Universal Orlando Resort: Where to Stay & Play for a Few Days

My recent stay at Universal Orlando Resort was so much fun and I’m going to share and highlight my favorite moments with you. First and foremost, I stayed at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort on the property which allowed me early access (one hour) to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™. It was my first time experiencing Diagon Alley™. I took advantage of the complimentary shuttle service to Universal Studios Florida and was able to venture to Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal City Walk with ease.

You can also use the walking paths around the resort to access the parks and other hotel properties. I had a blast taking the Hogwarts™ Express from King’s Cross Station in the London area of Universal Studios Florida to Hogsmeade™ Station in Universal’s Island of Adventure. Experiencing Platform 9 ¾™ was such a treat and it felt surreal. The train ride was exciting, and you get to experience characters from the movies while in transit. I also had the infamous Butter Beer for the first time!

When you stay on the Universal Orlando Resort property and take advantage of multi-day park tickets, the longer you stay the more you save! You also have the option of getting one park per day tickets. I honestly was able to cover lots of ground with the park-to-park tickets. Even though I was there for three days I was able to get on all the rides I wanted to experience on day one in between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

On day two we doubled back to some of our favorite rides and added some more sights to visit on our list. On day three I was able to explore Volcano Bay. It was just a short walk from the Cabana Bay Beach Resort to the entrance of Volcano Bay Water Park. We loved Race through New York starring Jimmy Fallon so much we had to do it twice. Transformers The Ride 3-D was equally fun along with Fast & Furious Supercharged. Fell in love with the tech and graphics behind each ride!

I also had an opportunity to have lunch at Bob Marley’s Café and The Chocolate Emporium in Universal City Walk. I walked up to Bob Marley’s Café with no reservations and was seated immediately and had an incredible meal. My cocktail of choice was Uncle Wray’s Rum Punch, and I had the No Woman, No Cry Jerk Chicken Salad for my entrée. It was so colorful and tasty! We had a reservation at the Chocolate Emporium, and I had the Coffee & Chocolate Stout Chicken Wings! Yum!

I thoroughly enjoyed dining at the Chocolate Emporium and couldn’t stop gravitating to the sweets shop. I mean all the goodies you can think of. After lunch, we decided to head back to Universal Studios Orlando to do some shopping. I loved the convenience of having everything all in one area. It’s just a hop, skip and jump from the Cabana Bay Beach Resort to Universal City Walk. Once you’re there it’s easy to navigate what you want to do next. We had a strategic plan daily and stuck to it!

The Park hours allow for you to have some down time and truly experience your hotel resort and enjoy the property amenities. The Cabana Bay Beach Resort has two courtyards with pools and cabanas to relax poolside or you can enjoy the lazy river. There are lots of poolside activities or maybe you want to make a reservation and head to Galaxy Bowl and enjoy a game or two with full table service restaurant and bar. You can also check out the fitness studio, on site arcade and or shop at the Universal Studio’s Store in the lobby area. The lobby is a great hang out spot!

When you’re not out and about exploring, you can enjoy your hotel room which is a whole retro style vibe! We were in a standard Queen Guest Room with two queen beds, bathroom with separate sink area. Quaint dining area with flat screen TV, Mini Fridge & Coffee Maker. One of my favorite evenings was ordering food from the restaurant in the lobby area and bringing it back to my room to enjoy while watching movies with my sons. We had a great time and can’t wait to get back soon.

Contact me for travel tips or booking your next adventure. jen@goofygetaways.com My services are FREE! I’d love to help you plan your next vacation, it’s what I do! #UOTravelAdvisor

Navigating Disney World During a Pandemic

I recently had an opportunity to visit Walt Disney World as part of my Goofy Getaways FAM Training. It was exciting and I was a bit anxious because even though some restrictions are being lifted, guidelines are more relaxed, and travel is starting to boom again… COVID-19 is still very much present. Disney World has been in sync with the CDC from the beginning with enhanced health and safety measures that have been put into place when you visit the park(s). The week I was there, some guidelines were modified.

For example: masks are required in most areas in the park for guests who are not fully vaccinated and optional for fully vaccinated guests except when on transportation. Crowd control is managed by the Disney Park Pass reservation system. To enter the park(s) you need a valid reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date required for guests ages three and up. If you have purchased park hopper passes, start at the park you have a reservation for and you can hop after 2pm.

Using the My Disney Experience App was very convenient, and it limited the amount of contact you had with people. It can be used for mobile ordering food, snacks and beverages. I would choose a restaurant, order my food, select a pick-up time window, paid through the app and was notified when my order was ready.  There were no long lines or wait times to pick-up my order and it was seamless. You can also make dining reservations through the app if you would like to sit down for a delicious Disney meal experience.

In addition to making your dining reservations, you can do a mobile check-in to alert the host that you are present, and you can scan QR Codes to access digital restaurant menus and start planning your meal. The app was also great for checking on transportation schedules and wait times, checking on ride wait times and showed which rides were in operation and which ones were not. There were scattered thunderstorms throughout our visit which affected the operation of certain rides.

I did not get to fully experience Disney MagicMobile because it was glitching during my visit. We assumed it was because of the weather and interference with the networks. My digital key did not work throughout my stay, and I could not do contactless check-in. A quick visit to the front desk and I got everything sorted out. Disney MagicMobile Pass was also glitchy for park entry and I had left my MagicBand at home because I did not think I would need it. I used my room key to access the park(s) and rides.

It was slightly inconvenient because I had to keep up with my key and take it out every time, I needed to access a new park, ride or going back to my room. My lesson is to walk with my MagicBand no matter what! It would have been a breeze to just have access to everything via my MagicBand on my wrist. Overall, I had a great experience and was able to hit ALL the parks and my contact with people was extremely limited. You are not short on hand sanitizer dispensers, they are EVERYWHERE!  

What’s In My Loungefly Mini Backpack: wallet, hand sanitizer, umbrella, poncho, business cards, Disney Gift Card, lip gloss, perfume, hair accessories and hotel room key. Things you may want to add sunscreen, antibacterial wet wipes, water bottle and phone battery charger. Luckily I was in a group and the things that I forgot, I had access to through my travel colleagues/friends. I experienced rope drop so we were up at the crack of dawn to catch one of the first shuttles to the park for gate opening at 7:00am.

Disney Parks Advice: Go in with a plan and strategically navigate your way through the park(s) based on the rides you want to experience and what you have planned on your itinerary. When we were at Magic Kingdom, we started on one side of the park and navigated our way to the other side by lunch time because we had 1:30pm reservations at Be Our Guest. After lunch we made sure we did not miss anything before getting ready to hop over to Hollywood Studios and head to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land.

This was the first time I have been to Disney World and experienced all four parks during my stay. I usually am NOT all about the rides. I will go for a specific attraction. I love Epcot because I am a huge foodie and visiting different countries for my favorite foods is a top priority. I love Animal Kingdom, because of the Kilimanjaro Safari and Pandora World of Avatar. Overall, I had an amazing time and cannot wait to do it all over again. Did you know that spaceship earth is an actual attraction?

I love that I can share my personal experience with my clients and help them plan a magical vacation. Contact me at jen@goofygetaways.com if you would like me to add some pixie dust to your travel plans.

Do you have any Disney Travel Plans? Let me know, I can help! My services are FREE! I’d love to sprinkle some pixie dust on your magical vacation.

Taste the Flavors of St. Thomas USVI

I am excited to be collaborating with my fellow foodie lover Hannah Victoria on this listing of places to eat in St. Thomas USVI whether you are visiting or local to the island. We are giving you our personal opinions based on our dining experiences at each of these locations we picked just for you! If you are looking for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner… We have got you covered! We would not recommend somewhere we have never been, and we are giving you the REAL, straight talk no chaser. Bon Appétit…

French Quarter Bistro: If you want a taste of New Orleans while you are in St. Thomas the French Quarter Bistro needs to be at the top of your list. I gravitated there by chance for drinks and then looked at the menu and ordered beignets to go with my Rum Punch. Enjoyed them so much we went back, and I had the Chicken and Andouille Gumbo. My brother had the Shrimp Pasta Alfredo, and it all was delicious and reasonably priced. Located at Rue De Saint Berthelemy, Frenchtown St. Thomas 00802 Great location for lunch and dinner. French Quarter Bistro

Blue 11: This is Hannah Victoria’s top pick for an upscale dining experience. It is the BEST food she has ever eaten AND… it is black-owned and operated. Check them out if you would like a four or seven course chef inspired meal. They also offer wine pairings and delicious desserts. You have the option to book reservations online. You can also let them know about any dietary restrictions prior to your visit. As a person with food sensitivities, I am glad I have the option to speak with someone about that before my dinner event. Located at Yacht Haven Grand St. Thomas USVI Blue 11

