Golden Rock waits for you high up in the Nevis hills. This hundred-acre 18th century sugar estate is the result of decades of personal owner management and devoted staff. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Nevis/goldenrock/hotel/962/27/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:39:18 EST The Estates' garden courtyard, bordered by luxuriant bougainvillea and orchids is the center of life at Golden Rock. Guests can choose accommodations in one of our intimate cottages or the converted stone tower of the sugar estates' mill. Between 5:30 and 6pm people linger in the courtyard having a cool drink or afternoon tea under the umbrellas looking for the curious golden glow on the left side of the mountain just before the sun sets…and that's what Golden Rock is named after. You can choose to stay in one of 7 pastel colored cottages staggered across the fertile slopes of Gingerland. The bright fan-cooled interiors are decorated with pineapple friezes, hand-carved mahogany furniture, island crafts, antique prints and family heirlooms, sisal mats atop white tile floors and bamboo or mahogany four poster beds, some of which are canopied. Some of the Nevis style showers without tubs have sky-lights. All rooms have large porches with views of the sea. A smaller stone cottage by reception lies closest to the facilities, and the bi-level Sugar Mill Suite with a combination bath is private enough for honeymooners and big enough for families of four or five. The Sugar Mill is one of the most enchanting accommodations in the Caribbean. Originally a windmill used to grind sugarcane, it has been transformed with a graceful bamboo stair that spirals up along the mill's circular perimeter, and glass shuttered windows allow plenty of breezes and sunlight. The Sugar Mill is the sort of tower that would have made Rapunzel think twice about being rescued. Just sitting on the porch, you can enjoy reading or taking in the view of the three islands in the distance: Redonda, Montserrat and Antigua. AMENITIES: Outside in our courtyard, you can have a delicious Plantation style breakfast or lunch. Everyday we bake our own bread, so don't forget to try our famous lobster sandwich. In the gardens which are celebrated throughout the island, visual feasts attract plenty of hummingbirds and at least 10 varieties of forest and garden birds." A ship's bell rings between 7:30 and 8 pm to announce that our plantation style evening meal is being served. The dinner-only restaurant is well regarded offering candle lit West Indian cuisine in an ancient room with vine-draped fieldstone walls. A local string band jazzes up the popular Saturday night Caribbean buffet during the High Season. Cocktails are served under a vaulted stone ceiling in the cool earthy bar. The bartender stands and makes wonderful drinks in the original hearth of the old kitchen. Dinner is often accompanied by a small orchestra of crickets and tree frogs. The cooks are mistresses of Nevisian cuisine, crafting unforgettable meals from the island's bounty of fresh seafood, tropical fruits and seasonal produce...tannia fritters, broiled lobster tails, grilled herb snapper, fragrant curries, christophene and green papaya pie are just a sample of treats that come from our wonderful kitchen. ACTIVITIES: T h i n g s t o D o i n N e v i s Stop in at the Fothergill's ARCHITECTURAL VILLAGE which is near to the Golden Rock. Mr. Kelly will be your guide to the Carib Indian dwelling houses and the old time Chattel houses. He also makes wines from local fruits. Spend a day visiting ART GALLERIES. Take a tour to meet the craftsmen and local artists in their homes. Don't miss the Eva Wilkin Gallery and Print Shop in Gingerland and the Cafe des Arts Gallery and Restaurant in Charlestown. Take an evening ASTRONOMY LESSON on the beach at 9 pm with Jim Johnson from Top to Bottom. Call 469 9080. Pick from 10 different BEACHES. Some are for walking, shelling, swimming, body surfing, or snorkeling. Many have restaurants but some are even deserted. You'll find the beaches on your Journey Map also on the www.nevisisland.com website. Go mountain BIKING by calling 469 9682. Owner Winston Crooke (once a Shakespearian actor) has formed an island bike team and has created some off-the road trails for you to try. He also has windsurfing equipment for rent. See the Nevis BOTANICAL GARDEN. Enjoy their gift shop and the great