St. Lucia There & Back Part 3: Rodney Bay Beach

by Adrienne Wilson on

Rodney Bay Beach is like most beautiful tropical beaches and I did what most people do when vacationing near a beach so you can imagine how tough it is for me to divulge every single minute of my wading in crystal clear cool Caribbean waters between working on becoming a golden honey color on the sand. I’d seriously sound like a spoiled hag to sit here and tell you how I sipped on piña coladas and made jokes with the local guys begging for me to join them on one of their jet ski’s while you were more than likely slaving away in some stiff office environment flirting with deadlines and fire-breathing bosses hanging over your back. Then again this could come as a source of inspiration for all of the many Americans who fail to take a little time off from the office. With that being said I will provide you with some Rodney Bay Beach basics.

Rodney Bay doesn’t exactly stretch for miles on end, but for the proximate mile you get you’re bound to be sharing your little piece of paradise with several other vacationing tourists. For the most part the beach isn’t so jam-packed that it can’t accommodate your own beach chair and umbrella, but you can count on making friends. If you happen to be visiting the island single (ladies) all the boys working the beach offering boat rides, parasailing adventures, jet ski rides and the opportunity to see life under water while snorkeling or scuba diving are bound to be a little flirty and offer a discounted rate. If you happen to be a honeymooning couple they’ll offer just the same, but with a little less charm and for full price.
During my stay I actually didn’t spend a huge amount of my time at the beach. Two days is enough for me before I start mixing things up and venturing to other parts of the island. Most people found lazing on the soft sand with a deck of cards, building sand castles and munching on a few snacks for five or more days the only way to do it in Saint Lucia. That too is totally cool. Anything goes really. When I got antsy I took off on a beach photo safari and here is just a little of what I happened to capture between my two days spent relaxing and listening to the sounds of my reggae tunes found in my iPod. Feel free to use these as suggested methods to making the most of your stay or create an adventure of your own.

Should one choose to spring into action and cruise a couple of waves there are tons of options and ways to go for it!

Or you can simply contemplate quitting your job back home and moving to St. Lucia to live peacefully as you walk down the entire stretch of the beach.

Once you reach one end where the sand disappears and the waves begin crashing against the rocks instead you can sit for a moment before walking down to the other end.

When you’ve reached the opposite end you might consider finding a good spot to kick back for a while and drift off for a beach nap.

If you’re too hyped to be in Saint Lucia to sleep you can read the latest and greatest novel on all the book sellers lists.

But when the Fruit Man comes in you should probably get your EC (local currency) ready to buy fresh fruits and juice.

Just be sure you do your part in holding his boat while he slices up your fresh n’ fruity goods or he might just float back into the sea.

If you’ve got a camera in tow and a few filters to play with you can alter the look of your destination by attempting to make it look dreamier. I tried to, but it didn’t quite hit the mark.

Rodney Bay Beach is located on the northern part of the island and is a prime tourist area. There are tons of restaurants, bars, shops, hotels and nightlife to keep almost everyone busy for at least three or four days.

St. Lucia There & Back Part 2: Island Dining

by Adrienne Wilson on


Before I dive into this one or give the impression that I am this hardcore food critic let me just state that I am not. Someone once claimed that I happiest while I’m eating which I’m not certain is entirely true, but I do love a flavorful fulfilling meal when it’s time to chow. That being said, I’m not a picky eater. There are only a few things I won’t eat like lobster, crab, and liver and that is only by personal choice. Now, I don’t go parading the town thinking I’m some kind of ‘foodie’ either, but I do like discovering new things on my trips and travels. In St. Lucia I asked several times if there was something that could only be feasted upon here or what the island was known for in the culinary department like the Bahamas for its conch salad and Trinidad for its roti, but my questions were received with blank stares.

Without any strong restaurant recommendations I either used the local St. Lucia magazines or turned to the closest place at first hint of a stomach growl. Lets go to the kitchen. I mean follow me into my Looshan dining experience.
My first meal and several others to follow where at the Calabash Bar and the La Pomme Canelle Restaurant found in the Glencastle Resort where I camped out for the week. It was never my intentions to eat so much there, but the chef was truly amazing. Everything I had from the curried chicken, shrimp and a certain fish that I cannot recall the name was absolutely ambrosial. Convenience played a huge factor in my dining there as well with it being a few steps down the stairs from my room. However, if you are searching for a good meal with good service outside of the main attraction give this place a try. ($$)

La Pomme Canelle Restaurant is located in Massade, Gros Islet at the Glencastle Resort. Ph. 758.450.0833

