St. Thomas has always been one of my favorite Virgin Islands of the Caribbean.

I brought my children to St. Thomas when they were ages two and three. I do not like to think how long ago that was, but they still remember.

Back then, we stayed in an island house overlooking Megan’s Bay, still one of the most beautiful sights in the world. I remember the fresh sugar bananas picked from the trees. I slept like a baby after a few banana daiquiris, then awoke to the sound of loud roosters in our yard before sun up. How nice to know that the old local tiki bars, redone, but feeling the same happy vibe, and the roosters, are still there.

As St. Thomas began to be a busy island we escaped to St. Croix, where I began a small business of pareo making with the local and very colorful island Java wrap fabrics. My designs were called Natique, and sold like Johnny cakes to New Englanders. I did not make much money, but found a reason to return often to the islands.

After we discovered the joys of preservation land throughout St. John, thanks to John D. Rockefeller, we camped out in tents along the pristine beaches for years, catching fish and picking our own coconuts and sugar bananas.

Brenda C. Hill
International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association
Books By Hills Success Log Where & What in the World Blog

Finalist in the Writing and Publishing category of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, “$uccess, Your Path to a Successful Book”

Brenda Hill
Author: Brenda Hill

As a longtime food writer for Where Magazine New York City, Brenda Hill, along with her writing partner, Maralyn Hill (no relation), writes and publishes books about chefs, food and international travel. They co-authored "Our Love Affairs with Food & Travel" and joined French Master Chef Herve Laurent in writing "Cooking Secrets: The Why and How" Brenda has been active in the California Writer's Club, IFWTWA, and the Santa Barbara's Writers Conference. Brenda Hill and her partner Maralyn Hill conduct marketing and writing seminars. Maralyn and I will be heading back to Rancho La Puerta in July to give our presentation on writing and marketing your book, as well as bringing back some freshly picked off the farm nutritious and tasty recipes.