A unique new attraction is coming to Grenada!
Starting this December, Grenada Discovery Train will offer the only tourist sightseeing train in the town of St. George.

This charming and unique trackless tourist train will be performing several trips during the day on a daily basis throughout the city of St. George.

Founder Gerrit Van’t dack has been working on bringing this unique Tours and Sightseeing venture to Grenada for 4 years and is really excited his venture or as he likes to call it his Child.

When asked about his motives for starting the Discovery Train concept in Grenada, here is what Gerrit had to say:

Of course I am not doing this purely for philanthropic reasons, I do hope to make a living out of it, but in creating this new and unique sightseeing service I will be contributing to Grenada’s economy in general, and more particular to the small merchants in St. George’s that often remain hidden from the cruise ship tourists, or tourists in general, simply because they are in parts of the town that are usually not visited.

He went on to add

I am convinced that this new attraction is more than just a commercial initiative. As you know, St. George’s is not very inviting to explore on foot for elderly or less mobile persons, many of whom also enjoy cruising/vacationing in Grenada. Grenada Discovery Train will be big help to this group.

The town of St. George is also deprived of really specialized city tours. Most existing tour operators look at the inland of Grenada, which is nice enough, but it’s not all that Grenada has to offer. With the city sightseeing tour that Grenada Discovery Train will be offering we will open parts of the city previously unknown or less visited. This will help local merchants to benefit and thus invest in their trade.

In the end this will be a win-win-win:
A win for the local merchant previously deprived of tourists spending
A win for Grenada (St.George) because it has an extra unique attraction
A win for the tourists because they will get to explore parts of the town they didn’t even know existed.

And I will like to add a well deserved win for Grenada Discovery Train… if they pull it off… l hope they do.

Gerrit hopes his decision to invest in Grenada serves as a reminder to Grenadians that even in dire economic times, some people still believe in the island and love it and its people so much that they want to make it their home and try to repay a little to the community.

So with that I’ll like to welcome The Grenada Discovery Train to the Spice Isle.

Check back here to find out how to get in touch with them to explore St.George’s in a charming and comfortable way. DON’T MISS THE TRAIN!

Our visit to Annandale Waterfalls was short, but it stands out as one of my most memorable stops. 

Grenada tourist attractions like Annandale Falls can get crowded when the cruise ships are in port. So I try to avoid visits on those days. As my luck will have it there were at least three cruise ships in port the morning I had schedule to visit Annadale Waterfalls.

To go or not to go, that was the question. Well you already know that answer: I decided to go …and am glad I did.

The very thing that I was trying to avoid: many tourists, is the very thing that made Annandale Waterfalls so special, on that day. 

Here’s why? You see where there are tourist, the vendors, the show men, even the monkeys, and all forms of entertainment are sure to follow. And Annandale Waterfalls on a cruise ship day has its own special cast of local characters to entertain you.

Annandale Falls Quick Video

First here is a video preview of Annadale Waterfalls. Check it out to get a sneak peak of what’s in store for you. 

Now let’s dive a little deeper into Annadale Falls and meet some of the cast that make this Grenada attraction a must visit.

Act #1 – Bananas in the Balance

The first to hook my attention were the colorfully dressed ladies with what looked like elaborate head pieces.

On closer inspection I realized they were actually balancing on their heads an array of tropical fruits.

Here is Ryian to the left posing for a picture with them.

One woman had an oversize basket of cocoa, decorated with purple bougainvillea (the national flower). The other an entire bunch of green bananas.

It is a portrayal of how ladies carried the bananas from the plantation in colonial times. And an exhibition of local Grenada fruits. It takes amazing skill just to stand and balance an entire bunch of bananas on your head. Can you imagine carrying it for long distances over winding, bumpy tracks?

Do get a picture with the lovely ladies, and don’t forger to give small tip … see the pouches/purses strapped around their waist? Well it’s not there for decoration

Act #2 – The Guitar Man

At Annandale Waterfalls the good times is accompanied by music. Next up was the Guitar Man …

This guy is full of energy, and extremely talented. He is great at composing and singing humorous lyrics off the cuff.  

