort Lauderdale.
Take a water taxi to some of the area's best restaurants and bars. Stroll
along busy Las Olas and visit the eclectic shops and art galleries.
The sports enthusiast will get his fill here. Tennis courts
and golf courses are everywhere in Fort Lauderdale. It's just a matter of
deciding which one to play on. Choose from baseball, football, or jai alai. You
can even place a bet at the greyhound racetrack.
The nature lover can check out over 500,000 acres of Florida
Everglades, which are part of the Greater Ft. Lauderdale area. The Everglades,
which were formed by the constant overflow of nearby Lake Okeechobee, are home
to flamingos and alligators, among others.
Of course, if you're visiting Florida, chances are that you
will want to hit the beach, and there is ample space for everybody along Ft.
Lauderdale's beautiful coastline. There are over 3,000 hours of sunshine here
every year, so enjoy!
St. Barts
Whether you call it St. Barts, St. Barths, or St. Barthelemy, there is no
disputing that this tiny island in the French Antilles is one of the most ritzy
and luxurious cruise destinations in all the world. You will not find a land rich
in architecture, bargain shopping, and enormous hotels and resorts. Instead, you
will find an island that is tremendously popular with the world's rich and
famous, due to the fact that you will enjoy beautiful, tranquil beaches,
world-class dining, and unrivaled relaxation and comfort.
St. Barthelemy was discovered in 1493 by the explorer
Christopher Columbus. Its descendents are a mix of French and Swedish. The
island hosts a very small local population; numbering just over 3,000, they
inhabit a land that is merely 8 square miles in area.
St. Barthelemy gained its popularity as an elite tourist
destination partly in response to the modern nobles of the 20th
century who made this land their winter getaway. You can visit the home of David
Rockefeller, who inhabited the northwest corner of the island. Edmond de
Rothschild and other members of his famed family used to come here frequently as
well. Today, stars such as Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and the late John F. Kennedy
Jr. have come here to unwind from the "rigors" of their everyday
lives.
St. Barts only town is the tiny capital of Gustavia. Here,
you will feel as if you are strolling through a miniature fantasyland, with tiny
European homes and businesses dotting the capital's landscape. Here in
Gustavia, you will find many fabulous restaurants serving a variety of world
cuisines, as well as ritzy shopping venues to satisfy your desire for exotic
clothes, jewelry, and much more.
Yet above all, , the main draw of St. Barts is still its
glorious beaches. Enjoy your day on this island by relaxing on one of 14 public
beaches (all the beaches in St. Barts are public). Clothing is optional, and the
scenery is spectacular.
Devil's Island
French Guiana stands out among South American countries as the only member of the European Union. Long a French colony, today French Guiana is an overseas department of France. Like Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, the 150,000 citizens of French Guiana have the same rights as a Parisian. In addition, French francs are the official currency and the language of love is the official tongue.
To help develop the colony, the French government decided to build penal colonies on French Guiana in the mid-19th Century. Convicts would serve their time in prison, then be sent here to live for a time equal to their original sentences. This was done with the dual purposes of castigation and to help increase the population. This strategy was thwarted, however, when the majority of prisoners died of tropical diseases while on the island. The last penal colony closed in the 1950?s.
French Guiana is trying to transform itself into a popular tourist destination. The French have even tried to expunge the name Devil's Island from its maps, choosing instead to group the island with two of its neighbors, Ile Royale and Ile St. Joseph, under the name Iles du Salut, or Islands of Salvation. Today, Devil's Island is used for tracking shuttles as they ascend from the Kourou Space Center, which has launched the majority of all European satellites now in orbit. But, for as much as they try to ignore their ignoble past, the three islands continue to achieve most of their notoriety from their penal colony past.
Devil's Island is the most notorious of the three. The penal colony here housed falsely accused French spy Alfred Dreyfuss, and was the setting for Henri Charriere's novel, Papillon, which was later made into a film starring Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen.
Barbados
Barbados is a gorgeous tropical paradise set far away from
most other Caribbean islands. It is nearly 1000 miles east of the Netherlands
Antilles chain. In 1536, during a quest for fresh water, the Portuguese
"discovered" Barbados. They gave the island its current name, which
translates to "the bearded ones." This name was derived from their
observation of local fig trees that have roots resembling thick beards. Despite
the Spanish name, there is virtually no Spanish influence that remains. The
British landed a century later, and ruled the island until 1966. It was at that
time when Barbados claimed its independence. The English culture, however, is
alive and well, and this can be observed by the sport of choice on Barbados.
Cricket is the featured game, and, in per capita terms, there are more Barbados
born world-class cricket players than any other country in the world.
The capital, Bridgetown, is a marvelous city full of bustling
activity and breathtaking surroundings. The island itself is 21 miles long and
14 miles wide. Barbados is quite flat, and the highest point is Mount Hillaby at
1,115 feet. Sugarcane is the crop that has sustained Barbados for decades. The
valleys and hills are blanketed by acres of this sweet plant. The people in the
city of Bridgetown are especially friendly and hospitable, and they had better
be, because tourism is the island's most profitable industry. Unlike some of
the other Caribbean islands, the government of Barbados is stable and the
business community sophisticated. The population is 260,000, and a great number
of them live in or around Bridgetown. The perimeter of Barbados is gorgeous
white-sand beach, and the interior is comprised of exquisite rolling hills and
flat grasslands.
All of the facilities on Barbados, and particularly in
Bridgetown, are fabulous. The city of Bridgetown and all of the luxurious west
coast has been named the Platinum Coast by British vacationers. Fine dining,
scuba diving, sea excursions, and festivals are only the beginning of the
fabulous activities of Barbados. Museums and archaeological sights highlight the
rich heritage of the island, and so many of the locations combine education and
entertainment. The miles of exquisite beach offer every water sport imaginable,
and Barbados has a terrifically active nightlife. A combination of European and
strictly Caribbean influences create a diverse and fascinating ambiance
everywhere you go.
St. John's
Surrounding a small but beautiful harbor, and east of the Avalon Peninsula, St. John's, the capital city of Newfoundland, is the easternmost city in all of North America. The heritage and history of St. John's are inspiring, and in the beginning of the 16th century, Europeans started to pay particular attention to the bustling harbor. Because of its seaside location and close proximity to lucrative fishing sites, St. John's soon became famous, and attracted Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese sailors and fishermen. Explorer John Cabot sailed into the harbor of St. John's on June 24, 1497, which is the feast day of St. John the Baptist. Cabot founded the city and named it in honor of his country's beloved saint. St. John's is officially recognized as being the oldest city in North America founded by Europeans, and is Newfoundland's major commercial and financial center.
Even with a modest population of 100,000, the attractions in St. John's are varied and vast. Great restaurants, shopping complexes, and lively pubs line the streets, making for spectacular evenings for those who partake in the active nightlife. Northgale and The Cellar are the two premier dining engagements in St. John's, featuring exquisite cuisine and lovely decor. Signal Hill is an incredible landmark that charms everyone who visits, and the Newfoundland Museum is pleasantly informative. The trees and trails of Pippy Park dazzle the young and old, and the accompanying Fluvarium is an enchanting ecological wonder. The actual harbor itself is quite working class, and collections of oil tankers and huge sea vessels are always nearby. St. John's is known as the most colorful city in the province, and the vibrant trees and flowers of the protected areas certainly convinced me.
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