Jan 28, 2025 | Island News
After a 5-year hiatus, JetBlue has returned to St Croix in December which is great news for the island and tourism. “JetBlue’s relaunch of service to St. Croix is part of JetBlue’s significant network enhancements in San Juan and focus on leisure and VFR (visiting friend and relatives) routes, aligned with the airline’s JetForward strategy,” the airline said in a statement in response to questions from The Daily News (read full article here).
1x/daily flights nonstop service to/from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in Puerto Rico to St Croix, USVI started on December 12, 2024. See photos of the celebration at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix and read the full article by St Croix Source here.
Jan 28, 2025 | Island News
Fantastic tourism news! The VI Consortium shared the USVI had a record-breaking 2024, including over 932,000 air arrivals, a 9.8% rise in cruise passengers, and accolades like the world’s best beach. The V.I. Department of Tourism announced that the U.S. Virgin Islands has reached new milestones in tourism, with record-breaking passenger arrivals reflecting the growing popularity of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John as premier Caribbean destinations. D.O.T. revealed that 2024 was a year of exponential growth for the territory, driven by innovative strategies, new airline routes, and strengthened cruise partnerships.
The territory also received multiple prestigious accolades in 2024, further solidifying its status as a top destination. These include:
- Best Caribbean Cruise Destination 2024 by Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine
- Caribbean Culinary Destination (St. Croix) and Caribbean Yachting Destination of the Year by Caribbean Journal
- Top 10 Best Beach for Honeymoon Beach, St. John, by USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards
- Number 1 Best Beach in the World 2024 for Trunk Bay, St. John, by The World’s 50 Best Beaches
- Number 1 Domestic Trending Summer Destination for St. Thomas by Expedia 2024 Summer Outlook
- Experiential Marketing Bronze Award for the Caribbean Way of Sports & Lifestyle Tourism Integrated Campaign by HSMAI Adrian Awards
Read the complete article here.
Nov 26, 2024 | Island News
Question: “What are the top amenities that pet owners say they are looking for?”
Our Answer:
Buyers are showing an increased desire for more pet-friendly conveniences:
- Fenced-in backyard
- Durable flooring
- Proximity to a vet
- A dog wash station – either outside, or in a mudroom
- Specially designed grooming hand shower in an existing tub or shower
- Trails and sidewalks for walking and hiking
- Hidden food or watering stations, often in a kitchen island
- Under counter small refrigerator for separate ingredients to make the pet their food
- Crates built into cabinetry
- Custom made furniture pieces
- Adequate square footage
- Outdoor play areas
Contact us with any questions about real estate on St. Croix!
Nov 20, 2024 | Island News
Get an early start on Saturday mornings and head east to stock up on locally grown and harvested goods at Southgate Corner Farmers Market. Take your pick from produce, fresh & preserved fruit, fresh baked goods, local honey, farm fresh eggs and much more. For almost 15 years, the market has opened every Saturday morning rain or shine, welcoming customers from 9am to 12pm to support local farmers and artisans with a variety of goods.
Weekly updates on the market’s Facebook page share details about which farmers and vendors will be there each Saturday and what products they’re bringing. Chris and Christie Powers, local Realtors with Coldwell Banker St. Croix Realty, help manage the page, keeping the community informed and excited for market day. “We got involved with the market because we’re neighbors and want people on island to have access to healthy, locally grown fruit, produce and other items produced locally.” As residents of St. Croix for over 20 years, they understand the importance of supporting local agriculture and believe the market embodies the spirit of the island.
Shoppers can expect a lineup of 7 to 12 vendors each week. Tico’s Garden offers an array of fruits and vegetables like lettuce, mustard greens, spinach, eggplants, dragon fruit, and eggfruit, with specials like their soursop and eggfruit ice creams and fresh juices. STX Local Eggs bring their farm-fresh eggs by the dozen, and Fiddlewood Farm showcases their artisanal goat cheese in flavors such as cranberry, French herb, black pepper, and a seasonal mango favorite. Bramble Bites adds unique finds like avocado salad dressing and breadfruit muffins, along with refreshing juices from local fruits like carambola, guava, and golden apple.
Another sweet find at the market comes from beekeeper and certified arborist, Errol Chichester. Thanks to his 3-acre fruit orchard and apiary, he harvests honey and a variety of native, tropical, and sub-tropical fruits that are available for purchase each week at the market. “I really enjoy coming to the market because we’re like a little family, plus everything found here is locally grown and/or produced,” shared Chichester. Sharing with others is also important to him being that he regularly brings fruits from his farm for marketgoers to experience, often for the first time. “I recently brought some mamey apple to share and many people at the market had never tried it before since it’s not as popular on island as it once was.” Along with his wonderful humor, Chichester always has some unique agricultural surprise on hand each week.
Find Southgate Corner Farmers Market at the intersection of East End Road, just west of Cheeseburger in Paradise and near Southgate Baptist Church. Look for the lively lot full of activity every Saturday. For more information, visit the market’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1173503619716087/ or search “Southgate Corner Farmers’ Market.”
Written by Anquanette Gaspard
Nov 20, 2024 | Island News
Travel & Leisure recently shared 20 Best Things to Do in St. Croix according to locals! Here are few highlights:
- Identify wildlife as you swim along an underwater “trail” off the coast of Buck Island.
- Go for a night dive at Frederiksted Pier to see underwater in a new light.
- Indulge in St. Croix’s culinary scene — one of the best among the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Visit Protestant Cay for beautiful beaches with an unusual history.
- Tour a famous distillery and try regional rums
See the full list and read the article here.
Nov 20, 2024 | Island News
On November 23, 2024 from 12 to 4 p.m, enjoy music, dance, and community with Crucian Gold‘s Serenade on Strand Street! There will be live performances by Ten Sleepless Knights, vibrant dance showcases by Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies, the Ten Sleepless Knights Dance Group, and the Caribbean Dance Company, and a bustling holiday market of local vendors on Strand Street, all while supporting scholarships for Virgin Islands youth.
As reported by the VI Consortium, this year’s Serenade on Strand Street will transform the area with a variety of local vendors offering holiday gifts, unique crafts, and an array of food and drink options, including traditional favorites such as Coquito. Family-friendly attractions will also be on hand, with activities like face painting adding to the festive atmosphere. Read the full article here.
