3s a Charm! 19.3519° N, 81.3830° W I’m digging it.

Third visit in January 2019. I really enjoy Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands so much that it has become my frequent Go To pick lately. 

Enjoyed a few days in paradise with my Adventurer BFF. We both have January birthdays and decided to meet up at one of our favorite places in the world to celebrate. 👉🏻 Kimpton Seafire Resort!!

For this trip I arranged for us to be booked the fantastic Stingray City tour. My 3rd time, her second. This is so fun!!! In addition, booked us a snorkeling trip to USS Kittiwake. My second time, her first. LOVE both of these excursions through Red Sail. Highly recommend both experiences! I plan to do these 2 snorkeling trips every visit. The ocean ever changing, these experiences are unique each time I have the honor to indulge!

Great food at Seafire Resort. So when not adventuring, I’m enjoying the resort. Resort fees cover a lot. Take advantage of it! This includes ocean toys, beach yoga, exercise, wine & appetizers happy hour, coffee & tea in the morning and more! Check their site for more on amenities. https://www.seafireresortandspa.com/

I simply cannot wait for my next trip. This place gives me a lot of Joy!

Marvelous Seven Mile Beach 

Wonderful welcome for our Birthday Celebrations 

Fun excursions by Red Sail. Stingray City & USS Kittiwake are a MUST!

Stunning sunrises and sunsets!

Ocean view is divine.

Where the wild things play!

USS Kittiwake. Amazing sight!

Better than a dream. Sea for yourself!

I doubled checked and can confirm Paradise coordinates are 19.3519° N, 81.3830° W Seafire Resort on Grand Cayman!

Second time. I’ve returned from a soul-enriching solo trip to the stunning Grand Caymans! Beautiful island and international crowd. I highly recommend a visit. I left upgraded! 

Here I share some highlights for you to consider. I’d love to hear your tips. Feel free to share in the comments. 

Happy Adventuring!

WHERE TO STAY

General Info

Kimpton Seafire is a stylish resort situated in perfection called Seven Mile Beach. 

In my initial research, this spot caught my eye. I heard someone I respected frequented Grand Cayman, so made a point to reach out and gather intel!:-) She raved about Seafire and gave me excellent tips for other things pertaining to my stay. After my visit, I knew she was spot on! Seafire was perfect for me.

This is such a classy experience. You’re welcomed in with smiles and offered a cold glass of champagne or juice. I opted for bottle water and juice. They set you up with WiFi if you need it. Just a smooth overall process of welcoming IMO, which I appreciated. 

I called days earlier to see if I could get an early check in. Was glad they could accommodate! Last time they were unable as we asked upon arrival. They still make it easy for you to check your bags and change for the beach until your room is ready.

Just like with other things in Life, it’s not just the looks that are important. The heart of making things special is how it makes you feel. 

The customer experience here the 2x I’ve stayed, my first in May and second visit a week ago, both have been exceptional I came wanting a much needed recharge and rejuvenation. 

Fabulous talent throughout the property. The professionalism, warm smiles and goodwill made the special difference. 

Best Beach Bar  

Definitely go to #Coccoloba after you check in.... BEST beach bar I’ve lived yet! 

Great talent work there like Arpi, Mei, Carina and more. The vibes so good and view, pure perfection!

Beach More

Caribbean Sea is nothing short of mesmerizing and STUNNING! If you can secure an ocean view room, I highly recommend it. 

I love watching the occasional storms pass and how vibrant the colors of the sea get in defiance to the darkness. Of course, sunny days are a divine sight!

The balcony comes in handy to lay out wet clothing and gear to dry out or simply nap or chill and take in the view.

Lounge chair service in the beach is part of your resort fee. Fruit infused flavored is available. Stay hydrated. They also make available suntan lotion to keep your skin protected.

I visited the ocean every morning of my stay. Heavenly! 

It’s not required, but I recommend you bring some dollars and tip throughout the resort, including the beach lounge staff. I feel why not if they help make your stay pleasant. 

Eats

Ave 

They had a special 345 menu. Included local foods. I liked this menu as you could choose a starter, entree and dessert from a set of selections.

Avecita

EXCELLENT Chef’s Table experience I highly recommend to anyone who appreciates quality, fine foods! 

Only 10 seats in set days, so make a reservation. 9 of the seats were booked by island locals with fine tastes. Spoke to me about the demand of this quality experience. 

I enjoyed seeing the care and precision in the Chefs preparation of each meal. I felt like I was on the set of Iron Chef! Chef Alejandro and Josue explained the details as each fine creation was presented. Menu changes every month.

I will definitely do this again. Delicious, delightful and very memorable.

https://instagram.com/p/BmtC6wTARUB/

The Pantry

Casual spot in the hotel to pick up snacks, drinks, salads, gelato and more. I got fresh fruit, fresh beet + other veges juice, a club sandwich and free newspaper. Convenient spot to pick up light eats/drinks.

Complimentary coffee & wine

Coffee & tea is available, self service from 530a - 10ish. I got my coffee every am. 

I hear they have a wine hour in the evening, but I didn’t make them. A nice feature! 

Activities

Fun

Since I was solo traveling I preferred to book everything through the concierge. They’re going to only pick the options already vetted. I was booked to do the North Sound Eco Safari ~ stingrays, coral reef snorkeling, starfish point and a mangrove tree educational tour. 

https://instagram.com/p/BmtA7cXgY-9/

Also, booked the USS Kittiwake and coral reef snorkel trip. Both were through Red Sail. Highly recommend!! 

