Destination Guide: St. Vincent and the Grenadenes

One of the sleeping giants of the Caribbean tourism industry is St. Vincent and its outlying Grenadine islands. While the beaches may not be the beautiful white sand variety that are characteristic of other islands in the area, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the best places in the world to enjoy lush greenery and great open-water sailing. The island has long been a hidden treasure, but the recent Pirates of the Caribbean movies have made it more popular. Much of the footage for those films was filmed in the sleepy islands, including some of the more popular scenes where Johnny Depp runs wild through the Caribbean jungle. Do not come to St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the beaches, because for the most part, they are black volcanic sand. Instead, take in the lush beauty that has attracted sailors for centuries.

If you are looking for the lavish hotels, great sites, and wonderful cuisine, you are barking up the wrong tree. St. Vincent and the Grenadines have very little of that. Instead, what you will find is just as pleasing in a more aesthetical way. There are some great beaches near the town of Kingston in St. Vincent. Here, you will find the white sand and turquoise water that is so characteristic of the area. The area is known much more, however, for its wonderful sailing. Most people coming to the island will stay in one of the small inns on St. Vincent. The prices are cheap and they take good care of you. Unlike in large resorts, there is not a whole lot to do as far as nightlife goes. You will, however, get to mingle with Caribbean culture that is unlike anything else in the world.

Most folks that come down to St. Vincent and the Grenadines use St. Vincent as something of a home base and a launching pad for some great sailing through the outlying islands. The culture around the area is predominantly British and they try to make you feel as welcome as possible. On the outlying Grenadine islands, there is little to do. They have romantic names and there are some beautiful coves, but generally, they appeal only to the sailors who love the rocks and lush greenery that was displayed in Pirates of the Caribbean.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is special to those who love to sail. If you feel like a captain and you have a good bit of boating expertise, then head on down, book a room in St. Vincent and get to sailing the Caribbean seas. I can not promise you will feel like Captain Jack Sparrow, but at least you will get to experience some of the sights and sounds that he encountered.