Rum Therapy Blog Archives | Page 18 of 47

July 19, 2015June 6, 2019

Xero Shoes – Better Than Barefoot and Perfect For Travel

Do you struggle with the type and amount of footwear to bring on your tropical vacation? We sure do. We’d rather be barefoot all the time, but out of necessity (a gash from a sharp piece of coral or a burn on the foot can put a damper on your vacation fun!) we usually end up bringing flip-flops to wear on hot sand and surfaces, some kind of water shoes to wear during water sports and boating and sturdier shoes to wear while hiking. Shoes and flip-flops end up filling valuable space in the limited amount of luggage we try to take.

Imagine our interest in learning more about Xero Shoes, a company from Broomfield, Colorado that creates Lightweight Performance Recreation Sandals – ultralight sandals originally created for barefoot running.

The weight and packability of the sandal is what first peaked our interest, but after testing them out, we’ve found so much more to like about this ultra comfortable footwear.

John ordered the Amuri Z-Trek Sport Sandal in Coal Black/Castle Rock and I selected the Amuri Cloud – Women’s Barefoot Sandal in the beautiful Aquarius color.

We received our shoes quickly – just a few days after placing our order and both pairs fit perfectly, probably due to their measuring system which takes the guesswork out of ordering your size, especially if you wear a half size.

We’ve been wearing our Xero Shoes for a couple of weeks now and have tried them out on the beach,

– gone hiking in them, and tested them out on hot surfaces. They’ve been so comfortable that I even forget I’m wearing them and coming from someone who goes barefoot whenever humanly possible, that says a lot!

Xero Shoes also offers beads and pendants to decorate and personalize your sandals. I’ve got my eyes on the dolphin pendant and some of the brass crow shoe beads – I think they’ll look amazing with the beautiful blue color of my sandals.

Other situations we have yet to test but think our Xero Shoes will be perfect for:

Sailing. The tread on the Xero Shoes, the ability to tighten the straps and the lightness of the sandal would be perfect for navigating a sea-misted deck.

Stand Up Paddleboarding and other water sports. Again, the tread and lightness of the sandal would increase stability and provide protection for the foot without added weight during all kinds of water activities.

Guess what will not be taking up tons of space in our luggage during our next tropical adventure. 4 or 5 different pairs of shoes.

Guess what will be taking up very little space.
Our new Xero Shoes Sandals.

Better than Barefoot and Perfect For Travel.

To find out more about Xero Shoes, the story behind their ultralight sandals and to find a pair that’s perfect for you, visit their website (and be sure to read about owners Steven and Lena’s presentation on Shark Tank!)

Xero Shoes Website

And keep up to date with their new products and news via their social media sites:
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Pinterest

This is a sponsored post. Although we were compensated by the company who sponsored it, the views are solely our own and we only recommend products or services we believe our readers will enjoy.

July 16, 2015June 6, 2019

Rum Therapy Best-Of List 2015

We love it when our island, beach and rum loving readers ask for suggestions on what to see and do and where to stay on islands they are planning to visit.

In fact, we’ve put together several guides on what to do in some of our favorite spots – such as Cruz Bay, St. John, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, North Sound, Virgin Gorda, Marigot, St. Martin and Philipsburg, St. Martin and regularly review different accommodations, although unfortunately we don’t get to visit every location every year and things change over time.

So, we thought we’d ask for the assistance of our wonderful readers who do a good amount of island traveling themselves and those that actually live on these beautiful islands, in compiling the first Rum Therapy Best-Of List that we’ll leave posted on our website for easy reference to those traveling to these tropical locations in the near future (similar to the reader collaboration we had on The Rum Therapy Ultimate Beach Playlist).

Although this list will just touch on a few of the great things to experience on each of these islands, it should prove to be a good place to get a few ideas while planning your vacation!

In 2015, we will focus on the following island locations:

USVI:
St. Thomas
St. John
St. Croix

Categories we’ll take nominations for:

Best Beach
Best Beach Bar or Island Bar
Best Rum Drink
Best Restaurant
Best Place to Stay
Best Shop or Boutique
Best Souvenir to Bring Home from this Location
Best Attraction to Experience Here

Check our site over the next few days for your chance to give us your opinion on The Best-Of the USVI!

