Information about our Island of Antigua and Barbuda

General: Antigua is an island that has always lived by the wind and the sea. In the late 18th century, when Horatio Nelson was still a captain, he made Antigua Great Britain's most important Caribbean naval center. Today the superbly restored dockyard that bears his name at English Harbour is home base for April's Sailing Week, the Caribbean's premier yachting event - and its most boisterous beach party. Mebers located near this area are Catamaran,Copper & Lumber and Ocean Inn.

As for beaches, Antiguan's like to say that the island has 365 of them, one for every day of the year. Certainly there are more beaches here on Antigua than you could ever stroll during a long holiday, and most of them have calm, clear water; so why count? Members near or on, one of Antigu's 365 beaches, are Anchorage Inn, Dove Cove, Catamaran, Long Bay, South Coast Horizons and Tradewinds.

Beaches and historical attractions are the primary reasons Antigua (the better known half of the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda) has become one of the more popular (and developed) destinations in the Caribbean. Nevertheless, mega-resorts have not established a strong presence here, and even with a handful of casinos, Antiguan nightlife tends to be on the quieter side. But come daybreak, you'll find plenty of activities - including cruises, dive trips, and shopping - to keep you entertained.

Beaches: Several of Antigua's more popular beaches, Dickenson Bay among them, can get crowded, especially when cruise ships are in port. To find new terrain, hail a taxi or rent a car and head to the windward, eastern side for beachcombing and snorkeling at Long Bay or Half Moon Bay, arguably the island's most beautiful stretch of sand. Between those two lies Nonsuch Bay, where you'll undoubtedly find a secluded stretch of beach to call your own.

Yachting: Cruisers and bareboaters alike will find friendly waters and full marine supplies here, and at most hotels small craft are available for guests. There are also round-the-island day sails and catamaran cocktail cruises for those who don't want to hold the tiller themselves. But these really are racing waters: Competitions are held on Thursdays and Saturdays all year long, and major regattas dot the calendar. Sailing Week, the granddaddy of them all, takes place at the end of April, when hundreds of boats from around the world converge on the island for ten fun-packed days of races and parties.

Sightseeing: Climb to the gun emplacements of Shirley Heights and survey one of the great historic sites in the West Indies - Nelson's Dockyard and the fortifications of English Harbour, which these days is filled with yachts rather than British warships. The spectacular vista extends to the neighboring isles of Montserrat and Guadeloupe. Down at the waterfront, the displays of antique sextants, compasses, and other nautical gear at the Dockyard Museum evoke the age of wooden ships.