The first English settlement in the Leeward Islands, St. Kitts has a rich sense of British maritime history. With 69 sq. miles of land, St. Kitts enjoyed one of the richest sugar-cane economies of the plantation age. This island lies somewhat off the beaten tourist track and has a very appealing, intimate charm. A lush, fertile mountain island with a rainforest and waterfalls, it is crowned by the 3,733-ft. Mount Liamuiga - a crater that thankfully has remained dormant (unlike the one at Montserrat).

St. Kitts is home to some 38,000 people and Brimstone Hill, the Caribbean's most impressive fortress. Come here for the beaches and the history, for lush natural scenery, and to stay at a restored plantation home that's been turned into a charming inn. Lots of sporting activities, ranging from mountain climbing to horseback riding, are also available.

Nevis was spotted by Columbus in 1493 on his second voyage to the New World. He called it Nieves - Spanish for snows - when he saw the cloud-crowned volcanic isle that evoked for him the snow-capped peaks of the Pyrenees. Known for its long beaches of both black and white sand, Nevis, more than any other island in the Caribbean, has turned its former great houses, built during the plantation era, into some of the most charming and atmospheric inns in the West Indies. It also boasts the Four Seasons Resort for those who want world-class elegance and service. The capital city of Charlestown looks like a real Caribbean backwater, though it is home to hundreds of worldwide businesses that are drawn to Nevis for its tax laws and bank secrecy.

Content provided by Frommer's Unlimited© 2009, Whatsonwhen Limited and Wiley Publishing, Inc.