Jun 22, 2022 | Island News
The Caribbean Journal speaks to Joseph Boschulte, the Commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism about tourism in the US Virgin Islands. Here’s some good news from the article!
“According to Transportation Security Administration numbers, U.S. Virgin Islands airports in St. Croix and St. Thomas received 14 percent more passengers in February 2022 than in February 2019. Furthermore, the USVI was the fastest-growing territory for total capacity in all the Americas between 2019 and 2021, growing total departure seats by 35.8 percent.”
The cruise industry is in the process of recovery. Read more about the Department of Tourism’s strategy to increase port calls by 2023.
May 25, 2022 | Island News
St. Croix Animal Welfare Center’s Paws from Paradise program has helped178 dogs from the Virgin Islands find permanent homes in America this year alone. According to the Program Coordinator Wayne Myers, small canines or puppies that can be confined safely in crates in Air Cargo Carriers’ and Amerijet’s aircraft are selected to fly. Firstly, dogs are chosen by AWC, and then the partner shelter approves them by photos and short biographies written by staff. Read the full St Croix Source article about the program and the adoption process here.
Photo credit: Susan Ellis, St Croix Source
#pets #petadoption #dogs #stcroix #usvi #caribbean
May 24, 2022 | Island News
In May, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) opened the V.I. Coral Innovation Hub on St. Croix, a laboratory focusing on coral research, conservation, new coral science, and technology. The lab’s purpose is to help reefs recover by breeding coral on land-based and underwater nurseries. Hurricanes have impacted coral reefs in the area and the goal is to help reefs recover by breeding coral on land-based and underwater nurseries. The St. Croix superintendent of the National Park Service shared that “there is already successful coral growth on the South Shore and at Buck Island. The South Shore is home to 215 transplanted corals, and there are 100 in the waters around Buck Island.” Read the full article on St. Croix Source here.
Photo credit Susan Ellis, St. Croix Source
#stcroix #usvi #caribbean #coralreef #virginislands #coralresearch #conservation #coralscience #tnc #thenatureconservancy
May 23, 2022 | Island News
We have been seeing an increased presence of new visitors to our shores ready to fall in love with our laidback lifestyle, rich culture and friendly people. St. Croix is an island paradise we are proud to call our home. This article from Lonely Planet highlights some of the wonderful things to do on US Virgin Islands. Check out the suggestions for “the best things to do” on our favorite island of St. Croix! Snorkeling and diving in the crystal clear waters on our beaches, kayaking into a bioluminescent bay, and enjoying local West Indian culture during Carnival week as the streets are filled with calypso music, jumbie dancing, and parades — these are just some experiences on St. Croix to enjoy with your friends and family!
Read the full article here.
#stcroix #usvi #virginislands #realtor #realestate #tourism #visitstcroix
May 23, 2022 | Island News
Wake up, smile and “seas” the day with a different kind of outing along the sandy shores of St. Croix. Freedom Surf Company owner Trevor Fitch offers surfing and swim lessons for all skill levels, offering a gateway to the surfing lifestyle and the freedom it gives. Trevor always knew he wanted to live in the Caribbean. After graduating from high school and gaining work experience, he took a leap of faith and made the journey to St. Croix. “This island is super special to me and has taught me a lot,” said Trevor. “The main difference between here and living elsewhere is that people enjoy life and live in the moment and being here has allowed me the opportunity to do just that.”
Trevor would volunteer his time and skills at local schools to connect with the youth on the island. Determined to share his love of surfing with them, he started a high school program in June 2021 with a total of 12 kids. He got the idea to offer the program after a family approached him on the beach to give them surf lessons. He was thrilled to see how surfing changed their outlook. “You could see the genuine happiness in each student during the summer camp,” he said. From that point on,
Trevor knew he wanted to do more to teach surfing not only to the island’s youth but as many people on the island as possible. Freedom Surf Company was established in August 2021 and the rest is history.
When asked why people should give surfing a try, Trevor shared how therapeutic the sport is. “There aren’t too many activities that help a person’s spiritual, mental and physical health,” he said. “Surfing is a lot like life being that it is a long journey where learning never ends, and the practice of patience is at the center of it all.”
Ready to give surfing a try? Freedom Surf Company offers a money-back guarantee to all customers. They are confident that each student will be able to stand up on their board and ride a first wave to shore by the end of the first lesson. If not, all money for the lesson is returned. Lessons are $75 per person with bundle offers available when 3 or more people take a lesson. They offer weekly sales and promotions with various prizes and giveaways. Visit their website at www.freedomsurfco.com to book your first lesson or call 585.563.9284 for more information.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
Photo from www.freedomsurfco.com
#stcroix #usvi #caribbean #surfing #surfinglessons #swim #swimlessons #waves
May 20, 2022 | Island News
When a well-renowned restaurant closed its doors on St. Croix in 2020, the entire community was left with a void that many were unsure could ever be filled. Less than two years later, the doors to this former popular eatery opened again. This time, a locally owned fine dining restaurant was discovered on the other side of its doors. With clean, minimalist decor and a warm, inviting ambiance, the true surprise is what awaits guests once they cross the threshold.
Unda de Gooseberry Tree is the vision of owner Michael Rey. “The focus for Gooseberry – as it’s affectionately called – is to keep our local heritage, culture, and traditions alive through food,” said Rey. “As the richness of Caribbean flavors continue to spread across the world, we want to remind everyone – locals and visitors alike – of where the explosion of taste began.” No stranger to hard work in the kitchen, Rey has had his fair share of successful restaurants on St. Croix. From the delicious slices of piping hot pizza slices from Pizza Mar to the hearty, home cooked meals of Oceanview Caf, Rey has fed St. Croix masses for over 20 years. Once he learned that the former restaurant’s location was available, he stepped in to start the process of revamping the space to give it a modern look and feel. “We want guests to have more than a delicious meal, but also a restaurant atmosphere that provides an overall dining experience that keeps you coming back for more.”
Gooseberry focuses on preparing food that combines recipes passed down from generations with bold, new pairings highlighting the darling tangy fruit, the gooseberry. The Caribbean gooseberry differs from other gooseberries found around the world. Green in color and tart in flavor, it is often cooked down into a stew and sweetened with brown sugar, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. Rey has successfully incorporated the fruit in a variety of dishes ranging from appetizers and entrees to cocktails and desserts. Gooseberry opened to the public on February 14, 2022. Much like its predecessor, the restaurant hopes to be around for decades to come as the backdrop for their guests’ most memorable moments. Unda de Gooseberry Tree is currently open for dinner Thursday through Saturday from 6pm to 9pm. To make a reservation, visit their website at www.gooseberrytree.com or call (340) 690-5115.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
Photo from www.gooseberrytree.com
#food #stcroix #stcroixusvi #caribbean #restaurant #culinary #foodie #virginislands