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

July 14, 2015June 6, 2019

Embrace Resort, Staniel Cay

Imagine a small, intimate eco-friendly resort with 7 well appointed themed villas, a spa, pool, cabana and upscale restaurant all on a beautiful, quaint little island in an exquisite chain of small islands in the Bahamas called the Exuma Cays. The island is Staniel Cay and this resort, Embrace Resort, is the dream of owner Nicole Ferguson and daughter Natajia, who are well on their way to realizing their vision.

Embrace is an acronym for the names of the 7 villas that will soon grace the resort: Exuma, Mayaguana, Bimini, Ragged Island, Andros, Cat Island, Eleuthera – all named after Bahamian Islands. 4 of the villas are already complete and range in size from 1 bedroom (including a honeymoon villa with indoor spa tub) to 3 bedrooms.

Andros – 3 bedroom villa with complete kitchen

Bimini – 2 bedroom villa

Ragged Island – 1 bedroom Honeymoon Villa

Once completed, the resort will host the only spa, fitness center and meeting space on the island and will also include a pool and restaurant. Nicole and Natajia also run a business called 3 N’s Vacation Services which offers destination wedding planning, boat rentals, tours & excursions and golf cart rentals. Guests of Embrace Resort will certainly benefit from their expertise, knowledge of the island and services available.

Owner Nicole Ferguson

We were invited to visit and learn about Embrace Resort and stayed in Mayaguana, an intimate 1 bedroom accommodation with a refrigerator, microwave, large en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, wireless in the room, and flat screen TV with dish network.

Although the resort is not directly on the beach, it is close to several of the islands fine beaches and they are easily reached by walking or by golf cart. It is also just minutes away from the islands restaurants and grocery stores and the popular bar and nightspot at Staniel Cay Yacht Club. Staniel Cay is easily reached by air via Nassau or Ft. Lauderdale on either Flamingo Air or Watermakers Air.

Every effort is being made to make Embrace Resort sustainable and eco-conscious in the choice of building materials and systems used in the construction of the resort, which is important anywhere, but especially on a small island where every action leaves a mark on the delicate ecosystem.

Staniel Cay and the entire Exuma chain is an area that is getting more and more attention lately due to the diversity of activities available in the area, from fishing to boating to experiences you won’t find anywhere else. From our base at Embrace Resort, we were able to visit Big Major Cay and its swimming pigs,

Swim with the nurse sharks on Compass Cay,

Snorkel through Thunderball Grotto – used in the filming of the 1965 James Bond movie “Thunderball”,

and spend lazy afternoons floating in some of the clearest water we’ve ever seen…

Embrace Resort is scheduled for a Grand Opening in 2016 once the entire resort is finished, and although the restaurant, swimming pool and spa are not yet complete, the 4 villas that are already constructed are available to rent and can be booked through their website: Embrace Resort.

To find out more about Embrace Resort, be sure to follow them on their Facebook page and Twitter.

A big thanks to Nicole and Natajia for hosting our stay at Embrace Resort and we look forward to visiting again next year to see all that Embrace will have to offer!

June 28, 2015May 20, 2019

Products We Love – The Jungle Bee Jewelry

The Jungle Bee Jewelry – unique handcrafted toe anklets, bracelets and anklets that are perfect for beach vacations, pool time and summer wear!

I absolutely love the unique, beachy designs from The Jungle Bee. Their toe anklets are unlike any I’ve seen before and paired with a matching anklet, they’re a perfect summer and tropical vacation look. Not only are they beautiful, they are so light and comfortable that I could barely tell they were on.

A “Sarah Jenn” Toe Anklet and a complimentary anklet on one side

Toe anklets can also be worn with flip flops and sandals

Worn with a matching “Sarah Jenn” bracelet

The “Just Peachy” Toe Anklet and Anklet

I was so thrilled to receive several pairs of The Jungle Bee designs to wear and sample, but I’m just as impressed with the mission of the company – which uses a portion of the proceeds to support children and others in need in her community. I asked Debbie and her daughter Sarah if they could give me some background information on themselves and The Jungle Bee, and this is what I learned.

Debbie Selva is a San Fernando Valley resident who has been crafting, making jewelry, and creating artwork as a career for more than 20 years. In the mid-1990s, she opened a business called Krafty Kids, where she taught children crafts, provided afterschool tutoring, and provided kids’ birthday parties. All the while, she custom-designed, made, and sold jewelry and other handcrafted items.

