Citrus | Greece | food | chef | Maho Bay | Butterfly Farm

"On the French side, try L'Alabama, which was named for a restaurant in Greece where the couple who owns the restaurant met. The atmosphere is casual and romantic, and the food is great. There's also The Bridge, which has amazing views of the lagoon. On the Dutch side, the most popular fine dining restaurant is Citrus. The chef calls it 'French-inspired creative cuisine,' and it's getting raves. Citrus is near Maho Bay, the Dutch side's main entertainment area, which is filled with restaurants, shops, and casinos."

SATURDAY

ISLAND FLAVOR
"First of all, you must know that St. Maarten has two sides, a Dutch side and a French side. At the airport, you'll have a French boutique and then shops that sell Gouda cheese and other Dutch specialties. Where else can one go and experience two countries on one island That's really the beauty of traveling there, experiencing two totally different cultures on one island."

EXCURSION
French St. Maarten "Marigot is the main town on the French side. There are cobblestone streets. There's an old fort from the 1600s and a little museum, called Sur La Traces des Arawacks, dedicated to the first settlers. There's also a nature reserve. There is a charming village on this side of the island called Grand Case. It's a small fishing village with colorful houses, cute shops, and great restaurants. If you want to dive, go out to Creole Rock, where you can see amazing fish and coral in relatively shallow water. If you're not into diving, check out the Seaworld Explorer, a submarine that goes underwater and allows you to see the wonders below. Another unique site is the Butterfly Farm, where you walk through hundreds of various species of butterflies."

EXCURSION