ST MARTIN (Caribbean)

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Overview:

St Martin is a French enclave just north of Dutch St Maarten. It's like being in a mini-Europe with coconut trees. If you tire of Franco-Dutch ambience, there is a ferry to British Anguilla and transportation to other Dutch islands as well as once-Swedish St Barts.

The island of Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin is the smallest land mass in the world to be shared by two nations. The Dutch side is famous for its yellow sand beaches, its carnival, and its exuberant nightlife and discount shopping opportunities. This understated absence of conflict testifies to one of the island's most precious and attractive characteristics--its unusual serenity.

Locality:

Situated about 150 miles east of Puerto Rico, Dutch St. Maarten (the French spell it St. Martin) covers 16 square miles of the southern part of the island, an area marked by verdant, rolling hills that languidly rest above mile after mile of beach , salt pond, and lagoon.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Other St Martin options include: duty-free shopping for French luxury items, water sports, scuba diving, golf, horseback riding, tennis, and side trips to the shops and tourist attractions on the Dutch part of the island. You might even spot a fake windmill.

St. Maarten's cuisine subscribes to the general diversity of its people, revealing touches of the French, who have shared the island for more than 350 years, and the Spanish. A favorite hobby in St. Maarten is recipe swapping, and following are some of the favorites.

Fueled by a healthy tourist industry, an international reputation, and a duty-free fervor that never seems to end, night on St. Maarten is a time when things are just beginning. Much of the nightlife is concentrated at the big resorts, which combine night clubs, restaurants, and late-night shopping. Many hotels organize beachside barbeques, with dancing to the music of a steel drum band (you don't usually have to be a hotel guest to join in).

For many visitors, the island's nine casinos (all on the Dutch side) are a major attraction. The gaming is European style, subdued and sophisticated, and open to everyone from high-rollers to beginners. Staff members are always ready to take first-timers through the basics.

The island's discos attract an international crowd, all dancing to the latest club hits. The best Caribbean music on the island can be found at the island's many live-music clubs, where one is as likely to find as many locals as visitors. Among the island hot spots are the News Music Cafe , Greenhouse , Indiana Beach, Amnesia, and Cheri's Cafe .

Carnival comes to St. Maarten once a year, bursting upon the senses just after Easter. It begins with the Balloon Jump-Up , the first of the "Jump-Up" parades that will wind their way through the streets until April 30, the birthday of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.

Boating :
St. Maarten is one of the Caribbean's leading sailing venues, playing host each year to the Heineken Regatta and offering plenty of stunning anchorages. Fully-equipped marinas welcome visiting boats and rent everything from speedboats to canoes. Day trips can also be arranged for deep-sea fishing or for visits to secluded nearby islands.

Diving :
The rich coral reefs right off the coast offer a wide variety of underwater sights. The island has numerous dive shops, all of which can provide scuba equipment and lessons. In addition to the reefs, two separate shipwreck sites are popular destinations. For a look at marine life after dark, night dives can also be arranged.


Watersports:
Watersports have become an important part of the St. Maarten experience. Beaches and resorts around the island offer windsurfing board rentals and lessons. Jet skis are another popular option, and most people can master riding the waves after two or three tries. The calm, protected waters of Simpson Bay Lagoon are perfect for waterskiing. For a real thrill, parasailing gives adventurers the chance to lift off the beach and take in the views from the air.

Snorkeling:
Snorkeling is a popular activity on many of St. Maarten's beaches. Outstanding water clarity allows excellent views of colorful fish and coral, while the warm water welcomes swimmers year-round. A number of coral reefs are within easy reach of Dawn Beach and Little Bay Beach, so snorkelers won't have far to go for a first-hand view of marine life.

Skydiving:
Tandem-skydiving, a new development on St. Maarten, offers visitors the chance to see the whole island in a way unlike any other: coming straight at them at 120 MPH. After only a 5-minute briefing, an experienced skydiver will accompany passengers on exhilarating, 30-second freefall from 9000 feet.