The Safari was a door to door van pick up/drop off. The USS kittiwake was a catamaran pick up on the beach 💖🙌🏻Excellence!!

https://instagram.com/p/BmtHnMkgoKV/

Both adventures gave me priceless memories and personal growth. I look forward to doing more my next visit!

Fitness 

There’s much available onsite. A pool (I don’t pool when the ocean is paradise, but it is an option), different activities like morning fitness, SUP yoga, and more. Check with the front desk/concierge for what you’d need to sign up.

Travel Medical Insurance

When I travel and go to far off adventures I’m responsible for Me. I recommend considering medical coverage if your basic insurance or travel package doesn’t offer it. Full disclosure: No I don’t work for this company 🤣 

That being said, Allianz is one I’ve gotten a few times and will keep in mind on future trips. Allianz helped me live to my fullest ensuring I was covered with a solid travel policy. Something I insist to have personally. 

I don’t expect anything to happen. Who does? Still things can happen and I Adventure Stronger eliminating concerns if things did happen what I’d do. I have a plan. I’d recommend you consider it, too. I know I don’t need to be in a foreign country wondering what my coverage is. 

Do your research and figure out what works best, or just roll your dice going nothing happens. Your choice! 

Immigration & Customs

Entering Cayman

If you’re not from Cayman Islands, you’ll fill out an immigration form to enter and exit the country. Straight forward. 

Tips:

• Have your addresses and #s ready, hotel or wherever you’re staying.
• Have a pen. Amazing how many people aren’t prepared with basics and no the airplane doesn’t have to supply you with a pen.
• When you’re approved in the country, they leave a paper in your passport. It’s not stapled in so be sure to keep it secure and not lose it. You’ll need it when you leave country. They’ll collect it.

Exiting Cayman 

At the airport, they’ll collect the exit country card. I recommend you allot enough time you aren’t stressing at the airport. I noticed this time a Ton of planes exiting around 1-2pm this time of year. Very crowded, but upside it is a small airport so you shouldn’t get lost!

Entering USA

Experiences vary depending on where you enter, but for me this time it was ATL. This is never a smooth experience. Crowded, long lines. I’m glad when I finally got up to the window, my chat went quickly so I could be on my way.

I travel light which is a plus, especially with this immigration step. Less baggage means less stress to hurry up and pick up bags, then have to recheck them in before running to your connection flight gate after you clear immigration.  

Be Prepared 

When traveling to international destinations, I’d recommend you have handy the Embassy info. Again not something I’d expect to use but I don’t want to not have the # and address available if I need it. 

In addition, respect you’re a guest in the country and do some research about highlights to be aware. 

Action Cameras

GoPro Hero 4 Session

I love my footage after a trip. GoPro is quality if you have an aptitude toward learning these tech toys, I recommend this one because the footage and the app is quality. 

Fast downloads. Ability to get quality pics from video footage. The app itself is intuitive and the UX is smooth. If I need help, I can get it through youtube videos. 

DragonTouch

Did good, but the app isn’t great IMO. I used some YouTube to upskill. I have a high aptitude with systems, apps and tech toys. So this wasn’t hard for me. I feel it could be hard and frustrating for those who aren’t savvy with tech. 

Quite frankly, so will the GoPro so if this isn’t your strength I recommend you plan to spend time to train yourself on how to effectively use it or hopefully you’ll know someone in the trip, like Me, that this stuff comes natural.:-)

Accessories 

A few random suggestions:

• If you’re playing in the water and plan to bring your phone, secure it with a life proof case. Never know when a waterproof bag will malfunction. Mine did😲 I’m fortunate my iPhone lived!
• Waterproof bags - I got mine from Dick’s sporting goods. You can order all this on Amazon. Test your gear before you need it and know nothing is 💯 Be prepared for the worst with added measure (see bullet above) if you want to go above and beyond.
• Selfie stick - I recommend securing it your wrist. I almost lost one of my camera. It’s a miracle it was retrieved 🙌🏻 That won’t happen again for me. I’ll be ensuring extra security measures next time to avoid that stress!

Books & Music 

I’m not a reader lately, but this book was a great self-improvement / self-reflection piece. Good food for thought and occupied me on the plane.

Music on the plane and in my hotel room was a plus! A few songs & artists that enhanced my vibe.

In Conclusion 

I hope some of this information helps you make a decision to check out this wonderful island! 

Share any comments you have on places to check out my next Cayman Islands visit or cool adventure gear you’d recommend! 

Highlights on this trip!

https://instagram.com/p/Bm0jA8yF58p/

I look forward my next adventure chapters, including returning to Grand Cayman for more adventure.

Follow me on Instagram AeroEms to see more pictures and videos of paradise.💖🙌🏻

Adventure Strong! Live it up!

Wild, Windy and Wonderful Key West, Florida

Key West, Florida. One of my favorite spots in the planet. It’s a place to visit if you enjoy the laid back, chill vibes of a place unique and doing its own thing. I find it a tiny slice of paradise, as wild or chill as you want it to be. I tend to see & gravitate mainly to the chill in it. 

It’s got great vibes, people in the touristy area around Duval Street they’re happy because they’re on vacation. I like that fun, happy vibe. It’s also cool to hear a variety of languages from people coming off the cruises. I also love the strong unique, creative vibes of the residents and locals of Key West. People are being themselves, doing what they want. 

