Martinique--The Little France of the Caribbean

Most people have never even heard of the tiny island of Martinique in the French West Indies. It has been in French hands ever since 1674 when the King of France annexed the island. Before that, in 1502, Columbus himself landed there and discovered the Carib Indians who had inhabited the island from South America. The history of Martinique is long and rich, but the influence of the French on lifestyle, architecture, law, and permeates everything here. Visiting this tropical paradise is really like taking a little trip to France itself in many ways. Even Napoleon's Empress Josephine was born here and has a statue commemorating her in La Savanne, the central park of Fort-de-France.

Little known facts about Martinique are that it produces some of the world's finest rums in its distilleries and that it was here that the Anthurium was cultivated as a heritage flower now seen all over the world in florist shops. In fact the entire island is like one incredibly beautiful garden, with lush vines and flowers hugging all the streets and country roads. Eucaplytus and the magnificent frangipani trees crowd the valleys, and hibuscus grows like a tree here. Martinique is often called the "Island of Flowers," because of the incredibly beautiful and bounteous floral species that grow here. Dozens of public gardens, walkways and paths are open for visitors who can see over 1,000 varieties of floral displays. The Jardin de Balata is a premier garden attraction that any visitor should see. It epitomizes the country's love affair with nature.

There are more than a dozen museums in this island. One, the Musee Volcanologique, is dedicated to preserving the memory in photos, portraits, and artifacts from St. Pierre "the Paris of the West Indies," and it's horrific destruction by the eruption of Mt. Pelee in 1902. Another, La Musee Paul Gaugin, memorializes the work of French painter, Paul Gaugin. Other museums house histories of the rum business and trade; many are located in mansions and historical colonial homes that are themselves a living history of this fascinating place. In St. Pierre, there is even an earth and sciences museum with displays and interactive exhibits that explain volcanos and their role in the region.

Visitors to this country will be experiencing a magnificent architectural display of magnificent buildings, some dating back to the 1600s. St. Pierre and Le Precheur are notable villages worth a stop. Outside Le Precheur one can see the hot springs bubbling from underground waters. Le Morne-Rouge, another village, lies at the foot of Mt. Pelee where guided tours up the mountainside are offered regularly. Overlooking one of the most beautiful bays in the world, Fort-de-France is the administrative capitol of the island, where public gardens, an outdoor market, many public historic buildings and churches lie waiting for exploration.

Fishing, snorkeling and sunbathing are always attractions and the beaches of the Caribbean side are quite beautiful. There's also quite a lot of companies that offer cruises and sailing to travelers who want to spend a day on the salt water. At Trois Ilets, golfers will be happy to know, a full 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Golf Course is available with greens fees awarded by some hotels for their patrons. After walking and swimming, the food here will really satisfy a hearty appetite. Cuisine is a blend of traditional Creole and French and this island offers more restaurant choices than any place in the Caribbean. All sorts of classic French dishes are served at some excellent four-star restaurants, but fish clearly dominates the menus. It would be a good idea to brush up on your French before coming, but the hotels and many service venues have people who are fluent in English.

There are many packages to Martinique this summer. On the official web site, there's one that covers 6 days and 7 nights full airfare and hotel stay for just $769 from Miami in early June. Go anytime, though, because there's an average temperature of 79 with only a 5-degree range season to season. It's almost like going to a perpetual late spring paradise.