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A brief history of Antigua
When we think of the Caribbean, we most often think of the fabulous islands that make up some of the most sought after tropical resort and vacation destinations. These locations provide some of the best places to spend a honeymoon or a vacation. However, the Caribbean also has a long and exciting history that is loaded with interesting tidbits of information, as well as tales that delve into slavery, commerce, trade and revolt. One of the most engaging stories about an island in the Caribbean is the history of the beautiful island of Antigua.
Traces of the first inhabitants that called the island of Antigua their home can be traced back to over 3000 years ago. The ancient people who inhabited the island were called the Siboney, and remnants of these people have been found along the coastline in the form of tools made out of shells and stone. These first island dwellers were known to more of a non-aggressive, peaceful society. After some time had passed, the Siboney were all but gone from the island and a new type of inhabitant moved onto the island, the Arawak. The Arawak, too, were a peaceful people who focused more on agriculture as their form of sustenance. After some time on the island, the peaceful Arawak people soon encountered invaders all over the Caribbean, from both islands and the mainland, known as the Caribs. The Caribs were an aggressive group of people who soon took over the island of Antigua from the Arawak.
Everyone knows that in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue, but did you know that he sailed right by the island of Antigua? He named it Santa Maria la Antigua. No one knows for sure why he didn’t decide to step foot on the island to explore it, but some speculation suspects that he either had his sights set on bigger land masses or the Caribs and the natives on the island put up a great defense against the would be invaders. The latter of the two seems to be, in many historians’ mind, the most plausible for not stopping. This would change, though, because as the influx of European settler and colonists began to rise, so did the amount of weapons and disease. By the early 1630’s, a European foothold was finally established on the island of Antigua. In 1684, an English man by the name of Sir Christopher Codrington and open up one of the largest sugar mills anywhere in the Caribbean.
Some other important historical figures have their names attached to the island, but none more famous than Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson. Nelson was so disgusted with Antigua that it was said that he preferred the claustrophobic quarters on his ship over the conditions on the island. He built Nelson’s Dockyard in the English Harbor and it also served as the home of the British Caribbean fleet. Today, you can still see many of the buildings and sites that were around during this time.
Today, Antigua is a premiere vacation destination for everyone. This is a great location to spend your honeymoon, anniversary or if you are just looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. So, get to Antigua, sit back and relax and enjoy a wonderful tropical vacation filled with fun and excitement and be sure to check out some great deals on vacations and rental cars in Antigua.
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Antigua Guided Tour Ideas
When it comes time to take a vacation, there are many factors involved that aid in your decision, and when you narrow it down to the Caribbean the choices are practically endless. One vacation destination, in particular, will provide you with a lifetime of vacation memories that you are seeking and that is a trip to the beautiful tropical island of Antigua. When you do decide that Antigua is your vacation spot, you want to make sure that you are able to take in everything that the island has to offer, and there is so much. It may be a little island, but between the history, landmarks and sights, you may want to plan accordingly to catch everything. In fact, one of the best ways to experience the island of Antigua is through guided tours.
There are many great guided tours that will enable you to see everything that you would like to see while vacationing on the island of Antigua. Every one of the tours that are offered in Antigua will give you quite a different perspective of the island. You can split up your day with an excursion and a day on the beach or you can spend the entire day exploring the island. It is entirely up to you. Using a guided tour will give you an opportunity to relax from trying to maintain a busy schedule by planning everything out for you so you will be able to see all that there is to see. It is definitely the easiest way to catch all of the important sites that are located all over the island.
There are many tours to choose from when you get to Antigua and all of them are a great time. Depending on what you are looking to do on a particular day, you’ll find that you will have many choices, like snorkeling or kayaking. Kayaking through the natural beauty that makes up a majority of the island will give you a glimpse into the past as you imagine what is was like for the natives of the island or how the first Europeans viewed the new land. Snorkeling is a relaxing way to spend your day at the beach. Take a leisurely swim through the crystal-clear and warm blue waters that surround the island. Get an up close and personal experience with the gorgeous sea life as you paddle bay.
If swimming and kayaking is not your thing, then you can look into taking a relaxing tour on a yacht that will sail you around in the ocean all day long. You can choose from a variety of different packages. Some may include fishing, snorkeling or visiting different parts of the island. Some tours even offer fresh seafood lunches that showcase delicious Antiguan fare. There are many other tours out there as well, including taxi and limo tours that will take you around on dry land and point out important sites and intriguing facts about Antigua’s rich past.
So, whether you decide that you would like to lounge by the pool all day at your resort, bask in the warm Caribbean sun and work on your tan a bit, kayak through uncharted territory on the island, snorkel through her beautiful waters or ride around town and visit some great sites, there is always something for you to do on the fabulous island of Antigua. Come to Antigua for your vacation and see why it is one of the top destinations in the world for a tropical vacation.
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Things to do in Antigua
One of the great things about taking vacation in Antigua is all of the wonderful things to do while you are there. Not only is this a great place to catch some rays, go swimming and snorkeling or just relax and enjoy your time in this beautiful place. If you are looking for something to do, all you have to do is take a look outside and you will find a plethora of things to do and see on your stay. Let us help you with some great suggestions that will help you on your quest to see and do everything that you can while you are on the island of Antigua.
A fantastic way to spend the day is on a Segway from Segway Beach Tours. On this tour you will get your very own Segway to ride around the island while the tour guide points out some of the interesting sites around town. The great thing about this is that you can go to places that are not big enough to fit a car through, giving you a most comprehensive view of the island. With so many sites to see like old sugar mills dating back to the mid 17th century, a handful of forts and defenses used by the early settlers of the island and of course the beautiful beach scenes all over the island. This is one of the most exciting ways to roll around the island, so give it a try the next time that you are there.
For a more relaxing time on the island, or of the island as it were, book a trip on a ship to take you around to some of the more popular snorkeling and diving spots. The Creole Cruises Antigua is a perfect way to spend a day in Antigua. Not only do you get to relax on a very nice boat as you cruise around the island, but you also get to snorkel on some beautiful reefs, like Cades Reef, where you will be able to witness the a wide variety of sea life that call the reef their home. To top it off, you will also be served a most delicious lobster lunch as you cruise to an island just off the coast of the main island. This is one of the best ways to spend your day while you are vacationing in Antigua.
Many who make the island of Antigua their choice for a great vacation will tell you that one of the most enjoyable things to do is just to relax on the beach, soak up some sun and frolic in the warm Caribbean waters. One of the best beaches on the island to check out is Half Moon Bay. Half Moon Bay is a beach that is located on the southern part of the island and people flock there from all over the island to enjoy its warm, soft and pink sands, as well as to swim in its warm crystal clear waters. If you are looking to relax, this is certainly the beach that you would want to go to. You will not be disappointed when you take a trip to Half Moon Beach.
These suggestions that we made here for you are just the tip of the iceberg. The best way to see what Antigua has to offer is to make a trip there yourself and see firsthand what this beautiful tropical island has in store for you. Renting a vehicle is another great way to see the entire island. Renting a vehicle allows you to see whatever you want, whenever you want to. It is a very convenient way to see Antigua. Whatever you decide, just make sure that you have a great time in this tropical paradise.
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