On a breezy night in Turks most people think of hunkering down to the flavors of fried conch and a rum punch. But not tonight. In the heart of Turks and Caicos is Lemon, a modern take on Moroccan cuisine with Mediterranean influences. You can dine in the furnished gazebo, illuminated by candles and lanterns.  The foods colors are mirrored by earthy colours and textures inherent in the Moroccan style décor. Innovative blends of herbs and spices and an abundance of flavors provide a truly memorable experience. Chef John, who hails from Canada makes a roasted eggplant stuffed with grilled onions and cherry tomatoes that rocks the kasbah and a b’stille to die for. yum.

At Grace Bay Club it’s the little things that count. A birthday cake on the eve of my 33rd surrounded by pink flowers. My daughters smiling face when kids camp director, Morgan, gave her a personlized conch shell. Poolside strawberry icies passed out mid morning. Afternoon tea and cookies to tide you over until dinner.  A mobile made of seashells. The fact that everyone knows your name and is always smiling genuinely from ear to ear. In a world where the little things are so often left behind, here the little things count and make for lasting lifelong memories.

What is a conch and more importantly how do you pronounce it? Pronounced island style like a whack on the head (conk), the conch is a species of medium-sized to large saltwater snails or their shells. Think Lord of the Flies meets tasty delight. Da Conch Shack on Turks is the best place world wide to see, eat and experience all things conch. Watch the water change colour (is it the rum?) as you sip a smooth, mellow rum unlike anything you have ever tried before. As they happily boast, you can “enjoy it like a fine wine. Scotch drinkers converted daily.” At the conch shack you sit on the beach at picnic tables with sand under your feet watching the sun go down as the music rises and the taste buds are infused with happy flavors.  I’m dreaming of it already…even for breakfast.

Arriving at Parrot Cay my body and soul know I am in for a blissful experience. It is the northern Caribbean’s pre-eminent private island, wrapped in sweeps of sand and peaceful seas featuring the region’s best spa and haute cuisine.

Here you will find an awardwinning holistic spa, healthy cuisine and beach houses with private pools and an attentive staff. Here you can lay back, bask on the pristine beach and watch the sunset spread its warm colorful rays across the horizon. This is where luxury meets quite bliss.

General Manager Jeff Morgan spends the day touring me through the unique island he now calls home. He has a pride in this private heaven and I can see why. Baby powder white sand beaches, a unique attention to detail, blue rainbow waters and a laid back luxury are forever present.

Parrot Cay creates a canvas on which is painted the opportunity to experience a Shambhala massage, a carefully crafted yoga retreat, or a gathering of friends for your private island wedding. Food is not just a side note but a well crafted symphony of flavors and textures.

After a day at Parrot Cay I too want to call this place home as it has grown on me and on my soul.

As with all things Aman, simplicity is their guiding star. The galaxy aligned in the design of Amanyara, the resort perched cliffside on Turks and Caicos, accessible by dirt road and emerging in the distance as a floating palace of luxury. Nobody can desribe the style and setting than Aman themselves.

“Amanyara is located on the secluded western shore of Providenciales, in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Nestled between the pristine coral reefs of the Northwest Point Marine National Park and an 18,000 acre nature preserve, Amanyara sets a whole new standard of service and beauty.

Stretching for one and a half miles, Amanyara’s powdery, white-sand beach and its crystalline turquoise waters frame a gently undulating landscape. Here, nestled amongst mahogany, diverse cacti and wild orchids, sits a collection of shingled pavilions and reflecting pools that embrace their natural surroundings—the sun, its reflection off the water, the cooling Caribbean breeze and the sounds of the sea.”

Sitting by the pool reflected in the ocean last night and hearing the peaceful breeze surround us, my mind and soul were at peace. This is the way of Aman….bringing peace to all.

It’s a dilemma not often experienced by families. Where can an entire three generations of family from three different continents converge over Christmas and everyone will be happy? Such was the dilemma I faced when planning this years family vacation. With two kids under five and only half the party with significant others, I had met my decision making match. Add to the pot the fact that we are all picky. The kind of picky that sends staff crying for mercy. the kind of family where one member likes water without ice, one with ice, one with extra ice and one doesn’t like water at all. Now that you get the picture, let me paint you another picture. Paradise. Arriving at the Grace Bay Club was like being cuddled by sunshine. We were greeted happily by our concierge team, Franklin and Godfrey. We were handed a cell phone which we were told could be used to access them anytime for anything. Were they crazy? Hand a overly picky, demanding mother of two a cell phone that I could use to get anything? The toothfairy is real too, right? During our stay every request was met with a jovial “no problem,” and the best part was they really meant it. Reservations for seven at the islands best restaurant in 2 hours? No problem. Arrange a private dive and boat tour? No problem. Buy some grocerys, diapers and get a baby sitter for our stay? Yup, no problem. They even made me a birthday cake and delivered it to my room surrounded by flowers on the eve of my 33rd.

The softness of the beach made Hawaii look like concrete. The attentiveness and genuinely kind attitudes of the staff made the experience that much more remarkable. As I sat by the long bar on the beach one evening, my worries melted away and long before the first sunset on Turks and Caicos, I knew we would be back again and again until perhaps my own grandchildren would take me there.

Lala has reviewed a few of the hot spots on T&C….stayed tuned for more ins and outs of the island.

Turks and Caicos has some of the best diving in the world. Catch site of a turtle and a shark and you’re just getting started. Go Deep or go home!

Dive Provo: Best diving guides and amazing dive sites. They offer packages for diving and hotels…added little bonus-Lala gets motion sick in a bathtub so on a rough day at seas no better people to take care of me than Dive Provo.

Big Blue Unlimited: Everything from kayaking, eco activities, kite surfing and Scuba

Grand Turks Scuba: They have neutrally buoyant tanks & specialize in longer bottom time.

Dive