Zip lining is fun for the whole family and we are proud to supply the USVI with the one and only zip line! We are also honored to say that we have been awarded “Best of the VI Tourist Activities” four years in a row. In 1996, Julie, co-owner of Tree Limin’ Extreme, spent a […]
Extra Virgin Bistro was named both for their location, in the heart of the Virgin Islands, and after extra virgin olive oil, a staple for Mediterranean cuisine which is the main influence for their cuisine. The dishes of Extra Virgin are inspirations from Italy, Greece, France, Spain and Portugal and include as much fresh and […]
I grew up in the retail business. My mother started her first store in New York when I was six selling vintage clothing (a.k.a. her old clothes). After a few different ventures, she opened Flashbacks in Sag Harbor, New York where the entire family was involved in the business. In 1991, after my sisters visited […]
Crystal D’Abbraccio has been in love with dancing for as long as she can remember. Starting at the age of five, her training was well rounded, progressing through performance, to costumes design, to dance education. Since moving to St. John in 2012, Crystal has taught dance, theater and creative movement to both children and adults. Crystal’s […]
Summertime is often associated with idle hands and lemonade stands, but if you’re looking for an opportunity to stay active, volunteering in the Virgin Islands is always a good option. Volunteering your time not only helps the community, but also enriches you personally. It can be as simple as helping a neighbor with yard work, […]
The Virgin Islands is a paradise not only full of beauty but also an alluring history. Just below the surface of our ever changing sand and unbelievably blue waters is the story of square riggers battling for their crown, pirates trading goods and hiding in the protection of promises made by corrupt governors of St. […]
I’m always at a bit of a loss when people ask what I do for a living, or whether I travel for business or pleasure. Basically, I get paid to move other people’s boats around for them. Sometimes it’s fun and sometimes it is the worst job in the world. If you think that a […]
The best place to start your walking tour of Cruz Bay’s world class shopping is from the passenger ferry terminal. If you are on the dock, facing to land, Wharfside Village stretches out to your right, followed by Grande Bay, and up the hill to Gallows Point. To your left, along the waterfront, is the […]
My love affair with food started at an early age. My father grew up in Thailand, and my mother grew up in upstate New York. My grandmother on her side was first generation English, with pastries running in the family. My grandfather on her side was in the World War 2, and so he did not allow any […]
During college freshman orientation, Bryan Barnes, owner of Busy Bee Charters was asked what he wanted to do when he grew up. His response, “Run a fishing boat in the Caribbean.” This answer surprised not only the counselor, but Bryan himself! He wasn’t a fisherman, he had no interest in fishing, and he had never been […]
One word, Summertime. You know what I’m talking about. If you live in the Virgin Islands, this is the game changer. The mad rush of tourists dwindles to a trickle. The water warms up and the people slow down, way down. If you work in the tourism industry (and who doesn’t), then you are either […]
The tiny house craze seems to have enveloped the Virgin Islands and the joke about tiny houses and their rentability just keeps getting bigger. Stained Glass Irene, who is almost always right, told me never to relate this following true tiny house story in print. Did I listen to her? Nope. This tale is macabre […]
St. John, US Virgin Islands, affectionately nicknamed “Love City,” is the scene for some of the most fantastic Festival revelry in the Caribbean. The St. John Festival is a month-long celebration that kicks off energetically with live music and performances and ramps up to an awe-inspiring fireworks display in the Cruz Bay harbor on the […]
When Bob Shinners imagines the movie of his life it opens with him as a young man standing on a Milwaukee bridge in a thick parka. He climbs the safety rail, closes his eyes, and jumps. As he plunges into the icy water, his steel-toed boots and heavy winter clothes suck him into the murky […]
Fourteen days has never sounded like such a big number, that is, until it’s fourteen days before your wedding day! Like most brides you are probably running around like a chicken without a head wondering if you’ve completed all that has to be done. Guide to Getting Married on St. John If you’re here because […]
Rum is very much a part of Caribbean drinks culture. This is the home of rum and where some of the world’s best are made. So you probably won’t be surprised to find out that the Virgin Islands are home to more than a few excellent rum distilleries. Rum drinkers should definitely add the Virgin […]
Carolyn Goodlander is truly a woman of the world. When I met with Carolyn to share lunch and words at the Cruz Bay Landing on St. John, she had just returned from her third circumnavigation aboard the sailboat home she shares with her writer husband Captain Fatty Goodlander, the editor-at-large at Cruising World Magazine, author […]
Digital marketing is the most powerful advertising tool Virgin Islands businesses have. That’s because the tourism audience is a global one. Visitors to the Virgin Islands take two vacations. Tourists bookmark websites, download travel apps, and pin their dream trip on Pinterest long before they set foot on an airplane. They decide what restaurants they […]
