St. Croix – Whim Plantation Museum (U.S. Virgin Islands) – August 2012

 I know you’ve seen this standard opening before.  But I just have to note that some of these pictures were posted originally with the travel blog write-up (original link below).  Now instead of a select few, I’m sharing just about all the pictures.  Please be sure to visit the original blog link for more details of the original visit.

 I really enjoyed the beaches here (although they were a little rocky), but I made sure to explore everything that the island had to offer.  One of those was the Estate Whim Plantation Museum.  The term “estate” is what “neighborhoods” are referred to.  This was a sugar plantation that was built when the island was under Dutch ownership to turn the sugar cane into rum.  The manor house was still in decent shape, but many of the outer buildings varied in quality.  Much of this area fell into disrepair before a historical society decided to come along and tried to restore this.  The original blog notes below have a good description of the visit, so follow the link.

 And I tucked in a few pictures of the traditional festival which was put on by the place I was staying.  I spent more time watching what was going on than snapping pictures.

https://traveljournalbydave.blogspot.com/2014/07/st-croix-us-virgin-islands-august-2012.html

 

St. Croix – Cruzan Rum Distillery (U.S. Virgin Islands) – August 2012

 I know you’ve seen this standard opening before.  But I just have to note that some of these pictures were posted originally with the travel blog write-up (original link below).  Now instead of a select few, I’m sharing just about all the pictures.  Please be sure to visit the original blog link for more details of the original visit.

 Since Cruzan was the official rum of St. Croix, which was the place I meant to go first.  I’m glad I went to it second, as it was the better experience.  This really captured the “island feel” and the tour actually took you inside the distillery to see how everything was done.  This was far more “hands on” than the competitor.  For the “complimentary post-tour drinks,” the Cruzan person poured out a shot and kept going as much as you wanted.  I could’ve had much more to drink there, but since I hadn’t eaten lunch I was starving.

https://traveljournalbydave.blogspot.com/2014/06/st-croix-us-virgin-islands-august-2012_28.html

 

St. Croix – Captain Morgan Rum Factory (U.S. Virgin Islands) – August 2012

 I know you’ve seen this standard opening before.  But I just have to note that some of these pictures were posted originally with the travel blog write-up (original link below).  Now instead of a select few, I’m sharing just about all the pictures.  Please be sure to visit the original blog link for more details of the original visit.

 This was the first of two rum tours I did the same day.  Both ended up being before lunch.  I meant to eat between the two.  I actually only planned to do one (which was the place I went second), but I was directed here.  I’m still glad I went to see a different perspective.  It was very corporate, and hands off, only showing you what they wanted you to see.  Other than the name in the lobby, you could’ve been in any place taking the Captain Morgan tour as there was nothing unique about it.  That’s why I called this place a “factory” and the next place a “distillery.”

https://traveljournalbydave.blogspot.com/2014/06/st-croix-us-virgin-islands-august-2012_28.html