Recommend December 2013 - (Page 42)

Must-See, Must-Do Sights & Activities No jury would convict your clients if, upon setting foot in Anguilla, they never left their resort or villa; the resorts and villas on this island really are that good. But whether people are curious about the history and culture of the island they're visiting, or eager to sail with the wind or swim with the ﬁshes-of which Anguilla has multitudes-this little isle offers a surprising bounty of wonderful things to see and do. For even more things to see and do, visit ivisitanguilla.com and click on the "activities" section. TOURS AND SIGHTSEEING SCUBA DIVING Whether it's exploring the island's heritage or hanging with the birds, in Anguilla your clients can step into history or look up to the treetops on an array of interesting tours. Anguilla Access offers 3-hour Culture Tours in an air-conditioned van that include an orientation to the island, history and a heritage site stop, a visit with a boat-maker, and a stop at reggae star Bankie Banx's Dune Preserve beach bar. Its Nightlife Tours, which begin at 9 p.m., guide visitors to the best bars and dance scenes (and eliminate that always-awkward designated driver problem). (264) 772-9827; anguillaaccess.com The Anguilla National Trust's heritage tours include a Heritage Tour, an Amerindian Settlement Site Tour and a Tour of the Historical Lower Valley, which includes stops at historic sites, including the Wallblake House. The Anguilla National Trust also offers birding and, from April through November, turtle-nesting tours. (264) 497-5297; axanat@anguillanet.com The Wallblake House, Anguilla's only surviving plantation house, was built in 1787 and is one of the few such places in the Caribbean where the entire complex, including the kitchen, stable, and workers' quarters, remains intact. Open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. ivisitanguilla.com/sightseeing The Heritage Collection is a private museum that archives photographs, written documents, and artifacts spanning Anguilla's history from the Arawak Indians to today. Contact curator Colville Petty, OB.E.; (264) 497-4092; petty@anguillanet.com Thursdays at 10 a.m. Sir Emile Gumbs offers tours of the Old Salt Factory and Pumphouse at Sandy Ground, the ruin of a plant that once drove the biggest industry on Anguilla. Sir Emile's Sandy Ground Village Tour includes the Old Salt Factory, the Manse, and some birding. (264) 497-2711; sirandladygumbs@anguillanet.com Professional guides from Conchshell Environmental Tours lead historical, birding, garden and gallery tours. (264) 582-7700; conchshell2002@yahoo.com Sevens are wild: Anguilla has seven marine parks-Dog Island, Prickly Pear, Seal Island Reef System, Little Bay, Sandy Island, Shoal Bay Harbour Reef System, and Stoney Bay Marine Park- and of the nine wrecks that lie just off its beaches, seven were deliberately sunk there to create habitats for ﬁsh. The most famous of Anguilla's wrecks, El Buen Consejo, was a Spanish galleon that sank in 1772. For years, only archaeologists had access to this wreck, but now a limited number of amateur divers may visit it and see the cannons, anchors and devotional medals now embedded in the surrounding coral. There are two dive shops on Anguilla: Special "D" Diving & Charters, in operation since 2000, is owned by Douglas "Dougie" Carty, who has been diving these waters for more than 25 years. Based in Sandy Ground, he All images: Offering everything from galleries to snorkeling and sailing, Anguilla is ideal for both cultural and watersports buffs. A16 edu.recommend.com/anguilla 16-18 MustDosMustSees.indd 16 11/21/13 2:12 PM http://www.ivisitanguilla.com http://www.anguillaaccess.com http://www.ivisitanguilla.com/sightseeing http://edu.recommend.com/anguilla

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend December 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Canyon Ranch
Tour Talk: Insight Vacations
17th Annual Recommend Readers' Choice Awards Winners
Cruising 2013
Discovering North America
Caribbean Trends
Anguilla Travel Agent Specialist Program
Asia & The South Pacific in the Rearview Mirror
Mexico 2013
Latin America in 2013 and Beyond
Africa + The Middle East Continue to Make Stides
Nostalgic for Europe

Recommend December 2013