The Bite Magazine - Spring 2016 - Issue 15

waters. It is also a great spot to watch the sunset with your loved ones and if you’re feeling saturated by the heat, the Umbrella’s Beach Bar is a popular spot for locals, students, tourists and expats where you can enjoy great food, quench your thirst and listen to live music on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Places to visit include Fort George in St. George which was built in 1705 by the French and is located to the west of the harbour. There is an entrance fee of $5EC and the views from the top of the fort looking down on St. George’s are amazing. Another fort built by the French is Fort Frederick also in St. George. It provides great views of St. George’s, the Caribbean Sea and if you come in the late afternoon, you’ll see the sunset. Belmont Estate in St. Patrick is a 17th century plantation where you can learn about cocoa processing. The tour cost $13EC per person and includes tasting some of the delicious chocolate at the end. There is also a garden and goat dairy farm that you can visit and while there make sure you sample their delicious Grenadian lunch. Carib’s Leap in St. Patrick located in the town of Sateurs and one of Grenada’s most historic spots is known as the place where the native Caribs leaped off the cliff to their death in 1651 rather than face domination by the French invasion. The River Antoine Rum Distillery in St. Patrick is a must-visit for rum drinkers. Being the drink of choice throughout the Caribbean, the distillery’s processes haven’t changed much since the 1800s. It is the oldest functioning water-propelled distillery not only in Grenada but in the whole of the Caribbean. The tours cost $5EC and you get a delicious tasting at the end. As an island of spice, visiting Laura’s Spice Garden in St. David will give you an insight into the nutmeg and other spices that Grenada is known for.The 20 minute tour cost $5EC and the guide will explain the use of each herb and plant on the property. Another spice place where you can learn the history of Grenada’s commodity of the day is Dougaldston Spice Estate in St. John, a 600 acre nutmeg plantation. No longer a working spice factory, you can still see the old buildings and machinery that will give you a glimpse into what a working plantation may have been like in its hey-day. The highest point on the island, Mt. St. Catherine in St. Mark stands at 840m (2,760ft).The mountain is actually a stra- tovolcano and the youngest of the five volcanoes that Grenada is comprised of. If you’re planning to take a hike to the top, you’ll need a guide. Tours are avail- able out of Victoria or you can arrange it in St. George’s. The Anglican Church in St. George which was built in 1825 suffered during Hurricane Ivan. However, you can still visit this roofless church that has a bell, clock tower, some stained glass and tiled flooring intact. The National Museum in St. George was once a lot of things in the past including French Bar- racks, a prison, two different hotels and a warehouse before becoming a museum in 1976. Here you’ll find the history about Grenada in the sections: Slavery, First Inhabitants, Plantation Economy,Whaling & Fishing Archaeology and Early Trans- port & Technology as well as Carib and Arawak artefacts. If you happened to be on the island in early August, you can experience the joys of Carnival in St. George where you’ll witness a bright, colourful and crazy fes- tival filled with music, costume and dance competitions with parades happening all over the island. Listening to steel bands while in Grenada is another enjoyable pastime that will have you smiling from ear to ear. The sound is incredible, with a good vibe and you may just end up wanting to dance.You can find steel pan music playing at Prickly Bay on certain nights, during Carnival and at the Spice Basket as well. How about some deep sea fishing where you can look out for domestic and exotic fishes such as sailfish, marlin, tuna and barracuda? Or sailing up and down the Caribbean coastline will provide a magical experience and scuba diving in Grenada’s glorious waters will be a refreshing experience. Although the island isn’t known for being a diving destination, the first Underwater Sculp- ture in the world with its shipwrecks and corals will be an alternative exploration for finding those hidden treasures.There is so much more to do in Grenada than you would imagine that it would be like writing a book listing them all. But I can assure you that you will enjoy Grenada without a doubt. For places to stay, one good hotel is the True Blue Bay Boutique Resort which is located on the south coast of Grenada where the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean merge. It offers 48 comfortable and beautifully designed guestrooms in a scenic neighbourhood that is also home to the island’s ‘rich and famous’. Nearby, you’ll find the True Blue Bay Marina which houses the Horizon Yacht Charters and Aquanauts Dive Centre and Shop. Also, within walking distance is the St. George University, Spice Isle Boat Yard and several neighbourhood restaurants and bars while a five minute drive will take you to the Maurice Bishop Interna- tional Airport, popular restaurants, banks, shopping malls and several white sand beaches including the infamous Grand Anse Beach. The best time to visit Grenada is in December which sees the departure of the rainy season and the arrival of the winter crowds. However, the driest and sunniest months are between January and June but visitors should anticipate bouts of showers. Flights to Grenada can be made via Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, American Airlines, Delta and Air Canada from major international cities coming into Maurice Bishop Inter- national Airport. bitetravel