Each month I will feature a property for your pleasure. My first Villa of the Month is Gordon House.  It is situated at Dian Bay around the corner from famous Long Bay. I have represented this casual West Indian style home for over 22 years. The villa affords a 180 degree water view.  The villa is 3600 sq feet for comfort and has all the modern amenties needed yet is casual in feel.  The 4 bedroom villa offers casual comfort for a family or pure romance for a couple. There is a seaside patio for au natural sunning or swimming. 10 minutes over the Hill is Long Bay Beach. Long Bay Hotel is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner or lovely lunch. I have enjoyed lovely meals in this traditional West Indian Hotel.

Annemarie Williams is the manager and will meet your flight and whisk you away to the villa. Marilyn the cook and housekeeper will prepare your breakfasts and lunches. Ask her to prepare our local favorite breakfast, saltfish and bread with Choba and plantains. She is a delight and will take care of all your needs.  Let us know ahead of your visit what we may provision or if you require childcare. Your villa comes with a free online Concierge.
Nearby enjoy Seatons and Stingray City. Swim with the rays in this unique setting. You may enjoy some photographic opportunities at Devil’s Bridge. Harmony Hall is the perfect spot to enjoy lunch and shop for local and Caribbean art. My own home has many prints from this lovely gallery.

Gordon House is the perfect escape for those needing to unwind or in search of the perfect getaway.

Welcome soon. Call Caribbean Wind & Sun at 800 219-0118 or email ann@antiguacaribbean.com. More photos may be seen at www.antiguacaribbean.com

When I visit the Caribbean I am always in search of local Caribbean art. The Sat. market in town has some vendors selling homemade brooms, crafts and clay pots. Clay pots are used in cooking still in many West Indian homes. I own a Jaba pot my ex used to cook Ital rice. This food cooked in the Rastafarian culture simmers for hours in these lovely pots. The fragrance of the cooking rice is forever in my memory.

Where are these lovely clay products made? To see the where this craft is created head out of town / St. Johns on All Saint Road. Head up the hill and before the gas station take a LEFT into Seaview Farm. When you get into the village ask anyone where the pottery shop is located.  Elvie’s family run the show now and welcome you to their home and gallery. I have some candlestick holders (easy to pack) and other lovely items. They make great souvenirs and are quite unique.

Most tourists are sun worshippers visiting Antigua to enjoy one or more of their 365 beaches. Now, more are discovering the other activities found on this lush island. Both water sports enthusiasts and land lovers will revel in the many activities found in Antigua:

Several new activities are popular in Antigua. Stingray City located in Seatons is the natural habitat of the majestic stingray. These beautiful creatures living in their natural habitat are waiting to meet you. Trained guides will teach you about the stingrays and their habitat.

Image courtesy of Melanie Etherington

Antigua Rainforest Canopy Tours is the latest adrenaline rush activity to hit the island. The tour begins in the middle of Antigua’s rainforest. A suspension bridge over the water leads to the start of the 9 zip lines with the longest being 300 feet and the highest 350 feet suspended over the gorge in Fig Tree Drive. There are 9 challenges and the famous Stairway to Heaven leading to the Rainforest Café. Young and old enjoy this incredible experience. Zipline Tours is popular with groups and for team building for corporate clients.

Being a water sports paradise, there are a myriad of boating excursions from sunset cocktail cruises to eco tours. One of these tours, Adventure Antigua, teaches about the ecology and sea life of Antigua. Visit the pristine waterways of North Sound and the out islands. Snorkel amongst the tranquil reef system. Eli Fuller, a life-long resident of Antigua, has the expertise and the staff to create a perfect day on and under the water.

In 1995, a dormant volcano came to life on the neighboring island of Montserrat. Whilst the eruption of Soufriere has forever changed the landscape of the island, life has resumed and now it is the perfect time to visit this Emerald Isle to tour the area and learn about this natural wonder. Air service is now available. Come see breathtaking views of the volcano and the world’s newest growing mountain from a safe vantage point. Collect samples of volcanic material and visit other places of interest including the Montserrat Volcano Observatory. All tours are conducted by trained and experienced tour guides.

Image courtesy of Mark Harrold

Green Castle Megaliths are rock formations that are either ancient man-made megaliths or natural rock formations. Some compare the megaliths to the Caribbean’s answer to Stonehenge. Green Castle Hill provides an amazing panoramic view of the west coast and the triangular shaped isolated hills of the Central Plain. The slopes of Green Castle Hill are home to unusual standing rock formations referred to by Antiguans as megaliths. There is much speculation and mystery as to the origin of these rocks but they are clearly associated with a pre-Columbian site. Numerous remains have been found at the site and include shellfish, pottery and a variety of stone artifacts. The adventurous will enjoy making the trek to the top of Green Castle Hill and from there enjoy the experience of a lifetime.

The Museum of Antigua & Barbuda was opened in 1985 and is operated by the Historical & Archaeological Society, a private non-profit organization. The exhibits, which interpret the story of Antigua from its geological birth to political independence, are placed in the old St. John’s Court House of 1750, a very historic building. Today, it is indeed a fine setting for an interpretive museum and is an excellent example of adaptive use for the oldest building of the capital city.

Collecting is central to the mission of the Museum. It acquires objects and specimens by field collecting, gifts, loans, and exchanges and welcomes input from all those who are interested in preserving and expressing the island’s heritage. Other objectives are education and research of the nation’s heritage. It presents to visitors an overview of the island’s history and natural history. There is a fine reference library and there are many computer databases totaling 25,000 records, available for quick reference.

Some of the Museum’s programs include an education program for Antigua and Barbuda’s schoolchildren, providing special lectures and the organization of monthly field trips to historic sites. Cultural evenings are held for the general public, and a newsletter is distributed to the Society’s members. The Museum has something for everyone.

The Dockyard Museum interprets the story of Antigua’s famous English Harbour. The harbour was known to be first used in 1671 as a hurricane shelter and for the act of careening warships of the Royal British Navy.

It was not until 1725 that the first buildings were erected for maintaining British ships on the West Indies Station. The museum tells the story of how the dockyard was built, its purpose, as well as the social conditions encountered by the people who worked and toiled in this ancient naval establishment.

A fine figurehead welcomes visitors to the museum. Also on display are ship models, tools, instruments and excavated artifacts from the naval hospital and other dockyard buildings of the sailing ship days. There is an interesting case of Nelson memorabilia which contains the famous admiral’s telescope and other items. A story is still told to the present day of the yard’s restoration from the 1930s and of the return of the sailing ships in the 1950s in the form of cruising and charter yachts.

The Dockyard and museums have been restored to their former beauty and greatness much to the thanks of the late great Desmond Nicholson. To learn more, click on http://www.antiguamuseums.org/nelsonsdockyard.htm.

Other cultural and historic sites to visit include Betty’s Hope, a semi restored sugar plantation located near Pares Village. It is mostly in ruins, but some buildings have been restored. Throughout its 300 year history, Betty’s Hope played a prominent role in Antigua and Barbuda’s history and influenced the lives of many generations of Antiguans. The project was initiated to preserve this heritage site for study and interpretation of the colonial sugar era for the benefit of West Indians and visitors.

Windsurf Antigua is a mobile operation based at Jabberwock Beach. Located on a beautiful white sandy beach facing the trade winds on the island’s northeast coast, they are just five minute’s from the airport. Antigua’s conditions are suitable for beginners and advanced sailors. Equipment is rigged and ready at the waters edge. On-shore wind averages 12-18 knots. Antiguan Patrick Scales has been an avid windsurfer for 25 years and offers instruction.

