This is a re-post of a story I wrote for Postmedia in 2016. Anguilla has a new social media campaign, using the hashtags #AnguillafromAfar and #DreamingofAnguilla.
ANGUILLA – Justin Bieber was spotted here over Christmas one year, and there are some very chi-chi resorts. But Anguilla also offers low-key, fantastic activities that are easy on the wallet. Here’s a mix of things to do that can fit a variety of budgets.
Elodia’s is one of many casual, inexpensive spots I found in Anguilla. – JIM BYERS PHOTO
FOR MUSIC LOVERS
I’d only been on the island for an hour when I stumbled onto Elodia’s Beach Bar, on long, sweeping Shoal Bay East. A band called Took and Friends was playing a mix of everything from reggae and calypso to 1970’s classics, including (for reasons unknown) “Knock Three Times” by Tony Orlando and Dawn. A woman of a certain age got up and danced with a man who appeared to be her husband, then took a large number of spins with a guy with long dreads who looked to be a couple decades younger, all the time grinning like a 12-year-old. The bar served a nice dish of ribs and sides for about $15 CAD. You also can find live music at Bankie Banx’s Dune Preserve, a ramshackle, charming spot on the beach at Rendezvous Bay.
FOR HISTORY LOVERS
Colville Petty is a tall, rail-thin gentleman who’s amassed a hugely impressive collection of material about Anguilla. It’s all on display at The Heritage Collection, a small museum that displays hundreds of shells (gleaming rooster tail conch, Sally Lightfoot Crabs and more), shell chisels from Arawak Indians and displays on the island’s turbulent political life. “I love history and I have a passion for it,” Petty says. There’s a great quote displayed from a former politician who was fighting against Anguilla independence and advised his enemies that he would “put pepper in their soup.”
A beautiful beach on the north shore of Anguilla. JIM BYERS PHOTO
FOR BEACH FANS
Anguilla has more glorious and crazy long stretches of sand than any place I’ve seen. The sand is mostly pure, glistening white and the beaches go forever at Meads Bay, Rendezvous Bay and Shoal Bay. If you’re not staying the night on the island, you can take a short (20 or 30 minute) ferry ride from St. Maarten and hire a driver to take you for the day.
The seafood on Anguilla is super-fresh. And delicious. – JIM BYERS PHOTO
FOR FOODIES
The sumptuous CuisinArt resort on the south side of the island has a great sushi-making class (it’s harder than it looks) and an Italian cooking class. The just-opened Zemi Beach House Resort has several fine food options and a luxurious, Asian feel. Be sure to check out any of the great roadside spots selling barbeque chicken, ribs or fish. I stopped at a low-key spot near South Hill and had a glorious rotisserie-style chicken leg with hot sauce for $3.50 Cdn. Smokey’s at the Cove has good ribs and a great oceanfront setting. Ocean Echo is on gorgeous Meads Bay and serves a sensational squash and sweet potato soup with curry, nutmeg and coconut milk. Don’t miss the short boat ride from the mainland to Scilly Cay for their barbeque lunch with spiny lobster, chicken and legendary rum punch.
FOR ART LOVERS AND SHOPPERS
Savannah Gallery is a fantastic spot in The Valley run by Canadian Frank Costin. You’ll find colourful, reasonably priced Caribbean art, including funky metal works from Haiti. The Devonish Gallery sells everything from local art to colourful, oval bracelets and scarves the colour of Anguilla’s ocean waters. Across the road is the Driftwood Gallery, with driftwood carved into the shape of everything from humans to pigs.
The Zemi Beach House on Anguilla is a chic, sexy spot on the north shore. – JIM BYERS PHOTO
WHERE TO STAY
Shoal Bay Villas features nice units and a small pool on one of the islands best beaches, Shoal Bay East. Rooms include a fully equipped kitchen. CuisinArt is a luxury resort on the beach with gorgeous landscaping, great food and a variety of units and villas.
GENERAL INFO
www.ivisitanguilla.com
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter: @jimbyerstravel
Instagram: @jimbyerstravel1
