Soaring green conical peaks rise above the turquoise waters of St. Lucia. Gleaming yachts slide along a distant horizon, waved on by the graceful sway of palm trees and sea breezes. St. Lucia is a favorite of newlyweds and escapists alike, and for good reason. Whether you're here for a romantic interlude or just a life interlude, the island offers urban pleasures with spectacular sunsets only a stone's throw away.

Cruise ships anchor off Castries, St. Lucia's main city but if you've exhausted shopping and street vendor possibilities, take a tour of the island's other attractions. With an afternoon hour to spare, wander Pigeon Island National Park and poke around in long-abandoned Fort Rodney before seizing snorkel and setting out to investigate the world subsurface. South along the west coast in the Soufriere region, reefs, corals and sponges liven up the warm water, frequented by divers and snorkellers. For afternoon sunning, try beaches around Castries or relax in the breeze that blows on the eastern coast.

Resorts line the beachfront north of Castries, but development dissolves a short way inland into the tangle of tropical foliage. Lace up your trekking shoes and make the climb through the rainforest to the top of Mt. Gimie, the highest peak on the island for views of the sparkling sea below and the Pitons, twin volcanic cones that distinguish St. Lucia's skyline. Grab a guide for an educational tour of the birds and turtles that call this island home. For a less exerting introduction to botany, stop in at the Diamond Botanical Gardens for greenery and a soak in the mineral baths.

While you may not be in St. Lucia on your first or second honeymoon, let yourself be seduced by the beauty of brilliant sunsets, crystal waters and tropical splendor of this small Caribbean island.

St. Lucia is 40 miles south of Martinique.