Top Things To See & Do in the Caribbean Before You Get Too Old To Travel

WOW!  We thought it would be fun to put together a list entitled “Top Things To See & Do in the Caribbean (and Bahamas) Before You Get Too Old To Travel” based on our wonderful readers suggestions and you once again came through! Just as you did with the Ultimate Rum Therapy Beach Playlist, you sent in a LOT of excellent submissions and we’ve compiled these in a list by island. If we have already written a blog post on this adventure or location, we included a link for more info and pictures. I’m sure there are many more things worthy of a mention here, so if you see something you think should absolutely be on the list, comment below and we’ll update the list from time to time.

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So, sit back, prepare yourself for a little Tropication and see how many of these things you’ve already experienced or which ones you want to put on your own tropical “to do” list!


Anegada

Walk, swim and snorkel Loblolly Bay
Enjoy a rum beverage at Cow Wreck Beach Bar
Linger over a lobster dinner while barefoot on the beach

Anguilla
Walk Shoal Bay from one end to the other
Treat yourself to a stay at beautiful Cap Juluca on Maunday’s Bay
Enjoy the food at the restaurants of Sandy Ground, Anguilla – especially the Lobster Creole
Take a catamaran ride out to Prickly Pear Cay for the day

Antigua
Enjoy an amazing sunset from Shirley Heights
Take the Xtreme Circumnav Tour
Check out the parties and fun during Antigua Sailing Week
Spend the winter in Antigua, lying in hammock at Curtain Bluff or the beach at Pigeon Point

Bahamas
Experience the party at the Independence Day Celebration in Freeport, Grand Bahamas
Climb the Elbow Reef Lighthouse in Hope Town, Abaco to check out the view
Check out the amazing beauty of Treasure Cay Beach on Abaco
Enjoy an original Goombay Smash (or two!) at Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar on Green Turtle Cay
Swim with the pigs on Big Major Cay, Exuma Cays
Swim with the nurse sharks on Compass Cay

Barbados
Take the Mount Gay Rum Factory Tour

Bequia
Visit the Moonhole – or at least sail by it and take lots of pictures
Enjoy a Lobster Pizza at Mac’s
Visit the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary

Belize
Ambergris Caye – Swim with sharks at Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Spend a day line fishing, spear fishing, and snorkeling with manatee. Bring your catch to a private island where it’s cooked on the grill while you relax on hammocks or snorkel the mangroves looking at seahorses. Take a day trip to the mainland jungle to spot wildlife (including monkeys) and check out Mayan ruins.

Bonaire
Go diving – it’s beautiful!

Cayman Islands
Swim with the stingrays at Stingray City
Visit Rum Point, Grand Cayman
Watch the sunset on Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman

Culebra
Walk Flamenco Beach

Diving & Snorkeling
The Wall, St. Croix
Underwater snorkel trail at Buck Island, St. Croix and Trunk Bay, St. John
Dive Speyside Tobago
The Rhone, Salt Island
The Indians, BVI
Snorkel The Caves, Norman Island

Dominica
Hike to some of the spectacular waterfalls in the ultra-lush rainforest
Buy tasty fresh locally grown fruit and spices at some of the roadside stands

Guadeloupe
Snorkel or dive at the Jacques Cousteau Underwater Reserve
Take the rum factory tour on Marie-Galante (just south of Guadeloupe)

Grand Camanoe
Snorkel Diamond Reef

Grenada
Shop at the Spice Market and bring home some fresh spices

Happy Island
Order rum punches and visit with owner Janti

Jamaica
Ziplining
Take the Appleton Rum Factory Tour
Watch the sunrise from Blue Mountain Peak in Jamaica
Order Jerk Chicken, Pork or Fish at Scotchies
Climb Dunn River Falls or visit YS Falls
Horseback ride & swim at Chukka Cove
Spend a day at Floyd’s Pelican Bar, a bar 1/2 mile from shore
Jump off the cliffs at Rick’s Cafe, Negril

Jost Van Dyke
Have a Painkiller at the Soggy Dollar Bar
Enjoy some “stress free” time at Ivan’s
Enjoy a BBC at Gertrude’s
Go to the Bubbly Pool on JVD and then hit up Foxy’s Taboo after for a drink or two
Attend a Halloween, New Year’s Eve or Full Moon Party at Foxy’s and party ’till dawn
Bring home a bottle of Foxy’s Firewater Rum
Check out EVERY beach
bar on JVD
Explore Diamond Cay

Mexico
Swim with the Whale Sharks in Cancun
Ride a golf cart and enjoy some authentic Mexican food on the island of Holbox, Mexico
Explore, snorkel or dive some of the cenotes in the Yucatan Penninsula of Mexico
Explore the Tulum and Chichen Itza ruins
Zipline and snorkel (not at the same time!) in Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Monserrat
View the Soufrière Hills Volcano and be awed at the forces of nature

Mustique
See the mansions of the rich and famous
Go to Basil’s Beach Bar for the Mustique Blues Festival

Nevis
Visit Old Bath House Ruins and The Nisbet Plantation
Have lunch at the Montpelier Plantation and Beach
Just GO to Nevis!

