Antigua

Antigua has been an independent nation for more than 40 years, receiving that distinction in 1981. It's still a member of Britain's Commonwealth. The island checks in at 108 square miles.

Christopher Columbus was the first European to drop by, stopping in 1493. Some English colonists arrived more than 100 years later in 1632, and the place soon became a center for sugar production. Someone had to do the work on that, and the British brought in thousands of slaves from West Africa to work the fields. It took England a while, but eventually, the country outlawed slavery from its territories in 1807, and everyone was emancipated in 1834.

Our cruise ship used St. John's as a port. We walked around the downtown area in the afternoon, and have to say that parts of the neighborhood felt a little sketchy as an outsider. There are some designated areas for tourist shopping, and it's best to get some directions first before lighting out. 

There are plenty of nice spots to see, too: