Winter Day Trip to Rockport & Gloucester

By Emily on March 20, 2017

Last spring I made a conscious effort to create a list of day trips that I wanted to take in the summer. Focusing on beaches and seafood, my fiancé and I hit our fair share of towns along Boston’s North Shore, including Crane Beach in Ipswich and Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea. The quaint seaside towns of Rockport and Gloucester were on my list of places to go, but due to time constraints, we never went. So, on a freezing winter Sunday, I did the reasonable thing and suggested that we take an off-season day trip.

Winter Day Trip to Rockport, Massachusetts

Knowing that there would be significantly less traffic than in the summer, we hopped in the car and made the drive up to Rockport in record time. In just less than an hour we found ourselves at the tip of the Cape Ann peninsula in the heart of Rockport.

Since it’s right on the Atlantic Ocean, Rockport is more of a warm weather town. Summers are bustling with locals and tourists alike, seeking a quintessential New England experience. Rockport is 100% New England—from the fishing boats in the harbor and the rocky shoreline, to the stretch of stores in converted lobster shacks on Bearskin Neck.

That being said, the winter in Rockport is a much different story. Much of the seaside town was closed for the off-season, but we were happy to walk around and enjoy the gorgeous views.

The day was gorgeous—one of those blindingly sunny days with a cerulean blue sky. As any New Englander knows, it’s also the type of weather that makes cold days feel even colder. The 30 degree day felt more like 13 thanks to the wind, so we knew our trip to Rockport would not be an all day affair.

We walked around town and Bearskin Neck taking in the seaside sights. We managed to find a few open stores to browse through, including Tuck’s Candy, where I picked up some penny candy and saltwater taffy. Unfortunately due to the season, pickings for food were slim. Craving seafood and chowder, we drove to nearby Gloucester, less than 5 miles south of Rockport.

Lunch and a Brewery in Gloucester, Massachusetts

I had heard good things about Latitude 43 in Gloucester so we made a quick OpenTable reservation (I’m a sucker for any app with loyalty points) and within minutes we were snuggled in a warm table overlooking the harbor. Oyster addicts, we started with a dozen from Duxbury, Massachusetts. While some oysters leave you hungry, Duxbury oysters do not. They’re are large, meaty, and deliciously briny and paired well with a glass of Rosé.

We followed the oysters with a cup of New England Clam Chowder, fitting for a cold winter day, and split the local fish and chips. The haddock in the fish and chips is locally caught fried to perfection. Fresh and oh so delicate, I threw table manners to the blustering wind and ate the dish with my hands! Call me uncouth, but I believe there’s no better compliment to a chef than having someone devour a meal like an animal—thankfully I don’t think anyone saw me do it!

Following an amazing meal at Latitude 43, we popped over to Cape Ann Brewing Company next door. The Gloucester-based brewery, known for its signature Fisherman’s Brew amber lager, has a restaurant and tap room at the brewery. The beers were delicious—we split a flight of six and relaxed in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the harbor.

Warmed up with food and drink, we eventually hit the road back to Boston, promising ourselves to go back to visit Rockport and Gloucester in the summer. Have you been to either of these towns? What are your favorite things to do there?

Engagement Weekend in Ogunquit, Maine

By Emily on August 10, 2016

Everyone has one of those places—the one that holds special meaning in your heart, where you visit again and again. It might be a small town, an exotic destination, or a secret spot close to home. For me, that place is Ogunquit, Maine. Located just over an hour north of Boston, Ogunquit is an artsy beach town on Maine’s mid-coast that I have fallen in love with again and again.

My love affair with Ogunquit began Last August when my boyfriend Ronnie took me there on a much-needed trip to reconnect and unwind. For two days we explored the little beach town—we watched the sun rise over Footbridge Beach, ate lobster rolls, shopped in local stores, and walked the Marginal Way, a mile-long path along the rocky shoreline. Together we fell in love with the town.

So when we were planning summer trips this year, it came as no surprise that Ronnie planned another weekend in Ogunquit. Little did I know how different this weekend would be and that I’d be pinching myself to make sure it was real.

