NEVIS, ST KITTS & NEVIS

It's hard to believe our sleepy little island, which resembles the shape of a floating sombrero, was once the center of a booming sugar cane industry. Nevis, so named by Christopher Columbus, saw cloud-surrounded Nevis Peak and called the island "las nieves" or snow.

Nevis grows on people. It's a destination that many love because of its laid-back, old-fashioned lifestyle. Being here is akin to the way things were a century ago: power supplies are unpredictable, roads are riddled with potholes, and it's not unusual for the island to run out of supplies if the seas are high and cargo boats can't dock. Yet, it's this charm that attracts many who return year after year. It's a place where everyone knows everyone, and it's hard to get away with anything without becoming the talk of the town.

Despite old-time charm, Nevis does have a posh Four Seasons Resort and several upscale plantation inns that provide modern-day services in spite of it all.

Today, Nevis relies primarily on tourism to drive its economic engine. Of the nearly 10,000 residents, more than 700 work at the Four Seasons,... more