There is nothing like a week in the sun in the midst of the long, cold Canadian winter. For the third time in six months we convinced the kids to join us for a family holiday. I know that these family holidays are fleeting, as the kids get older and busier. We look forward to our time together and enjoy every minute spent as a party of five. This time we were off to Saint Lucia in the Caribbean for “reading week”. The boys had their university mid-term break and Lexi only had to take 4 days off, because of the Family Day holiday. The stars aligned for us to take another trip together.

Saint Lucia is one of the bigger islands in the Caribbean, measuring 616 square km. It is located northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. Located at 14 degrees north latitude, SL is on the same line as Nicaragua, The Philippines and Ethiopia. Located at 61 degrees west longitude, SL is on the same line as Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.  The population is 185,000. English is the official language, however 95% of the population also speaks Saint Lucian Creole French, aka Patois. French sailors who were shipwrecked on Dec. 13th, 1502, Saint Lucy’s Feast Day, named the island Saint Lucia. Saint Lucia is the world’s only country named after a woman. France and England struggled to establish control of this tropical island throughout the 17^th and 18^th centuries. The country changed hands 14 times until in 1814, it was surrendered to the United Kingdom and came under British rule. On February 22^nd, 1979, Saint Lucia became an independent state of the British Commonwealth.

Finding a holiday destination to meet all of our needs was a challenge. For our winter holidays, we always debate whether to ski or seek sun. This year the sun won.  I am someone who cannot sit still on a beach so crave a destination with plenty of activities. I do recognize that not everyone wants to be on the move all day while on holiday, and we needed a resort with comfy beach chairs to put up our toes, enjoy the sun, the sounds of the ocean and the gorgeous views. We wanted an all-inclusive experience- after all we were travelling with three hungry and thirsty young people. Finding a place with included daily spa treatments was the icing on the cake. The BodyHoliday ticked all of the boxes and was the perfect place for our active family of five to spend time together.

To kick-start our athletic week, Lexi and I signed-up for the Quadrathlon Challenge. This athletic endeavor is advertised for those with an intermediate fitness level, yet really should be for advanced athletes. The four events were cycling, running, rappelling and kayaking. The 2 km steep uphill start to the bike ride separated the group from the beginning and got our hearts pounding. It was not a race, however nobody wants to be the one dragging everyone else down, especially me! An over-the-handlebars spill ended my outing (but thankfully not my holiday), on a downhill muddy, rutted and rocky road, when a small boulder appeared out of nowhere in front of me. Bleeding and shaken, the back-up truck was called to take me back the resort. Only 2 of the 5 participants finished the quad, including Lexi. The 2 km kayak in the very wavy ocean at the end proved to be the most challenging event. So proud of Lexi for completing this challenge!

On another outing, we took a 45-minute boat ride to the base of Gros Piton and hiked the 798 m mountain. The Gros Piton and the Petit Piton are the two iconic mountains seen in most Saint Lucia advertising material. These gorgeous volcanic peaks are a Unesco World Heritage Site. Opra Winfrey once proclaimed that, “The Pitons are one of the top five places to see before you leave this great place called Earth”. That said, I read that she made this observation from the base and never attempted to make the climb. The hike to the top of the Gros Piton is steep, rugged and very challenging and I would only recommend it to fit and surefooted hikers. I am glad we did it without any injuries and the view at the top is stunning. Following the hike we devoured a Caribbean-style lunch on the boat and then went snorkeling at near-by Sugar Beach. The boat ride back the resort was extremely rough (thank goodness for Gravol), yet we were glad we got out on a boat and got to see the island from the sea.

On our final full day we went to an adventure centre to go zip-lining. We zipped down 12 exhilarating lines, high above the tropical rainforest.  I promise an adventure a day while on holiday with the kids, however on this day we had two thrill-seeking endeavors. Next, we hiked through a muddy bog and then up a steep hill, to the top of a waterfall.  Once our guides secured the lines, we rappelled down the middle of it. I was the last to go, questioning why I put these crazy challenges in front of us. We were dirty, wet and hungry at the end, yet we all agreed that these were our favourite activities of the week. Paul and I hope our kids think we are pretty badass, doing all of these crazy things with them. Adventures are where memories are made!

The BodyHoliday is a smaller resort, with very comfortable rooms with views of the ocean. I felt like I had “found my people”, as most guests loved to embrace the activities, like me. My day started with 7 am guided morning walks, followed by breakfast, a stretching class then a tennis round robin. The kids thought it was hilarious (and maybe a little embarrassing) when I joined the aqua-fit class with some older women and pumped my arms to Gangnam Style. One could do as much or as little as possible. Our family crossed paths all day long, dipping in and out of activities and meeting for all meals. At 5 pm, we climbed 50 steps to the hotel’s spa for our included daily spa treatment. At sunset, glowing from our active day and fully relaxed after our therapeutic massages, we met at the beach bar for a glass of Piton Beer. The food at the resort was plentiful and healthy. I did not see a French fry the entire time we were there. We enjoyed a leisurely meal each night, reflecting on the day’s adventures.

What didn’t I love? The long drive from the airport was not fun! The roads are narrow and winding and the drivers in Saint Lucia are aggressive and crazy. The scene at the airport upon departure was chaotic and hot and our patience was tested.

Overall, it was a wonderful spot to spend a week with family in a very beautiful setting. The BodyHoliday has a private beach with clear views of the ocean, and no other resort in sight.
The resort’s motto is, “Give us your body for a week and we’ll give you back your mind”. We all came home rested, nourished and fit, ready to face another month of winter. I cannot wait until we are altogether again!