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 […]
Lots of cruising sailors wash over the collective bow of St. John. Many are capable and navigate the Sir Francis Drake Channel like it was a lake. Others fall into the category of quirky and fade quickly from memory. Others just stick because they are so real. John St. John is one cruiser that I […]
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” – Jacques Yves Cousteau The Virgin Islands are a rich paradise full of a diverse things to do from hiking, to bar hopping, to photography, to sailing. These are a few of my past times. I find it impossible to […]
Virgin Island transplants get a lot of questions. Most are easily answered with, “The beach is that way,” or “You know, working hard, mom.” Another type of question, that is not so simply answered, revolves around moving to the islands. If you already live here, these queries come from cyberspace like meteors. You’ve got mail […]
In the first installment of Get Married on St. John, I shared all you need to know about St. John wedding locations, obtaining the needed documents and permits for your nuptials, and advice on hiring a planner. But there’s more. If you decided to hire a wedding planner, they will ensure that every detail is lovingly […]
Sailors are as vast and varied as their vessels but it doesn’t matter if you have a 3 million dollar boat or a 3,000 dollar one, the sea doesn’t discriminate. Sailors know this which is probably why there are unwritten rules and courtesies when we find a fellow mariner’s boat in distress.
“He just bought 1000 earthworms on Amazon,” Mathayom Vacharat’s girlfriend whispered to me as I sat down next to her at Ground Breaking, one of the themed full moon dinners presented by St. John Catering and Mathayom Private Chefs at their St. John event venue at the Windy Level. “Mysterious purchase,” I laughed, but we […]
Every year Carnival has a theme and 2017 celebrates our Centennial anniversary when the Virgin Islands officially became a part of the United States. St. Thomas is home to one of the largest festivals in the whole Caribbean and features food, games, music, and entertainment for people of all ages. It is an annual highlight […]
Last year I wrote an article about the unavailability of fresh produce in the Virgin Islands. The story went viral with over 17,000 people reading the blog and 2,500 sharing it on social media. Although my readership was greatly increased, which was a positive outcome, I was in for a rude awakening. The backlash was […]
St. John, Virgin Islands – Your tropical wedding destination dream come true, where family and friends can share your union while enjoying a vacation in the sun. St. John, nicknamed Love City, (What could be more auspicious?) offers some of the most memorable wedding options in the world. VOGUE magazine named St. John a top […]
Coral Bay’s motto is “Successfully avoiding progress since forever!” and they mean it. Welcome to a small corner of the world where folks would die for one another, yet they don’t know each other’s real names because everyone goes by a nickname. Coral Bay will have you wondering where the conveniences are hidden. They certainly […]
Last summer I asked some friends if they would be interested in doing a bareboat charter in the British Virgin Islands. I was not surprised to find that they were interested since the BVI is one of the most popular boat charter destinations in the world! For the past 15 years, I have been lucky […]
In an age of unlimited streaming movies, music and video games, how do we convince the next generation that folk ways have value and beauty? When any product we dream of is mass produced, available and affordable, why keep oral storytelling, boat building, basketry, herb lore, woodwork and sewing alive? These questions can be answered […]
The Virgin Islands are a must visit for any self respecting foodie. If you’re visiting the islands, you’ll find endless opportunity to experience the culinary delights we have to offer. Once you’ve dined at the top local restaurants, the next thing on your agenda should be to check out some of our many fantastic food […]
Leah Randall – St. John has been a seasonal island home for me since 2004 and a permanent home since 2013. I want nothing more than for you to appreciate this island as much as I do, so allow me to share some of my favorite beaches with you. Whether you’re a resident or a […]
The story of surfing in the Virgin Islands is an exciting one. This might be hard to believe if you’ve spent any time on one of the VI’s world-famous beaches. The gentle ripples on tranquil turquoise bays don’t bring to mind the incredible thrill of cutting down the face of a ten-foot wave. However, those […]
Realizing that there is no service to stay in contact with your family, friends, and even work can send a visitor into defib. Here’s what everyone who’s visiting the US Virgin Islands needs to know about cell phone service for T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T and Verison before they get here.