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Antigua and Barbuda are two islands that come collectively as one Caribbean nation. Recognized for a lot of issues together with its 365 seashores (one for day-after-day of the 12 months), it’s additionally dwelling to placing points of interest with views that can stick with you. Take Shirley Heights in Antigua, for instance. Perched on the island’s southern coast, this historic web site as soon as served as a navy lookout and gun battery. As we speak, it’s the proper spot to soak in sweeping views, take pleasure in tasty bites and reside music, and join with the wealthy historical past of Antigua and Barbuda.
Talking of scenic views, the all-inclusive Sandals Grande Antigua affords backyard, ocean, and beachfront suites to make your island trip much more memorable.
Whether or not you’re right here for the historical past, the views, or simply to unwind, Shirley Heights is a must-visit spot. From the signature lookout to the reside music and scrumptious native flavors, right here’s what you possibly can count on with a go to.
Historical past of Shirley Heights
Shirley Heights dates again to the seventeenth century. This historic web site is alleged to have been constructed by the British navy who had been accountable for Antigua on the time. Shirley Heights is situated within the southern a part of Antigua and was named after Sir Thomas Shirley, who was a former governor of the Leeward Islands. Shirley is credited for having overseen the development of the navy complicated at this location.
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Shirley Heights as a navy lookout is believed to have performed a big function in defending Antigua in opposition to assaults by French and American forces. As a lot of the construction right here nonetheless stays, guests can nonetheless at present discover the ruins of the gun battery and remaining navy constructions. From Shirley Heights, guests can soak up views of English Harbor, Nelson’s Dockyard, and among the close by nationwide parks in Antigua. The highest lookout level at this location is round 490ft, which suggests which you can count on some fairly spectacular views.
Professional tip: When you’re headed to Shirley Heights and need a guided tour, you possibly can go to the Dow’s Interpretation Centre. Along with guided excursions, you may also study some island historical past together with particulars concerning the indigenous folks of Antigua.
Actions at Shirley Heights
Exploring Shirley Heights can definitely be one of many attention-grabbing things to do in Antigua for {couples}. At this historic web site, yow will discover a lot of totally different actions that will probably be enjoyable for all age teams. {Couples} could benefit from the mountain climbing alternatives at Shirley Heights in addition to the excellent views and occasions just like the Sunday Sundown Social gathering.
Listed below are among the actions we love most at Shirley Heights, Antigua:
Hike to the summit
Mountain climbing and sightseeing are potential at Shirley Heights. There are a selection of trails on this space together with the Lookout Path, which runs from Galleon Seaside to Shirley Heights. This hike is a tougher hike that can take you off-the-beaten path. Alongside the waym, you’ll stand up near Antiguan wildlife. There are extra leisurely mountain climbing choices which you can select from as effectively that supply distinctive views of English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour. On days when the skies are most clear, you would possibly catch a glimpse of close by islands like Guadeloupe and Montserrat from the Shirley Heights Lookout.
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When you’ve had a second to stretch your legs and discover, yow will discover a shady spot to chill out. When you’re nonetheless right here because the solar begins its descent, you’ll catch a magical second that lingers lengthy after the day fades. Let the nice and cozy glow of the Caribbean sundown spark a quiet romance as you are taking within the views from this peaceable island vantage.
Insider tip: At an Antigua beach resort {couples} can discover lots to do on web site with out having to go away their resort. At Sandals Antigua, this may embody day and evening leisure, limitless land and water sports activities, and loads of themed eating places to check out delicacies from around the globe.
Get pleasure from meals and leisure
As wonderful because the views are at Shirley Heights, the enchantment for this spot goes up 10-fold with the information which you can benefit from the surroundings with some nice meals as effectively. The Shirley Heights Lookout Restaurant & Bar affords scrumptious meals together with jerk rooster, BBQ, and native seafood. To enhance the mouthwatering Antigua food and drinks and the breezy island ambiance at Shirley Heights, locals and guests can collectively soak up some music from reside native bands right here on weekends.
