If cold weather and snow-covered streets are not enough to get you to the Caribbean, tell yourself it’s a cultural opportunity and go for one of the region’s winter music festivals.
www.stbartsmusicfestival.org
The St. Bart’s Music Festivalis set for Jan. 11 to 23 with performances in classical, jazz and more. It’s advertised as relaxed and informal, no reservations, just enjoy the beaches during the day and then pay at the door of that night’s venue in churches and community halls. This Web site, while not very accommodating, does have a video featuring musical and dance performances with some of the island’s scenery.
www.st-barths.com
St. Bart’s in the French West Indies has beaches, quaint villages, restaurants and the duty-free port of Gustavia, but no really big resorts or high-rise hotels. For its available places to stay, St. Barths (short for Barthelemy) Online provides a visitors guide with info on getting there (flights and ferries from nearby St. Maarten), and places to stay that range from small hotels to private cottages or villas. And look under “Cultural Events”; if you can’t make the music festival, there’s a local film festival in April. The guide also has maps of the 14 beaches, hotels and restaurants.
www.barbadosjazzfestival.com; barbados.org
During part of that same period, the Barbados Jazz Festival features an array of artists on Jan. 14 to 20 in the West Indies. Their accommodations list is short, so try the Barbados Tourism authority to survey hotels, villas, guest houses and apartments, then click on “Discover” for tours (including submarines), and activities such as scuba diving, shopping, horse racing and even polo.
www.airjamaicajazzandblues.com/08
A little later on the calendar, there’s a much jazzier Web site and artists’ lineup for the Air Jamaica Jazz &Blues Festival coming up on Jan. 24 to 26. The schedule is also snazzier, promising performers including Anita Baker, Spyro Gyra, Hugh Masakela, Diana Ross and Taj Mahal. Bigger names mean bigger ticket prices, but you can get a three-day pass for $225. To arrange your trip, click on “Travel” to link to the sponsoring Air Jamaica Vacations.
www.visitjamaica.com
There’s a lot more to appreciate about Jamaica. Go to the Jamaica Tourist Board and dig into “Vacation Themes” in the upper right corner of the page to learn about beaches, family vacations and a category called “Untrodden” for ideas such as rafting on the Martha Brae river, picnicking at Mayfield Falls or hiking the Bluefields Mountains. Then you need to click on “Before You Go” for subjects including climate, banks, driving and air travel to the island. Next, peruse “Planning Your Trip” for places to stay, eat and party, package deals, shopping for just about any budget, and attractions and activities other than the music festival.
www.stjohnbluesfestival.com/bf/blueshome.htm; www.usvi.net; usvitourism.vi; www.nps.gov/viis
A little later in the season, try the U.S. Virgin Islands and the St. John Blues Festival, scheduled for March 19-23, with a Cajun and zydeco flavor this year. Because it’s a U.S. possession, travel is a little easier. They have a link to “Where to Stay on St. John.” However, you might also want to explore the U.S. Virgin Islands Guide or the islands’ official Department of Tourism for still more information on places to stay, coral reefs and rain forests to explore, and stunning beaches. And don’t overlook the Virgin Islands National Park an oasis of scuba diving, hiking and even camping (look under “Plan Your Visit” and “Outdoor Activities”).
Roger Petterson, Associated Press
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