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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.

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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…

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And this..

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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

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Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, St. Thomas

Feel like you belong –
at Bolongo Bay Beach Resort…

This year, Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, on the south shore of St. Thomas, is celebrating it’s 40th Anniversary. Owned and run by the Doumeng family, this casual and comfortable resort sits on 1,000 feet of sandy beach and boasts 62 beachfront and oceanview rooms.

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The story of how the Doumeng family ended up in St. Thomas is an interesting one. Dick Doumeng was a watch salesman in Long Island in 1968 when he took his family on vacation to Puerto Rico. During a day trip to St. Thomas, they fell in love with the island. The Doumeng’s then did what many of us only dream of doing. Dick quit his job, the family sold everything and they moved to the US Virgin Islands! The Doumeng’s eventually took over the management of Bolongo Bay Resort in 1974 when it was just a small 36 room hotel. Over time they transformed Bolongo into one of the first beachfront resorts on the island.

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Fast forward a few decades and the reins have been passed to Dick’s sons Richard and Paul, along with their wives Katarina and Colleen. We had the pleasure of staying at Bolongo Bay recently and met with Richard, Katarina and Colleen. They, along with other family members and their very pleasant staff (including 3 that have been with Bolongo the entire 40 years!), take pride in making their guests feel like family too. It’s easy to see why there’s a high percentage of return guests at Bolongo!

To celebrate their 40th Anniversary, Bolongo is offering special anniversary package rates, 40 free room nights through activities at the resort and more! Be sure to check the Bolongo Bay website for more information.

These are just some of the  highlights of our stay at Bolongo.

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A banner at the front desk welcomed, by name, all of the guests arriving that day.

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We were escorted to our room which was just steps away from the beach, comfortable and nicely sized.

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A in-room welcome back package is provided for return guests!

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We enjoyed our morning coffee on the deck with a beautiful view of the bay.

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The Bolongo Bay swimming pool offers a beach view, lots of lounge chairs and a swim up bar.

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There are comfortable areas to relax with friends and enjoy the view.

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Bolongo guests have complimentary and unlimited use of non-motorized water sports such as kayaks, paddle boards, Hobie Cats, aqua tricycles, swim mats, snorkel gear and paddle boats.

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Not to be missed – the weekly snorkel rum hunt, where bottles of rum are hidden in the bay and guests snorkel to find it. If you find it – you keep it!

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We enjoyed fine dining  at the Lobster Grille

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Eggs Benedict with grilled pineapple

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Jerk Pork Tostadas

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and Lobster Arancini. Mmmm…

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And spent plenty of time  at Iggies – a fun and lively on-site beach bar featuring tasty food, drinks and live music – 7 nights a week!

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Awaiting a taste of Iggies infamous Voodoo Juice poured with skill by our bartender “Mr. Awesome”.

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Happy Hour specials include Rum Punch made with Cruzan Rum.

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We relaxed in the sun in colorful chairs on the beach, and played a little volleyball and cornhole in the sand.

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Unfortunately we weren’t there for Carnival Night – held every Wednesday at Iggies, but hear it’s a favorite evening of entertainment for guests and locals alike. Carnival Night features a buffet of Caribbean specialties, live music, Moko Jumbi Stilt Dancers, a conga line, dance contest and a fiery finale that includes flame eating and glass dancing.

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A lovely place for a wedding on the beach. Some guests have also chosen to get married aboard Bolongo Bay’s beautiful 53 foot catamaran – Heavenly Days.

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We were treated to a lovely sunset harbor cocktail cruise on Heavenly Days, which also offers a day sail to the island of St. John and a half day trip to Turtle Cove to snorkel with the turtles.

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During our sunset sail, the captain masterfully maneuvered the cat along the coastline, into Charlotte Amalie and around Water Island. The crew gave us some history of the area while pampering us with refreshing cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres.

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The sunset was spectacular that evening,

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…and the lights of the resort were reflected in the waters of the bay upon our return.

On our last night at Bolongo, after spending some time enjoying the live music at Iggies, we savored the cool ocean breeze and moonlight from one of the hammocks near the beach.

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Perfect.

Bolongo Bay offers something for all ages and travelers. It’s a comfortable, casual and friendly resort that offers great travel deals and a lot of amenities for its guests. Choose a room only rate or the popular all-inclusive plan that includes food and beverages. The convenient location between Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook makes it ideal for island exploration!


To find out more about Bolongo Bay Resort, be sure to visit their website, join them on their Facebook page, or contact them directly:

Bolongo Bay Beach Resort
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands 00802
Reservations: (800) 524-4746
[email protected]

Oh – and if you’re a US resident, you don’t need a passport to get to Bolongo!


