Papaya, mango, rum and ice cream – what’s not to like about this summer dessert drink? This tasty concoction reminds me of the great fresh fruit (and rum!) that we enjoyed in Jamaica. We just barely blended the papaya, mango and rum so that there were still small chunks of papaya – but you can blend it longer if you want a creamier mix.
*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes!
Cruz Bay is the active, yet laid back main town and port of St. John, US Virgin Islands. Here you will find most of the islands stores and restaurants and visitor services such as taxis and car rentals.
Passenger ferries from either Charlotte Amalie or Red Hook on St. Thomas arrive and depart from the dock in Cruz Bay, bringing many people to the island throughout the day. See ferry schedules here.Many people head directly for one of St. John’s gorgeous beaches and spend very little time in Cruz Bay,but if you have the time, there are many great things to experiencerighthere.
We’ve had the pleasure of visiting Cruz Bay quite a few times, and although we’ve yet to experience all that this fun & funky town has to offer, we’ve listed a few of our favorite attractions to date.Feel free to leave a comment below with some of your favorite things to see and do while visiting Cruz Bay, St. John.
We’ve highlighted a few of our favorite stops (so far) on the map above.
Upon arrival at the ferry dock, we usually head straight for the wonderful smelling St. John Spice, which can be found on the second floor of the building just to the right as you leave the dock.
Here you can find all sorts of spices, Cruz Bay Grill Rub, coffee, local cookbooks, island gifts, and island wear. St. John Spice alsohas a webcam that gives a real time view of the ferry dock and beautiful Cruz Bay.Tell your family and friends to watch for youas you enjoy yourself in paradise!
If you’ve worked up a thirst (or appetite) already, there are three great beach bar/restaurants right at the waters edge. High Tide, Joe’s Rum Hut and The Beach Bar all offer slightly different menus and drinks and all are great places to hang out, chat with locals and visitors, listen to some live music and admire the scenery.
From there we always try to make a stop at the Pink Papaya, a Caribbean Style Gallery that specializes in unique and unusual Caribbean style gifts including fine painting and jewelry from local artists.
A little more walking and we’re usually ready for a Love City Smoothie from Our Market Smoothies. Cognac, Passionfruit, Strawberry and Rum – cold and delicious!
Want information on St. John National Parks? After all, much of this beautiful island has been designated as a National Park. Find out how to explore it at the National Park Service Visitor Center.
More shopping? No problem! Mongoose Junction on north side of Cruz Bay is a beautiful complex of intimate shops, restaurants and services.A few of our favorites here are:
Bajo el SolArt Gallery– featuring the works of several local artists.
The Tap Room – have you heard of St. John Brewers? Check out some of the tasty local beer crafted by Kevin and Cheech at this Island Microbrewery & Brew Pub.
Sun Dog Cafe – casual dining and a really good Sunday Brunch
Arawak Expeditions – looking for adventure? Check out their kayak, paddleboard, fly fish and snorkel expeditions!
Still have more time to explore? Here are a few more places that are on our Cruz Bay to-do list:
The Elaine Ione Sprauve Library & Museum – Find a great deal of information on St. John, the other American and British Virgin Islands and the Caribbean in general.
Quiet Mon’ Pub – the best Island Irish Pub around!
All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit. Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC
At last – BBQ and picnic season is almost here! Looking for some new and rummy recipes for the adults at an upcoming get together? We’ve listed just a few delicious ideas below. For some delicious rum drinks to go along with these tasty treats, be sure to check out our Rum Recipes by Category and Rum Recipe Picture Directory.
Watermelon Rum Freeze
Cold, refreshing and fruity – with a punch of rum of course! Make it in large batches and store it in the refrigerator for a cold summer party beverage! Watermelon Rum Freeze Recipe
Piña ColadaCupcakes
Ahhh….Piña Coladas. The taste simply transports us back to the islands. With only 1/4 c. rum in the recipe, these tasty cupcakes don’t pack quite as much punch as the actual cocktail, but that means you can probably enjoy them anytime! Piña Colada Cupcake Recipe
Rum Glazed Spare Ribs
A dark rum creates a delectable glaze for these spare ribs, which start cooking in the oven and finish off on the grill. Rum Glazed Spare Rib Recipe
Mojito Jello Shots
Although not the easiest to put together, these little works of art are really yummy too. Don’t have enough time to make something this fancy? No problem – just pour into the plastic shot glasses – not quite as beautiful a presentation, but just as tasty. Mojito Jello Shot Recipe
Dirty Pirate Poptails
Yum. These adult treats are cold, refreshing and rumlicious. Just right for a hot summer day. Dirty Pirate Poptail Recipe
Frozen Mojito Pie
And last – but certainly not least! Frozen Mojito Pie – my, oh my, oh my.I should’ve made two right off the bat.Creamy and cool with a refreshing taste of lime. Frozen Mojito Pie Recipe
As pretty as a tropical sunrise, this rum cocktail is a refreshing choice of beverage – even for brunch!
