Caribbean Beat — January/February 2017 (#143)

Fort King George is one of the
best preserved of Tobago’s historic
sites — and enjoys some of
the most impressive views
©DebraLeeWiseberg / istock.com
The historic view
Historic sites are not only boons for heritage buffs — many also
offer the most breathtaking views in the island, often out over
the Caribbean Sea. In the hills above Scarborough, just over 450
feet above sea level, head up to Fort King George — the most
impressive of Tobago’s forts, and perhaps the best preserved of
the island’s historic sites. Here you’ll find the Tobago Museum,
housed inside the old guard barracks, which displays relics
from the island’s ancient and colonial past, including First
Peoples artefacts, maps, photographs, and military memorabilia.
Keeping company with the museum are cannon, a military
cemetery, the old chapel and cellblock, and stunning views of
Scarborough, Bacolet, and up the windward coast.
Other forts that boast relaxing sea views include Fort Bennett
(overlooking Stonehaven Bay), Fort James (overlooking Great
Courland Bay), Fort Milford (overlooking Store Bay), and Granby
Point (overlooking Barbados and Pinfold Bays).
But old military sites aren’t the only spots laying claim to
picture-postcard views. Among my favourites is the view of
Parlatuvier Bay as you drive north along the Northside Road (on
the leeward coast). Further north, near Charlotteville, there’s
Flagstaff Hill. This was once a Second World War American
military lookout and radio tower. It has an appropriately
panoramic view, encompassing Charlotteville, the St Giles
Islands, and further south along the leeward coast. n
Caribbean Airlines operates numerous daily flights to
Arthur N.R. Robinson International Airport in Tobago
from Trinidad, with connections to other Caribbean
and North American destinations.
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