| Head to Antigua if you're looking for something very British, very jet-set -- with casinos, water sports galore and 365 white sand beaches to boot. St. John's, the nation's capital and a popular port, sports high-style boutiques, fine restaurants and exciting nightlife. Also a must: visit to Admiral Nelson's Dockyard at English Harbor, once a major port for the British navy and now a yacht haven and national park.
There's more here than 366 Beaches - Antigua, and its small sister island of Barbuda to the North, have a rich history and nautical past.
Sports: Offshore wrecks and reefs make for great scuba diving and snorkeling on both islands, while the northern coast of Antigua is ideal for windsurfing. Visitors will also enjoy great boating and fishing.
Things To Do and See: English Harbor is rich in nautical artifacts; Indian Town is home to archaeological digs. On Barbuda, the Bird Sanctuary is home to 170 species.
Shopping: Antiguan items and crafts include rum, silk-screened fabrics, native straw work, and crafts made from shells. There's one-of-a-kind batik clothing and artworks and great duty-free shopping.
Festivals: The Antigua Sailing Week in April is one of the region's major sailing events. Carnival, held at the end of July into early August, is one of the Caribbean's most elaborate celebrations.
Island Trivia: During World War II, Antigua was selected as an American military base.
Language: English
Electricity: Most of the island is 220 volts. The Hodges Bay area of Antigua and some hotels, however, are 110 volts.
Currency: The Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$), however, nearly all hotels and all but the smallest restaurants bills in U.S. dollars. |