Norman Island
Experience the Shot-Ski at Willy T’s
Snorkel The Caves
Take the plunge at the Willy T’s
Snorkel or dive The Indians (close to Norman Island)

Petit Tabac
Explore the island and imagine finding Jack Sparrow’s hidden stash of rum

Puerto Rico
Explore El Yunque
Walk the cobblestone streets of Old Town Puerto Rico
Tour the 400 year old Fort El Morro

Saba
Hike Mt. Scenery

Sailing
S
ail the British Virgin Islands and The Grenadines

Salt Island
Dive the Rhone

St. Barths
Enjoy a Cheeseburger at Le Select
Find the rhum at R. St. Barths and the infused rhum’s at M’Bolo

St. Croix
Bioluminescent Tour in a Glass Bottomed Kayak
Visit St George Village Botanical Gardens
Lyming by Sandy Point and Rainbow Beach on a Sunday
Take the Cruzan Rum Factory Tour and enjoy a delicious Cruzan Rum cocktail at the end
Spend a day on beautiful Cane Bay Beach
Be the first person in the U.S. to see the sunrise at Point Udall
Watch the sunset from Coconuts on the Beach
MontPellier Domino Club to see the drinking pigs and enjoy some Mamma Wanna and the best bushwacker on island
Snorkel the underwater trail at Buck Island
Dive the Wall by Cane Bay Beach and dive the Frederiksted Pier
Find seahorses at Frederiksted Pier
Check out the grounds at Mount Washington Plantation
Sail to Buck Island and explore for the day

St. John
Take pictures at the picturesque overlook of Trunk Bay
Snorkel the underwater trail at Trunk Bay
Kayak with a friend to a secret pocket beach
Try to see every beautiful beach on St. John
Enjoy some Key Lime Pie

St. Kitts
Explore Brimstone Hill
Explore Plantation Homes
Hit the Shiggidy Shack and Reggae Beach Bar & Grill for sun, fun and rum!

St. Lucia
Eat lunch between the Pitons at Hotel Chocolate
Stay at Jade Mountain Resort and stare at the Pitons in the comfort of your own in room pool
Snorkel/Scuba between the Pitons

St. Maarten/St. Martin
Watch the planes land right over your head while enjoying a rum punch at Sunset Bar & Grill, Maho Bay
Enjoy a drink while watching the bridge go up and the yachts go through at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club
Go shopping in Marigot at the outdoor market and in Philipsburg for watches, diamonds and Guavaberry Rum
Eat fanstastic French pastries at Sarafina’s Bakery
Walk Orient Beach from one end to the other
Drive, then hike to the top of Pic Paradis

St. Thomas
Spend the day at Magens Bay
Take the skyride up and enjoy the view of Charlotte Amalie and a Bushwacker

St. Vincent
Visit Wallilabou and visit the filming site of Pirates of the Caribbean

Tobago Cays
Snorkel with the turtles at the Tobago Cay Turtle Sanctuary

Tortola

Visit with Winston at the Nature Boy Beach Bar on Long Bay Beach
Float in the Limin’ House pool while sipping Sebastian’s Rum and stare at the view
Go to a Full Moon Party at the Bomba Shack AND Trellis Bay
Visit the Callwood Rum Distillery in Cane Garden Bay
Watch the sunset from BananaKeet Cafe

Turks and Caicos
Have a few drinks at Jack’s Shack, Grand Turk
Boogaloo’s Conch Shack, Providenciales
Go Bone Fishing

Vieques
Kayak the Bioluminescent Bay

Virgin Gorda
Spend lots of time exploring The Baths

Check out our Blog Directory by Island for even more pictures and island adventures!

