Family Vacation at Canoe Cove in Jamaica
I just returned from a wonderful family vacation at the beautiful Canoe Cove in Jamaica. We all felt that this trip was so amazing that we will cherish the memories we spent as a family under one roof.
If you remember last summer, we stayed at a home on Saint Augustine Beach and decided that staying at a home is better than staying at a hotel or resort for our family vacations.
Canoe Cove Villa in Jamaica
We selected Canoe Cove for our family vacation after reviewing many homes on different Caribbean islands with our travel agent, Wendy Higgins of Your Victory Travel.. And it was beyond our expectations! This fully staffed seven-bedroom luxury beachfront villa is located in St.Ann, Jamaica. From the moment you enter the property, you are greeted with lush tropical gardens and a luxurious home curated for an amazing vacation that awaits you. The staff treated us like family, and the food that was prepared by our chefs was delicious! You could find our granddaughters walking into the kitchen asking the chef for chocolate milk and peanut butter sandwiches, just like they were at Nana’s house. The staff was so professional and hospitable.
The following photos are courtesy of Villas of Distinction
This is the view from the front door, looking towards the pool and the ocean. This open-air villa was beyond breathtaking. Tropical plants grow on both sides of the main living area.
We spent every day sitting in this outdoor lounge area, taking a break from the sun and water activities. Our granddaughters spent so much time in the pool that they were exhausted and ready for bed by 8:00, and so were we!
The tropical plants inside the house flank the living room.
Every day, we had lunch in the pool hut.
The Bedrooms
All bedroom photos courtesy of Villas of Distinction
Six of the bedrooms were king-size and had balconies with terrific ocean views. The seventh bedroom had twin beds, which were perfect for our granddaughters.
The Activities
Beyond the beautiful junior Olympic-size swimming pool and the beach at Canoe Cove, you have many opportunities to work out in your private gym, practice your putting, play tennis, pickleball, kayak, and paddleboard during your stay.
The junior Olympic-size pool is a perfect size for swimming laps or tossing granddaughters high in the sky.
The gym had enough equipment to give me a great workout in the morning.
There is also a pickleball and clay tennis court on the property.
While we were not properly dressed in tennis attire, it didn’t stop us from playing tennis or pickleball during our stay.
If pickleball or tennis isn’t your sport, you can practice your putting skills or play basketball with your family and friends.
We spent a lot of time in the water at the pool and in the ocean. Sammy and I learned to paddleboard while we were there. I fell a couple of times before I mastered the art of balancing on the board. It’s not as easy as you think! Sammy was a pro and never fell!
The kids enjoyed kayaking and snorkeling.
What I Wore on My Family Vacation
When I told Chico’s that I was going to be in Jamaica, they were happy to send me lots of tropical outfits and swimsuits. You already saw a few of the outfits in this post.
Since we were celebrating birthdays every night at dinner, I tended to dress up a bit. I don’t live in swimsuits or gym clothes when I’m on vacation. However, I needed all my clothes to fit in my carry-on bag.
This Shell Story Maxi Dress was perfect for our family photos. It showcases a Resort motif, a stunning laced placket, side slits, 3/4 sleeves, a stand collar, and a laced cuff.
I’m wearing the Tropical Pima Sleeveless V-Neck Tunic with white Brigitte™ Slim Shorts for a casual style. I packed these white shorts and a white denim skort to wear with all my tops. The No Droop® Thread Wrapped Earrings and the Turquoise Stone Wrap Bracelet finish off the outfit.
This Zenergy® Floral Scoop Neck Tee is so soft and matches the front doors of the villa! I tied a knot in the front and wore it with a skort for dinner
For another birthday dinner, I wore this Rio Sunset Maxi Dress and the No Droop® Thread Wrapped Earrings. Did you notice how well the dress matched the Red Lipstick Palm Trees behind me?
My oldest, Lisa, and I shared so many wonderful mother-daughter moments.
Look how pretty this Tropical Tie-Front Kimono is for Jamaica! I wore it over a white Microfiber Tank and white denim skort. The jewelry is the Turquoise Stone Wrap Bracelet, the
No Droop® Thread Wrapped Earrings, and the Sea Glass Effect Collar Necklace, which is out of stock.
This Floral Cap-Sleeve Tee was another top I wore with my shorts.
Swimsuits
This One Piece Swimdress Swimsuit from Amazon is perfect for the beach or at the pool. I love the design, the coverage, and the price!
Here are two tankinis from the same collection that are also from Amazon.
The Gottex Golden Hour High-Neck One Piece and the Gottex Golden Hour V-Neck Dress Cover-Up are from Chico’s.
The Miraclesuit® Palma Paradiso Tankini and the Miraclesuit® Palma Paradiso Pareo are also from Chico’s.
The Jamaican Dishes We Ate at Canoe Cove
Jamaican cuisine is known for its bold flavors, rich spices, and cultural diversity. Here are some popular and iconic Jamaican dishes we ate at Conoe Cove. We ate three meals a day, and I requested mostly Jamaican recipes for our stay. Why eat American food when you’re visiting another country? I love to immerse myself in the culture and the food when I travel.
Sammy was served the mocktail version of the Rum Punch.
My favorite dish was probably the Jamaican Jerk chicken served with rice, Festival Bread, and Jamaican Coleslaw. The chicken was grilled to perfection, but mine always dries out when I grill. The coleslaw was the best I’ve ever had!
This kind of patty is the most popular convenience food in Jamaica. It’s moist and filled with well-seasoned beef and features Jamaica’s infamous scotch bonnet pepper.
Escovitch Fish (Jamaican Fried Red Snapper)
Jamaican Oxtail with Rice and Peas was another dish we ate at Canoe Cove. Like the name suggests, it’s made with oxtail and is a popular dish in Jamaica.
Every night, we started our dinners with soup. Our favorites were pumpkin and callaloo soups.
Callaloo is a dark leafy vegetable in the spinach family. It was brought from West Africa to Jamaica during the transatlantic slave trade.
Before I leave you, I took a few photos of the orchids and the tropical plants on the property. This villa has the most beautiful tropical gardens!
We created beautiful memories with our family, and I hope that when we’re gone, our granddaughters will tell their children of their time at Canoe Cove.
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