St. Georges

 Enjoy The Best Of Waterfront Holiday Activities In The Caribbean

The capital of Grenada, island town of St. George with a small population of less than 10,000 is mainly known for its high quality exports of native produce like nutmeg, cacao and mace. This former capital of the Windward Islands, a historic British colony is now home to some of the best beaches the Caribbean never needs to boast of, what with all the previous holiday makers from far-flung parts of the globe doing all the talking for the local tourist board!

That’s right – St. Georges has a neat offering of white sandy beaches on its Atlantic as well as its Caribbean sides with magical blue skies reflected in the crystal waters and warm currents splashing down on the beach loving crowds who look upon this as a tropical private paradise that is still not so commercialized as the other Caribbean destinations.

One super beach vacation spot on St. Georges is close to the Blue Horizons Garden Resort, which is located a short 10 minutes drive on the suburban part of the island and with taxi service easily available here tourists can visit this tranquil, near-private beach facility and enjoy an intimate picnic lunch or sun-bathing with a special someone.

For history buffs, there is the famous monument Bianca CIn set up by the Italian government in conjunction with the Costa line in memory of the 1961 Costa cruise liner Bianca C that commenced its seaward journey from St. George's port but faced a terrible boiler explosion resulting in a fatal fire accident that gutted the ship when it was preparing to sail from here. Locals showed presence of mind and rescued crew and all passengers though 2crew-members in the engine room could not be saved and so Grenada commemorated this monument to help people remember the wreck of its waterfront tragedy.

However, not all waterfront activities on St. Georges are so tragic in nature; there are lots of lighthearted fun-filled activities one can follow on the waterfront, such as diving to the old wreck on the oldest port here, check out typical Caribbean style houses lining this public area, taste some authentic island cuisine in the many local restaurants dotting the waterfront connected streets and even pick up unique tropical crafts and more at the boutiques and souvenir shops here.

The Old Harbour at St. Georges

The old harbor front area of St. Georges was among the first ones to be constructed here and thus is in line with some of the oldest residential structures on the island township; its warehouses too are a must-visit and can be easily accessed from the Old Port area in St. Georges – great for culture vultures looking to pick up interesting trivia and snapshots of Caribbean culture, trade and commerce activities down the years.

For nature lovers, the Grand Etang National Forest Reserve provides the happiest and most colorful escape one could ever imagine: its crater lake is home to hundreds of tropical fish, wildlife abounds in the foliage surrounding this water body and the ambience is one of serenity and cool greenery. It’s a perfect holiday getaway for hiking enthusiasts, driving through in a cab, or those who enjoy a picnic or leisurely walk through mountainous terrain.

Tobacco bay

Tobacco Bay is another great tourist travel option for those who love cruise-ship experiences and capturing the ultra-rich who alight from luxury liners that dock here for quick town sight-seeing halts; but for family fun that is cheap and cheerful, nothing beats Clearwater Beach and Park, which are affordable facilities for large groups and families with children.

For more local flavors at St. Georges, it is advisable to visit the local rum distillery, and enjoy a bit of the Caribbean pirate's life with a tiki enthusiast's staple regularly brewed here.

Scuba diving, snorkeling and even some amazing under-sea sculptures at the township’s underwater gallery can be availed in St. Georges many free diving facilities; many of the last can be viewed from a vantage point as a fair number are close to the surface.

Do remember to bring along a good quality underwater camera though, if you want to relive the unforgettable memories you are sure to create at St. Georges waterfront and under-sea holiday adventure.