New York
New York City has something for everyone. It is North America's most cosmopolitan destination, and boasts of an artistic and cultural history that reigns supreme among American cities. It is fast paced, loud, and certainly never boring. Its sights and sounds are a glorious combination of everything imaginable. From Bohemian Greenwich Village to the elegant Upper East Side, the diversity here is sure to astound you.
Historic Battery Park is an educational mecca. Little Italy and Chinatown have marvelously maintained their immigrant population and heritage. Today they offer a cultural richness that is truly a gift to the city. Soho (South of Houston St.) and Tribeca (Triangle Below Canal St.) exist on the cutting edge of fashion and style, and are proof of an industrial area's potential for chic. Gramercy Park will make you feel as if you have somehow made your way to London. The Flatiron District has become famous for its technology boom, or Silicon Alley. Chelsea is a hip, European-feeling area that is home to many of New York's photography studios and galleries. These are just some of the city's gems, each offering a unique flavor and pace. Visitors could spend days in any one of them, but for the ultimate New York experience, make your trip a mélange of them all. To truly see the city could take a lifetime, but sampling from the bits and pieces of New York's variety is a treat for any tourist.
Orientation is key to navigating this city. Terms like uptown and downtown are literal descriptions referring to north and south. If you are south of your destination, locals will tell you to go uptown, and vice versa. The terms also refer vaguely to areas of the city. Uptown describes anywhere above lower Manhattan (north of about 34th St.), and downtown usually means lower Manhattan (34th St. and below) through Chelsea, which begins near 22nd St. You will also hear east side, and west side, referring to the areas above 59th St. that are on either side of Central Park.
St. Thomas
St. Thomas was discovered by vacationers shortly after World
War Two, and tourists have been flocking to this island paradise ever since. It
is one of the most popular spots in the Caribbean, and its capital, Charlotte
Amalie, is the busiest shopping center in the islands. St. Thomas is a wonderful
mixture of the beauty of nature and the efficiency of a powerful trade center.
There is always so much going on in Charlotte Amalie that you can't help but
let the excitement get to you. The fun and enjoyment of this bustling young city
is incredibly contagious, and it will add a certain zest to your already
phenomenal trip to St. Thomas.
More than ten cruise ships a day steer into the port at St.
Thomas, and because of successful tourism, the standard of living in St. Thomas
has been raised considerably. The island is only twelve miles long and a mere
three miles wide, but you will think it is gigantic when you start investigating
all that there is to see and do. Thanks to U.S. government programs, this island
is the most developed out of all of the U.S. Virgin Islands. This is an
additional reason to visit and adore St. Thomas. The locals are eager to assist
you on your travels, and they are incredibly friendly and responsive. The
national language is English, and the currency is the U.S. dollar, and both of
these factors contribute in making St. Thomas an even more ideal vacation spot.
In addition to the busy shopping and cultural center located
in and around Charlotte Amalie, over half of the island is the environmentally
protected Virgin Islands National Park. It is quite refreshing to see a
collection of individuals who care so deeply about nature and their
surroundings. This area is simply gorgeous, as is the rest of the island.
Numerous engaging activities await you on St. Thomas, and the shopping is
marvelous. The island is safe , and you will be made to feel right at home in
this comfortable and warm tropical hideaway
St. Martin
St. Maarten & St. Martin are two fascinating Caribbean
countries that share a single island of only 40 square miles in size. In the
year 1649, this Caribbean nation split in two; with the Dutch inhabiting the
southern portion of the island, and the French inhabiting the north. Today, a
peaceful coexistence between the two governments make both nations a charming
getaway that welcomes all visitors to bask in their ample beaches, fabulous
duty-free shopping, terrific nightlife, exciting casinos, and world-class
dining.
If you are looking for a destination to enjoy the quiet and
tranquility of the Caribbean, then you might be tempted to look elsewhere, for
in recent years, especially after the massive and impressive rebuilding projects
on the island following Hurricane Luis in 1995, St. Maarten/St. Martin has
become a tourist mecca. But locals are stilly friendly, attractions are
plentiful and affordable, and if you are drawn to a variety of water-sports and
sport fishing opportunities, then the island is perfect for you.
There are two capital cities on the island, one for the Dutch
side, and one for the French. Phillipsburg, St. Maarten is by far the largest
city on the island, and the number one destination for cruise-ship passengers.
