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A nti gu a
A perfect day in:
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Antigua
One of Antigua’s 365 beaches
How to get to town The lively center of St. John’s is an easy walk from the pier — it takes only a minute or two, and you may
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not even lose sight of your ship.
Snug coves line the shores of Antigua, a delight for anyone who spends time on or near the water.
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THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT ANTIGUA Nicknamed the “Gateway to the Caribbean,” Antigua has been tops with sailors since Britain’s Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson sailed into port in 1784. Today, Nelson’s Dockyard National Park is the world’s only remaining Georgian naval yard, a favorite with yachties and the site of one of the world’s top five regattas. Historic stone buildings here now house boutiques,
Officers’ quarters at Nelson’s Dockyard
A colorful St. John’s handicraft shop PETER ALBREKTSEN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
restaurants and museums. Antigua is well known for its 365 beaches, offering everything from family fun to romantic relaxation to challenging watersports. And shoppers can dive into two special areas on the island. Duty-free shopping reigns at Heritage Quay, where more than 40 shops sell fine jewelry, perfumes, clothing and more. At the waterfront Redcliffe Quay, shops in colorful colonial buildings sell handicrafts and Caribbean artwork. When it’s time for a break, restaurants tempt with the national dish of Antigua: cornmeal-based funghi, and the thick stew known as pepperpot. Dessert is an extra-sweet Antigua black pineapple. And don’t be surprised to see familiar faces in Antigua’s restaurants. Through the years, Eric Clapton, Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman have owned homes on this island, named the Caribbean’s best for celebrity spotting. —J. B. and P. P. 86
A steel drum
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