Find Bolongo Bay Beach Resort and Iggies on our St. Thomas Map


To see more posts on St. Thomas and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

 

Copyright©Rum Therapy Beaches, Bars & More, Tropical Travel Guide, 2013, 2014
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

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What to See and Do in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

Ah, Charlotte Amalie. The capital and largest city of the US Virgin Islands receives millions of visitors every year, many from the cruise ships that dock in the deep water bay that Charlotte Amalie surrounds.

With all of those visitors, Charlotte Amalie was bound to grow and develop with services of interest to tourists. So, what are some of the fun things to see and do if you have time to explore this bustling island city?

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Aerial view of Charlotte Amalie

The following are a few of the things that we’ve experienced and enjoyed while visiting Charlotte Amalie. Feel free to add highlights from your visits in a comment at the end of the post.

Duty Free Shopping

Duty free shops line many of the streets in the Waterfront area of Charlotte Amalie as well as Yacht Haven Grande and Havensight (right next to the cruise ship dock). St. Thomas offers one of the largest duty free quotas to US citizens in the Caribbean, so if you’re in the market for great bargains on items such as china, perfume, watches, cameras, fine jewelry, liquors and other spirits, island goods, and arts and crafts, this may be the place to get them.

You can walk from Havensight to Yacht Haven Grande easily. There is also a pathway from Yacht Haven Grande all the way around to the Waterfront shops, but it is a pretty good walk. If it’s very hot or you are short on time, you might consider getting a taxi.

Havensight
Havensight is a large area just off of the cruise ship dock that consists of shops, bars and restaurants. Many of the shops here contain souvenir type items, although there are also some high-end jewelry shops.

Yacht Haven Grande
Yacht Haven Grande is an area just north of Havensight that houses some luxury shops such as Gucci and Louis Vitton. There are also a couple of nicer restaurants and yacht services. It’s areat place to grab a cold drink and check out the large yachts that dock here.

Charlotte Amalie Waterfront
North and west of Yacht Haven Grande is the Waterfront area of Charlotte Amalie. This area consists of several streets, Waterfront (Veterans), Front Street and Back Street and are all lined with a variety of shops, restaurants and bars. Check out the Vendor’s Plaza (west of  Ft. Christian) Monday – Saturday for a variety of souvenirs, hair braiding and local food.

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Food and Drink

You can find everything from fast food to fine dining and everything in-between in Charlotte Amalie. Although we have yet to sample some of the higher end restaurants, here are a few places we’ve stopped at and enjoyed. Be sure to check our interactive St. Thomas Map to find the locations of the places listed here.

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Big Kahuna Rum Shack on the Waterfront.
Great place to grab a sandwich, salad, wrap or flatbread and a cold drink and sit on the patio which overlooks the harbor.

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Bones Rum, also on the Waterfront.
Order one of their tasty offerings, such as a Bones on the Beach, Kiss of Passion or Twist of Luck and add as much – or as little Bones Rum as  you’d like! Be sure to purchase a bottle and bring it home. Right now the only place to purchase Bones Rum is at the shop in Charlotte Amalie.

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Fat Turtle in Yacht Haven Grande.
We enjoyed a tasty salad and beverages while sitting on the deck overlooking the yachts.

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da Lime in da Coconut
Great “smoothie” place in Yacht Haven Grande. Leave the rum out for the little ones, or add the rum for a really tasty frozen concoction. We ordered their signature smoothie da Lime in da Coconut, which consisted of pineapple and coconut with a hint of lime…and a shot of Cruzan rum. Very tasty and cold on a hot day.

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Mojo’s in Havensight
A fun little bar that manages to feel a bit tropical, despite the fact it’s in the parking lot at Havensight. Swings for chairs and some tasty Cruzan rum drinks. We enjoyed a Mojo Wacker.


Other Things To Do

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Hot and tired after a day of shopping in the Waterfront area? Magic Ice on the Waterfront will give you a temporary “body freeze” after entering an ice palace with sculptures, lighting, an ice slide for the little ones and an ice cold shot of Cruzan for the big kids.

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Paradise Point Skyride
Want to see a spectacular view of Charlotte Amalie while enjoying the best Bushwacker’s around? Head to Havensight to board the skyride to the top of Paradise Point. You’ll be treated to a spectacular view, some shopping and really great Bushwacker’s. Just be careful. They’re potent!

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The Closest Beaches

There aren’t any good sandy beaches in Charlotte Amalie but if you just have to get your toes in the sand and only have a short amount of time, there are several options. A 5 minute water ferry from Crown Bay (just north of Water Island) can get you over to Water Island where you can spend time on beautiful Honeymoon Beach.

