Settled by the British in the late 1620s, Nevis is a calm volcanic island, ideal for peaceful relaxing experience. Its beauty has remained unspoiled, with coral reefs rimming the shoreline and miles of white sand beaches fringed with palms. In the 18th century hot mineral springs of Nevis has made it one of the leading spas in the West Indies, attracting huge crowds of enthusiastic travelers from all over the world. Its capital town, Charlestown has wide quiet streets and port, which gets busy only when the ferry from St Kitts docks at the harbor.
Possibly the best way to explore Nevis is to take a taxi, which will bring you to all major attractions on the 36-mile distance. There are no sightseeing bus companies operating in Nevis, however, many individuals own buses which are used for taxi service. One of the most popular attractions, the Museum of Nevis History is situated on Main Street in Charleston, and honors the place where Alexander Hamilton was born.
Dedicated to the culture and history of Nevis, the museum houses island's archives. Located some 1.5 miles from New River, Eden Brown Estate is regarded as another prominent attraction, which is believed to be haunted. This large mansion is closed and left to nature's ravages, with the most adventurous visitors coming here on moonlit nights.
Considered generally to be the best attraction of the island, the ten-acre Botanical Garden of Nevis can be found some three miles south of Charlestown and features rainforest plants growing in recreated Mayan ruins on the hill that overlooks the Caribbean. More than $8 million were spent on these gardens, including nearly 100 species of palms from Asia, Hawaii and Madagascar among other treasures. Visitors can admire waterfalls and rainforest flora in the Kew Gardens greenhouse or enjoy fine dining in Martha's Tea House - the on-site restaurant serving English tea with scones.
Ranked with the most naturally beautiful islands of the Caribbean, St Kitts and Nevis are best known for a wide variety of outdoor activities available here. While the tall volcanic mountains covered with lush vegetation are ideal for exploring and hiking, the pristine blue waters of the Caribbean are perfect for diving, fishing, sailing and swimming.
The best beaches of St Kitts can be found on the southern end of the island, including Frigate Bay, Sand Bank Bay, White House Bay, Cockleshell Bay and Banana Bay. Nevis boasts the celebrated Pinney's Beach in addition to a number of smaller ones. Outdoor activities are abundant here and include bicycling, boating, tennis, golf, mountain climbing, hiking and horseback riding in addition to a variety of water sports, like scuba diving, snorkeling, sport fishing, water skiing and windsurfing.
Travelers with particular interest in nightlife should probably consider another destination than Nevis. Most action occurs at the Old Manor Estate, Gingerland bringing in a band on Friday nights, and at the Four Seasons Resort on Friday and Saturday nights. The best disco is at Tequila Sheila's at Cades Bay each Saturday.
Another great place to spend a Saturday night is Bananas, Tamarind Bay, where you'll enjoy the best dance music.