A little information about us

Both of us, your hosts Ron and Jean, are originally from Erie, PA. We spent 37 years there, where we raised two beautiful daughters, Tiana and Juliana, with the help and support of our families. After finishing a master's degree in Early Childhood/ Elementary Education with a focus on Montessori Education, Ron and I moved to Maine and then to Charleston, South Carolina. Ron is a professional Chef trained through the Culinary Institute of America with 20 years of experience with fine dining restaurants specializing in International cuisine. Then came the opportunity to teach at a school on the 'Nature Isle' of Dominica. What we discovered when we arrived was the unique pristine almost untouched land of enchantment. The people were welcoming and friendly. We fell in love with the natural beauty and splendour of Dominica. When the teaching contract came to a close, we knew we had to find a way of staying on the Island. We lived in a small village called Galion, where we learned about herb teas, Cimenkontwa, Basilica, Citronelle and many more. The villagers taught Ron the art of roasting coffee, (good strong coffee his passion), as well as, the process of making cocoa from harvesting the pods to sun drying, roasting and grinding the final product. He learned how to make charcoal from the local wood. We both had quite a bit to learn about the tropical fruits and the local vegetables or provisions dasheen and tania. We were surprised to learn how much the villagers relied on the phases of the moon to know when the best time was to plant and harvest. It is one of the reasons we choose to name our place Crescent Moon.
After searching the island, we came across an old resort that had been the island's most remote hotel and very popular back in the 60's. It has all the right ingredients for us. It is situated at 1,800 feet high in the rainforest with temperatures that are cool in the evenings all year round. It has a view of the sea and Riviere La Croix running along side. It is located in the Sylvania Forest and reminds us of the Allegany Mountains that we had camped and hiked so much in Pennsylvania and New York.

What they are saying about us…….

"Crescent Moon is a fine place to restore sagging spirit weary of worldly demands. This will not be the last time you see us!"
" A pleasure to share music and thoughts with fellow travelers on gravel roads."
  ~ Sean and Kat, Florida


"To say that our stay here exceeded our greatest expectations would be a gross understatement. We came here knowing less about our destination and accommodation than any other place we had ever been. It has turned out to be the most relaxing and enjoyable experience we have ever had. The combination of a remote, unspoiled, strange tropical island with the comfort of a family to return to for relaxing evenings and outstanding meals is without equal in providing the best of both worlds!" 
~ Gene and Linda 


"We promised each other a week ago today that we would, with every eye blink, with every toe curl, make this life an adventure. We have set an incomparable standard for ourselves in our life sojourn with Dominica as the origin. We are so happy. Thank you for sharing this happiness with us and for all the delicious inspiration.
~ Christina and Mitch


"Recommendations?   Go to Dominica - it really is different, and the tag of "Nature Island" is well earned.  Four days is the minimum, unless you are really going to drive yourselves hard, or you don't mind leaving good trips undone.   Stay at Crescent Moon, especially if you have "green" tendencies, and want to sample life in an island rainforest (and there are not many left in the world now).  Added advantages are really personal service, a family atmosphere, and really good food.  We loved the communal chalet, with all its games and things to do.  If you stay there, you need four-wheel drive, but that is useful anyway.   Dive, even if it only a once-in-a-lifetime resort dive.  Do a walk - if you don't feel up to Boiling Lake then there are plenty of others, perhaps to the 200-foot Middleham Falls.  You will see so much more of the forest, which is unique.   And relax.   We hadn't put enough relaxing into the programme, so we dropped things out.  Sitting at 1800 feet in a hammock with a view out through forest to the Caribbean Sea is pretty unique, so it is worth spending quiet time in your chalet rather than bustling to the next sight.  We all promised we would be back, and it is one of those promises that you tend to keep."
~ The Hollands


"Our long awaited holiday often fails to meet expectations, regardless of pre-planning and research. Not this time. Our week at Crescent Moon has exceeded all we had hoped for and much more. Our wish list was:
* a relaxing atmosphere in which to recharge the batteries and this has been home away from home
* to reconnect with nature too often ignored in our daily work routine. At Crescent    Moon you can't get any closer
* to enjoy some natural exercise. What a choice, from relaxing strolls in the valley, soaking in waterfalls, swimming in rivers, to rock climbing and vigorous hikes.
*Good food and real coffee, a priority! We were spoiled. Each day we have enjoyed home roasted coffee and deliciously prepared meals…..
We will be back!"
~ Doug and Allison, UK and St. Lucia

" Dear Keepers of Paradise,

Without a doubt one of the most memorable moments of my life in the last decade or so would included your wonderful hospitality and wondrous habitat. It may be a ludicrous observation, but one of those every day events of yours took me back to my childhood in England when I last ate carrots grown in soil that passed on flavor. I had forgotten that the humble carrot had flavor. Somehow those long orange things obtainable in the supermarket that masquerade under the sign that purports to advertise carrots do not furnish the salivary desire one hopes for. In fact everything that you so kindly presented in front of us at meal times was such a delight that I'm saddened that I cannot eat so well anywhere else on this planet. And let's face it, it's a little extreme to have to travel eight thousand miles to go out for dinner - though, damn it, it's tempting."
~  Peter


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