Few experiences are as much fun as exploring 21-square-kilometre St. Barts in a rented manual or electric Mini Moke. Before starting your driving tour, visit the charming capital Gustavia, known for its duty-free boutiques and pâtisseries. The French food and language remain from the years when France owned the island. More than a dozen beaches line the 48 kilometres of winding, rollercoaster roads. Each has its own personality. Baie de St-Jean boasts seaside restaurants serving poisson grille and pommes frites. Lorient offers great swimming, while Grand Fond features crashing surf. Corossol is home to fishermen who beach their colourful wooden boats on the sand. Flamands, the island’s largest crescent of white sand, is a picturesque cove enclosing gin-clear water. www.saintbarth-tourisme.com/en The smallest of the three major U.S. Virgin Islands, St. John is two-thirds National Park. Although the island is only 15 kilometres long, it boasts beautiful beaches, such as Trunk Bay – known for its underwater snorkelling trail. Hawksbill sea turtles lay eggs on Hawksnest Bay’s beach. In the 1981 movie Four Seasons, Alan Alda and Carol Burnett went skinny dipping here. More than 20 hiking trails spiderweb Virgin Islands National Park. Annaberg Historic Trail preserves the remnants of the last surviving sugar plantation on St. John. They include slave quarters, the bread oven and a sugar mill, built in 1810. The half-hour, self-guided trail is both informative and poignant. www.visitusvi.com/st-john It’s not surprising that the lush scenery draws artists to the two-nation island of Sint Maarten (the Dutch side) and Saint Martin (the French side). You can visit more than a dozen art galleries and talk to landscape, abstract, impressionist and contemporary artists in the studios where they compose their works. Antoine Chapon, for example, creates limited-edition pastel prints, watercolours and oils inspired by island seascapes and boats. Also working from his home studio is Francis Eck, who uses a palette knife and trowel to create thick layers of primary colours on canvas. Looking for something more adventurous? The island is home to several deep-sea fishing companies. Charters include the crewed boat, equipment, bait and experts who provide tips, whether you’re a novice or experienced angler. www.vacationstmaarten.com www.st-martin.org Saint-Barthélemy (also called St. Barth, St. Barts & St. Barths) St. John (United States Virgin Islands) St. Maarten / St. Martin CSANews | WINTER 2021 | 19 Travel
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