FTF has spotted some of the top family hotels, resorts and local eateries on the intriguingly quiet, purely green Caribbean Spice Island.

If you're looking for big resorts with fancy kids clubs and video arcades, this is not your island. Grenada just isn't the place to find extensive, on-property children's programs rivaling those on other Caribbean islands like Jamaica. But while the majority of hotels and resorts remain predominantly occupied by adults, most have picked up on the family travel trend and happily welcome children. Don't worry about the limited childcare options; you'll want to include children above 4 to 5-years-old in all daily activities and meals.  Consider any of these hotels your home base for all that this beautiful island has to offer.

Allamanda Beach Resort
Grand Anse, St.George's
Grenada, W.I.
473/444-0095
Diving enthusiasts can look for year-round dive specials at the Allamanda beach resort. Specials typically include a dive per day for each member of your group, accommodations, taxes, and gratuities. Choose from customized dive packages, tennis facilities, swimming pool, fitness room, and proximity to the beach for water sports and swimming.

Blue Horizons Cottage Hotel
Grand Anse, St.George's
Grenada, W.I.
473/444-4316
Blue Horizons is Spice Island Beach Resort's more informal and budget-oriented sister property and a recipient of the Green Globe 21 benchmark certificate for its environmental initiatives.  Blue Horizons has also undergone a post Hurricane Ivan, $1.5 million interior and exterior refurbishment.  Among its 32 rooms in a cottage-style atmosphere, there are studios with king bed, kitchenette, living space, and terrace, and one-bedroom suites with one king or two double beds, double bed settee, kitchenette, living space, and terrace.  Cribs and babysitting service are available.  There are surrounding tropical gardens, an aviary, a pool, a gourmet restaurant, and small kiddie playground. 

The Flamboyant Hotel
Grand Anse
St. George's, Grenada, W.I.
473/439-5186
Families looking for self-catering options and more flexibility in their stay can choose luxury studio apartments right along the beach.  Jenny's Place boasts stunning views, diving, snorkeling, sailing, hiking, proximity to local restaurants, and excursion assistance.  There's also a market a 10-minute walk away where families can pick up snacks and cooking supplies for dinner in their studio.

La Source
Grand Anse, St.George's
Grenada, W.I.
888/527-0044
Once a noted luxury all-inclusive for adults focusing on the mind/body connection, La Source was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan. After a grand reopening , the hotel has positioned itself as a quiet haven more suitable for older children.  In addition to a fabulous spa and relaxing, secluded beach, there was an array of daily activities led by enthusiastic "Bodyguards," including tai chi, yoga, dance aerobics, and golf and tennis lessons, so we welcome its reopening.

Spice Island Beach Resort
Grand Anse Beach, St. George's
Grenada, W.I.
846/628-1701
Located on Grand Anse beach, this elegant property welcomes children 5-years and older between mid-December and mid-April, and children of all ages during the rest of the year. The 64 suites each include a bedroom, living/dining area, and whirlpool bath, while some suites feature a private, outdoor swimming pool.  Adjoining accommodations, cribs, cots, and babysitting service are available, but toilet-trained kids ages three and up can also hang out at the Nutmeg Pod.  The Nutmeg Pod is part of a $12 million renovation that brought Spice Island Beach Resort back stronger than ever after Hurricane Ivan.  An expanded full service spa and fitness center are additional improvements.  All-inclusive rates cover meals, beverages, live evening entertainment, afternoon tea, room service, and use of non-motorized watersports equipment and bicycles. 

True Blue Bay Resort
Grand Anse Beach, St. George's
Grenada, W.I.
888/883-2482
Rated one of the three best value hotels in the Caribbean by Travel + Leisure magazine, True Blue just might get the family friendliness award for Grenada.  Children are welcomed year-round and those under 12-years-old stay free.  Families can swing in hammocks, swim in the striking infinity pool, play on two playgrounds, borrow books from a small library, or request children's movies for the room VCR.  Indigo rooms accommodate a maximum of three people, but adjoining rooms with connecting doors are available.  Two-bedroom Club True Blue Villas sleep up to four people, and include a living room, dining room, and full kitchen. Even better maintained since its bout with Hurricane Ivan, the luxurious new villas offer even more style and comfort for families with similar features to the cottages, plus an additional bathroom with jacuzzi, private plunge pool, and stunning view of the bay.

Favorite Restaurants

At my visit to Grenada, quick service was not a sign of good service, but most restaurants were open-air shelters with natural breezes serving as air-conditioning and bird song serving as distraction.

Patrick's
473/440-0364
Lagoon Road, St.George
Grenada, W.I.
This small restaurant doesn't look like much, but it's wildly popular for Patrick's expansive (and reasonably priced) Grenadian homestyle cuisine.  He presents plate after plate, until there are about 20 that can barely fit on the table, with dishes like pumpkin soup, lambie (conch) with creole sauce, curried mutton, river crayfish, stir fried rabbit -- it's a riot for adventurous eaters looking for local flavor!  Open for lunch or dinner.

True Blue Restaurant
Grand Anse
St. Georges, Grenada, W.I.
473/443-8783
Part of the fabulous True Blue Bay Resort, this restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch.  The cuisine is an interesting mix of Caribbean island and Mexican (great fajitas!) and there's a children's menu and nearby playground.  The bay is beautiful any time of day, but looks especially captivating by moonlight.

Aquarium
473/444-1410
Open for lunch, dinner, and back with its popular Sunday BBQ, this gorgeous restaurant has palm trees for walls.  It is both natural and funky, with local artwork hanging on the walls, light music playing overhead, and a Caribbean/European menu.  Their nutmeg ice cream was the best I tasted in Grenada. Closed Monday.

For more information about Grenada accommodations, dining options and activities, please visit www.grenadagrenadines.com or call 473/440-2279.