By Sami P.
My family and I went to the beautiful island of Providenciales, one of the Turks and Caicos Islands, located in the Caribbean.
While I was there, I did so many enjoyable things that contributed to this great trip. My favorite part of the trip had to be going to the beach every day. Not only is the beach a nice change in scenery from everyday life, but there are so many activities that made the beach even more enjoyable. For example, you can parasail and see the island from above, or tube and see the whole Grace Bay Beach.
While I was there, I did not do any sightseeing because there are no major sights in Turks and Caicos; however, the beaches and scenery’s views are not to be missed. The water in the ocean is bluer than any water I’ve ever seen. The ocean contains some of the best coral reefs to see and wonderful and beautiful sea creatures.
My favorite activity on this trip definitely had to be the fish fry. Every Thursday night, there is a fish fry where the locals and the tourists come together. It takes place at Alexandra Park on Grace Bay. There are various food and clothing vendors with a live local band playing the whole night. The food is fresh seafood, more specifically conch and grilled lobster, which happens to be two foods that the island is known for. It was a great experience because I was able to see part of the locals’ life and take part in a tradition that has existed on the island for years.
Look how clear and blue the water is!
Although the whole trip was enjoyable, the activity that I enjoyed the least was kayaking. It was very relaxing and fun; however, going snorkeling and parasailing are better ways to enjoy and see the great parts of the ocean.
Speaking of the ocean, the restaurants are all known for their seafood. My favorite restaurant had to be Kitchen 218, located at The Beach House Hotel. The tuna tartare was amazing, along with the fresh oysters. The service was fantastic, and our waiter was accommodating and had a great personality. The berry crumble was the perfect cherry on top of a great night at a great restaurant.
The West Bay Club
Right next to this great restaurant was The West Bay Club. The West Bay Club is the resort that my family and I stayed at, located on Grace Bay. It was an overall great experience. You are greeted by the very attentive and accommodating staff with cold towelettes and punch from the moment you get there. The “beach boys” were nothing but admirable. They set us up on the beach or by the pool whenever we needed and had great personalities while doing it. All the rooms are beautiful with an ocean or island view from a standard room to a suite. All the staff were very kid-friendly and made the experience even better. Whether it was sitting by the pool, taking a swim, tanning on the beach, or having a great meal, The West Bay Club is a great place to stay.
I learned that 40 known islands make up Turks and Caicos; however, Providenciales is where many resorts are located. It is also the most developed and populated island. In conclusion, I would give my vacation on the island of Turks and Caicos a definite thumbs up. It is a great place to go with a family when in need of a beach and some relaxation time. TCI is full of the nicest people and beautiful beaches. I would highly recommend this island to a family; it is definitely somewhere I want to return.
View of the beach during sunset!
Day time view of the beach!