In Grenada we call it Extempore Singing and there’s even local competitions from time to time … but thats another story.

This Annandale Falls Guitar man if he spots you will without request sing a verse or two about you, or your lady friend. He had everyone cracking up, and some of the ladies blushing.

Act #3 The Monkey and The Man

Look for this guy with his pet monkey. He does have the monkey on a leash but do keep your close eye on him (the monkey). Like all Mona Monkeys they are very tricky, and might snatch away your belongings from you.

Here is Ryian trying to get acquainted with this dynamic duo.

Act #4 – Annandale Dare Devil Divers

I saved the best Act for last, and The Annandale Waterfalls Divers is a class act.

As we moved closer down the hill I noticed several local guys sporting red shorts and tops … it did not take me long to figure out who they were and why they were there.

Two decades before I saw someone leap off the top of Annandale Waterfalls. And from the looks of things, I was going to get lucky again. 

This is no easy feat. The falls is not extremely high, but its high enough to do you some serious damage if you don’t know what you are doing.

Also as one of the divers told us, what you can’t see can also kill you. The pool has boulders beneath the water that are not visible from above. Plunging in the wrong spot, can leave a diver hospitalized or dead, and this has happened in the past.

Here are some pics of the divers doing there thing …. Drum Roll Please

Look he’s ready to fly. On your Mark, … Get Set … BANG!!!

Lift Off, he’s flying …

Still flying … look Ma No Hands!!!

Splash!!! … Just missed him. Was it a safe landing?

Yes, he made it. All is well. Another successful Annandale Dive.

Local Crafts and Souvenirs

After taking many photos we headed back towards the car. Along the way we passed vendors with handicrafts, and other items that will make great gifts.

Try a Cold Coconut

If you are thirsty … check out the guys selling the cold coconuts, it’s very refreshing and all natural. And after you quench your thirst or curiosity, have them split the coconut shell in half with the machete. In there you will find the sweet white coconut jelly, my favorite part of the coconut … just give it a try.

We left Annandale Waterfalls on a high. This is definitely a fun place to visit, even without all the extras. Just the waterfalls by itself is gorgeous. If you want more privacy, or something more on the romantic side, then go on a late afternoon when there are no cruise ships. But I highly recommend visiting Annandale Waterfalls when all the acts are on display.

Return from Annandale Waterfalls to Grenada National Parks

Return from Annandale Waterfalls to Grenada Beaches Home

How about our Sunshine Tours In Grenada?

Sunnyside Gardens

Sparrow our trusted tour operator from Sunshine Tours in Grenada picked us up at at about 9:45AM at my mom’s house.

In the comfort of a 5 seater air conditioned Isuzu Trooper, we headed to our first stop, on our first island tour in Grenada …Sunnyside Gardens.

Sunnyside is a true labor of love, and it was one of our favorite stops. It’s a private residence and open only to tourists, by appointment only.

Fort Frederick

10 minutes away we arrived at our next stop – Fort Frederick. It was a not on the scheduled, but since we were close I asked Sparrow if we could squeeze it in … he was more than happen to obliged. The History of Fort Frederick dates back to colonial times.

There were about two dozen tourist there when we arrived. Many of the island tours in Grenada will stop at Fort Frederick. You will have to pay a couple bucks as we did to get up to the main section to see the fabulous views of the capital St. Georges, the Carribean Sea, and the Atlantic ocean.

La Sagesse Beach and Nature Centre

We left Fort Frederick, and our Grenada tour took us to the eastern coast through Westerhall and on to La Sagesse Nature Centre. This is off the beaten path.

When we pulled up I met a couple (Paul and Laura) from Canada on their honeymoon. You can just tell they were newly weds. And they were enjoying every moment in this hidden paradise called La Sagesse.

