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St. Lucia |
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St. Lucia
St. Lucia is the kind of place where you can drive to a volcano at lunchtime, bathe in mineral springs in the afternoon, and still be back at the resort in time for your dinner reservation. Few places in the Caribbean offer the chance to view wildlife and explore such exotic terrain while still cradling you in extreme comfort.
Activities and Attractions:
Even the rugged geography of mountainous St. Lucia comes with a touch of luxury. At the Diamond Mineral Baths, located within the grounds of a lush botanical garden, you can soak in spa-quality mineral waters that gush right out of the earth.
Another geographic spectacle is the Mount Soufrière volcano. This peak does occasionally spew lava (most recently in 1979), but most days what oozes out of the crater is mud and steam. You can drive to the volcano and hike the eerily beautiful moonscape of black mineral pools and hissing crevices.
Of course, most visitors come to the Caribbean expecting beaches, and St. Lucia doesn’t disappoint. Most hotels have their own, but all beaches in St. Lucia are public, so you can plop down a towel wherever you wish. The beaches on the west side offer calm water and white sand. Many shallow reefs are accessible to snorkelers, and there is good scuba diving and sport fishing as well.
Add to these attractions the protected Fregate and Maria Islands, where you can spot rare birds, lizards, and butterflies in their natural environments; and the capital town of Castries, with its daily market that attracts traditionally dressed locals, and you’ve got the makings of a relaxing and culturally stimulating vacation.
Insider Tip:
Every May, the island hosts the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, which draws well-known performers from the jazz and pop worlds. Past performers have included Anita Baker, Dionne Warwick, and Wyclef Jean.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
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