Walk around and look at the homes, different designs, colorful and full of life. I find Key West small enough to just drop in, can be with friends or solo, and totally enjoy doing whatever I want. 

This is the 3rdr year straight I’ve escaped to Key West, Florida, for my birthday. The last two years I made a point to arrive on my birthday, making my special day very memorable ones. The memories and experiences last well beyond the weekend quick trip. I have always had a blast there. 

If you love fishing you must do it here! You can’t come to Key West, like fishing and not experience these waters! I recommend fishing backcountry. I think my next trip will be flats. I’d love to catch a barracuda next time!

Don’t take my word for it, go experience it yourself. If you do tell me all about what you loved and what you’d recommend. 

Here are a few highlights and recommendations of things to see/do on a quick trip. Happy Adventuring!

Activities

• Dream Catcher backcountry fishing. What I caught: Mangrove snapper https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangrove_snapper Grunt http://www.flfish.com/gamefish/Whitgrnt.htm Jack Crevalle https://www.igfa.org/species/147-jack-crevalle.aspx?CommonName=147-jack-crevalle.aspx Blue stripped grunt https://www.keywestdivecenter.com/blue-striped-grunt/ Schoolmaster snapper https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schoolmaster_snapper
• Key West Aquarium - First time visiting. Small, but a lot of variety! I had time to burn before my flight Sunday so took my time taking this spot in. Really chill and interesting. Outside are larger fish and some presentations. At the far end, outside there’s large sea turtles and sharks. Otherwise, you can stay indoors and peruse.

• Walked part of Duval Street, endless choices in bars, restaurants, stores

• Conch Harbor Marina ~ walk by in am. Sunday on my way to Cuban Coffee Queen. I like their Chrisymas tree!

Hotel

• Pier House, 2nd year in a row. I think I’ll try another hotel, in the same area, next trip. I’ve got Ocean Keys, Hyatt and The Marker on my radar. So no shortage of ocean view options.
• I like the ocean view room. I love hearing the ocean, being close to it, seeing it and having the balcony to watch the sunsets privately! Can bring food, drinks and kick back to enjoy the view while you chill.
• I like that the hotel has a tiny beach. Warmer temps would be good to do light snorkeling, though I bet it get packed.

Eats 

• Red Fish, Blue Fish - fresh gulf oysters, Key West ceviche, Red Fish drink

• Pier House room service - Key West shrimp, con leche coffee. I was tired so went with RS. I recommend going out instead. Better bang for your buck.
• Cuban Queen -Cuban breakfast burrito, 2 coffees. Perfect! 

• Sunset Pier bar, peel a shrimp, taco platter 2x, fresh oyster, corn on the cob. That corn on the cob was amazing!

Wanted to check out these spots, but didn’t so will add to a future trip:

Key West First Legal Rum Distillery

https://www.keywestlegalrum.com/

Fort Zachary Taylor Park - Definitely interested in snorkeling!

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Fort-Taylor

Brunch at Hot Tin Roof

http://www.oceankey.com/key-west-restaurant.aspx

Check out my post from 2017 with highlights & recommendations from that trip.

http://talkadventuretome.blogspot.com/2017/01/adventure-strong-key-west-jan-2017.html

In addition, check out Travel & Leisure’s piece in a Key West Weekend Getaway Agenda. Over the past 3 years I’ve visited most on their list.

http://www.travelandleisure.com/partner/the-florida-keys-key-west/127502?prx_t=ZE4DA3gYZAOeIPA

Sanderling Resort: Beautiful OBX Resort where you can enjoy the sunrise and sunset in on location!

Decided to do a quickie impromptu beach getaway. Did some online researching, like I usually do, and chose Sanderling Resort in Duck, North Carolina. My first time staying and most certainly not my last!

 

Classy, incredibly chill and a wonderful experience. From the moment I pulled into their parking to when I left, great welcoming vibes. 

It's a 3+ hour drive from the Richmond, Virginia area. I was ready to visit the beach. Check in is at 4pm. I went up to see the front desk to let them know I'd be using the beach. Doesn't hurt to ask, so I did to see if there was any possibility to check on early. 

Lucky me, they let me know my room was ready! They have staff ready and available to help you with your bags. They were professional and friendly. 

Great information to make the most out of my stay and what my resort fee covered to take advantage of those services! You can call 0 from your room, let them know you'd like a beach chair and umbrella set up. They meet you and make it super easy to start relaxing!

I headed out to the beach to enjoy surf fishing. Caught a black drum on first cast out! 

Plenty of options at the resort. Check out their site for full deaths. Here are a few highlights:

• Where to stay? Different options of where to stay. Something for everyone, solo travelers like me, families, friends or couples. All ages. I stayed in the Beach House building. Loved the beach themed decor and many options to lounge, relax and take in the views!!  
• Pools: They have a family pool and a separate adult pool. I like that option made available for adult only. They also have an indoor pool and steam room. I didn't check that out this time.
• Spa: I didn't book a service, but will consider in the future.
• Where to eat? Restaurants, casual and fine dining, lobby bar with small plate options (get the chowder!!), Sandbar outdoors bar (try the coconut drink ~ yummy!). More options in the little Duck town are available if you want to drive. I'm sure some could bike.
• Activities: There's a staffed hut where you can book all kinds of activities, bikes, kayaks, etc.
• Fire pits!!! Big, beautiful fire pits to roast s'mores & chill out. You'll find a s'mores pack in your room.

