Amazing Grace Bay Beach
 

          With its milky aqua waters and wide band of white sand Grace Bay Beach on Provenciales in the Turks and Caicos is a standout among the Caribbean’s best beaches.

           Even the most frayed nerves can be soothed by looking out to sea and being hypnotized by the jewel-blue colors of the sea. The sand is soft and soothing at each footfall.

            Its no wonder Provo’s most famous shoreline has won numerous accolades in recent years. Grace Bay Beach offers such a sensory feast that national publications, including “Conde Nast Traveler,” “Caribbean Travel and Life” and “Forbes.com,” periodically list the destination among their top picks of the world’s best beaches.

           Resorts along the 12-mile-long curve of Grace Bay Beach are well maintained and landscaped with an abundance of tropical plants, adding to the beach’s get-away-from-it-all allure.

           While many visitors spend the middle of the day on Grace Bay Beach alternating between swimming in the calm turquoise waters, reading under an umbrella and sunbathing, others opt to take out catamarans and kayaks, which are available at most oceanfront resorts.

            As each clear day wanes, the sun sets majestically on the horizon across from the long shore, painting the surf shimmering, fiery hues. Walkers and runners hit the sand to take in the show.

             Jerry and Sally Danver of Chicago recently vacationed at one of the beach’s highly rated upscale resorts, Ocean Club, and spent most of their time there swimming and relaxing under salmon-colored umbrellas.

            “The beach is so spectacular that you try to burn it into your memory so you’ll clearly recall it when you get back home,” Sally Danver said.

            Jess and Jon Ray, honeymooners from North Chatham, N.H., took long walks from and to Grace Bay Club, where they stayed.

            “The pictures of this beach were gorgeous but they didn’t do it justice. You have to see the glowing turquoise of the water with your own eyes,” Jess Ray said.

            They ventured down the undeveloped eastern section of the beach where the surf crashes dramatically at high tide against a limestone ledge.

            While the couple spent most of their time at the beach they found a number of other exciting diversions on the island, including diving, sailing and taking eco tours.

            Sun Charters, for example, offers Provo sailing excursions and private charters aboard the 77-foot Atabeyra. Sailing around the island and into its inlets and estuaries is an excellent way to discover rarely visited coves and snorkeling sites.

            In addition to taking out private charters for between two and 50 guests, the traditionally rigged cargo schooner regularly goes out for Friday night sunset cruises during daylight-saving-time months. The Atabeyra takes out evening tours out to see phosphorescent glow-worm show in the channel on the third and fourth days after the full moon.

            Guests are invited to bring their own provisions aboard Atabeyra or can opt for catered lunches or dinners. A delicious lunch provided by Ocean Club Resort was served during my half-day charter.

            Various marine adventures are offered by Provo’s Big Blue Unlimited. The eco-tourism company takes out divers to Provo’s abundant reef system and kayakers to the island’s mangrove-lined estuaries.

Janice Mucalov of Vancouver, British Columbia, spent a half a day with Big Blue kayaking and touring protected sanctuaries. During the trip she saw iguanas, egrets and conchs.

            “A kayak is the best way to observe nature. You’re quiet and mobile so you see so much more wildlife that you would otherwise be able to come across,” Mucalov said.

            Those who enjoy eating fresh conch will not want to miss a trip to Caicos Conch Farm, the world’s only conch farm, while they are visiting Provo. Several resorts on the island, including Grace Bay Resort, serve fresh conch from the farm.

The farm, which is home to 5.5 million conchs in various parts of their life cycle, is helping supply the Caribbean and the United State’s growing appetite for conch. That’s important because the delicacy is being over fished in many areas the Caribbean.

            Visitors are able to see and touch conch growing in various shelters and ponds at the facility. The finale of the tour is a show put on by “Sally” and “Jesse,” two mature conchs that slide out of their shells to visit with guests.

“Visiting the farm makes you realize what a special treat it is to be able to eat conch here and at home,” said April Byrd of Miami.