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2015 Publisher of the Year Goes to the Ocean Club in Turks & Caicos

By Ashley Cass Morse August 9, 2016
In 2015, I had the prestigious honor of being named the Macaroni Kid Publisher of the Year. There are no words to describe the feeling of being recognized by such an incredible, inspiring and supportive company for doing something that you truly love and put your heart and soul into. And, if I have learned anything over the last six years about this wonderful company, it is this: when they do something, they go above and beyond to deliver. 

In true Macaroni Kid style, the recognition and Flying Pig Award did not suffice - they had to throw in a gift, a huge gift. The gift of time and beauty - time to make memories with family, time to recharge and time to relax in one of the most beautiful settings in the entire world. And when I say beautiful, I mean beautiful. Powdered sugar sand beaches and crystal clear water beautiful. Number one beach in the world beautiful. Turks and Caicos beautiful. Ocean Club Resorts beautiful. 

As soon as I shared the news with my family, my children jumped up and down and we did a little research. Once we did, we could not wait to get there. I had always heard great things about Turks and Caicos, and our research indicated this as well - the reviews of the island, food and resort were stellar and the photographs of the island were gorgeous. And, the promise of so many fun activities had my children asking weekly, "Mom, when are we going?" 

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Location 
Turks and Caicos is an island chain consisting of 40 islands and cays, south of the Bahamas. There are non-stop flights from several US east coast cities and it is an easy hour and 45 minute flight from Miami. A passport is required for entry (it is a British Crown Colony), yet the official currency is the US dollar. One tip - if you plan to rent a car, make sure you are comfortable driving on the left side of the road! 

Ocean Club 
Our trip included a stay at the beautiful Ocean Club Resorts, located on the largest island in Turks and Caicos, Providenciales. Ocean Club Resorts consists of two properties a mile apart - Ocean Club East and Ocean Club West. They are both located right on Grace Bay Beach, which is known for its soft sand and calm clear blue water (most deservedly named the most beautiful beach in the world in 2016). As beautiful as the pictures are, they do not do it justice. The setting is absolutely stunning. The sand on Grace Bay Beach really is the softest sand I have ever felt, and the ocean is so clear it looks like a swimming pool. 

Rooms
Let's talk about the property for a minute. Traveling as a family means you need a few things to be comfortable. Spacious and clean separate bedrooms? Check. The Ocean Club has condo-style two- and three-bedroom units. Kitchen? Check. Washer and dryer? Check. And an added bonus, a large living room and an expansive lanai facing the ocean or one of two large pools. Absolutely perfect for traveling families and alfresco, do-it-yourself dining. 

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Dining
Speaking of dining, while the island is teeming with great restaurants, the dining options on-property are suburb. Each property has a restaurant strategically located both beachside and poolside, serving up delicious island fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner (I highly recommend the nightly fish specials and of course, the cracked conch is a Turks and Caicos specialty).

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We were so happy to discover that Opus Wine Bar and Grille, Ocean Club Resort's fine dining restaurant, was truly excellent- so good we ate there two nights in a row!

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In exploring other restaurants of the island, we found a couple of great options off property as well - Da Conch Shack (dining right on the beach in the sand!), and for a break from island fare, Thai Orchid was a hit. 

Water Sports and Activities
If your kids are super active like ours, you know that there is a limit to sitting around, even if it is on a gorgeous beach. Not to worry because the Ocean Club has several swimming pools, as well as plenty of activities on site (Ocean Club East offers sailing lessons and Ocean Club West has complimentary kayaks and paddleboards), or nearby. And with the third largest barrier reef in the world right off the coast, there is plenty to see underwater as well. Here's what we found:
  • About 15 minutes into our first sailing lesson with WaterPlay Provo (on the beach at Ocean Club East), my seven-year-old daughter insisted on sailing herself - she loved it so much, we did it again the next day! 
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  • At Ocean Club West, we arranged to be picked up for our first parasailing adventure with Skypilot. If you haven't been parasailing, you should give it a try - it felt so good floating in the air with killer views for miles around. Once again, my daughter couldn't get enough and went up twice, once with me and once with my husband. 
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  • The barrier reef is not to be missed and has the most beautiful and colorful reef I have ever seen. Hundreds of fish and sea turtles swim around brightly colored coral that spans for miles. There are several operators that offer diving and snorkeling excursions, but we had an incredible time snorkeling and exploring with Big Blue Unlimited. Their Snorkeling Eco Adventure Tour is four hours of fun with a stop at the protected Iguana Island to check out the local reptilian inhabitants, snorkeling on the reef and a stop at a secluded beach. 
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  • Another way to view the reef and its sea life that is certain to thrill the kids, is in a semi-submarine. Once you board, you descend to a deck lined with windows. Be sure to check out this Mermaid Adventure tour - an underwater hunt for turtles and mermaids. But beware of the corny joke-cracking pirate - the captain may need your help to warn Bella the mermaid!
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  • As every parent knows, no tropical vacation is complete without some time at the pool. Ocean Club East has two beautiful pools and Ocean Club West has one large pool that meanders through the center of the property. Our kids spent hours in each one of these pools. 
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  • Whale Watching. If you happen to be there in January though April, be sure to schedule a whale watching tour - humpback whales migrate through the area then, and I can only image what an incredible experience this would be! 
Other Things to Do
Much of what there is to do is on and around the ocean, but on that occasional rainy day or if you just need a break from the sun, there are a few things you could do. Here's what we found: 
  • Adopt a Puppy for the Afternoon. Potcakes are a breed of sweet and loving dogs found on the island and Potcake Place is a rescue organization caring for the many local strays. They allow you to visit with the puppies or take them for a walk on the beach during certain hours. My kids loved this - but be warned, we are told it often results in bringing home a puppy! 
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  • Shopping. About a mile from Ocean Club East and right up the street from Ocean Club West, there are several options for shopping. Saltmills Plaza for art, gifts and clothing, and upscale options across the street in the Regent Village Plaza.
  • Dessert. In this category you will also find several restaurants and ice cream shops, including our favorites, Turk Berry and the quirky part boutique, part high-end dessert/ice cream bar, Melt, both in Regent Village Plaza.  
  • Conch. See how they farm the ubiquitous island conch at the famous conch farm.
  • Sightseeing. If you want to do some sightseeing around the island, you could book a sightseeing tour or rent a car (as we did). One highlight was a short hike to the top of historic Sapodilla Bay Hill to view rock carvings from early settlers and shipwrecked sailors from the 1700 and 1800s and killer views of Sapodilla Bay.  
In all, true to Macaroni Kid's motto, we found our family fun. Our trip to the Ocean Club and Turks and Caicos created beautiful memories and the much needed time to recharge and relax. 

The author was a guest of Ocean Club Resorts. Accommodations, some meals and activities were included. All opinions are those of the author.