Difficult as it may be to drag oneself away from the beauty and beaches surrounding St. George's, every visitor to Grenada should plan on one or two excursions to other areas to fully savor the beauty and character of the island. For those with a historical bent, a trip to Sauteurs would be in order. Here you can view the steep 100-foot cliff where Carib Indians leapt to their death in 1651 rather than surrender to French colonists. To reach Sauteurs, you will pass through the picturesque west coast fishing villages of Gouyave and Victoria. Mabouya Fisherman's Museum, located on the outskirts of Gouyave, depicts the life of fishermen. Displayed by Grenadian Anthony Joseph, he shows memorabilia and aspects of fishing, including five facets: the forest's impact, the social life of fishing people, their equipment, and the resources of the sea and the life of the beach. In Gouyave, you may choose to tour the Nutmeg Processing Station to see how the aromatic spice goes from the tree to the tasty sprinkle in your rum punch.

However, if you can never get your fill of gorgeous beaches, and you wouldn't mind seeing two crater lakes in the same trip, set aside a day for an excursion to Grand Étang and Lake Antoine, plus Pearls, Bathway, and Levera Beaches.

First, the essentials. Have your hotel arrange for rental of a four-wheel-drive vehicle and assist you in getting a visitor's drivers license. Both are must items. Next, have them put together a picnic lunch for you, or assemble one yourself by dropping into any of several excellent stores in and around St. George's and picking out your choice of fresh breads, meats, cheeses, fruits, and whatever else you fancy.

A cooler well-stocked with ice, soft drinks, and Carib beer is another necessity. Pick up a map from your hotel or the Grenada Board of Tourism Office on the Carenage (or use the map in The Greeting Magazine), but be aware that at some point during your trip you're going to have to ask for directions. We suggest that you ask one of your Grenadian friends.

To begin your excursion, you'll first have to make your way to Mt. Gay, just outside of St. George's proper to the north and east. From there you will begin your ascent to the Grand Étang National Park and Forest Reserve. The road is in excellent shape, meandering through hillsides thick with bananas, cocoa, and nutmeg, and passing through such picturesque communities as Beaulieu, Snug Corner, Constantine, and Vendôme.

Leaving Vendôme, you begin your climb into the rain forest. The foliage grows more lush and shows its adaptation to the more than 160 inches of rain that falls in a typical year. Thick leathery leaves with "drip tips" are one by-product of the environment; another is the dwarfing of trees, a phenomenon that led one naturalist to coin the term "elfin woodland. "

Another 10 to 15 minutes negotiating switchbacks brings you to the Grand Étang Forest Center, a delightful building filled with information and brochures on the Park, hiking trails, and sights to see. A few yards down the road is the beginning of a self-guiding nature trail that leads around the lake.

Grand Étang, French for "great lake," is actually a large volcanic crater that has become a lake. Looking across the lake, the summit of Mount Qua Qua, often veiled in clouds and mist, rises to a height of over 700 metres (2,300 feet). On a typical day, you'll probably find a group of small boys fishing, a few people enjoying a lunch on the shore, and possibly a few boaters. The scenery is lush and the atmosphere peaceful, so you'll no doubt want to spend some time walking around or just relaxing with a cool drink. Continuing on from Grand Étang, the road descends in another series of switchbacks, affording long views through the lush valleys of Grenada's interior. At the right time of year, you'll look out over vistas of crimson, yellow, and purple blossoms among the dense forests of bananas and nutmeg. As you continue on, you'll pass through small villages and towns such as Adelphi and Birch Grove, then Balthazar, Grand Bras, and the outskirts of Grenville. It's at about this point that you'll need to pay close attention to your map or stop to ask for directions to the beach at Pearls.

The road to Pearls Beach ends up at the east end of the old airport runway. Shift your car into four-wheel drive and head out onto another of Grenada's matchless beaches, miles of light grey sand fringed with palms. To the south is Telescope Point and just offshore lies Telescope Rock. Almost directly off the end of the runway is Pearls Rock, and to the north, on a clear day, are views of the Grenadines.

