Indigo House is a two-story villa, beach-house bungalow located on one of the best beaches in Tortola. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/British_Virgin_Islands/indigohouse/hotel/998/9/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:51:40 EST Originally built by an artist as his Caribbean retreat and art studio, Indigo House is done in traditional West Indian style architecture. The owner, an interior designer, has furnished the house with an assortment of tropical fabrics and artwork. Indigo House has two bedrooms and two full bathrooms: one bedroom and bathroom upstairs and one bedroom and bathroom off the back courtyard. Both have queen size beds and plenty of space. "The perfect place to honeymoon" Hundreds of couples have gotten married, or honeymooned, in the Indigo House. People come from all around the globe -- from Europe, South Africa, even the Philippines -- just to get married or honeymoon in this very special, romantic getaway. What better way to begin your blessed union than in the beach paradise that is Cane Garden Bay's Indigo House. Tortola is the largest of the British Virgin Islands. Its main city, Road Town, is the capital of the B.V.I. and is the center of activity in the British Virgin Islands. Make no mistake, though, Tortola is a still a "get away from it all" destination. Tortola and the surrounding islands are probably best experienced by boat. This is not the only way to do it, but the area is popular with the sailing and yachting crowd. Many visitors sail here or charter a boat upon arrival. Ferries transport passengers to Tortola's West End and Road Town from other Virgin Islands. There are scheduled flights to Tortola's small Beef Island Airport from both San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. Many visitors to Tortola experience the local waters in other ways. Windsurfing is excellent here. The windsurfing center at Nanny Cay has access to both protected areas for beginners and areas with strong winds for advanced windsurfers. It's fun just to watch the windsurfers from land as they fly over the water and sometimes really get airborne. Traditional surfing is popular at Apple Bay. There are also great snorkeling and diving sites on Tortola and nearby islands. The beaches are beautiful and rarely, if ever, crowded. Most of the best beaches are located on the north side of the island, including Cane Garden Bay, Brewer's Bay and Long Bay. Tortola's narrow, winding roads offer exceptional views of these beaches and bays. The roads on the southern coast are generally flatter and easier to navigate but provide fewer exceptional views. When you arrive, pick up a copy of Limin' Times to find out about current events and nightlife on Tortola. The term, limin', refers to the area's most popular activity. That is relaxing, kicking back, or simply enjoying oneself. The key to successful limin' seems to be having fun without working too hard at it. AMENITIES: The combination living/dining area comes furnished with a sofa, comfortable chairs and includes cable TV and a stereo with a CD and a tape player. The kitchen is also fully furnished and includes a coffee maker, a toaster and a blender (for Caribbean style cocktails, if you like!). Just off the kitchen area is a second bathroom with a shower. The front deck looks out over the bay with a beachfront hammock and a wooden, picnic-style table and chairs. The back courtyard is fully enclosed and includes a full set of patio furniture and a Webber BBQ for lunch or evening cookouts. ACTIVITIES: You can swim, snorkel, sunbathe or kayak in the crystal blue waters of Cane Garden Bay -- right outside your door. The house has a sea kayak that is free for guests to use. Sailing and windsurfing equipment is available for rent on the beach. Snorkeling Experienced snorkelers will find plenty of adventure on most of the beaches in Tortola. Smuggler's Cove and Cane Garden Bay on the North coast are some of the best snorkel areas in the Caribbean. For beginners, several boats in Tortola specialize in snorkeling tours. Scuba Diving Diving amidst the crystal blue water of Tortola and the BVI is a scuba diver's heaven. The virgin reefs are among the world's best scuba attractions. Day Sailing This is what Tortola is famous for -- sailing! Day-sailing yachts are available for rent and are a perfect way to explore the outer islands of the BVI. Boat sizes vary from small schooners to wide-deck multihulls. Charter Boats Don't need a captain? Then rent your own boat and sail the pristine waters of the BVI on your own time. Watersports You'll have no trouble at all finding windsurfers, sea kayaks, hobi cats and surf bikes available for rental. Hiking and Walking While the island itself is a hiker's heaven, the trail in Sage Mountain National Park is a favorite of experienced hikers. The less adventurous can just as easily enjoy a stroll through one of Tortola's many beautiful villages. Apple Bay on the North Coast. The Apple Bay area, including Little Apple Bay, Cappoons Bay, and Carrot Bay, has a variety of beaches that are often narrow, sometimes rocky, but exciting nonetheless. Beach lovers and surfers enjoy staying at Sebastian's on the Beach. Brewer's Bay on the Ocean Coast. A special place, quite beautiful in a wild, rugged way fitting to this ocean coast, Brewer's Bay seems to attract those, among others, who are strongly attuned to nature. The beach here is excellent, protected by extensive coral reefs. Somewhat off the beaten path. Long Bay on the North Coast. This mile-long, white sand beach, bordered by coconut palm and seagrape trees against foaming breakers over emerald reefs, captures the eye as one of the world's most photogenic beaches, it's vista closed by a picturesque green mound at Belmont Point. Open to the public, Long Bay Beach is the home of the famous Long Bay Beach Resort. The ultimate in Caribbean beachespalm trees, white sand, emerald reefs breaking with surf, its photogenic vistas. Popular but less crowded because it's harder to each by land and cannot be reached by water. Long Bay East on Beef Island. A secluded and pristine beach, long and lovely Long Bay East is reached by going to the airport past the toll booth and turning left at an opening to the salt marsh flats (avoid driving on them). Great for swimming (watch for the quick drop-off), seashell collecting, and its views to outlying islands. Smuggler's Cove on the North Coast. A fascinating beach, with its own honor bar and bit of history, its classic cove shape and benign conditions make it everyone's favorite secret "hidden" beach. A beautiful, well-protected beach, Smuggler's Cove has seclusion, snorkeling out on its reef and a small beach bar with an "honor" cigar box to pay for cold sodas and beer, snacks, postcards, and beach chair rentals. DINING/RESTARUANTS: Type: Vacation Rental Beach Location: Beach Front (Directly on Beach/Water Front) http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/British_Virgin_Islands/indigohouse/hotel/998/9/ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:51:40 EST