Anita Vacation Mrs. Edwards English 7 April 25, 2011 My Dream Vacation

If I could go anywhere in the world on a dream vacation, I would go to St. Lucia. This small Caribbean island is part of the Lesser Antilles, and is only about 3.5 times the size of Washington D.C., but boasts gorgeous natural scenery on all sides. St. Lucia has luxurious accommodations, awesome activities, and popular attractions that make it a great place for a vacation. From lush rainforests to quiet beaches, this island has it all.

Resort One reason I dream of going to St. Lucia is to stay at the Ladera Resort. It has nine villas and 23 suites. Each suite has an open wall; the western side of each unit is left open, so guests can enjoy the breathtaking views, but still enjoy privacy and relaxation. The land of Ladera was once a large cocoa plantation, and it was left as natural as possible around the resort.

Dining Ladera offers fresh, local seafood as its specialty, prepared by trained native chefs. I would eat most of my meals at the resort at Dasheene restaurant. They have unique choices such as banana pancakes for breakfast and coconut crusted shrimp for dinner. It also has open air dining where you can watch the sun set between the volcanic mountains. To enjoy some of the local culture, I would go to a fish fry near the resort. Natives fry fresh fish and have live music, dancing, and a casual atmosphere.

Activities Guests can enjoy many fun things to do without even leaving the resort of Ladera. One can go horseback riding, play golf, snorkel, or go sailing. The resort also has a zipline adventure! On the zipline, I could sail over the top of the rainforest and across rivers on a long cable. If I want to just relax and rest, Ladera has massage and spa services, cool, natural looking swimming pools, quiet beaches, and many places to take a nap. There is a botanical garden tour and a glass bottom boat tour, too.

Activities The resort offers scheduled shuttle services to the beaches below. The resort itself sits high atop the mountains created by volcanoes long ago, so guests can see for miles around. The peaceful beaches lay at the bottom of these mountains, and I can be there in a matter of minutes. Besides just lying in the sun, I can go snorkling, sailing, deep-sea fishing, whale watching, kite-sailing, and much more. The glass-green ocean offers many ways to relax or play.

Entertainment If I want casual entertainment while in St. Lucia, I can visit a street party on Friday night in the local town. The streets are closed to traffic, bands play loud dancing music, and street vendors sell freshly grilled seafood and cold drinks. There are also a couple of clubs that play dance music where I could dance and meet people for a while. I could also ride the beaches on horse back. Tours range from one to two hours and some include a picnic lunch. Deep-sea fishing tours are also very popular since there are many species of fish in the water around St. Lucia.

Entertainment There are also many exciting things to see in St. Lucia for entertainment. Some night-time festivals have fire dancers, men who perform tribal dances while spitting fire from their mouths! For calmer entertainment, I can go on a bike tour of waterfalls in the rainforest. Or even more restful, would be an afternoon at the world renowned spa.

Attractions Besides the breathtaking scenery of St. Lucia, there are many other reasons that 250 to 350 thousand tourists visit this small island every year. Because the island is close to the Equator, temperatures stay between 70 degrees to the high 90's. A cool breeze blows almost all of the time, making it feel cooler on hot, humid days. Except for seasonal hurricanes, the weather is almost always pleasant. There is also rich cultural history here. For 150 years, the British and French fought for control of the island, but in 1814, the British finally claimed it until the people gained independence in Over 90% of its population is of African descent. The culture combines influence from the French, British, and African people, so it is a diverse and interesting culture.

Attractions It also helps that most resorts and businesses accept the American dollar for payment. Although the official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, most places list prices in American currency. That makes it easier to shop and pay for meals and sounenirs. The official language is also English, which makes it easy for Americans to communicate on the island. From the beautiful scenery, to lush accommodations, to exciting and relaxing activities, St. Lucia offers an array of reasons for tourists to visit. I cannot imagine a better vacation. I know I would make the most of my time there and make memories to last a lifetime.

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