Martinique

Martinique offers a little taste of France in the heart of the Caribbean. Even while offering the bonus of Caribbean art, food and culture, Martinique is a part of France and therefore part of the EU. Shoppers can buy the latest French designer fashions as well as the arts and crafts of the native Carib Indians, such as gorgeous handmade baskets and traditional drums and Caribbean music. And don't forget the rum! Martinique claims to be the Rum Capital of the World. And it's certainly a great place to relax with Ti-Punch, the local rum concoction sure to smooth away your worries. While the rum is of interest to adults, Martinique is also a great place for families to vacation with their kids. Beyond the traditional water sports and beautiful beaches of many Caribbean islands, Martinique has much to appeal to families, from the water parks to horseback riding, high- and low-ropes adventures parks to paintball, as well as rainforest tours, tennis, golf, sailing, wind surfing and deep-sea fishing. In addition, there are great botanical gardens, parks and nature preserves to explore, bringing back a taste of the island as the Carib Indians knew it. The mountains, forests, beaches and winding trails of Martinique call out to bikers, hikers and visitors of all kinds. So, for a taste of France in the sunny serenity of an island vacation, Martinique is très magnifique.