Next place up is a restaurant (you will hate me for this) that I did not get the name of, but was directed to by a Rasta Man who said he found it more Creole than the one across the road (The Lime.) So if you want to head to this one look across the street from the Lime Restaurant and next to the Inner Gallery in Rodney Bay. You’ll see a small outdoors place serving a ton of yummy Creole selections. Take a few friends as atmosphere doesn’t count for much considering its outdoors and in the center of a few small buildings and shops. Try the green banana and fish salad if you’ve never had it before. I found this very tasty from place to place. ($)

I found my way into Spinnakers Beach Bar & Grill for the first time simply searching for an ice cold blended beverage to cool me off from the hot-hot Saint Lucia sunrays. The next time I worked my way in I was having a full lunch entree. The Lemon Pepper Fish with salad was what I went after and with some amount of skepticism. I thought I had just settled into one of those high-priced tourist spots on the beach where the food was only mediocre, but I was very surprised. The fish was actually really, really good. It was covered in a lemon sauce and with just a sprinkle of some extra pepper my taste-buds were soaring. The service was only so-so and it was still a little pricey for lunch ($25 US) which includes two glasses of pineapple juice. Certainly worth a go if you’re on the beach anyway. ($$)

Spinnakers is loacted on Rodney Bay Beach off of Reduit Drive in Rodney Bay. Ph. 758.452.8491

Castaways are another Rodney Bay based restaurant. I swung in here for lunch on a different occasion and ordered a tuna melt with a side of slaw. While waiting I made conversation with the staff who were all pretty friendly and welcoming. I sipped on a cool passion fruit drink and when my meal came I gobbled it down. The tuna melt here has got to be one of the best I have ever had in my life. It was just a little greasy, but that is my looking for flaws when really it was very delicious. The cole slaw was okay and the portion size was beyond what I anticipated so I walked off only eating half of it. Bring a friend if you plan on ordering the slaw. There are several other items on the menu to choose from, but the seafood selections are all highly advised. ($-$$)

Castaways Restaurant and Bar is located in Rodney Bay off of Reduit Drive. Ph. 758.452.8012

The Marine House is a spot serving local dishes and for very good prices. I tried this place on two different occasions. The first time I ordered fish n’ chips and that was only okay. Nothing mind blowing there and the fish could have been cooked much better. The second time I went with chicken roti which I think I’ll be sticking with at Trinidadian owned and operated spots. The roti was only so-so. In short, this is a good place to fill up if you are on a super tight budget and just need something fast. ($)

The Marine House is located in Gros Islet off the main road. Ph. 758.450.8515

Last dining destination I gave a try was Cafe Olé tucked in the Rodney Bay Marina and Shops in Gros Islet. It is a place all the sailors go and any with a boat goes to fill up after sailing the seas or goes to recruit a crew to set out later in the afternoon. (I was invited to go sailing, but had to decline.) There are beautiful tiny flirty island girls working behind the counter that wink at the boys and give half smiles to women like me. They are nice and the service is good and it is a cool place to people watch if you are in to that sort of thing. Again, I went with a tuna dish. It was the sweet and spicy tuna salad to be exact and I had a fruit smoothie to wash it down. The salad was filling and tasty too. The smoothie was too syrupy for my liking. ($)

There are a few places on the North island area that I did not make it to which I am told where worth a try like Ku De Ta (Thai Cuisine) and Razmataz Tandoori (Indian). I am sure there are several others I failed to get to, but one last thing I forgot to mention earlier was I didn’t have a botttomless budget for food so places like Big Chef in Rodney Bay were a little out of the question for this trip, but there is always next time.

For my thoughts on where not to eat click here and scroll all the way down.





St. Lucia There & Back Part 1: Glencastle Resort

by Adrienne Wilson on


Each day of my stay on the relaxed tropical Caribbean island of St. Lucia began at the Glencastle Resort tucked away and up on a hill in Gros Islet. It is a quiet place away from the hustle and bustle from the string of resorts and small boutique hotels in Rodney Bay (a high tourist trafficked area) which was perfect for my vacation needs. I knew where the action was when I wanted to be in it and I knew where to hide when I needed that as well. Upon check-in I immediately felt at ease and welcomed by a family of front-desk staff at my new seven-night home away from home.

The manner in which I discovered the Gelncastle Resort is unlike hotel, hostel and accommodation searches from the past. For starters I called up the Ginger Lily hotel located in Rodney Bay one late night and confessed that I really liked their hotel and would love to crash there, but it was way out of my budget and if it would be possible to assist me in my complete 180 of travel plans – last minute. I needed something a bit cheaper and the gentleman on the other end promised to make some calls to help me out. The next day he informed me that the best place he could find in my price range was the Glencastle. I thanked him though I don’t know what it was he discussed or whether he passed along my poor sad sob story, but I couldn’t have scored a better place to rest my head and dream of handsome island men fanning me on an idyllic beach all while sipping on cool coconut water.

