Out of the forty islands and cays that make up Turks and Caicos, only eight are inhabited, and they maintain an unspoiled and quiet way of life, allowing visitors a taste of the old Caribbean, but with a wide variety of exceptional accommodations, restaurants and attractions. Providenciales is the most well known of the islands, and the center of the tourism industry where the majority of hotels and resorts are located. The Conch Farm is one of the top attractions on the island, and the only conch farm in the world! Visitors can watch how the process is done, enjoy a show with the two trained and very friendly conchs, see conch pearls and even purchase fresh conch for a fabulous conch salad. Conch is fast becoming a popular and innovative choice for chefs worldwide, and can be found at practically every restaurant on the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Another attraction unique to Providenciales is Cheshire Hall, the historical site of a former cotton plantation, now ruins dating back two hundred years. The building ruins have been carefully preserved by the National Trust and offer spectacular views of the island, along with an insight into the history of the island and the slave trade of the time. On the island of North Caicos, Wades Green Plantation is another once thriving cotton plantation now in ruins. Wades Green Plantation was one of the most successful plantations of the Loyalist era, Wades Green, which was constructed by Florida Loyalist Wade Stubbs around 1789 and eventually grew to 1,214 hectares (3,000 acres).
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