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Explore The ‘Greens’ of St.Kitts This Spring And Beyond

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Explore The ‘Greens’ Of St. Kitts This Spring And Beyond

Get in Touch with the Environment with These Experiences on St. Kitts
    

Basseterre, St. Kitts (March 22, 2011) – With Spring about to bring “green” back to the land and Earth Day encouraging people to “go green” for the environment, there’s no better time to explore the “greens” of St. Kitts.  From its lush rainforest-covered mountains to rolling fields of sugarcane, St. Kitts offers numerous ways to get in touch with nature.RainforestWith a lush, verdant rainforest encompassing fully ¼ of the land on St. Kitts, the island’s interior is ripe for adventure and discovery.  Hikers and mountain bikers will find numerous trails of varying difficulty that wind past tropical plants and flowers, sparkling streams and waterfalls, and a seemingly endless forest of many types of trees.  For a less physically demanding experience, many tour operators offer four-wheel drive tours or more leisurely walks with a guide to explain the sights, sounds and surroundings.  Those who crave thrills can soar above the canopy on an eco-friendly zipline with one of the Caribbean’s newest zip tours.  Birdwatchers will enjoy gazing at the many avian species that call St. Kitts home, while other visitors try to catch a glimpse of the island’s playful Green Vervet monkeys. GolfGolfers around the world agree that St. Kitts is a “must play” for enthusiasts of the sport.  One of the most scenically beautiful courses in the world, the 18-hole championship Royal St. Kitts golf course features a magnificent layout on 125 acres with two full holes on the Caribbean Sea and three complete holes on the Atlantic Ocean.  Plus, eco-conscious players will appreciate that the course recently became the first in the Caribbean to achieve Audubon certification for its environmental practices.  The course is par 71 and is considered challenging enough for pros yet still enjoyable for novice players.  Redesigned in 2003 by famed architect Thomas McBroom, it also features water hazards on 10 holes, 80 bunkers and a multitude of gently swaying coconut palm trees along the shoreline.  There’s also a clubhouse and grille, driving range, putting green and golf pros for private or group instruction, while tee times can be reserved in advance for reasonable greens fees.    SpaFor those who prefer a day at the spa to time spent on the golf course or in the rainforest, both of the island’s two exclusive spas have plenty of “green” to offer spa-goers.  On the northern side of the island, the intimate one-room Mango Orchard Spa at Ottley’s Plantation Inn overlooks the tranquil rainforest, creating a naturally soothing ambience.  Perched at the edge of the rainforest ravine, the wide double doors open to overlook the forest canopy.  Soothing for both body and soul, the sights and sounds of the habitat surround guests while they relax and enjoy treatments from massages and wraps to facials or manicures.  Meanwhile, the Emerald Mist Spa at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort provides another type of spa experience. With a number of treatment rooms and personnel, you can choose from a wide variety of treatments, take yoga classes and even purchase products to bring home.  For a fun diversion that’s uniquely Kittitian and also “green”, try a refreshing Mt. Liamuiga Volcanic Mud Wrap.Sea Turtle MonitoringFrom now through June 15, the St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network (SKSTMN) is a community based non-profit organization that provides a great way for both kids and adults to connect with Mother Earth.  This special conservation project provides a way to help save critically endangered leatherback, hawksbill and, yes, green sea turtles, since St. Kitts serves as a nesting ground for these magnificent animals.  Visitors can accompany research team from 8pm until midnight to see nesting female turtles, and later their hatchlings, on a special ecotour with a trained guide from 8pm until midnight. For those not visiting St. Kitts during turtle nesting season, it’s now possible to get online and track a tagged turtle as it journeys through the sea or adopt one online for just the cost of a tour and receive a special certificate of adoption.  Handmade glass bead sea turtle jewelry crafted from only recycled glass is also available for purchase.  All SKSTMN proceeds are used to fund the St. Kitts sea turtle program. DiningThere’s no easier way to “go green” than to become a locavore, or someone who eats locally-produced food, on St. Kitts.  Select one of several restaurants that serves West Indian influenced dishes that are made using locally sourced ingredients, whether vegetables grown by neighboring farmers to the town fisherman’s catch of the day.  To name a few, The Spice Mill Restaurant spotlights indigenous culture through its décor as well as its cuisine while the recently opened Nirvana Restaurant uses herbs from its own garden to flavor each dish, Serendipity employs fresh local produce in its menu and Rawlins includes organic vegetables and fruits grown on property.  Also try Marshall’s, Ottley’s, Jasmine’s or Fisherman’s Wharf for a delectable mix of local and ethnic flavors.In recent months, St. Kitts was named a top destination for 2011 by both AOL Travel and British Airways.  Located in the northern Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, St. Kitts offers a diverse tourism product developed from the destination’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and rich history.  The island’s stunning variety of tourism attractions include hiking through the tropical rainforest, riding the scenic railway that connects the island’s former sugar plantations, visiting the Caribelle Batik factory, touring Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, the only man-made UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Eastern Caribbean, and the more traditional vacation pastimes such as watersports, golf, shopping, tennis, gourmet dining, gaming at one of St. Kitts’ two casinos or simply relaxing on one of the island’s sandy beaches.  Accommodations range from intimate plantation inns to larger hotels or resorts.  For more information about St. Kitts, please contact the St. Kitts Tourism Authority toll free from the US at 1-800-582-6208 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1-800-582-6208      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or from Canada 1-888-395-4887 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1-888-395-4887      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, e-mail info@stkittstourism.kn, visit www.stkittstourism.kn, or connect on Facebook, Twitter and/or YouTube

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