Windward Side: Art, Crafts and Local History

Arts and crafts, local history, and a trail sign at the Mt. Scenery trailhead give Windward Side several different facets. If you are considering the village as a holiday destination, you might ask when planning whether hiking or cultural discoveries should shape your stay. Local points of interest bring both interests to life and provide a thematic guide when searching for a holiday apartment.

Getting your bearings around Mt. Scenery

If you walk uphill from Windward Side toward Mt. Scenery, the trail sign is on the left at the trailhead. The Saba Conservation Foundation’s Trail Shop is near the entrance to the hiking trail and provides information about guided hikes. Check the current arrangements before visiting. This lets you factor the hike and the time set aside for it into your holiday plans without making the rest of your stay revolve around a single theme.

The Saba Tourist Bureau is also a point of reference for questions about activities, events and travel on Saba. It is in the heart of Windward Side, directly opposite Breadline Plaza. As it is a visitor service, it is advisable to confirm current offerings before visiting. Its location opposite the plaza also provides a clearly identified reference point as you explore the village.

Art, crafts and history

The five square art gallery in Windward Side displays and sells a wide selection: original paintings, drawings, sketches, giclées, prints, sculptures, carvings, folk art and greeting cards. The offerings range from paintings and printmaking to three-dimensional works and smaller items such as cards.

Marie De Saba’s workshop also combines arts and crafts with a distinctive setting. It is located in a typical Saban cottage in Windward Side, overlooking the museum grounds, and is also the home of its owner, Marie. There, she makes handmade jewelry from seeds that she grows in her garden or collects on Saba. The pieces are unique; the materials used may vary. Marie De Saba also offers jewelry repairs. If a repair is important to your plans, contact her directly about the service before visiting.

The Harry L. Johnson Museum is at the end of Park Lane in Windward Side’s historic district. It is housed in a 19th-century cottage that belonged to a sea captain. The location at the end of the street and the history of the house give a visit to the museum a specific local and historical context. Together with the gallery and workshop, it reveals a side of Windward Side that can be discovered through art and the built history of the village.

Collaborative works and youth activities

At Lambee’s Place in the heart of Windward Side, a group of women works together on new Saban creations every Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. Visitors can sit in during the session and watch the women work and create. If this experience is important to your stay, check the current schedule before visiting.

The Saba Heritage Center in Windward Side organizes weekly activities for young people. These include skeleton reconstructions, photography workshops, excavations, camping trips, tree identification lessons, workshops and an exhibit on the use of indigo. This program is intended for young people; confirm the current program details if you are planning a visit for this purpose.

When choosing a holiday destination, this suggests a practical question about priorities: should the trip leave plenty of time for hiking and information about guided tours, or would you like to include cultural stops such as the museum, gallery and workshops? Windward Side offers several clearly identified places of interest to help you do that. Search for a holiday apartment based on the interests you want to shape your stay, and use local visitor services to get current program information.

For an overview of the wider trip: Saba.