Tickles Dockside Pub: I love being by the water and Tickles Dockside Pub is in Crown Bay Marina. They have indoor and outdoor seating. You have a beautiful view of the yachts and ferries that are coming and going. It is a relaxing atmosphere with a tasty menu. They also have a full bar and can make just about ANY cocktail. My drink of choice was a pain killer, and I had the Callaloo Soup. My second time visiting I had the shrimp scampi, and it was delicious. They offer breakfast from 7am-11am, lunch and dinner. They also offer made to order pizzas for take-out. Located at 8168 Crown Bay Marina Suite 308 Tickles Dockside Pub

The Easterly: In the mood for some New America/ Caribbean small plates in a trendy atmosphere? Known for their seafood with local flavors and produce all cooked in a wood-fired kitchen. They offer a twist on Caribbean cocktails along with an extensive wine list and craft beer menu. This is another one of Hannah Victoria’s picks and she says it is mid-priced and worth every penny. Making a reservation is recommended although they do accept walk-ins. You may have a slight waiting period during peak dining hours. Dinner is offered from 4-10pm, Happy Hour from 4-6pm and Brunch on Saturday & Sunday from 10am-2pm. Located at 6100 Red Hook Quarter Suite GS-1 St. Thomas USVI 00802 The Easterly

Dog House Pub: Great vibe and chill spot for late night cocktails and bar food. Nice open environment, great music playlist with dine-in and take-out options. The food is good, drinks made to perfection and it is not expensive at all. I had the applewood bacon burger with sweet potato fries and it was YUMMY! My drink of choice was a pain killer. They open at 11:00 am just in time for lunch and stay open throughout dinner and for late bites. The staff is super chill and gives great service. Located at Havensight St. Thomas 00802

Eyeza Vegan: Looking for a great vegan option? Hannah Victoria recommends Eyeza Vegan. It is a modern plant-based restaurant. Not only will you get healthy food options that are flavorful with ingredients that are locally sourced but, they aim to please everyone from vegetarians to meat eaters. You have the option to dine-in with outdoor seating available or take-out. The chef can modify a dish if you have any allergy concerns. They are open for lunch and dinner daily and offer brunch on Sunday’s from 10am-3pm. Located at 2A Estate Donoe St. Thomas USVI 00802 Check them out on Instagram.

Bella Blu: If you want farm to table options and a wide variety of fusion menu food items then Bella Blu is for you. I had the pleasure of dining at Bella Blu for Sunday Brunch and it was delightful. The bottomless mimosas were a hit, I had the Belgian waffle with fresh fruit and a side of bacon. This is also the day I met Hannah Victoria and we bonded over food and cocktails. Hannah had a little hiccup with her cheese grits and switched it out for hash browns and all was well again. Bella Blu is open Wed. – Sun. from 5pm-10pm and Sunday Brunch from 10am-2pm. Located at 24A Honduras, Frenchtown St. Thomas USVI 00802 Bella Blu

Chicken Fry Restaurant Inc: If you are looking for excellent to-go buffet style food from the Dominican Republic, Hannah Victoria says you cannot go wrong with Chicken Fry. She recommends the Roast Pork or the Pork Ribs. You can dine-in but, seating is limited and there is no wait staff. It is counter service. They are popular for take-out and there are current capacity restrictions in place due to COVID-19. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Located at Kronprindsens Gade, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas 00802

Old Stone Farmhouse: Funny thing is while we were eating brunch at Bella Blu, Hannah Victoria mentioned the brunch menu at Old Stone Farmhouse and said we should go there before their brunch ended. She had me at the flourless chocolate cake and signature cocktails. So, guess what happened next? We went to Brunch Spot #2 and it was AMAZING! I was stuffed from my previous meal but, there’s always room for cake! I had to try the flourless chocolate cake paired with an old fashioned. Hannah’s recommendation and it DID NOT disappoint. She indulged as well and paired her chocolate cake with red wine. My brother had French toast that I was practically drooling over, two of our friends ordered the Cajun skillet and it was enough for me to add as a place to re-visit so I can enjoy all the tasty things.
Dinner Wednesday through Saturday starting at 5:30pm. Brunch on Sunday from 10am-2pm. I really cannot wait to get back there. Great dining experience, great service and loved the interior décor and outdoor courtyard. Located at Mahogany Run, St Thomas, VI 00802 Old Stone Farmhouse