• Corn hole: Saw a few people playing throughout the day.
• Prime sunrise and sunset viewing! The beach views, including top notch sunrise and sunset viewing are excellent! Great architecture designs to maximize your views of the spectacular. In the Beach House building, you can go upstairs to enjoy these views at a higher perspective or venture outside for a walk, on either side of the resort.

• My room: Huge! King sized bed. Queen sofa bed. Sitting table. Private balcony. Refrigerator. Large bathroom. Large screen tv. More!

• Room service: I wanted to get out early the next morning to fish and didn't want to waste any time, so I took advantage of a convenient service where you fill out your order and hang the card on your door before bed. Worked out great, got my delicious Outer Banks breakfast and then was off to the beach!

I'm sure there is more, but those are things I observed and/or checked out this trip.

My goal to have some fun fishing, recharge and rejuvenate was a huge success. 

I highly recommend this beautiful, relaxing resort. I'm eager to return!

A few tips for fellow passionate anglers interested in surf fishing:

• Fishing requires a license. 
• If you're not a NC resident, get your nonresident.
• Bob's bait & tackle shop: Visit this place for bait, gear. 
• Check out their website for a link to gain your fishing permit. 
• After picking up bait and some rigs for my line, I was set!!

Sanderling Resort 

https://www.sanderling-resort.com/

Bobs bait & tackle 

https://bobsbaitandtackle.com/

Paradise Found and its name is Caneel Bay Resort, found in St. John, US Virgin Islands

I can't wait to begin to share with you some highlights and recommendations from my recent trip to St. John Virgin Islands for the first time! 

This was one of my favorite vacations, to date👌🏻Fasten your seatbelt, lets go!

I came across an article early in the year from The Points Guy site. He does a ton of traveling and shares insights. I read the Virgin Islands is doing a special promotion, as part of their 100 year anniversary becoming part of the US territory, where they are giving $300 in credits to do outdoors adventure type things at the island if you book October 2016 through October 2017 at certain hotels/resorts. Activities are from certain vendors and they provide you a list on their website. This offer peaked my interest in exploring an area of the world I had yet to visit. 

I always dreamed of visiting the Caribbean as a child. I just never seemed to have the right timing or, more accurately, I never made the time. In addition, I wasn't looking to go with just anybody, so if I was going to go with someone it was going to be with somebody awesome. Of course, I thought of my greatest adventure travel friend Charlotte!

We texted back and forth, like we do, about visiting here. She was game. I researched the list of hotels and Caneel Bay Resort caught my eyes. While researching, I looked into activities to apply the $300 credit. 

I handled booking our activities. Secured our fishing charter closer to our vacation start date since weather (wx) seemed to change frequently. I was glad to book the fishing charter, later finding that there was an inshore fishing tournament that day, so had I waited further we probably wouldn't have secured a boat since a lot were being booked. We scored so I was happy! Upside to booking the sunset cruise online is getting a slight discount. 

I kept checking wx for two activities booking, but held off making reservations to better gauge, closer to arrival, what was going on with the wx. It was frequently changing from rain to sunny. Also, I knew from my sister, who's a more seasoned Caribbean traveler, this wasn't peak tourist season so I wasn't overly concerned that we wouldn't have options.

Flying into St Thomas was neat! Small airport on the island. Saw lots of general aviation planes for people hobnobbing flying into the island. 

When I travel I get really focused on where I'm going. I did look around some, to take in the environment, but for the most part I'm pretty much in a checklist mode of being focused on where I'm going and that was to get to the resort at this point.

After syncing up with Charlotte at the airport, next stop was to find the Caneel Bay Resort lounge by baggage. It was easy and clearly marked. Really like the branding of Caneel Bay and the symbol that they use. Learned about that symbol on our eco-tour. I'll share more below about that interesting piece. 

This is where I tell you most everything that I experienced about my stay at Caneel Bay Resort was top notch as a relates to the customer experience. It's one of my top experiences to date!! The only area that didn't wow me was the concierge service. I've just had better service. Not sure if it was just really busy, but I didn't feel like they were very helpful.  So, I just made our own plans versus use their services heavily this time.

So back to the airport, the lounge was awesome! We were welcomed by a staff member who had her list to immediately let me know my room number. That came in really handy and I like that approach, especially since they have an app that you can download and check out the resort map to spot your room on the island. SWEET! In addition they had fresh cookies, drinks, and a really nice lounge area to sit in. When it was time to head out to the ferry, they let you know and you're escorted out to a taxi to take, with others, who are heading to Caneel Bay Resort. I can't tell you how convenient this service was in my opinion. 

For somebody like me who this is my first time ever, they provided a no hassle experience which I loved. They all appeared professional, took our bags to the location of the ferry. They explained to us what was going to happen. When the ferry pulled up the staff was dressed in uniforms.  I was already impressed with what I was seeing and experiencing. 

Chatted with a family that was traveling on the ferry with us to head to St John paradise. I came to find during the stay that this resort is small enough I actually recognized faces at different locations, like beaches or restaurants even down in Cruz Bay, the town of St. John. It was a surprise and we all got a kick out of bumping into one another on the island.

The Ferry arrives, picks us up and we ease into our seats. Charlotte and I follow that family who decides to go sit at the very top of the boat. Great choice! So fun having the wind blowing your hair and seeing the view from a higher altitude! The lady mentions we are were going to get rum punch… Say what!!!? Heck yes! :-) They came around and offered us a glass. We welcomed it. Say, "Hello Real Vacation!" What a great touch. A great welcome to the island.

