“Barbuda, the land where time stands still.” My husband laughed as the airport agent made this comment while checking our passports and boarding passes in the Antigua airport. In response, the agent replied, “No, I’m serious. It’s really beautiful there.” We had hoped that Barbuda would live up to those expectations. I had read about the 17-mile-long beach, the bird sanctuary, and the natural beauty of this island. We were coming for just that experience, one without tourist attractions, without crowds, with just the sound of the waves and the feel of soft sand beneath our feet. Barbuda is located in the eastern Caribbean, just 38 miles to the north…
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Every good trip starts with a travel planner. The way to get the most out of your trip is to do your homework, to learn about the island, the people, and the places to see so that you make the most of your limited time there. When it comes to vacations, most of us don’t have months to explore. The key to experiencing the best of your destination is to have a travel plan. Here’s what I put together in planning our trip to Antigua and Barbuda. The Travel Planner Those of you who have read my blog, may have seen my Travel Planning Tips series, and know that I…
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We’re just back from Antigua and Barbuda! Over the next few weeks, stay tuned for details of our trip, including stays at Barbuda’s Lighthouse Bay Resort, and Rosewood’s Jumby Bay, a private island resort just minutes from Antigua. We have loads of photos to sort through so check back often!
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Come along for a taste of our favorite dishes from the Caribbean islands. You’ll be tempted by the refreshing conch salad of the Turks & Caicos islands, with the conch pulled from the sea right in front of your eyes. Explore the foodie paradise of the island of Anguilla, with the best chefs of the world preparing everything from escargot to churros. Don’t miss Rodney Elliott’s fabulous johnny cakes on the island of Nevis. Join us on this brief tour of some of the best restaurants in the Caribbean! [the_grid name=”Food”] Featured restaurants include: Da Conch Shack, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Pusser’s Marina Cay, BVI Hole in the Wall,…
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In celebration of Earth Day, we take a trip to the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands for a visit to GreenVI Glass Studio. GreenVI is a non-profit organization dedicated to recycling and other green projects in the islands. GreenVI’s Glass Studio takes used bottles and transforms them into beautiful gifts. There is a selection of pendants, paperweights, and other creations from which to choose, however, if you ask, you can be treated to a made-to-order special creation. We had already picked out two lovely turtle pendants when our host offered to make one to our daughter’s specifications and we were able to watch to whole process. We watched as…
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I love to collect postcards. When I travel on business, I stop into local antique stores and take a look around, especially for postcards from the Caribbean. Many of these cards date back to a time when zip codes weren’t used. You just wrote the city, or city and state, and your card found its way to the right place. The images draw me in, but I love to read the messages. Some are very short and sweet. Some cram as much as they can in that tiny little space. Some reflect the time they were written more than others. The places have changed over the years, and our…
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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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When we look toward traveling to a new island, one of the first choices we make is the hotel, and picking the perfect hotel for your family is no easy task. Picking the perfect resort, villa, or hotel requires research and consideration of what you need, and more importantly, what you don’t need, to make your vacation a happy one. 1. Room or Suite? Anyone traveling with their family knows how difficult, and how expensive it can be, to find the perfect accommodations. Our family of four started traveling out of the country when the kids were 6 and 8 years of age. When the kids are that young, you…
