If you are one of those lucky people who had the foresight to book a vacation to the Turks and Caicos Islands this holiday season, you will soon be very happy.   While visiting Turks and Caicos is always a delight, coming here around the holidays offers some very special experiences.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of relaxing on a beautiful beach with the sun pouring on you and knowing friends and family back home are battling to keep warm.  Our guests at the Alexandra Resort and Spa tell us how transformative it is to get on a plane in the morning with gray skies and frost in the air, and wearing heavy layers of clothing, and get off a few hours later greeted by brilliant sunshine, white sand and the most amazing turquoise waters you’ve ever seen. 

However, while the weather in Turks and Caicos is bound to be a whole lot warmer than almost everywhere else this time of year, the weather is only one reason Turks and Caicos is an ideal vacation spot for Christmas.   The West Indies style of celebrating the holidays is the other. 

The phrase “white Christmas” has a a whole new meaning here.   Instead of snow balls you’ll make sand castles, and instead of looking for reindeer you’ll be watching out for JoJo, our local bottlenose dolphin who can often be spotted swimming close to shore.

Palm trees decorated with Christmas lights, taking in a scuba dive on Christmas morning and walking barefoot along the beach after dinner are all part of the allure of spending the holidays here.  In addition, in Turks and Caicos we celebrate the holiday and our cultural heritage with a special event called Maskanoo.   This year, Maskanoo happens on Dec 26, 2012 and showcases the best of TCI’s cultural background, mixing Junkanoo (taken from Bahamian heritage) with Masquerade to create "Maskanoo".

This year’s event will include a parade along with music, food and cultural items for sale as well as samples of local art and entertainment.

For those who ring in the New Year here, there is a wide range of ways to celebrate: bonfires on the beach, gourmet dinners by candlelight, and rocking parties with music and dancing. 

Throughout the winter, the Club Med resort on Providenciales doesn’t change its clock.  This means the resort has a one-hour time difference from the rest of the island.   On New Year’s Eve this is advantageous because they set off their fireworks at 11 pm local time, effectively giving the rest of the island a prelude fireworks show.   At midnight other resorts normally also have a firework show to bring in the new year, so many people will get to experience two sets of fireworks that evening.

The other local tradition on New Year Eve is the Jump Up.  This is a lively and festive infusion of music, color and excitement that accompany the Junkanoo band.   On a regular basis, a Junkanoo band is like a whirling dervish - full of energy that sweeps you up.  On New Year’s Eve the band plays from midnight to sunrise and has a huge following.    If you decide to do the Jump Up on New Year’s Eve you’re sure to then also do the lie-in the next day! 

Christmas in the Caribbean - it’s something everyone should experience at least once.

Even though it is hot most of the time in Turks and Caicos, a good cup of coffee is always appreciated - whether it is to start the day or to meet up with a friend or just to savor and contemplate life, drinking a good cup of coffee can many any day even better. 

While we encourage our guests at the Alexandra Resort and Spa to enjoy meals on our beach terrace or by the pool and our own Mango Reef Restaurant serves a mean cup of java, we also know that getting out and about can be enjoyable and fun. So, we thought we’d share with you the places we go to enjoy a nice cup of coffee and watch the world go by.

Caicos Bakery

This is Provo’s only French Bakery and we have to admit - one of the reasons this is a good place to enjoy a cup of coffee is because it has THE BEST French pastries.   What’s a cup of coffee without a croissant?   Also, the location is good as it is in a small shopping plaza that includes a few nice shops, a great Italian restaurant and a European-style hair salon and spa.   You could actually spend the better part of the day here if you wanted!

Caicos Bakery is located in Caicos Café Plaza in Grace Bay. The shop opens at 7 AM and closes at 4:30 PM, daily except Sunday.  Get there early for the freshly baked bread.