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When you occur to go to Shirley Heights on a Sunday, count on a celebration. This sundown affair occurs usually and is sort of standard. The Shirley Heights Sunday Sundown BBQ tends to be fairly vigorous. You’ll be able to stay up for scrumptious native meals, metal bands and reggae music. Attempt one of many scrumptious rum punch drinks to totally get into the Caribbean rhythm.
Take phenomenal images and movies
What would a go to to Shirley Heights be with out taking some wonderful images and movies which you can watch later to relive your expertise? The hilltop vantage of Shirley Heights makes it supreme to take beautiful images, significantly with the distinctive view of English Harbour. No matter time of day you go, begin or finish your day with a few memorable images.
How a lot does it price to go to Shirley Heights
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It’s going to price round $8-$10 USD to go to Shirley Heights throughout common working hours. This could additionally rely upon the day. If you wish to get meals and drinks, it is best to carry alongside some further money for that objective. For the Sunday Sundown BBQ get together, count on to spend not less than $15-$20 USD per individual. The quantity you’ll spend at Shirley Heights for meals and drinks actually is determined by how many individuals are in your group or what number of parts you’d wish to order.
When factoring in your prices for Shirley Heights, you’ll additionally must think about the way you’ll be getting there. It’s going to price round $85 USD per day to get a automobile rental, whereas a taxi journey could be within the area of $25-$30 USD. Catching a bus to Shirley Heights will price you lower than $5 USD each methods. When you e book your tour to Shirley Heights by way of your resort, usually, transportation will probably be included in the price of your tour package deal.
Methods to get to Shirley Heights, Antigua
Shirley Heights Antigua is situated excessive up on a hill overlooking English Harbor. This standard Antiguan attraction is round Half-hour from St. John’s, the capital. The period of time it can take to get to Shirley Heights can fluctuate relying on the place in Antigua you’ll be spending your trip. From Sandals Antigua, it can take round 20-Half-hour to get to Shirley Heights, relying on visitors.
The greatest option to get to Shirley Heights is by taxi. Additionally it is potential to get there by automobile or by means of public transportation. With a taxi, all you’ll must do is make a reserving by way of your resort concierge and make sure you’re able to go when your driver will get there. Getting a rental works if you happen to’re a kind of individuals who can simply make their manner round a overseas vacation spot. With this feature, be ready for the roads in Antigua, as they’re fairly slim in some locations and really busy. One benefit of driving your self is that you should have free parking when you get to Shirley Heights.
Although there are lots of methods to get to Shirley Heights in Antigua, the most inexpensive is by means of public transportation. Because the buses are inclined to make fairly a couple of stops alongside the best way, it may possibly take longer to get to your vacation spot. Some folks desire taking public transportation at their trip vacation spot only for the expertise. When you do determine to take a public bus to get to Shirley Heights, it is worthwhile to know that buses in Antigua function on a reasonably common schedule from St. John’s to Shirley Heights.
Professional tip: Relating to getting round in Antigua, employees at all-inclusive Antigua resorts will help you discover your footing. Go to the tour desk to rearrange excursions or communicate to employees about their suggestions on the place to go. They’re normally joyful to assist!
Finest Time to Go to Shirley Heights and Antigua
The most effective time to go to Antigua is throughout peak season from December to April. The identical goes for Shirley Heights. Throughout peak/excessive season on this island, the temperatures are usually extra persistently sunny, which is a part of the enchantment. Typically, although, Antigua has nice climate year-round. The makes peak season an exquisite time to go, particularly in case you have excursions and seashore visits in thoughts.
For visits to Shirley Heights, weekends could be a nice choice, however understand that issues can get fairly busy. On Sunday evenings, you’ll discover their weekly BBQ motion underway and generally reside music occasions as effectively. Issues tone down fairly a bit through the week though from time to time a spur-of-the-moment get together would possibly pop up on a random Thursday.