Ferry took about 30 minutes to get to St. John. I tell you when you cruise into Caneel Bay Resort it's better than a dream. Truly looked like paradise so I was very excited! Really cool and convenient that our resort also has its own dock. The boat settles conveniently on the dock right in front of the resort. Also some activities, like our fishing charter, allowed for that boat to pick us up right at the dock. That was a definite plus in my opinion having that door to door service. Very nice versus having to coordinate different transportation to get to a pick up point. So another big plus about Caneel Bay resort having its own dock and making this whole ferry shuttle to and from the island super convenient!

We were greeted by a representative who gave us a brief quick tour as he escorted us to our ocean view room… Say what?!? Yes to ocean view room. Perfect! Also, awaiting us in the room was a full bottle of rum (ARGHH MATEY - I had to), Coke and Diet Coke, and a big bottle of water. Another touch that I really loved about this place was that they had a bucket of ice waiting for us in our room. It's really humid. The fact that they provide you with the ice not making you go walk for it also added to that, "I'm in paradise and this vacation is epic" feel! 

In addition our resort representative shared with us that the hotel would continue to replenish our ice supply every day, and if we need more ice instructions on how we can leave our bucket out and the staff would replenish it. Again talking about that no hassles… Awww yes! Welcome to paradise. This is an epic vacation feeling totally being achieved here through this customer experience!

As we got a quick tour of our room, the resort rep pointed out that the room was supplied with a can of bug spray. This was also critical and, once again, greatly appreciate it that the resort provides this to the guest, at least in our room. There are a lot of mosquitoes so the bug spray was important. Beach towels are supplied in the room, along with your bathroom towels. They even provided a cooler in the closet. Love it! We got the rundown about early coffee light breakfast hours, brunch hours, a complementary managers happy hour on Monday, and various details, along with a hand out of different activities happening on resort daily/answer days. 

All this to say you won't be bored here! There is something to do or you could do nothing and live it up snorkeling, kayaking, taking advantage of the equipment like that that's no additional charge to what you've already paid. If you want to do something different you can seek other activities as you see fit.

Our first night there we decided to have a dinner at the Canal Bay Bar on site. We set up on the second floor so we could have a view from the top. We tried some other sushi. We visited Canal Bay Bar a couple times. Very convenient and good choices.

I thought I might sleep in one of these days we didn't have an activity.  I was pleasantly wrong. I knew I was in paradise and there's no way I was gonna lay in bed once I woke up usually before 7 o'clock. I would roll right out of bed eyes shut open the door and see that epic ocean view every morning. Heaven! 

Even though it was humid didn't matter, the sights of paradise made me want to get up and get after that day! Every morning I was greeted with some sort of animals. We are on the second floor so I can look down and see the group of donkeys, sometimes it was the group of deers. Just epic!

I really enjoy just looking around and seeing an environment completely different from where I live currently.What was a trip for me was even when I arrived at Saint Thomas, coming out it reminded me of Kyushu or Okinawa, Japan. It had that tropical humid palm trees greens small island vibe that I've seen there. So, I love how my mind finds some familiarity from past places, yet recognizing and takes in a brand-new environment with an open mind so I can appreciate and learn what a new place is offering. 

This experience inspired me a lot and reinforces to me just how much more there is to explore in this lifetime. It reminds me that where I'm at now isn't the best chapter I can live, so it motivates me to continue to upgrade.

If you're a fellow nature lover and you enjoy being in a environment that is chill and not overpopulated with people, I highly recommend Caneel Bay Resort. 

Now, for those who enjoy the details, let's break out the activities that we experienced during our stay! 

If you don't care for details, skip to the bottom for recommendations and tips.

Saturday

• I arrived after 5 o'clock, in time for the last ferry to St. John Caneel Bay Resort. Charlotte arrived day before, stayed in Saint Thomas and met me at the airport. 
• Once we arrived at the resort and got checked in, we explored a little, had dinner and then hit the sack to be ready for an early start fishing the next day!

Sunday

• Fishing: This place was so epic I couldn't sleep once I was awake. I woke up every morning before seven. Worked out perfect because they have an early coffee service that starts at 7:30. Got up got ready. This morning we went to the dock to meet up with the fishing charter. I booked us a half-day morning trip. Picked up right at the dock at the resort. Awesome! Unfortunately, the Fish were not biting this day for the majority of the time we were out. I did notice that the captain was doing all the things that he could do. I understand that's fishing and there's a chance you may get nothing. (GASP) However, I was real pleased that in the last hour he positioned us in the spot that he knew we'd likely catch something. We did and got to experience a few beautiful Caribbean fish to catch and release. (PHEW!) There's nothing quite like the ocean fish, so vibrant, strong, fierce, full of life and colorful. We reeled in #Rockhind, #Coral #grouper and a type of #snapper

• Chill: Once we got back from the fishing charter, we hit Caneel Bay bar and got a lunch with the view.  Excellent choice! Then headed back to the room to relax. I called to try to book a trip to British Virgin Islands Virgin Gorda. There was only one spot left at that point. That actually worked out best to not leave Saint John. Since it was our first visit ever, didn't really make much sense to just leave without further exploring St. John. I think was the better choice for this particular trip. Will add BVI next visit. I then called VI Eco-tours to secure a five hour trip that involves sea kayaking, hiking and snorkeling. I knew Charlotte loves to hike so that this would be a great combination, plus get us active while seeing more of the island with a guide, all while learning.  She was game so I secured our spots for Monday. Once I have that nailed down then I could look forward to our sunset sail scheduled to leave the resort dock at 5:30. Was really interesting to see what hors d'oeuvres and open bar experience they'd offer on the catamaran.

