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The
Caribbean Islands - GrenadaThe town and harbor of St. George’s are among the most picturesque in the Caribbean. With its red-tiled roofs and backdrop of lush green hills, St. George’s looks like an idyllic little town on the French Riviera. From its magnificent beaches, cataracts and rain forest to its great fields of sugarcane and exotic spices, Grenada is ripe for exploration and discovery.
From the Tourist Board Office located at the inner harbor, the Carenage, you can walk east to the Botanical Gardens and Zoo, a wonderland of tropical plants and flowers, rare Caribbean birds and animals. Young Street, on the western side of the Carenage, is where you’ll find the Antilles Hotel, one of the city’s oldest buildings; constructed as a French Army barracks in 1704, it has since served as a prison, a warehouse and a hotel. It now houses the Grenada National Museum, featuring a collection emphasizing the island’s history and culture and including pre-Columbian and colonial artifacts.
Near the hotel is the 12-foot-high, 340-foot-long Sendall Tunnel, named after the governor in office at the time of its construction in 1895; it leads to the Esplanade, a commercial area filled with markets and shops facing the waterfront of the outer harbor. Not far from this end of the tunnel is St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk, popularly known as Scots’ Kirk, built in 1831. The town’s dominant structure, Fort George, is located at the south end of Church Street. Built by the French in the early 18th century and originally called Fort Royal, its weather-beaten battlements honeycombed with tunnels are always fun to roam through. From the top of the fort you’ll get a panoramic view of the city. Market Square, on Granby Street, is a colorful place filled with shops and stalls selling a variety of tropical produce and local crafts. Farther east onGranby is the Houses of Parliament building, a brick structure where Grenada’s House of Representatives and Senate meet.
Heading south on Church Street, you’ll pass the Sedan Porches, a row of buildings with quaint little residential porches open on both ends so that travelers of yesteryear in sedan chairs could stay dry during rains. Close by is St. George’s Anglican Church, built in 1825 by the British. This lovely stone and stucco edifice contains interesting historical plaques and some beautiful stained glass.
A few
blocks north past Lucas Street is the 1884 Roman Catholic
Cathedral, constructed on the site of an 1804 church.
Its tower, which dates from 1818, combines West Indian
colors with a Victorian architectural style. Fort Frederick,
just off Lucas Street on Richmond Hill, was begun by
the French in 1779 and completed by the British in 1783.
Its battlements command a spectacular view of St. George’s.
For another excellent view, visit the nearby Georgian-style
Government House, where the governor-general of the
island resides.
One of the most luxuriant spots on the island is not far from St. George’s. The west coast road, heading north out of town, takes you past Concord Falls, a three-level cascade deep in the mountains. Continuing north, you’ll arrive at the Dougaldston Estate at the entrance to the village of Gouyave, home to the nutmeg and mace cooperative.
The
Grand Etang National Park and Forest Reserve, only eight
miles from the city center, is a hilly tract covered
with tropical foliage. Its focal point is Grand Etang,
or Great Lake, a 13-acre lake in a volcanic crater 1,900
feet above sea level. The Grand Etang Forest Center,
located on the hill overlooking the lake, offers information
on the park and its facilities; nearby is the beginning
of a self-guided nature trail that leads to the lake
itself. Once you reach Grand Etang, you’ll see
2,300-foot-high Mount Qua Qua to the north. Not far
from the park is Annandale Falls, a secluded Eden where
you can picnic and swim near a 50-foot waterfall. It
is a favorite spot with locals and visitors alike.
Beaches:
In keeping with its reputation as a unique Caribbean
island, Grenada has something special for beach lovers.
South of St. George’s, the beach at Grand Anse
is probably the island’s most famous recreational
retreat. Luxurious villas and resort hotels line its
21/2 miles of pure white sand shaded by a fringe of
coconut palms. Located about a mile south of Grand Anse
Bay, Morne Rouge Beach is a charming half-mile-long
crescent that is wonderful for swimming.
Activities:
Grenada’s sports activities range from snorkeling
to hiking, but water sports, of course, predominate.
The clear, calm waters--boasting up to 200 feet of visibility--surrounding
the island are perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving,
with a splendid variety of fish and over 40 species
of coral.
A very popular dive on Grenada is located at the site of one of the largest shipwrecks in the Caribbean, the Bianca C, a cruise ship which caught fire and sank in 1961. Settling in waters more than 100 feet deep, it is now home to giant turtles, spotted eagle rays (with 15-foot wing spans), and a 350-pound grouper that lives in the ship’s smokestack. Still another sports option is golf, and the Grenada Golf and Country Club features a 9-hole course. The real challenge is in keeping your eyes on the ball, since the breathtaking views of both the Atlantic and the Caribbean can be quite distracting. For those who want to practice their backhand, there is a public tennis facility at Grand Anse, and several hotels have tennis courts.
Grand Etang National Park offers miles of trails on
which to experience the splendor of Grenada’s natural
wonders. Encounter a wide range of birdlife, as well
as such fascinating wildlife as the mona monkey. A demanding
trek up Mount Qua Qua rewards you with unparalleled
views. And a trip to Mount Carmel Falls is a wonderful
experience you’ll remember for years to come.
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