Keeping Up With The Kardashians ended on E! (after a whopping 20 seasons) in June 2021, and people didn’t have a chance to miss them for too long because Kim and fam are (like Ben Affleck’s upcoming erotic thriller) coming to Hulu. Their new show, which is simply titled The Kardashians will (of course) follow the six principal ladies of the family through their personal and professional crusades and beyond. Will it be pretty much like the E! series, simply with a shinier Hulu set of backdrops? Perhaps. The Kardashians are coming, though, so prepare to hear Kanye West start beefing with Hulu for any given reason at all.
Actually, one of the bigger questions about this show (going in, at least, and speaking of beefs) is whether we’ll be seeing Pete Davidson on the series or if Kim will keep that relationship under wraps. She’s already taped two weddings for TV, so watch out, Pete. You may just get married on The Kardashians! I kid, mostly. But really, the family empire is returning for more glamour and maybe a few more babies along the way.
Premiere day is officially April 14. The show will officially feature matriarch Kris, along with Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall, and Kylie, all allowing people to view “a rivetingly honest story of love & life in the spotlight.” There’s gotta be some hefty editing and selective admissions onboard, of course, but we do know that this is par for the course on reality TV.
Will the The Kardashians carry forward with another 20 seasons on Hulu? God only knows. Once Pam & Tommy ends, we shall undoubtedly need more scandal in the streaming world. Watch the Hulu teaser below.
Kemba Walker’s time with the New York Knicks appears to have come to an end. After the team decided to hold onto him at the trade deadline, a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN indicated that New York will keep him on the sidelines for the remainder of the season with an eye on figuring out what to do with him this coming offseason.
According to Wojnarowski’s report, the idea is to let Walker focus on getting to 100 percent ahead of next offseason, when he’ll be on an expiring contract. Eventually, the Knicks confirmed the report via a statement in which they indicated that this decision was made by Walker.
“We fully support Kemba’s decision to shut it down for the remainder of the season and to use this time to prepare for next season,” the Knicks said. “His long-term success on the court remains our priority.”
A New York native, Walker was viewed as backcourt reinforcements for a Knicks team that looked to build on a successful 2020-21 campaign. Instead, Walker’s tenure in New York has been marred by inconsistency, as he’s experienced some on-court highs but has seen head coach Tom Thibodeau drop him from the rotation on several occasions.
Walker is averaging 11.6 points and 3.5 assists in 25.6 minutes per game this season.
Call of Duty has, for 17 years, been one of the most anticipated parts of the video game calendar. Since Call of Duty 2 released in 2005, a new game in the franchise has dropped every year. Even when the series saw its lowest lows and highest highs, it never missed a year without some kind of new title. To put that into perspective, Call of Duty has been released annually through three console generations, four United States presidents, and the rise of an entirely different internet.
If a report from Bloomberg is correct, though, this streak of games is going to come to an end in 2023. Jason Schreier is reporting that the Call of Duty game originally scheduled for 2023 has been delayed due to the poor performance and response to a recent title. The belief is that games are being released too quickly and it’s impacting the quality of the series.
Activision Blizzard Inc. will delay a Call of Duty game that had been planned for next year, the first time the franchise will be without an annual mainline release in nearly two decades, according to people familiar with the plan.
The company is pushing off the release after a recent entry in the series failed to meet expectations, leading some executives to believe that they’re introducing new versions too rapidly, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to discuss the deliberations. The decision was not related to Activision’s agreement to sell itself to Microsoft Corp. for $69 billion, the people said.
It is true that the two most recent Call of Duty games were not received favorably, but it’s still very surprising to see Activision consider this path considering how important Call of Duty has always been to its calendar. We know from previous reports that one of the upcoming Call of Duty games is expected to be a sequel of some kind to Warzone and that the 2022 release will be a sequel to 2019’s Modern Warfare, so it seems like they already have the next few games planned out, and its possible that seeing the scope of these games has made it clear that a delay is already necessary.
It takes a lot to get banned from Saturday Night Live. Sinead O’Connor ripped up a photo of the Pope. Kanye West ranted pro-Trump nonsense. Martin Lawrence ranted about feminine hygiene. The Replacements got too drunk. The hardcore band Fear destroyed the stage. Elvis Costello played the wrong song (then later got un-banned, because he’s Elvis Costello).
