the eastern iowa airport By car, head inland from either coast on the cross-island Transinsular Road to the trail head three

By car, head inland from either coast on the cross-island Transinsular Road to the trail head three miles east of Pont Casse and five miles west of Castle Bruce. Hikers can begin the climb up Morne Trois Pitons from there, and strollers can follow an easy path through lush, green foliage to the pool. Islanders who remember splashing in the pool before Hurricane David raged through say the water level used to be higher, but the pool still is deep enough for a swim.

Cabrits National Park is the highlight of the northwest coast, and Fort Shirley is the highlight of the park. Plan to spend most of the day in this area exploring the grassy Cabrits promontory, its well-mapped stone ruins, and the two scenic bays that surround it on three sides. Bring water, sunblock, hiking the eastern iowa airport boots or sturdy walking shoes, and a swimsuit. Throw in binoculars and snorkeling gear if you have them.

Trou au Diable is just around Grand Caille Point from Anse Chastanet, and reached by the same rutty road. Snorkeling is especially good here. The black-sand beach in front of Hummingbird Resort and the Still Plantation Resort offers calm water and breathtaking views of the Pitons. Both resorts have beachcomber bars and good restaurants.

The 1967 movie Doctor Doolittle, starring Rex Harrison, was filmed at Marigot Bay. Doolittle s waterside restaurant and bar is the perfect place for sunset happy hour; 758-451-4974. Just inland from Marigot Bay you ll see the island s only rum factory. It is owned by St. Lucia Distillers Group of Companies, which produces a line of specialty rums sold under 15 labels, including Bounty Rum. You can visit the modernized factory by signing up for the Rhythm of Rum tour offered by Sunlink Tours (about EC$110/US$40, 758-4528929 or 758-452-9022), which includes a history lesson on the importance of rum to St. Lucia specifically and the Caribbean in general. In addition to touring the eastern iowa airport the distillery, you'll see a short video and enjoy an all-you-care-to-sip tasting, followed by free time in the gift shop.