St. Martin, a part of France in the Caribbean that shares an island with the Dutch, St. Maarten, is home to around 35,000 permanent residents. The half-island is known for its beaches, French-Creole cuisine, shopping and picturesque outdoor markets. Located just east of Puerto Rico, St. Martin is easily accessible for North American visitors via flights from Miami and New York City.
Marigot, the capital and major port city of St. Martin, is filled with shops selling all sorts of French consumer goods. Here you'll find jewelry, perfume, fashion, French brandies and wine, tobacco and electronics--all at duty-free prices.
One of the most charming things to do in St. Martin is to eat at the harbor's edge at one of the many cafes and bistros in Marigot and Grand Case. Among the best of these are Talk of the Town in Grand Case and Le Belle Epoque in Marigot.
Orient Beach, on the eastern coast of St. Martin, is a well-known nude beach. The beach offers a variety of watersports, spa services and a bar/restaurant. You don't have to bare all to enjoy the beautiful setting, but most visitors do.
The open-air markets in Marigot are known for their brightly colored crafts and textiles as well as local spices and food products. Even if you aren't intending to buy anything, it still can be fun to browse. The most popular of these markets sets up at the water's edge in Marigot on Friday mornings.
