Antigua and Barbuda are both fantastic islands in their own right with miles and miles of beautiful, isolated and secluded beaches to get lost on. For such tiny places, both these islands make for a fascinating vacation destination with so much to see and do out here. Blessed with a warm tropical sunshine and wonderful protected bays for sailing and snorkeling in, vacationing here is a true delight for all.

There are a number of places to see on the island of Antigua to keep you busy for at least a week. You can spend your days either wandering through the streets of the capital, St. John’s, or you can chill out under a nice palm tree on the beach. Whatever you choose to do, just know that this island is a great West Indian getaway.

A must visit when in Antigua is Nelson’s Dockyard at English Harbor. A fantastic natural harbor, this dockyard was used by the likes of Admiral Nelson, and played a key role in fortifying this island as a strong British base in the colonial period. A highly strategic harbor in the Caribbean today, Nelson’s Dockyard has many wonderful old colonial buildings with a small market in the area as well as restaurants, hotels, shops, a dive shop and a number of boating facilities. Part of the dockyard is a designated national park, with a museum that houses a quaint gift shop.

With the richest collection of historical sights on the island, English Harbor is an excellent place to explore. Developed as a British Navy base and expanded by Admiral Nelson, English Harbor overlooks a number of tourist sights including Clarence House and Shirley Heights. Extending out over the harbor, Shirley Heights is an 18th century ruined fort that offers some truly breathtaking views. Named after General Shirley, a Governor of the Leeward Islands, this fort has a number of ruins to survey and investigate. Nearby is a cemetery where an obelisk stands dedicated to the 54th regiment of the British Army.

Located in center of St. John’s, the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda sits a building that dates back all the way to 1750. Containing a variety of interesting and eclectic objects, this museum is one of the few in the world, where one can touch the items on display. There is a full-scale replica of an Arawak house as well as old stone tools on hand, along with the cricket bat of one of the West Indies’ greatest cricketers, Sir Viv Richards.

For a more cultural tour of Antigua, visit the Sea View Farm Village, the center for pottery on the island. However, if you prefer a little more modern art, then a visit to Harmony Hall, in Brown's Bay at Nonsuch Bay. Do make it a point to see Devil's Bridge, a superb naturally formed limestone arch near Indian Town Point, as it is a sight not to be missed. Another good place to visit is Betty’s Hope, the first and largest sugar plantation on the island. An important historical landmark, this plantation offers a wonderful tour on Antigua’s sugar era.

On Barbuda, there is not much to see besides miles and miles of beaches. The main tourist attraction here has to be the Frigate Bird Sanctuary located in Codrington Lagoon. An amazing sight for bird lovers and non-bird lovers alike, this refuge lets one get up close and personal with these giants of the sky. It is key to mention here that this nesting site is among the most important in the world.

If you have the time, a visit to Redonda is a pleasant experience. Dubbed the smallest island kingdom in the world, Redonda was made a kingdom by an Irishman named Matthew Shiell, who made his son king. A favorite haunt for bird watchers, this island is actually uninhabited and is now a nature preserve.