• Sunset cruise: Again another awesome experience! Convenient pick up at the dock at the resort. Shoes off, we got onto the catamaran. Want to say that there was a least 20+ people. We launched off and the bar was open for service, plus got some food. Was impressed with the selection and service. Food included sandwiches, shrimp cocktail, vegetable platter, crackers hummus, fruit and more probably. I quickly scanned for what interested me, but didn't want to eat a whole lot, so was pretty much in and out of the bottom area, coming back up to the top to take in the view. The ride is about an hour, great music. Sunset was beautiful. We lucked out that it was a nice sunny day and evening. There was a lot of on and off type rain or clouds rolling in and out, but not this evening. So we enjoyed a beautiful sunset then returned back to the resort.

Monday

• Wakey wake! Up early and always open the door to enjoy the ocean view. We had the eco-tour booked for this day. So after coffee and some pastries we did a little mini hike over the hill to honeymoon beach which was her pick up point. There we were greeted by Tyler who was our guide. She welcomed and invited us to relax on the beach as the rest of the party showed up. Don't have to tell me twice! We kick it on the beach. Saw a hunk swim up to us from his boat. Not a bad view at all! :-) (1 map below). Tyler had all the kayaks already lined up. Gave a good derive on what we were going do. Equipment check, debrief check...Ready to roll!

We did sea kayaking to Henley Cay island (2). I have much more respect for the ocean and its power. That kayaking stretched me and was more aggressive by far than the river kayaking I do. You need to have confidence sea kayaking. You also have to be willing to push yourself, this wasn't for faint of heart. 

If you're mildly apprehensive, but not afraid, then definitely be going with somebody who knows what they're doing. If you are afraid and unsure if you could do it, I probably recommend not doing it. You have to be mentally committed to pushing through and getting where you need to get safely. Some of the waves got pretty high, especially as boats passed through the channel. The wind was blowing out at us to Henley Cay, so for that leg it required extra paddling effort to make it to where we needed to get. We did it, but I'm just saying this isn't for somebody who's unsure. My main preoccupation was to focus on paddling to get to where we needed, to get there safely, and not flip. We were successful and I loved that it required more effort than I thought.  

Once at Henley Cay reef, we had the awesome opportunity to snorkel. That's where I start to see some real beautiful fish. It was so Zen! Relaxing and interesting at the same time. After a while we packed up, got back on the kayaks and headed out to Scott Beach (#3 on google earth image above). We parked there and headed out to hike Mary's trail. Tyler did amazing job giving us information about trees and vegetation, as well as pointing out a few insects and points of interest. Learned a ton which I loved. In addition, we hiked to a cool Peninsula lookout. She pointed out where Oppenheimer ended up living, after creating the atomic bomb. I looked up on the Internet to learn more about that history and him living in St. John. Very interesting.

Some of that hike was steep and there were some rocky areas as well as some foliage, so paying attention to each step was important. I feel this was a great adventure! Do make sure you're wearing bug spray and sunscreen. That actually applies to your entire stay there. I learned that due to excess of tourists using sunscreen it's been damaging and continue to damage coral reef. Sad. Did not know that sunscreen was doing that level of damage. I will be looking into getting coral reef safe sunscreen in the future. If anyone has any recommendations I'd love to hear and that also goes for sunscreen!

I think one of things that I can appreciate more as a result of getting to experience this awesome island is by being closer to nature and hearing from locals about some of those challenges like the coral reef, it makes me sad to know the damage that humans are doing to the planet. At the same time I can learn more about what I can do to make a small difference by choosing to use coral reef safe products in the future. I hope others take away those kind of insights when they visit and hear that type of information. I hope they care enough to make a difference on their end, too.

Once back at Scott's beach we had another opportunity to snorkel. This was by far our favorite beach and we returned to it Tuesday and Wednesday. This is an amazing spot to see sea turtles. So awesome! In addition, along the reef are all sorts of fish. Stingrays are hanging out. All epic sights! Another plus, this beach was less populated. The beach in front of our resort gained crowds by noon. When we returned to Honeymoon Beach at the end of the eco-tour, it was crowded. 

We got lunch, which is part of the package, when we got back! (4) We sat on the beach to enjoy the view while we ate our lunch. Tips: Make sure your food is covered. The birds get really aggressive and will sweep down and snatch your food. 

Once we were done with lunch we headed back to the resort and went back to Scott beach. Super peaceful there and we continued to snorkel.

Later that evening we decide to try out ZoZo's at the Sugar Mill for dinner. Tips: Make a reservation for dinner if you want a table. We didn't care, so we just rolled up and sat at the bar. It turned out perfect for us. We enjoyed an excellent view of the ocean. The sun started to set. Tips: If you're there for sunset, take a trip to the bathroom. There are stairs at climb up and you could see down the mountain at the water and see your awesome sunset.

