Since this is Rum Renaissance week on Miami Beach, I thought I share a this story about the Cruzan Rum distillery on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It looks like the famous island rum company is getting a little help with a big upgrade to their facility. I’ll cheers to that.

From the Clean Water America Alliance newsletter

U.S. Rum Industry: Setting New Standards for Environmental Protection

The U.S. Virgin Islands’ government and Cruzan Rum, owned by the newest Alliance partner, Fortune Brands, have come together to form a public-private partnership to help set a new U.S. rum industry standard for environmental protection with the construction of a new Cruzan Rum wastewater treatment system. The new facility, on the island of St. Croix, comes as part of the U.S. Virgin Islands government’s 30-year partnerships with its rum makers to modernize the industry and set new standards for sustainable rum production.

The state-of-the-art Cruzan Rum wastewater treatment plant will prevent the release of 150,000 pounds oxygen-demanding organic material, which impairs water quality, into the ocean and will cut fresh water consumption by almost 40 percent per proof gallon of rum produced. A new fermentation and distillation process will use advanced scrubber technology to recover ethanol, lowering emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by more than 90 percent. Mechanical vapor recompression will evaporate excess water, recycle that vapor, compress it and reuse the water, increasing energy efficiency. U.S. Virgin Islands Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. noted that through “the implementation of this modern production and filtration system we will finally see an end to the brown stain in the waters off of St. Croix.”

Picture 13The Virgin Islands government and Fortune Brands recognize the mutual benefits of collaborating to grow the Cruzan Rum brand; secure environmental and production benefits and significantly increase local government revenue that can be reinvested in economic development. The Alliance promotes these types of partnerships that achieve both environmental and economic benefits for local communities.

Good rum and a clean environment, I’ll drink to that.

Cheers,
RumShopRyan

It’s island webcam day and I’m thrilled to be finally featuring this particular webcam location. Also today is the last day we will be focusing on the enchanting island of St. John. We will be diving into the amazing British Virgin island in the coming weeks.

The reason I’m excited about this webcam is because it’s the Serendipity Villa Cam, my favorite St. John cam of them all. I know the St. John Spice webcam is more famous, but this one tends to capture my imagination more. Sail boats dancing with the tide, clear blue water teasing me and St. Thomas playing in the back ground, you can’t help but fall in love.

Here is a amazing time lapsed video of a day on St. John.

Serendipity Villa Webcam

Serendipity atop Hawks Hill in Chocolate Hole Bay, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands.

Click here to book Villa Serendipity for your next vacation

Well Managed by Cimmaron Property Management, Cruz Bay, St. John USVI
Images are uploaded from the webcam automatically every 30 seconds 24 hours a day.
Camera is located rooftop on Villa

I hope you all like this webcam as much as I do.

Over and out from somewhere south,
RumShopRyan

Welcome to Coral Bay! The “other” town on the island of St. John Virgin Islands. This quiet town is opposite of bustling Cruz Bay. Many of the residents are sailors who live on their boats in Coral Bay Harbor. Others are landlubbers, living high up on the hills overlooking the Caribbean Sea and the British Virgin Islands. In between, there are quite a few donkeys, goats, roosters and some mongoose, who like to hang out in the middle of the (one) road.

Coral Bay is on the southeastern side of St. John. It is a popular hangout for American mainland ex-pats, sailors, artist types and more who live on sailboats or up in the hills. A traffic jam in Coral Bay probably refers to a herd of goats or a few donkeys in the middle of the road. (There are no stop lights anywhere on the entire island of St. John, and only one barely recognizable ‘yield’ sign coming into Coral Bay).

Coral Bay is more of a “community” (or, rather, “general area”) than town, though more and more homes are beginning to pop up along the hillsides.

It is around a 30 minutes drive (8 miles) along Centerline Road from the main town (Cruz Bay) where the ferries come in from St. Thomas.

Many St. John vacationers do not venture out to Coral Bay.