]]> http://antiguabliss.com/2010/07/14/what-to-do-in-antigua/feed/ 1 Ann Phelan Antigua Rainforest Canopy Tours Adventure Antigua Watching the volcano on Montserrat Barbuda's shoreline The Green Castle Megaliths The Museum of Antigua & Barbuda Collecting is a major mission The Dockyard Museum See the fine figurehead that welcomes visitors Betty's Hope Windsurf Antigua South Coast Horizon http://antiguabliss.com/2010/05/12/antigua-on-my-mind/ http://antiguabliss.com/2010/05/12/antigua-on-my-mind/#comments Wed, 12 May 2010 22:49:42 +0000 antiguabliss http://antiguabliss.com/?p=279 ]]> A long time ago I had a life on Antigua. Alas, a career opportunity presented itself in the US.  Now, I return to Antigua each year to see new properties and bring my Antiguan child to see her family. This year we planned our trip very late in the summer which from a planning perspective wasn’t too smart (peak hurricane season). Thankfully we escaped any weird weather and a delighttful time.

Each day we woke and had fresh fruit purchased at the Sat. Market. We had sugar apples, mangoes, fresh Antiguan Black Pineapple and Guinips. We also drank fresh green coconut water each day. Coconut water is good for your digestion and is full of electrolytes. Good stuff! We had dinner at Roti King for Trini Roti. This flaky burrito like pastry is chocked full of curried meats or conch. We had chicken. I could not even eat half. Get the fresh local juices or a Ting to wash it all down. We had Doubles at One Stone Ital Food Stand in Cobbs Cross. Doubles is like Roti but filled with chick peas and curry in a whole wheat wrap. One Stone is pure Ital/Rastafarian Vegetarian. Fabulous!  I was on a lobster mission having my first salad at Gibson’s. For 90.00 EC I had a lovely salad with fresh veggies. It was on the small side for lobster portion but the views made up for that. Gibson’s in on the sand of the most picturesque beach. We had lobster salad at Inn at English Harbour seaside. This charming British West Indian Hotel is fabulous. It’s old style with views of the historic forts and hills of Freeman’s Bay. After lunch we chilled on the beach where I had a blissful nap. Dinner was at Bay House. Perched high on a hill overlooking Dickenson Bay I cannot imagine a more romantic setting. The tree frogs sang a chorus while we dined on sumptuous foods. There was one problem with my menu choice but the management rectified it promptly. We had drinks at Russel’s on Fort James and enjoyed Sunday night jazz. Coconut Grove is a fabulous setting for cocktails. This seaside spot is pure romance.

The highlight of my trip was hiking to Greencastle Megaliths. Located near the village of Jennings these rock formations are believed to be manmade. Some people believe the megaliths were placed by early inhabitants for their worship of the sun and moon or as devices for measuring time astronomically. Others choose to believe they are geological rock formations. The entire landscape is covered by lemongrass. The views were staggering after a long arduous hike.

Antigua has a huge building boom sadly in the hotel realm. Hopefully the government has a vision to protect their natural resources so many including myself love to see.

Please call me at 800-219-0118 so I may plan your trip to lovely Antigua. With easy air from most US cities and very good prices it’s a not to miss holiday stop.

Photos Courtesy of Tradewinds Montserrat

In the late 80′s I took my first trip to Montserrat. I was working on the ill fated S/V Fantome. We stopped every other week in port. Montserrat was my favorite port of all. I loved hiking to Soufriere, a then dormant volcano and seeing the hot springs and smelling the sulfur air. The views were stellar. The waterfall was amazing to swim. Later I would have lunch at Vue Point Hotel and a swim at Isles Bay. Plymouth was a charming West Indian town with little shops and adorable buildings. After posting letters to the US I would stop at Emerald Cafe for a Guinness. Later I started my travel business then called Antigua Small Properties. I was living in Antigua and took weekend jaunts to nearby Montserrat.  It was always a chill kind of weekend getaway.

