Antigua | Dow's Hill | Shirley Heights Lookout | Nelson Dockyard | Dinner at Candles

Day 4 of Windstar's Caribbean Legend itinerary delivers us to Antigua, one of the most historic, and certainly most beautiful Caribbean island. The multitude of harbors, bays, marina's, and coves are dynamic enough, but seeing them from hilltops accentuates the breathtaking majesty of Antigua. We absolutely love Antigua, as a port of call or for a resort stay. 

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There are a number of ways to experience Antigua and it's beauty. Here are some of the excursions offered by Windstar, one of which we participated in.

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Horseback & Sea Ride: Assigned a horse, guests will have Caribbean Sea views from Fort James, founded in 1739; plus a ride along Runaway Beach. There is an opportunity to shower at the end, as well as optional drinks or lunch in the bar and cafe. 2 1/2 hours.

Open Course Canopy Challenge: Walk over a suspension bridge and zip line over a gorge. There are 12 zip lines. 9 typical challenge elements and 2 suspension bridges. Zip lines run 52 to 328 feet in length. 3 hours.

Reef Rider Snorkel Adventure: Captain your own 2-seater inflatable 30hp motorboat along Antigua's south coast, in and out of bays and around reefs. Full snorkel equipment is provided to experience parrot fish, damselfish, grunts, and angelfish. among others. Cruise back to Jolly Harbor with beach opportunities. 4 hours

Segway Fort Conqueror: Conquer trails on your zero emission Segway to Fort James with spectacular Caribbean views, then embark on a tour along miles of beaches. Enjoy a cool drink and spectacular views at the end from a popular bar and restaurant with time for a dip. 4 hours.

Swim with the Stingrays: Swim with, touch, and feed the gentle, friendly stingrays. Rum or fruit punch is included after your experience. 3 hours.

Antigua Beach Adventure: You are transported to The Nest Bar & Restaurant on Valley Church Beach. Included are one drink and a complimentary lounge chair. Enjoy 3 hours  of sun and fun on this half mile beach. 4 hours.

Buggy Adventure: As part of an intimate group you will pilot your own 2-seater 4X4 Buggy. Drive out of St John's through dirt tracks past ponds, through a tropical rainforest to Valley Church Beach for an included drink and time to relax or swim before driving along the coast back to St John's. 4.5 hours.

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Spectacular Antigua: I save the best for last, as this is the one we did. After exploring many options in advance this one, offered by Windstar proved to be the best, most comprehensive and economical way to see best sites of Antigua.

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Via A/C coach we set off for Dow's Hill and some of the best panoramic views of the island, as well as a multimedia presentation in the visitors center. Great stop. From there we moved on to Blockhouse Ruins, which dates back to 1787 standing 446 feet above the sea atop a sheer cliff over the Atlantic Ocean. Next was Shirley Heights Lookout, the most southerly point of Antigua, with great Atlantic and English Harbor views. We could see Eric Clapton's compound as well as Montserrat 28 miles away. Amazing. 

Our last stop was Nelson Dockyard Village, built in 1725. This is a great stop for shops and history while leisurely walking through the village and past tall sailing ships and beautiful yachts. A complimentary drink is included and bottled water was available on the bus. Great tour. Saw fabulous views. Highly recommend it.

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Back in St. John's we visited a few obligatory shops before adjourning to Hemingway's Caribbean Cafe, upstairs on the balcony overlooking the tourist activities while munching on Conch Fritters and Key Lime Pie, while chasing down a few Wadadli Beers. 

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Returning back to the Star Breeze there was time to soak up the sun on deck and take in the lovely views of Antigua one last time during a spectacular Sail Away before getting cleaned up for a very nice evening. First stop of the evening was the Welcome Back Cocktail Party for past guests in the lovely Compass Rose. That set the mood for our fabulous al fresco dinner at Candles on Deck 7 under the stars. 

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A Look at Today's Events of Interest:

5 PM - Sail Away Celebration. For me this is a daily ritual, being on deck as we sail out on the beautiful Caribbean port we have just enjoyed for the day. It's a great time to reflect on the day's new experiences and toast the amazing views and often sunsets.

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5:30 PM - Casino opens for slot play. Table games begin at 9 PM.

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6:30 PM - Port Talk: Destination Manager Steve prepared us for Roseau, Dominica, tomorrow's port of call. There is possibly more excursion options in Dominica that anywhere else on this itinerary.

7:00 - 9:00 PM - Dinner: Dinner is served in AmphorA and Candles (reservations required), where we will dine tonight. 

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9:15 PM - Live Music: Relax, have a drink and dance in the Star Bar.

9:30 PM  - Elton John Tribute: Live music tribute to Elton John in Compass Rose. 

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DRINK OF THE DAY: Coco Loco
Rum, Pineapple Juice, Cream of Coconut. $8.25.

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