A sign on the side of the road caught me. It was black and hand painted.
“Bar on the beach.”
That’s not a signal I can easily reject.
And to my surprise, I was quickly rewarded with one of the most interestingly named beaches here in the Caribbean.
First of all, this place looks great. No, the mercury is somewhere in the 90s.
But here Jabberwock Beach (Yes, like the creature from Lewis Carroll’s poem, or for reference, the creature from the later Monty Python movies.) The wind never stops on the northern coast of Antigua. Around the corner, behind the dunes, there is a surprisingly breezy breeze.
This bar is no secret. It’s a short drive from American University and about the same distance from top resorts like Hodges Bay on the main road.
But there’s still a delicious sense of emptiness, a pleasant, uncrowded feeling. It’s the kind of beach bar that attracts pilgrims from beyond the coast.
It’s called Bridgeswing Beach BarThe name is well known. A breeze is blowing. And lining the bar counter are a few swing chairs and beanbag chairs hanging from the rum hut roof.
The bar is simple but perfect. We have all your favorite local rums (Cavalier works well here), rum punch, and cold beer. But the sensory mix is what you come here for. It’s the perfect cocktail of foamy waves and swaying palms, adorned with sparkling sand dunes.
But this isn’t the only story.
And there is another reason why people visit this beach.
Right next door kitesurfing antiguaIt’s the island’s hub, offering all kinds of wind-powered water sports, from high-level training to traditional kite and flap rentals. In other words, this is a place for serious surfers, or serious learners of the sport.
This is definitely one of the best kitesurfing beaches you will find anywhere in the region, a sustainable wind well blown infinitely by the trade winds.
The sound itself is addictive. Music of pure waves; One of the island’s great aural wonders and instant medicine for the soul.
Whether you’re hanging out above the waves or right across from the bar counter, this beach will captivate you.
