Kingstown is the capital and main commercial center of St Vincent and the Grenadines with cobblestone streets…

Kingstown is the capital and main commercial center of St Vincent and the Grenadines with cobblestone streets, colonial buildings, and a few tourist attractions. The town is known for its churches. St George’s Anglican Cathedral, an 1820 Georgian-style structure, is adorned with stained glass windows, while the 1823 St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral features Gothic spires and Romanesque columns and arches.

Other popular sightseeing attractions are the St Vincent Botanical Gardens, the oldest in the West Indies, and the St Vincent National Museum, on the same grounds. High on a ridge north of the city, Fort Charlotte offers beautiful views over Kingstown and the surrounding islands. Many visitors head to the popular resort on privately owned Yound Island , located about 200 m offshore from Villa Beach.

Botanic Garden

One of the oldest botanical garden in the Western Hemisphere is just north of downtown Kingstown—a few minutes by taxi. The garden was created in 1765 by General Robert Melville, governor of the British Caribbean islands, after Captain Bligh—of Bounty fame—brought the first breadfruit tree to this island for landowners to propagate. The prolific bounty of the breadfruit trees was used to feed the slaves. You can see a direct descendant of the original tree among the specimen mahogany, rubber, teak, and other tropical trees and shrubs in the 20 acres of gardens. Two dozen rare St. Vincent parrots (Amazona guildingii), confiscated from illegal collections, live in the small aviary. Guides explain all the medicinal and ornamental trees and shrubs; they also appreciate a tip (about $5 per person) at the end of the tour. A gift shop, open Monday through Friday, has local crafts, artwork, books, confections, and a traditional creole lunch menu.