Lindbergh Bay or Bolongo Bay on St. Thomas are two other options, but are farther away (see our interactive map). Both have beach bars and would be a nice place to hang out for several hours.

What else have you experienced and enjoyed in Charlotte Amalie?

 

Find these attractions on our St. Thomas Map

 

To see more posts on St. Thomas and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

 

Copyright©Rum Therapy Beaches, Bars & More, Tropical Travel Guide, 2014
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

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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

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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
Sail 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

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Magic Ice, St. Thomas

We don’t usually associate freezing temperatures with a tropical vacation, but on our recent trip to St. Thomas we experienced just that – and enjoyed it!

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Located on the Waterfront in downtown Charlotte Amalie (just down from Bones Rum and Big Kahuna Rum Shack), Magic Ice might be a fun way to escape the tropical heat while checking out some intricate ice sculptures and an ice bar!

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Once you enter the lobby of Magic Ice, you are given a huge parka with a fur rimmed hood, velcro leg warmers in case you show up in shorts and mittens.

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After suiting up in our arctic gear, our guide led us into the “cold room” filled with magical ice sculptures backlit with a variety of beautiful colors.

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When we visited, the sculptures included a myriad of sea creatures, an ice throne that you could sit in, an ice slide for the young or young at heart and various island and pirate themed pieces, such as this skull and crossbones.

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New ice sculptures are created every six months, when ice artists from all over the globe are flown in to create a new gallery of ice art.

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At the end of the ice room we came across the ice bar complete with a great variety of Cruzan Rums and were treated to our choice of a VERY COLD shot of rum…yum…

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After about 20 minutes, we exited the ice room, got back in to our tropical attire and left cooler and refreshed to go explore more of the waterfront in Charlotte Amalie.

Visit their website to find out more about Magic Ice, St. Thomas

Find Magic Ice on our St. Thomas Map

To see more posts on St. Thomas 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

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Big Kahuna Rum Shack

Big Kahuna Rum Shack, a bar with funky beach and surf decor is located right on the downtown waterfront in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.

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Big Kahuna is a great place to stop and cool off after a day of shopping or exploring Charlotte Amalie.

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Choose from a selection of a rums,

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Ice cold beer,

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or a variety of cold or frozen island drinks.

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We tried a Frozen Rum Runner with a Float the Boat – an extra shot of rum for a buck.

In addition, Big Kahuna offers a good selection of eats as well as their exclusive and homemade Love Juice – an infusion of blueberries, strawberries and pineapple in vodka, that they “promise” will be the best shot or drink you’ve ever tried.

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 Order a cold one and sit on the patio under an umbrella while watching the activity in beautiful Charlotte Amalie Harbor. We’ll be back Big Kahuna and next time we’ll have to give that Love Juice a try…

Find Big Kahuna Rum Shack on our St. Thomas Map


To see more posts on St. Thomas 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

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Duffy’s Love Shack, St. Thomas

In a parking lot in Red Hook, St. Thomas sits a bar named Duffy’s Love Shack. Pretty much the size of a shack – albeit a nice shack, this little bar’s got itself some character.

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Dubbed the  coolest parking lot bar in the Caribbean, and with a drink menu that includes Voo Doo You Doo, The Shark Tank, Wacky Pineapple, Thar She Blows, Booty Call and Jaws, we thought we must spend some time at Duffy’s doing a bit of research.

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Duffy’s used to be located in an alleyway in Drakes Passage in Charlotte Amalie until a hurricane hurled a 40′ sailboat into the bar in 1995. Duffy’s was later rebuilt in it’s current location in Red Hook.

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Bartender putting the finishing touches (a plastic shark) on a Shark Tank – a 64 oz. concoction of 5 rums, 3 tropical liqueurs – ouch!

It was Happy Hour when we arrived and being the cheapskates we are, we opted for the Cruzan Rum drinks that were a buck fifty each and quite tasty with some stiff pours!

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We ordered some Jerk Chicken Quesadillas and the Mountaintop Greens – both dishes were very good.

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The conversation was fun and easy with some locals at the bar and the bartenders. Great vibe, good food and tasty drinks – Duffy’s is the only parking lot bar we’ve ever been to in the Caribbean, but we still think it’s gotta be the coolest...

To find out more about Duffy’s, check out their cool website here:
Duffy’s Love Shack

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.

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Magens Bay, St. Thomas

Magens Bay is undeniably the best known beach on St. Thomas, and for good reason. With a mile of soft white sand, calm protected surf and tons of amenities, visitors to St. Thomas flock to the area to frolic in the beautiful turquoise water.

