Visit The Butterfly Farm

The Butterfly Farm (La Ferme aux Papillons) is near Orient Beach on the French side of the Island. It is a small net-covered area located at the back of a house. When you enter the terrarium-like Butterfly Sphere, you'll see over 40 species of butterflies, numbering as many as 600. Admission includes a tour through the area where your guide will explain the different cycles of the butterfly’s life. There's also a gift shop on the premises selling butterfly art and memorabilia. The Butterfly Farm is open every day from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Tickets costs $12 and are good for the length of your stay in St. Maarten.

To reach the Butterfly Farm from the Dutch side, follow the signs to the Middle Region and Orient Beach. Just before you reach Orient Beach, you’ll see a sign at a narrow road on the right for Bay Side Riding Stables. The sign for the Butterfly Farm is on the left side of the road, but you want to turn right here at Rte. de Le Galion (Galion Road). The first place you’ll come to will be the Butterfly Farm.

Telephone: 590-873-121

Jimbo’s Blues & Rock Café

Jimbo’s is a true gem of a restaurant serving gourmet Mexican fare. It’s tucked away in a little shopping center at the Simpson Bay Yacht Club and Marina, but once inside “the outside” restaurant, you are surrounded by tropical trees and tranquility. The atmosphere is casual and laid-back, the drinks flow and the music is good. I can testify to their claim of having the best hamburger on the island – it’s ½-lb of Certified Black Angus grilled over mesquite chips and is ever so flavorful! They have a huge menu with everything from burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas, fajitas, gazpacho, ribs, fish, shrimp, salads and sandwiches. You definitely will not go hungry or thirsty!

A small boutique on the premises sells an eclectic mixture of goodies such as cowboy hats, Cuban cigars, Mexican glassware, t-shirts and tank tops, baseball caps, jewelry and hot sauce.

Jimbo’s is open for lunch and dinner at 11:00 am, Monday through Saturday and Sunday for dinner starting at 5:00pm. They are located on Airport Road in Plaza del Lago behind Scotia Bank at the Simpson Bay Yacht Club and Marina. If you’re coming from the airport, look for Jimbo’s after the bridge about a quarter of a mile on the left. If you’re coming from Philipsburg, look for Plaza del Lago on your right on Airport Road.

Simpson Bay Fish Market

The new fish market on the lagoon in Simpson Bay opened in April, 2007. It provides fishermen with a place to display and sell their catch, stalls for fresh produce, tables for local artisans to display their crafts, and six small restaurants offering the catch of the day and local dishes. Fresh fish is available starting at 6:30 a.m. So, go early in the morning to have the largest selection of fish, browse the other stalls and stay for a locally prepared lunch.

Discover The Summit Hotel

The Summit Resort Hotel is tucked away in Cupecoy, high above Simpson Bay Lagoon. The hotel offers old-world Caribbean charm and a breathtaking panoramic view. The 57 quaint cottages are set among lush tropical plants, flowers and palm trees. All the rooms have air-conditioning, a private balcony or terrace, free cable television, high-speed internet access, clock radio and direct-dial telephone. Deluxe rooms include a full kitchen with microwave, dishwasher, full size refrigerator and stovetop. The friendly hotel staff are happy to book activities such as snorkeling tours, horseback riding, jet skiing and excursions to nearby islands. Menus from restaurants on the French and Dutch side are available at the front desk. But, don’t forget The Summit’s own Kissing Fish Bar and Grill, located adjacent to the pool deck. Summer rates, from June 15 to October 14, are $110 for a Standard room and $150 for a Deluxe room.

Visit the Outdoor Market in Marigot

Every Saturday and Wednesday, the waterfront is abuzz in Marigot with its large outdoor market. You can find everything here – from fresh spices and produce, CDs of island music, T-shirts (3 for $10!), beach bags, clothing, jewelry, table linens, pareos, tambours (drums), decorative items with an island flavor, and much more – all at a good price. Like most outdoor markets, the vendors are willing to bargain and will often accept U.S. dollars for the asking price in euros – that can be up to a 37% savings given the current exchange rate. The market is located right on the waterfront and is right next to many little restaurants serving delicious local cuisine at outrageous prices! This is truly an island experience not to be missed. Just be sure to leave a little extra room in your suitcase.

Want Jet Blue to Fly to SXM?

Jet Blue is adding more flights and destinations. If you want Jet Blue to start flying to SXM, complete their short questionnaire “Tell Us Where To Fly.”

YACC: Yet Another Caribbean Cocktail

Sunset Cocktail

Ice cubes
2 ounces of orange vodka
Mango nectar
1 ounce of grenadine
2 ounces of dark rum

In a collins glass filled with ice, pour in orange vodka and fill almost to the top with mango nectar. Pour grenadine over top. As grenadine sinks, float dark rum by pouring over the back of a spoon.

