Bankie Banx just released his latest album, “Just Cool,” and it describes him perfectly. Bankie Banx is perhaps the most famous person from Anguilla, and anyone who has ever been to the island certainly knows who he is. I didn’t become acquainted with Bankie until I began planning our first trip to Anguilla in 2007. Although Bankie had toured in the United States many times before then, and had played at Reggae Sunsplash, he never hit my radar. After I booked the trip, Jimmy Buffett released his “Live In Anguilla” CD/DVD set, and many more people learned of, and grew to love, the music of Bankie Banx. In preparation for…
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Our family loves to travel, but there was a time when we wondered if it was something that we could do. Our son has been diagnosed with expressive-receptive disorder, which impairs his ability to communicate and understand language. Because of this, verbal control wasn’t always an available option. You might physically have to demonstrate something or stop him from doing something. Also, with the limitation on his ability to communicate, he sometimes has behaviors which are characteristic of children with autism, meltdowns when you can’t communicate, seemingly anti-social behaviors, and physical behaviors which may make the TSA a bit concerned, such as sudden physical movements and verbal outbursts. We appreciate…
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We first traveled to Anguilla in 2007. When we arrived, the sun had set at Blowing Point Harbour. By the time we arrived at our destination, the Cuisinart Resort, it was dark outside. We awoke the next morning to a spectacular sunrise over St. Martin, which you will see in the image above. The Cuisinart Golf Resort & Spa, the “Golf” was added with the acquisition of the Temenos Golf Course in 2011, has the envious location centered on beautiful Rendezvous Bay, sheltered by the cove of the bay and St. Martin to the south. As a result, the beach is calm, and has the stunning turquoise water and powder…
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Courtesy of Da Conch Shack, on Providenciales in the Turks & Caicos Islands, is this beautifully prepared conch salad, pulled fresh from the ocean. Once the conch shell hits the work table, they knock a hole in the top of the shell, to expose the tendon which holds the conch inside. In one swift motion with his knife, the tendon is cut, the meat extracted, and the shell is tossed. Be sure to enjoy the delicious result with a cold Carib or one of Da Conch Shack’s fabulous rum punches. For more on Da Conch Shack, and why it is one of our favorite beach bars, read on… For more on…
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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…
