Basseterre
The capital of St. Kitts offers many superb examples of Georgian architecture. Its focus is the octagonal Circus, patterned after London's famous Piccadilly Circus. Some of the top boutiques and restaurants in town occupy the streets and courtyards radiating from it. Independence Square, the site of the former slave market, now blooms with fine gardens and is surrounded on three sides by magnificent stone buildings. Contemporary Basseterre is represented by Port Zante, the ambitious cruise ship center on land. Development has been stalled by hurricanes, but the domed neoclassical welcome area, pathways lined with statuary and gardens, and fountains are already a handsome sight.

Black Rocks
The sea hisses through several blowholes amid these lava deposits on the northeast Atlantic coast, which have been whimsically sculpted by millennia of crashing surf.

Brimstone Hill
Despite the fact that this fortress was built in 1690 by the English, destroyed in 1852, and then rebuilt, it remains one of the finest colonial fortresses in the Caribbean. The officers' quarters, the redoubts, the barracks, and the store have been partially reconstructed. Several rooms house the museum's small collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, African masks, and ceremonial tools brought by slaves. The steep climb to the top is rewarded by a stunning view of Montserrat and Nevis to the southeast, Saba and Statia to the northwest, and St. Martin to the north. Nature trails wind through the surrounding hardwood forest and savanna. If you walk early in the morning or late in the afternoon you might catch the green vervet monkeys skittering about.

Caribbean Cove
Utterly out of place on laid-back Nevis, this very American amusement park is nonetheless well conceived and tasteful, with streams spanned by suspension bridges winding through faux grottoes. Kids enjoy the pizzeria and ice cream shop, the stuffed animal booths, the bumper boats, and an impressively detailed miniature golf course. The golf course teaches kids about the Caribbean with holes that include a Carib camp, Spanish galleon, British fort, rain forest, and a treasure-filled cave.

Charlestown
Founded in 1660, Charlestown enjoys a tranquil setting right on the Caribbean. The small town's lovely, weather-beaten buildings are embellished with intricate gingerbread, carved wooden shutters, and elegant galleries. There's also a stone courthouse circa 1825. Charlestown's ambitious restoration plan is responsible for the Cotton Ginnery, a former cotton plant that has been converted into a tiny upscale shopping arcade. Further down the waterfront is the Alexander Hamilton Birthplace, a reconstruction of the seminal American statesmen's childhood home, originally constructed in 1680. The lovely house is almost swallowed up by the tiny garden of colorful hibiscus and bougainvillea. The Nevis House of Assembly occupies the second floor. The first floor is devoted to the Museum of Nevis History, with information on island charters, indigenous peoples, local economy, architecture, geology, and cuisine.

Nelson Museum
Just outside Charlestown, this two-room building is a treasure trove of Horatio Lord Nelson memorabilia, including letters, paintings, and furniture. Nelson was then a mere captain based on Antigua, who frequently sailed here on leave, eventually marrying the wealthy Frances Nisbet. Set in the southern part of the island, the gardens enjoy a lovely setting overlooking the Caribbean in the shadow of Mt. Nevis. The serene site is full of miniature lagoons, streams, and waterfalls. The grounds are dotted with magnificent bronze sculptures of seabirds and mermaids, enormous antique copper pots, and impressive fountains. There are sections devoted to succulents, orchids, flowering trees, and even bamboo and rose gardens. The entrance to the elaborate Rain Forest Conservatory, which covers every Caribbean ecosystem, duplicates an imposing Mayan temple, while a replica of a plantation includes a tearoom with ocean views and a souvenir shop well stocked with everything from botanical oils and jams to cook books and candles.

Old Road Town
This village is notable as the site of the first permanent English settlement in the West Indies, founded in 1624 by Thomas Warner. Just off the main road, there are remnants of the earlier inhabitants in the form of Carib petroglyphs. The drawings include one of a large pregnant female figure on black volcanic rock, probably a fertility goddess.

Romney Manor
The ruins of this 17th century house and surrounding cottages replicating the old chattel-house style sit on six acres with fragrant gardens, a bell tower, and a huge gnarled 350-year-old lignum vitae tree. Inside, at Caribelle Batik, you can watch artisan's batiking fabrics.

Sandy Point
This is typical of the many quaint little villages clinging to the coast. The little Creole cottages and the surprisingly majestic stained-glass windows of the otherwise simple Roman Catholic church are lovely.

St. John's Church
Nevis is filled with peaceful churches. This one, founded in 1680 and located in Fig Tree Parish isn't the island's oldest, but its records include the well-worn marriage certificate of Horatio Nelson, Esq., and Frances Nisbet, widow, dated March 11, 1787.