How2Day: Activities in St. Martin

St. Martin offers visitors many activities on both sides of the island. st martin image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
St. Martin is a unique island located in the northeast Caribbean. What makes the island unique is that it belongs to two different nations --- France and the Netherlands. The French side, which is larger, offers luxury resorts, secluded beaches and lavish accommodations; while the Dutch side offers a wide array of beaches, casinos and nightlife. Whether you visit the French side, Dutch side or both sides, there is no shortage of things to do in St. Martin.

St. Martin is best known for the plethora of white sandy beaches that cover both sides of the island. With more than 30 beaches, tourists have a choice of family-friendly and adult beaches.

Mullet Bay is a family-friendly beach on the Dutch side of the island. The beach offers activities like volleyball, snorkeling, caves, parties and live music. A golf course is also located nearby. Cupecoy Bay, also on the Dutch side, is a clothing-optional beach for adults. Visitors of this beach may enjoy cookouts, surfing, sunsets and nearby bars and cafes.

On the French side is Coconut Grove and Orient Bay. The family-friendly beach, Coconut Grove, offers activities such as surfing, windsurfing and kite-boarding; while Orient Bay, which is the most developed beach on the island, offers an array of water activities including waterskiing, jetskiing, snorkeling and parasailing. Orient Bay is also a clothing-optional beach.

Explore the scenery of St. Martin by hiking the 25-mile footpath that runs along the shores and through the mountains of the island or climb aboard a horse at Bayside Riding Club for a 1.5-mile horseback ride along the island's trails and white sand beaches. The two-hour ride ends with a horseback stroll through the waters of the bay.

St. Martin also offers activities such as squash, golf and tennis. Play a game of tennis or get a tennis lesson from a pro at one of the more than 70 tennis courts on the island. Squash can be played at any of the island's fitness centers or sports clubs. Take in a game of golf at Mullet Bay, the island's only 18-hole golf course, located on the Dutch side of St. Martins.

Gambling and casinos are one of the biggest draws of the Dutch side of St. Martin. Of the eight casinos on the Dutch side, Casino Royale is the largest. Visitors have access to 250 slot machines, 16 blackjack tables, six roulette wheels, three craps tables, three stud-poker tables and baccarat. Atlantis casino offers high-stakes baccarat, French roulette and seven-card stud poker.

Other casinos on the island include The Lightning Casino---which offers numerous wide-screen TVs that broadcast all sports games--and Golden Casino, Hollywood Casino, Diamond Casino and The Dolphin, which all offer slot machines and table games.

Although there are no casinos on the French side, Princess Casino is located near the French border. Princess Casino offers 20 table games, including blackjack, poker, craps and roulette, as well as slot machines, live floor shows with dancers and a restaurant.

Visitors may also enjoy visiting some of St. Martin's attractions. On the French side is Butterfly Farm, the largest collection and variety of butterflies in one place. The Dutch side offers Fort St. Louis, the largest historical site on the island and a museum which houses artifacts that date back to 1,800 B.C.

Duty-free shopping is available on both side of the island. Visitors may purchase trinkets and accessories at the En Vogue boutique, wine at Guavaberry Emporium, fish and spices at Marigot Marketplace, clothing at Kaptiva and jewelry at Passions.

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