25 great reasons to visit

The beautiful islands of Antigua and Barbuda celebrated their 25^th anniversary of independence on November 1. With this in mind we have come up with 25 reasons to visit the islands:

1. Sailing Week! If you love yachts, regattas and boat shows, this is the event for you. Usually held in April, this should give you ample time to make your reservations for this phenomenal event. Picture the beautiful waters, luxury yachts, fine foods and fine company.
   2. A visit to English Harbor. This is Antigua's graceful and evocative historic district, which is focused on the fifteen square miles of Nelson's Dockyard National Park.
      3. The 365 beaches! Imagine that; there is a beach for each day of the year in Antigua… the largest English-speaking Leeward Island. Pictures miles and miles of white soft sand beaches… need I say more.
         4. The climate. There’s lots of sun and enough trade winds to cool you down.
            5. Seclusion! If this is what you crave, the unspoiled, aljost undeveloped island of Barbuda is just right.
               6. Pink sand beaches and beautiful coral reefs on Barbuda.
                  7. Nightlife! With a wide array of restaurants and bars around main tourist areas, steel bands, limbo dancers and performing nightly, who could be bored. Plus there’s the change of winning some money on one of the five casinos the island features.
                     8. Barbuda's Frigate Bird Sanctuary. This is located in the island's northwestern lagoon and is accessible only by boat. There are over 170 species of birds and over 5,000 frigate birds.
                        9. Harmony Hall Art Gallery. Great exhibits of Antiguan art, all year round.

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                        10. Shirley Heights. This fortress features military buildings and gun emplacements. This historic site should take you back to the island’s past.
                            11.  The farmer’s market on the southern edge of St. John’s (the capital). See the colorful fruits spayed out in the market and the colorful people.
                                12.  St. John's Cathedral. This church, built in 1845, is now in its third incarnation, as earthquakes in 1683 and in 1745 destroyed the previous structures.
                                    13.  The Vivian Richards stadium for games in the Cricket World Cup 2007.
                                        14.  Carnival. 10 days of non-stop reveling starting July 28. The costumes, the dancing, the music! HOT!
                                            15.  The food – lobster and red snapper are their specialty. Enough said!
                                                16.  Antiguan music. This island has it own version of calypso and soca which will have you wukkin’ up.
                                                    17. Great island to tie the knot! Seal the deal at any of the island’s luxury resorts.
                                                        18.  Underwater treasures – many areas excellent for snorkeling and scuba diving.
                                                            19. Sea View Farm Village features exotic Antiguan pottery
                                                                20. Betty's Hope Sugar Plantation – a relic of the colonial past
                                                                    21. Indian Town National Park, an Arawak campsite before the coming of Europeans
                                                                        22. Fort James is a picturesque bastion built to guard the harbor of St. John's. Excellent view of the surrounding harbor.
                                                                            23.  Fig (banana) Tree Driveis Antigua's jost picturesque drive that meanders from the low central plain of the island up into the ancient volcanic hills of the Parish of Saint Mary in the island's southwest quarter.
                                                                                24. Green Castle Hill features the impressive and picturesque ‘megaliths’, which are aljost certainly geologic.
                                                                                    25. Finally, the warm people of Antigua and Barbuda who will welcome you home or introduce you to their wonderful islands.