ST. MARTIN

Two nations, two cultures—one single celebrated island. On the Dutch side, rolling hills swell over 16 square miles. In Phillipsburg, the capital of Sint Maarten, over 500 duty-free shops line Front Street, alongside more than 300 restaurants and 14 casinos. Down the avenue are 37 beaches with visibility of up to 100 feet at sites like the HMS Proselyte frigate, but non-divers are far from land-locked—sailing is a significant part of the culture, and cruises through lagoons to nearby islands and water sports are always available. To the French north, jet skiers and windsurfers chase the action of the seas, while fashionable visitors seeking modern culture find it in capital Marigot’s Marina Port La Royale. Sample the past at Loterie Farm, where a former slave trail leads to streams, iguanas, hummingbirds, and Pic Paradise, the island’s highest point. For a literal taste of St. Martin, look no further than the fine dining of Grand Case, to casual lolo shacks serving conch and other local specialties.