We drove up from Boston on a Friday after work for our two-night stay. We stayed at The Blue Shutters Inn, a family-owned bed and breakfast, steps from the downtown shops and Marginal Way.

Upon our arrival we quickly checked into the Grand Room, the largest of the rooms at the Inn, complete with comfy bed and fireplace. We sipped some wine that we brought with us and relaxed for a few minutes around the outdoor fire pit before venturing into town for dinner.

Due to traffic we arrived late, and many of the restaurants were closing up by the time we were ready for dinner at 9pm. We managed to snag an outdoor table with a personal fire pit at the Rose Cove Cafe on Main Street where we shared dinner and sangria.

Following our yummy seafood dinner, we stopped at the The Front Porch, a piano bar full of spirited vacationers, for a nightcap. We had plans to watch the sunrise on Footbridge Beach the next morning, as we had done the year before, so we made it an early night and headed to bed.

Before I knew it, the 4:45am alarm was blaring, waking us in time for sunrise at 5:15am. We dressed and drove a mile north on Rt. 1 to Footbridge Beach, where we set ourselves on the same lifeguard stand where we watched the sun rise last August.

The beach was nearly deserted because only crazy people get up before dawn on weekends. Ronnie bought our mini tripod and set up my cell phone so that we could get time-lapse photos ourselves with the sunrise…or so I thought. After setting up the camera, he joined me in the frame and as the sky brightened on a new day, Ronnie got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife.

Through a chorus of shrieks and nervous giggles, I became the happiest woman in the world from our spot on Footbridge Beach. Little did I know that the time-lapse photo plan was just an excuse to film the proposal so that we could grab photos, like the one above, from the video. If this man isn’t the perfect [Instagram] Husband-to-Be, then he’s pretty close!

About 17,257 selfies later, we headed back to the hotel to nap before sharing the news with our family and friends.

Our first celebration was breakfast at the Blue Shutters Inn. The owners learned about Ronnie’s plan upon check-in and were anxiously awaiting the news. We shared our proposal story with them over a delicious breakfast and mimosas, included in our stay. Ronnie and I had decided to take a few hours to ourselves before telling anyone (even our parents!) about our engagement, so the owners of the Blue Shutters Inn were the first people to know. It was heartwarming to see how happy they were for us, which made our weekend even better.

The rest of the weekend felt like we were walking on air! We spent a romantic day at Sandy Cove Beach off of the Marginal Way, ate lobster rolls in Perkins Cove, and enjoyed a celebratory dinner at Jonathan’s Ogunquit.

Our engagement weekend in Ogunquit could not have been more perfect and cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with this wonderful man!

June Beach Trips and Events in Boston

By Emily on July 11, 2016

June is one of the best months in Boston when it comes to the weather and events. The short month bridges the gap between college graduations and the July 4th holiday and is the perfect time to experience all that Boston has to offer. Here’s a wrap up of what I did in Boston over the past month.

Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea

My boyfriend and I kicked off the month by spending Memorial Day weekend at Singing Beach. Although not technically part of June, our trip to Singing Beach set the stage for an awesome month so I’m including it in this round up. Singing Beach is a beautiful little beach named for the sound the sand makes when walked upon. The beach is long and wide enough that there’s room to spread out without having to move to accommodate the changing tides.

My boyfriend and I had the perfect day relaxing on the sand and testing the freezing waters. Giant seaweed-covered rocks sit at the end of the beach and make for the perfect tide-pooling experience or Instagram-worthy photo shoot. My boyfriend begrudgingly agreed to climb up the rocks with me amidst swarms of flies so we could sit on top of the sharp rocks and longingly gaze out on the ocean together.

Singing Beach is about an hour north of Boston. Admission to the beach is $5/person unless you have a season pass and there are bathrooms and a snack bar on site. Parking is limited—there’s a paid lot by the commuter rail station where you can park for $20-$30 but from there you must walk a mile to the beach. I recommend you save yourself the money and just take the commuter rail straight there—you’ll still have to walk but at least you don’t have to worry about driving home after a few beach beers.