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

The Fight Against The Bite

 Unfortunately insects like the tropics too. Mosquitos, No-See-Ums (sand fleas), ticks and more would love to make you their next tropical treat. And equally unfortunate is the fact that some folks just seem to be insect – especially mosquito – magnets. Studies show that approximately 20% of people are considered “high attractor types”. If the prospect of spending your well deserved time in paradise swatting and itching and returning with what appears to be a horrible case of the chicken pox actually makes you think twice about spending time on a beautiful beach dressed in anything other than a full body suit, here are a few tips on how to avoid becoming insect bait.

Anguilla2 - copyrightFirst of all, whether you are a “high attractor type” or not, everyone should take steps to protect themselves from insect and bug bites as they can, at the very least, cause discomfort and allergic reactions and far worse – insects are carriers of some very nasty diseases such as the West Nile Virus, malaria and dengue fever. Even if you are not prone to getting munched on, you should follow these important tips:

1. Either avoid being outside during peak mosquito and other insect hours – dusk to dawn, or take extra precautions such as covering up with more clothing and being vigilant in using a repellent.

2. Wear lighter clothing as mosquitos are apparently attracted to darker colors.

3. If your accommodations do not have screened windows, use a mosquito net while sleeping.

4. Avoid wearing perfumes or any products containing a fragrance.

What about bug repellent?
Experts believe at this time that the most effective ingredient in bug repellent is DEET and of course, the products with the highest concentration of DEET provide the most protection. But, some people are very sensitive or allergic to DEET and others are concerned about its potential toxicity.

Are there any alternatives to DEET? According to the CDC, other ingredients with good repellent value are: picaridin (KBR 3023), Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus/PMD, or IR3535. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely on all products to maximize efficiency and minimize side effects.

Are there more natural alternatives?
There are quite a few natural alternatives that are beginning to show promise in the fight against the bite. These include:

Essential Oils, such as citronella and eucalyptus

Neem (Azadirachta indica) mixed with coconut oil

Soybean oil-based repellents such as Bite Blocker

Mosquito Milk containing Lemon Grass

Here is a recipe for a Make It Yourself Natural Bug Repellent found on NYR Natural News:
Fill a small (4 oz.)spray bottle with:
1.5 oz. water
1.5 oz. vodka
15 drops citronella essential oil
15 drops eucalyptus oil
5 drops lemon grass
5 drops lavender
Shake the bottle before each use and spray on skin and clothing as necessary (requires more frequent application, at least every 2 hours)

And lastly these foods and supplements have shown some promise as well:

Garlic – some studies have shown that ingesting more garlic may increase your repellent ability, and that rubbing it on your skin may be even more effective, although it may repel more than mosquitos!

Vitamin B-1 – increasing the amount of vitamin B-1 in your diet for several weeks prior to your vacation is sworn to work by some.

As with all medications and supplements, be sure to check with your physician before trying anything new. And, most importantly, be prepared and find out what works for you before your next tropical escape to prevent disease, discomfort, allergic reactions and returning from vacation with a terrific tan, but legs that look like a connect the dots game!

Mosquito BitesHave you found some other effective way to prevent mosquitos, no-see-ums and other insects from making a meal out of you? If so, we’d love to hear them!

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

Happy Island, The Grenadines

How can you not be happy at Happy Island? A work in progress built in a shallow area in Clifton Harbour, Union Island – part of the Grenadines chain, this colorful oasis is challenging to reach – but well worth it.

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The owner/builder, Janti Ramage, built this unique place, which is also his residence, out of conch shells found in the area.

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A shallow bottomed boat is needed to get to Happy Island as it sits on a reef in just a few feet of water.

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Visitors arriving from Palm Island

We visited Happy Island during a sail on the Daimant (Island Windjammers) which made a stop in Clifton Harbour during our sail and dinghied guests to Happy Island for an afternoon of fun.

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Sand, Palms and the Happy Island Bar

Janti is quite the host and loves to visit with and show guests the entire compound which now includes a separate apartment which he resides in.

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Janti giving a tour of Happy Island

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View of Clifton Harbour and Union Island from Happy Island

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We ordered the Happy Island Rum Punch

Happy-Island-7-O
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Rum with a view of Clifton Harbour

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Such a unique experience and good rum punch topped off with a show by kiteboarders in Clifton Harbour sailing right over Happy Island.
Awesome.

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Have you been to Happy Island?

To find out more, connect with Janti and Happy Island:

Facebook – Happy Island, The Grenadines
Or by email: [email protected]

Find Happy Island on our St. Vincent and the Grenadines Map

To see more posts on The Grenadines and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

 

Copyright©Rum Therapy Beaches, Bars & More, Tropical Travel Guide, 2013
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC