The people on Schinoussa live off traditional fishing and farming, and because it is a quite fertile island for the Cyclades, they grow and produce wine and breed cattle. More and more people are getting involved with tourism, but it will take a long time before they can rely on it, if ever.The island's main feature is its beautiful views wherever you turn. You can see Santorini and Ios from here, for example. In Chora there is a folklore museum.
The rest is just sea and the occasional church. Schinoussa has 17 beaches, and since there is no traffic, you'll have to walk to them. Which shouldn't be too hard since the island is small and relatively flat. Remember to bring water, though, since it can get really hot.
The nearest islands with airports are Naxos and Paros, and from there you can get a ferryboat. Be careful on the day of departure - if its too windy the boats are cancelled. Scinoussa was probably inhabited at least in the 10 century BC. We do not have much knowledge of the island's earliest history because of lack of archaeological evidence.
The Venetians owned the island from the 13th to the 16th century, and the island was probably inhabited then. For some time, the monastery of the Virgin Mary (Panagia) on Amorgos owned Schinoussa. During the Turkish rule (16th to 19th century), it served as a pirate nest.
