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by
Paris Permenter & John Bigley
Looking for a destination where the two of you can tempt each other without the
distractions of tours, shopping, cities, and too many other travelers?
In the Caribbean, you'll find many
small islands where the emphasis can be on the two of you. When you're ready to
take a break from activity, sprinkled through the islands are some hideaways
that beg travelers to kick off their shoes, toss on some sunscreen, then grab a
book and a buddy.
Many islands even have a special word
for this lack of activity: limin', a way to enjoy life at a destination where
the livin' is easy.
TURKS AND CAICOS
"The number one activity here is to
do nothing," says Tom Lewis, general manager of Ocean Club, a low-rise resort
tucked on a quiet stretch of sand on the island of Providenciales. And why not?
Folks don't come to the remote Turks and Caicos islands, located east of the
Bahamas, to enjoy duty-free shopping, glitzy nightlife, or days of sightseeing
tours. They come for the beach, the sun, and the clear-as-white-rum waters that
surround these quiet islands.
Providenciales, better known as simply Provo, boasts the largest portion of the
Turks and Caicos population but it is still open and unsettled. This
sickle-shaped island is dotted with scrubby growth, short palms and climbing sea
grapes. Chalky limestone roads wind across the flat island, connecting
settlements like Blue Hills and The Bight.
But the traveler to Provo will soon
realize that its desert terrain is just a backdrop to the beaches and clear
waters that are the main attractions. On some parts of the island the beaches
stretch for miles, dotted only with the footprints of iguanas or shorebirds. You
won't find beach vendors or hagglers on these shores, just a few tourists and
locals enjoying snorkeling or a swim in the gentle surf. High rises are
forbidden, with resorts built no taller than three stories.
And, if you're lucky, you may just
get the chance to meet Provo's most treasured resident: JoJo. This wild dolphin
has been sighted for 12 years along the island's north coast, the only case ever
documented of prolonged interaction between an individual wild dolphin and
humans. Often spotted swimming along the north shore or near boats, JoJo is
protected and the government has declared him a national treasure.
TOBAGO
Locals say it's a destination for the "newly wed and the nearly dead." Tobago
may not be as well known as its political partner Trinidad, but in the world of
travelers looking for peace and quiet it's the leader. Like city and country
cousins, Trinidad and Tobago each have their own unique personalities. While
Trinidad bustles with activity, tiny Tobago is a favorite with those looking to
get away from it all. It's treasured by the world's birders and also scuba
divers, who seek out giant manta rays near the village of Speyside. But most of
all, it's a place where travelers enjoy life that moves to a Caribbean beat.
Goats graze in every field; coconut palm-lined beaches offer quiet getaways;
luxury resorts pamper guests with everything from dining to spa experiences.
On Tobago, nightlife is unique and
laid back. Once a week the island parties at "Sunday School," held every Sunday
in the community of Buccoo Village. This open-air street party doesn't get
cranked up until near midnight, so come prepared to stay up late and enjoy the
pulsating sounds of calypso and soca.
LITTLE CAYMAN
If you plan to spend most of your
time looking for that secluded strip of sand where you never see another set of
footprints, then Little Cayman should be your destination. It's little changed
from a century ago, a perfect place to get away from it all and spend your day
on a bicycle peddling empty roads, snorkeling in pristine waters, or looking for
that perfect beach.
Just 80 miles northeast of Grand
Cayman, Little Cayman is worlds apart in terms of atmosphere. Appropriate to its
name, this isle spans only 11 miles in length and two miles at its widest point.
Boasting none of the glitz of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman does greet guests with
all the basic comforts, including several small lodges and condominiums with
air-conditioning, satellite television, and telephone service.
With just over 100 permanent
residents, the island's largest population is that of birds and iguanas. Over
2,000 Little Cayman Rock Iguanas inhabit the island, so many that "Iguana
Crossing" and "Iguana Right of Way" signs are posted throughout the island to
protect the five-foot long lizards.
Little Cayman's chief draw is its ecotourism: diving, fishing, and bird
watching. The late Phillipe Cousteau called the island's Bloody Bay Wall one of
the best dives of his life; today it's still a favorite with divers.
NEVIS
Imagine a country inn where rooms brim with antiques and are cooled by a gentle
breeze off a wide porch. You ease into a wicker chair, sip an icy drink, and
enjoy a view unbroken by roads, electrical lines, or even fellow travelers.
This is Nevis (pronounced NEE-vis),
an island that offers all the country comforts and bed-and-breakfast luxury you
might look for in a New England getaway. Here, however, palms replace pines and
color comes, not from scarlet leaves, but from azure seas, beaches in shades of
both black and white, and verdant forests that engulf the island.
Nevis (along with St. Kitts, its
partner in this two-island nation) boasts one of the Caribbean's largest
concentrations of plantation homes. The islands were once dotted with sugar
plantations and greathouses, but today these stately manses have been
transformed into elegant bed-and-breakfast inns especially popular with European
vacationers and with Americans looking to experience a slice of the Caribbean
"the way it used to be." Don't look for reggae lessons, limbo contests or
mixology classes at these properties; instead, expect a sophisticated atmosphere
similar to a fine country inn where the emphasis lies, not on providing fun for
its guests, but in pointing the way for independent travelers to make their own
discoveries.
Columbus first named this island because of the ever-present cloud that circled
Mount Nevis, giving it almost a snow-capped look. Today the cloud still lingers
over the mountain peak. Home to only 9,000 residents, this country cousin has a
charming atmosphere all its own, plus a good share of plantation houses where
guests can enjoy a look back at Caribbean history.
Husband and wife team Paris Permenter
and John Bigley have authored over 20 guidebooks and also edit the FREE
Lovetripper.com , a romantic travel magazine featuring worldwide
destinations.
Copyright Paris Permenter and John Bigley
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