Peak-season journey tends to imply that the temperatures are cooler with much less rain. This can be a nice time for a seashore trip and even for a crusing trip in Antigua as crusing actions choose up within the month of April. A prime crusing occasion is the Antigua Traditional Yacht Regatta held on the finish of April. There are different good occasions to go to Antigua as effectively exterior of peak season. Antigua Carnival, for example, occurs in late July/early August. The island is normally very busy throughout this time with a lot of actions occurring round city and many vacationers too.
The place to remain in Antigua
The most effective locations to remain in Antigua will probably be anyplace that’s close to a seashore! When you’re planning on spending a while at Shirley Heights in Antigua then you possibly can look into among the beachside all-inclusive resorts on this space like Sandals Grande Antigua. Like all of the resorts within the Sandals chain, this resort affords visitors high quality inclusions like gourmand eating at a number of eating places, luxurious lodging, day and evening leisure, and a lot extra.
Finally, deciding the place to remain in Antigua will rely in your funds and expectations to your journey. You may also want to contemplate your journey model and the stuff you don’t need to do throughout your {couples} trip, all of which will help you choose the proper trip lodging.
Widespread locations close by
There are various attention-grabbing points of interest situated close to Shirley Heights in Antigua. We’ve included a couple of of those that we love most:
Nelson’s Dockyard
Nelson’s Dockyard Nationwide Park in English Harbor, a nationwide heritage web site and marina, is a widely known location for crusing actions in Antigua. Not solely that, nevertheless it has historic worth, as seen by the restored 18th and Nineteenth-century architectural buildings that now include shops, galleries, museums, and extra. There are a number of mountain climbing routes which you can go on right here to totally expertise the great thing about this space, in addition to lodging and eating choices.
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When it comes to its historical past, Nelson’s Dockyard is an 18th-century British Navy dockyard. Additionally it is a UNESCO World Heritage web site because it’s the world’s oldest repeatedly working Georgian dockyard. Nelson’s Dockyard is near Shirley Heights, Antigua. After a guided tour of the dockyard, you may also go to Fort Shirley or Fort Berkeley, each of that are close by. You’ll additionally discover the 18th-century Clarence Home and the Dow’s Hill Interpretation Centre on this space.
Falmouth Harbour
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Falmouth Harbour is on the southern coast of Antigua a brief distance away from Shirley Heights by automobile. This historic city in Saint Paul Parish is well-known for its occurring nightlife, attractive seashores, and its charming and scenic marina. The seashores listed below are excellent for a day of thrilling water sports activities or simply enjoyable for a few hours off your resort. If you wish to do some procuring, discover a good bar, or eat at among the best restaurants in Antigua, a go to to Falmouth Harbor is likely to be effectively well worth the effort.
Embrace the unforgettable allure of Shirley Heights
There are a great deal of wonderful things to do in Antigua and Barbuda, together with going to points of interest identified for his or her pure magnificence and historic significance like Shirley Heights. Earlier than you pack your baggage although, understand that a visit to Shirley Heights is greatest be loved with good firm. Additionally, whereas within the Shirley Heights space, it may be worthwhile to take a look at among the different enjoyable native points of interest.
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If you would like a trip full of journey, an all-inclusive escape could be simply the correct match. At Sandals’ all-inclusive resorts, you possibly can plan excursions and excursions immediately by way of your resort. As there are many thrilling points of interest and things Antigua is known for, you’ll don’t have any quick provide of actions to select from throughout your stress-free, all-inclusive trip!
Good to know: How do Antigua’s beaches evaluate with among the different seashores within the Caribbean? See for your self in our put up on Antigua vs Saint Lucia!
Image: Let the all-inclusive Sandals Grande Antigua be your own home base as you discover a few of Antigua’s greatest points of interest, together with Shirley Heights!
