Leslie and Al Strickler of Richmond were featured on a recent episode of Caribbean Life, a house hunting reality show on HGTV.

The Stricklers were hunting for a tropical getaway for their family on the Caribbean island of Nevis.

They fell in love with the island when Al, owner of a medical equipment and technology company, was visiting on a business trip and Leslie, who owns her own communications firm, tagged along.

It was love at first sight, Leslie said by email. She added that their first view of the lush, green island surrounded by beaches with a volcanic mountain in the middle just took our breath away.

The Stricklers describe themselves as soon-to-be empty nesters, with their eldest daughter, Olivia, 21, in college, their son Harrison, 19, at boarding school, and their youngest, Maggie, 15, at St. Catherines School in Richmond.

Harrison is a leukemia survivor who helped create a family bike ride around Richmond called Tour de Harrison that helped raise more than $100,000 for pediatric cancer research.

On the show, the Stricklers were looking for a three-bedroom property with a budget of $500,000 to $700,000 where they could split their time between Richmond and the Caribbean.

There was an immediate feeling of connection to the island, Leslie said. Everything that happened to us was serendipitous. My intuition just said ... this feels right.

The episode was filmed in August. The family was visiting the island with their three children, who also make an appearance.

On the episode, the Stricklers take a family bike ride, where they mention Harrisons history as a leukemia survivor and the Tour de Harrison.

The episode is titled Finding Zen in Nevis. It first aired on HGTV on Sunday and can currently be watched On Demand.

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HGTV 'Caribbean Life' episode features Richmond family - Richmond.com