Take Me To Turks

Turks and Caicos is home to some of THE most beautiful beaches in the world. Don’t just take my word for it, Grace Bay, is the world's No. 1 beach, according to TripAdvisor's 2016 Travelers' Choice awards. Despite being renowned for its beauty, I was surprised to find that when discussing Turks many people weren’t aware of this hidden Caribbean gem. It's been on my travel list for quite a while, so I was pretty jazzed when we selected it for my annual birthday getaway.

We choose to do a six-day trip, flying in Thursday and leaving Tuesday. While I would have preferred to stay forever, I think the timing was ultimately pretty perfect. We had just the right amount of days and nights to cover Grace Bay. If you're looking to do a little more exploring of the larger island, perhaps try a ten-day trip.

Our home on the island was the exquisite Wymara Resort. I've got to hand some mad props to big brother on this one. He and I have been long-time vacation buddies and he always selects the most stunningly beautiful places to stay. The service was impeccable. The moment we stepped off the plane a black Cadillac Escalade was waiting to whisk us off to the resort.  When we arrived it felt as if we had landed on another planet. As we stepped into the white open courtyard we were greeted with ice-cold cocktails topped with local edible fruits. Sheer curtains hung from the ceiling blowing in the fresh sea breeze and beckoning you to the lavish pool which lay in the center. Beyond the pool was the white sand beach and turquoise endless ocean. If Heaven is a place, I hope they take some design tips from the Wymara.

WYMARA RESORT

Our suite was equally impressive, complete with a full kitchen, glass rain shower, Victorian bath with mounted ceiling faucet,  washer dryer (a lifesaver for a stain-prone girl like me), and a glass-walled balcony overlooking the beach. It was a gorgeous day, so after settling in we headed straight to the beach for some sun and lunch. The resort boasts two on-site restaurants, Zest and Stelle. Zest serves beach and poolside during the day and Stelle is open for dinner. Both are run by Chef Andrew Mirosch whose passion for Asian and Caribbean fusion is evident. I quickly developed an obsession with his Asian vegetable spring rolls, yellowfin tuna ceviche, and miso-marinated wild salmon.

After an afternoon of sunning beach and poolside, we headed to the local Fish Fry; a weekly Thursday event that brings together dozens of local food vendors, entertainers, and artists. Restaurants from all over the island gather to set up booths and offer specialties like lobster mac, jerk chicken, fish and chips, and much more. There's a drum parade with residents dressed in brightly colored island garb, and each week a new band is featured playing live music. It was loads of fun and walking distance from our resort. An absolutely great way to kick off the vacation. Check out my IG highlights for a sneak peek of the fun.

Friday we started the day with some well-deserved Birthday pampering. The massages and facials at the Exhale Spa breathed new life into us after our previous day of travel. I have very sensitive skin and I’m always a little apprehensive about doing facials with spas I'm not familiar with.  But I have to say, the Tranquility facial left my skin soft and glowing for the remainder of the trip.

Refreshed from our spa morning, we headed into town for lunch. By some happy accident, we stumbled onto an Italian restaurant called Lupo, off Grace Bay Rd. It has a cozy cafe vibe and offers a wide selection of house-made pasta, imported cheese, cured meats, olives, and select Italian wines. I recommend that you definitely add this spot to your list when you make the trip. We waited out some afternoon showers sipping wine and munching on polenta fries. 

When the clouds parted, we did a little more exploring. The town is adorable, with brick-paved streets and brightly colored island stores. If you're a fan of shopping as much as I am, be sure to check out Grace Bay Plaza. You'll find everything from coffee and dessert shops, to boutiques and bars. When we'd worn out our feet and wallets we headed back to the beach to relax and soak up some rays before dinner.

Stelle was our pick of the night. Since our beach lunch the day before I was practically salivating to try their dinner menu. If you haven't already guessed I'm a bit of a foodie. I would eat my way around the world if I could. Dinner did not disappoint. Banana wrapped grouper, lamb rack, grilled lobster and two bottles of my favorite Barolo Nebbiolo made the perfect birthday dinner. Friday nights the restaurant transitions into a fabulous supper club dance party aided by DJ Dayoh. He's an island favorite and plays lots of awesome events both in Turks and Miami.

Around midnight things start to wind down at Stelle so we got a tip from a few locals to head over to Sandbar in town. I really loved this spot. It's small but pulls a fun mix of locals and tourists. The vibe is island casual and the drinks are tasty. It's a great place to meet and mingle with other vacationers and island ex-pats. It was the perfect spot to dance the night away. I could not have asked for a more fabulous birthday.

STELLE

Our late-night escapades got us off to a slower start Saturday. We reserved a pool island; one of four lounge areas situated in the water giving you a private area to relax and quick access to the pool when you're ready for a dip. We spent the day soaking up vitamin D while enjoying champagne and mojitos. We’d received a tip to check out Infiniti for dinner and had heard amazing things about the menu. It was honestly one of the most stunning restaurants I've ever seen. Positioned right on the ocean, the sound of the waves serenade you as you sip cocktails at an infinity high top bar. When seated for dinner, hundreds of candles and a large fire pit provide light in the open air space. An absolute must-see and taste spot.

The next couple of days were a beautiful blur. We had brunch at Bay Bistro with fresh-squeezed juice, and poached eggs ocean side, and spent the afternoon Parasailing. I'm not particularly fond of heights, so it was a first for me but I absolutely loved it. It provided incredible panoramic views of the island and Grace Bay reef. The natural reef is what helps to keep the water so calm and crystal clear.

Our last two days we hit the town for more exploring and had dinners at Magnolia Wine Bar and Parallel23. Our concierge advised us to be at Magnolia Wine Bar in time for sunset and I would highly recommend it as well. It's one of the highest points on the island and provides a one-of-a-kind view as the sky bursts into fiery colors at dusk.

Parallel23 was a last-minute choice we had originally planned to try Amanyara which is on the other side of the island. Be sure to plan ahead for Amanyara as it books out for months in advance and the ride there can be about 45 minutes. Since it was our last night in town, we decided to stick closer to the resort. I suppose we have to leave something for our next trip. Parallel23 turned out to be an excellent choice. An elegant outdoor romantic setting with an open kitchen, wood fire grill, and Italian Caribbean flare. It was a great way to wind down on our last night.

I fell madly in love with this island. The warmth of its people, the perfect beaches, enticing culture, and nightlife, can make any traveler feel right at home. If you're looking for a spot to plan your next beach vacation Turks gets two thumbs up from this girl.

MAGNOLIA WINE BAR

PARALLEL23