view from Martha's Tea Garden Restaurant. Go scuba DIVING with owner Ellis Chaderton of Scuba Safaris. You leave from Oualie Beach at 9 am or 4 Seasons at 9:30 am. One of the best Double Tank Dives is Monkey Shoals and Coral Gardens. For the Resort Dives you leave at 2 pm. Call 469 9518 and leave a message on his answering machine. Have a drink or two at EDDY'S Restaurant on Wednesday night where you can watch the passersby and meet a mixture of people living and working on Nevis. Play GOLF at one of Nevis's 3 courses. The 4 Season's Trent Jones Course is challenging with breathtaking views - call 469-1111. There are 2 executive golf courses. The Nevis Golf Course has 2 holes, but 6 different approaches. The Cat Ghaut Course is just opposite the entrance to the Mt. Nevis Hotel. The Staigers often give you a botanical lesson while you play golf in their back yard. Call 469-9826. Go HIKING in the Rainforest, learn bush medicine, explore many ruins, or climb to the top of Mt Nevis with Jim Johnson from Top to Bottom 469 9080 or Lynell Liburd from Sunrise Tours 469 2758. The most popular HORSEBACK RIDE takes you on a rural village road and then on to Pinney's Beach. Call the Nevis Equestrian Center at 469 8118 or 469 3106. Choose from Western or English saddles. All different levels of riding are available. Hermitage Plantation Inn also offers a breathtaking ride up to the top of Saddle Hill with a guide. Hang on. Don't miss the Nevis Turf and Jockey Club HORSE RACES. They happen once a month usually on a Sunday. Go to the www.nevisisland.com website and check the Calendar of Events. HOT MINERAL SPRINGS are just the thing to try if you have aching muscles or a sore back. They are very hot but can do the trick. Ask Mrs. Barry or Sarah about it. Try ocean KAYAKING, snorkel over reefs and observe the birds on nearby rocks. Call Turtle Tours at 469 9613 at Oualie Beach or Top to Bottom at 469 9080 at Nisbet Beach. Wouldn't you want to try a relaxing and therapeutic MASSAGE in your own room after hiking to the top of Mt Nevis or after a long bicycle ride or just to relax? Ask Mrs. Barry and Sarah at the office. While staying at Golden Rock watching and photographing troops of Vervet MONKEYS is a must. If you look early in the morning or from 4 to 6 pm around the hotel or on the Nature Trail, you can observe some of their habits. Visit our two MUSEUMS. The Alexander Hamilton Museum has a mini shop that features books. The Lord Nelson Museum has several interesting displays and the archives. Open to 9 to 4 pm Mon thru Fri and 10 to 1 pm on Sat. Closed on Sun. Try to make friends with our cheeky Miss LaRue the Amazon PARROT who loves to eat breakfast with all the different Golden Rock Guests. Explore the most interesting RUINS of New River, Coconut Walk, Lime Kiln and Carib Indian Dig. It's like a treasure hunt, all in one place. SAILING and SNORKELING can be done on a catamaran called the Caona and your host is called Lennox who helped to build the boat. He plays great music and your glass is never empty. Call 4 Seasons at 469 1111. Or try a single hulled sailboat with Captain Les Windley on Sea Dreamer Call 469 9239. Enjoy SNORKELING WITH MARINE BIOLOGIST Barbara Whitman and handle the live sea animals. Mon thru Sat 1 to 4 pm at Oualie Hotel. Call 469 1291. From our beach spot walk to the 4 Seasons. Try one of their SPA TREATMENTS. Pamper yourself. Call 469 1111. For SPORT FISHING or SNORKELING you can go on the Sea Brat with Captain Julian Rigby (call 469 9690) or with the English chef named Matt (call 469 5110) If you want to improve your TENNIS call Stephen Webbe at 469 2696. He was a great geography teacher but now he is even better as a tennis teacher. WHALE WATCHING is very seasonal but exciting if they are running during Dec. to May. Call Ellis Chaderton at 469 9518. WINDSURFING with Winston Crooke is still located at Oualie Beach. It's a lot of fun to get in and out of the bay but if you are good you may want to sail to St Kitts and back. YOGA is offered at the Golden Rock swimming pool on Tues. at 9 to 10 am for a fee. Meet some the island residents and what a setting for stretching. Call Nikki at 469 9080. DINING/RESTARUANTS: Type: Vacation Rental Beach Location: Off Beach (Tropical Setting) http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Nevis/goldenrock/hotel/962/27/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:39:18 EST