|
During European colonization of the
Antilles in the 1700s, Antigua became the most important Caribbean
base for the English crown. Admiral Horatio Nelson stood command
over English Harbour, overseeing the protection of tall barkentines
loaded with sugar, rum and gold set to sail for Bristol. Meanwhile,
the English navy’s swift 30-cannon frigates set off in search of
pirates and the Spanish, French and Dutch navies. The port was also
a refuge from the elements for all types of ships from nations
around the globe. A natural hurricane hole wreathed by protective
mountains, English Harbour welcomed hundreds of vessels that put in
whenever the seas got dark and stormy. All that naval lore lives on
in Nelson’s Dockyard National Park in English Harbour today.
This is easily Antigua’s most visited attraction with an eclectic
array of pubs and restaurants, intimate inns, sail-maker and
shipwright shops, and charter boat services—all housed in
300-year-old buildings once used as sailor’s barracks. The best time
to visit is during April and May when Nelson’s Dockyard is ground
central for the hugely popular Antigua Sailing Week and Antigua
Classic Yacht Regatta. Literally thousands of sailors from as far
away as Australia and Japan meet on the island to sing sea shanties
and race among the tropical tradewinds in everything from
multi-million dollar mega-yachts to tired old wooden scows.
Around The
Sea
Despite so many global visitors throughout the centuries, Antigua
has managed to avoid over-commercialization and saturated
development. Almost all of the oceanfront hotels are low-rise
buildings blended into the green hills and a staggering lineup of
365 white-sand beaches. Because there are so many superlative
beaches, it’s easy for visitors to find privacy on their own strip
of sand. Standouts include Jolly Harbour, Dickenson Bay, Friar’s
Bay, Nonesuch Bay and Half Moon Bay.
For the active crowd, Antigua’s
coasts offer some excellent snorkeling and diving sites because many
of the shores are surrounded by underwater shelves. Off the
southwest coast near Johnson’s Point, Cades Reef is a specially
designated underwater park and the island’s most well-known diving
spot. For advanced divers, the ledge of Sunken Rock lures divers
down as far as 180 ft. to see rare fish and other marine life. And
for wreck diving, the most accessible sunken treasure is the Andes
schooner, just a short hop from St. John’s and Five Islands
Peninsula.
St. John’s
This capital city of Antigua is a quaint waterfront community laid
out in easily walkable squares that gently slope up the hillside
towards the majestic Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The
view from the church is worth the walk up because the front rampart
overlooks the entire vista of St. John’s Harbor. In the center of
town, the Museum of Antigua & Barbuda revisits the island’s history
through an interesting collection of artifacts and original
photographs. Throughout the week, visiting artists display and sell
their watercolors that capture the natural beauty of Antigua.
Barbuda
Few other inhabited islands in the Caribbean are as far off the
tourist map as Antigua’s sister island Barbuda. The number-one
attraction on this completely unspoiled tropical milieu is the
Frigate Bird Sanctuary that’s accessible only by boat. Birdwatchers
can scout out over 170 species of birds, including more than 5,000
frigate birds. Other pastimes include beachcombing and exploring
historic estates, along with fishing, golfing, tennis, snorkeling
and diving. Barbuda can be reached from Antigua by daily 20-minute
flights or a 3-hour cruise.
General
Information
Antigua and Barbuda
ST JOHNS Sightseeing Tours Events & Attractions
Marriage requirements: Visit Ministry of Legal Affairs with valid
U.S. passports and birth certificates or picture I.D. in the form of
a valid driver’s license and pay a registration fee of $40, another
$150 for a marriage application fee and a Marriage Officer’s fee of
$50. Applicants must then confirm date, place and time with Marriage
Officer. If previously married, a divorce decree or death
certificate of spouse is required.
Gaming:
Multiple casinos are spread throughout the island
Contact: One of our Vacation
Specialist at 1-888-898-3628 or email us at
requests@vacationsforadults.com
Destination
Information:
Official language: English
Government: Member of the British Commonwealth
Temperature: Averages 79-86ºF
Rainfall: 40 inches annually
Official currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar, but U.S. dollar
is widely accepted
Entry requirements: Valid passport or original birth
certificate and valid I.D. photo in the form of a valid drivers
license, plus onward airline ticket. (More
entry requirements)
Departure tax: $20
Antigua and Barbuda
ST JOHNS Sightseeing Tours Events & Attractions |