Tropical Sunrise (makes one)
1-1/2 oz. silver rum 1/4 c. pineapple juice 1/4 c. orange juice 1 oz. triple sec 1 oz. grenadine orange slice and cherry for garnish
Shake rum, juices and triple sec over ice.Fill serving glass 1/2 full of ice and add grenadine. Strain remaining ingredients slowly into the serving glass. Garnish with a slice of orange and a cherry. Gently stir before serving.
Toasting the evening at CocoMaya, a beautiful restaurant and bar in Virgin Gorda…
Although we love re-visiting some of our favorite places in the islands, we also love to find and experience new ones – and then share them with you!
To see more posts on Virgin Gorda and other islands, check out ourIsland Blog Directory.
We’d read just a little bit about a new restaurant/bar on Virgin Gorda and during our last BVI visit, we were able to stop and experience CocoMaya.
Established in 2011 and not far from Spanish Town, we found CocoMayato be a real treat.We were able to spend one evening there and enjoyed relaxing in the outdoor lounge with our toes in the sand around the fire pit.
CocoMaya’s outdoor lounge is an excellent place to meet up with friends or just cozy up on a lounge chair for two around the fire.
CocoMaya’s decor is appealing and relaxing and blends right in with the tropical surroundings.
Wonderful aromas were wafting from the dining area and if we didn’t already have dinner planned upon our return to the boat, we would have enjoyed one of their menu offerings in the open air dining room with a beautiful view of the beach and sunset.
Although we certainly didn’t mind just spending time on a lounge chair for two on the beach with a soft tropical breeze and the warmth of the fire on our toes…
To find out more about CocoMaya Restaurant and Bar:
All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit. Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC
Dinghy’s Beach Bar & Grill, located on beautiful Honeymoon Beach, Water Island is only 10 minute ferry ride from St. Thomas, but feels a world away from the hustle and bustle.
To get to Water Island, you can catch a ferry in Crown Bay, St. Thomas right next to a restaurant/bar called Tickles. Tickets are $10 round trip and the trip takes only about 10 minutes.
Water Island is the smallest of the US Virgin Islands and has a population of around 200. One of the main attractions on Water Island is beautiful Honeymoon Beach which can be reached by an uphill hike from the ferry dock, a golf cart (which can be rented for the day) or if visiting Dinghy’s Beach Bar & Grill, you might be able to catch their safari ride to and from the dock.
You’re treated to a beautiful view of Honeymoon Beach when you reach the overlook. Since we’d caught a mid-morning (10:00a.m.) ferry to Water Island, Honeymoon Beach was still relatively quiet.
The Dinghy’s safari took us down the hill and dropped us off at Dinghy’s Beach Bar & Grill, a fun looking place filled with bright colors and colorful art. Dinghy’s is owned by Giorgio and Lisa, an energetic and super friendly couple who purchased what was then Joe’s Beach Bar in April 2013.
At that time, it was just a little bar on a boat trailer with a few old rickety tables and chairs and a small generator to run the blenders and lights. Giorgio and Lisa had bigger plans for this bar and although the bar is still in the cool boat trailer (with the addition of a colorful coat of paint) they brought in electricity, water tanks and running water, built a tiki hut over an existing concrete pad and added many more tables and chairs, beach lounges and umbrellas, a professional kitchen trailer and an ATM!
According to Giorgio and Lisa, the new name came to them for their beach bar, as they sat and counted 30 dinghy’s beached in front of the bar!
Dinghy’s really is a great place to hang out for the day.They have a menu full of great drinks, including their signature drinks the Creamy Dinghy – Cruzan Dark Rum, Creme of Coconut and Fresh Local Passionfruit, when available, and the Paddlewhacker – a creamy Bushwacker with Chocolate and Peanut Butter blended in.
If you get hungry after snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking, extreme hammocking or beach chairing, drinking at the floating bar, walking the beach, listening to live music and beating your pals in corn hole and ring hooks – be sure to try one of their burgers, sandwiches, wraps or plates – all with a local flare. We tried the Beach Burger, certified Angus Beef seasoned with Argentinian Chimichuri Sauce– yum!