Founded in 1763 by John Phillips, the city has evolved into a major port of
call. Stroll through the town and visit Front Street, where you can shop for
everything under the sun and enjoy some of the very best bargains anywhere in
the Caribbean. The city is a hustling and bustling capital that is the epitome
of the progress this island has made in recent years. As you head north to the
French side of the island you will come across Marigot, St. Martin. Here you
will be treated to a far more serene town that will remind you of a small French
seaside village.
If time permits, then a small drive to Grand-Case is well
worthwhile. Here you will find a quaint fishing village that has escaped the
over-development of other parts of the island. Instead, you can soak in the
beauty of the Caribbean surroundings in relative tranquility and dine on some of
the best local cuisine available.
Dominica
Dominica is part of the Windward Islands. The Windwards are
made up of four main islands: Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and
the Grenadines. These islands are not considered to be the heavy tourist
attractions, as compared to their Caribbean neighbors, but this is a plus, as
they are far enough off the beaten path to afford the adventurous traveler the
pristine natural beauty this region has to offer.
Dominica has been inhabited for over 5,000 years, with
various native tribes calling the island home over the millennia. The original
settlers, the Ortoroid people, came, went and were replaced by the Igneri in
about 400 AD. They lived here peacefully for the next thousand years, until the
aggressive Carib tribe made their way up from South America and took over the
island in 1400. Christopher Columbus was the first European to find the island,
and he named it Dominica because he arrived here on a Sunday, November 3rd,
1493. As a result, the 3rd of November remains a national holiday
here.
Dominica offers some of the most unique and breathtaking
scenery in the world. The island only covers 290 square miles, measuring 29
miles from north to south and 16 miles from east to west. But the amount of
scenery crammed on to this tiny island paradise is enough to take up the better
part of a year, if only you had the time. Volcanic fissures form a perennially
boiling lake, the second largest such lake in the world. Rare breeds of bird,
including Jacquot and Sisserou parrots, make their home here. A local myth has
it that there are 365 rivers in Dominica, one to explore each day of the year.
You will want to pack good shoes for your excursion to
Dominica, as the best way to see everything there is to see here is by hiking.
Scuba divers will also be in paradise here, as some beautiful coral reefs and
rare fish can be seen in Dominica's mind-blowing crystal clear waters.
Most travelers spend the majority of their time in Roseau,
Dominica's capital city, which is located along the southwest corner of the
island. The rainforest is a little more inland, covering 17,000 acres in the
southern part of Dominica.
English is widely spoken, as it is the official language of
Dominica, but you'll be able to brush up on your French patois, if you are so
inclined. The Creole influence is heavy here, in everything from crafts to local
foods.
Kingstown
St. Vincent, located in the British Windward Islands, is a gorgeous tropical paradise set far away from most other Caribbean islands. It is nearly 100 miles east from the Netherlands Antilles chain. The English culture is alive and well here on St. Vincent, and this can be observed by the sport of choice, cricket. Cricket is the featured game on the island, proving that British culture permeates their lifestyle even though the Mother Country is so far away.
Kingstown is the capital of St. Vincent, and it is a marvelous city full of bustling activity and breathtaking surroundings. The plant life and tremendous array of flowers are the most striking aspects of this area. The valleys and hills are blanketed by acres of gorgeous shrubbery. The people in the city of Kingstown are especially friendly and hospitable, as well they should be, because tourism is the area's most profitable industry. Until recently, St. Vincent was known as a quiet little island with nothing really to do. It is only recently that tourism has really exploded, and this is in direct correlation to all of the new amenities on the island. Unlike some of the other Caribbean islands, the government of St. Vincent is stable and the business community is sophisticated. The perimeter of St. Vincent is a combination of striking black and gorgeous white-sand beach, and the interior is comprised of exquisite rolling hills and flat grasslands.
All of the facilities on St. Vincent, and particularly in Kingstown, are fabulous. Everything is clean and new, and this is one of the safest islands in the Caribbean. Fine dining, scuba diving, sea excursions, and festivals are only the beginning of the many wonderful activities on St. Vincent. Museums and archaeological sights highlight the rich heritage of the island, and so many of the attractions combine education and entertainment. The miles of exquisite beach offer every water sport imaginable, and St. Vincent has an understated but fairly active nightlife. A combination of European and strictly Caribbean influences create a diverse and enjoyable atmosphere everywhere you go.
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.
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