CARB

Have you ever dreamed of sailing a real America's Cup racing yacht? Dream no more. Dennis Conner's America's Cup-winning Stars & Stripes, Canada II, or True North IV are yours for this action-packed adventure. Set in the beautiful blue waters of the Sint Maarten’s Great Bay, gaze back at the shore as you go head-to-head with your competitors. Our expert crew will show you exactly what to do in your "crew members" position. Then it's off to the races; grind a winch, trim a sail, punch a stopwatch, or just sit back, relax, and enjoy complimentary refreshments.

A lovely drive through the town of Soufrière drops you at the village of Fond Gens Libre, or Valley of the Freed People, a gateway to the Gros Piton Nature Trail. On your hike up Gros Piton — one of St. Lucia's most photographed landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage site — you’ll pass several caves and lookout points with spectacular views of the island and sea. The nature trail weaves through three different ecosystems, including a rainforest that presents you with a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Your adventure on the mountain continues at Ladera Resort.

Start your day with a scenic drive through the towns of Soufrière and Choiseul to Balenbouche Estate. You are greeted with refreshments and an introduction to this 200-year-old, 75-acre property where you’ll spend the day pampering yourself. Feel stress melt away on a barefoot walk through the gardens that stimulates the pressure points on your feet. Take a restorative yoga class that incorporates a mindful flow of asanas, breath work and guided meditation. Discover the nourishing and healing benefits of enzyme-rich raw cuisine as you sample fresh seasonal fruit.

A helicopter flight reveals the dramatic beauty of the mountainous interior and stunning seascapes of St. Lucia like no other tour can. It’s a short drive from the dock in Castries to the helipad where your pilot is waiting. The flightseeing tour takes you over the harbor then down the west coast, with its many sheltered bays and hidden coves. Rising in the distance are the landmark Pitons, the towering volcanic spires that rise abruptly from the waters of the Caribbean.

Almost as soon as the Yachtsman Grill opened, the restaurant had earned a reputation for delicious food, excellent service and a welcoming, relaxing ambience enhanced by its beachfront setting. The chef blends local flavors and international cuisine, as you’ll discover while enjoying a special five-course menu of island-inspired canapes with cocktail pairings. Instead of driving, you’ll travel from the yacht by zodiac, disembarking at the pier at the Hamilton Beach Villas and Spa.

Hike more than halfway up the volcano that dominates the tiny island of Nevis via a trail that winds through the lush canopy of the lower slopes. Along the way, your guide will introduce you to varieties of native and other plants -- bamboo, fruit trees and ferns among them – that thrive in the rainforest that is often enveloped in clouds. Your destination is a panoramic lookout at about 1,700 feet. On clear days, the view from here is especially spectacular, extending out to the islands of Montserrat, Antigua and Redonda.

The rich history and unique heritage of Nevis are the focus of this introduction to this small yet delightful island. It’s a short drive from the yacht to the heart of the capital and port of Charlestown, whose 18th- and 19th-century Georgian-style buildings are elegant in their simplicity. Go inside the Museum of Nevis History, also known as the Hamilton House. Here Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the United States and the first treasurer of the new nation, was born. The tour continues on to St. Thomas’ Lowland Church, the island’s oldest.

Ride in the footsteps of a young Alexander Hamilton as you explore the slopes of Nevis, once carpeted with sugar cane fields interspersed with plantation houses. The legacy of this bygone era is a multitude of tracks and trails that crisscross the entire island, providing you with an adventure playground where you are constantly discovering relics and remnants of Nevis’ former days of glory. Though it's only a small island, Nevis offers a variety of tracks and roads with minimal traffic to suit all levels of fitness and ability.

Enjoy a classic Caribbean adventure on one of the most beautiful islands. It’s a short drive through some of the most quaint villages on Nevis, including an area where cotton was once cultivated, to the stables. After getting teamed with the right horse and getting equipped, you’ll be riding along the sands of a beach with views out over the sparkling sea to Nevis’ sister island of St. Kitts. Overlooking the beach from a hilltop perch stands St. Thomas, the oldest church on Nevis, dating to 1643.

You might find lobsters, starfish, eels, tarpon fish, baby nurse sharks, and if you’re lucky, even sea turtles and migrating humpback whales in the marine park off the coast of Colombier Beach, one of the most famous snorkeling areas in the Caribbean. The protection of the bay and a ban on fishing allow for superb snorkeling with the assurance of seeing a multitude of neon-colored fish. David and Peggy Rockefeller owned the land surrounding this beautiful bay and stretch of sand (you can still see their villa in the hills), so don’t be surprised if you hear it called Rockefeller Beach.