The extra 'a' in Sint Maarten stands for 'attractions'
Simpon Bay is an enormous lagoon that mostly divides the French and Dutch sides of the island. Not out of necessity you understand, this is the Caribbean and everyone gets along. The lagoon's a great place to snorkel, swim, boat, and dive. Do some ziplining and other adventuring at Loterie Park, or admire the animals at the Seaside Nature Park or the St Maarten Zoo. Do you like sweeping views? Of course you do, so visit the island's highest point, Pic du Paradis, for your Kodak moment. And visit Philipsburg, the Dutch capital, which has a beachfront boardwalk with bars, shops, and restaurants.
Have a blast, or rather, jet blast, at Maho Beach.
If you're here, you're likely a beach lover and, rest assured, there's lots of white sand near your Maho vacation rental. In fact, the soft sand and blue balmy waters of Maho Beach, plus, of course its jets, are the thing everybody roars about. Test your luck at one of the casinos, tee off on a lush golf course, or get tipsy with a sampling of local rums. The island's national liqueur is Guavaberry rum and its liquor experts have created rums with just about every exotic fruit that exists. Hit a distillery to see for yourself.
A tiny island with 2 nationalities and tons of wildlife
This hilly island is of volcanic origin, which sounds like a fact you heard in geography class, but you probably never studied Sint Maartin because, in truth, it's pretty small. The island's 37 square miles are divided nearly in half between the French and the Dutch side, with the highest point, the 1,400-foot Pic du Paradis, belonging to the French. Each side has stunning scenery, from harbors and rocky coves to white-sand beaches and seaside bluffs. And its wildlife, which prefers no particular side, consists of bats, mongooses, iguanas, geckos, sea turtles, and a huge variety of birds.