Hyperlocal Craft Brew Fest

Beer wise, I kicked June off at Somerville’s Hyperlocal Craft Brew Fest on June 11th. Held at the Armory in Somerville, I attended the event as a vendor, helping out my good friend Allo from Pints of Portsmouth Beer Tours who was a sponsor of the event. If you’re looking for a great day trip to drinks some of Portsmouth, New Hampshire’s finest brews, hop on the Pints of Portsmouth bus. The round trip tour from Boston to Portsmouth is all-inclusive and drives drinkers to three great breweries for an all day adventure.

Bacon and Beer Festival at Fenway

On June 12th I attended the Bacon and Beer Fest at Fenway Park sponsored by Eat Boston to benefit the Red Sox Foundation, Community Servings, and Lovin’ Spoonfuls. My admission to the event was complimentary on behalf of Eat Boston but tickets to the event would have been well worth their price tag.

For two and a half hours I stuffed my face with the best bacon creations that Boston chefs had to offer and sampled eight craft beers. Sprawled throughout the concourse at Fenway Park, the Bacon and Beer Festival was the perfect event for any beer, bacon, or Red Sox loving philanthropist.

Naot Gives Back Trunk Show

A charitable weekend, I went to the Naot Gives Back Trunk Show the same day as the Beer and Bacon Fest. In partnership with Simons Shoes in Brookline, Naot Footwear hosted a trunk show at the Brookline store where, for every pair of Naot shoes tried one, they donated a pair to Rosie’s Place. For every paid purchased, two pairs of shoes were donated. I was invited to spread the word about the event in exchange for a complimentary pair of sandals and was thrilled to help spread the word about the great event.

Brunch at City Table

Although I’ve walked past it a million times since living in Boston, in June I ate brunch for the first time at City Table in the Lenox Hotel in Back Bay and it was delicious. I debated between the biscuits and gravy, my all-time favorite breakfast food, and the breakfast pizza. After some serious contemplation and a recommendation from our waiter, I ordered the breakfast pizza—OMG yum! It was everything I wanted and more, literally. Half of the giant dish came home with me for breakfast the next day.

Just Add Cooking

Speaking of food, June was my last month with a free trial of Just Add Cooking, Boston’s local meal prep delivery service. Included in the box were ingredients for Jambalaya, Philly cheesesteaks, and grilled veggie and feta pitas. Everything in this box was delicious!

I’d never made Jambalaya and was surprised at how easy the recipe was to make and how tasty the end result. As a Philadelphia native, I’m a bit of a cheesesteak snob and am happy to report that this cheesesteak was up to my high standards. The side of panko-crusted green beans was an interesting addition to the sandwiches and a healthy alternative to French fries.

The grilled veggie and feta pitas were yummy and healthy and the perfect dinner for a warm summer night. The only downside to this recipe was that pitas that were supposed to be stuffed with the veggies failed to cooperate so I made open-faced sandwiches instead. The huge chunk of feta included in the recipe was fresh and tangy and large enough to be used in other recipes during the week. One of my favorite things about Just Add Cooking is that sometimes there’s too much food included, as was the case with this feta, which allows you to be creative for non-JAC meals with leftover ingredients.

Elie Goulding Concert

Summer is concert time and this summer is no exception. My boyfriend joined me at the Elie Goulding concert at Boston’s TD Garden for an awesome concert from the British songstress. The concert was an all-out ladies fest and I give huge credit to a man who stood next to me as I sang along to her songs. We left covered in gold confetti which, in my opinion, is the perfect way to end a night.

Crane Beach in Ipswich

The last weekend in June was beautiful and on a perfect beach day my boyfriend and I headed up to Crane Beach in Ipswich. Just an hour north of Boston, Crane Beach is beautiful and the perfect place to spend the whole day. Unlike some other beaches like Singing Beach, there’s ample parking at Crane Beach. Parking is $30 but puts you right at the beach where there are huge bathrooms with showers and changing areas and a concession stand with picnic benches. The parking lot is attended by friendly teenagers who will help you find a spot on a crowded day.

