St. Kitts, the first English settlement in all of the Leeward Islands, was in British possession until 1983, when this island, along with Nevis, declared their independence and formed a tiny, two-island nation. The pioneering and energetic spirit of a move such as this lives on and is quite recognizable in the demeanor of the islanders. Friendly and helpful, but not likely to take guff, the citizens of St. Kitts are extremely proud of their heritage and ancestry, as well they should be. However, British traditions, such as the sport of cricket for instance, remain a strong influence on the inhabitants.

For years, St. Kitts suffered because it was basically a one-resource nation, with all of its monetary revenue coming from sugarcane. This made the health and wealth of the island extremely fragile, especially considering its vulnerability to hurricane damage. Hurricane Hugo in 1990 caused what was then thought to be permanent devastation. But through perseverance and a rapidly growing tourist economy, St. Kitts rebounded stronger than anyone could have thought. Travelers have just recently begun to discover the wonders of St. Kitts, and as a result, tourism is expanding every year, and the economy is at an all time high.

An interesting situation is brewing in St. Kitts, and it has to do with its partner island Nevis. Nevis is attempting to break off its partnership from St. Kitts, and as a result trying to steal a lot of the new thunder that St. Kitts has acquired. As a result of the verbal war that is being waged, prospective tourists can find great deals on St. Kitts as the two islands compete to control the tourism cycle in the Leeward Islands.

The natural beauty of the island remains unspoiled, so hopefully you will have a chance to get there soon. Unlike many of the neighboring islands in the Caribbean, St. Kitts is still relatively uncrowded, and the white-sand beaches stretch for miles. The 18th-century architecture of St. Kitts is magnificent, and the extravagant man-made buildings are complemented fantastically by the lush rain forests that encapsulate the majority of the island. This is exactly what makes St. Kitts so incredibly exciting. The diversity all around the island is amazing, as locals can be seen shirtless wearing sandals, while others prefer to suit up in thousand dollar linens while sipping martinis in one of the posh dining facilities.