Spend a Day on Beautiful Pinel Island

For some good snorkeling, food and relaxation, visit Pinel Island, located a few hundred yards off the northern end of Orient Bay. Pinel Island has a beautiful sandy beach that is protected from the pounding surf, which makes snorkeling the coral reefs ideal. You can also hike to the two deserted beaches on the other side. There is no electricity on the island and no cars. However, there are two small restaurants on the beach. One is run by a French man and the other is a local BBQ place that also serves grilled langouste (Caribbean lobster). Between the two restaurants is the Paradise Gift Shop – a local style shop selling a variety of mementos. Chairs and umbrellas are also available for rent.

To get to Pinel Island, you must take a small ferry. If you’re coming from the Dutch side, follow the signs past Orient Beach. The end of the road at French Cul de Sac opens onto a wide sandy area with a small wooden dock. The small boats will ferry you over for $5, round-trip. The boats run about every half hour and the ride is a short five minutes. The last boat returning from Pinel Island is at 4:30 p.m. Don’t miss it or you’ll be sleeping on the island!

YACC: Yet Another Caribbean Cocktail

Frozen Lemonade with Coconut Rum

1 1/2 cups of ice cubes, crushed
3 tablespoons frozen lemonade concentrate
2 tablespoons Malibu coconut rum

Place ice, frozen lemonade concentrate and rum in blender. Blend until slushy. Garnish with a lemon or lime slice, if desired.

Yield: 1 serving (about 1 cup)

Celine’s Lagoon Pub Crawl

Three evenings (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday) each week in high season and two evenings a week in low season, the 40-foot catamaran Celine leaves from SkipJack’s dock in Simpson Bay Lagoon for a three-hour pub crawl.

The first stop is at the Peg Leg Pub for cubes of filet mignon, sword fish and garlic bread. The next stop is Shrimpy's and then SkipJack's for a mahi-mahi kebab and spare ribs. You'll spend a little over one hour in each restaurant, with travel times included.

The cost for this fun evening of fun, food and drinks is $65 per person. This includes a welcome drink of rum punch, beer or soda at each restaurant. There is also an open bar on board.
The pub crawl is limited to 20 people per voyage. Meet at SkipJacks' across from the Royal Palm near the Dutch Bridge at 6:30 pm and board Celine at 7:00 pm.

To make a reservation, e- mail Neil@caribserve.net with "Pub Crawl" as the subject. Include your name, when you want to go, and how many in your party. Or, you can call them at 599 545 3961 or at their cell phone at 599 556 8806. A 20% deposit is due at time of booking.

St. Maarten Prepares for Genesis Class Ships

European dockyards are beginning to turn out the new Genesis class of ships. As a result, St Maarten is implementing plans to cater to these gigantic cruise ships. These behemoths weigh 220,000 tons as compared to the 160,000-ton Liberty of the Seas, which recently made its inaugural visit to St Maarten, and is currently one of the two largest cruise ships in the world. The island plans to be ready to accommodate the Genesis class ships in 2009.

Read the full story.

Tropical Depression Watch

A low-pressure system is centered about 1250 miles east of Barbados, and the National Hurricane Centre in Miami says that it could become a tropical depression within the next 24 hours. The system is moving west-northwest at 10 mph to 15 mph, and forecasat models predict it could make landfall somewhere in the central Caribbean early next week. Current wind speeds are near 30 mph. If the winds increase to 39 mph, the system will be upgraded to a tropical storm named Chantal. If you're traveling to St Maarten next week, keep your eye on this. The forecast is revised every 12 hours. Get the latest forecast and watch the movement via a live satellite image.

Good Eats and Drinks at Ric's Place

Ric's American Cafe & Sports Bar is the ultimate neighborhood bar on St Maarten. Open seven days a week, the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. All the major sporting events are shown on big screen TVs, and the crown is passionate! Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. until noon and includes such dishes as The Breakfast Burrito for $6.95, 3-Egg Omelets from $4.95 to $6.95 and Caribbean French Toast for $3.95. Lunch and dinner are available from 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. The menu includes a large choice of hamburgers, sandwiches, salads, Tex-Mex specialties, 17 beers, lots of frozen cocktails and delicious desserts (think Banana Split and A&W Root Beer Float) -- all at very reasonable prices. Ric's Place is located on Airport Road just north of the Simpson Bay drawbridge. Be sure to enjoy your meal on their terrace, which overlooks beautiful Simpson Bay Lagoon with its mega-yachts. Full menu.