"If spending the day lounging on idyllic white sands and swimming in cerulean seasaren't enough without some snuggle time with adorable puppies, plan a visit to Potcake Place, in Grace Bay. This volunteer-run nonprofit is dedicated to rescuing andfinding adoptive homes for local dogs, most of which are a regional breed called "potcakes." The center has around 50 dogs in foster care at any given time andplaces about 500 per year. Visitors can stop by the shelter, located in Salt Mills Plaza, to help socialize the dogs by taking them out for a day on the beach. A kit with food, leash, and other items is provided."

"DIY Snorkeling The Turks & Caicos water gets its amazing color and clarity in part from the crushed pink coral sand bottom. This visibility, combined with coral heads and lots of multihued fish found in calm shallow water within sight of the sandy white shore, makes for some of the most accessible, but very worthwhile, snorkeling I've experienced. Best off all it is accessible right off Grace Bay Beach -- no need to take out the boat. If traveling with kids this is especially appealing as you can just stop when they get tired. It also works well for less confident swimmers. Try an area called Coral Gardens/Bight Reef (in front of Coral Gardens resort) or Smith's Reef, both on Grace Bay Beach."

"DIY Snorkeling The Turks & Caicos water gets its amazing color and clarity in part from the crushed pink coral sand bottom. This visibility, combined with coral heads and lots of multihued fish found in calm shallow water within sight of the sandy white shore, makes for some of the most accessible, but very worthwhile, snorkeling I've experienced. Best off all it is accessible right off Grace Bay Beach -- no need to take out the boat. If traveling with kids this is especially appealing as you can just stop when they get tired. It also works well for less confident swimmers. Try an area called Coral Gardens/Bight Reef (in front of Coral Gardens resort) or Smith's Reef, both on Grace Bay Beach."

"Horseback Riding on the Beach Book a horseback-riding tour along Provo's white-sand beaches with Provo Ponies, which is owned by the affable Camille Slattery and located on the southeast end of the island. They offer two guided rides Monday through Friday (one in the morning, the other in the afternoon), while Saturdays are reserved for lessons on their properties, and horses get the day off on Sundays. Book well in advance during the busy season (December to May), as this is a highlight of many people's holidays. Note this place can be hard to reach, so if you don't have a car rental, choose their transport option from Grace Bay Beach for an extra $10 per person. Also expect to spend about three hours on the horse."

"Dive Deep The color and clarity of the Turks & Caicos water comes partially from the crushed pink coral sand sea bottom. This visibility, combined with coral heads and plenty of colorful fish also make it an amazing diving destination. Dive Provo is the top scuba company in Provo and offers daily instruction and group dives to a number of spots around the island (including old wrecks) and they cater to all skill levels."

"Gone (Bone) Fishing Turks and Caicos is known as the Caribbean's blue marlin capital, and there are plenty of fishing excursions on offer from Provo, which also boasts some of the world's best bonefishing. The relatively pristine waters are great for aspiring anglers and expert fishermen alike. Boats carry up to 2 guests, plus the captain, for half- and full-day excursions. Multiple companies offer excursions - check at your hotel or villa."

"Day Trip: Provo to Grand Turk Always wondering where the next puddle jumper might take us, my family and I decided to venture a few islands over from our home base on Providenciales and head for Grand Turk one sunny day last January. Cockburn Town, the island territory's capitol, is where most official Turks and Caicos business takes place. We had heard there were also some nice beaches on Grand Turk. As soon as our Air T&C flight landed, we spied a mammoth cruise ship docked nearby, regurgitating passengers onto the shore. Wondering if we had made a poor decision to visit the island, we quickly hopped into a taxi and sped away from the touristy scene. My pulse slowed down a bit as we put some distance between ourselves and the crowds, and my family received an abbreviated history of the island complements of our driver, Rita. Turns out, Grand Turk's main claim to fame is that John Glenn's Friendship 7 Mercury spacecraft landed just off shore in 1962. There's even a statue at the airport commemorating the event. Our island tour took us down a straight, flat, 2-mile road and ended at a quaint little beach shack called The Sand Bar. It's owned by a couple of Australian sisters, and the atmosphere is lovely. We found time to laze the afternoon away on a pristine (and deserted) nearby beach, and marveled at the fact that the Premiere of Turks and Caicos had been on our flight that morning. All-in-all, we found our little corner of Grand Turk to be quiet, pleasant, and simple, just like island life should be. By Kimberly Bercaw"

"It is just a 350 foot wade into swim from Grace Bay Beach to the Bight Reef, which is the island's most accessible and popular snorkeling spot. Although it isn't the best snorkeling on the island - the visibility is poor on choppy water days - it is the easiest to attempt for novices or children as the trail is clearly marked the entire way with ropes so you can't wander out of bounds and get lost. Plus the closeness to the beach makes it easy to come back should you get tired. Once on the trail expect to see a slew of relatively tame tropical fish (they are used to humans swimming around them) as well as larger fish like the barracuda and if you are lucky turtles, stingrays and even lobsters. There's also coral, including some cool brain coral, but unfortunately the reef's condition has declined over the last few decades thanks to irresponsible boat operators and also snorkelers who reach down to touch the living seascape and inadvertently doing irreparable damage. When snorkeling it is important to not touch anything, To access Bight Reef look for the signs for Coral Gardens Resort on Grace Bay Beach. The reef is directly in front and well sign posted."

"Golf 18-Holes in Provo The only golf course in Turks and Caicos, the Provo Golf and Country Club opened in 1992. When it constructed, the builders called the site "Alcatraz" because creating a golf course on bare rock was as difficult as doing hard time. Today the course is a symbol of island ingenuity and popular with locals and visitors for its green grassy fairways and stunning sea views. The par-72 course was deigned by Florida's Karl Litton and sites on 12 acres of inland lakes and marshes that are now home to a flamingo flock (flamingos are native to these islands), a decent heron population and plenty of other tropical birds and small animals, all of which can regularly be seen while playing. The course is easy on the eyes with hibiscus and oleander and more than 4,500 palm trees provide shade, as well as acting as wind breaks and hazards. Favorite holes include 12, 13, and 14, which are particularly scenic to play. After a day playing golf, grab a meal at Fairways, which does such good food that it attracts even non-golfers to the club for a bite."

"Learn to Kiteboard on Long Bay When it comes to kiteboarding, Turks and Caicos is considered one of the world's best places to learn the sport thanks to shallow, warm water and steady winds. Established in 2006, KiteProvo is the original, longest running and largest kiteboarding school in The Turks and Caicos. Located on Long Bay, which is famous for its calm, easy to stand in, and gorgeous hued turquoise water, this is the perfect place to learn the basics. What's great about KiteProvo, however, is the quality of the instructors (they each teach an average of a thousand lessons over the 10-month season!). Friendly and patient, they offer a dynamic approach to teaching that helps you learn without getting frustrated – you'll learn first on the beach, for instance, and then progress to the water. Once you have the hang of the sport, consider taking one of the boat led kiteboarding adventures to surrounding spots around the island for a more remote experience. Kite rentals are also available."