Article by Adam Waxman.
The Caribbean is bejewelled with islands of soft white sands, turquoise waters, lush green trees, vibrant tropical fruits and flowers, and warm smiles as embracing as the sun. Here, the options for unplugging and unwinding are endless.
Barbados…where Relaxation is key.
Relaxation via stunning sunsets in Barbados photo courtesy of @sebastiendoze
In Barbados we have no need to rush, no need to worry. Checking in at The Crane Residential Resort, our bags are whisked away, and we’re welcomed with a tropical rum punch elixir to let time…slow…down.
Our suite is adorned with hardwood flooring and mahogany furnishings, including a handcrafted four-poster king-sized bed, a fully equipped kitchen and Jacuzzi in the marble and coral stone bathroom. Wooden shudders open up to our own private pool and patio with a view of the wind-swept ocean, frothing the cliffs on which we are perched.
On the private beach, we sip rum with pineapple juice and nutmeg from a freshly cut coconut while sampling today’s catch of a grilled, lightly spiced marlin. The Barbadian waters are so clean and clear that we shuttle to Bridgetown for a Tiami catamaran ride that sails us to a crystalline bay for a swim with turtles. We laze in the water while enormous turtles approach alongside us. Seduced by the aquatic views we dive deeper with Roger’s Scuba Shack to glide along the seafloor through multiple shipwrecks teaming with cosmically coloured fish and coral.
Before returning to the Crane, we tour the oldest rum distillery in the world, Mount Gay Rum, to taste the island’s ubiquitous liquor. As the sun dips below the horizon, whistling frogs chime from the bushes ushering in the starry night. The clock seems to know no hour. Here, we are unwound and replenished.
Saint Lucia…for cuisine!
A Cacao Pod at Emerald Farm, St. Lucia – photo courtesy of Adam Waxman
Saint Lucia is an Aphrodisiac. A culinary patois of British, French and Indian cuisines elevates local ingredients with unique creativity. From the terrace of Jade Mountain, overlooking jungle and sea, we indulge in a tantalizing menu of green banana hash and toasted coconut soup; and cumin-infused steak with mango souskai and charred chayote. Bold, imaginative flavour combinations excite our palates.
Tucked into the rain forest, a bean-to-bar experience at Project Chocolat begins at an outdoor bar and food court in which every item is an expression of the ingredients from the surrounding estate. Here, we drink chocolate and rum while indulging in a smorgasbord of cocoa barbeque chicken wings, white chocolate mashed potatoes, cocoa-seasoned burger sliders in cocoa infused buns, and mac ‘n’ cheese sprinkled with cocoa. In the seedery, we graft our very own cacao plants, before arriving at our individual stations with mortar and pestle in hand to pound cocoa into paste in order to create our own signature chocolate.
Sailing along the coast of St. Lucia’s lush green mountains and placid blue water, we arrive at a torch-lit beach enveloped in a golden hue for a dinner of “conservation cuisine,” featuring the notorious Lion Fish—delicately steamed with a peppy green mango salad; pan-grilled and lavished with coconut and carrot-ginger sauce; and a light but hearty stew seasoned with cinnamon and chilies.
Exotic flavours abound, and spectacular panoramic views of the Pitons and the jungle and the sea from an open-air suite at Anse Chastanet are so vibrant. It’s like the island has been photo-shopped. There’s an occasional call and response of birds in the trees, but otherwise, stillness and a luxurious quiet.
The Calmness of Anguilla
Lobster Lunch at Scilly Cay, Anguilla photo courtesy of Adam Waxman
Anguilla is an idyllic white halo of sand with laid-back vibes, and an endless selection of beach bars and restaurants boasting exotic Caribbean cuisines. There are more than 100 restaurants for 15,900 residents. Competition demands high quality food and service. The menu at Veya Restaurant showcases local seafood in styles as varied as Creole, Moroccan, Vietnamese and Indian. Grilled watermelon with poached shrimp, sliced pecans, fresh mint and conch fritters drizzled with lime chili aioli rev up our taste buds for giant grilled lobster with passion fruit mustard sauce partnered with gingered sweet potato and toasted garlic spinach.
Each hotel is a destination. Ultimacy Villa Retreat overlooks the renowned and pristine Shoal Bay Beach. Private villas with butler service and personal chefs attract Hollywood A-listers who want seclusion, anonymity and all the joys of luxury.
Off the beaten path, and off the shore, is the restaurant at Scilly Cay. Upon arrival by boat, I am handed a colossal rum punch in which the “punch” is just for colour. Now it’s time to lay in the sand, swim and snorkel. Lunch is served. Grilled on the barbeque, lemon curry crayfish are ample and tantalizing, and a “small” sweet lobster weighs in at six pounds. A “large” Anguillan lobster can weigh as much as 12 pounds!
The cognoscenti who seek calmness know that in Anguilla, city-stress takes a hike. This is the quiet island with miles of unbelievable fine white sand, luxurious beach lounges, sailing, snorkeling and bliss.
History and Fun…in Antigua and Barbuda
Watch the sailboats from your suite at South Point Antigua – photo courtesy of South Point Antigua
Arriving in Antigua on a Sunday, we head over to Shirley Heights Lookout on English Harbour to watch the majestic sunset. The sounds of a steel-drum band are mesmerizing, and we’re suddenly swaying to the music. The crowd on this plateau is in the hundreds, and there’s a sense of camaraderie and fun. Everyone knows that this is the best barbecue on the island. The aroma is intoxicating. Ribs, chicken and fish are smoky and lacquered in lip-smacking goodness.
Lounging on my terrace at the ultra-modern South Point Hotel on Falmouth Bay, a vista of world-famous mega yachts is spread out before me. The all-black Maltese Falcon, a 289 ft. clipper sailing yacht rented by the likes of Tom Hanks and Hugh Jackman; the gorgeous Shemara, a 212 ft. motor yacht, its sail soaring into the sky; and many more. A must is a visit to Sheer Rocks. With an extraordinary sense of style, young owners Kate Taylor and Alex Grimley have created a divine restaurant and inn that is terraced on a cliffside, protruding over the rocks right on the sea. A more romantic spot you will not find.
History buffs take time to visit the small Museum of Antigua and Barbuda for an eye-opener of the Island’s past. While onboard the extraordinary Rosehearty, a 183.73 metre yacht, recently sold by Rupert Murdoch for $29 million, I’m told that adventurers from around the world, lured by history, stay here for the intoxicating beauty, and follow their dreams.
Countless exotic Caribbean getaways await, where paradise abounds.
Article by Adam Waxman.
Adam Waxman is a freelance travel and wellness writer, and senior writer for DINE and Destinations magazine.
For over twenty-five years Adam has contributed to various publications in Canada, the US and Japan, including Fodor’s, Lonely Planet, enRoute, Dreamscapes, Nikkei Voice and Hollywood Reporter.
He has been a media liaison for Destination Toronto, Destination Ontario and sole Canadian member of the Japan Advisory Board for inbound tourism to Japan. Adam is also a New York-trained musical theatre actor, and has appeared on film and television, as well as stages from Off-Broadway in New York to the Stratford Festival.