Cypress Hill also got banned — or so they claim. Their crime? On a 1993 episode alongside host Shannen Doherty, one member of the legendary hip-hop group, DJ Muggs, smoked a joint onstage. According to The Wrap, the group talked about the incident at a TCA panel for the forthcoming doc Cypress Hill: Insane in the Brain.
“I kind of like the fact that we’re banned,” said member Sen Dog. “The whole thing about being banned, it’s punk rock in itself. I would like to leave it like that. If the guys wanted to do it, then that’d be something we could talk about or whatever, but I kind of like that idea of being the outlaws that are not allowed around town.”
B Real, another bandmate, agreed. “I don’t mind the ban aspect of it,” he said, “because, you know, we’re in the company of some greats that have been banned, and that’s OK with us.”
Thing is, they might be banned. An SNL insider told The Wrap that there’s actually no ban on any act, including Cypress Hill (or, for that matter, Kanye).
Still, if Cypress Hill — who, in the ‘90s, became the first hip-hop act sell multi-platinum albums — know what they’ll do if they ever return to 30 Rock.
“We had a plan that we were going to do that would have just blown their goddamn minds if we had done it,” said B Real. “But it turned out the way it turned out. So, if we were to get unbanned and do it again, probably the plan we had set in the first place will initially take off and we’ll get banned again.”
WARNING: Spoilers for The Righteous Gemstones Season 2 below.
In its penultimate Season 2 episode, The Righteous Gemstones delivered a truly wild and unexpected cameo that only a show this inspired and chaotic can pull off. In fact, Walton Goggins couldn’t believe it was happening, and he was in the scene. As fans of the megachurch comedy already know, Goggins’ character, the almost-literal snake-oil-shilling evangelist Baby Billy Freeman, finally works up the courage to see his son Harmon, who he abandoned 30 years earlier at a pet store in a mall. What no one could’ve ever predicted in a million years — do not lie to us about this — is that, a few episodes later, Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin would pop up as the now-adult Harmon.
Going into the episode, there was no publicity for Culkin’s cameo, so it was an absolute surprise for viewers. In a new interview, Goggins reveals what it was like filming the scene with Culkin who he calls a “national treasure.” Via Alan Siegel at The Ringer:
“He’s a national treasure, man,” says Goggins, who plays Baby Billy Freeman, the show’s singing, grifting, white-haired preacher. Until they filmed together, he had no clue Culkin had been cast as his character’s estranged child. “When I found out,” Goggins adds, “I was like, ’Are you f*cking kidding me right now?’”
The reunion of Baby Billy and Harmon, the son he walked out on almost 30 years prior, is patently and purposefully outrageous—you don’t cast the star of Home Alone for a run-of-the-mill role. But the scene is also a microcosm of the incredible balance between hilarity and heart that Gemstones pulls off. “I’ve played a father and I’ve played a son in a number of things,” Goggins says. “I’ve never read a scene between a father and a son that’s more honest, ever. That’s more ridiculous.”
When The Ringer attempted to reach Culkin for comment, his publicist responded, “His preference here is to let the work speak for itself. Judging by your own enthusiasm as well as the overall press and audience reactions, that strategy is working.”
Yup, we’ll agree with that. Check out the reactions that started pouring in once Culkin’s cameo aired:
As the build-up for the full release of Kanye West’s Donda 2 album continues, the first four tracks from it have been officially released. Out now exclusively on Ye’s stem player streaming platform/device, the first four songs are entitled “Pablo” featuring Travis Scott and Future, “We Did It Kid” featuring Baby Keem and Migos, “Broken Road” featuring Don Tolliver, and “Security.”
This past weekend, West posted on his Instagram page that Donda 2 would only be available via the stem player, saying that: “Donda 2 will only be streaming on my own platform, the stem player. You can download new music from stemplayer.com. You can play 4 different elements of the track: vocals, drums, bass, and music. It also has an MP3 player available. We currently have 67,000 available and are making 3,000 a day. Go click the link in my bio to purchase.”
According to Music Business Worldwide, the $200 midi controller style player has reportedly clocked in over $2 million in sales since the Donda 2 streaming announcement, which amounts to more than 10,000 units sold and counting. Before the tracks were released on the Stem Player today, fans were none too pleased that the whole album didn’t arrive in full on the 02/22 stated release date. This seems par for the course for West, who held a livestreamed listening event yesterday from a Miami Stadium.
Whether she’s accidentally proving that she knows bupkis about the U.S. Constitution, or complaining about voting rights, or using her gun-filled Christmas card as some kind of political statement, it’s clear that Lauren Boebert (R-CO) is full of crap. Alex Walker, one of the 11 Democrats who’s running against her in Colorado, took that expression literally and filmed a campaign ad showing pieces of poop falling from the sky.