Dinner: We tried out their fancy-schmancy dining. We weren't really hungry, so went with appetizers which included one huge scallop, roasted Wild boar marrow, and each got a pasta dish. Both pasta dishes were very rich. I tend to like a tomato based pasta sauce, these were creamy. It says it's Northern Italian cuisine. I like the marrow and the scallop best. We also got a cocktail. I'd recommend this place for romantic dining experience, or if you're traveling solo, sit at the bar like we did! A beautiful place to enjoy the scenery in a chill, upscale venue. It's expensive so be prepared to pay up. The view and great vibe is worth it, in my opinion.

Before we headed our room, we stopped by their gelato place by the gift shop. Homemade gelato in paradise. Relish! Really great portions, too. I could not finish mine, nor could she. :-) 

Tuesday

I was looking forward to this day where we didn't have any particular activities books, so free to do whatever we wanted. Whatever we wanted to do, of course, included going back to Scott beach which we spent most of the day snorkeling and lounging!! We got lunch delivered to us from the bar hut at the beach. I enjoyed the waygu burger with fries. Charlotte chose taco Tuesday, chicken chipotle. We both tried the famous painkiller drink👌🏻 A must for an adult vacation!

Tips: Drinking water throughout the trip was a must. So was applying suntan lotion, as well as, bug spray. It was really humid at this time of the year, so definitely stay hydrated and protect your skin. My big, floppy hat came in handy!

More Tips: The full face snorkeling mask that I brought with GoPro attachment worked out

excellent! I highly recommend it. I found the visibility and panoramic view that I experience using that mask excellent, plus the free breathing for face not having something sticking out of my mouth already water coming into it plus the unicorn horn keeps any liquids were coming down that while allowing you to freely breathe when it's out in the air made it such a great experience. I used the snorkel mask that was provided to us as part of the eco-tour because we weren't carrying any extra gear. Comparing that with the face mask that I brought and use at a later point… Night and day. I highly recommend the full face mask!

After snorkeling we did some more relaxing at our balcony, then we got ready to go to the Saint John town to Cruz Bay for dinner. 

Tips: When I'm on trips I assess who I'm going to talk to, as I'm not looking to talk to just anybody, especially if I'm solo. Yes, I'm even more mindful because I'm a woman. Nonetheless, man, woman or child I think you need to always be alert when you're not in an area you're familiar. In addition, if you're visiting another country (not the case here), do yourself good and become aware of their laws/rules. It's important to remember you're in another country and need to respect their ways/culture when visiting. So, once I determine things are cool I'll chat it up with certain people. 

Another successful example of this approach was the fishing charter captain. As we trolled around I used that time to ask some questions to gain more information about things we could consider, i.e. restaurant recommendations. Foodie in me demands I get good intel :-)

Tips: I make notes using my iPhone. Find this app to be very handy and use it often. Our Captain gave us a few recommendations in Cruz Bay. One that stood out to me was a Caribbean lobster dinner at Morgan's Mango Tuesday and Saturday night. We decided to head out there Tuesday night. We got dressed, got a taxi on the resort that dropped us off at Mongoose Junction.

This place is a marketplace of vendor shops and restaurants. Definitely gave me a feel of pirates and history. There's also a dock that you could pick up boats for different activities, so good to make that connection. I'm raving once again that I love Canal Bay Resort since it has it's own dock. I like to be picked up/dropped off pick me up there versus me having to go down to the town. 

We we had a little bit of time to kill so we explored some shops. We checked out the Virgin Islands local brewery and had a glass of an adult beverage, then headed out to the restaurant just as it opens at 5:30. Note: This place gets packed. We picked a perfect time to go. 

Tips: I recommend getting one of those hand fans. It is so humid and hot. I was getting uncomfortable at a point before I got a refresh of my iced water. I think that hand fan will come in handy. 

Dinner was awesome!!!

The Caribbean lobster on point. Melted butter, rice, beans, plantains, and dinner came with a glass of white wine. We left the restaurant and flagged down a taxi to take us back to the resort. I was happy to return back to the resort.  The vibe there is completely peaceful, dominated by nature. Not a whole bunch of hustling bustle and people, like the town. Peaceful is perfect for us.

That evening did our packing and enjoyed our balcony for the last night. TEARS.

Wednesday

• Charlotte had a great idea for us to eat at the buffet that am, since we were traveling. 
• Fresh fruit area was Wow! Breakfast included the works like French toast, Eggs Benedict, if you get scrambled eggs you ordered it made, biscuit + gravy, bacon, potatoes, and more. 

Tips: 

• Again watch the food keep it covered because the birds are aggressive. They may swing down and grab something if you're not paying attention. Winding down at brunch and then chilled out on lounge chairs near the dock. 
• Oh, another thing I really liked was the resort being very organized. They dropped off the bill in our room the night before. I liked that so I could review all the charges to ensure everything lined up. 
• Also, they provide clear instructions about leaving your bag in your room so that they would pick them up by a specified time to take that to the ferry, so you don't need to worry about it. We stopped the front desk in the morning to ensure that Charlotte was on the list for a later ferry, since her flight was later.
• I recommend doing that in general. Confirm your details are as you need. That reminds me, before I traveled I called the resort to give them my flight information so that they knew which ferry to tell me to take. In addition, provide them your departure information so that they advise you on which ferry to leave on.

• Their mobile app is very helpful, as well, with things like having the resort map, Ferry schedule, and other information I found useful to access that way. Whatever questions that I couldn't get through the app I called or visited the front desk.

Alas, my time came up and the ferry arrived. TEARS!!!!!  We learned that you can just lounge right near the ferry on the beach and they ring the bell when you have to show up to the dock. You want to be obviously remain in the vicinity so you don't miss it. 

