11 Best Sights in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

One of the oldest botanical gardens in the Western Hemisphere is just north of downtown Kingstown—a few minutes by taxi. The garden was created in 1765 by General Robert Melville, governor of the British Caribbean islands, after Captain Bligh—of Bounty fame—brought the first breadfruit tree to this island for landowners to propagate. The prolific bounty of the breadfruit trees was used to feed the slaves. You can see a direct descendant of the original tree among the specimen mahogany, rubber, teak, and other tropical trees and shrubs in the 20 acres of gardens. Two dozen rare St. Vincent parrots (Amazona guildingii), confiscated from illegal collections, live in the small aviary. Guides explain all the medicinal and ornamental trees and shrubs; they also appreciate a tip (about $5 per person) at the end of the tour. A gift shop, open Monday through Friday, has local crafts, artwork, books, confections, and a traditional creole lunch menu.

One of the oldest botanical gardens in the Western Hemisphere is just north of downtown Kingstown, a few minutes by taxi. The garden was created in 1765 by General Robert Melville, governor of the British Caribbean islands, after Captain Bligh—of HMS Bounty fame—brought the first breadfruit tree to this island for landowners to propagate. The prolific bounty of the breadfruit trees was used to feed the enslaved workers. You can see a direct descendant of the original tree among the specimens of mahogany, rubber, teak, and other tropical trees and shrubs across 20 acres of gardens. Two dozen rare St. Vincent parrots (Amazona guildingii), confiscated from illegal collections, live in the small aviary. Guides explain all the medicinal and ornamental trees and shrubs. A gift shop (open weekdays) has local crafts, artwork, books, confections, and a traditional creole lunch menu.

On the northwestern tip of Mustique, this is the main beach used by Cotton House guests. Swimming and snorkeling are ideal, and a dive shop with water-sports equipment rental is available on-site. The resort's Beach Café restaurant and bar are convenient for lunch or snacks. Amenities: food and drink; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

This spectacular horseshoe-shape, mile-long (1½-km-long) beach on Bequia's mid-southern coast can be reached by land taxi or by boat. Refreshments are available at Bequia Beach Hotel's Bagatelle grill. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

Started by the French in 1786 and completed by the British in 1806, the fort was ultimately named for Britain's Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III. It sits on Berkshire Hill, a dramatic promontory 2 miles (3 km) north of Kingstown and 636 feet above sea level, affording a stunning view of the capital city and the Grenadines. Interestingly, its cannons face inland, as the fear of attack—by the French and their Carib allies—from the ridges above Kingstown was far greater than any threat approaching from the sea. In any case, the fort saw no action. Nowadays, it serves as a signal station for ships; the ancient cells house historical paintings of the island by Lindsay Prescott.

This broad, palm-fringed beach on the southern shore of Admiralty Bay, south of Port Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Beach, is reachable by land or water taxi or a healthy hike from town. It's an excellent beach for swimming and snorkeling. Refreshments are available at La Plage or De Reef Bar & Restaurant, both right on the beach. Amenities: food and drink; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

On the eastern coast, Mustique's most famous stretch of fine white sand offers swimming (no lifeguards) in moderate surf that's several shades of blue, along with a few palm huts and picnic tables in a shady grove of trees. Amenities: parking. Best for: swimming.

Welsh-born landscape designer Timothy Vaughn renovated 7½ acres of neglected commercial flower beds and a falling-down plantation house into a stunning, yet informal, garden spot. Anthurium, ginger lilies, bird-of-paradises, and other tropical flowers are planted in raised beds; tree ferns create a canopy of shade along the walkways. The gardens are in the shadow of majestic Grand Bonhomme Mountain, deep in the Mesopotamia Valley, about 12 miles (19 km) from Kingstown.

Quiet and wide with a natural stone arch at one end, the beach is not far from Port Elizabeth's Belmont Walkway—but you still need to take a water or land taxi to get here. When you tire of the water, snoozing under the palm and seagrapes is always an option. Plan to have lunch at Jack's Beach Bar. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

At Rawacou Bay, close to Argyle International Airport, two stunning black-sand, high-surf beaches are separated by a rocky headland with a trail down to a man-made lagoon—a swimming pool created by placing huge boulders in the sea to prevent the high surf from smashing against the shore. The water by the beaches isn't safe for swimming, but the lagoon pool is; however, be cautious when the surrounding water is particularly rough. The beautiful grounds of Rawacou Recreation Park, shaded by coconut and sea grape trees, include a performance venue, a volleyball court, and vendor huts. The park is a popular site for picnics, weekend parties, and special events. Amenities: food and drink; parking; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; swimming; walking.

This beach at the northwestern tip of Mayreau takes top honors—it's an exquisite, 2½-mile-long (4-km-long) crescent of powdery white sand shaded by perfectly spaced palms, sea grape trees, and flowering bushes. It's a popular anchorage for the yachting crowd, as well as for day trips en route to or from the Tobago Cays. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.