“Don’t you ever wonder where it’s all coming from?” Walker says in the video above following a Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs-like sequence of “real Coloradans” who “deserve a living wage, small government that actually works, and freedom of choice” getting crushed by huge turds. “Colorado needs a bull, not a bullshitter. I’m Alex Walker, and I approve the sh*t out of this message.” The ad also shows a fake Boebert spraying poop from a hose over a map of Colorado and her computer.
Walker is openly gay, raised by Republican parents in Littleton and Eagle, according to his campaign announcement. He is an entrepreneur and has worked as an engineer. The announcement cites Walker’s business experience and the loss of his brother to suicide as reasons for his campaign.
“Part of why I’m running is to honor my brother and everyone left behind by elected officials who don’t do their jobs,” the announcement said. “I’m 100 percent committed to stopping Boebert from continuing her endless cycle of attacking people because of who they are or what they look like.”
The Denver Postreports that the 11 Democratic candidates “combined have less than 13 percent of the more than $2 million that Boebert has on hand, according to the most recent set of campaign finance reports. Some have yet to report any cash on hand at all.” If only Walker hadn’t spent $5 million on the poop visual effects. Live and learn.
In many places around the world, being able to speak more than one language isn’t uncommon. But being able to speak six? That’s unusual just about everywhere.
Philip Crowther is an International Affiliate Correspondent for the Associated Press. He hails from Luxembourg, a tiny country nestled between Belgium, France and Germany, so perhaps it’s not surprising—though still impressive—that he speaks at least Luxembourgish, French and German fluently.
But he also speaks Spanish, Portuguese and English—and can report the news in all six of those languages. (And according to fluent speakers in the comments, he does it beautifully, with just a slight bit of an accent.)
Check out Crowther in a compilation of news reports on the Russia-Ukraine situation from Kyiv:
Six-language coverage from #Kyiv with @AP_GMS. In this order: English, Luxembourgish, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.pic.twitter.com/kyEg0aCCoT
Isn’t it amazing that these are just six of the thousands of languages humans use to communicate with one another? Linguistics is endlessly fascinating.
People were rightly impressed with Crowther’s polyglot abilities. With the European Union having 24 official languages in a land area only a little bit bigger than the United States, it’s much more common for people from Europe to be multilingual. People from small, landlocked countries like Luxembourg and Switzerland are especially likely to speak several languages, but even for them, to be fluent enough in six of them to report in them in a live news broadcast is impressive.
But no one speaks these languages this fluently with the perfect accents!nnItalian: 3 languages & my father spoke 5u2026none like this!
No, this is flat out amazing. I am European through and through, grew up bilingual, had more languages in school, lived in various countries. I can get by in a lot of places. But thatu2019s very different from reporting from a crisis zone in six languages fluently and without accents
Ehm, i’m a linguist (speak 3 fluently, understand 6) and this is still massively impressive … not only can he speak the languages, but his accents are also almost flawless!
Even the language learning app Duolingo weighed in on Crowther’s news reports, followed by a hilarious dig from a user. (Duolingo likes to send reminders and prompts to practice or to learn another language, which may or may not be super annoying.)
I bet you’ll still passive aggressively annoy him to learn Dutch.
While it is impressive that Crowther can speak six languages, it also highlights a big hole that humanity has yet to fill: a universal language. We live in a time when, thanks to advances in technology and transportation, our global community is growing smaller and smaller. But while we are able to connect with people almost anywhere in the world, we are still limited in our ability to communicate due to language barriers.
Imagine if everyone in the world learned their native language and a universal auxiliary language at the same time growing up. We would be able to retain the unique cultural richness of our native languages while at the same time being able to communicate no matter where we go. Our universal language could be one chosen from the existing languages, or it could be a language invented for such a purpose, like Esperanto. It would solve so many problems and make life on Earth so much easier—it’s just a matter of getting all countries on the same page with the need for it (which is pretty inarguable) and with which language to use (which is definitely arguable).
In the meantime, we can simply marvel at the humans who are able to keep multiple languages straight in their minds. Well done, Mr. Crowther.
A few years ago I had an office job where I sat in a row of cubicles with about a dozen other people. One morning when a coworker walked into the office to start his day, a feeling of dread bubbled up from my subconscious. He was angry and I wasn’t going to be able to escape his feelings.