We took off, I waved goodbye and then turned my focus forward and watched as we passed other little islands until we approached St Thomas. Again, all very convenient, they handle your bags. We got taxied to the airport. Got off, checked in through TSA and customs and then I hit the bar for my last painkiller. Small world, I actually met somebody at the bar who was also traveling back to Richmond, Virginia. Finished there, then waited to board. Leaving Paradise was no fun at all. I look forward to returning again.

Recommendations

Below I'll give you some links to some of the places that I recommend considering.

Great Promotion

The Points Guy article on the USVI deal I took advantage for this trip:

https://thepointsguy.com/2016/12/virgin-islands-300-to-visit/

Caneel Bay Resort - class act! Also no TV in your room. Extra star for that awesome move! They do have a movie screening on the resort. That would come in handy if it was like bad weather, but I do love that they have no TV in the room! You got to be insane to come to paradise and watch stupid TV, IMO. 

• http://www.caneelbay.com/default-en.html

The resort is totally appropriate, IMO, for solo travelers. Also, I saw many couples, a few family with little kids, a few families with older kids. Looked like mostly adults, at this time of the year, and it didn't look or feel excessively crowded, which I loved!!

Note: You will be charged on your bill at the end of your trip $110 (pp/roundtrip) for the Ferry service. I felt it was worth it seeing they provide a hassle free experience from the airport and back, handling your bags and coordinating the taxi. I liked not dealing with that planning!

Things to Do

Ecotours - Awesome 5 hour sea kayaking, hike and snorkeling tour. We did the pick up at Honeymoon Beach, a quick walk from the resort.

• https://viecotours.com/tours/st-john/honeymoon-beach

Cruz Bay Watersports Sunset Cruise

• My review https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147410-d1228089-Reviews-Cruz_Bay_Watersports-Cruz_Bay_St_John_U_S_Virgin_Islands.html
• https://cruzbaywatersports.com/

World Class Anglers - 1/2 fishing charter picked us up at the resort dock. I wish we had gotten more fish but I get that's fishing. I know from experience that from what I was seeing the captain do he was doing everything that made sense. I was glad that we weren't skunked! I did chat briefly with the guy on the ferry after spot his fly fishing rod, ask him if he caught anything, he said he didn't, so I was glad I wasn't him. Just being real! I'm glad that we did get some activity at the very end. 

I liked that our captain was professional. No swearing or crude behavior. Good demeanor. Operation was safe.  Those things matter to me. Also, we were offered water and drinks. Cooler stocked with water soda and ice cold beer! We definitely had one of those as we rolled into the dock. I like that somebody from Caneel Bay staff greeted us and helped us get out of the boat. It's little nice touches like that which make this place an exceptional resort. Lastly, although we didn't catch a lot of fish we did get to see a lot more of the island on the boat as we trolled around.

• https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147409-d2149233-Reviews-World_Class_Anglers-St_John_U_S_Virgin_Islands.html

Where to Eat

Caneel Bay Bar - convenient eating/drinking on the resort. Great view.

• https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g147413-d1743689-Reviews-Caneel_Beach_Bar_And_Grill-Caneel_Bay_St_John_U_S_Virgin_Islands.html

Morgan's Mango - get the Caribbean lobster meal Tuesday and Saturday

• https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g147410-d1046366-Reviews-Morgan_s_Mango-Cruz_Bay_St_John_U_S_Virgin_Islands.html

ZoZo's at the Sugar Mill - Northern Italian cuisine. Sunset view is awesome!

• https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g147413-d1046386-Reviews-ZoZo_s_at_the_Sugar_Mill-Caneel_Bay_St_John_U_S_Virgin_Islands.html

Cancel Bay Resort homemade gelato - by the Gift Shop

More info on St John
Cruz Bay https://www.lonelyplanet.com/us-virgin-islands/st-john/cruz-bay

Virgin Islands National Park https://www.nps.gov/viis/index.htm

Visit Virgin Islands Site https://www.visitusvi.com

Petroglyphs - symbol of Caneel Bay
http://www.friendsvinp.org/documents/Petro0204.pdf

Gear Recommendations 

• UnderwaterAddicts Full face snorkel mask
• Sunscreen and bug spray
• Big floppy hat - My scalp actually got sunburned! We enjoyed hours of the great outdoors, so use this tip and wear a hat.
• Protect your eyes from the sun! I used my 2 pairs of https://skeletonoptics.com Significantly reduced glare!
• UV performance shirt/rash guard. Check out my Girl at http://www.saltgirlclothing.com Her performance shirt kept me protected from UV rays and was able to keep up with my adventures!
• GoPro with underwater case & accessories - I have a GoPro Hero 3+ and bought accessories on Amazon.com
• UA Water protectant phone case
• Snorkel gloves/booties - didn't end up using News but still recommend having them handy. We didn't use them because when we went to the ocean we were typically were in flippers since we are doing a lot of snorkeling.

Next Trip

On our next trip, I will look to book a trip to British Virgin Islands Baths. Hear that's incredible! I hear some recommend the Jost Van Dyke Soggy Bar. That looked pretty packed from an online video I saw so that may not be my scene. I like chill.

Questions

How about you? Ever travel to Caneel Bay Resort or St. John?  

If so, drop a comment, let me know your favorite sights and experiences to consider my next visit!

Double Dare you to ADVENTURE STRONG, my Friends!