The Valley

The Valley, the island's only real town, is the geographic, commercial and political center of Anguilla. It's a small, rambling area consisting of little more than a bunch of mini-malls, with an administrative relocation to St Kitts in 1825 explaining the lack of colonial architecture.

But there are jewels to be unearthed, such the historical

Displays of the Anguilla National Trust Museum, the exterior of Wall Blake House, and the design of the adjacent church, which has a unique decorative stone front, open-air sides and a ceiling, shaped like the hull of a ship.

Island Harbour is a working fishing village, not a resort area, and its beach is lined with brightly colored fishing boats, rather than chaises lounges. There are a few cafes and places to bed down in, and travellers in search of a more unvarnished day-to-day atmosphere often make their base here.

Island Harbour's main historic site is Big Spring, a partially collapsed cave containing Amerindian petroglyphs and an underwater spring that was once the village water source. Now under the jurisdiction of the National Trust, there are plans to clean it up and make it accessible to visitors.

Meads Bay, backed by a salt pond for most of its length, boasts a lovely mile-long sweep of white sand lapped by calm turquoise waters. It's a good beach for swimming, a great one for strolling and a fantastic one for annual boat races on the first Thursday in August.

Although a couple of the island's most stylish hotels and a few small condominium complexes are scattered along the beach, Meads Bay is certainly not crowded and you'll hardly be wanting for elbow room as some of the hotels are a good five-minute walk from their nearest neighbor.

Sandy Ground is the closest thing Anguilla has to a travellers' haunt. Located about 3km (2mi) west of The Valley, it has a white-sand beach lined with restaurants, a dive shop and a few low-key places to stay. Its well-protected fishhook-shaped bay is Anguilla's main port of entry for yachts.

A large salt pond that was commercially harvested until just a few years ago, when the cost of shipping the salt began to exceed its value backs Sandy Ground. If you enjoy birding, the quieter northern end of the salt pond attracts egrets, stilts, herons and other wading birds.

Beach connoisseurs consider Shoal Bay East to be Anguilla's premier strand. On the northeastern side of the island, Shoal Bay East (sometimes called simply Shoal Bay, so don't confuse it with Shoal Bay West) is broad and long with radiant white sands and clear turquoise waters.

It's ideal for swimming, snorkeling and soaking up the sun. To add to its laid-back appeal, there are a couple of small hotels and restaurants on the beach, but virtually no other development in sight. Anguilla's top archaeological site, the Fountain, is nearby.

Activities

Anguilla has plenty of beautiful beaches should the mood strike you to take a dip or lather yourself with tanning butter. Sandy Ground has calm turquoise waters, as do the impressive sweeps at Shoal Bay East and Rendezvous Bay. Other notable beaches include Meads Bay and Shoal Bay West. Top honors in the Valley area go to Crocus Bay.

Anguilla has clear water suitable for diving and snorkeling . Since the mid-1980s a number of ships have been deliberately sunk in Anguillian waters to create dive sites; they lie on sandy bottoms at depths of 35-75ft (11-23m). Nearby islets popular for diving include Prickly Pear Cays and Sandy Islands.

Anguilla's relaxed and secluded environment offers many activities for those who wish to experience a vacation away from the noise and chaos of everyday life. Thirty-three magnificent beaches border this small island offering a idyllic place to sunbathe, jog, stroll, read a book, or simply build a sandcastle.

For those looking for a little more adventure, this beautiful island offers horseback riding, water-skiing, parasailing, paddle boating, windsurfing, and glass-bottom boats.

Anguilla also offers a variety of dive sites, including wreck dives, shore dives, mini-wall dives, and heritage diving. It is also the home of a unique attraction, a 960-ton Spanish galleon that rests on the bottom of the ocean floor. This shipwreck is easily accessible and open to all certified divers.

However, to fully enjoy this dive-site, it is best to travel within the summer months when the visibility is at its best.