ST. MARTIN/ST. MAARTEN
History | Food & Drink | Sports & Recreation | Sightseeing

St. Martin/St. Maarten's History
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When Christopher Columbus discovered the island during his second voyage in 1493, he named it after St. Martin of Tours. Well aware of the Caribs' reputation as hostile hosts, he continued his journey without delay. Spanish colonization didn't come until about 1640; until then they battled with the Dutch and French for the island's coveted anchorages and valuable salt ponds. The island was settled by French and Dutch prisoners and nearby countrymen from St. Kitts. The two remaining contestants decided to share the island, and local legend holds that they defined the border through a walking contest. Though claims to the territory remained in dispute for another 170 years, the settlers' idea of harmonious coexistence has lasted. In 1948 the islanders erected a monument commemorating their 300 years as neighbors.

Dutch St. Maarten became part of the Netherlands Antilles in 1845 and French St. Martin has been a dependency of the French overseas department of Guadeloupe since 1946. Sugar cane and cotton growing, livestock raising and fishing supplement the island's tourism-based economy.

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St. Martin/St. Maarten's Food & Drink
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Few experienced travelers would disagree that St. Maarten/St. Martin offers some of the best dining in the Caribbean. The dual nationality of the island adds a dimension of culinary variety. As expected of a former French colony, St. Martin is especially renowned for its cuisine, both in it s classic version and Creole cousin.

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St. Martin/St. Maarten's Sports & Recreation
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Most daytime activities on the island are water oriented and take place on white sand beaches and in secluded coves. On the French side, topless sunbathing is common. Aquatic sports are abundant and many beaches offer scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, water skiing, and jet skiing. The island's coral reefs teem with marine life, and its waters allow for visibility of up to 200 feet.

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St. Martin/St. Maarten's Sightseeing
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St. Maarten Philipsburg

Philipsburg - is the busy Dutch capital. Its three main thoroughfares are usually crammed with shoppers browsing through stores stocked with duty-free luxuries. One of the most notable of the town's historic buildings is the 18th-century courthouse. The courthouse borders Wathey Square, the center of activity in Philipsburg.

St. Martin Marigot

The quaint harbor town id thoroughly French. The traditional architecture of wrought-iron balconies and fretwork trim can be seen along its busy streets and residential roads, and a stroll among the shops and sidewalk cafes of Port la Royale can transport visitors to the French Rivera.

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