Exploring Saint Kitts and Nevis

Our next stop after the BVIs: Saint Kitts and Nevis, meaning more new places for us to explore! We arrived on Tuesday and spent fun rainy days exploring Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Both islands, and many in this region of the Caribbean, are marked by a large mountain, making them easy to spot from sea. Each is a rain forest which we thought accounted for the clouds and rain since our arrival. We have since learned it is just timing. It’s the end of the dry season and rain is much needed.

approaching and exploring Saint Kitts
View of St. Kitts from our boat

St. Kitts is larger and less accessible than Nevis, at least from our experience on our sailboat.

Continue reading “Exploring Saint Kitts and Nevis”

Cruising The Spanish Virgin Islands

The Spanish Virgin Islands are located off the east coast of Puerto Rico, on the way to the Virgin Islands. We spent a few days cruising the Spanish Virgin Islands, and wish we’d had more time! This stopover en route to the US Virgin Islands got us back in the “island time” groove of slow relaxed living.

Spanish Virign Islands map
Spanish VIrgin Islands – east of Puerto Rico, Vieques to the South, Culebra North and Culebrita east of Culebra

Vieques

Continue reading “Cruising The Spanish Virgin Islands”

So Much To Do In Key West

When someone mentions Key West, you think sunshine, music and beachy cocktails. Having come from there just now, yes, yes and yes but so much more too! We found there was a lot to do in Key West, and here are our recommendations.

About Key West

Key West is known as Margaritaville after Jimmy Buffet, who lived and worked on boats there in his 20s. Much of the music style heard in the bars on Duval Street today is a descendent of Buffett’s “yacht rock”.

Key West street scene
Busy Key West streets

We learned a lot of bits of history on our tour with Key Lime Bike Tours, an entertaining 3 hour roll through the town’s highlights. Bike tours are generally a good way to get an overview and see a lot of a new place and this one was no different!

Key West is also known as The Conch Republic and got that name after a P.R. succession from the union to protest a government roadblock at the entrances to The Keys. It worked! Locals call themselves conches ever since.

We loved The Conch Republic and its residents. They embrace weirdness and like to have fun. Like Nashville and New Orleans, the bars are open early and full of live music. The restaurants are also good, serving local seafood and Cuban cuisine.

Continue reading “So Much To Do In Key West”