Recent travels took me, Amina Bee, to the perfectly blue, tranquil settings of St. Thomas and St. John, ideal honeymoon destinations. With magnificent azure skies above, and crystal clear turquoise seas below, the scenery on these U.S. Virgin Islands is breathtaking! The only scenery on these islands that is not blue, are the white, sandy beaches, which have been deemed some of the best beaches in the world. The year-round temperatures between 80 and 90 degrees accent the landscape beautifully.

The great thing about St. Thomas and St. John is their proximity to one another, so couples do not have to choose one over the other. Red Hook, in the East End of St. Thomas, and Cruz Bay, in St. John, are just minutes apart by ferry. Airlines, including discount carriers like Spirit Airlines, service the St. Thomas International Airport (STT). Desirable accommodations abound in St. Thomas, from the upscale Ritz Carlton, to the more moderately priced Wyndham Sugar Bay. Private villas, like the Cabrita Cliff Haus (where I stayed during my visit and highly recommend), would also be ideal for a honeymoon stay, as well as a wedding itself!

While in St. Thomas and St. John, …

I don’t like just going on a "vacation" … I love a bit of adventure too! I look for trips that allow me to discover exotic places, see sites I’ve never seen, meet new people, explore other cultures and participate in some exciting activities.

When one of my friends called to tell me about the Black Boaters Summit I was definitely intrigued. To tell the truth, all I heard was sailing on a yacht in the British Virgin Islands with Captain Bill Pinkney, (the world renowned sailor) and I was sold. From the description, I knew this was the type of journey that I would enjoy. So I went online to www.blackboaterssummit.com and the description of the summit promised to be everything I was looking for and more.

In August 2009, I traveled to St. Thomas USVI, to join the 12th Annual Black Boaters Summit. It was the sexiest vacation I have ever been on and I have not stopped talking about it since! The experience rocked my world! From the moment I deplaned I was enamored. Every detail was taken into consideration. And it was a definite plus to have a handsome islander …

St. Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands. It's rich cultural diversity arts, crafts, music and festivals. The traditional stilt dancers, called “Mocko Jumbies”,reggae and calypso, quadrill dancers all dressed in their madras. The steel pan bands and pulsating sounds of salsa, meringue are among the captivating sights and sounds that add to the island's cultural mix. The unique culture of St. Croix is mix with African and European customs.

St. Croix has two towns, the quaint quiet town of Frederiksted, with its beautiful pier, and beaches. The rain forest, which takes you to the Creque Dam, and its beautiful lush fruit and Mahgony trees. Christiansted is the other town, with their abundance of restaurants, and shops. But as quiet as St. Croix maybe, there is plenty to do. There is Sunset Jazz, with many local talented musicians every third friday, Jump Up, Mango Melee, Starving artist day, the agriculture fair. Fourth of July festivities. Of course the crucian festival, which is at Christmas.

One of my favorite stores is Cultural Creations of the Virgin Islands, which has all handmade gifts made in the Virgin Islands. All items are made by local …