Colorado is famous for the beautiful Rocky Mountains many of which soar to heights over 14,000 feet. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking. These peaks are often referred to by the mountaineering community simply as the fourteeners. There are a total of 55 fourteeners and for those who have summited all of them their accomplishment is referred to as a “grand slam of the fourteeners”.
Knee issues have put my mountaineering days in the past but the appreciation for wild spaces is still alluring for me and something personally sought after in terms of travel and adventure. I’ve put a new twist on things so now instead of grand slamming the Colorado’s fourteeners efforts have been refocused on doing a “grand slam of the Caribbean”. At last count I have visited around 34 Caribbean islands. There is still wilderness in the Caribbean for those looking for solitude and hoping to avoid the hectic hurried pace commonly associated with gambling and cruise ships. Here are a couple of favorite beach destinations for consideration.
St. John United States Virgin Islands (USVI)
There are three United States Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John. The latter is the smallest of the three and is recognized for its beautiful calm water, white sand beaches, and the Virgin Islands National Park which covers two thirds of the island. The National Park is roughly 7000 acres and in addition to the beautiful beaches and marine environment hosts a somewhat hilly and still wild environment providing the traveler with the best of both worlds. Add to that the night life and activity around its two major towns of Cruz Bay and laid back Coral Bay and you have one spectacular vacation spot that can be busy and active or conversely as laid back and anti-social if that’s the preference.
There is no airport on St. John so visitors usually arrive by air into St. Thomas and then take a short ferry ride to the island. Visitors can rough it in luxurious walled tents in Maho Bay or Cinnamon Bay campgrounds or they can go to the other extreme and be as pampered as they like at Caneel Bay Resort or the Westin Hotel.
Visitors will most likely want to rent a car for a day or more to tour the island but taxis are easily flagged down and abundant. They are typically the open-air safari type vehicles which are converted pickup trucks with bench seating and an awning over the bed. The rates are based on a per person charge and the destination. Snorkeling is wonderful off St. John’s waters and Trunk Bay even has a well marked under water snorkeling trail. Boats and dingies can be rented in Cruise Bay allowing visits to some of the more remote beaches that are not easily accessible by road.
Anguilla British West Indies
Anguilla is in the British West Indies and unlike St. John the island is relatively flat but is similarly known for its many fine white sand beaches. There are thirty three of them to be exact. The island is definitely a “beach” destination and the visitor could spend every day of their vacation on a different white sand beach.
Tourists can fly directly to Anguilla or ferry over from nearby St. Martin. There are numerous lodging choices to choose from, many of which are 5 star rated and luxurious and tend to be fairly expensive. The Viceroy, Malliouhana Hotel, CuisinArt Hotel and Spa, and Cap Juluca are a few of the exceptional and extraordinary lodgings. Many of the islands in the Caribbean restrict building heights, and on Anguilla attention holds focus on environmentally responsible architecture that limits building heights and assures that structures blend in harmoniously with the environment.
A trip would not be complete without visiting the Dune Preserve which is quoted as being “the coolest place in the Caribbean”. Located just down the beach from the CuisinArt Hotel and Spa on Rendezvous Bay, it is home for the famous reggae musician Bankie Banx and the ever popular Moonsplash Festival. It features live music, and a restaurant and beach bar that will likely be a highlight of a visit to this delightful island. A car or jeep rental is highly recommended on this 34 square mile spit of sand.
Caribbean beach destinations are becoming quite popular but with a little research that special, pristine destination just off the beaten path can still be found. The Caribbean is a spectacular place for beach adventure or sailing and it is rich in culture both past and present and comes highly recommended. Due to costs and time constraints it may be impractical to believe that one could “grand slam” all the islands but this traveler is definitely one who continues to embrace that goal.
