St. Maarten & St. Martin
St. Maarten and St. Martin is the smallest island in the world to be divided between two governments. Both the French and the Dutch share this magical paradise, and they have done it peaceably for almost 300 years.
Dutch St. Maarten
The Dutch St. Maarten may be small but it boasts of wide beaches, quiet country roads and small quaint towns on its picture perfect hillsides. While in the beautiful St. Maarten, head up north by car to Philipsburg where you can view St. Maarten Park. There you’ll catch a glimpse of native birds, plants, and other animals.
Northeast of St. Maarten you’ll find Dawn Beach, Oyster Pond, and Guana Bay, they are all famously known for snorkeling and windsurfing.
At Oyster Bay swimmers can swim between the present-day boundaries of the French and Dutch. But don’t worry its acceptable and even done by the locals.
Places to visit:
Cole Bay Hill, just west of Philipsburg, has an observation platform at the top. A stop here is highly recommended for views of surrounding islands, including Anguilla, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, and Nevis. Down along the coast, a popular walking trail leads from Cole Bay to Cay Bay. The walk takes about an hour.
Further west is Simpson Bay Lagoon, a large, enclosed stretch of water perfect for waterskiing. The road leading along the south side of the lagoon goes past the island's largest resort, Maho Bay.
Cupecoy Beach is the last beach in Dutch territory on the western side of the island. Visitors who want the full St. Maarten experience can follow the road through the French side.
Day Time Fun and Night Life:
8 Ball Pool Room and Grill
Everyone is welcome at 8 Ball Pool Room and Grill, located in Simpson Bay. Whether you're looking for a family outing, or just a friendly game of pool. 8 Ball Pool Room Bar and Grill offers a friendly environment, where you can get the island food and even traditional American breakfast.
You can enjoy this facility 7 days a week. Have fun!!!!
The Gizmo Overlounge You're sure to enjoy the Gizmo Overlounge with its funky, modern look. Gimzo features one of the largest bars on the island, with a dance floor to match. The club also has a percussionist playing live on conga drums to accentuate the DJ's beats. Throughout the year we have scheduled renowned DJ's and live acts from around the world to keep the fans guessing how it's going to get even better. The Colors are Beige, Black, Fuschas and Purples. Intelligent lighting, 8+ disco balls, Video projectors and the best JBL sound system the island has ever heard all come together to make Gizmo a club in a class all by itself. French St. Martin While St. Martin shares with St. Maarten there are major differences between the two. The French love comfort and elegance and this is seen throughout the island of St. Martin. The beaches are private the resorts are top of the line, and they offer only the finest in restaurant dining. While walking down the streets of St. Martin you’ll be sure to see the latest French fashions and even indulge in French croissants. Unlike St. Maarten, the island of St. Martin is a totally relaxed affair. Places to visit: The Marigot Market On Wednesdays and Saturdays mornings, an open-air market is set up along the wharves on the Blvd. de France, offering a colorful array of homegrown produce, tropical fruits and spices, and freshly caught fish. You can met with the locals, or just sample our local food. Across from the market are the "Lolo's", featuring arts, crafts and local restaurants. St.-Martin Museum, "On The Trail Of The Arawaks" At the southern end of Marigot, next to the Marina Port la Royale, is a museum dedicated to preserving St.Martin's history and culture. A new building houses a variety of pre-Colombian treasures unearthed by the Hope Estate Archaeological Society. Among these are a reproduction of the 1,500 year old burial mound that was only discovered in 1994, artifacts dating back as far as 1800 BC, and some beautifully adorned ceramics from around 550 BC. A colonial exhibit details the history of the plantation and slavery period, and early 20th Century photographs provide glimpses into the island's modern development. It is open daily free of charge. Open from 9 am to 4 pm entrance fee is € 5.00 (Tel: 0590 29-48-36) Marigot The capital city of Marigot is perhaps the most French in spirit of all the cities in the Caribbean. Colonial houses stand beside smart cafés and bistros, pastry shops and luxury boutiques, and in many ways it looks just like any of the French market towns you might expect to find on the Continent. A shopping center newly built at the foot of Fort St. Louis, with luxurious boutiques such as Chanel, Lacoste. At the southern end of town down by the harbor is the Marina Port la Royale, elegant stores with the latest in European designer fashions and fine jewelry, all free of tax. The entire city is only four streets wide, so it is very easy to get around. Day Time Fun and Night Life: Water Sports Windsurfing, water-skiing, parasailing, and jet-skiing are activities that are regularly offered at the more popular beaches and in the inland lagoons. Rental and instruction tend to be fairly inexpensive. Night Life While St. Martin doesn't have much night life to offer several hotels and resorts on the island does have shuttle service that offer to take guest across the island to St. Maarten to enjoy the island night life.