There were about 5 or 6 other guests relaxing on the mile long La Sagesse beach, and another couple at the restaurant that’s on the beach.

This restaurant was the ideal place to have lunch, but we had already made resevations elsewhere. We did have a couple beverages at the bar. You might want to consider structuring your island tour in Grenada so you can do lunch here.

Just call in advance to make reservations. According to Jerry who runs the place, everything is local and fresh, like the seafood entree which comprise the catch of the day.

Eastern Coast

We passed several villages as we made our way north along the eastern coast. You won’t find any specific tourist attractions along the way but you will get a glimpse of the Grenada country life – farmers, small huts, goats, sheep, flowers and fruit trees. And off to your right is the beautiful blue Atlantic Ocean.

River Antoine Estate – Rivers Rum

We did not stop in the town of Grenville, on this tour. We went right on through to the home of the famous Rivers Rum at River Antoine Estate .

It’s the only distillery in the caribbean that still uses a water wheel to crush the cane. In fact the rum is called Rivers because the water wheel is powered by water from River Antoine, which flows from the scenic lake antoine.

If you like rum, then you must include this stop while on your Grenada tour. You not only get an education in rum making, but you also get to taste the final product. And that’s not all … how ’bout a couple bottles to take back with you. It’s a win, win, win!!

Morne Fendue Plantation House – Lunch Finally

By about 1:45PM we were all dieing to eat, and finally made it to Morne Fendue Plantation House for what was suppose to be our 1PM lunch reservation. Mt. Fendue is one of the famous plantation houses on the island.

We were greeted at the door by the owner Dr. Jean Thompson. She was actually about to leave for another engagement (we were 45 minutes late), but she made sure we settled in, and before she left, gave us the history of Morne Fendue.

We were attended to by two young ladies. A small buffet was prepared just for the 5 of us and we had the large dining area all to ourselves. This was a lunch with a difference. After all a British Princess, and US President were both guest of this old plantation house.

The Wind down to the great day

After lunch we spent the remainder of our Grenada island tour between Bathway Beach and Levera Beach.

Our final stop was at Concord waterfalls, after which we criused down the western coast looking at departing cruise ships, the golden sunset and the lights dotting the hills to the south of St. George’s. Our first island tour in Grenada was coming to an end.

Sparrow got us home safely at about 7PM it was a long day but well spent.

Return from Sunshine Tours In Grenada to Island Tours in Grenada

Guided Tours In Grenada … See Grenada with an expert by your side

Island tours in Grenada are fun, and probably the quickest, and most stress free way to enjoy many of the sites, sounds and smells of Grenada.

On my December 2005 visit we did two guided tours in Grenada. And we used a different tour opertor each time. Using two different Grenada tour operators was deliberate … I simply wanted to compare both services so I can help you make a more informed choice for your tour in Grenada.

It will thrill you to know that both our Grenada tour operators were fun, knowledgeable, and we felt very safe the entire excursion.

Grenada Tour #1

Ashley Church at Sunshine Tours was our tour guide on our first island tour in Grenada.

We actually found Sunshine Tours by accident. I was drving around the grand anse neighborhood with a friend trying to locate a car rental company, when we happend upon Sunshine Tours.

A guided tour in Grenada was on my list of things to do, so I welcomed the coincidence, and we walked in.

That’s when I met Ashley (nickname – Sparrow).

Sparrow is a tall man with a cheerful smile. He warmly greeted us, and tried to help us locate our missing rental company. He even named a couple other places we could try if we ran out of luck.

Somewhere along our little chat I also found out that he knew my Dad quite well … turns out they were both part of a popular organization back in the ’70s.

Before I left I took a couple brochures describing various island tours in Grenada. When I got home that day, I reviewed the packages in the brochure, and I crafted my own custom Grenada tour.

Later that evening I called Sparrow at Sunshine Tours to reserve our first island tour in Grenada After workig out the details, he explained the best route, and suggestions on where we can lunch. We set a time for the next morning.

Grenada Tour #2

Coming soon!!

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