His desk was about 10 feet from mine and like waves, I could feel his emotions seeping into my body. He wasn’t bothering anyone and was always pleasant to me, but I knew he was angry about something deep down, and I could feel it.
As far as I knew, no one else in the office was having the same experience that I was. I was the only person who found it emotionally exhausting to be in the same room as this person.
I wasn’t sure what to make of this bizarre, unintentional attachment to the emotional states of others until I was listening to a podcast featuring Dr. Drew Pinksy where he mentioned that he was “an emotional sponge” who sucks up other people’s emotions and referred to it as being an “empath.”
That powerful revelation struck me in two ways. I realized that I was probably an empath as well and that I experience emotions differently than others. “One of the hardest things about being an empath is learning not everyone is,” Hannah Ewens at Vice wrote.
PsychAlive describes being an empath as exhausting at times, but not without its benefits.
“Empaths are highly sensitive individuals, who have a keen ability to sense what people around them are thinking and feeling. … often to the point of taking on the pain of others at their own expense,” PsychAlive says.
“On the bright side, empaths tend to be excellent friends,” PsychAlive continues. “They are superb listeners. They consistently show up for friends in times of need. They are big-hearted and generous. Empaths also tend to be highly intuitive and emotionally intelligent.”
As I started to look into the idea that I may be an empath, I began to consider the emotional sway my wife has over me. If she is stressed or tired, it makes me uncomfortable because I cannot escape her emotional state. It’s not that she’s overly emotional, but that I lack the force field that shields me from people’s emotional states, especially people close to me.
That’s why I get a huge feeling of relief when my wife transitions from being in a negative mood to a positive one. But, on the other hand, she doesn’t seem to be swayed one way or the other by my emotional state. It’s not that she’s callous, it’s just that she has a healthy emotional distance from me.
The problem is that it’s nearly impossible to explain what this feels like to someone who isn’t an empath, and attempting to do so makes me seem a little unstable. So I keep these disturbances to myself, which probably isn’t healthy.
Caroline Van Kimmenade, who runs courses for empaths who want to understand their power, explained what it’s like to be an empath. “It’s like a football match where everyone gets hyped up and starts waving and then the mob things start sweeping you up, and you barely know you’re doing it,” she explained.
“We can all experience that, but it doesn’t mean you’re an empath. But for an empath, it’s that multiplied and applied to everything all of the time. Empaths are constantly in a giant football stadium where they’re reacting to bigger things going on from all directions,” said Van Kimmenade.
When I realized I was an empath it helped me make sense of a part of myself that always felt contradictory. I am a person who has no problem being alone for long periods of time, but I’m also totally comfortable in social situations.
I work for Upworthy as a writer and the host of its podcast, “Upworthy Weekly,” and do it all from home. Honestly, I love being alone all day because I have a lot more power over my own emotional state than when I’m in an office getting bombarded by other people’s “stuff.”
I also enjoy going to movies, concerts and bars alone, too.
On the other hand, I am an extrovert who’s very comfortable in social situations. Empaths can be very social people because they have the superpower of being attuned to others’ emotions and they have a great intuition for other people. We are experts at reading the room and are great at relating to all sorts of people.
One of the strangest things about being an empath is having a heightened sense of smell. My sense of smell is so keen that I can’t wear cologne because I never go nose blind to the scent and it’ll bother me the whole night. The same goes for scented lotions. The interesting thing is that this isn’t just in my head; researchers have found that the part of the brain that recognizes emotions overlaps with the brain areas associated with smell.
The New Science of Empathy and Empathshttps://drjudithorloff.com/the-new-science-of-empathy-and-empaths/u00a0u2026
“It can be both nature and nurture. Some empaths are born empaths the minute they come out of the womb they are these sensitive creatures feeling the world with the palm of their hands,” Dr. Orloff told Upworthy.
Dr. Orloff says that research shows empaths have different brain chemistry.
“Research is suggesting that the mirror neuron system in the brain is on overdrive with empaths—meaning their compassion is hyperactive versus narcissists who have hypo-active mirror neurons and empathy deficient disorder,” Orloff said.
Orloff adds that even though men and women are both empaths, it can be harder for men to come to terms with their sensitivity. She runs an empath support community where men are much more reluctant to share.
“When the men do share, they express the shame about being sensitive, how it isn’t masculine and how they were bullied as children and made to feel ashamed to be crybabies rather than beautiful sensitive beings,” Orloff told Upworthy.
