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Caribbean
Accenting St. Kitts and Nevis - Official Travel Guide - These two islands look like a baseball and bat. Considering the colonial British history of this Caribbean nation, however, the residents would probably liken it more to a cricket ball and bat. This twin island nation became independent on September 19, 1983. At this site, you'll find more than just tourist information. There's a long article on Horatio Nelson, the famous British admiral, who married Francis Nisbet on Nevis in 1787. The Nelson Museum on Nevis has the largest collection of Nelson memorabilia in the Western Hemisphere. Information on the history and culture of Saint Kitts and Nevis is also available. Nature is held in high regard there--by law, no building can be higher than the palm trees around it.
Bahamasnet: A-Z of The Bahamas Islands - The Bahamas refers to a group of 700 islands located off the peninsula of Florida. Of these, only 40 are inhabited! The Bahamas boasts the world's third largest barrier reef, built up from thousands of years of coral deposits. And there's more: you'll even find pine forests and limestone caves on some islands. The Morton Salt Company operates a salt factory on Inagua, producing over a million pounds of salt a year. Check out Abaco, where Disney has built a "fantasy island" for its new cruise ships to visit. If you want to learn how to take a vacation without impacting Mother Earth very much, look at the Eco-Bahamas area of this site for ecotourism ideas.
Bioluminescent Bay -- Vieques Island - One of the natural wonders of the world is "Bio Bay,"home to the magical glowing waters. Actually, it's not much of a mystery: each gallon of bay water contains up to 720,000 nontoxic dinoflagellates. When they are disturbed--by a boat paddle, or a hand in the water--they emit a soft eerie blue light, like a firefly. People come from all over the world to witness this phenomenom. Unfortunately, the bay is threatened by pollution and other development. Find out how you can help!
Bonaire - Dutch Caribbean - The Antilles island group is a Dutch protectorate. It is made up of two island groups; the largest islands are Curacao and Bonaire. Papiamentu, the native tongue of many of these islands, is a mix of Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, French, English, Caribbean Indian, and some African. At this page, you can learn a lot about this language, plus find out what you can do for fun if you're ever in the islands.
Cayman Web World - The Cayman Islands motto is "He hath founded it upon the seas." The sea has definitely played a major role in the history of these three small islands in the Caribbean. Cayman's historical beginning (officially, at least) was on May 10, 1503, when Christopher Columbus encountered the then-uninhabited islands of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. You may have also heard of the notorious Edward Teach (or Thatch), better known as Blackbeard the pirate, who lived in the Caymans and offered refuge to other buccaneers and their stolen treasures. Today, tourists come from all over the world to enjoy Cayman's beautiful beaches and the natural wonders of the islands' waters.
Consulate of the Dominican Republic - What is "the most beautiful land human eyes have ever seen"? According to this official page, it's the Dominican Republic, on the island of Hispaniola. Read about many different vacation destinations, most of which involve lots of sun and sea! The northern coast of this Caribbean land contains the world's largest deposit of amber. This site, which is illustrated with historic photos, also offers a very detailed history of this country.
Ever Radiant Welcome of Martinique - Martinique is a popular vacation destination in the Caribbean Sea. In fact, many Web sites about Martinique are produced by commercial travel agencies. This colorful site includes a picture- and music-filled guided tour in which flowers, rain forests, and sandy white beaches are featured. You can sit back and tour while listening to Caribbean music! There are also brief overviews of history, geography, climate, and population. Travelers may be interested to learn about shopping and food on the island. Some commercial promotions are found at this site, but they are nicely mixed with some Web-based Caribbean fun. This site is available in English and French, since the island is an overseas department of France.
Geographia.com - The Caribbean & Bahamas - A visit to the Caribbean today offers far more than the world's best beaches. As the islands have grown into international travel destinations, their individual features and strengths have emerged. Many traditional cultures have been preserved, and the astonishing ecological treasures of the islands are now among their most celebrated features. The region's rich history is also gaining a more appreciative audience among vacationers. Today, the Caribbean offers a more diverse and vibrant travel experience than ever before.
Jamaica! - Do you like beaches? How about sun and sand and fabulously fresh foods? "Come to Jamaica and feel all right," says this snappy Web site. After you look at the material for tourists, do spend some time at the wonderful collection of links. There are historical and cultural sites you won't want to miss. (Hint: Click on the subject categories to bring up additional pages of links.)
Lonely Planet - Destination Cuba - Usually we think of Cuba as one large Caribbean island, but according to this site it also includes "4200-odd coral cays and islets, most of which are low lying and uninhabited." This site offers tourist information and an extensive history, as well as basic facts.
Official Guide to Saint Lucia - Part of the Lesser Antilles, Saint Lucia has the Atlantic Ocean lapping at its eastern shores, while its western beaches touch the Caribbean Sea. The terrain includes rain forests and volcanoes. There's much to celebrate in Saint Lucia--they have Independence Day in February, Emancipation Day in August, and National Day in December. This island is truly multicultural: A visitor can drive on the British (left) side of the road to a French town for an Indian meal. And, although French was outlawed by the British in the nineteenth century, Creole patois is commonly spoken. According to this page, Saint Lucia is the site of the world's only drive-in volcanic crater (Diamond Head on Oahu may make a similar claim).
Travel - Dominica - Dominica is a Caribbean island; don't get it confused with the Dominican Republic, which is elsewhere. You'll find lots of natural attractions in Dominica, but you don't want to step in the Boiling Lake! The reason it's bubbling is because it's HOT. Since this is a volcanic island, you'll find other hot spots, too. Here's some trivia: Most of the beaches have a certain color of sand. Knowing it's a volcanic area, can you guess what color? You'll also find beautiful waterfalls in the mountainous rain forest. The "mountain chicken" on the menu is really " crapaud , the legs of huge frogs that burrow in the woods."
Travel - Dominican Republic - Check the entry in this book for Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the country of the Dominican Republic. Christopher Columbus wasn't the only member of his family who landed here. According to this site, "Christopher Columbus dropped anchor here on his first voyage in 1492; four years later, his brother Bartolomeo founded the colony of Santo Domingo; 13 years after that, Christopher's son became the colony's governor!"
Travel - Grenada - Grenada is also known as the Caribbean "spice island." Lots of spices are grown here, including nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. A nutmeg pod even appears on its flag! Perhaps you'd like a hike through the rain forest? Bring your machete along, because you'll need it to hack away the plants. Or, if you'd rather snorkel, the reefs are beautiful. Watch out for the jellyfish and other critters, though. This site offers basic information and a wealth of outside links.
Welcome to Turks & Caicos - Recent evidence points to Grand Turk Island as being the first place Columbus landed in the New World. Not too long afterward, the people who greeted Columbus vanished, and the islands were uninhabited for two hundred years. Pirates made the Turks and Caicos Islands their hideout for a long time. This site will provide you with a good overview of these Caribbean islands and why they are so popular with tourists and divers.
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