Antigua's landscape is really impressive: rising and falling grassland hills extend to the southwest, measuring no more than 1300 feet, while lying softly below, the coastline is split into petite bays and peaceful harbors.

The only people who value the island more than the beach loving sun worshippers are carnival revelers and yachtsmen. The Antigua Sailing week begins on the final weekend in April and is among the most famous sporting events in the whole Caribbean. During the last week of July and the first week of August the islanders explode into life as the carnival comes to town.

St John's, the capital is a brilliant town to shop for handcrafts, luxury items and clothes in vivid colors. There is also, the cricket ground where the test matches are played along with an art gallery here.

On Antigua there are English restaurants, Italian, Indian and French Style dining, as well as traditional Caribbean are. Seafood is very popular here, and is prepared in a variety of ways by the local chefs. 'Blackened'-style is popular, highly seasonal with black pepper and spices. Antigua's own fruit, the black pineapple, must be tried - by them from the roadside stalls. The greatest value alcoholic drinks are daiquiris laced with rum and punches.

Antigua's laid back lifestyle and blissful serenity are as hypnotic as the turquoise seas that lightly embrace it.