Company: kst travel

Basseterre, St Kitts, St Kitts & Nevis

About 7 mi/11 km north of Basseterre, on the main road that circles St. Kitts, you'll come to Old Road Town, where the first colonists landed in 1623, led by Sir Thomas Warner, who later became the first British governor in the West Indies. (Warner is buried in the graveyard of St. Thomas' Church, in the village of Middle Island. His epitaph, in his own words, boasts of his position in the colonies: General of My Caribee.) A historical marker notes the landing, but there is little else to see in Old Road Town. Just a bit farther on down the main road, there's a turnoff that leads to an area where you can view Carib rock drawings.

Phone: (1) 869-465-8914 Fax: (1) 869-465-1675 Toll Free: (1) 877-244-6285 Bird Rock Beach Hotel South Pelican Dr Po Box 227 brbh@sisterisles.kn  http://www.birdrockbeach.com 46 Guest Rooms • 2 Meeting Rooms • Restaurant[s] Location: Bird Rock Nearby Points of Interest: Botantical Gardens of Romney Manor (Gardens & Batiks) • Brimstone Hill Fortress (Historic Fortress) • Mt Liamuiga Volcano (Volcano Tours)

Phone: (1) 869-465-2754 Fax: (1) 869-465-1057 Toll Free: (1) 800-524-0512 Ocean Terrace Inn Wigley Ave, Fortlands PO Box 65 frontdesk@oceanterraceinn.com  http://www.oceanterraceinn.com 69 Guest Rooms • 1 Meeting Room • Restaurant[s] Location: 2 mi from airport; .5 mile from financial district Nearby Points of Interest: Brimstone Hill • Turtle Beach

Phone: (1) 869-465-7234 Fax: (1) 869-465-4760 Toll Free: (1) 800-772-3039 Ottley's Plantation Inn Ottley's Estate Po Box 345 info@ottleys.com  http://www.ottleys.com 23 Guest Rooms • 3 Meeting Rooms • Restaurant[s] Location: 15 min from St Kitts airport Nearby Points of Interest:

Overview

Wathey Square is always packed with people, tourists and residents alike. Across from the square is the green-and-white wooden courthouse. Built in 1793, it was originally the home of Cmdr. John Philips, the founder of Philipsburg. The structure has since housed the fire station, the jail, the town hall and the post office (but never a church, which it resembles).

Recently renovated with new and upgraded rooms, The Pasanggrahan Hotel at the eastern end of Front Street is St. Maarten's oldest inn and was frequented by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. It is still the lodging of choice for visiting dignitaries from the Netherlands. The lobby bar is a spirited happy-hour locale when the sun sets, and the hotel's restaurant is recommended for breakfast, lunch or a fine dinner (phone 542-3588). A few blocks away is the St. Maarten Museum.

Fort Amsterdam, the first Dutch fort built in the Caribbean, sits atop the peninsula that separates Great Bay from Little Bay. To get there, follow the trail from the west end of Front Street up and over the hill to Little Bay. Only a cannon or two and a few walls remain, but historically this was Philipsburg's most important bastion. It was built in 1631 but captured by the Spaniards two years later. Although the fort's military importance has definitely waned, the views over Great Bay remain spectacular.

Fort Willem, which also guarded Philipsburg from enemy attack, is near the western end of town (look for the television transmission tower). Even though little of the fort still exists, the view of Philipsburg and beyond to the neighboring islands makes it worth the half-hour trek up the dirt road opposite the entrance to the Great Bay Hotel. Be aware that the drive to the top is treacherous—it's better to walk if you have the time, energy and a good pair of sneakers.

The most spectacular views on the Dutch side, especially at sunset, are from the observation platform on Cole Bay Hill, northwest of Philipsburg. If you drive up, you'll find a small parking lot. Across the water in one direction are the islands of Saba, St. Eustatius, Nevis and St. Barts. Simpson Bay is in the other direction, dotted with sailboats and megayachts.