Nevis: Sun and simplicity 1

Article rank
29 Jan 2014
Metro Canada (Toronto)
Nevis: Sun and simplicity 1
Natural beauty. Looking for a laid- back escape? Check out this little Caribbean
gem
Old-time charm. Stunning beaches. And no high-rises.
JIM BYERS/METRO
The beach at Nisbet Plantation is great place for morning walk or for reading on one of the resort’s
comfortable hammocks.
They like to keep things simple on the Caribbean island of Nevis, where there’s no American fast
food and no casino but lots of natural beauty.
Here are four great ways to enjoy your stay.
Take a Peak
About 1,200 feet up the south slope of Mt. Nevis is an ecofriendly spot called Peak Heaven, where
they’ll show you how families used to cook their bread in communal ovens. You can get a massage on
a deck overlooking a wide swath of green that rolls down to the sea and, on a clear day, spot the
outline of Montserrat. Looking for something with some adrenaline? Ask one of the local guides to lead
you roughly 2,000 feet higher up, taking a climb through thick jungle to the summit of Mt. Nevis. It’s
only $40 for a four-hour guided hike.
Get attacked by Killer Bees
Down at Sunshine’s bar on Pinney’s Beach, they make a wonderfully tasty concoction with rum and
fruit punch called The Killer Bee. It’s a gloriously ragged place that’s been destroyed by hurricanes
several times but keeps bouncing back. The bar is open to the elements and decorated in brilliant
swatches of yellow, red, green and black. You’ll find flags of Canada and Ireland and NFL teams
hanging from the ceiling and photos of celebrities such as Beyoncé and Michael Douglas, as well as
Wayne Gretzky. Sunshine’s tells me Gretzky came down once with a couple hockey buddies, including
Paul Coffey and Ray Bourque, and had a great old time.
Here comes the sun
There are tons of great spots to enjoy the sun and sand in Nevis. On the north end, Oaulie has a
fun, casual bar, and there are great views over to the peaks of St. Kitts. The west side offers great
sunsets, of course, as well as the fine, sugary sand beach at Pinney’s. It’s a small, nearly round island
with not many roads, so it’s hard to get lost if you rent a moped for the day and search for your own
stretch of sand. Local companies offer snorkel and scuba trips and deep-sea fishing, and the offshore
waters are a playground for whales in winter.
Ride with the people
The island is filled with folks who drive fancy van/ taxis with fun names such as “I Am What I Am”
and “Easy Vibez.” They’ll sometimes charge a hefty price for a fairly short ride, however. To save
money, do what the locals do. Simply stand by the side of the road (you don’t need a formal bus stop)
and wait for one of the small, independent drivers with a green license plate to come by. Then simply
ask if he or she is going your way and negotiate a price. You’ll probably climb into a small van filled with
local women with their kids or teenagers heading off to a party or to the beach, but you’ll probably only
pay a couple bucks and you can listen in on conversations about the weather or troubled relationships.
Sleeping around
Try Nisbet Plantation on the northeast corner of the island for great food and hospitality, spacious
grounds and a nice beach.
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