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Picture Anguilla!

 
 

Brought to you by...
Carimar Beach Club,
with da'Vida, Tasty's, Straw Hat, Mango's,
Blanchards, Palm Grove and Anguilla Air Services

 

Update: The Picture Anguilla! photo contest winner has been announced!

Please click here to visit the official Picture Anguilla results page. :-)

What Do You See When You Picture Anguilla?

A photo may be worth a thousand words, but Anguilla photos can be worth so much more, capturing memorable moments, yours forever, ready to re-live whenever you like.

One glance at a special photo, even years later, can bring back warm emotions of togetherness with family or sheer relaxation away from day-to-day stress or reward you with the pleasure of breathtaking scenery.

We all know our most special Anguilla photos. They are the ones that we choose to set as our computer's "wallpaper," or that we print, frame and display on the mantelpiece or bedside. In short...

We want to see our favorite photos over and over. And that brings us to the Picture Anguilla contest....

The Challenge?

Share your favorite Anguilla photo along with a brief note about why it is so special.

The Prize? Win a $3,000 Week in Anguilla!

As we enter Anguilla's off-season, we enter what can be the best time to come! There are two best-time-to-come, "off-season" seasons...

  • Summer (June 1-Aug 15) The beaches are peaceful, the water is warm, the restaurants are open and quiet. The whole island "cools down" as the weather "heats up." Read about Anguilla weather in August.
    If you are looking for more of an action-packed holiday, there is a spike in activity in August for Carnival! Read about Anguilla Carnival here.
  • Pre-Winter (November 1 - December 18) Restaurants and hotels have re-opened, but the island is still un-touristed and tranquil. While the weather turns miserable up North, it's absolutely perfect in Anguilla. A great pre-winter escape!

Traveling to Anguilla in "the off season" is truly one of the best kept Caribbean secrets. And now you can enjoy Anguilla at its quiet best, free!

Submit the best "favorite photo" and win...

You'll be eat-live-sleeping by the sea, 24x7! More information about your prize...

Carimar Beach Club

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At Carimar Beach Club on Meads Bay

Carimar Beach Club is situated right on Meads Bay, one of Anguilla's most magnificent beaches.

Carimar delivers high-value accommodations on a beach known for its gleaming white sand and rhythmic rolling waves.

Carimar has an intensely devoted following. Now, you get to fall captive to its charms. Wake up to a glistening beach and the turquoise of Meads Bay. Enjoy flawless Caribbean sunsets. And fall asleep to the sounds of surf.

Swim, sun, eat, explore. Or just....

Relax and Float!
(Carimar Beach Club in the Background)

 

The Restaurants

Each restaurant has been carefully chosen to provide you with a superb beach-and-dine experience. With the exception of Tasty's, a local 5-star favorite which is inland, each serves lunch and dinner and provides beachside chaises and umbrellas. You, could, literally, make a day out of each restauarant experience.

da'Vida

The Zen/Caribbean architecture, created by David and Vida Lloyd, with Vida's husband Clyde, is one of the "must-eat-at" experiences in Angilla.

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Dining in da'Vida's picture-perfect glow

I don't think we'll ever forget our first meal at the sensational da'Vida restaurant. We had wondered for months what was being built on gorgeous Crocus Bay Beach. And I do mean right on the beach.

Our appetizers were Thai fish cake and curried chicken dumplings.

Dinner included Angus Beef Tenderloin and Katouche Crayfish Tails. My Dad swears their Angus Beef Tenderloin is the best steak on the island.

Sunset tapas are not to be missed. If you like, start with the tapas on the "bar side" and then move over to the "restaurant side" for the rest of dinner!

Straw Hat

Even before it relocated to Meads Bay, Straw Hat has been one of our top favorites for more than 10 years. Peter Parles and his wife, Anne, are delightful hosts and have built what has become another "Anguilla must-dine."

anguilla contest
With Peter at Straw Hat

Try...

  • the Straw Hat spring rolls for starters
  • wasabi-crested tuna
  • jerk tenderloin
  • red curry prawns
  • the panko crusted snapper filet
  • and, of course, the garlic mashed potatoes

Honestly, though, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. We always leave Straw Hat totally satiated.

Blanchards

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My Dad with the Shrimp & Lobster Crab Cakes

Also on Meads Bay, Bob and Melinda Blanchard's (authors of the nationally-recognized A Trip to the Beach), Blanchards Restaurant.

Bob and Melinda are a unique couple, with tremendous warmth and passion for their restaurant, Anguilla, and life in general.

The setting is picturesque, the restaurant exuding a certain classic Caribbean charm that puts you right at ease.

Melinda spins classic dishes and familiar favorites into one-of-a-kind meals that leave you pining for more. Menu highlights include...

Roasted mussels, lobster & shrimp cakes served with a tomato tartar sauce, a Caribbean sampler that includes a taste of Mahi Mahi, Crayfish and Jerk Chicken.

Dessert is not to be missed here! The cracked coconut and warm bread pudding make the perfect end to the evening.

Mango's

This ever-elegant Anguilla restaurant on Barnes Bay is the true definition of a seaside grill. Right on the sea's edge, the restaurant's wooden deck is just slightly elevated from the beach's sandy shores. You can nearly reach out and touch the waves.