I was led to a room on the second floor and to the far left back corner of the hall. The woman from the front desk had walked me back to show me first where the room was, how to operate the AC (very important) and the television station featuring ideas on places to go while on the island. When she left I continued to inspect my new place. Here I was thinking I was going to receive a room with a garden view, but to my surprise my balcony door opened up to a view of the near by Rodney Bay among other pleasant things like the ocean and…

Looking down into Gros Islet and towards Rodney Bay.

…the young boys at the St. Lucia Boys Training Center. If I’m not mistaken it is some type of reform school and located directly across the street from the hotel. On my lazy afternoons I’d watch the sunset from the balcony and the boys play soccer and other games from below when breaking from a book or magazine. On my excursions outside of the hotel I’d hear an occasional kissy sound escape the mouths of one of the youngins, but aside from that the Boys Training Center was just another building across the way and didn’t take away any of the Glencastle’s charm.

Charming is exactly what it was all the way through. On my first day I befriended a girl working behind the hotel bar who gave me my first rum with honey and lime in less than two hours of being on the island to help cure my cold symptoms and later showed me around the streets of Gros Islet at the Friday night Jump Up (a weekly night party in Gros Islet). The bar was a warm place and I am not saying this because of the rum, vodka and other alcoholic beverages that can be found on the shelves. The staff at the Calabash Bar located inside the Glencastle adjacent to the La Pomme Canelle restaurant is super friendly and full of tips and pointers of navigating ones way around a strange place. I started each day with the exact same breakfast which tickled my fancy not to mention my taste-buds.The morning staff was very pleasant.

The evening chef was a soft-spoken guy who was equally accommodating if not more. It had been my plan in the beginning to get out and nosh on dishes found in various places of the island, but the chef’s cooking at Glencastle won my heart so I found myself inside the hotel restaurant on many occasions. The menu features a number of fresh seafood selections in addition to favorites like curried chicken and on Saturday’s they have a BBQ with an especially delicious island salad made of green banana accompanied by rice, potatoes, fish and grilled chicken and ribs of course. My favorite dish was a shrimp over rice in a tasty red sauce that had a tangy kick to it. Both the restaurant and bar are very cozy. The restaurant is spacious with several windows allowing the wind’s breeze to pass on through. The Calabash bar is completely open air and painted with bright yellows and lime green colors. In regards to atmosphere they each get high scores.

There are two pools on the property to splash around and cool off on extra hot days without gaining a sandy bottom in the process. The lower pool is located near the front reception and there is the rooftop pool which is quite nice and a little more secluded. Each time I ventured up top I found myself left alone from the rest of the hotel guests and overlooking almost all of Gros Islet. It is suggested one catch at least one sunset from the rooftop pool.

If yoga is on your planner while vacationing, keep the Glencastle in mind. As far as I can tell they are one of the few places on the island that even offer yoga on a daily basis. Yoga sessions run in the morning near the car park and more info can be provided by the front desk if needed. Other services offered include a daily shuttle running twice to popular beach areas (Rodney Bay & Pigeon Island), conference space and a banquet hall for meetings and other special occasions.

Overall the Glencastle Resort can accommodate anyone and provide all with an experience in St. Lucia that is one of its own.






The Glencastle Resort is located in Massade, Gros Islet in Saint Lucia. They can be reached by telephone at 1.758.450.0833 and by email at reservations@glencastlehotel.com. To view their website and get room rate info click
here.

Photo of the Day (3/10/07)

by Adrienne Wilson on


Well I’m back from Saint Lucia and you can expect a trip report to follow once I get a hold of my surroundings. This photo featuring a mysterious lady in a red hat was taken on a sunny yet rainy day in Soufriere, Saint Lucia while touring the town and scenic attractions around the area. It comes from my own photo album and was captured while zooming around in a mini-bus searching for a cheap bite to eat before taking off to head back to Gros Islet.

New Caribbean Resorts

by Adrienne Wilson on

Now that the mild winter weather has vanished hanging around the northeastern end of the United States is no longer any fun for a non-skiing, boarding, or snowshoeing individual like me. As I sit here in a semi-decent hotel room in Burlington a.k.a Brrrrlington, Vermont , I’ve made up my mind that I will spend the weekend searching for refuge in warmer climes. To kick things off, I’ve discovered this short and sweet list of new Caribbean resorts from Daily Candy. The islands featured are Turks & Caicos, St. Lucia, Virgin Gorda, and the Bahamas. Of all of them I’m mainly digging the one in St. Lucia, Jade Mountain, which is said to have suites with one wall missing so you can look out at the private infinity pool or beachside mountains. I’ll gladly take the view of the mountains.