Getting there might take a little extra effort, or sometimes a smaller airplane, but some of the small islands in the chain known as the Leeward Islands are sunny refuges from winter where you can dive and fish or just bake on a beach.
There are a number of islands in this group standing between the Atlantic and the Caribbean, but you might consider getting acquainted with a small group of neighbors: Anguilla, St. Maarten, St. Bart’s and Saba.
www.anguilla-vacation.com
www.skyviews.com/anguilla
Anguilla is in the British West Indies, just a bit south of the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. This small island claims 33 separate, white-sand public beaches for playing or just being lazy. On the left side of the main page, give “Why Anguilla” a quick read to get acquainted. Next, click on “What to Do” and “Daytime Activities” and then “View Anguilla’s Beaches” for descriptions of each one, including the popular Shoal Bay. There are guides to water and land activities, including a brief directory of boat charter outfits. If you need any persuasion, scan the dining guide and look under “Publications &Photos” for the photo gallery, especially the stunning beaches.
A short hop away, the similarly small island shared by French St. Martin and Dutch St. Maarten boasts enough duty-free stores to keep any shopper happy, plus more than 30 white beaches, some of them clothing optional. Look for their “Beach Section” link for an interactive map of the island and the locations of the beaches. If you ever need a break from beachcombing and shopping, check out “Activities” for deep-sea fishing, diving, sailing, boat tours and the Butterfly Farm.
Ferries and commuter planes make the connection from St. Maarten to the French island most people know simply as St. Bart’s or, more properly, Isle de St. Barthelemy. We’re too late for this year’s Festival de Musique de St. Barth but the pre-Lenten Carnival starts on Feb. 28. Don’t worry about the language; many residents speak English, according to “Practical Information” in the “Visitor’s Guide” section. And this could be your choice if you want something a little more intimate than Anguilla and St. Maarten, since it’s only about eight square miles, with 14 beaches, one town and a dozen villages.
That local air and ferry service from St. Maarten will also take you to Saba, another Dutch island. You still have time to get there in time for Coronation Day &Queen’s Birthday, April 30, honoring Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. This is another tiny island, covering only about 5 square miles, but you can keep busy diving at the Saba Marine Park and other spots, or trying out their tropical rock climbing.
Roger Petterson, Associated Press
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