Things to Do in Caribbean

The Gothic-style Christ Church Cathedral has become one of the island's most famous houses of worship.  Its brilliant white stone tower, vaulted mahogany ceilings, detailed altar and handmade stain glass windows draw travelers to this Anglican church. Memorial plaques from the 1800s explore the history of Nassau's previous residents, while the 400-year-old grounds and Garden of Remembrance offer travelers wandering town or docking at port for a day with a quiet, contemplative place to escape the noise of city streets.

Grenada's resort central is Grand Anse, where the island's beach hotels, restaurants, equipment hire outlets and bars cluster.

Idyllically set with green hills as a backdrop, the white-sand beach is lapped by turquoise water, and long enough to not feel crowded, no matter what time of day.

There are beach chairs and umbrellas for hire, vendors selling fruit cocktails to sip, calm water for swimming and dive outlets renting snorkel equipment.

The nearby market stalls sell the island's signature spices, and there's a choice of laid-back beach bars selling snacks and drinks.

The Emperor Valley Zoo was opened in 1952, just five years after the founding of the Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago Inc. Named for the blue Emperor butterflies that once frequented the valley, the Emperor Valley Zoo's exhibits cover more than seven acres, and while the exhibits include exotic animals like lions, ocelots and giraffes, the emphasis is on regional flora and fauna, including local crab-eating raccoons, boa constrictors and birds like the Trinidad motmot. The beautifully cultivated grounds offer winding footpaths through flamingo ponds, hummingbird gardens and African and South American exhibits.

You don’t have to travel across the empire to find Chewbacca, Han Solo, and Yoda—since all of them are hanging out right here on the streets of downtown Philipsburg. This museum is the brainchild of Nick Maley, an artist who famously worked on Star Wars and helped bring Yoda to life. He was instrumental in creating many of the movie’s galactic characters, and the museum is stuffed with memorabilia and parts that were used in the film. That said, even though he’s known as “that Yoda guy,” Maley has worked on dozens of other blockbuster movies in Hollywood, including Superman, Hellraiser, Men in Black, Terminator, Alien, Krull, and Highlander.  You’ll also find casts that were used on the faces of Hollywood’s biggest names, from Humphrey Bogart to Marlon Brando and Angelina Jolie. Even more than the wealth of memorabilia pulled straight from the sets of the films, what makes this museum such a great stop is the fact that it all helps to fund a nonprofit that encourages children to follow their dreams and pursue their artistic passions.

Started back in 2007, Cayman Islands Brewery is the island's best spot for sampling delicious craft beers. Choose from a pint of their flagship, Caybrew, or up the flavor with Ironshore Bock, or chocolaty 345 Stout. While it's possible to simply visit the brewery and sample a casual pint, many visitors choose to partake in the short, but interesting brew tour, where you see the process of beer being brewed, fermented, bottled, and sold. All tours include free samples of their regular and seasonal beers, and the brewery is a favorite stop on the island's distillery and brewery tours. Aside from providing the Caymans with beer, Cayman Islands Brewery is also renowned for their sustainable, philanthropic practices, with beer sold in recyclable bottles and proceeds devoted to conservation.

Built in 1806, the Government House is considered by many to be the leading example of Georgian Colonial architecture in all the West Indies. Its vibrant exterior gives this traditional building that sits atop Mount Fitzwilliam a uniquely island vibe, with a coral-colored paintjob that nods to Nassau's famous conch. An impressive entryway, towering Ionic columns and a proud statue of Christopher Columbus lend a noble air to the mansion the visiting representative of the Queen calls home.  Climb the hilltop for breathtaking views of Paradise Island or hang around the gates to catch the changing of the guards"”both offer photo ops that are uniquely Nassau.

Filled with the charm that only a centuries-old Caribbean town can claim, Duke Street in the heart of historic Cockburn Town, Grand Turk is an attraction all by itself. Duke and Front Streets comprise the main thoroughfares of this ancient colonial landscape, and it's also here where most things in Cockburn Town are happening. Filled with boutique hotels, and ancient colonial buildings "“ this tree-lined street is a step into history as well as being the main commercial center of Cockburn Town.

Explore the streets, and slip back into the slow ways of island living. Spend more than a day or two here, and you'll likely find everyone's face familiar "“ such is the draw of this small island chain. While on Duke Street, walk the avenue and see the various ancient picket fences overgrown with grass and bougainvillea, discover what relentless time and weather have done to these once great, ancient buildings made with limestone and wood, and explore beachfront bars and boutique bungalow shops.

This is what Caribbean vacation is all about, and if you've come to the Turks and Caicos to find it "“ you'll find it all on Duke Street.

If you're a car enthusiast, don't miss the chance to peruse the collection at the Cayman Motor Museum in West Bay. Built by Norwegian businessman Andreas Ugland, the museum is an incredible collection of about 80 rare and classic cars and motorcycles.