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AWhen I craned my neck to peek through the umbrella, I just caught a glimpse of my 12-year-old daughter, Georgie, zipping along the zipline some 250 feet in the air.
“It was a lot of fun,” Georgie told me later. “It was as if you were touching the tops of the trees and your height was equal to that of the birds.”
we were up in the mountains Caribbean island of st kittsThe ride looked fantastic and, if it weren’t for my old quirk, I would have tried it myself. (That’s my excuse and I stand by it.)
We were attracted to the island partly because of its classic Caribbean Attractions, including its sandy, palm-lined beaches and fantastic weather. But there was something else too – it was far more affordable than many of its more famous neighbours. a week vacation in st kitts A week in the Dominican Republic can cost around £400 less per person, and at least £100 less than Barbados.
And, secretly, there was another purpose. Like most parents with teens, tweens or toddlers, it’s a constant battle to keep Georgie off her devices, whether it’s her phone (even though my partner and I resisted buying her a smartphone) or her tablet.
The idea was that our time on the island would be a digital detox for Georgie. We agreed that she could bring her own tablet with her, but that she would only use it to take pictures. I was only semi-confident about how it would go but ziplining (Sky Safari: From £75 for adults for two hours; £55 for children) was a good start.
It takes only half an hour to drive from one end of the island to the other: the relatively small, tadpole-shaped island is about the size of Sheffield. We passed light-colored clapboard bungalows with clothes drying outside and young boys selling exotic fruits by the roadside.
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Just five minutes from Sky Safari, in the foothills of St. Kitts’ central mountain range, we saw the fascinating remains of the 1000-acre Wingfield Estate – one of the largest sugar plantations in the Caribbean in 1681.
Our guide Kevis Armstrong explained that about four hundred slaves may have originally worked on the property. He told us about the history of the island and how St. Kitts was occupied by the French, British and Spanish in the 17th century. The British eventually gained full control of the island until the island’s independence in 1983. The dark past of St. Kitts felt like a stark contrast to the peace and beauty here.
Before we left, I took time to sample the award-winning Old Road Rum, Which is bottled by hand on site. Tours of the property start at $50 (£37) per person.
It was tempting to spend time savoring our drinks and our surroundings in a slow, Kittitian way (or “liming” as the locals call it – hanging out, relaxing and chatting with friends), but we had booked a rainforest walking tour.
Soon, Georgie and I were climbing over rocks, serpentine tree roots and slippery streams within the island’s Central Forest Reserve National Park.
Using a rough, wooden stick to point out some of the rainforest’s 450 medicinal plants, our bald and bearded guide, O’Neil Mulaney, had the spirit of a Biblical seer.
Georgie was particularly impressed as he showed us what happens when you touch the fern-like leaf of the mimosa plant. Dramatically, at his touch the leaf closed like snapping jaws. “Leave it for fifteen minutes and it will open again,” he explained.
Georgie was not missing his equipment at all. Over the next few days, in between swimming and playing pool volleyball at the hotel, we managed to visit this UNESCO-listed attraction. Brimstone Fort – A massive 17th-century citadel with spectacular views of the island.
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We also took a catamaran to St. Kitts sister island of Nevis. We left the boat for a while to snorkel, then spent the afternoon at peaceful Pinni’s Beach.
On our final day, we headed to Reggae Beach, and after one of the best lunches of our trip – amazing fresh tuna for me and cheeseburgers for Georgie – it was time for water sports.
“Faster and faster!” He said as I nervously tried to steer our jet ski through the waves. Not surprisingly, she was happier taking things at her own (faster) pace. paddle boardDespite the fact that he had never tried it before.
Georgie’s highlights were definitely the more high-octane activities: ziplining and water sports in particular. Incredibly, he had barely used his tablet.
As we left Reggae Beach, we looked into a boutique near the restaurant shack. Along with baseball caps and swimwear, T-shirts with the slogan “Run Slowly” were also displayed. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my time in St. Kitts.
Eddie Feigel and his daughter traveled as guests of Visit St. Kitts.
how to do it
British Airways Runs twice-weekly return flights from London Gatwick to St Kitts from £428 per person. The flight time is a little less than ten and a half hours.
Tours with O’Neill Mulaney can be booked via email (oneilmulraine@hotmail.com£48 per person.)
where to stay
The St. Kitts Marriott Resort offers ocean views amid a spacious complex of pools of various sizes. It offers water activities, several restaurants and a shopping mall. Double rooms from £185.