Several years down the road, Debbie became the owner of a private school, where she worked with children who faced all types of academic and personal needs and challenges. The school largely became a labor of love for Debbie, who always had a special place in her heart for children. While she had the school, Debbie came up with the idea of toe-anklets—or anklets that loop around the toe and extend around the back of the heel. She started selling her beach-inspired toe-anklets partially as an effort to raise money for her school and for students who could not afford tuition.

Eventually, Debbie launched The Jungle Bee, a jewelry and craft business with her toe-anklets featured as the main product. While the school is now only operating at a limited capacity, Debbie was able to make a major impact in the lives of numerous children and teens, many of whom are now off to college or pursuing their career goals.

Today, Debbie runs The Jungle Bee with her daughter, Sarah Selva. Debbie and Sarah, two beach fanatics and true So Cal girls, are constantly coming up with new designs for their product, which now has an adjustable chain that allows the toe-anklets to be perfectly sized to each customer’s foot. Each anklet has its own artistic flair and goes perfectly with bare feet, flip flops, flats, and even heels.

The goal of The Jungle Bee is to create beautiful and artistic foot jewelry, hand jewelry, and other accessories that allow customers to express their unique personalities.The business also strives to employ people who need extra income, such as stay-at-home parents, students who need jobs, and people who may not be able to work in traditional jobs. Whether you like natural earth tones, sparkling beads that catch the light, or bold, eye-catching designs, The Jungle Bee has just the right toe-anklet for you!

The “Bahama Mama” Toe Anklet, Bracelet and Anklet

Visit their The Jungle Bee to see all of their beautiful pieces!

To see new designs as they are released, follow them on:

Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest

This is a sponsored post. We were compensated by the company who sponsored it to write it. Regardless, the views are solely our own and we only recommend products or services we believe our readers will enjoy.

June 28, 2015June 6, 2019

Crescent Beach, Compass Cay

During our recent interview with Beach Bar Bums, we were asked to list a few of our all-time favorite beaches. Crescent Beach on Compass Cay in the Bahamas was one.

This gorgeous arc of brilliant white sand and clear turquoise water was actually a recent addition to our favorites “list” as we visited the Exuma Cays for the first time a few months ago. One of the stops on our first day of exploring was Compass Cay. Compass Cay has become known for it’s marina, where you can can interact with their friendly pet sharks, but, as we found on our second visit, there is more to see on Compass Cay than sharks – although that was really a great experience…

We rented a boat for a second day of exploring from Coral at Wheels -N- Waves Island Rentals on Staniel Cay and she mentioned that we should definitely spend a little more time on Compass Cay, and to make the short hike over from the marina to Crescent Beach. Boy are we glad she made that recommendation.

Upon our arrival, we spent a little time swimming with the sharks again and visiting with Tucker, the proprietor of Compass Cay, who echoed Coral’s thoughts on Crescent Beach, then started on the path to the beach.

The path was marked with colorful and whimsical signs.

The sandy path wound its way through the foliage.

As we rounded the last corner, we got our first glimpse of the gorgeous beach.

The beach was a long stretch of sugar soft, white sand and there was no one else in sight.

We spent several hours walking the beach and floating in the lovely warm, clear water.

There are so many gorgeous beaches and sandbars in the Exumas, but we must say Crescent Beach stands out as our favorite Exuma beach from this trip just for its sheer beauty, although we’ve only visited a few of the 365 islands and cays that make up this magnificent chain so far…

Have you been to Crescent Beach on Compass Cay? Tell us about it!

Find Crescent Beach on our Bahamas Map

You might also enjoy:
Compass Cay and its One Full Time Resident
The Swimming Pigs of the Exuma Cays
Staniel Cay Yacht Club
Thunderball Grotto

To see more posts on the Bahamas and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

June 13, 2015May 29, 2019

Nippers Beach Bar & Grill, Great Guana Cay

We’d seen pics before. Many colorful, enticing pics that made us put Nippers on the “list” of beach bars we’d like to visit and were so excited to hear we were going to make a stop at Great Guana Cay during a recent sail through the Abacos. Believe us when we say, Nippers was as colorful and fun as the pics we’d seen and certainly didn’t disappoint. The weather, however, was a different story…

Great Guana Cay was one of the first stops on our itinerary. After all, with two great beach bars (Nippers & Grabbers) and some beautiful beaches, it had Rum Therapy written all over it. Unfortunately, we’d been hit by a bit of an unusual cold snap and although we were still excited to spend time on island, the temp was definitely less than the common tropical temps.