Beach House Turks and Caicos – Western Grace Bay Beach

The restaurant at Beach House recently introduced the newest thing in European coffee houses, where time still stands still in our busy lives: the ‘Café Gourmand’. They serve a delicious cup of espresso, latté or macchiato paired with several sweet delicacies made by Chef Eric Vernice and his team.  Served between 12 noon and 4pm every day. Also ask for the Ice cream Sundays if you prefer something cold.

Flowers by Environmental Arts - across from the Salt Mills Plaza

This is a small café located on the main strip in Grace Bay.  Since it doubles as a flower shop the sensory experience is almost as good as the coffee.  While the shop is small, the offerings are varied and the setting is convenient.   The location is walking distance from the majority of hotels in Grace Bay and there are many shops around too, so after a quick coffee you can bring a nice bouquet back to your room or pick up some souvenirs for those you left behind.

Fresh Bakery

Along with a good cup of coffee at Fresh Bakery you can get a full lunch and/or a wide range of delicious desserts and pastries.   Inside the place is decorated with a clean, modern/European feel.   One thing we like about this place are the pint-sized pastries you can get to accompany your coffee with all of the flavor and half the guilt!   This shop was recently moved to the Atrium Resort in the community of Leeward.

Graceway Gourmet IGA

This is like the central hub of Grace Bay because it is the main grocery store for the area.   While the setting isn’t as relaxing as the others we mention, the Gourmet makes our list because it is convenient, quick and offers good value.  The coffee shop is next to the grocery store and it has tables in front of the store. However the tables are all in a shaded covered area and there’s a good buzz with all the comings and goings of island residents and tourists.  Plus, the coffee is really good too.   Best thing about this place is you can zip in and zip out in a jiffy and catch up on all the latest news and island gossip.

Island Scoops

IslandScoops is a favored ice-cream shop by tourists and residents alike but don’t let the name fool you- they have great coffee too.   Here you will find a wide variety of coffee concoctions as well as locally-made ice cream and other sweet treats.  The décor is fun and funky.   You can sit outside in overstuffed sofas or at tall tables just across the street from Grace Bay beach.   It’s a great spot for kids here as there are an abundance of outside toys, a sand pit, soft armchairs, and a wide selection of milkshakes as well as ice creams and other treats kids old and young enjoy.

Angela’s Top of the Cove Delicatessen & Catering Services

Angela’s is located on the Leeward Highway in a more industrial part of town, but not far from Turtle Cove.   Tourists that venture here are more likely to encounter residents and will be treated to some fantastic soups and lunch specials and well as a pretty decent cup of coffee.

The menu here is varied and tasty and even offers gluten free options.   While there isn’t much to speak of in terms of sights or views, the establishment is one of the islands’ “institutions” having been around for a very long time - and it is one of the few places that has its air conditioning on year round.  Angela’s Deli is located in between NAPA auto parts and April’s Place (hair salon) and is open daily from 6:30 am serving breakfast, lunch and dinners to go.

Green Bean – located near Turtle Cove Marina

Enjoy a nice salad or sandwich along with a good cup of Joe at the Green Bean. Friendly staff make the experience memorable and you are just a few steps away from Smith’s Reef. At the ‘Bean’ you can rent snorkel gear and head straight over there before or after your caffeine infusion.

Maskanoo is an annual cultural event organised by the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) and the Cultural & Arts Commission (CAC). It is an event that will showcase the best of the islands' cultural heritage, mixing Junkanoo (taken from TCI's Bahamian heritage) with Masquerade to create "Maskanoo". The third annual Maskanoo event will be held on Wednesday December 26, 2012 (National Holiday). The event will once again be held in the tourist capital of Providenciales, following a route along Grace Bay road between the Regent Village and the Salt Mills Plaza. Persons attending the event will enjoy a street parade, local music, island food, cultural items on sale, arts, entertainment as well as a street jump-up at the end of the event.

