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Looking
for a destination where the two of you can tempt each other without
the distractions of tours, shopping, cities, and too many other
travelers?
In
the Caribbean, you'll find many small islands where the emphasis can
be on the two of you. When you're ready to take a break from
activity, sprinkled through the islands are some hideaways that beg
travelers to kick off their shoes, toss on some sunscreen, then grab
a book and a buddy.
Many
islands even have a special word for this lack of activity: limin',
a way to enjoy life at a destination where the livin' is easy.
TURKS
AND CAICOS
"The
number one activity here is to do nothing," says Tom Lewis,
general manager of Ocean Club, a low-rise resort tucked on a quiet
stretch of sand on the island of Providenciales. And why not? Folks
don't come to the remote Turks and Caicos islands, located east of
the Bahamas, to enjoy duty-free shopping, glitzy nightlife, or days
of sightseeing tours. They come for the beach, the sun, and the
clear-as-white-rum waters that surround these quiet islands.
Providenciales,
better known as simply Provo, boasts the largest portion of the
Turks and Caicos population but it is still open and unsettled. This
sickle-shaped island is dotted with scrubby growth, short palms and
climbing sea grapes. Chalky limestone roads wind across the flat
island, connecting settlements like Blue Hills and The Bight.
But
the traveler to Provo will soon realize that its desert terrain is
just a backdrop to the beaches and clear waters that are the main
attractions. On some parts of the island the beaches stretch for
miles, dotted only with the footprints of iguanas or shorebirds. You
won't find beach vendors or hagglers on these shores, just a few
tourists and locals enjoying snorkeling or a swim in the gentle
surf. High rises are forbidden, with resorts built no taller than
three stories.
And,
if you're lucky, you may just get the chance to meet Provo's most
treasured resident: JoJo. This wild dolphin has been sighted for 12
years along the island's north coast, the only case ever documented
of prolonged interaction between an individual wild dolphin and
humans. Often spotted swimming along the north shore or near boats,
JoJo is protected and the government has declared him a national
treasure.
TOBAGO
Locals
say it's a destination for the "newly wed and the nearly
dead." Tobago may not be as well known as its political partner
Trinidad, but in the world of travelers looking for peace and quiet
it's the leader. Like city and country cousins, Trinidad and Tobago
each have their own unique personalities. While Trinidad bustles
with activity, tiny Tobago is a favorite with those looking to get
away from it all. It's treasured by the world's birders and also
scuba divers, who seek out giant manta rays near the village of
Speyside. But most of all, it's a place where travelers enjoy life
that moves to a Caribbean beat. Goats graze in every field; coconut
palm-lined beaches offer quiet getaways; luxury resorts pamper
guests with everything from dining to spa experiences.
On
Tobago, nightlife is unique and laid back. Once a week the island
parties at "Sunday School," held every Sunday in the
community of Buccoo Village. This open-air street party doesn't get
cranked up until near midnight, so come prepared to stay up late and
enjoy the pulsating sounds of calypso and soca.
LITTLE
CAYMAN
If
you plan to spend most of your time looking for that secluded strip
of sand where you never see another set of footprints, then Little
Cayman should be your destination. It's little changed from a
century ago, a perfect place to get away from it all and spend your
day on a bicycle peddling empty roads, snorkeling in pristine
waters, or looking for that perfect beach.
Just
80 miles northeast of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman is worlds apart in
terms of atmosphere. Appropriate to its name, this isle spans only
11 miles in length and two miles at its widest point. Boasting none
of the glitz of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman does greet guests with
all the basic comforts, including several small lodges and
condominiums with air-conditioning, satellite television, and
telephone service.
With
just over 100 permanent residents, the island's largest population
is that of birds and iguanas. Over 2,000 Little Cayman Rock Iguanas
inhabit the island, so many that "Iguana Crossing" and
"Iguana Right of Way" signs are posted throughout the
island to protect the five-foot long lizards.
Little
Cayman's chief draw is its ecotourism: diving, fishing, and bird
watching. The late Phillipe Cousteau called the island's Bloody Bay
Wall one of the best dives of his life; today it's still a favorite
with divers.
NEVIS
Imagine
a country inn where rooms brim with antiques and are cooled by a
gentle breeze off a wide porch. You ease into a wicker chair, sip an
icy drink, and enjoy a view unbroken by roads, electrical lines, or
even fellow travelers.
This
is Nevis (pronounced NEE-vis), an island that offers all the country
comforts and bed-and-breakfast luxury you might look for in a New
England getaway. Here, however, palms replace pines and color comes,
not from scarlet leaves, but from azure seas, beaches in shades of
both black and white, and verdant forests that engulf the island.
Nevis
(along with St. Kitts, its partner in this two-island nation) boasts
one of the Caribbean's largest concentrations of plantation homes.
The islands were once dotted with sugar plantations and greathouses,
but today these stately manses have been transformed into elegant
bed-and-breakfast inns especially popular with European vacationers
and with Americans looking to experience a slice of the Caribbean
"the way it used to be." Don't look for reggae lessons,
limbo contests or mixology classes at these properties; instead,
expect a sophisticated atmosphere similar to a fine country inn
where the emphasis lies, not on providing fun for its guests, but in
pointing the way for independent travelers to make their own
discoveries.
Columbus
first named this island because of the ever-present cloud that
circled Mount Nevis, giving it almost a snow-capped look. Today the
cloud still lingers over the mountain peak. Home to only 9,000
residents, this country cousin has a charming atmosphere all its
own, plus a good share of plantation houses where guests can enjoy a
look back at Caribbean history.
Husband and wife team
Paris Permenter and John Bigley have authored over 20 guidebooks and
also edit the FREE Lovetripper.com
a romantic travel magazine featuring worldwide destinations.
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