Things To Do

Coral Bay is home to the legendary “Skinny Legs Bar and Grill” and “The Tourist Trap” as well as some other interesting restaurants/dives such as “Island Blues”, “Shipwreck” and “Miss Lucy’s”. Concordia Eco-Resorts (a sister resort to Maho Bay Eco-Resorts on the islands north shore) is just on the southeastern tip of the island, about 3 miles south of the crossroads where Coral Bay begins.

Each year in late February, the Virgin Islands most famous race (the ’8 TUFF MILES’), runs along Centerline Road from Cruz Bay and ends in the Moravian Church ballfield in Coral Bay (next to Skinny Legs).

Have you ever been to the laid back Coral Bay?

Over and out from somewhere south,
RumShopRyan

This will be a post I’ll constantly be adding to as I find new great St. John information. The best of the best if you like.

On-StJohn.com

The best St. John website I’ve found is called On-StJohn.com. It does a great job of finding unique St. John stories and the site has a great following. You will see a ton of people commenting on every post and the conversations about this island jewel take off from there. This island really does have a strong following of passionate people.  Why is that?

On-StJohn.com posts great videos called “Boat Cam” or “Jeep Cam”.  They fix a camera to a boat or jeep and take you on the ride with them.  You get to sail up to amazing beaches and drive the steep winding North Shore Rd., it really is like being there.

If you are a St. John lover this is a great site to bookmark and follow.

Palm Tree Charters

Spend a day with Captain John Brandi in fuel-efficient comfort aboard Palma Bella, a 26-foot Glacier Bay power catamaran. And, while Captain John is knowledgeable and more than happy to help you plan your day, whether snorkeling, beach-hopping or just cruising, where you go is ultimately up to you. You plan your day in Paradise.

I really like Palm Tree Charters because they do a great job of promoting on Facebook, Twitter and their website. Almost everyday on their Facebook fan page Captain John will post where his party wants to that day.  It could be a day at the Baths on Virgin Gorda, Snorkeling at Peter Island or pulling up to the Willy-T.  Though it does seem like each day ends up at Jost Van Dyke for PainKillers at the Soggy Dollar Bar.  Not a bad way to end your day I think.

I’ll keep adding great St. John information to this post as I find it. If you have any great St. John sites or companies you’d like to share please mention it below in the comments.

Over and out from somewhere south,
RumShopRyan

St. John, the smallest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is a pristine, protected wonder that offers undeveloped stretches of paradise and unparalleled beauty from its lush interior all the way to its white sand beaches. While many travelers pencil it in as a daytrip from the bustling and more commercialized island of St. Thomas, the only way to truly experience this Caribbean jewel is to stay along its shore and spend your entire vacation seeking out its hidden treasures.

Highly-regarded and consistently voted one of the best beaches in the world by Condé Nast Traveler magazine, Trunk Bay is so breathtaking that it is almost indescribable. The heart-shaped bay is lined by striking white sand and turquoise water so crystal clear that disrupting its calm and scenic splendor seems like a sin. While you will certainly find the usual suspects for activities, including swimming, sunbathing, and scuba diving, snorkeling is by far the most popular due to the underwater, self-guided trail located near the shore.

Leinster Bay shallows

If Trunk Bay is the shining star of the island, then Caneel Bay is a full moon that radiates a soft glow over the north shore. Accessible through the Caneel Bay Resort, visitors will find seven beautiful beaches on 170 acres that are perfect for swimming, kayaking, and sunbathing. In addition to these spectacular bays, you can also try Honeymoon Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Leinster Bay, and Salt Pond Bay to escape the crowds and relax on a secluded, private strip of sand that is adjacent to the warm waters of the Caribbean.

Since many of the beaches are part of the Virgin Islands National Park, which covers more than 7,000 acres and 60 percent of the island, access to more than soft sands and eternal sunshine is almost always at your fingertips. Although the beaches are the featured attraction, hills, valleys, and tropical rainforests are all begging to be explored on the miles of hiking trails that tell a story of history and survival. Be sure to check out the Bourdeaux Mountain Trail, which leads to the highest point on the island; the Cinnamon Bay Nature Trail, home to sugar plantation ruins; and the Reef Bay Trail, always popular for its forest lands, petroglyph rock carvings, shimmering waterfall, and sugar mill remnants.

