Saint Kitts and Nevis

Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park is a complex of fortifications located on Brimstone Hill that includes Fort George Citadel with the Fort George Museum, the Eastern Place of Arms, and the Western Place of Arms.

The national park that has been created to protect the complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All these wonderfully preserved fortifications and buildings can be accessed by climbing a very steep path with a series of steps and ramps.

The fortress was designed by British military engineers, and is a testimony to their engineering skills. It was built and maintained by African slaves, so it is also a testimony to their endurance and strength.

St Kitts, world famous for its blue seas and fine sandy beaches, is also well known for its verdant central mountain chain, which rises to almost 4,000 feet and is almost completely covered by thriving rainforest. All land above 1,000 feet was declared a national forest reserve in order to protect most of the island's rainforest. Central Forest Reserve National Park is classified by scientists as an American Oceanic Rainforest, one of the rarest kinds of forests on the planet, and it is expanding instead of shrinking, as it is in most the world.

There are many trails that wind through the lush forests under the canopy of ancient trees, full of flowers and the sounds of the wildlife that thrives in this spectacular world.

Located at the foot of the lush Olivees Mountain, Fairview Great House & Botanical Garden is a beautifully restored French colonial mansion set on over 2 acres of gorgeous tropical garden. The house was built in 1701 and is open to the visitors in all its glory – with period furniture and décor that include a magnificent 16-seat mahogany dinner table laid with china and silver.

The docents who accompany visitors will explain that the chaises were made wider in order to accommodate petticoats. The veranda off the master bedroom offers breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea, the southeast peninsula, and the island of Nevis.

Outside the main building, across the courtyard, is the original kitchen, a bathing room, and a fieldstone cellar that is now used as a gift shop. The gardens surrounding the mansion are magnificent, full of lush tropical greenery, flowers, birds, and monkeys.

Boyds Village, 12345, St. Kitts, Phone: +1 869-465-3141

Museum of Nevis History is a small museum located in a beautiful Georgian-style building in Charleston with a range of historic artifacts, displaying charts and other objects that depict the history of the island. The building, known as Hamilton House, houses the museum on the first floor, while the second floor has the Nevis House of Assembly meeting room. The charming stone building was built in 1680, destroyed in an earthquake in 1840, and restored in 1983. The building is better known as the birthplace of American statesman, soldier, lawyer, first Secretary of the Treasury, and founding father Alexander Hamilton, who was born in 1757. Hamilton lived on St Kitts until the age of nine.

Alexander Hamilton Birthplace, Main Street, Charlestown, St Kitts & Nevis, Phone: +1 869-469-5786

A short trip from Charlestown and its luxury resorts will take you to the glorious, lushly tropical Nevis Botanical Gardens, located against the looming shadow of Mount Nevis. The gardens' property originally belonged to the Montpelier Estates. The 5-acre gardens include a huge variety of tropical plants from all over the tropical world, a cool cascade, dolphin fountains, and a pool with water lilies. Enjoy spectacular flowering royal poinciana, the national flower of St. Kitts and Nevis. The shaded Orchid Terraces are home to many colorful bromeliads, exotic orchids, and more than 100 species of palms. The Tropical Vine Garden will delight you with the fabric-like flowers of the calico vine and the heady fragrance of the stephanotis. Explore the ruins of a lost temple in the mysterious Rainforest Conservatory.

Church Ground, St Kitts & Nevis, Phone: +1 869-469-3399

Romney Manor is the former downtown Basseterre residence of the Wingfield Estate sugar plantation owners. Since 1964, the manor has been taken over by the Caribelle Batik store and workshop and is one of the favorite tourist stops in town. The Caribelle staff show the visitors the process of making batik and also sell their beautiful products, from clothes to gifts and accessories. The garden around the former manor is a horticulturists' delight, with a 350-year-old raintree as the centerpiece and a bell tower that was used to monitor working slaves. The view of the entire garden from the viewing gallery is breathtaking.

Old Road, Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis, Phone: +1 869-465-6253

Located in the eastern part of Basseterre near Newtown, Independence Square, or Pall Mall Square as it was previously known, was given its new name on 19th September 1983 to celebrate the birthday of the nation of St. Christopher and Nevis. Only a few of original houses that existed around the square remain, such as the public library and the court house. Originally, the land on which the square sits today was a pasture, then a slave market, where slaves sold their produce and met with each other, then it became a parade ground and a place for the militia to practice its drills. In 1855 the Commissioners for the Supply of Water started the improvements in Pall Mall Square, including building a beautiful fountain surrounded by flowering plants. The square became a popular place to live and many famous people have resided here, including Doris Wall, Sir Maurice Davis, and Professor Bryan King. Today, the square is a popular venue for cultural events and locals and tourists enjoy sitting under the trees.

Basseterre, St Kitts & Nevis, Phone: +1 256-835-3171

Park Hyatt Hotel St. Kitts is a world-class Caribbean resort located along the shores of beautiful Banana Bay, overlooking The Narrows, which separates St. Kitts from its nearby volcanic island neighbor Nevis. The resort, which was opened to the public in November of 2017, offers 126 luxury guest rooms and suites, which blend colonial and contemporary design elements crafted from locally-sourced materials. In-room amenities include walk-in rain showers, deep soaking tubs, and private balconies, with suites with private infinity pools and wellness areas available. Five-star dining experiences include the ocean-to-table restaurant Fisherman's Village, the adults-only Stone Barn, and the colonial-style Great House, which features a rum bar and chef's table. Guests can also utilize the resort's 1,750-square-foot fitness center and state-of-the-art luxury spa, which offers panoramic views of Mount Nevis.

Banana Bay, South East Peninsula, Parish of St. George, St. Kitts, St. Kitts & Nevis, Phone: +1 869-468-1234

Located at the edge of the town of Cayon, Spooner's Estate is in many ways the story of St. Kitts and its industry as it has changed over time. Originally, the property was owned by the French Captain Paul De Brissac who, like everyone else at the time, processed sugar cane. He built a large boiling house, a mill, and a still. John Spooner acquired the property in 1720 and, after many different owners, it was purchased by Wade and Abbott, who in 1901 converted the existing sugar factory into a cotton ginnery, as by that time sugar had stopped returning its usual high profits. Spooner's Ginnery operated until 1975, when it was purchased by the government. Today the estate has the original structure and the only cotton ginnery still standing, and offers beautiful views of the surrounding land.

St. Kitts Eco-Park is Taiwan-funded greenhouse and garden complex in the town of Sandy Point, which has the goal of teaching young local people about sustainable agriculture and horticulture. All the structures are built with glass fiber-reinforced concrete, which is five times harder and three times lighter than normal concrete. The greenhouse is 24 meters tall and spreads over 14,000 square feet, making it the largest greenhouse in the Caribbean. It contains large number of plants, including local medicinal herbs, butterfly orchids, and roses. There is a large number of tropical fruit trees, and the fruits are sold to the local population. The Eco-Park has an interesting maze made of plants that is shaped like the maps of St. Kitts and Taiwan. No wonder the local call the park "Little Taiwan."

Sir Gillies Estate, Sandy Point, St. Kitts, W.I., St. Kitts & Nevis, Phone: +1 869-465-8755