The Informal Paradise of St. Kitts
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Saint Christopher Island is so relaxed that it goes by the nickname St. Kitts, where shorts and a tan are standard dress year round. The island is situated in the Caribbean among the West Indies. St. Kitts shares the region’s tumultuous colonial history, as evidenced by the two forts on the island. The now crumbling and abandoned Fort Charles was built in 1670 by the British and the Brimstone Hill Fortress established in 1690, also by the British, to recapture Fort Charles once it was overrun with the French. Made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, Brimstone Hill Fortress enjoys regular upkeep, can be toured by the public, and is one of the largest fortresses ever built in the Caribbean.
Pristine sandy coves and beaches define the coastline of St. Kitts. The interior of the island is too steep for human habitation and contains three distinct groups of volcanic mountain peaks, including the dormant volcano, Mount Liamuiga. This peak, once known as Mount Misery, offers excellent hiking through the lush rainforests of the island, where both wild orchids and lava flow formations can be found. It is also home to many of the islands native green velvet-backed monkey’s.
Other island attractions include snorkeling, diving, over 200 historical sites, and elegant plantation homes that have been converted into Inn’s. For music lovers, St. Kitts’s Annual Music Festival held in June features artists from every genre of music including John Legend and local Calypso artists to sooth your soul and help you settle into the relaxed life of St. Kitts.
This article was posted on Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 at 11:19 pm and is filed under Blog.