Annaberg Ruins

If you find that you have a little down time during your stay, be sure to visit Fort Berg (or Fortsberg) and the Annaberg Ruins. The Fort Berg ruins, located on a peninsula that juts out into Coral Bay, represent the site of a 1733 slave revolt that was viciously put down by soldiers. The Annaberg Sugar Mill Ruins, located on Leinster Bay Road, offer a glimpse of the equipment and labor needed to run an 18th century plantation in addition to breathtaking views of the shoreline.

Cruz Bay

Although St. John is known as being a sleepy island compared to St. Thomas, there is a small commercial center on Cruz Bay and friendly locals are certainly willing to help you along your travels. The laid-back atmosphere and abundant attractions make it easy to never explore another island, but if you feel compelled to journey across the water, you can hop aboard one of the ferries that regularly commute from Cruz Bay to Red Hook or Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas.

With unspoiled beauty around every corner and the warm waters of the Caribbean an inviting attraction, St. John is an island that requires your undivided attention. Rather than jumping from one island to the next, surround yourself with St. John’s lush mangrove forests and sparkling white sand beaches in a vacation rental. St. John vacation rentals offer relaxation at all hours of the day and place all of the picturesque activities and attractions of this island paradise just steps outside your private patio. Live like a local with St. John rentals and experience a getaway that surpasses all of your wildest expectations.

This is the best book I’ve read on St. John. Great history and travel tips of the island. Check it out! Cheers!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Weiss

If you like Piña Coladas, but Not Getting Caught in The Rain… Then You’ll like this More Unique Virgin Island Frozen Selection.

Sticking with this week’s St. John theme, let’s do a drink off The Beach Bar’s drink menu. Sip you’re cocktails steps away from the waters of Cruz Bay at The Beach Bar, sounds like bucket list material doesn’t it? If you’re not on island then maybe this drink will fill your imagination with thoughts of St. John and all its splendor.

Lime & Coconut Drink Recipe

• 1.5 oz Coconut Rum
  (light or dark rum can be substituted)
• 2 oz Rose’s Lime Juice
• 1 oz Coco Lopez
• 1/2 slice of lime
• Splash of Sprite (optional)
• Slice of Lime Garnish

Put all ingredients in a blender. Add 1 glass of ice. Blend till smooth. You can add a dash of Sprite or simple syrup to sweeten and/or to make blending easier if it is too thick. We get the most compliments on the Lime and Coconuts that we make with Sprite, and the lime in the blender is very important. Raise glass and toast!

Over and out from somewhere south,
RumShopRyan

I and many others are in love with quiet St. John. It has a such a different personality then the other Virgin Islands. It softly seduces with post card vistas and some of the most beautiful beaches in all the Caribbean. Here is an article that gives you a little insight to these seductive sands.
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St John USVI is the smallest of the three US Virgin Islands. Its sister islands are St Thomas and St Croix. The exotic beaches here are unique among the beaches of the Caribbean and the world.

The island is only nine miles long and three miles wide and two thirds of the island is the Virgin Islands National Park and therefore protected by the USA Park Rangers.

Most of the tourists arrive in St John for its beaches. They are unspoiled and are surrounded by pristine waters calmly lapping its sandy beaches.

It is located to the east of St Thomas on a 20 minute ride by ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay in St John. Coming from St Thomas that is populated and very busy, you will notice that you arrived to a place totally the opposite, St John is laid back, relaxed and the calm can be felt all over.

Beaches

Trunk Bay

This is one of the most famous destinations in the Virgin Islands. It is located about two miles from Cruz Bay. It is a hearth shaped spectacular beach. This beach has visitor’s facilities, like showers, changing areas, restrooms, food area, as well as picnic facilities.

The white powdered sands are surrounded on one side by coconut palms and on the other by crystal clear blue waters.

When visiting Trunk Bay pay a visit to the Archaeological dig where many prehistoric artifacts were found. You’ll see remnants of bones and plant material.