I had never heard of the term empath until about five years ago, but after coming to the realization that I probably am one and learning about the positive and negative aspects of this psychological trait, I feel that I’ve become better at navigating my emotional life. I’m getting better at seeing the difference between my emotions and those of others and making sense of the difference.
On the positive side, I’ve developed greater trust in my own intuition knowing that, as an empath, when I get a sense about someone, I should go with it because there’s a good chance I’m right. I’ve also learned to be less judgmental of those around me who I think aren’t as sensitive as they should be. They’re just not experiencing life the same way.
Turks and Caicos is paradise in its purest definition. Or at least, the closest I’ve ever experienced. The British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean has nine inhabited islands, and this fall I went on an island-hopping excursion to three of them — Providenciales, South Caicos, and Grand Turk.
With 85-degree temperatures year-round, endless rum punch, miles of white sand, and laid-back beach vibes, the trip felt like something out of a daydream. But it wasn’t without some struggle — I couldn’t seem to find words to best convey the ocean’s unforgettable color. Aquamarine? Cerulean? I’d heard it described as “very blue,” but seeing it myself I realized that phrase didn’t begin to do it justice.
This water was positively cartoon-like. An artist’s rendering with the saturation levels turned all the way up.
It wasn’t until my last day of the trip, stumbling across a 1980s newspaper framed in one of the exhibits in the Turks and Caicos National Museum in Grand Turk, that I finally found my word. My eye hovered over the first sentence of an article about an ancient shipwreck. “The azure surface of the Caribbean Sea…” began writer Pete Earley.
Azure. That’s it. The bright blue of a cloudless sky. The word embodies the essence of Turks and Caicos Islands. Occasional thunderstorms notwithstanding, spiritually, being in the TCI is like an endless summer day. Worries gone, bikinis on.
Whether you prefer to lounge in a luxury villa or snorkel with barracudas, there’s plenty to do on every island — all of which are surprisingly distinct from each another. Come along, as we share where to stay, play, eat, and party in Providenciales, South Caicos, and Grand Turk.
PART I – Providenciales
Providenciales, often referred to as “Provo,” is where most of the action happens in Turks and Caicos. Unless you own a private jet like Drake or the Kardashians (some of the island’s most notable visitors), Providenciales is where you’ll first land — no matter which island you’re visiting. Here you’ll find a slew of resorts and private villas, booked by a mixed crowd of family vacationers, young partiers, and high-society millionaires making use of their summer properties.
Being that it’s the primary hotspot for tourism in the island chain, you’ll never run out of things to do here.
Where to Stay
Via Chloe Caldwell
Most of the beach-side resorts are within walking distance of each other, making restaurant hopping and bar crawling especially convenient. I stayed at Grace Bay Club, which had everything I needed in one place – no charge for sunscreen and flip-flops. Grace Bay Club combines luxury and beachside living without the touristy “scene” you’d typically find at an all-inclusive.
Grace Bay Club offers different lodging options, depending on the style and price you’re looking for, but I recommend the Estate Four Bedroom Residence for large groups and celebratory getaways. This option fits up to eight people and has its own living room, kitchen, and oceanfront terrace. (Tip: Book a bottom floor estate for your own personal plunge pool.)
The property also has three pools, a spa, a boutique, and three restaurants. You could pretty much spend your entire vacation here. If Grace Bay Club is fully booked, there’s still a heaping supply of hotels and vacation rentals to choose from. If you’re planning a trip for next year and want something a bit more secluded, check out Rock House. It’s opening in early 2022 and will offer resort luxury that’s a little more off the beaten path.
I only spent two full days in Providenciales, but we packed a lot of fun into a short time. You obviously have to spend at least a few hours per day with your toes in the sand, and Grace Bay Beach, which stretches three miles, is the best place to enjoy a few too many piña coladas and pristine ocean views. Once you’re ready to take a dip, you’ll be happy to learn that the ocean water is like a salty heated pool.
For some adventure, book an Ocean Vibes excursion. They offer everything from parasailing and snorkeling to a champagne sunset. I participated in the half-day sail and snorkel adventure, the highlight of my time in Provo.
The charter catamaran picked us up on the beach in front of Grace Bay Club like an oceanic Uber. The lively crew welcomed us aboard with a selection of tropical cocktails – I went with (another) rum punch. Our first stop was at the barrier reef, a protected nature reserve full of eye-catching sea life. If you’re down to become one with the fish, Ocean Vibes will take you on a guided snorkeling tour through the reef.
