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Five Reasons to Visit Antigua

Antigua (An-tEE-Gah). This small, 108 square-mile island in the British West Indies is surrounded by waters from the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. I had the immense pleasure of visiting this beautiful island this winter, and made a short list of reasons to pack up and visit!

1. The inexplicable, virtually untouched beauty of the island’s 365 beaches – Though cliche, this was the best part, due to the fact that one can experience pure solitude. One beach in particular, Deep Bay is at the top of my list. It is complicated to find, and to get to, which it makes it all the more serene and peaceful.

2. Local life – Owing to the fact that I was staying with a friend, (she is lucky enough to have lived in Antigua for a year and a half), I got a taste of the local life, which is both reminiscent of Western life, but of course very different from what I know. From street food, to learning the bus routes, to the night life, I had the opportunity to experience Antigua from a local perspective.

3. The views, and hiking – There are many great places to stop to take in the views, of course, but none better than those I saw while taking hikes throughout the island. There are guided hikes offered for those interested, but again, I was lucky enough to have my own personal guide.

4. The people – I met an assortment of people in the short time I was on the island, some who come from all over the world to work in the tourism industry, to work on sailboats or come for a change of pace, but I also met born-and-raised Antiguans. I learned about the island and its history through a number of different perspectives.

5. The music/arts – Soca music and island music are so fun! Dancing seems to be an important part of the island culture and the music definitely reflects this. There are many talented Caribbean artists – from musicians, to photographers, to visual artists. I would argue, it is not hard to find inspiration while surrounded by such a landscape!

- Amy Nakaska