Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens in Roseau, constructed in 1890, house an aviary with the island's two main species of parrot--the Jacqot and the Sisserou. Note the oddity: Among the baobab trees sits a bus that was flung there by Hurricane David, a storm that decimated the island in 1979. From the gardens, head up to Morne Bruce for an overlook of Roseau. It's about a 15-minute walk.

Cabrits National Park/Fort Shirley
Poking out between Douglas Bay and Prince Rupert Bay is Cabrits National Park. The park includes Dominica's biggest swamp, the Douglas Bay coral reef system, and Fort Shirley, the park's main attraction. Starting in 1774, Fort Shirley was constructed by both the French and the British, depending on which country controlled the island. Today visitors can tour the ruins of what were soldier's quarters, a hospital, gun batteries, and more. There is a museum on the grounds, and a trail up West Cabrit offers overviews of the fort.

Carib Indian Reservation
Descendants of the original inhabitants of the Caribbean live in a 3,700-acre area on the east coast of Dominica, a spot drawn for them by the British in 1903. The houses here are mainly traditional wooden structures on stilts. The Carib people, many of whom live in the main settlement, Salybia, still produce basketwork, vertiver grass mats, and dugout canoes. Another attraction is L'Escalier Tete Chien, a volcanic stone staircase that leads down to the sea.

Diving
For divers, Dominica's topography impresses just as much as its reef and underwater life. Underwater there are caves, arches, cliff like drop-offs, and pinnacles. In the caves and around the sea walls of Soufriere bay, at the southwestern end of Dominica, are parrotfish, soft coral, stingray, and barracuda. The northern coast is particularly packed with sea life - in particular, Rodney's Rock, Toucari Bay, and Castaways Reef. The area around Champagne, which is off Pointe Guignard, the waters are calm enough for beginning snorkelers and divers.

Layou River
This is Dominica's longest river. Swimming is popular at certain times of year, when the water is not too high. Along the river is a fishing village, St. Joseph.

Morne Trois Pitons National Park
This 17,000-acre expanse encompasses craters, waterfalls, thick rain forest, cloud forest, and the country's second-highest mountain, Morne Trois Pitons. At the north end of the park is Emerald Pool, fringed by rain forest and ferns. The pool, which sits below a small waterfall, is accessible by a short walk through the trees. UNESCO declared the park as a World Heritage Site in 1998. Also skirting the park is Trafalgar Falls, which is actually made up of an upper and lower falls, separated by the Titou Gorge. The water from the top fall runs stronger than the bottom one. Hot sulfur springs are found at the base of the upper fall, and a small pool in which visitors can swim is at the bottom of the lower fall. You can hike to Boiling Lake, which is about six miles from Titou Gorge, but the trek is considered difficult due to major changes in elevation. Boiling Lake is a large body of water that is thermally heated-it's the second-largest actively boiling lake in the world. Lava seeping through a fissure beneath h the lake causes a steamy haze. On the way to the lake, hikers will see hot sulfur springs in an area named Valley of Desolation. The rain-forest area was denuded by a volcanic spew in 1880. There are plans to build a cable car to the lake. Guided treks up Morne Trois Pitons, the highest peak in the park, are also available. Less strenuous hikes lead to Middleham Falls, one of the highest in the country. Guides are not required on the trail, but are recommended since it's easy to get lost. Dominica's largest lake, Freshwater Lake, is a two- to three-hour moderate walk. Boeri Lake - the highest lake in the country - is a 45-minute trek through tree ferns and cabbage palm from Freshwater Lake.

Northern Forest Reserve
The Northern Forest Reserve takes up a huge chunk of the island, with 22,000 acres of land dedicated to it. Within its environs is the island's tallest peak Morne Diablotin, measuring 4,747 feet. Inside the forest, near the Syndicate Estate toward the east side, resides the rare Sisserou parrot, Dominica's national bird, and the red-necked Jaco/Jacquot parrot. The best time to see parrots is in the early morning and late afternoon.

Portsmouth
At the edge of Prince Rupert Bay rests Portsmouth, Dominica's second-largest city. In the 1600s, the British were using Portsmouth's harbor, and the settlement was planned to be Dominica's capital. A plague of yellow fever and malaria, however, forced the capital to be moved to Roseau. From Portsmouth, you can paddle up the Indian River in a canoe. Portsmouth is also near Picard Beach, one of the best on the island.

Roseau
Roseau, which in French refers to the reeds that grow by a river, is the capital of Dominica. The most interesting spot to walk around is the Old Market where the slaves were once bought and sold. There are a few vendors here selling renowned Dominica baskets as well as other local handicrafts. There's a public market on Bay Street along the riverfront, though that one is filled with mostly produce rather than crafts. A few other worthwhile stops include the Catholic cathedral made of stone and partial stained glass windows, as well as the Dominica Museum. The museum focuses on the history of the area, including its Creole and Carib culture, as well as the slavery era.

Scotts Head
On the southern end of Dominica, along the west coast, is a small fishing village where a promontory juts into the Soufriere bay. The point offers panoramic views of the coastline--sometimes all the way to Martinique. On Scotts Head are remnants of Fort Cachacou, which was used as a defense post during the clashes between the British and French in 1778 and 1805. The area is also near the village of Soufriere, noted for its sulfur springs. Above Soufriere, the village of Gallion overlooks the entire bay.

Whale and Dolphin Watching
Dominica offers excellent whale watching in winter, when they head here for the warm waters. Sperm whales are often sighted between October and March, along with pygmy killer whales, pilot whales, orca, and pygmy sperm whales.