Stop number two was at Little Water Cay, more commonly known as Iguana Island, which certainly lived up to its nickname. Located about 500 yards off the coast of Provo, the area is home to a posse of fearless rock iguanas, mini dinosaur-looking creatures with the personality of a hungry puppy. If you have a piece of fruit in your hand, they won’t be shy about wanting to snag it from you. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t jump every time the little guys came speeding toward me, but they were kind of cute, in their own lizard way.
In addition to boating excursions, you can find non-motorized watersports right on the beach. Many resorts will offer equipment for activities like kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, so you can get your daily dose of adventure without going far.
Click here to learn more about the many watersports you can do in Providenciales.
Where to Eat
Via Chloe Caldwell
I was surprised to learn that in Turks and Caicos, almost all food and beverage supplies are imported from the U.S. TCI’s tropical climate and lack of open space make implementing large-scale agriculture difficult. What they do have is fresh seafood aplenty. I had spiny lobster and conch fritters three nights in a row, but when in Rome, right? For a more intimate dinner, venture down the road (or walk down the beach) to Grace’s Cottage at Point Grace Resort. The outdoorsy restaurant is where casual meets trendy.
I recommend starting with happy hour at the bar before sitting down for a bite. I learned quickly that bartenders take their cocktail-making skills seriously in Turks and Caicos, and each one seems to have their own signature specialty. I went with the bartender’s recommendation, the gin special. This initiated a full-on performance, as he torched rosemary garnish and smoked the gin glasses right there on the bartop. The fresh cocktails complement the French-inspired dinner menu at Grace’s Cottage, and I again ordered the lobster, in all of its buttery goodness. It was meaty, flavorful, and came with a side of veggies and seared lemon.
For an ultra dreamy dining experience, head back to Grace Bay Club’s Infiniti Restaurant and Raw Bar. Here, you’ll find sea-side cocktails, raw sushi plates, and live music on the weekends. Celebrating a special occasion? You can organize a dinner right on the beach at sunset (I was honestly shocked I didn’t see at least three proposals here). It’s the perfect way to soak in Caribbean beach views while enjoying your meal.
Looking for more of the local flavor? Find a full list of Providenciales restaurants here.
Where to Party
Via Chloe Caldwell
Providenciales is the party center of Turks and Caicos. Typically, locals and travelers alike gather at Bright Park or Grace Bay Beach every week for the Island Fish Fry and weekend festivities. Unfortunately, COVID was still going strong when I arrived, so these jam-packed weekly celebrations have been put on hold. Luckily, there are still plenty of ways to let loose. When you’re done getting tipsy on the beach and the sun goes down, you can head over to the newly opened Ritz-Carlton casino and gamble the night away, where they’ve got slot machines, poker tables, and yes, complimentary booze. (Tip: Grab dinner at the Ritz’s BLT Steak restaurant next door. They’ll give you a free chip to try your luck!)
If you’ve had your fix of drinking at the myriad Provo resorts (I heard Club Med is the young singles hotspot), head into town for some classic bar hopping and beer. Start at the Turk’s Head Brewery, which produces four varieties of beer and lager, and offers tours of the brewery hall and tasting room. After sipping on brews, make your way to Coconut Grove Restaurant and Lounge, located in Provo’s downtown region, a casual spot offering cocktails and bar games like billiards and dominoes.
On the other side of the island off the shore of Long Bay Beach, you’ll discover a “floating” bar called Captain Oak’s Tiki Bar. There you can rent a boat or kayaks and float right up to the establishment for drinks and light bites in the sun.
For more about the local bars and beverage scene, click here.
PART II – South Caicos
On the opposite end of the spectrum from populous Providenciales is South Caicos, a low-density island of a little over 1,000 residents. A rural nook of TCI, South Caicos almost feels like being on your own private island. You’ll see bright pink flamingos chilling in the shallow water and donkeys grazing on shrubs along dirt roads. It’s a serene, secluded getaway for anyone who appreciates the road less traveled.
To get from island to island, I flew in a tiny eight-seater plane. I even got to ride shotgun like it was the front seat of a taxi. Being in the co-pilot seat was slightly terrifying, but mostly really f*cking cool. Once you overcome your fear, these little planes offer the ultimate bird’s eye view.