It's time for a swim and lunch. If it's a typical day, the beach will be virtually deserted, but there's miles of room, so there's no need to worry about crowds. It's the Atlantic that's rolling ashore, so you can expect a fair amount of surf to liven up your time in the water.

The last leg of your trip, to Lake Antoine, requires attention to navigation. The easiest route is down the runway and north on the road to Tivoli. Turn east to La Poterie, then north across River Antoine. A quick detour to the River Antoine Rum Distillery is worth the time, as it affords a chance to see a local rum distillery in operation, producing smooth, potent rum just as it has since the 18th century.

From there, your path leads down a single-lane road that ends up at Lake Antoine. Like Grand Étang, this is a crater lake formed from the collapsed cone of a volcano, but the similarity stops there. While Grand Étang is nestled among the peaks in the rain forests, Lake Antoine is only 20 feet above sea level, and lacks the dramatic background at Grand Étang. Instead, you'll find tree-lined hills and land that falls away gently to the lake, with a spotting of palms among grassy slopes and cows every so often as sort of natural lawn mowers to tend to the grounds. As with Grand Étang, it's a peaceful setting that you'll remember for a long time to come, and it's well worth the trip.

From Lake Antoine, continue north to the round-about in River Sallee. Turn right entering Levera National Park and Bathway Beach. This lovely beach, with its natural reef barrier that restrains the Atlantic surf, is very popular among locals but spacious enough to let you carve out space for yourself. To reach Levera Beach, proceed north by car, or on foot if you're feeling energetic, about 11 miles where you may enjoy enchanting views of Sandy, Sugar Loaf, and Green Islands. Depending on the cloud-cover, you might even see Carriacou in the distance.

Having navigated your way as far as Levera Beach, returning to St. George's will seem easy, and you're likely to catch a beautiful sunset traveling back along the west coast road. The entire excursion can be done at an easy pace (if you get an early start) with ample time for sightseeing, eating, and swimming. It's a great way to see more of Grenada's unique character and more of her beautiful beaches, so make it a must on your agenda.

A trip to Carriacou and Petit Martinique, for a day or a stay, provides a glimpse of an unhurried, unspoiled island of natural beauty, spectacular views, and friendly people. After landing at Lauriston International Airport, stroll through the town of Hillsborough, set along the western shore. Take some time in the Museum where you can view historic artifacts alongside the distinctive art of well-known Caribbean painters such as Caliste.

Next, take a drive to the heights adjoining the Hospital where you'll be rewarded with spectacular vistas of Hillsborough, the harbour, and endless expanses of sky and water. Continue on to the opposite side of the island where you'll gaze past Windward to the island of Petit Martinique and the St. Vincent Grenadines to the north.

 A short drive through green valleys will bring you to a dock where you can hire a water taxi for the short trip to Petit Martinique. Once ashore, it's worth the effort to stroll up the hill where clear weather allows views north past numerous Grenadines to St. Vincent. On the descent back down to the dock, several shops offer ice-cold beer and snacks to restore your energy and quench your thirst. Returning to Carriacou, continue your trip to Cassada Bay, where a hill-top lounge and restaurant provide an ideal spot to rest and take in the spectacular views of the small islands just offshore, and Grenada in the distance. Once rested, continue to Tyrrel Bay, where you'll find boats of every description bobbing at anchor in this sheltered harbour. Dotting the waterfront are a number of souvenir shops, bars, and restaurants where you can enjoy local hospitality and excellent food.

On the way from Tyrrel Bay to the airport, be sure to visit L'Esterre Bay, whose majestic sweep of gorgeous sand is one you'll not soon forget. Offshore you'll see Sandy Island, well worth the short boat ride to experience its great snorkeling and white-sand beaches. A stay of a day or more will give you time to take in all of the above at leisure, with the chance to fully enjoy every aspect of Carriacou and return to the spots that capture your fancy. But, even if you only go for a day trip, you'll return with lasting memories of the island's sights and people.