Petite Pump Room: This locally owned gem offers authentic local cuisine in a dine-in setting. The food is delicious and can be paired with signature cocktails. Take it from Hannah Victoria, she knows what she is talking about. You can dine indoors or outdoors and take in the views of Charlotte Amalie Harbor. They also offer catering services. They are open for breakfast 7:00am – 10:30am Monday through Saturday and lunch 11:00am – 4:40pm Monday through Saturday. Check out their daily specials and are open on Sundays during season. Located at Edward Wilmoth Blyden Building, Veterans Drive. (Charlotte Amalie’s Waterfront near the seaplane & ferries to St. Croix & the BVI) Petite Pump Room

Caribbean Saloon Steakhouse & Bar: Great sports bar atmosphere with a diverse menu and full bar. I LOVE French Onion Soup and it is a go-to menu item for me so when I saw the French Onion Smothered Chicken on the menu it was a no brainer. Pounded thin breast sauteed in their onion broth and smothered with sauteed mushrooms, onions and melted provolone atop garlic crostini’s. YUMMMM! I cleaned my plate and did not have room for dessert, and you know my sweet tooth is serious. I paired it with a Tropical Sunset Cocktail. The pricing is reasonable for drinks, appetizers and entrees. They are open daily from 11:30am and follow the local closing policy during COVID-19 restrictions. They also seat every other table to allow social distancing within the restaurant. Located at American Yacht Harbor, 6100 Red Hook Quarters Smith Bay Rd, St Thomas, 00802

Hook Line & Sinker: If you are looking for a great seafood restaurant with an extensive menu and delicious drink options then look no further. They can tailor the menu to your dietary needs if you have food allergies and offer gluten-free options as well. Hannah Victoria says their pizza is delicious and gluten-free. They are offer dine-in, take-out and delivery options. Open 11:00-10:00pm Tuesday through Saturday. Located at 62 Honduras Frenchtown St. Thomas USVI 00802 Hook Line & Sinker

The Tap & Still: Best known for Burgers, Booze and Beer. They are a great bar to chill and take in the tunes on a late night. The drink specials are great! I ventured away from burgers and had the Korean Spicy Wings. There are three locations. Two on St. Thomas, one is at Havensight Mall and the other at American Yacht Harbor Red Hook and lastly the third location is in St. John at Cruz Bay. Open Daily from 11:00am – 10:00pm check website and social media for any updates by location. The Tap & Still

Za Rock Pizza Kitchen: Artisan Pizza with a great selection of craft beer and excellent wine to pair. Hannah Victoria says there are so many gourmet options to choose from. They also have gluten-free menu items and offer dine-in and take-out options. Outdoor seating is available. Open Tuesday – Thursday from 4:00pm – 8:00pm and Friday & Saturday from 4:00pm – 10:00pm. Bonus: Black-Owned Business.

There you have it; Hannah Victoria and I have given you fourteen restaurant and bar options between the both of us that we have personally dined at and shared our authentic experiences with you. So, let me share a little about Hannah Victoria with you. “Hannah Be Eating” and shares her food experiences with you that are anything but BASIC. She is a food lover, personal chef and service consultant. Connect with her on Instagram to follow all her foodie adventures and book her for your next event.

You all know me but, just in case there are some newbies around here… I am Jen Oni your resident travel consultant serving you travel content, foodie adventures and trending tech to make life easier. I have been traveling throughout this pandemic and it has been a personal choice to continue and have a sense of normalcy in my very hectic life that mostly consists of work. However, I partially work remotely so it allows me to travel and be flexible with my work schedule. I have shared with you all my travel experiences during COVID-19 but, if you have missed any, just look in the travel category to get all caught up.

Disclosure: Safety precautions were being followed & social distancing was in place while dining with these restaurants. Masks Required until seated.

St. John USVI Day Trip: Annaberg Sugar Plantation Ruins

We decided to spend the day in St. John. It would not be a proper trip if I did not incorporate some history in it, thanks to my mom. My mom suggested we stop and visit the Annaberg Sugar Plantation Ruins and walk the Trail. It is a historic landmark in the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John.

Established in the late 1700’s by Danish colonists Annaberg Plantation was farmed by enslaved workers. Producing 100,000 tons of sugar a year based on 1,300 acres of sugar cane. They also produced molasses and rum. Annaberg Plantation gives you a glimpse of the plantation’s role in the African slave trade.

Some parts of the plantation have been restored but, you will see mostly ruins. Everything is marked and you get a summary of the building that you are exploring. There is a map to follow and you can see the enslaved people’s quarters, where they worked and the guardhouse to prevent them from escaping.

