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Beloved St. John Captain Sets Sail on His Final Voyage

Beloved St. John Captain Sets Sail on His Final Voyage 1

Well, the St. John Community received some heavy news over the weekend.  A Love City Legend, an iconic presence, an incredibly talented and knowledgeable mariner and all around charismatic character has set sail for his final destination.  After decades of exploration,  Captain Phil Chalker left this world on Friday afternoon in a facility in Atlanta with his island daughter by his side and voice mail messages from his St. John family playing in the background.

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Caribbean Cocktails at Home – The Rum Punch

Caribbean Cocktails at Home - The Rum Punch 2

We all know it.  We all love it.  And we have all had some very different variations of it in our travels.  I personally, have made Rum Punch according to the staple recipes of five or six different establishments on St. John.  Not one of them is the same but all are similar in their exploration of tropical juices, Cruzan flavored rum and, for many, the simultaneous splash of bright red Grenadine that gives the concoction its notable pink hue.  Some places add fresh nutmeg.  Some a dark rum float.  But all of them have a very similar outcome.  A “goes down too easy” fruit rum libation that is sure to please anyone who enjoys a good easy going tropical cocktail.

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Turtle Alert! A Busy Nesting Season on St. John

Turtle Alert! A Busy Nesting Season on St. John 3

Friends of Virgin Islands National Park turtle team has been busy…As have the turtles of St. John.  HA!  This non-profit coordinated, National Park partnered, volunteer driven Sea Turtle Program aims to protect sea turtle nests, facilitate research projects and spread awareness of sea turtle preservation in the Virgin Islands.  And this nesting season, they have had their work, gratefully, cut out for them!

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Explore St. Croix For the Day!

Explore St. Croix For the Day! 5

Good Morning, Good Morning!  I hope you all had a lovely weekend and are staying safe, happy and healthy out there in the world 🙂  A lot of folks have recently asked about going to St. Croix for the day.  Well, during normal times of year, I might not necessarily recommend the ferry…Especially if you have a tendency to get a little woozy on the water!  But, during these beautiful months of the year where the water is calm and the breezes have subsided, The Native Son Ferry to St. Croix is a lovely option for a day trip from St. Thomas!

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Caribbean Cocktails at Home: Dark N Stormy

Caribbean Cocktails at Home: Dark N Stormy 6

Good Morning, Good Morning!  Today, we dive deep into the Dark n Stormy story (and recipe!).  A drink that looks like a sailor’s worst nightmares but tastes like a spicy rum infused daydream.  Truth be told, its origins lie in a shipwreck that spiraled into the founding of an island based rum that we all know and love!

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Island Update: Off Season has Arrived on St. John

Island Update: Off Season has Arrived on St. John 8

The beginning of September has brought with it a stillness to St. John.   The crowds have finally subsided and many restaurants have closed for some well deserved time off for their staffers at this point.  Many boats have retreated from the waters surrounding St. John for the hurricane season months.  But those who remain are enjoying crystal clear and calm waters.  And the island remains well hydrated and popping with lush, green foliage.  So I wanted to take a moment to share a few of those updates and photos with you!

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Caribbean Cocktails at Home: Lime in the Coconut

Caribbean Cocktails at Home: Lime in the Coconut 9

Well, yesterday was World Coconut Day!  What would we do without these brilliant acts of nature?  No Hawaiian Tropics smells when you open your REEF SAFE sunscreen.  No rich and creamy curry broths.  No natural elixir of electrolytes.  No multi-faceted, cure all oil.  But, most importantly, MANY of our favorite island cocktails would be without that sweet and creamy finish that is attributed to the delicious cream of the coconut.  So, today, to honor the coconuts, I thought we might put a lime in it and “drink ’em bot’ togedder” 🙂

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A Daily Dose of St. John

A Daily Dose of St. John 10

Good Morning!  I don’t know about you, but when I’m away from home on St. John, I often feel the need to breathe in the air (and the scenery) there.  There are a ton of webcams that I have highlighted in the past.  And those will sometimes do the trick.  However, did you know that there is a way to watch a live stream of the sunset from different viewpoints around St. John every night of the week?

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