<em>Jay Lloyd's Getaway: </em> Virgin Gorda, BVI

This week, with the upcoming Columbus Day weekend, Jay Lloyd is thinking of a Caribbean getaway in the wake of one of the explorer's lesser known discoveries.

by KYW's Jay Lloyd

Because it's Columbus Day weekend, I'm thinking longingly of an obscure, but spectacularly beautiful British island in the Caribbean whose name translates in English to "fat virgin."  To the eye of Christopher Columbus, that was the island's contour as he saw it from his seaward approach.

Virgin Gorda is part of the British Virgin Islands, and is distinguished by unique rock formations that create shimmering and warm beachfront pools known as "the baths."

The island is a haven for visiting sailors, many of whom charter boats in nearby Tortola or St. Thomas to cruise through the island chain.

But the island, with its stunning resorts including the Bitter End Yacht Club, which hosts a resort hotel and a marina, can easily be reached by ferry from Tortola.

A must-stop in Virgin Gorda is the "Top of the Baths." It's a restaurant and bar that rises high above the pristine beaches and offers an incredible view of all the nearby islands and a freshwater pool for dips between cocktails and dinner.

Tortola can be reached via US Airways from Philadelphia, connecting through San Juan, and then a ferry to Virgin Gorda.

(Photo by Jay Lloyd)