Since Grace Bay in Turks & Caicos has been voted the world’s number one beach by readers of Conde Nast and users of TripAdvisor, it’s not surprising that beach-walking is one of the most popular things to do here.  Fortunately, the Alexandra Resort and Spa is located on a particularly beautiful and expansive stretch of the world-renown Grace Bay Beach.  So, this activity is a frequent occurrence for our guests and one we highly recommend.

The beach in front of the Alexandra Resort is part of the Princess Alexandra National Park, which runs along the north coast of the island of Providenciales and includes the turquoise blue waters, which are protected by a long reef and filled with vibrant sea life.  This means you are not allowed to remove anything from the national park such as live sea life, coral, etc.   

Taking a beach walk along Grace Bay Beach will always delight you.  The sand is silky smooth and soft beneath your feet and you can always find isolated patches that make you feel the beach is all your own. 

Depending on the time of day, the tide and how lucky you  are - your blissful beach walk will also treat you to a variety of neat things to see.   Here are five things you may see on your next stroll along Grace Bay Beach:

1)     Starfish.   Because of the clarity of the water and the tides- it is very possible to see starfish dotting the ocean floor.   These deep clay-orange colored creatures are alluring and almost look fake.  It’s tempting to pick one up and hold it in your hand - but you have to remember to put it back gently as it’s a living creature and part of the national park.

2)     The Green Flash.   Legend has it - and first-hand accounts concur - that when the temperatures are high and the sun is at a certain point in the sky - just before it descends over the horizon - a green flash appears for a split second.   You have to be looking at the horizon with an unobstructed view right at dusk.    The best place to see this green flash is on a beach walk.

3)     Sand dollars.   These “cousins” of the starfish are not easy to find along Grace Bay Beach but if you are walking around low-tide you have a good chance to do so.  The live ones will be partially buried in the sand or inching slowly along the water’s edge.   Sand dollars that are white in color are dead - the ones that have a grayish tint are not and are protected as part of the Princes Alexandra National Park, which means you cannot remove them and need to replace them back where you found them.  If you really want to see sand dollars it is a good idea to book an outing with Caicos Dream Tours - they can take you to Sand Dollar Point on one of their excursions.

4)     JoJo the dolphin!   JoJo is a unique Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin who has been living and playing in the shallow waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands since 1980. He is one of the few dolphins around the world that voluntarily interacts with humans in his own natural habitat.  JoJo has become something like the mascot of Turks and Caicos and is known for having an affinity for boat engines!    He also likes to swim up close to the shoreline, so it’s good to keep an eye out for him on your beach walk.   If you don’t happen to see him on a beach walk - your odds are greatly improved if you are out on the water.  Again by booking a boat trip with Caicos Dream Tours, your chances of a JoJo encounter increase exponentially.

5)     50 shades of blue.  “The shades of blue these waters possess are like a painter’s palette - azure, celeste, maya, sky, shifting and changing with the weather.”  These were the words Joe Belanger used in his feature story on Turks and Caicos from the Toronto Sun on April 25, 2012.   The New York Times said:  “The beach gently slopes into the ocean, which reveals bands of blue and green that are so brilliant no postcard could do them justice.”  The turquoise waters of Grace Bay Beach have been described and photographed countless times and make a remarkable impression.  However, photos and words don’t do them justice.  The waters surrounding the beaches of Turks and Caicos sparkle and glisten and change their hue, resulting in 50 shades of unforgettable, mesmerizing blue.  But, the only way to experience them is in person - on a beach walk or better yet a helicopter ride!

Whatever time of year you come to Turks and Caicos the beach will be an integral part of your trip.   You’ll find that simple beach walks can be the highlight of the trip.  As you walk along the beach look out for miniature conch shells that get washed up on sand.   They make a great decoration and serve as a reminder of the trip when you are back home.   Another good idea is to collect a little sand and put it in a glass bottle to keep it on your office desk or coffee table.   It will give you a daily reminder of when you walked the world’s best beach and bragging rights for your work colleagues and/or neighbors.

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)