And be sure to take time to enjoy the beautiful beach Dinghy’s sits on.
Looking for some place close and a little different to hang out for a day while visiting St. Thomas? Dinghy’s on Water Island may be just what you’re looking for! Stop by and enjoy a great rum drink and say hi to Giorgio, Lisa and…Bubbles!
Their motto? “We’re Not Nuts, Just a Little Dinghy”
And a lot of fun.
We’re Not Nuts, Just a Little Dinghy!
To find out more about Dinghy’s Beach Bar & Grill,
What’s it like to hike the trail through The Baths on Virgin Gorda?
A couple of weeks ago we had the chance to take another great hike through the boulders of The Baths to Devils Bay in Virgin Gorda. It was our 4th time to experience this amazing area and although there had been some changes made since our last visit, it was just as intriguing and awe-inspiring as ever.
Beach access has been limited to dinghy’s – which I’m sure is due to the large amount of people wanting to access the trail from their boats. If you are unable to swim about 50 yds from the roped off area where they’d like dinghy’s to drop boaters off, they are recommending that you go ashore at Spanish Town and take a taxi over.
We thought we’d just add a few new pics to the post we did of our last visit (The Baths), but we took a lot more pictures this time of the actual hike through the boulders from The Baths to Devil’s Bay, so we thought we’d write a new post and highlight what it’s like to hike the trail.
It was high season and we knew The Baths would be packed from about 10 – 3, so we showed up at about 3:30. Our dinghy dropped us off at the ropes and we swam to shore – electing not to take towels or even shoes because of the swim in. Previously we wore water shoes and I’d recommend them if you’ve got sensitive feet.
The initial entrance is but a small opening between two large rocks. Once through it opens up to a trail. Look for small cairns (rock piles) marking the trail as you go.
Not too far from the start you come across The Cathedral – one of the most photographed areas of The Baths. It looks different every time you visit depending on the light and the tide.
There’s another cool area to explore around every corner.
Make your way over the boulders and through the pools with the assist of wooden ladders and platforms along the way.
Once you get to this directional sign, you’re almost to Devil’s Bay.
You’re rewarded at the end of the trail with the sights of beautiful Devils’ Bay. Be sure to leave enough time to enjoy the clear, blue water before making your way back – or up to The Top of The Baths for a well deserved beverage!
To see more posts on Virgin Gorda and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory
There’s a bit of “buzz” going around about a new beach bar in the British Virgin Islands called B-Line Beach Bar on Little Jost Van Dyke. During our recent BVI sail, after a stop at beautiful Sandy Spit, we decided to stop at B-Line to check it out.
As a point of reference, if you are sitting on Sandy Spit and looking at Jost Van Dyke, Little Jost is just to the right and if you go around the little point, you will spot B-Line Beach Bar.
According to B-Line owner, Christina Washburn, who also runs the Bananakeet Cafe and Heritage Inn on Tortola, B-line just opened up for business at the beginning of the year. Christina’s mother moved to this location on Little Jost Van Dyke in 1979 when there was just a stone structure and cistern. Christina would spend time there on school breaks. In 1990, Christina built a small cottage on the hill and extensions were added to the facility in the early 90’s.
She and her husband, Bonky, have been trying to live permanently on Little JVD for a while, but due to their busy schedule on Tortola, they seem to get there only on the weekends. Once they had the idea to start a bar on property, it took several years to go through the legalities. During that time, they would spend the weekends working on what would soon be B-Line Beach Bar, making more accessible and visible.
How did they choose the name B-Line? Christina said they found themselves b-linin’ back and forth from Tortola to Little JVD with supplies and to work on the property and the name just kind of stuck.
Now B-Line is the only establishment on Little JVD. Access is by boat. There is a floating dinghy dock and a dock near the beach for larger boats.
(photo: www.photo.vi)
B-Line is open 10a.m.-10p.m. daily and food is served on the weekends.
Spend your day at B-Line lounging in the crystal clear water or soaking up the rays on the beach,
(photo: www.photo.vi)
Playing corn hole in the grass or checkers in the open air bar,
Talking to Jerry in the bar,
And sipping on an “Awesome Ginger Bloody”, Margarita, a cold beer or the B-Line signature drink, the Passion Confusion.
Quieter than some of its neighboring island beach bars, B-Line is a great place to relax, unwind and just listen to the sounds of paradise.
If you like the taste of mango, you’re gonna love this cold and creamy blended rum drink. I can tell that as the weather gets warmer and summertime sets in, this will be a refreshing favorite here! Enjoy!
*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes!