Beguiling Bequia

Among the 32 islands and cays making up St. Vincent and the Grenadines, an archipelago that unfurls in the Southern Caribbean, Bequia is deceptive. On the surface, it may seem like an isle that's in permanent slow-mo mode. Yet, a vacation doesn't have to be all about lying on golden sands day after day sipping pretty cocktails.

I spent my time walking through the main town of Port Elizabeth along a ribbon of a pedestrian path beside azule waters; hiking on forested paths to sheltered coves; exploring hilltops, taking in the postcard-perfect views of offshore islands; inspecting model boat-building shops, such as family-owned Sargeant Brothers' Model Boat Shop; kayaking in calm bays; and dining at restaurants that radiated authenticity, such as the Sugar Reef Cafe that's set beside the waterfront. There were enough activities on Bequia to keep even a Type A person like me occupied.