Where to Stay
Via Chloe Caldwell
If you want to live like the Biebers, stay at Sailrock Resort. Rumor has it the celeb couple spent the holidays here a few years back. When most people think of the word “resort,” they picture massive pools, unlimited food, and bustling crowds of tourists. But this couldn’t be further from the truth at Sailrock. It’s luxurious, no doubt, but in far subtler ways. Its designers took pains to incorporate Sailrock into the island’s natural beautiful lush landscape, rather than on top of it.
Staying at Sailrock, you’ll feel nothing but calm energy and a refreshing ocean breeze. Its exclusivity means you’ll often have the beach all to yourself. I spent my morning at Sailrock watching the sunrise from my private plunge pool followed by a solo stroll on the sequestered beach. I feel zen just thinking about it.
Sailrock is one of only three resorts in South Caicos, so make sure to plan your visit far in advance. The other accommodations include the all-inclusive East Bay Resort and the independently-owned, more accessible South Caicos Ocean and Beach Resort.
Click here for more information about what amenities, views, and services each property has to offer.
Where to Play
Chloe Caldwell
Just because South Caicos is less busy doesn’t mean there isn’t adventure to be had on and around the island. What I loved most about South Caicos was the tight-knit community of locals. Whenever I told anyone I was going on a South Caicos Boating Adventure, they smiled and told me to enjoy my time with Captain Tim (pictured above). The knowledgable, soft-spoken man first took us to the open waters for snorkeling. I almost chickened out when he mentioned the area’s frequent barracuda sightings, but despite my irrational fear, I eventually put on my goggles and jumped in. I’m pretty sure I made direct eye contact with a barracuda, but overall the coral reef was a nautical wonderland.
We then made our way to Starfish Gardens to look for, you guessed it, starfish. Located in an ultra-shallow area a few miles offshore, Starfish Gardens offers the sensation of literally walking in the middle of the ocean. Feeling like a modern-day Jesus, there seemed to be bright orange starfish resting on the sand just beneath the shallow surface everywhere I turned. Some were small and some were bigger than my head.
Yet my favorite stop ended up being Long Cay, a larger-scale version of Provo’s Iguana Island. We came prepared with fruit for the Iguanas and enjoyed our lunch with lizards lounging on the beach. Long Cay is also home to possibly the most captivating view in South Caicos. A short walk up to the top of Long Cay’s hilly landscape leads you to a plateau, from which you can see the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Caribbean on the other. On the Caribbean side is calm aquamarine water; on the Atlantic side, deep dark waves crash into the seaweed-packed cove under the cliffside. I could’ve spent all afternoon up here.
In addition to Captain Tim’s excursion, adventurers can take a Hobie Cat sailing lesson at Sailrock, go on a rugged nature tour on ATV, kayak or paddleboard by the beach, explore the island by bicycle, or go bonefishing. If you catch something, Sailrock will cook and prepare it for your next meal!
Check out Sailrock’s full list of activities here.
Where to Eat
Via Chloe Caldwell
If you’ve never tried conch, it’s a must-eat item in South Caicos. Conch are a small variety of sea snail that deliver classic seafood flavor with a uniquely toothsome texture. If you’re hungry for lunch in between paddleboarding and suntanning, grab appetizers like jerk chicken wings and fresh conch salad at Cove Restaurant and Beach Bar. Want to mingle with the locals in town? Make your way to Sunset Cafe, one of the few independent restaurants in South Caicos. The chef serves up fresh-caught seafood and sides, and you can order all the conch, lobster, and fish your heart desires!
For sunset views and laidback dining, kick back at Dolphin Grill at the South Caicos Ocean and Beach Resort. Sip on an ice-cold piña colada while digging into (more) seafood, as well as pork chops and barbecue chicken. The island music and friendly service make it a great place to grab a casual bite.
For more about the different South Caicos restaurants, click here.
Where to Party
Via Chloe Caldwell
While you won’t find any nightclubs or all-night ragers in South Caicos, you can still get your party on. For a backyard barbecue vibe and good times, go to Triple J’s Grill on a Friday or Saturday night. The owner runs his business straight out of his backyard, serving jerk chicken, pork, ribs, and grilled seafood. This is the spot for dancing after dark — LED lights and pop hits included.
If you want to leave with rad bartending skills, take the sunset mixology class at Sailrock’s Great House Bar. The experienced bartender will teach you how to make cocktails using the famous Turks and Caicos Bambarra Rum. If you think you’re ready to test your expertise, they’ll even let you get behind the counter to create a mixology masterpiece. My go-to drink from the lesson was the South Caicos Martini, made with coconut rum, vanilla vodka, and pineapple juice.
