/Barbados

In its British Empire days, Barbados was known as Little England. It was the first colony to declare war in 1939 and cheered Britons with a cable that read: "Don't worry. Little England is with you."

Today, the island is independent but still cherishes Anglo-Saxon civility, cricket and high tea. After 350 years of colonization, Britain has left its mark and added much to the beguiling charm of "Little England in the Tropics."

The capital city, Bridgetown, sports a Trafalgar Square in its downtown heart--complete with a bronze statue of British hero Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson.

Green fields and hills further emphasize the Britishness of Barbados. Bajans, as the islanders call themselves, take education seriously. The literacy rate is close to 100 percent.