Welcome to St. Lucia!
The third stop on our whirlwind tour of the most romantic spots to visit in 2011 is the splendid southern Caribbean island of St. Lucia. My husband and I honeymooned there back when we were younger and tanner and it was truly one of the most romantic spots I’ve seen before or since.
Photo Courtesy Flickr.com/ashleypalmero
One of the Windward Islands, St. Lucia is close to Martinique, St. Vincent and Barbados. The natural beauty of St. Lucia is simply unmatched. The lush green peaks of the Pitons rise above the island’s beautiful landscape. Situated near Soufrière, the Pitons are volcanic plugs, meaning they were formed when magma hardened in a vent of an active volcano. The Pitons are named Gros Piton and Petit Piton, with Gros Piton as the taller obviously (2,619 feet vs. Petit Piton’s 2,461 feet). Gros Piton is a challenging but worthwhile hike that can take nearly six hours one way. The Pitons are visible from much of the island and provide a stunning backdrop that reminds you this is no ordinary beach destination.
One of the best amenities of visiting St. Lucia is the accessibility and safety of much of the island. From shopping to dining to exploring, much of the island is in reach with the aide of a rental car or a taxi ride. Plus, the area is largely safe and the locals are wonderfully welcoming, making this a perfect locale for a by owner vacation rental vacation. There’s no need to stay in a pricey resort and with cookie cutter meals when you can enjoy an authentic St. Lucia experience in a private home or villa. Many St. Lucia vacation rentals have private pools and every beach on the island is considered public, so there are no limitations on where you can sunbathe. Visitors from the U.S. generally find the island easy to navigate culturally, as the American dollar is widely accepted and most of the residents speak fluent English, though a lilting Patois is the native language on this French Creole island.
But unlike many tropical locales, there’s much more to do than sink into the sand when you visit St. Lucia. This island is an adventurer’s paradise and there’s a little of everything on the menu. From the more traditional beach-side pursuits like snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing and boating to zip line tours through the rainforest, ATV adventures, hiking, horseback riding, turtle watching and helicopter tours, it’s just not possible to do it all in one visit. As for my St. Lucia vacation? We took the laid back route and indulged in lots of swimming, sunbathing and snorkeling, with the most strenuous activity being a round of golf followed by a sunset cruise. Spas dot the island like goats so scheduling your favorite treatment or a romantic beach-side couple’s massage is only an appointment away.
Dining in St. Lucia is, in a word, delicious. Fresh local ingredients turn even a simple salad into an indulgent memory. We particularly enjoyed a number of dishes featuring locally caught conch and other seafood delicacies. The local brew is Piton, inspired of course by the namesake peaks, and it pairs well with a lazy day on the beach or a sunset stroll by the water. Restaurants run the gamut from beach-side bars and sea shacks to elegant, white tablecloth affairs with inventive cuisine and intimate tables for two.
After dinner, take in some local talent at a beach-side bar or settle into the patio of your St. Lucia vacation rental while you gaze at the endless sky above and thank your lucky stars that you chose to visit St. Lucia for a romantic rendezvous.
This entry was posted on Thursday, February 17th, 2011 at 12:00 am and is filed under Suggestions, Things To Do, Travel News from Around the World, Travel Tips, Why you should choose a private vacation rental over a hotel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