Photos Courtesy of Tradewinds Montserrat

Around 1990 I started renting villas in  Montserrat. I had one villa in Montserrat represented by Susan Edgecomb of Tradewinds and 2o villas represented by Leah and Neville Bradshaw. By 1994 the business was growing steady. Vacationers loved the island’s charm and went back again and again. Then, in 1995 the 400 year dormant volcano, Soufriere came to life. The rest is now part of Montserrat’s history. Half of the population left and who remain are forging ahead. Tourism is alive and well and it’s still a wonderful destination for nature lovers and those seeking a quiet island respite.
I have reconnected with Susan Edgecomb and have some amazing photos to share as part of her essay of life in Montserrat. On Feb. 11 Soufriere sent out her fury creating an amazing display. Enjoy Susan’s photos.

It is possible to spend a holiday on island, see the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, hike, swim and vacation. Day trips from Antigua are easy now or a few days getaway.

To rent a villa or see Montserrat contact Ann Phelan at 800-219-0118 . You may also plan your holiday direct by contacting:

Susan MacLeod Edgecombe
Tradewinds Real Estate
Box 365, Olveston, Montserrat
www.tradewindsmontserrat.com

From bottom fishing with live bait to spinning among the mangroves or fly-casting the flats. Phil’s 19 foot centre console pro-fishing boat will reach most of the best fishing, or you can walk the flats where necessary.

To contact Phil check his website http://www.philsecofishing.com/. For accommodations click on http://www.antiguacaribbean.com or call 800-219-0118. I will head out with Phil soon and will later share my first experience at this “chill” sport..

Photos Courtesy of Phil Harley

Fish Bliss by Eric Kaye

Reef Bliss by Eric Kaye

Eric dove  Cades Reef with Jolly Divers and John Burk. To plan your dive trip to Antigua call the Antigua specialists at Caribbean Wind & Sun Vacations 800-219-0118 or 508 737 5245.

I love taking a leisurely ride thru Fig Tree Drive whenever on island. I start by  cruising the coastal road heading past a myriad of sparkling white sandy beaches.   There are a couple places to stop along the way for libations including Dennis’s, OJ’s and Turner Beach. Heading past Carlisle Bay, my fav island resort you  depart the village of Old Road and  head into Fig Tree Drive.  This scenic road has a lot of twists and turns but it’s a safe and enjoyable ride.  It’s name after the many banana/fig plants along the road. Take photos but do not attempt to take any fruit as the plants are privately owned. There are few great activities along the way.  Stop at a roadside stand during Mango season for a lovely treat. Locals often have corn grilling in coal pots as well. Zipline Canopy Tours is on Fig Tree Drive. It’s supposedly an adrenaline rush and a pretty darn good zipline course. I have yet to try it but clients loved it. Next you can stop at Wallings Resevoir and do a hike if you are so inclined. Sean Beazer from www.scenictoursantigua.com can also organize a guided hike.   Next to the Wallings entrance is Elaine’s Cultural Center. Elaine, a lovely Antiguan woman makes her own jams,  hot sauces and jellies and sells them at her roadside stand. She also sells fresh fruit. I really enjoy her pineapple jam. If she has some in stock do not pass up a jar or two. The jam is made with fresh local Antigua Black Pineapple.   Enjoy Elaine’s culinary treats while surrounded by the beauty of Fig Tree Drive.

Admiral's Inn

We first found Admiral’s Inn during my Mom and my first trip to Antigua in 1988. We were exploring Nelson’s Dockyard and stopped for lunch. We had tasty red snapper, pumpkin soup and rum punch dusted with nutmeg. The views were amazing..ghosts from the naval past were lurking about…the breeze was light and the setting was magical. We go back time and time again for Race Week or to bring friends..this time it was my lovely Antiguan daughter and I exploring..

When you are in Dockyard do stop at Admiral’s Inn for a pint or a punch and travel back in time…