Regardless, as soon as we caught a mooring ball in Guana Harbour, we dinghied to shore and followed the sign down a dirt road to Nippers.

As colorful, if not more so, than the pictures we’d seen, the pool area was…well, pretty quiet due to the cool temps.

Unfazed by the lack of patrons, we made our way in to the main section of the bar.

There, huddled around the bar, was a lively group of die-hard Nippers fans, enjoying, among other things, the infamous frozen Nipper.

We ordered a couple of drinks and checked out the large outdoor bar area.

Then climbed to the top deck for a 360 degree view of the beach 55 ft below.

Nippers has been serving great food and strong drinks with a great view and friendly service for more than 15 years. Apparently, not to be missed is their popular Pig Roast served from 12:30 – 4 every Sunday.

Although it was a little nippy at Nippers that day, we had a good time and can just imagine how much fun it would be to laze in the pool, listen to some live music and enjoy a frozen Nippers…on a much warmer day!

Have you been to Nippers? Tell us about it!

Want to find out more about Nippers? Check out their website and Facebook page.

Find Nippers on our The Bahamas Map

To see more posts on the Bahamas and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

June 7, 2015June 6, 2019

Sunday Serenity: Some Sun and Sand on St. Thomas

We spend a relatively small amount of time actually staying on St. Thomas. It always seems to be the gateway to another island getaway, but when we have the chance to explore and enjoy what St. Thomas has to offer, we usually find ourselves here. I’d have to say it’s our favorite place to enjoy some sun and sand in St. Thomas.

It’s a relatively quiet stretch of beautiful sand on the east side of the island. It can get busy on weekends with lots of locals picnicking and enjoying some family time, but if you time it right, you’ll be treated to this…

And this..

.
Do you know which beach we’re talking about? What’s your favorite place for a little sun and sand on St. Thomas?

Read more Sunday Serenity Posts here:
Tropical Tips and More

See if you can find this beach on our St. Thomas Map

To see more island posts, check out our Island Blog Directory

June 5, 2015June 6, 2019

Staniel Cay Yacht Club

On Jimmy Buffett’s list of “10 great places for a Waterside Drink”, the Staniel Cay Yacht Club is a great place for just that, and a whole lot more…

The Staniel Cay Yacht Club & Marina (SCYC) is located on a small cay named Staniel Cay in the middle of the chain of stunning islands known as the Exuma Cays in the Bahamas. SCYC offers a full service marina, cottage and suite accommodations, a shop, and a bar/restaurant.

It’s one of the few places to gas up a boat in the area, so there are always boats, large and small, in the marina and boaters in the bar. The SCYC bar sits in the middle of the marina and is a colorful, eclectic, laid-back, nautically themed place to enjoy a few drinks and some laughs with visitors from around the world.

It’s well known by those who navigate the crystal clear Exuma waters, and frequented by a number of celebrities, such as Johnny Depp, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Tyler Perry and David Copperfield who have purchased islands (not just homes – islands in the Exuma Cays!) Jimmy Buffet,we were told, used to fly in on his seaplane.

The walls and ceilings contain a multitude of frayed sailing flags and memorabilia and pictures of the crew from the James Bond movie Thunderball hang close to the bar, as some scenes from the film were shot in the nearby Thunderball Grotto.

Although the entire resort emits a decidedly relaxed vibe, the SCYC bar is the place to be for nightlife on Staniel Cay.

As the evening gets later, the bar fills up and the chatter and laughter gets more and more lively.

From inside the bar, you can glimpse the huge boats harbored in the slips – a great view while savoring a blackened mahi sandwich from the lunch menu.

And there are plenty of drink options available from the local beers to specialty rum drinks, such as this frozen rum punch.

Additional seating is available outside, where you can enjoy the sunshine and crystal blue water.

Or take your drink to a rocking chair on the front porch and enjoy the sights and sounds of the busy marina.

Whatever you do, relax and enjoy every moment. It’s one of those places that you’ll take a mental escape to when life gets hectic back home. As a sign on the bar says,
“What’s your hurry? …you’re here”.

Have you enjoyed a “waterside drink” at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club bar? Tell us about it!

Thank you to the wonderful folks at Embrace Resort who sponsored our stay on Staniel Cay. The Embrace Resort is within walking distance of SCYC and an even shorter golf cart ride!

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

May 31, 2015August 5, 2019

Elbow Reef Lighthouse, Hope Town, Abaco

Standing tall over Hope Town Harbour, the Elbow Reef Lighthouse is an 89 ft tall candy cane colored lighthouse which was not originally welcomed by all…

You see, this Bahamian lighthouse, built in the 1860’s, was originally opposed by Elbow Cay residents as they felt it could put a damper on their shipwreck and salvage business opportunities. Of course, the desire for safe passage for vessels prevailed, and now the only opposition is to any talk of automating the lighthouse operations.

The Elbow Reef Lighthouse is a kerosene burning lighthouse and one of only two remaining beacons preserved from automation. The lighthouse keeper must manually wind up the apparatus every two hours so that the beacon can continue to be seen up to 17 miles away.

Visitors are welcome to visit Elbow Reef Lighthouse and climb the 101 steps to the top.
Admission is free and the lighthouse is open 9-5, 7 days a week.

Those that make it all the way to the top are treated to a beautiful view of Hope Town and the beautiful pastel homes and shops that line the pretty harbour.

Have you climbed the 101 steps to the top of the Elbow Reef Lighthouse? Tell us about it!

Find Elbow Reef Lighthouse on our Bahamas Map

To see more posts on the Bahamas and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

May 27, 2015June 6, 2019

Compass Cay, Exuma and its One Full Time Resident

Compass Cay, one of the small cays that make up the extraordinarily beautiful chain of islands called the Exuma Cays, is home to only one full time resident. Well two, if you count the island cat Lilly…

Compass Cay is perhaps best known as the location of friendly swimming sharks, but there are other reasons to spend time on this small and beautiful island with water as clear as a swimming pool – making boats appear to be floating on air, and one of them is to meet and chat with the only full time resident, Tucker Rolle.

During our recent stay at Embrace Resort on Staniel Cay, we had the chance to visit Compass Cay and meet this soft spoken, friendly man who works hard at making sure his guests are having a nice time. And as the word gets out about this magical place, there are certain to be more and more visitors making their way to Compass Cay.

Tucker has been the proprietor of Compass Cay since 1992, but has worked on Compass Cay farming it since he was 13 years old. At that time he lived in a small house on Sister Cay directly across from Compass, and would row over everyday to work on the cay.

Now, the Compass Cay Marina & Resort includes a protected marina with electricity, reverse osmosis water, laundry, shower service and a small store. Tucker say that the marina has accommodated a boat as large as 155 ft in the past, but most boats that dock here are 135 ft or less. Boating guests are told that they need to draw less than 6 ft. to come in at low tide. There is a $10 per person landing fee to come ashore at the marina – which was well worth it in our book. There are also a few homes available to rent on Compass Cay if you’d like to have more time to experience all that this cay has to offer.

In addition to marveling at the nurse sharks interacting with the many people that visit on day excursions, the island has other interests well worth exploring, such as the absolutely stunning Crescent Beach, just a short walk from the marina.

And if you have time, you might want to visit Rachel’s Bubble Bath, a natural lagoon fed by water from the sea breaking over an opening in the surrounding rocks, climb the 92 ft high Compass Peak for a great view of the nearby Exuma Land and Sea Park and visit the 12 other beautiful deserted beaches on the cay.

We also enjoyed checking out the colorful and amusing signs and memorabilia lining some of the trails and pathways through the island.

Before reluctantly leaving, we asked Tucker if there was anything else he would like us to mention in our post about Compass Cay. He said, “We try to keep Compass as natural as possible and do not want to see development on the lovely cay. That’s why we all say take only pictures and only leave footprints. We want to share Compass Cay with our guests and make them feel welcome and at home. Like our sign says, Welcome Home to Compass Cay.”

Have you been to Compass Cay? Tell us about it!

Find Compass Cay Marina and Crescent Beach on our Bahamas Map

You might also enjoy:
The Swimming Pigs of the Exuma Cays
Thunderball Grotto

To see more posts on the Bahamas and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory