Picture this - you, a good book, miles of pristine powder-like sand and brilliant turquoise waters lapping lightly on the shoreline.  This is what awaits you when you stay at the Alexandra Resort in the Turks and Caicos Islands.   

Located on world acclaimed Grace Bay Beach, the Alexandra Resort has a prime location on a stretch of coastline that has won many accolades for its natural beauty.

The Alexandra Resort’s location on Grace Bay Beach is one of its biggest assets and we take it seriously to make sure our guests get the full experience. 

First we start with our idyllic setting - 620 feet of sugar white sand framed by clear, sparkling waters.   Then we’ve added ample chaise lounge chairs and beach umbrellas so everyone can

easily find their own space to comfortably enjoy the surroundings.  Next we add a full-service restaurant - Mango Reef - serving gourmet food at affordable prices on the beach and/or on the expanded beach deck.    Almost every craving you can anticipate can be fulfilled without having to barely move a muscle.   Our beach attendants are ready to serve and ensure you are getting the full Grace Bay Experience.  Whether it is a cold bottle of water, a fresh towel or help arranging water sport activities, our staff is happy to help. 

For the more adventurous - we provide free beach toys and non motorized water sports equipment.   Maybe you want to spend the afternoon snorkeling face-down with the fish or skimming the surface aboard a hobie cat. Whatever your preferences are, we are here to meet and exceed them.   You can fill out our on-line Activities Planner before you arrive so we can have everything ready for you! http://www.alexandraresort.com/resort_experience/activities_planner.html.

It’s the perfect beginner’s alternative to surfing.

IN THE 1960S, surfing instructors in Hawaii discovered a great way to increase tips: While their tourist-students lay prone on boards trying to catch waves, the instructors would hang cameras on their necks, stand upright on surfboards, and use long canoe paddles to maneuver out to take photos of clients in the surf, creating the perfect souvenir. “Stand-up paddling,” as this mode of transit became known, remained a surf culture oddity until about 10 years ago, when a handful of professional surfers began using the technique to train. In the past few years, the sport has spread beyond surfers — and become wildly popular. “Everyone has a fantasy to be a surfer, [and] stand-up paddling makes it easier,” says Rob Casey, author of Stand Up Paddling: Flatwater to Surf and Rivers and an instructor in Washington state. “The learning curve is relatively easy and gear requirements are minimal.” And while stand-up boards are more expensive than kayaks — beginner boards, which are wider and heavier than traditional surfboards, start at around $700 — Casey says they’re easier to store and carry and provide better exercise, particularly for the core muscles.

To find out whether stand-up paddling is as easy as advertised, in mid-September I signed up for a private lesson. “I’ve given lessons to people from 4 years old to 70 years old, and I’ve never had someone not be able to stand up,” instructor Dan Cox told me, as he helped me into a life jacket. After a quick dockside intro to the equipment and basic techniques, Cox had me kneel on the board, paddle a few yards into the river, and creep up into a standing position. (Yes, it’s really that simple: Beginner boards are designed to be super stable.) For 90 minutes Cox showed me different stroke techniques. I’d worn a swimsuit and had dreaded the thought of plunging into the Charles on a cool fall day, but I stayed upright and dry through the lesson.

Part of the sport’s popularity comes from the fact that, unlike surfing, you can do it nearly anywhere: Rivers, lakes, and oceans all make suitable grounds for “SUP,” the acronym by which the sport has become known. But as fall gives way to winter and the Charles turns icy, it’s tempting to find a more hospitable climate for paddling. Here are five experts’ picks on the best places to stand-up paddle.

TURKS AND CAICOS

The big-wave surfing of Dave Kalama, a pro wind-surfer, was featured in the opening scenes of the James Bond film Die Another Day. Along with surfer Laird Hamilton, Kalama stand-up paddled the entire chain of the Hawaiian Islands, a distance he estimates at 250 miles.

WHERE TO PADDLE “I’ve been all over the world, and one place I really like for stand-up paddle boarding is Turks and Caicos. I run a paddle boarding school there on the island of Providenciales. The water is really clear, and the reefs are very alive. You’ll see stingrays and all kinds of fish. The island has trade winds, so you can do downwind paddling. It has mangroves, so you can get protection from the wind to do flat-water paddling. It’s a really versatile area.”

WHERE TO RENT GEAR OR GET A LESSON “The company I work with is called Big Blue [649-946-5034, bigblueunlimited.com]. They have kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkeling, and diving.”

By Daniel McGinn

With the world’s only Conch Festival rapidly approaching to celebrate the long legacy of conch (pronounced “conk”) in these islands, we thought it would be a good time to highlight the culinary and curative benefits of this momentous mollusk.

Conch is probably the first inhabitant of the Turks and Caicos Islands and has deep historical, economical and cultural significance to the people here. 

Anyone who’s visited the Caribbean or even southern Florida will be familiar with conch in popular dishes such as conch chowder, conch salad and conch fritters. The mild flavor and versatile texture of this shellfish means the meat can be used in a wide variety of ways.  And, in Turks and Caicos it is.  

When you visit Turks and Caicos you will be able to enjoy creative conch creations such as grilled conch, conch ceviche, conch burgers, conch wontons, conch spring rolls and conch pasta.   These are dishes you can find on a regular basis.  If you come to the Conch Festival (November 24, 2012) you’ll be able to experience a whole day of nothing but conch.   In past years at the festival there was conch chili, conch carpaccio and even conch ice cream.   Who knows what will be on display this year? Should you miss the Conch Festival, the beachfront Mango Reef Restaurant at the Alexandra Resort has a plethora of Conch and other seafood dishes on the menu.

In addition to tasting great, conch fans know that this sea snail is packed with loads of medicinal benefits and provides one of the highest sources of protein.   All parts of the conch are edible.  Conch is credited with strengthening the immune system, helping fight off symptoms of stress and even keeping lungs healthy (the blowing of the conch shell, which was done as a form of communications, requires a tremendous amount of respiratory capacity).   Perhaps one of the most notable conch-eating benefits is its use as a natural alternative to Viagara.  Legend has it that if you eat the worm-like translucent tube found inside the conch it will work as an aphrodisiac.

The Queen Conch is the type of conch found in Turks and Caicos.   The meat is prepared fresh and also preserved in sea salt and dried.  (There is a folk song here about how the old conch is better than the fresh conch).  Its shell was used as a horn for communications and sometimes as building material and decorative pieces.  

Eating conch is enjoyable and beneficial.  Finding conch is fun and exciting.   When you visit us at Alexandra Resort next, be sure to book an outing with Caicos Dream Tours so you can experience conch in its natural environment.   The team at Caicos Dream Tours will take you out on a snorkeling excursion where you’ll be able to find live conch hiding out in the sea grass slowly inching their way along the sea floor.   It’s an incredible sight. 

Then top off the day, try some conch salad!

The Wine Cellar in Turks and Caicos just announced a creative recycling program for Bambarra Rum, a product that is unique to the Turks and Caicos Islands. 

When you bring back empty bottles of the locally-blended Bambarra Rum you get a free bottle of Bambarra Rum!   OK, you need to bring back 12 bottles - but the rum is good, so it may not be so difficult to do!

Bambarra Rum is as unique as the Turks & Caicos Islands.  It’s named after one of the original settlements in Middle Caicos where a group of African settlers were welcomed after their slave ship, the Trouvadore, wrecked off of East Caicos in 1841. The rum is bottled and blended in Turks and Caicos so it captures the flavor and history of the islands - making it an ideal souvenir as well as a good aperitif!  The rum comes in five different flavors: Gold, Silver, Coconut, Reserve and the top-of-the line Trouvadore. 

For more information on Bambarra Rum - click here.   Better yet - visit the Turks and Caicos and taste for yourself.  Alexandra Resort's Mango Reef Restaurant features the rum in a host of creative cocktails that you can enjoy by the pool, on the beach or watching the sunset on your own terrace in our spacious, oceanfront suites!

The Turks and Caicos Islands, a string of 40 different islands and cays located in the West Indies, are an excellent vacation spot at any time of year. These islands have beautiful weather year-round, with temperature ranging from 85 to 90 degrees between June and October and 80 to 84 degrees from November to May, and 350 days of sunshine in an average year. If you’re in an area where fall is chilly and dreary, the Turks and Caicos Islands are just the place to enjoy some beautiful weather and get away from it all for awhile. When you get there, here are a few of the fun activities you’ll be able to enjoy.

• Snorkel, SCUBA, or SNUBA. The Turks and Caicos Islands are an excellent place for snorkeling and diving. Grand Turk Island in particular is well known among divers for the coral reef wall that runs parallel to the island. West Caicos also has spectacular coral reefs and underwater rock walls. Another fascinating dive opportunity is presented by the shipwrecks, some hundreds of years old, off the shores of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Snorkelers will enjoy the government established snorkeling trails that allow snorkelers to view coral gardens and come into close contact with the area’s amazing specimens of marine life. Want something more challenging than snorkeling, but you’re not quite ready for SCUBA diving? Try SNUBA (surface nexus underwater breathing apparatus) that allows you to explore the ocean at a depth of 20 feet. SNUBA is an exciting new sport that is appropriate for ages 8 and up.
• Take a glass bottom boat tour. If you can’t or don’t want to swim, you can still explore the undersea beauty in the waters around the Turks and Caicos Islands with a glass bottom boat tour. Several companies in the Turks and Caicos Islands now offer glass bottom boat tours. This is an activity that the entire family can participate in. Non-swimmers will be able to see the coral reefs and marine life through the clear bottom of the boat, and snorkelers can hop into the water and do some exploring of their own. The tour boats provide snorkeling equipment and drinks.
• Go windsurfing or kiteboarding. Want a thrill or a challenge? Try windsurfing or kiteboarding on Providenciales. Here you can find PASA certified instructors and rental equipment that will allow you to experience flying with the wind or water. The climate and water conditions on Providenciales are perfectly suited to these exciting sports.

Traveling to the Turks and Caicos Islands in the fall may also allow you to find special deals. For instance, the Alexandra Resort has several fall specials: the fourth night free offer and the Caribbean Wine and Food Festival package, but this must be booked before the end of October.  Also, Air Turks & Caicos is offering their Autumn-Matic fare sale: $20 off each way, for a total savings of $40, for any round trip ticket purchased between October 1st and November 30th.  With the great savings and the beautiful weather, fall is a perfect time to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands!

(Thank you to Ashley Bennett for the article)

It has always been convenient for Americans to travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands.   For one, we use the US dollar - so there is no need to worry about currency conversion.  Secondly, getting here is a synch with direct flights from major US cities and just over an hour from Miami, 3 hours from New York or 3.5 hours from Toronto.  And, English is our common language! Now there’s even another convenient development - the US Government opened a Consular Affairs Office in Providenciales this month.

We know that you won’t be making a special trip to Turks and Caicos because of this  - but knowing that the U.S. has an official presence on our islands makes all of us feel reassured. 

"With the opening of this office, we are celebrating the strength of the ties between the United States and the Turks and Caicos Islands," said Mr. John Dinkelman, Chargé d’Affaires for the U.S. "ties that unite us through our common concerns for tourism and the safe travel of our citizens."

Dinkelman, who was here for the grand opening ceremony, pointed out that roughly 3,000 American citizens reside in Turks and Caicos and over 700,000 are expected to visit in 2013, so the timing is ideal for the establishment of a permanent facility in Providenciales.

So, as you plan your Fall/Winter vacation - keep in mind all the travel conveniences a trip to Turks and Caicos has to offer.  In addition to the new US Consular Affairs Office, there are the short flights and the fact that we share the time zone with the Eastern sea board, same currency and same language as America.  But, perhaps the biggest convenience of all is not what we have in common but what sets up apart.  Our mesmerizing beaches are luxurious but also relaxing and are only a few steps from the spacious, beachfront suites of the Alexandra Resort.   Our setting, staff and services will make your next vacation easy and unforgettable.  Come see for yourself - be one of the 700,000 Americans who visit us this year, but do enjoy the privacy of Alexandra Resort while you are at it.

The Alexandra Resort and Spa was designed with the family in mind. Nothing better illustrates this than our spacious rooms, tastefully decorated and available in a range of configurations.  We hope you'll enjoy this brief slideshow we've prepared to help you get a better feel for the accommodations at the Alexandra Resort and Spa and maybe even a little inspiration to come to Turks and Caicos on your next vacation. 

This slideshow made with Smilebox

As the world celebrates the European win of the 39th annual Ryder Cup it’s a good time to bring to light a special golf offer in Turks and Caicos.   The Provo Golf Club, a Karl Lytton designed course located minutes away from the Alexandra Resort, is offering a kids-play-free special when they play a round with an adult after 10am.

The 18-hole championship course, which is frequently described as one of best in the Caribbean, has hosted some major regional tournaments - including the Caribbean Amateur Championships and its own version of a Ryder Cup.   Even with this international attention, playing golf often gets overshadowed as a vacation activity by the exceptional beach and watersports we have here.  With the world-renowned Grace Bay Beach at its front door, the Provo Golf Club has stiff competition for the attention of visitors.  However, those that venture onto the course are well-rewarded.

The course boasts lush fairways and immaculate greens and has a natural, rugged design that combines a great test of golf with the natural flora and fauna of the islands. The layout is excellent from beginners through low handicappers, as there are four sets of tees for all golfing levels.  The club’s full service pro-shop is equipped with premium TaylorMade golf clubs for rental as well as top-of-the-line equipment and attire for sale.   Lessons are available from the club pro and multi-round discount packages are available for adults.  

At Provo Golf Club, playing golf is a great family activity even when you are on vacation.  Golf imparts integrity, discipline, and sportsmanship, as well as providing good exercise.  In golf you are your own referee, you call your own penalties and keep your own score, which teach the importance of taking responsibility - an excellent lesson for kids of all ages.   With golf, differences in age and acumen are irrelevant.  Multiple generations can play together, enjoying the aesthetically pleasing and competitively stimulating environment.  And finally there’s the golf cart - we all know how much kids love driving golf carts.  In fact, in addition to the beautiful course, there is a putting green and chipping area on site too, which is good for people who may not want to go out on the 'real course' and gives kids a chance to learn the game in a more controlled way. 

One of the nice things about the Ryder Cup - in addition to providing three days of gripping golf where the world’s best golfers from the United States and Europe display their skills - is that there’s no monetary reward.  The competition is purely about the love of the sport, the pride of winning and being your best.  This is also a great family value to impart and share.  

With all these altruistic attributes of golf we are almost forgetting to mention the best benefit of golfing in Turks and Caicos - afterwards you can plunge into the sea just across the street with your child. Reward yourselves for a job well done on the course with a refreshing smoothie at the serviced beach at The Alexandra.

The Alexandra Resort, located on world famous Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos Islands, today launched its Indulge and Enjoy booking promotion timed around the Caribbean Food and Wine Festival to be held in Turks and Caicos from November 1 to 3, 2012. 

The second annual Caribbean Food and Wine Festival combines some of the island’s best culinary creations with leading wine makers and celebrity chefs from the United States in the luxurious, relaxing setting of the Turks and Caicos Islands.  To further entice participation in the gourmet gala, the Alexandra is offering the Indulge and Enjoy promotion, providing 25 percent off on oceanfront suites and a breakfast credit for the beachfront Mango Reef restaurant.

The second annual Caribbean Food and Wine Festival, taking place over three days in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, will include a five-course welcome dinner with wine and food pairings prepared by the participating wine makers and celebrated chefs as well as a Gourmet Safari which will have guests travel to various restaurants in Providenciales throughout the meal. New York celebrity chef John DeLucie is headlining the welcome dinner with pairings from vintners Tuck Beckstoffer, Duckpond cellars, Terlato Wines and La Sirena Wines will round off the delightful dinner with expert pairings. There will also be tasting events throughout the weekend featuring gourmet chocolates, cheeses, seafood, meats and local favorites as well as the first ever “Street Food Fair” showcasing the expert grilling and barbeque techniques of more than 15 chefs from the island.

Indulge and Enjoy Caribbean Food & Wine Festival Special from The Alexandra

The Indulge and Enjoy booking promotion is for reservations made directly with the resort for a minimum of four nights in a deluxe oceanview studio.   Guests who book this from now until October 31, 2012 will receive a complimentary upgrade to a deluxe one-bedroom oceanview suite along with a USD $10 breakfast voucher per person per day.  The resort’s complimentary concierge service will help guests organize their festival agenda.  For more information e-mail info@alexandraresort.com  or visit www.alexandraresort.com.

Lobster season officially opened yesterday (August 15, 2012), which makes this favorite treat a part of the Turks and Caicos Islands menu again.

Last year, acting on advice from fishermen and the Fisheries Advisory Committee, the governor’s Advisory Council decided to postpone the beginning of lobster season by two weeks past the usual opening date of Aug. 1 in order to allow lobster stocks time to reproduce.  The season will through March 31, 2013.

The first day of the new season in the country is known as “the lobster grab,” when hundreds of fishermen rush out in an attempt to catch the bounty lobster population.

Lobster is considered a must have for fine dining in the islands and is largely used by restaurants. Local chefs are famous for their spiny lobster dishes — cooked in nearly every style imaginable. Economically, the lobster fishery is the most important marine resource in the country and has played an integral part in the community for generations.

It is an extremely important industry, centered mainly in South Caicos, although also largely available on all the other islands. The Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) grows to about 60 centimeters in length. Like the other 20 members of the genus Panulirus such as the Australian, California, and Chinese spiny lobsters, it lacks the large pinching claws of their Maine lobster relatives.

Its only defenses are the spines that cover its shell, which help protect the lobster from predators. The Caribbean spiny lobster uses a second pair of antennae in sensory perception, which are found folded along side the body when not in use.

The Caribbean Spiny lobster is also a healthy treat, with only 143 calories and 1.9 grams of fat per 3.5-ounce cooked serving. Enjoy it while it lasts.