How Sugary Sweet Is St Kitts

F or centuries, sugar cane         facility. Yet, in recent years,    was one of the most             St. Kitts has come to be known     important crops in the          more for its pristine stretches    world. As sugar cane grows best       of sugary sand than its sugar      in tropical climates, European        cane. Though the island remains    settlers saw an opportunity for       far less crowded than other        wealth in Caribbean islands like      destinations, the diverse          St. Kitts. After colonization,        activities available in St. Kitts  forests were razed and replaced       have quickly come to rival the     with sugar plantations to benefit     offerings of its Caribbean         the production of molasses, rum       neighbors.                         and raw sugar. As the oldest and                                         wealthiest English colony in the      Today, the remains of the          Caribbean, St. Kitts once boasted     formerly vibrant sugar industry    68 profitable plantations on just     simply add a unique historical     a 68-acre island. Things began to     element to the variety of St.      change in the 19th century,           Kitts’ tourism options. St. Kitts  however. With the abolition of        vacation packages include tours    slavery, the downturn of              of the plantations and processing  Caribbean sugarcane market prices     facilities. In addition to these   and the rise of European beet         unique remains of the sugar        sugar crops, Caribbean                industry, the island also houses   plantations began to disappear.       a number of historically relevant                                        sites, from petroglyphs to         Today, St. Kitts is one of the        plantations homes and the          few Caribbean islands still           imposing Brimstone Fortress. Yet,  growing sugar cane. Yet, all of       while the present state of St.     the sugar fields are now state        Kitts tourism is deeply connected  operated, with the entire crop        to this fascinating past, the      processed in one government-run       island has far more to offer than  most realize.                         St. Kitts offers anyone the                                              ability to hike and enjoy          Basseterre, the island's charming     unspoiled nature.                  harbor capital, certainly retains                                        these signs of colonization and       In the water, tourists can enjoy   sugar production. The                 fishing and boating. Underneath    government’s commitment to            the surface lie pristine coral     preservation, both urban and          reefs and barnacled shipwrecks     environmental, offers tourists a      waiting to be explored by          unique glimpse into past              snorkelers and scuba divers.       centuries. As state law requires      Increased tourism has also helped  that no new buildings may be          the dive shops and tour guides,    taller than the pervasive palm        offering visitors affordably       trees, the capital has fully          priced dive excursions. There has  retained this colonial charm.         also been a push for increased     Yet, shops and restaurants now        golf tourism on the island. The    fill the streets adding a             recent construction and            distinct atmosphere of Caribbean      renovation of several tournament   luxury.                               quality courses by award-winning                                         architects have put St. Kitts on   Outside the city, the landscape       the international map. More and    of St. Kitts resembles a tropical     more, St. Kitts vacation packages  paradise more than any other          are highlighting these unique      island in the region. The plant       opportunities.                     and animal life are abundant,                                            especially within the rainforests     Despite the amazing opportunities  surrounding the majestic Mt.          available in St. Kitts, the        Liamuiga. Beyond being a top          island is yet to be discovered by  destination for a new breed of        the masses. When traveling in St.  eco-tourists, the environment of      Kitts, you will not spend your     time waiting in lines or fighting     finest resorts and restaurants in  traffic on ritzy stretches of         the Caribbean. Nature may be the   resorts and shops. You will,          draw, but none of the Caribbean    however, spend your time gazing       luxuries are missing. With         at crystal clear water from your      beautiful resorts and a            spot on the beach. You will enjoy     captivating environment, St.       natural beauty like you’ve never      Kitts is able to offer the best    seen before. Yet, you will also       of both worlds perhaps better      find yourself in some of the          than any other destination.        About the Author: This article was written by Justin Burch. Justin writes select pieces about travel in Caribbean for the St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino. Read more articles by: Justin Burch Article Source: www.iSnare.com