When I first started writing the series on my favorite beach bars, Smokey’s at the Cove, Cove Bay, Anguilla, was at the top of my list. I have waited to write this, only because I feared not being able to do it justice. Smokey’s was the bar that made me fall in love with the Caribbean. There was something about walking along the beach to find yourself at a bar with amazing views, great food and drink, friendly people, and what sealed the deal – live music – and not just live music, but a Caribbean version of favorite Christmas songs. It was our on first trip to Anguilla in…
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One great thing about staying at the Four Seasons on Nevis is that there are great beach bars located a short walk from the resort. We arrived on Nevis just as the sun was setting, and after changing clothes, we headed out in search of something to eat. We had started the day with a 3:00 a.m. wakeup call and a 5:40 a.m. flight out of Chicago. By the time we hit Nevis, we were ready for dinner and an early bedtime. We started walking south (counterclockwise if you look at Nevis as a clock face), and ran into a string of bars. However, it was dark by then, and…
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I had heard about Gwen’s Reggae Grill before our first trip to Anguilla in 2007, but we didn’t actually make it there until 2009. Gwen’s is located somewhat apart from the hustle and bustle of bars and restaurants that you immediately see when you arrive at Shoal Bay East, a gorgeous stretch of sand and water on Anguilla’s north coast. To get to Gwen’s, you walk east along the beach… …and then start watching for signs, which will confirm you’re headed in the right direction. Soon you will see an oasis of great food and drink, Gwen’s Reggae Grill. This was Gwen’s in 2009. Sadly, Gwen’s had a fire on…
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I’ve said many times that the Anguilla Guide Forum never steers me wrong. It’s a great resource on travel to Anguilla, where to stay, where to eat, and pretty much everything you need to know and more about travel to the island. After our 2009 trip, the forum was buzzing with talk about a new place in Sandy Ground called SandBar. SandBar is owned and operated by 4-Diamond Award winning Executive Chef Denise Carr, formerly the Executive Chef at Cusinart Resort and Spa, where in 2007 she managed the National Culinary Team of Anguilla, and her husband, Lenox “Joash” Proctor. The food and drink is what you would expect from…
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The secret is out. Well, it wasn’t really a secret. You don’t get the honor of #1 Beach Bar in the World without having been noticed by a few people. When we first visited Anguilla in November of 2007, we stayed at the Cuisinart Resort, just steps from the best beach bar in the world, Dune Preserve. We learned of Dune Preserve when while planning for the trip, we discovered the music of Bankie Banx, who is one of the island’s most famous residents. We made our children, ages 8 and 10, stay up long past their vacation bedtime (which is even later than their regular bedtime), to go see…
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When you tell people you just got back from Nevis, they either ask, “Where is Nevis?” or “Did you get a Killer Bee from Sunshine’s?” Sunshine’s Beach Bar is an institution on Pinney’s Beach, just a short walk from the Four Seasons. We arrived on Nevis just as the sun was setting, and after being shown to our rooms, we changed clothes and headed to Sunshine’s. Looking around Sunshine’s, you can see the love of the patrons over the years. The ceiling is covered with flags from schools, states, and organizations. It was clear that a number of Wisconsin residents had visited! The walls are covered in license plates from…
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It has been said that food always tastes better with your feet in the sand. That’s true, and it tastes even better if you can have a rum punch in your hand while you watch them pull your meal from the sea. At Da Conch Shack in the Blue Hills area of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, you can experience just that. We discovered Da Conch Shack on our second trip to Providenciales in 2008. We visited the Blue Hills area in 2006 when we went to the Turks and Caicos Conch Festival, but we did not make it to Da Conch Shack. We visited on our trip in 2008,…
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The Eastern Caribbean Dollar is the official currency of eight of the nine members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. Those countries include Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The exception is the British Virgin Islands, whose official currency is the U.S. dollar. We have been able to use either U.S. currency or the E.C. in Anguilla and Nevis. You just have to let the vendor know which you intend to use so that they can give you the correct amount. However, keep in mind that if you use a cash machine on these islands, it…
