Grenada Celebrates 50 Years of Independence with Vibrant Festivities

Celebration is in the air on Grenada (Gre-NAY-da), the lush Caribbean island nation between Trinidad, St. Vincent and Barbados, which in February marks its 50th year of independence after centuries of French and British rule.

The small country, a paradise of volcanic hills and idyllic bays, is often overlooked by vacationers despite being home to Grand Anse, a perennial candidate for the best beach in the Caribbean.

There’s more than just laying on the shore on Grenada, a pick for 2024. Scuba dive through a recently expanded underwater art gallery, and on land, explore St. George’s, a photogenic capital with a popular spice market. Later you can taste those flavors in the national dish: oil down, a hearty stew. Service can be teeth-gnashingly slow, but Grenadians are famously friendly, especially when you join them for “liming,” the unofficial, delightfully indescribable national pastime of chilling out and enjoying everything island life has to offer.

Key stops:

Friday:

2 p.m. – Belly up for oil down at Creole Shack.

3:30 p.m. – Walk it off on Grand Anse Beach.

5:30 p.m. – Sail into the sunset, then chill by the beach at 61 West.

Saturday:

9 a.m. – Awaken your senses on the “Spice Isle” at St. George’s Market.

11 a.m. – Grind your own chocolate at House of Chocolate.

12 p.m. – Promenade on the Carenage.

2 p.m. – Splash in a shallow cove, then eat fish tacos at La Plywood Beach Bar Cafe.