Everyone who’s visited Saint Martin has their go-to places. Whether it’s a favorite beach, a classic beach bar, or a place you’ve stayed over and over again. For my family, that place was Dawn Beach and Oyster Pond.
My wife and I have been coming to Saint Martin for over 10 years. We celebrated my 40th birthday — and my wife’s 37th, since we have the same birthday — on the island with friends. We brought our first born son to Saint Martin when he was just 8 months old, and again when he was 13 months old.
Many of our stays on the island after we had our two boys were spent on Dawn Beach. We frequently stayed at the Westin. For us it was a perfect location with kids, a fantastic beach, easy parking, plenty of great restaurants within a short drive, and a close location to some of our favorite places in Grand Case.
That’s why seeing video of those areas now really hits home for us. Like most people, we haven’t been back since Hurricane Irma hit and I’m contemplating when the right time to go back will be. This time, however, I’ll likely return sans family since I’ll be going down to help in humanitarian ways, and not for a vacation. It’s a hard concept to swallow, if I’m being completely honest about it.
Going to a place where we’ve made so many amazing memories together as a family, only without them. Make no mistake, I’m not feeling sorry for myself. I guess I’m just getting a little sentimental. And a lot off point. But it’s important to note that these things we struggle with are peanuts compared to what the people of Saint Martin have gone through, and continue to endure, since Hurricane Irma. So if you can give to help, please do.
Please help rebuild SXM and give today. Click here to visit the SXM Strong donate page. Thank you!
