Most people come to Saint Lucia aboard cruise ships. The island has a stereotypical Caribbean island feel. There are idyllic beaches, tropical scenery, and, the requisite amount of colorful, paper-umbrella-topped beverages.

But, Saint Lucia has a few uniquenesses:

1. Banana plantations are a great way to see life on Saint Lucia without hordes of tourists. The cultivation of the yellow fruit is still the largest industry on the island, with tourism a close second. Some plantations offer tours, which include, of course, banana samples.

2. The Sulfur Springs, located outside the city of Soufriere, are another attraction worth looking into (literally). This is the only volcano in the world that you can actually drive into.

3. The Piton's are spectacular rocks shaped almost like perfect triangles. The coral reef on which the rocks sit is a great place for snorkeling and diving.

The number of cruise ships that make port calls in Saint Lucia makes it easy to get there. But there is more to see than sun and sand.