26 Valley Social Magazine

CALABASH COVETRAVELESCAPEBY JENNIFER DONCSECZ

St. Lucia's newest exotic addition

onsidered by many to be the “Hawaii of the Caribbean”, the stunningly beautiful island of St. Lucia boasts volcanic peaks, pristine white and black sand beaches, rain forests and sce-nic valleys that dramatically tumble towards the crystal clear Caribbean Sea. Named “one of the five places to see in your

lifetime” by Oprah Winfrey, this charming island with its famous land-mark twin peaks, the Piton’s, continues to be one of the least spoiled islands in the Caribbean. St. Lucia is located in the Eastern Caribbean, midway between Martinique and St. Vincent, and is only 27 miles long and 14 miles wide. True to its ancestry, St. Lucia welcomes tourists with French-Creole warmth mixed with the hospitality of English so-phistication. The exotic allure of this island has been drawing celebri-ties the likes of Tyra Banks, Morgan Freeman and most recently it was the setting for the final episodes of this year’s ABC’s “The Bachelor”. Taking full advantage of the landscape is the brand new luxury boutique resort, Calabash Cove. Hugging the hillside, Calabash combines nature with elegance, as displayed with the resort’s showcase designer pool that has an impressive 40 foot infinity edge which gives the illusion of the water simply overflowing towards the crystal blue sea below. As you walk down towards the secluded white sand beach you will notice the custom designed boardwalk and several ideal locations for a sunset candlelit dinner for two. Positioned to view unbelievable sunsets, Cala-bash is an idyllic respite for honeymooners and couples looking to recon-nect. Managing Director, Konrad Wagner certainly knows how to dial up the romance and create an atmosphere perfect for couples in love. Mr. Wagner spent years as general manager for Sandals Grande in St. Lucia.

Unlike the large Sandals properties on St. Lucia, this 5 star resort con-sists of 26 luxurious cottages/suites, all with Jacuzzis and many with pri-vate pools or swim up suites and each boasting amazing Caribbean Sea views. Each unique accommodation features hand crafted teak and ma-hogany wood and well equipped hi-end electronics, such as flat screen TV’s, DVD, and refrigerators. Among the coconut trees and gorgeous “cove gardens” is Calabash’s Ti Spa, Fitness Center and beauty salon. Calabash is also home to the Windsong Restau-rant, with its Michelin star aspiring French chef and Asian in-spired creative menu that using the freshest, locally grown in-gredients. This fine dining experience is complemented by the resort’s own C-Bar, which serves international cocktails and fine wines. The leisure concierge at Calabash knows guests enjoy the se-clusion and romance of the resort but may want to venture out to en-joy all that St. Lucia has to offer. The concierge specializes in creating individually tailored excursions. Sail the waters on the Brig Unicorn, one of the yachts used to film “Pirates of the Caribbean” or take a tour of the “drive through volcano”. Yearning to find a waterfall, or glide down a cable through the rain forest, or fly in a helicopter to see the very best view of the majestic Pitons? The concierge can provide ex-pert assistance in arranging day trips for even the most avid adventurer. Whether you want to enjoy St. Lucia from the panoramic view of your private hammock on your balcony or soaring down a zip line, Calabash is the perfect blend of all that awaits you on this picturesque Island.

C