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Turks Caicos Information

Turks & Caicos Restaurants Go Crazy For Conch!

Thanksgiving in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos is all about the Conch! This is the time of year when the Annual Turks & Caicos Conch Festival occurs, usually over Thanksgiving weekend. This year’s 8th annual event takes place from November 25-26th, 2011 and features a weekend full of fun activities including a conch tasting competition where 25 local restaurants will compete for the most “delicious” conch in several categories that range from the Best Conch Salad, Best Conch Chowder and the ultimate prize – the Best In Show.

The Caribbean Queen conch is the native mollusk and number one export for the Turks & Caicos Islands. In addition to celebrating conch with an annual festival, the island is also home to the world’s only Conch Farm. Those who visit Providenciales can take a tour of the island’s Caicos Conch Farm, which is the only place in the world where conch are commercially grown and raised from veliger to adult. The breeding techniques in this conch farm actually help save the wild conch from extinction and over exploitation – while supplying food too many, as conch continues to be one of the major protein sources in the Caribbean diet.

The local Caribbean Queen conch is served in many Turks & Caicos restaurants including our very own Hemingway’s beachside restaurant at The Sands at Grace Bay. The “Conch Served The Way You Like It” menu option offered at Hemingway’s is a great way to experience the taste of our Caicos conch in a variety of ways, as you can choose amongst conch fritters, conch fingers or a fresh conch salad.  These are all delicious and refreshing after a full day of fun under the sun. Another restaurant specialty is the chef’s conch chowder, which is a traditional spicy island recipe that is also made with fresh local conch.

Only a few minutes away from The Sands at Grace Bay is another popular beachside Turks & Caicos restaurant venue called “Da Conch Shack” – which is a laid-back, open-air restaurant and bar overlooking the ocean that specializes in conch cooked nearly every way possible – from cracked conch and conch salad or ceviche, to conch creole and even a coconut conch stew.

It’s easy to see that Turks & Caicos restaurants and locals are simply crazy for conch. Come stay with us at The Sands at Grace Bay and you’ll be sure to get hooked on this tasty island treat as well!

Check out our main website for more information on dining in Turks & Caicos at The Sands.

 

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Announcements

The Sands at Grace Bay featured in LUSSO Magazine

We hope you enjoy this travel article which appears in the Fall 2011 issue of LUSSO Magazine that spotlights The Sands at Grace Bay – which was built and designed by The Hartling Group and has become one of the most well-known family-friendly resorts in Providenciales!

Fall 2011 – LUSSO Magazine

 

 

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Turks Caicos Information

5 reasons to visit a Turks and Caicos resort

How much do you know about the Turks and Caicos? How much will it take to persuade you to come here for a visit?Here are our top 5 reasons to visit:

1. The Caribbean’s best weather

Grace Bay Beach is never too hot – and it’s never ever cold! Thanks to trade winds and cool offshore breezes, the temperature remains in the 70s and 80s throughout the islands, with the winter months remaining cooler. The cool winter months are the busiest time of year in the Turks and Caicos, and we receive the most visitors from mid-December to the beginning of April. The rainiest season lasts from April to July.

2. We accept the dollar

We accept the American greenback! This means all you have to do is pack your bag, hop on a plane, and begin your vacation. You never have to worry about changing money, or making sure you are getting the best exchange rate.

3. The Turks and Caicos islands are different

In all modesty, we’re a Caribbean paradise that hs cultivated a reputation for elegance, refinement and surprise – we’re more than just a tour destination. Instead, we offer exclusive resort vacations, that provide truly unique opportunities to explore the rich natural history of the Caribbean. There are many intact ecosystems located throughout our islands that represent a natural history and diversity that all but disappeared in other parts of the Caribbean.

Come to the Turks and Caicos and take a trip back in time by exploring caves and coral reefs. Encounter rare animal populations by kayak or by sailboat, right from your beachfront hotel.

4. We’re not too big, not too small

Only about 200,000 people visit these islands each year, compared to the millions that visit other tropical destinations in the Caribbean. It’s also easy to get around by car, and it’s easy to travel throughout the islands by boat.

5. We’re safe

The Turks and Caicos belong to the Commonwealth, and possesses a stable, elected parliamentary government. There is a strong emphasis on peace, order and good government, which means travelers can relax and worry about the finer things in life, such as when the pool opens at a hotel, or deciding which beach to visit in the morning, and which beach to visit in the evening.

The Sands at Grace Bay is a Turks and Caicos resort.