This is an ideal beach for Family Vacations, since the place is children friendly with many water sports and calm waters. And at the same time very popular with groups of cruise lines passengers, that like to spend the day here. It also has an underwater snorkeling trail.

Trunk Bay is easily accessible by public bus, taxi or car; there is a scenic ferry ride across Pillsbury Sound to St. John.

Cinnamon Bay

Larger than Trunk Bay, this beach offers beautiful jungle like surroundings, featuring mango and cacao trees, as well as great underwater life and water sports.

It is located three miles distance of Cruz Bay on North Shore Road. The beach is great for kayaking, windsurfing, snorkeling, diving or swimming through flagrant corals and colorful tropical fish. You will also find here all facilities for visitors like changing rooms, showers, lockers and a local restaurant. There are also facilities for picnics and family reunions.

Salt Pond Bay

This is a fairly unknown beach along the southern coast of the island. It features a salt pond where locals take salt from. The salt is formed from sea water that enters the pond via subterranean tunnels. Once the water evaporates it leaves a white foamy residue of sea salt.

Blue Cobblestone Beach

This beach gets its name from the cobblestones along the beach. It is great for a snorkeling adventure along the large rocks. This area is also renowned for bird watching because the area is more secluded and the birds abound here.

Caneel Bay

Caneel Bay is an idyllic resort area. The beaches are made of powdered white sands great for sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling.

To get there you will take a ferry from St Thomas provided by the resort and dock in their private pier. Or if you are already on the island you’ll take route 20 and turn left where the sign tells you to get to the beach.

Hawksnest Beach

This beach is very accessible and popular among locals in St John. It is a short drive from Cruz Bay. The parking for this beach is very close to the sea, making it very easy to carry all you need for a great beach day.

They have all facilities for picnics and barbeques. The corals and tropical fish here are incredibly beautiful. Some of the fish you’ll find here are the grunt, fry and goatfish. Your entire family will love the scene under the sea regardless of age.

Maho Bay

Maho Bay

This beach offers a lot to families with small children and those who like calm and shallow waters for swimming.

You can get to this beach going past Cinnamon Bay one more mile. You may park below one of the maho Trees and enjoy your day. There are no signs or parking spots, just plain beach. The road is lined by coconut palm trees.

The snorkeling between Maho Beach and Little Maho is great. You’ll enjoy and array of tropical fish and exotic coral reefs.

Salomon Beach

It used to be a Nude Beach, but since the new legislation on public nudity, this is no longer possible. Those breaking the law may get fines of hundreds of dollars and even jail time.

It has become a family beach, but it is accessible only by boat or by hiking through a guided trail. This trail is one of many provided by the authorities.

The waters are calm and shallow in Salomon Beach and the coral reefs are spectacular. This is a great place for beginning snorkelers. The reefs between Salomon Beach and Honeymoon Bay are unique.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eddy_Tuchman

St. John has many more beaches many of which you might find yourself to be the only inhabitants of. The list above will give you a good start though.

If you’ve been to St. John I’d love to hear which beach is your favorite.

Over and out from somewhere south,
RumShopRyan

Island webcam day! This week is all about St. Croix, here is the Christiansted Harbor cam from gotostcroix.com.

Christiansted, the capital of the Danish West Indies from 1755 to 1871, is one of two main towns on St. Croix. Located between a busy seaport and green hillsides, the town is well known for it’s many historic yellow buildings. The one square mile town of Christiansted offers you a unique opportunity to visit a historically important town as well as to partake in shopping and dining in a modern setting. Christiansted has maintained it’s Danish architectural richness and offers many buildings and structures of interest, like cobblestone walkways, old churches and imposing fort Christiansvaen.