The enslaved people at Annaberg Sugar Plantation were one of the first group to rebel and start the revolution of 1733 to fight for their freedom. It is a great tour to take and explore our history. The architecture is beautiful even though it is ruined. Visit the Annaberg Sugar Plantation if you can.

Day Trip Details: We left St. Thomas around 10:00am and caught the barge (car ferry) over to St. John to spend the day. There was a port fee and ticket fee per person traveling on the ferry. It was about $50/roundtrip for all of us. My mother, brother and bonus dad traveled that day.

In addition to visiting the Annaberg Sugar Plantation we drove around the island and visited a few beaches, stopped at a couple of overlooks and took many pictures. We also found the best roadside restaurant to get authentic island cuisine. The Hillside Terrace Bar & Restaurant did not disappoint!

For lunch I had stewed mutton, dumplings, plantains and fungi. I ate every bit of it and the food was DELICIOUS! After we ate, we stopped by Mongoose Junction to check out all the shops before ending our day and heading back to the port so we would not miss the ferry back to St. Thomas. It was a good day!

If you are visiting the Virgin Island, take an opportunity to island hop for a day or two. There is so much to see and do. My next stop will be St. Croix. I have only been to St. Thomas and St. John. I have also visited the British Virgin Islands in the past and am itching to return.

Do you like island hopping when traveling?

How to Explore St. Thomas USVI in Seven Days

Explore St. Thomas USVI

I will give you a quick backstory. I used to live in St. Thomas for a couple of years in the late eighties. I lived in Mahogany Run, went to Peace Corps Elementary School and was introduced to Girl Scouting. Hurricane Hugo was the reason I left, and my parents sent me to live with my grandparents’ state side. I visited again in 1992 when my baby brother was born, and I had not been back until recently. My mom stayed and has been living in St. Thomas for years with my bonus dad. My mom usually travels to see us, and I FINALLY decided to stop procrastinating in the middle of a pandemic and just book a flight to visit.

Pain Killer Cocktail at Emerald Beach Bar

I honestly believe it is one of the BEST decisions I have ever made. If you are curious about flying during COVID-19, I wrote about it in a previous post and you can check that out. I had a list of things that I wanted to do because honestly after 27 years I am a total tourist, and EVERYTHING has changed. I wanted to venture back to what was familiar to me and it was shocking. The elementary school where I once went has been renamed and rebuilt. I used to go to class in trailers, it is now an actual building.

Megan’s Bay Beach

Mahogany Run looks the same with the exception that they have not maintained the golf course after hurricanes Irma and Maria. Maybe it is on a list of things to do eventually. It was a great place to live and play! I went to Megan’s Bay Beach because that is where we would go frequently, and I remember spending lots of time there as a child. My dad used to work at the Virgin Islands Daily News, that is where we stayed during Hurricane Hugo hunkered down. So, naturally I went back to visit, and it looks the same from the exterior. I did not go inside. Maybe, I will schedule a visit when I go back. 

French Quarter Bistro Beignets

Okay, now that I have told you about all the spots, I needed to hit so I can reminisce a bit. I will tell you about my adventures. On day #1 I just wanted to relax and wind down from traveling but, I immediately wanted to hit a local bar and get a cocktail. My brother was also visiting, and he was my partner in crime for EVERYTHING! He took me to French Quarter Bistro in Frenchtown where I had a Rum Punch, the BEST beignets and chicken gumbo. This became a staple in our stay. It was just a convenient hang out spot close to the house. They also have a great Cajun pasta and make incredible pain killers, which was my drink of choice for most of this trip.

Foot in the Sand at Emerald Beach

On day #2 we went hiking above Brewer’s Bay and boy let me tell you. Your girl was not ready! Grandfather Mountain did not prepare me for this hike. It showed me just how out of shape I am. Lol! My sixty plus year old mom was doing better than me on this hike. She is a trooper for real! First, it is steep, and you cannot get around climbing giant rocks. When you get to a certain point, you will start to see markers and rope to help you along the way. The view from the top is rewarding! It took us about three hours total to climb to the top, take pictures, take in the scenes and return to the bottom.

Hiking Above Brewer’s Bay

When we were finished, I was HANGRY! So, we stopped by a food truck on the side of the road by Brewer’s Bay Beach. I had a chicken patte and it was DELICIOUS! We also carved in some beach time at Lindbergh Bay. I knew I was going to feel the aches and pains set in the following day, so I did not plan anything too heavy. On day #3 which happens to be New Year’s Eve we hung out in Frenchtown for a bit and then headed over to Chicken & Bowling to bring in the New Year. After that we headed to a secluded spot with friends to dance the night away. Overall, it was a good day and I brought in the New Year with good people!

Brewer’s Bay Beach

Happy New Year! Day 3# was a miscalculation on how we should have proceeded with day#2. Lol! My mom planned for us to spend the day with family at Camp Umoja and go kayaking. So, I may have had one too many drinks and was slightly hung over the next morning, but you know… The struggle was REAL and, we got through it! My brother and I had to lean on each other. It was hysterical to watch! However, I had the BEST time! I pushed myself to go kayaking and exploring the private beaches we were around. I find the private beaches to be more beautiful and secluded. I enjoyed it better than most of the tourist attraction beaches we visited. It was a whole vibe and great photo shoot locations.   

Kayaking at Camp Umoja

On Day #4 we visited 99 steps and skyline drive overlook.  99 steps are a historic site where Charlotte Amalie residents built from bricks that came from the ships from the old world, then they would return to Europe with products from the islands. There is a good lookout at the top with a view for pictures. I keep falling into these fitness excursions, thanks to my mom and brother. Lol! We then ventured to skyline drive overlook which is another lookout point that you can observe and take photos. You can see harbor views of Charlotte Amalie, Hassel Island, Water Island and beyond!

Secluded Beach

Sunday Funday on day #5 which we started off with brunch at Bella Blu in Frenchtown. I had the Belgian waffle with fresh fruit and bottomless mimosas. As we were enjoying our food, we started discussing additional brunch spots which lead us to Old Stone Farmhouse as brunch spot number two. I had the flourless chocolate cake with berry coulis and fresh berries, some of my brother’s French Toast and a taste of a Friend’s Cajun Skillet because I am greedy. Lol! I paired my chocolate cake with an old fashioned and it was PERFECT! The place to be on Sunday for Brunch!

Flourless Chocolate Cake – Old Stone Farmhouse

We then ventured to Mountain Top to take in more gorgeous views and have one of the world-famous banana daquiris. It was quite tasty, and the view was picture perfect. I like that at each overlook you get to view a different part of the island and lookout to the other islands in the distance. We also shopped and bought some souvenirs. Of course, we had a whole photoshoot, and I could not leave without getting pictures with the pirates. If you want to see the FULL recap of this trip, you can check out my St. Thomas highlight on Instagram. It is all there, I promise! We ended the evening in Red Hook having dinner at the Caribbean Saloon right by the marina.

Me & My Pirate

We took a day trip over to St. John on day #6. The barge (car ferry) was our transportation over to St. John. It was less than thirty minutes to arrive. You pay a port fee and then a fee for each passenger traveling. It was about $50.00 roundtrip for us. We visited a few of the beaches on the island. Maho Bay was probably my favorite because it is not as busy as some of the other beaches. I had a quick photoshoot, and I loved the way the pictures came out. We also visited the Annaberg Sugar Plantation Trail and Ruins. It was a whole history lesson, and I am glad we stopped and visited.

On the barge…

Before heading to lunch we stopped at the Trunk Bay lookout and it was the most gorgeous view. Proceed to the photo! We had the BEST lunch at Hillside Terrace Bar and Restaurant. Talk about authentic island cuisine, I had mutton, dumplings, plantains and fungi. I honestly cannot wait to get back there. We visited Mongoose Junction, the premier Shopping & Dining destination before we headed back to St. Thomas. I like being able to island hop when traveling. If the British Virgin Islands were open, I would have visited Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Yost Van Dyke. I like the baths and cannot wait to get back!

Trunk Bay Overlook
Shopping: Rainbow Tanzanite Jewelry
Shopping: Pandora Travel Charms

Welp, I had an exciting seven days and six nights! On day seven, I went to Beverly’s on Main Street to shop and buy duty-free alcohol to bring back home. I usually focus on liquors that are not available here. They also have a nice selection of jewelry for reasonable pricing, so I bought a rainbow tanzanite ring that I am absolutely in love with and it matches my Apple Watch Band. I also went to Pandora located at Havensight to purchase a destination charm for my travel bracelet. Every time I travel, I look for a Pandora so I can add a destination charm to my travel bracelet. I did not get used to the no tax thing, my entire trip. I kept paying for things and weirded out that that there’s NO TAX!

St. Thomas Wall Art

I had the best time in St. Thomas USVI, and I cannot wait to get back! I have so much more to do and explore. I knocked out a good chunk of my list but, there is much more…

error: Ask And You Shall Receive!!