Crane Beach is long, providing plenty of room to find a spot on the sand surrounded either by families or no one at all. We chose to hike down a ways and set up camp in an area near the dunes where there were fewer people and spent the day relaxing in the sun.

That’s a wrap up of June in Boston—check back soon to see what I’ve been up to so far in July!

Weekend Trip: Wine, Beer, and Food in Hampshire County Massachusetts

By Emily on May 6, 2016

When people think of Massachusetts, they usually think of Boston, the eastern epicenter of the state. But there’s an “other side” of Massachusetts that they’re missing out on: Hampshire County in Western Massachusetts.

A couple of weekends ago I had the opportunity to visit Hampshire County, Massachusetts with my boyfriend. We spent two days and one night exploring the towns of Northampton, Southampton, and Easthampton. Taking ourselves out of the guidebooks, we experienced Hampshire County the way that locals do and had a fun-filled weekend at the best wineries, breweries, and restaurants in the area.

Getting to Hampshire County, Massachusetts

Hampshire County is less than 2 hours from Boston. Just north of Springfield, it’s a quick and easy drive from Boston or NYC, making the area perfect for a weekend getaway. If you don’t have a car, the area is also accessible by bus, train, and air—Bradley International Airport is about a half hour away.

Small Oven Bakery Picnic Lunch at Black Birch Vineyard

We started our weekend off by picking up a picnic lunch at Small Oven Bakery, a quaint woman-owned bakery in Easthampton. Co-owners Amanda and Julie opened Small Oven Bakery just 2 years ago and have quickly become a local favorite.

We arrived at noon to a packed house and were greeted warmed by Julie who was packing up our lunch. While Julie prepped our lunch, my boyfriend and I chatted with Amanda for a few minutes over coffee about our love for all things bakery and small business related.

With our picnic lunch packed, we hit the road and drove to the beautiful Black Birch Vineyard a few minutes down the road. The weather was perfect—warm and breezy with bright sunshine. Owner Mary Hamel greeted us and encouraged us to relax and enjoy our food on the picnic benches before our wine tasting.

The winery doesn’t serve food so visitors can bring their own to eat on the picnic benches and Adirondack chairs out back. The atmosphere is very relaxing and family friendly. Our fellow wine tasters included a family with a baby, a ladies birthday celebration, and a group of friend with dogs.

On a picnic bench overlooking the vines my boyfriend and I gobbled down our lunch from Small Oven Bakery—an open faced Roasted Cippollini and Radicchio baguette, a Boston Brisket sandwich, and a chocolate mint cake.

After stuffing our faces, we headed into the winery, a converted barn with an authentic rustic feel. We tasted through, making sure to sip and dump because we were driving. Our favorites included the steel casked Chardonnay, Riesling, and 2013 Pinot Noir.

All of the wines were good but I was especially impressed by the Chardonnay, as I’m not usually a fan of the varietal. I enjoyed it so much I purchased two bottles to take home! Both Black Birch Vineyard and Small Oven Bakery were recently voted as The Valley Advocate’s Best of 2016.

Abandoned Building Brewery

We left Black Birch Vineyard and drove to Northampton where we were staying for the night so that we could drop off the car before heading to the breweries. Since we’re both big beer drinkers, my boyfriend and I called an Uber to take us safety to Abandoned Building Brewery, our next destination.

The aptly named Abandoned Building Brewery is situated in an abandoned building along the Easthampton Rail Trail. Windowless with swagged lights, mismatched couches, and board games, there’s a nostalgic feel to the brewery. The comforting and homey space took me back to my ~~high school~~ college days of drinking in a friend’s basement.

Kimaya, an staff member who has worked at the brewery since it opened, greeted us with two flights which we brought to the seating area. Seating is limited which encourages a communal experience with both the people and dogs visiting the brewery. We sat and chatted with some local residents while drinking our flights.

