4 Best Sights in St. Martin and St. Maarten

A protected nature reserve, this kid-friendly island is a five-minute ferry ride from French Cul de Sac (about €12 per person round-trip). The ferry runs every half hour from midmorning until 4 pm. The water is clear and shallow, and the shore is sheltered. Snorkelers can swim a trail between both coasts of this pencil-shape speck in the ocean. You can rent equipment on the island. There are two restaurants, Karibuni and Yellow Beach; both offer great service, with cocktail tables in the water. Chairs and umbrellas can be rented for about €25 for two. It can get busy on Sunday. Amenities: food and drink; parking. Best for: snorkeling; sunning; swimming.

Despite its occasional use by snorkelers, divers, kayakers, and boating enthusiasts, Little Bay isn't usually crowded. It does boast panoramic views of neighboring islands St. Eustatius (Statia) and Saba, and arriving and departing cruise ships. The beach is on the same peninsula as Fort Amsterdam and accessible via the Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, and most beachgoers are hotel guests. Amenities: food and drink at the resort; parking; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

Almost halfway up the road to Pic Paradis is a peaceful 150-acre private nature preserve, opened to the public in 1999 by American expat B. J. Welch. There are trail maps, so you can hike on your own or hire a guide. Marked trails traverse native forest with tamarind, gum, mango, and mahogany trees—the same as it was hundreds of years ago. You might well see some wild vervet monkeys, now rather common here. The Jungle Pool is a lovely tropical garden with a large pool and Jacuzzi area plus lounge chairs, great music, roaming iguanas, and chic tented cabanas with a St. Barth–meets–Wet 'n' Wild atmosphere. A delicious, healthy lunch or dinner can be had poolside, and if you are brave—and over 4 feet 5 inches tall—you can try soaring over trees on one of the longest ziplines in the western hemisphere. (There is a milder version, but people love the more extreme one.) On Sundays you can enjoy music, played by a dj in the tree booth. Called "TreeJ" this wild party by the pool is from 1pm to 5pm on Sundays, and is has more of an adults vibe. If the festive pool area is not your thing, head to the Jungle Room for a tasty lunch, great ambience, tapas, and strong cocktails. 

This odd-sounding exhibit is actually a nonprofit museum run by Nick Maley, a movie-industry artist who was involved in the creation of Yoda and other icons. You can learn how the artist worked while enjoying the models and memorabilia on display—a must-see for Star Wars fans but of interest to most movie buffs. Maley is often on-hand and is happy to answer questions as time allows, and to autograph souvenirs for sale.