By the Sea's Edge at Mango's

Mango's ambience magically mixes sophisticated finess and laid-back "beachshack."

The restaurant boasts a classic menu with many Anguillian favorites such as grilled whole snapper and Anguillian lobster.

Mixed in are more "creative" items such as chicken breast stuffed with monterey jack cheese, sun dried tomato and basil, and shrimp provencal.

All is cooked to perfection.

Graced with friendly and efficient staff and a genuinely warm and friendly owner (Dave Coburn), Mango's is one of the island's top fine dining options. It is one of my Dad's personal favorites.

Tasty's

This "institution" is known for its Anguilla cuisine cooked up by famed head chef and owner Dale Carty. Raised in Anguilla, Dale cooks with wide knowledge of and experience with Caribbean flavors and natural ingredients.

A Warmed Goat Cheese Salad For Lunch at Tasty's

His skills were sharpened as he worked under the Master French Chefs Michel and Jo Rostang.

The Warm Goat Cheese Salad and Black Bean Soup are two starters you can't go wrong with.

For the main course, the Grilled Tuna Steak, Coconut Crusted Parrotfish and the pastas always get rave reviews.

Tasty's also serves a very tasty breakfast and lunch.

Palm Grove

Palm Grove is our "oldest" favorite, Nat Richardson (and family) our oldest friends. Nat's is the first Anguilla restaurant that we fell in love with.

Lunch on the Beach

Palm Grove (or Nat's as we call it) is located on Junk's Hole, a quiet cove off of Savannah Bay. Don't be misled by its humble appearance...

Nat serves up ribs and chicken, and crayfish and lobster so fresh they are still moving when he takes your order. The crayfish are near lobster size, and absolutely delicious.

We always go for a late crayfish lunch (they are not open for supper). Nat and his son Theon tirelessly work on perfecting the blend of juices for the crayfish sauce.

Served with fresh, hot Johnny cakes and hand-cut steak fries, this is one of the very best meals on the island, and something that is quintessentially Anguilla!

Connecting Flight

For most visitors, the best way to fly to Anguilla is actually to fly to St. Maarten (SXM). Its Princess Juliana Airport receives non-stops from Europe and many American cities.

From there, it's just a 20-minute boat ride to Anguilla, which is probably closer than your local airport. There's a faster, exciting way that many never try. Take the 8-minute flight with...

Anguilla Air Services

With Captain Carl Thomas, Owner of Anguilla Air Services

Totally avoid Immigration at St. Maarten and enjoy the 1,000 foot view of St. Maarten and Anguilla as you gently touch down in Anguilla.

A few minutes later, you're through Anguilla Immigration (always quiet here) and on your way to your hotel.

Flying to Anguilla is not only the most convenient way to get to/from Anguilla, but it is the coolest too.

There is a certain sense of adventure going up and then coming down in this 8 seater Britten Norman Islander.

It's an unforgettable experience!

Please Note "Valid-For" Dates

Carimar Beach Club's offer is valid July 18-August 31 and November 1-December 18.

Coordinate with the restaurants' and AAS's "open dates"...

  • Straw Hat: July 18-August 31 and November 1-December 18
  • Mango's: July 18-July 30 and November 1-December 18
  • da'Vida's: July 18-July 28 and November 20-December 18
  • Palm Grove: July 18-September 1 and November 1-December 18
  • Tasty's: July 18-September 1 and October 1-December 18
  • Blanchards: July 18-August 26 and October 22-December 18
  • Anguilla Air Services: July 18-August 31 and October 31-December 18
 

The question now?...

How to Win Picture Anguilla!

The prize has a $3,000 value, so it is going to take a pretty good effort to win! ;-)

First, all entries are pre-screened. Only special photos with captivating descriptions have been published.

Second, get votes and comments for your photos. To boost your chances of winning, be sure to encourage your friends and family to vote for and comment on your photo(s).

Third, a panel of judges (the sponsors and Anguilla-Beaches.com), will select the final winner based on the following factors:

  • "Official" votes collected through the Facebook app (click here)
  • Facebook comments on your entry located on the Facebook app (see below for details)
  • Pinterest activity (see below for details)
  • Quality of photo/description combination

Decision of judges is binding and final.

Note: While you are encouraged to promote your photo(s), please do not spam. It may result in disqualification.


Important Contest Dates

Photo Entry Period: Now closed (closed July 8th at 6PM).

Voting Period: Now closed (closed July 15th at 11:59PM)

Update: The Picture Anguilla winner has been chosen!


I will make announcements on the contest through my Anguilla Blog and my Anguilla Beach Lovers newsletter, so be sure to follow the blog and sign up for my newsletter.

  • Note: This is especially important because Facebook restricts the number of contest announcements we can make within Facebook.
  • Tip: To make sure you don't miss a post, you can subscribe to my Anguilla Blog by copying-and-pasting this URL into Google Reader (or whatever RSS reader you use)... https://www.anguilla-beaches.com/Anguilla.xml

Have fun with Picture Anguilla! And good luck! :-)

Click here to return to Anguilla-Beaches.com's Facebook page to enter Picture Anguilla!