While the company was great, the beer was even better! Brewer and owner Matt Tarlecki crafts the ales using hops from the brewery’s own hop field and malts from Massachusetts’s only malt house in nearby Hadley. My favorites were the Pennhurst Pale Ale and the Dirty Girl IPA and my boyfriend especially enjoyed the Nightshade Stout.

If you’re in town on May 7th, Abandoned Building Brewery is celebrating their second anniversary with live music, food trucks, and an outdoor beer garden—an event not to be missed!

New City Brewery

Our next stop was at the close by New City Brewery which sits literally next door to Abandoned Building Brewery. The breweries are next to each other along the Easthampton Rail Trail which makes for a comprehensive beer tasting bike ride. We saw quite a few cyclists who popped in for a pint with their pups. Although we don’t have a dog ourselves, we loved that so many places were dog friendly!

Open since 2013, New City Brewery is best known for its Jamaican style ginger beer crafted by brewmaster Sam Dibble but also offers regular beers. Devin, one of the four co-owners, welcomed us with open arms and two flights—one flight of New City’s beers and a second mimosa flight made with the ginger beer. As someone who loves ginger beer and mimosas, I was in heaven with the mimosa flight!

Like it’s next door neighbor, New City was hopping on the beautiful Saturday and appeared to be setting up for live music. With large windows, open space, and natural light, New City Brewery exudes a friendly hipster vibe—the good looking men behind the bar don’t hurt either.

Hotel Northampton

We caught an Uber back and checked into Hotel Northampton, our home for the night. Built in 1927, Hotel Northampton is a beautiful red brick building in the heart of town.

There was a platter of fresh fruit, cheese, and sparkling water waiting in our room when we arrived. A handwritten note and personal introduction from Ruby, the head of marketing and public relations for the hotel, made us feel very welcome.

Although historic with a traditional American feel, Hotel Northampton has the amenities and comforts of a modern hotel. Everything about the hotel was great—updated and spacious rooms with natural light, comfortable beds, a delicious breakfast, and free WiFi.

Northampton Brewery

After a long day of visiting drinking establishments, we were more than ready for dinner at the Northampton Brewery. A quick walk from Hotel Northampton, the Northampton Brewery is New England’s oldest operating brewpub, serving up American style food and delicious beers.

Like many small businesses in New England, Northampton Brewery was family owned and operated by siblings Janet and Peter Egelston and has ties to New Hampshire’s Portsmouth Brewery and Smuttynose Brewing Company. Not surprising, the beers were delicious! Along with nachos, a pulled pork sandwich, and pizza, my boyfriend and I enjoyed the Blue Boots IPA and Conundrum beers.

Tunnel Bar

After dinner we checked out the infamous Tunnel Bar, voted by Buzzfeed as one of the top places to drink before you die. Tunnel Bar is a former train passenger tunnel from 1896, making for a cool underground experience.

Photo courtesy of Tunnel Bar

The long and narrow cocktail lounge was packed but the martinis were worth the wait. It was a long day so after Tunnel Bar we retired to Hotel Northampton for some much needed rest.

Sylvester’s Restaurant

The next morning my boyfriend and I woke up refreshed and ravenous. We grabbed some coffee at the hotel and headed over to Sylvester’s Restaurant. Located in the house of Sylvester Graham, the inventor of the graham cracker, Sylvester’s Restaurant is a Northampton landmark and has been voted Best Breakfast and Brunch in Western Massachusetts for years.

We feasted on the Benedict Sly’s style, the banana Nutella French toast, and a homemade pop-tart style pastry that was to die for. Known for their eggs benedict dishes, the Sly style Benedict was delicious and almost more than I could eat. My boyfriend and I shared both dishes and still had leftovers to take home!

Around Northampton

Stuffed from breakfast, we walked off our food around town. Home to Smith College and four others nearby, Northampton is a quintessential college town. Walking around instantly brought me back to my own college days in Madison, Wisconsin. Northampton reminded me a lot of Madison and I felt at home amongst the tall trees, beautiful buildings, hippie shops, and tiny cafés.

Aside from its college charm, Northampton boasts a small town vibe that makes you feel like you belong. Everywhere we went, the people were friendly, welcoming, and excited to share their town with visitors.

