Sailing with your feet dangling in the sea… now it’s my children’s turn

We weren’t children in the “need nanny” sense of the word; however, we were definitely the younger generation in our regular group going to Four Seasons Resort Nevis, West Indies every year. My brother and I were in our late teens, and regulars after dinner in the game room, where all the other late teens/early 20s crowd would gather for a bit of a social scene.

At that time, it included a bit of billiards and shuffleboard, and perhaps a football game on TV. Now the “game room” has evolved into a tech world of every video game system imaginable, yet still as a focal point, that same classic billiard table — which is still a favorite amongst the crowd.

Nevis is a place where we grew up: where we took tennis and golf lessons; where we fell off wind-surf boards; where we, despite our age, squealed in delight at the monkeys crossing the fairways; where we roamed the social scenes after hours; where we were able to gallivant safely, as our parents always knew there were several watchful eyes on us.

After all, we spent several weeks a year at Four Seasons in Nevis — there were very few staff members who didn’t know us. And there wouldn’t have been much we could’ve gotten away with. Eventually, it was Nevis that brought me my husband. As I grew into my late 20s, I locked eyes and hearts with one of the PBI tennis pros. In 2003, we were married and had a spectacular reception on the beach — at Four Seasons Nevis.

Now, I am the child introducing my child to this magical place. Or should I say we are introducing our children to the magic of the catamaran Caona… and sailing with your feet dangling in the Caribbean Sea while you watch the cloud-capped mountain get smaller behind you… to the stories of that mountain and how it got its name, “Nevis,” once mistaken for snow “Nieves”… to a place where you can see every star in the night sky, where you can hear every bird and cricket chirp, and where monkeys are one with the people.

As magical as Nevis is by nature, the experience is only complimented by what Four Seasons has to offer. Having been the kid once, albeit an older one, it was never even a second thought about where we would go for our family vacation. Nevis is our island; Four Seasons is our spot. We grew up there, we met there, and we were engaged there and married there. This is where our children will grow up, too. They’ll play at the “Kids for All Seasons” club. They’ll build sand castles on the beach. They’ll take tennis and golf clinics. They’ll futilely chase monkeys and lizards. They’ll get braids in their hair. The’ll eat from the two-foot tall kids’ buffet and sneak in a few extra Rice Krispies treats for mommy. They’ll learn to snorkel.

Nevis is where I grew up. Now Nevis is where we will raise our children.

Liz Whitby blogs via facebook on Four – 4 and Under My Adventures in Mommyhood.