Megans BayAccess: There is a large parking lot close to the beach. Taxi service is readily available. Entrance and parking fee paid at the front gate.
Megans Bay 9 Megans Bay 5Beach: one mile of soft white sand. Great for swimming with gentle sandy access and usually calm surf. Great walking beach.

Megans Bay 4Amenities: This beach has them all. Lifeguards, beach chair rental, food & beverage, restrooms, gift shop, picnic tables, camping area and more.

Megans Bay 6Recommended for: swimming, walking, people watching, good beach for children and for those who like busy, active beaches with lots of amenities.

Megans Bay 7 (a)Tip: if you’d like to experience the beauty of Magens Bay at a quieter and less crowded time, arrive earlier in the morning (when we took these pictures) or later in the afternoon after many of the day passengers have departed.

Megans Bay 8Overlook of beautiful Magens Bay

Click for more information on Magens Bay

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

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Cruzan Rum Desserts at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas

As if we hadn’t already had a week full of wonderful experiences and meeting lots of new folks, we got invited by William Anthony Torrillo, who had become a friend of ours on Facebook, to come to the Ritz-Carlton during our last night on St. Thomas to sample some amazing Cruzan Rum Desserts created by Pastry Chef  Kunal Chakrabarti.

Many of you may know William through his amazing island photography that can be found on his website Old Mango – Guide to the Islands. William is also a fantastic chef and even though Chef Kunal was off the night we came, William prepared the Rum Desserts for us.

The Ritz-Carlton is a gorgeous property and we got there early just to look around. The grounds were beautiful and the staff extremely accommodating.  At 8 p.m. we headed over to Great Bay Lounge to begin our Cruzan Rum Dessert experience.

William met us in the lounge with a beautiful welcome platter that included chocolate covered strawberries,  a french meringue cookie and Cruzan Single Barrel Rum…


The second course was a Cruzan Rum Crème Brûlée tasting and included three different Brûlée’s. We were instructed to eat them left to right as the last one had the strongest taste. The three Brûlée’s were:

1. Cruzan Vanilla Rum with Coconut Macaroon
2. Cruzan Mango Rum with Strawberry
3. Cruzan Black Strap Rum with chocolate cake crumble and homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

Well, the Brûlée’s were so tasty that if we weren’t in such a fine establishment, we may have been tempted to pick up the plates and lick them clean, but we remained on our best behavior. After allowing us to let the Brûlée’s settle in, William brought out one last delectable plate. This one was entitled the Cruzan Rum Beignet Plate and consisted of three Coconut filled Beignets with Cruzan Coconut Rum Sauce and a Frappe Shooter made with coffee, espresso, half and half, and  dash of Kahlua.


We enjoyed every moment and taste of the evening and thank William, The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas, Chef Kunal and of course Cruzan Rum for such a wonderful experience. If you are staying on St. Thomas, I’d highly recommend going to the Ritz-Carlton to sample the delicious Cruzan Rum Desserts for yourself!!
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Bushwacker


Bushwacker’s. Oh my. I sampled my first Bushwacker atop Paradise Point in St. Thomas many, many years ago and was pretty much hooked. I mean, who wouldn’t be? Chocolate, rum and the amazing overlook of Charlotte Amalie – wow, paradise.
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Our most recent tropical encounter with the Bushwacker took place at Ivan’s Stress Free Bar on White Bay, Jost Van Dyke. Not only do they make a mean Bushwacker, but they will also add a floater of rum on the top if requested. Not that you need that extra floater, mind you. A Bushwacker without the floater can knock you on your bum, because in addition to that wonderful chocolate and rum, Bushwackers contain vodka, Kahlua, Amaretto and Bailey’s – oh, and don’t forget a little coconut cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg! So like our recipe below aptly describes it, if you want a virgin Bushwacker – you might as well just suck on ice!

This recipe will make about 3 tall glasses depending on the amount of ice used. We like them thick and frozen, so we blend about 3 cups of ice with this recipe. Enjoy – but watch out! These might taste like a milkshake but they are potent!

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Print Recipe

Bushwacker

With the taste of chocolate, rum, Kahlua and Amaretto - it's definitely a smooth and creamy adult milkshake!
Course: Drinks
Servings: 3
Author: Rum Therapy

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Drizzle chocolate syrup in a glass.
  • Combine all ingredients (except the whipped cream and nutmeg) in a blender, blend with ice, pour in the glass.
  • Add a dollop of whipped cream, sprinkle with nutmeg, add a biodegradeable straw and enjoy!

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