Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

The capital of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is suitably busy, in a colorful Caribbean sort of way. The streets in front of the Public Market surge with impromptu vendors hawking a fragrant variety of fruits and vegetables. The dark, Gothic St. Mary’s cathedral is a 19th century addition. The Botanic Gardens is the oldest in the Caribbean, begun in 1765. Climb the hill to the 1806 Fort Charlotte, for panoramic views of the town and the other islands in the archipelago. The resorts are arrayed along the beaches at Villa and Indian Bay. Boats will take you from Villa out to the offshore Fort Duvernette, but you’ll need to climb 225 steps for the view from there.