St. Kitts Great Attractions Railway, Fortress, Primates & Activities
By Larry & Lilliam Larsen
Whether by land or by sea, when you arrive in St. Kitts you immediately get the feeling
that there will not be enough time to visit all the interesting attractions of this beautiful, mountainous island.
If you only have a couple of days, the best
way to get a good perspective of the island is to take the Railway Tour. Although it's billed as "scenic" , don't expect a bunch of beautiful vistas; rather, you will get an idea
of the history of the island's sugar cane and farming origins and a good feel for the topography of the island, as well as the amount of influence the British and French
had on St. Kitts in the early 19th century.
The railroad was originally built to transport the sugar cane from the fields adjacent the coast to the port. Today, it is used to
transport approximately 100 tourists along the same route which stretches from the capitol Basse Terre along the windward shore to the northern tip of the island. Passengers
disembark the train at Sandy Point and take vans back along the leeward shore highway to the train station.
If you'd rather do a walking tour, then take a
cab or drive your rental car to the impressive
Brimstone Hill Fortress. Located atop one of the highest points near the leeward shore
about 10 miles from Basse Terre, it overlooks much of St. Kitts northwestern coastline. This well preserved fort offers one of the most scenic views of the island and is a testament
to the hardiness of those who spent years building its defenses. It's well worth the visit and an island highlight for most tourists.
For the more active folks, take a hike up the
volcano! Billed as "strenuous", only the most experienced hikers should attempt this walk. But you will be
rewarded with beautiful scenery, the possibility of seeing native wildlife like monkeys and mongoose and in the end, a view of the spectacular dormant volcano.
Want to photograph some monkeys, a mongoose or two and lay
on the beach at the same time? Then visit the ShipWreck Beach Bar & Grill in South Friars Bay where the island's Green Vervet Monkeys visit each noon for a "sugar cane lunch". Snap your
pictures, lie on the beach, and don't forget to try their great food. We loved it!
Dining out on St. Kitts is an experience, whether for lunch or
dinner. Seafood is virtually guaranteed to be fresh but don't be in a hurry! On this island, meals are fixed as they are ordered so be prepared to spend a couple of hours (or more) enjoying the
ambiance of whichever restaurant you selected. We had a great meal at Marshall's and at Kathy's, both located on or above Frigate Bay. In the end, despite the "island time" service, the
food is worth it!
Another activity that golfers will certainly enjoy is a round at
the Royal St. Kitts Golf Course adjacent the St. Kitts Marriott
Resort located on North Frigate Bay. Check out our separate article on the golf here. Don't miss the club house's great food too, such as their cheeseburger wrap! At the Marriott resort, you'll find the
Royal Beach Casino, the very best pizza that we have found in our 40-plus trips to the Caribbean, and great ambiance with the comfortable accommodations. For more information, check out the
websites, www.stkittstourism.kn and www.royalstkittsgolfclub.com.
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