Caribbean Things to Do

The Caribbean, as far as geologists are concerned, is generally considered a nice and sunny little archipelago comprised of the Greater and Lesser Antilles. What tectonic forces came together to push and pull these little gumdrops of tropical paradise up out of the water we’ll probably never fully understand (or at least this author won’t), but what we do know is that there’s a lot of fun to be had here, and the Caribbean, especially the Southern Caribbean, is a great place to vacation.

Many first-timers to the Caribbean think that all there is to do in this little corner of the globe is lie on the beach or sailboat, drinking cocktails and soaking in the sun. And far be it from me to knock-it (I’m your prototypical sun lizard), but with this mentality it’s easy to miss the excitement that lies hidden on each and every island nation. Take, for example, Trinidad and Tobago.

The British Virgin Islands are, for many, the quintessential islands of the Caribbean. Not as fast or busy as the neighboring U.S. Islands, the BVI is exotic, multifaceted, and yet serene. The pace of life seems slower here, and with not so much to distract you, a trip to the islands lend themselves perfectly for getaways with or without kids. Thing is, if the whole family is in tow, what to do with the little ones? It can be hard explaining to youngsters the appeal of doing nothing on the beach for hours on end, but rest assured – with a little forethought, there is plenty to do in the British Virgin Islands for the whole family.

Looking at a map of the Caribbean, and in particular, a map of the Lesser Antilles, it can be hard to tell just where in that little sunny gumdrop land of paradise you’d like to visit. Maps are great for telling you where in the wide world you are, but tell you little about the actual nature of a place. But if you’re on the scout for a Caribbean island with plenty of activity both above and below the water, all while preserving that quintessential island experience, take it from me – consider Guadeloupe.