St. Kitts is part of the Lesser Antilles area of the Caribbean islands.  Nevis, the sister island of St. Kitts, is just two miles away, and travelers often visit both islands on their Caribbean vacation.  Both islands are wealthy and were colonized by the English.  St. Kitts was the first island in the Lesser Antilles to be colonized, so it’s often called the Mother Colony. 

The landscape of St. Kitts is breathtaking.  The lush green mountains backed by fluffy white clouds and fields of sugar cane invoke the most pleasant of visions.  Rain forests, woodlands and of course the turquoise sea below have captivated visitors for centuries.

The beauty of St. Kitts may explain why its past is full of battles for territory and feuds that lasted decades, if not centuries.  The English first colonized St. Kitts in 1623.  The French then arrived, and helped the British fight off the native Caribs.  They then fought each other, with the British finally winning.  Today, St. Kitts and Nevis form one of the smallest independent nations in the world. 

St. Kitts is only 68 square miles, and Nevis is about half that area.  Modern day explorers will find volcanic mountains, beaches, rain forests, and neat and tidy villages. 

The capital of St. Kitts is Basseterre, which is where most of the locals live.  The name is French, dating back to when the French ruled the island.  It’s a forward-looking town, with new shops, a revitalized area of cafes and boutiques, and carefully preserved and restored architecture dating back to the colonial era.  There are plantations to visit, interesting shops to dip into, and wonderful dining opportunities around every corner. 

St. Kitts has a mountain topography, making for picture perfect backdrops for all your Caribbean vacation activities.  There’s Monkey Hill and the South Range in back of Basseterre, and travelers with gusto can arrange to go hiking or trekking.  There’s also Mount Liamuiga, actually a volcano, the highest point on St. Kitts.   You can also go jet skiing, play golf, and do anything else under the sun you’d expect to enjoy on a Caribbean vacation.

In addition to lovely weather, quaint villages and pleasant people, St. Kitts also has year-round events to make any Caribbean vacation that much more exciting.  For example, in June there’s the St. Kitts Music Festival.   Musicians from all over arrive each year to play Gospel, Jazz, Hip-Hop, R&B, and more.  Locals and visitors merge together at the festival for a one-world party atmosphere that’ sure to complete any Caribbean vacation.

The capital of Nevis is Charlestown, also carefully preserved historical architecture, more of a Caribbean style than Bassetere but equally tranquil and beautiful.  There’s a real feeling of calm and nature here in Nevis, and an even quieter aura and way of living that visitors can feel the minute they arrive on the tiny island. 

Both Delta and American Airlines now offer nonstop service to St. Kitts, from JFK and Atlanta, respectively.  There’s also nonstop service from Miami and from Charlotte, NC on US Airways.

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