Wonderful scents waft through the town of Grenville on the east coast of Grenada. The second largest town on the island, it's set in an area known as "the bread basket of Grenada" for its cultivation of bananas, nutmeg and cocoa. Grenville serves as the main port on the east coast. The colorful weekly food market (generally Saturday mornings) draws residents from around the island.
The village of Marquis (2 mi/3 km south of Grenville) is worth a visit to see expert weavers create straw art and handicraft items from wild pine. Marquis Falls, the highest in Grenada, are also in the area. Just off the coast are Marquis Island and La Baye Rock, unspoiled islands surrounded by coral reefs that are good diving and snorkeling spots. The islands are not developed tourist destinations, so if you want to visit you'll have to make your own boat arrangements once you get to Grenada. Trips can be arranged with several charter companies on the island.
About 6 mi/10 km north of Grenville is the River Antoine Rum Distillery, which produces 15,000 gal/56,000 L of rum for Grenadian consumption. This sugar plantation and distillery is one of the oldest in the Caribbean: It's been operating continuously since 1785 and still crushes sugar cane with machinery powered by a waterwheel. If you take a guided tour of the plantation, you can sample some of its high-octane rum. (Beware the 140-proof version.) Phone 442-7109. http://www.grenadaexplorer.com/tip/rumfactory.
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