We first heard St. Lucia before we saw it. Flying in from the States near the midnight hour, we stepped off the prop plane and instantly received a warm welcome from the humid night winds. Just yards away, we could hear the sound of the Caribbean lapping against the shoreline, right off the Vigie Airport runway.

But the next morning we learned what St. Lucia was really about. Jagged peaks clothed in velvety tropical plants. Honey-colored beaches shaded by towering palms. And everywhere, everywhere, colorful blooms and greenery that promised romantic walks in a true garden of Eden.

The two of you will feel like Adam and Eve in this wonderland, a place where every hill, valley, and roadside is a veritable garden. Orange, lime, lemon, mango (over 100 varieties, we learned), breadfruit, plum, and coffee trees cover the landscape. Pineapples sprout alongside the highway. Spices like vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon grow in thick profusion.

But most evident are the bananas. Not just banana trees, but banana plantations. Miles of bananas that stretch to the horizon.

Along with its reputation as a drive-through grocery market, St. Lucia is also abloom with color. Tall flame flowers. Orchids. Hibiscus. Shrimp plants. Like an explosion of a thousand florist shops.

Romance comes easily in such a fertile environment. You'll find plenty of excuses to kiss in the shade of a tall coconut palm, in the spray of a mountainside waterfall, or in a hillside lookout with a view of the mountains rearing from the sea.

Most famous are the Pitons, located in the southwest region of the island. Gros Piton, the shorter but fatter of the two, and Petit Piton are among the Caribbean's most recognizable landmarks.

Travelers in the mood for love--whether that means an exchange of vows, a honeymoon, or a romantic getaway--will find plenty of options on St. Lucia. This fertile environment, overflowing with tropical birds, fragrant blooms, and spectacular scenery, is just what many travelers picture when they imagine a romantic island retreat.

The island itself sets the scene for a romantic excursion by offering not only sun and sand but much more. "I think St. Lucia remains one of the islands in the Caribbean that can really stand out for its uniqueness," says Hilary Modeste, Director of the St. Lucia Tourist Board. "This is reflected in the surveys we take of visitors. St. Lucia is volcanic, with diverse topography, the Pitons, and a volcano --these are some of the things other islands don't have."

The symbols of St. Lucia are the Pitons, rugged mountains that climb from the sea on the island's southwest coast. Couples who enjoy nature will find plenty of diversion in this part of St. Lucia starting with the rain forest. Couples will need a guide to enter the restricted rain forest region, and can sign up for a tour to walk through the dense foliage, swim in a tropical waterfall, and learn more about the plants that make up this fragile ecosystem.

This area is also home to a unique Sulphur Spring volcano, often called the "drive-through volcano." Couples can walk to the edge of the volcano which last erupted two centuries ago. Near the volcano, the Diamond Waterfalls and Gardens are perfect for honeymooners. A flower-lined trail winds to Diamond Waterfalls, a cascade that leaves a spray of "diamond" twinkles suspended in the air. Here steamy mineral baths built among ruins of the first baths commissioned by French King Louis XIV for use by his troops can still be enjoyed by today's travelers.

On the northern end of the island, the capital city of Castries is located near some of the island's top attractions: excellent beaches, the St. Lucia Golf and Country Club , the Friday night Jump Up in the small fishing community of Gros Islet, and Pigeon Point National Landmark. Formerly an island now connected to the mainland by causeway, this site is one of St. Lucia's most popular wedding locations.