Sun worshippers will have a hard time finding a better place to top up their tans. The exuberant West Indies island of Antigua boasts as many beaches as days in the year so even the most picky of holiday makers will have little problem finding their perfect spot. And let's face it, when you've got sun-drenched, palm-lined beaches with the Caribbean sea lapping gently at the shore, there's not too much to find fault with whilst on holiday here.

But simply spending your Antiguan holiday lounging around on the beach would be nothing short of criminal. Since gaining its independence from the British in 1981, the island has come alive as a tourist hotspot to rival the likes of Barbados and Jamaica and with the plethora of underwater and dry land attractions to keep you amused, it's not hard to see why.

Reminders of Antigua's colonial past lie scattered around Falmouth and English Harbour on the south coast. Nelson's Dockyard was once home to the British Navy who ruled the roost since the 1600s but today it's been morphed into a living museum where visiting yachts get a bit of a makeover before heading on their way. Around the seafront area, a number of colonial buildings jostle with several ruined forts to grab your attention. Across the harbour sits Shirley Heights with more ruined defences and an old cemetery. Head into the hills for the gigantic military complex known as the Great Fort George.

The island's capital, St John's, is bursting with the smells and sounds of the West Indies despite proving a favoured destination with many a cruise stopover passengers and holiday makers alike. The waterfront complexes of Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay provide a variety of shops, restaurants and galleries but for something a little more educational, head to the Museum of Antigua & Barbuda with its collection of stone pestles and conch-shell tools as well as a reconstructed Arawak house and background information on the colonial period and the fight for independence.

Those holiday makers with a sweet tooth can catch a glimpse of partly restored sugar estate and enjoy a quick run through Antigua's sugary past at Betty's Hope. The island is also home to numerous decaying mills, left behind as relics from its colonial past.

And for a great panoramic over the island and fantastic views over the roaring Caribbean waters to the small series of islands beyond, head to Devil's Bridge – actually a piece of rock whose underside was worn away by years of swirling surf.

But once you've exhausted the overland sights then strap on the diving mask and prepare to be amazed at the spectacular underwater world on offer. The island is surrounded by fabulous coral reefs and a number of wrecks for experienced divers to exlore.

And of course, it's impossible to forget Antigua's prowess when it comes to cricket. The Antigua Recreation Ground is the main cricketing area but the beach also makes for impromptu games at any time of the day.

But the Recreation Ground is also the setting for the ten-day Carnival every summer. Steel bands and DJ's entertain the hedonistic crowds determined to forsake sleep until they collapse of exhaustion.

Highlights include the Panorama steel-band contest on the Friday of the last weekend and the Calypso Monarch competition on Sunday night. The Monday morning is dedicated to celebrating the emancipation of the islands in 1834 with people spilling out onto the streets from four o’clock in the morning. The final Tuesday is then the final parade before people catch up on some much needed sleep.

Antigua is certainly modern enough to cater for the creature comforts of those who like a bit of pampering but it also offers plenty of scope to go wandering through cacti to unravel its colonial history. So unless great beaches, great diving,fantastic hotels, the odd spot of cricket and a bit of hedonistic revelry have you running for your bedroom, this charming little island is a thriving example of how good things can come in very small packages.