We flew into Anguilla on a Saturday afternoon, so Sunday was our first full day on the island. We hit the beach early, and were just starting to think about lunch when we heard the music start up at the Sunshine Shack, just down the beach from our resort, Aurora Anguilla. We walked down the beach, and grabbed a rum punch. The bar was humming, and Garvey was working the grill, mixing the scent of grilled chicken with the ocean breeze. Omari Banks was doing an acoustic show that afternoon, and while we waited for the show to start, who would walk up to the bar but his father, Bankie…
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When we first visited Anguilla in 2007, Bankie Banx’s Dune Preserve was much different than we see today. Back in November 2007, the bar was expanding, and construction was in full force. My daughter was 10 years old, and spotted Bankie on the beach, prompting one of our favorite photos. Over the years, we have returned again and again, seeing many changes, but the atmosphere remained the same, making it one of the best beach bar in the Caribbean. Take a look at the changes to the Dune over the years. 2007 2009 2010 2014 2020 2023 Watch for “Bankie Banx King of the Dune,” the story of Bankie Banx…
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When people describe Anguilla, they often rave about the beaches and the food, but not to be overlooked is the music. Live music is widely available on the island, and the most famous Anguillan musician has to be Bankie Banx. Bankie plays regular at his now famous Dune Preserve, but once a year, he hosts “Moonsplash,” an event bringing in even more great music to the island. Moonsplash began as a moving music festival with the first concerts on Sandy Island off St. Martin and in St. Barths. In 1995, Moonsplash landed in its permanent home at The Dune Preserve on Anguilla. Over the years, Moonsplash has featured many of…
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All the film is back from the lab, all the digital images processed, and even our bags are unpacked (even the camera bag!), and our 2014 Anguilla Trip Report is complete. This year we visited many old friends, and made many new. It remains our favorite island in the Caribbean and every day I wish I was still there. Walk with us along the beach at Rendezvous Bay. Dine at our favorite restaurants, including SandBar, Smokey’s, Picante, Geraud’s, and many more. Shop for great gifts at Limin’ Boutique and Irie Life. Dive below the surface with Shoal Bay Scuba. Browse through all our posts from over the years: [the_grid name=”Anguilla”]…
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There are a lot of lists of the best beaches in the Caribbean and the best beaches in Anguilla. When it comes to Anguilla, you usually hear about Shoal Bay, and don’t get me wrong, it is a beautiful beach. So is Meads Bay, and Cove Bay, and Maunday’s Bay. I could keep going, but my favorite beach on the island remains Rendezvous Bay. It was our first beach on the island. When we first visited in 2007, we arrived after dark. I remember walking out on the balcony and seeing loads of stars, hearing the waves, and seeing bits of the surf in the distance, but it wasn’t until the…
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A trip to Anguilla is not complete without a stop at Bankie Banx’s Dune Preserve. We first visited in 2007, and although our kids were young, ages 8 and 10, we forced them to stay up late so we could hear Bankie play. The place has such a relaxed feel to it, that it’s hard to pass up. It’s kind of like being at your own beach place. It’s just so easy to hang out there, and the views of St. Martin never get old. The sign on the road has been updated since 2007. And it’s a bit more built up since then. This year, we popped in when…
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Fortune smiled upon us as we happened to be on Anguilla at the same time as the video release of Omari Banks’ new single “No Point to Prove,” featuring Peetah Morgan of Morgan Heritage. If you’ve been to Anguilla, you no doubt know Omari Banks. He is the son of Bankie Banx, an Anguillan legend, and it’s clear that the apple does not fall far from the tree as far as musical talent goes. However, Omari hasn’t been a musician all his life. For fifteen years, he was a professional cricket player, and made history as the first player from Anguilla to play Test cricket for the West Indies. He…
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We’re back from a very restful stay at the CuisinArt Resort on the beautiful island of Anguilla. This was our fourth trip to the island, and our second stay at the CuisinArt. The resort is located on Rendezvous Bay with views of Ste. Maarten/St. Martin in the distance. This two-mile stretch of beach is great for beach walkers, and those who like to stop for a drink or two are just a stroll away from Bankie Banx’s Dune Preserve and Garvey’s Sunshine Shack. We sent out twenty rolls of film for processing today, and also shot loads of digital, so stay tuned over the next few weeks for posts from…
