As the Capital of the British Virgin Islands, Road Town is a popular vacation destination, often visited via yacht charter. The city surrounds Road Bay, as if the water itself was the downtown area, and essentially, it is. Road Bay, with its harbors, is the center of marine activity, including the sailing of ships and water sports.
Road Town includes the Ferry Dock, Main Street, Wickham's Cay, Wickham's Cay II, and Port Purcell.
Ferry Dock: Located on the port side of the harbor, expect a crowd as ferries from other islands arrive and depart regularly, carrying tourists from around the globe.
Main Street: Pressed against the mountainside, you'll find Main Street, which boasts an array of shops, boutiques, and restaurants. The Caribbean feel is made complete with the many West Indian buildings complete with red tin roofs.
Wickham's Cay: The Tortola cruise ship dock is located here and the area adjoins Main Street with all of its shops. The Village Cay Marina is an excellent docking location to explore the area on foot. The Village Cay Restaurant is right on the water and features fresh seafood, such as Mahi-Mahi and Wahoo.
Wickham's Cay II: Yacht charter guests can dock at The Moorings in order to go on land for touring or getting provisions. The Riteway Supermarket is a ten-minute walk from the “A” dock. Dining here includes The Moorings Mariner Inn Restaurant, which offers burgers and rotis for lunch and elegant dinner choices; Charlie's, a dockside eatery which features Italian and Caribbean meals; and DeliFrance, featuring French breads and deli meats and cheese.
Port Purcell: Located across the bay from Wickham Cay II, Port Purcell is the port for large and cargo ships for Tortola. There are several stores for provisions, including One Mart Superstore. Enjoy the popular restaurants here, such as the popular C&F Restaurant, which serves fresh seafood, such as grilled swordfish, as well as barbeque and West Indian cuisine.
So head to Road Town on Tortola and enjoy a vacation that is both wet and dry. You will enjoy shopping, dining, boating, and water sports – all here in the capital of the British Virgin Islands!
Martin Wynn
