I recently spent five glorious days on the beautiful island of Nevis in the West Indies. The sister island to St. Kitts, Nevis is more than beaches and lush, mountainous vistas, it also has fascinating history and culture.
The History
Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the U.S. and the subject of the Tony Award-winning play, was born in Charlestown, the capital of Nevis, and I got a chance to see his birthplace. The Hamilton Beach Villas in Nevis were named after him.
In the 17th century, Nevis experienced a large influx of Sephardic Jews fleeing Brazil. They brought with them the ability to extract sugar from cane and a number of sugar plantations were established to supply a booming sugar trade that lasted into the 1940s. I visited three of these plantations, which still held artifacts from slavery.
Thomas Cottle was a beloved president of Nevis in the 1700s. Though he owned slaves, he was considered a great humanitarian. He built Nevis’ first desegregated church, where his family and his slaves worshipped together.
The Recreation
As with other Caribbean islands, water activities and beaches play a big part in Nevis’ leisure culture. Its white sand beaches border waters protected by beautiful coral reefs, an ideal spot for scuba diving. Kayaking, jet skiing and windsurfing are also popular activities. I had the opportunity to enjoy a catamaran and snorkel cruise while listening to the Broadway soundtrack of Hamilton.
Nevis is a popular wedding and honeymoon destination, too–a major driver in the island’s tourism economy. The Four Seasons Resort also features a luxurious spa where I admit I indulged in a near hour-long “Naturally Nevis” massage in my very own private quarters.
I also went on a Funky Monkey tour of the island in an ATV to see some of the islands’ wild vervet monkeys and take in even more of the landscape.
The Flavors
The delicious food in Nevis is built around fresh seafood and island-grown produce. There are dozens of restaurants to choose from–not including the plantations, many of which have been turned into hotel/restaurant locations. And they all serve up tasty island concoctions infused with Old World traditions. For my last night on the island, I was a guest at a West Indian pig roast!
Nevis is a unique place to vacation because there’s so much to see and learn. And when you’re done, kick back on a beach or partake in some water activities. See you in Nevis!