The Christiansted historical area encompasses about 27 acres and is maintained by the United States National Park Service. It is located along the Christiansted waterfront and it includes what used to be a busy Danish business and trading center. It was once the area used to dock ships carrying human cargo, rum and molasses bound for the triangular trade route through the Caribbean to Europe and Africa. Christiansted is a very interesting town and well worth exploring. (From www.vinow.com)

The harborcam image that refreshes every 20 seconds or so. The Christiansted Harborcam is a streaming image, depending on your internet connection and ours! The Christiansted Harborcam is always on and is open to the public from the boardwalk location captured on the camera. Rum Runners is opened for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as a Sunday Brunch. The Rum Runners Deck Bar (where the camera is situated) is a cozy and welcoming bar on the water. So, grab something refreshing, and then get on your phone to tell friends and family back home you are waving to them – live – from St. Croix.

Over and out from somewhere south,
Have a great weekend.
RumShopRyan

Fine beaches, lush forests, historical landmarks, and a touch of Europe make a visit to St. Croix, the largest of the US Virgin Islands, a journey through land and time. The attitude of this island is fun-loving and welcoming to tourists, so start planning a jaunt in this direction if you feel like sampling the finest features that the Caribbean has to offer.

Eighty two square miles is a lot of ground to cover, so a little investigation into the sights and sounds of St. Croix will better allow you to do and see what you want while you’re here, while saving time for plenty of lounging on the beach, of course. History buffs, party animals, and nature lovers will all have several options, so prepare for endless entertainments to punctuate your vacation of variation.

To relive St. Croix’s past, a full tour of the island might be a good idea. Definitely make a stop at Estate St. George Botanical Garden, a fertile area of land that contains the ruins of a 19th century sugar cane plant, rum distillery, the worker’s buildings that accompany them, as well as a stone dam and watermill. Salt River is the place where Columbus first set foot on “Santa Cruz” in 1493 during his second voyage to the Caribbean. Finally, Whim Greathouse, which has been restored to its original glory after having been built over two hundred years ago, is where you’ll view the windmill, main house, and several other structures that help to define St. Croix’s image. A museum will help explain what you see and a gift shop will supply you with souvenirs.

The rainforests of St. Croix make for another eye-popping adventure. Though owned privately, several acres of land in the western part of the isle are accessible to the public and reveal clusters of mahogany trees, Tibet trees, and yellow cedars. Listen for the sounds of mountain doves and take a few moments to breathe in the fragrant, fruit-scented air. For a one-of-a-kind token of your trip, order a sculpture made from these very trees by the artists who work in the area. As you watch the woodcarvers in action and then commission them to create a piece of furniture to be sent to your home, you’ll know you’re doing something special.

Buck Island

For more traditional island pursuits, you’ll want to save plenty of time to hang out at the parks and beaches that sweeten the shores of St. Croix. Buck Island Reef is home to a National Monument; the only underwater park in the country. This expanse of terrain is filled with lovely beaches and plenty of recreational amenities like picnic tables and barbecue pits. Cramer Park is another choice that makes getting together for food, drink, and even dancing an easy choice. Live music is a regular occurrence on the weekends while the weekdays stay a bit quieter.

Christiansted Harbor

From the Danish-influenced towns of Christiansted and Frederiksted, which appreciators of architecture should definitely take note of, to the peaceful forests and beaches, St. Croix has what it takes to make a vacation memorable. By seeing the sights and allowing yourself to enjoy some downtime as well, the few days you spend here will be both enriching and relaxing, an unbeatable combination.

St Croix Carambola Resort

To fully take advantage of all that is here in St. Croix, it would be wise to consider renting a vacation home in order to ensure that your home base is a stress-free part of your getaway. A seaside villa that gives you goose bumps when you first lay eyes on it will serve as a good omen for the entire trip. Unpack your bags and settle in to the sound of the waves hitting the beach, and leave the windows open all night to watch the curtains sway with the gentle breeze.

If traveling with several people, vacation homes keep everyone happy by providing lots of space and entertainment options. This means no arguing over what channel to watch on TV (not that you’ll be doing too much of that) and no running out of clean towels. Small groups and couples will be equally well taken care of, as a number of cozy little casitas make for the possibility of a true escape from reality.

St. Croix is a heavenly place to spend a few days, so if the mood has struck, start planning a trip today. Go online to reserve the perfect St. Croix Vacation Rental for your needs, and let the island take it from there.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Caitlin_Moore

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_P_Pierce