With Pomp and Circumstance, Antigua Honors Obama

On the island of Antigua, Shirley has his Heights, Nelson has his Dockyard, and now Obama has his Mount — radio antenna and all. Last August, in a ceremony brimming with Antiguan pomp and circumstance, Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer made good on his promise to rename his island’s loftiest summit — 1,300-foot Boggy Peak — after the 44th president of the United States. “This great political achievement by Barack Obama resonated with me in a way that I felt compelled to do something symbolic and inspiring for the people of Antigua and Barbuda and the rest of the Caribbean,” he said.

And that’s just what he did. But there’s more to recommend a visit to Mount Obama than just the chance to admire the plaque-affixed stone monument at the base of the hill. The area constitutes the nascent Mount Obama National Park, a woodsy haven aflutter with birds and thick with rare plants. Two hiking trails and a narrow access road squiggle toward the summit. From there, you’ll enjoy a pretty dramatic panorama of Antigua, as well as views of neighboring Montserrat, Redonda, Nevis and Guadeloupe.

Get some fresh advice on where to stay, where to play, and where to eat on Antigua: Check out the January/February issue of CT+L — on newsstands December 22 — for my full report.

With Pomp and Circumstance, Antigua Honors Obama