Our weekend in Hampshire County was a wonderful break from the hustle of life and a good reminder that there’s more to Massachusetts than Boston. While the trip was full of adventure, there’s much more to explore and we can’t wait to go back to Hampshire County. If you’re looking for a romantic weekend away, a fun trip with friends, or a family-friendly place to explore, check out Hampshire County, the “other side of Massachusetts.”

Disclosure: This trip was hosted by the Hampshire County Regional Tourism Council and the local businesses mentioned in this post. Although sponsored, all opinions are my own.

Couples Resort Tower Isle Review | Ocho Rios, Jamaica

By Emily on March 15, 2016

If there’s ever an excuse to go to Jamaica, it’s in February. Boston in February is cold and dark and the winter seems to drag on forever. Seeking sunshine and warmth, my boyfriend and I spent the last week of February in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. After a spectacular stay at the Couples Resort in Negril in June, we decided to try another one of their properties and spent 5 nights at Couples Tower Isle in Ocho Rios.

Arrival at Couples Tower Isle

To get to Couples Tower Isle in Ocho Rios, we flew into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. Like many Jamaican resorts, Couples Resorts has an airport lounge for its guests where we were able to use the restroom, change, and relax with a Red Stripe beer before being whisked off to our resort in Ocho Rios.

Couples Resorts provides a roomy air conditioned mini bus to transport guests from the airport to the resorts. There’s one mini bus for the Negril resorts and another for the Ocho Rios resorts. The 1 hour 45 minute drive was long but comfortable and included a pit stop along the way for a bathroom break.

Upon arrival, the friendly resort staff greeted us with cold towels and tropical drinks as our luggage was hauled off the mini bus. After a quick check-in in the open air lobby, we were whisked away to our room by Byron, one of the resorts many porters. Throughout our stay, Byron checked in on us, making sure we had everything we needed for ultimate relaxation—the kind of special treatment that makes you feel part of the Couples Resorts family.

The Grounds

Situated on the east side of Jamaica, the property of Couples Tower Isle is long and narrow. Built in 1949, Couples Tower Isle is the oldest of the Couples Resorts properties and still has the old school resort feel of the 50s and 60s. The resort features 218 rooms and suites, 6 restaurants, 5 bars, 4 jacuzzis, 4 pools, and a private island reserved for Au Naturel sunbathing.

The resort grounds are manageable in size, a nice contrast to some of the larger resorts I’ve visited. There’s nothing more annoying than getting to the beach only to realize you left something a half mile away in your room! Walking from one end of the resort to the other takes just a few minutes, giving Couples Tower Isle an intimate experience.

The view from the hotel is of the beach, the brilliant blue water of the Caribbean Sea, the private Au Naturel island, and an outcropping of hut-like structures that make up the Bayside restaurant.

Beach

The beach at Couples Tower Isle is private and beautiful with gorgeous views and plenty of chairs for sunbathing. Unlike other resorts, including Couples Negril, the beach at Couples Tower Isle is secluded from other resorts. Looking out at the Caribbean Sea, you feel like you’re the only ones for miles because of the rocky shoreline.

Resort staff keep the beach well groomed and maintained between guests. There are plenty of beach chairs—we never encountered a need to put towels down early. Beach chairs come equipped with Couples Resorts branded cushions that double as floats for the water. The beach is far enough away from the outdoor restaurants to be peaceful but close enough that you don’t have to walk far to get a snack or use the facilities. If you’re too lazy to walk to the bar, don’t worry! Simply stick a flag in the sand for drink service!

The beach is windy and had limited direct sunlight after about 3pm while we were there. This may vary based on the time of the year. During the day there was a slight breeze which kept us from getting too hot in the sun.

A swimming area is roped off for safe swimming although the only boats in the area are those used by the resort. The water is clear and blue and mostly calm, with soft sand underfoot. The swimming area includes two large tethered rafts for ultimate relaxation on the Caribbean Sea.

If you’re into adventure, there were plenty of watersports activities including snorkeling, windsurfing, and stand up paddle boarding. Unfortunately, we waited until our last day to do these activities and due to winds and choppy seas, were unable to participate.

Au Naturel Island

My boyfriend and I are big believers in experiencing life, including embracing the nudist experience on the Au Naturel island. We had been on a nude beach at Couples Negril so we knew what to expect but were a bit intimidated by having to physically get to the island by boat. We quickly got over our fears and delighted in nude sun bathing and swimming so much so that I ended up with a sunburned booty!

I’ll spare you from more naked photos and write more about the Au Naturel island in another post.

Pools

Couples Tower Isle has 4 pools—one on each end of the property, one at the spa, and one on the Au Naturel Island. There are two swim up bars, one at the main property and a second at the pool on the nude island. My boyfriend and I are more beach than pool people and although the pools were beautiful, we spent most of our time with our toes in the sand.

Activities and Excursions

If you’re into activities and excursions, Couples Resorts leaves no room for boredom. Water sports, beach volleyball, salsa lessons, Jamaican trivia, arts and crafts, catamaran cruises, day trips—this resort has it all! We went to Dunns River Falls, a 3 hour excursion that is included with the resort. Having planned outside excursions in the past, it was nice not to have to worry about reservations and payment; we showed up in the lobby at 9am and headed out on buses with the group.

Entertainment

Couples Tower Isle seemingly never lost it’s old school resort charm. What the older resort lacks in modernity, it more than makes up for in entertainment. My favorite entertainment of the week included the lively piano bar, the Silver Birds Steel Drum Band, and the smoky-voiced Shyam Moses who serenaded us on the beach under the stars.

Drinks

It’s safe to say that I drank my weight in piña coladas during our stay at Couples Tower Isle. I typically don’t imbibe sugary drinks because the sugars make me feel sluggish, but the piña coladas here were the exception to the rule. Unlike the heavy ones I’ve had in the past, the piña coladas were more like a coconut flavored rum slushie.

Other favorites boozy drinks included Bob Marley shots and Dirty Bananas.

The Bob Marley shot is a daring combination of Bacardi 151, creme de menthe, and grenadine. The shot tastes like cough syrup but will take you from stressed out tourist to Jamaican beach bum in 2 minutes flat—perfect to put you in vacation mode.

We also loved the Dirty Banana, a frozen drink made with bananas, Tia Maria, dark rum, rum cream, and milk. This resort favorite tastes like a milkshake but packs a strong punch. I’m not usually a banana fan but these blew me away!

Food

I’ve been to several all inclusive resorts and the food at Couples Tower Isle was some of the best I’ve had. Every meal was delicious, including flavors of both local and international cuisine.

What stood out to me most was the Veggie Bar, a healthy outside lunch spot serving up vegetable chips and dips, grilled fish paninis, and freshly cut coconuts. A huge fan of anything made from coconut, the coconut water at the Veggie Bar was my go-to drink in between piña coladas.

Spa

My boyfriend and I got two couples massages at the Spa at Couples Tower Isle. We arrived for our treatments about 45 minutes early so that we could relax in the spa’s pool and use the jacuzzi and steam room.

The pool at the spa is a small and peaceful water sanctuary for use by spa guests only. This beautiful pool was one of the highlights of the trip, providing us with a pre-massage cool down that focused and zenned our spirits.

Room for Improvement

While our vacation at Couples Tower Isle was great, there’s always room for some improvement. The main issue that I had with the resort was the quality of the rooms. We stayed in a Deluxe Garden room with a large balcony that provided a lush view of the mountains in the distance. Our room was on the third floor, almost directly over reception, which meant less privacy and quiet on the balcony than I would have liked. The room was okay but could definitely use a facelift.

Would I recommend Couples Tower Isle?

Absolutely! If you’re looking for an adult-only couples resort, I highly recommend Couples Tower Isle. The resort is perfect for any couple, whether you’re 21 or 71—there was even a group of octogenarians partying it up during our stay! My boyfriend and I both loved Couples Tower Isle. Our only question is, when can we go back?

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