Last on my Turks and Caicos island-hopping getaway was the tiny territory of Grand Turk. Don’t let the puny landmass (just 6.9 square miles) fool you, there are still plenty of things to do and see. Right away, you’ll notice Grand Turk’s abandoned buildings, with graffiti art decorating broken-down bricks. Compared to Provo, the island is more rustic and less developed, especially in the age of COVID.
Grand Turk is where cruise lines typically port, as it’s the only island with waters deep enough. It was eerie seeing some of Grand Turk’s most popular attractions deserted, but it made for a low-key day and a chance to get to know some of the local small businesses.
Where to Stay
Via Chloe Caldwell
I’m a big fan of boutique hotels, for their intimate ambiance and thoughtful touch. Which is why I was excited to stay at the Osprey Beach Hotel, a charming property encompassing 27 beachfront rooms and seven atrium rooms with seasonal rates starting at only $75 to $100 per night. My quaint seaside suite offered vintage decor and cozy vibes that made me feel right at home. “I want to live here,” I said numerous times throughout my stay.
Click here to book your stay at Osprey Beach Hotel.
Where to Play
Via Chloe Caldwell
Call me nerdy, but one of my favorite parts about traveling is learning how a destination came to be. If you’re a history buff, make a trip to the Turks and Caicos National Museum, where you can learn all about TCI’s most interesting eras – the booming (and corrupt) salt industry, the return of astronaut John Glenn (the first American to orbit Earth), and the development of Lucayan culture (Turks and Caicos’ original inhabitants).
To see and learn more about the island, rent a car to visit the most notable landmarks. The must-see sites on your town tour include the 1852 lighthouse, St. Thomas Anglican Church (built in 1823), the old salt fields, and Cockburn Town (the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands). You’ll also pass by hundreds of donkeys roaming the streets who seem to be the true rulers of the island.
For some beach-side shade and bomb AF seafood, snag a table at Sandbar Restaurant. The cajun shrimp is delicious, but the view from the dining patio is better, with a view like an oil painting or a perfectly captured postcard. Fully equipped with chill island vibes and reggae music, Sandbar is the kind of place I’d imagine coming to for a lazy afternoon with my friends. (Lily livers beware, they make their rum punches strong).
Since I already had a grand tour of Grand Turk during the day, I had dinner at Osprey Beach Hotel’s restaurant, Bird Cage Bar and Grille. I likely won’t be having fresh-caught lobster again any time soon, so I had to order it one last time. The quirky outdoor restaurant has tons of character, seen in small details like the mini baby shoes placed under the legs of every table and chair. If you can, hit Bird Cage on a Monday, Wednesday, or Saturday night for live music and a barbecue.
To taste more of the local flavor in Grand Turk, click here.
Where to Party
Via Chloe Caldwell
For a daytime refreshment in Grand Turk, go to Margaritaville. The Grand Turk Margaritaville is Jimmy Buffett’s trademark establishment, and it’s also one of the most popular restaurants near the Carnival Cruise Center. Typically filled with lively cruise-goers, the restaurant, bar, and tourist shop is the largest Margaritaville in the Caribbean, complete with a pool and a swim-up bar. Margaritaville is only open when a cruise ship is in port, so you’ll want to wait to book your trip if that’s a top priority on your Grand Turk bucket list.
Jack Shack is another hotspot, for all things sea-side drinks and fun. Referred to as a “mojito hut on the beach,” the spacious deck and tiki vibes (not to mention, their free rum shot), will have you feeling good in no time. Order one of their colorful custom cocktails like the blue margarita, snack on their menu of island cuisine, and cuddle up with the adorable Jack Shack pup, Calypso.
PART IV – COVID-19 Guidelines
As of January 28, 2022, Turks and Caicos requires all international visitors age 16 and up must show proof of full vaccination, a negative COVID test within 72 hours of arrival, travel insurance coverage, and approved TCI Travel Authorisation. Additionally, until February 28th, Turks and Caicos will require all visitors ages two and older to show proof of a negative COVID test taken within three days of travel. All visitors also need to set up a COVID test to get on the plane home. Most resorts offer complimentary testing within three days of your departure, so organize this as soon as you check in. Click here to apply for TCI Travel Authorisation.
Uproxx was hosted for this story by the Turks & Caicos Islands Tourist Board. However, they did not review this story. You can learn more about the Uproxx Press Trip policy here.
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