Your cultural tour of St. Martin's Dutch and French sides include sun catching on Orient and Grand Case Beaches, the latter of which is a Mecca for the gourmands of this world. Creole charm oozes from the buzzing market with its stalls of traditional dishes and piquant flavors. Marigot is the French capital, established in the 18th century as a center for the sugar cane industry.
Fort Louis Marina is bright and overlooked by the eponymous 1789 fort, while old Creole houses in the backstreets exude ambiance. Not far away, the ruins of the 1772 Saint Jean Sugar Plantation are stunning, while at Hope Estate Archaeological Site you can see ruins dating from 550 BCE. St Maarten Museum in the Dutch area of Philipsburg is dedicated to retracing the island's history.