Explore Grenada

From its magnificent beaches, cataracts and rain forest to its great fields of sugarcane and exotic spices, Grenada is ripe for exploration and discovery. Whether visitors roam around intriguing ruins or swim with a mask and fins over colorful coral formations, Grenada has surprise upon surprise in store for inquisitive souls.

The capital, St. George's, is among the most picturesque of Caribbean cities. It rises in tiers from its natural harbor to the Carenage, a bustling commercial and government hub encircling the harbor; to homes and schools on the surrounding hills; and ultimately to cemeteries and forts on the top ridges.

Walking its cobblestone streets, visitors will find fascinating historic buildings and sites. Four churches stand tall in the city. St. George's Methodist Church, constructed in 1820, is the oldest original church building. A pink-stucco stone building dating from 1825, St. George's Anglican Church has some intricate stained glass and interesting memorial plaques. The Roman Catholic Cathedral, built in 1884, boasts a tower that dates from 1818; its statues and stained-glass windows are fine examples of colonial artwork. St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, completed in 1831, is known as Scots' Kirk.

Both the French and the English considered Grenada a valuable island and fought each other for control throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Up on the ridges around St. George's sit Fort George, originally built by the French in the early 18th century, and Fort Frederick, completed by the British in 1791, soon after they took control of the island. A trek up to the fortresses is well worth the effort, as the views are spectacular.

At the Grenada National Museum, the island's history unfolds through artifacts from pre-Columbian through post-colonial times. There are displays of Grenada's birds, insects and seashells, as well as a cultural exhibit featuring fabulous Carnival costumes.

Another museum worth visiting on the island is the newly established Mabuya Fishermen Museum, where ships' wheels and shark jaws are just a few of the items on display in tribute to Grenada's men of the seas.

Traveling around St. George's, visitors will come upon the Sendall Tunnel, a feat of engineering when it was completed in 1895. The 12-foot-tall, 340-foot-long tunnel was excavated to join the two sides of St. George's, which are separated by a high ridge. At its end is the bay side of the city. There, visitors will find the Market Square and the Minor Spices Society, where nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, pimento, saffron and other spices are sold.

East of St. George's are The Botanical Gardens and Bay Gardens. Both attractions offer opportunities to examine various species of plants, including just about every flower, shrub, fruit, vegetable, spice and tree native to Grenada.

Grenada's countryside beckons with tropical splendor. Concord Falls is a three-level cascade deep in the mountains. Not far from the waterfalls, at the entrance to the village of Gouyave, is the Dougaldston Estate. It is home to the nutmeg and mace cooperative. At the spice factory, visitors can see and smell the aromatic spices drying in the sun.

Another Grenada wonder is the Grand Etang National Park and Forest Reserve, a hilly tract covered with foliage. Its focal point is Grand Etang, or "Great Lake," a 13-acre lake in a volcanic crater 1,740 feet above sea level. A nature trail leads to the lake, from which the 2,373-foot-high Mount Qua Qua can be seen.

The numerous waterfalls around the island can provide quite an adventure: besides admiring their beauty, visitors can swim and play in their cascading waters. At Annandale Falls, a secluded Eden, there is picnicking and swimming near a 50-foot waterfall. Marquis Falls, reached only by hiking through cocoa and nutmeg fields, is not as high as most other cataracts, but wider. A favorite sport there is riding down the falls on large leaves. The Royal Mount Carmel Falls comprise two sublime waterfalls that plunge more than 70 feet into crystal pools. Together they make up the island's highest waterfall.

Many visitors choose to spend some time on Grenada's sister islands, Carriacou and Petit Martinique. The two islands are part of the Grenadines, a chain of coral and volcanic islands between Grenada and St. Vincent. Carriacou, with a population of 7,000, is the largest. Its name is derived from an old Amerindian word meaning "land of many reefs." Carriacou is best known for its relaxed atmosphere, its many dive sites and deserted offshore islets, and its unique African cultural traditions, as well as for boat building. These attributes make Carriacou ideal for the discerning traveler in search of beautiful white beaches, friendly people and a laid-back, unspoiled environment. The Historical Museum in Hillsborough and the Belair hills, ruins and nature trails are among the island's key attractions.

Getting to Carriacou is easy -- several airlines offer regular flights from Grenada and the surrounding islands, and a number of inter-island schooners ply the waters on a regular basis. Recent growth in the lodging industry has made Carriacou the perfect side-trip adventure for those visiting Grenada.

To Carriacou's northwest lies Petit Martinique, a circular volcanic island with a central hill that commands splendid panoramic views of the surrounding islands. The lovely island, whose population numbers just 800, is accessible only by boat. Recent tourist development in the form of guest houses and restaurants is helping Petit Martinique to emerge as a worthy third dimension to Grenada's unique travel experience.