Bucket List Zippers

Tree Limin’ Extreme Canopy Tour is meant for nearly all ages! As long as you are physically in good shape, older than 5, and weight between 70-275 pounds, you can enjoy the ride of your life. We don’t like to hear “but I’m too old for zip lining”. Nonsense! As long as you have an adventurous heart, why not give it a go?!     

Even an 87 year old man had a great time zipping!

Everyone now-a-days is talking about their bucket list. Someday you want to do this, someday you want to see that, but you need to do less talking and more walking! Make that someday, today! I’ve heard many excuses in my day, “I want to go zip lining, but”… “I’m scared of heights!” or “I’m not as fit as I once was.” or “It’s too dangerous!”. Once you know the safety standards at Tree Limin’ Extreme, you might take a second look at zip lining. 

Even though zip lining is fairly new to the eco-tourism scene, it is one of the fastest growing attractions and heavily sought after. In the United States alone, there are over 200 zip lines and counting. Our zip line is ACCT Certified and has the most up to date zip line equipment in the industry. ACCT has been setting the standards for challenge courses all over the world since 1994, and includes routine inspections, operating standards, and certifying all the guides as qualified professionals. So it’s safe to say, we truly are the “Ritz Carlton” of zip lining! We hook you up, we take you down, all you have to do is enjoy the ride!

Here are some quotes from three of the bucket list zippers that have zipped at Tree Limin' Extreme!

Jody says:

This was all 4 of our 1st time zip lining with you, and we all said this was off our bucket list!! It was amazing and something we only dreamed about doing until the opportunity came deity going on a cruise and wanting to do an excursion. We are so thankful we choose this with you all. You made our experience one to remember for a lifetime and if we ever get the chance to again you can bet we will, but for now we can say we did it!!!! And those who haven't can be jealous hahaha or get their butts to St. Thomas and experience it as well. :) thank you thank you thank you!!! I will never forget you all <3 NEVER!!!!

Julie says:

Zip Lining was on my bucket list. I have a fear of heights, but it looked like fun. Wanted to do it for years. I had so much anxiety the night before. But, when we arrived we felt comforted by the great guides and the other guests in our group. After the first zip I was relaxed and really enjoyed it. I fear no more, and cant wait to go back to the beautiful St. Thomas and Zip again!

Shelby says:

It was on our bucket list we did this last summer, we tried to do it the year before but you didn't open until the week after we were down there. We came back with that being first on our list for the trip last summer. We have be coming to St. Thomas every summer now for over 8 years, this was the best thing we've done so far! (An it is a big list that we have been checking off down there!)
We don’t care what age you are, we just want to make sure that you have a blast and feel safe at the same time. All of our guides have the knowledge to keep you safe, and the personalities to keep you entertained! If zip lining is on your bucket list, don’t just choose any old zip line, choose Tree Limin’ Extreme, where it’s beautiful year round, and always an adventure!

We don’t care what age you are, we just want to make sure that you have a blast and feel safe at the same time. All of our guides have the knowledge to keep you safe, and the personalities to keep you entertained! If zip lining is on your bucket list, don’t just choose any old zip line, choose Tree Limin’ Extreme, where it’s beautiful year round, and always an adventure!

Plan your next trip today by visiting www.ziplinestthomas.com or calling us at (340) 777-9477.

Pinzgauer at Tree Limin' Extreme

St. Thomas is known for its lush mountains, and here, at Tree Limin’ Extreme Canopy Tours, our first zip starts just below the summit of one of the highest mountains on St. Thomas. We like to call ourselves the “Ritz Carlton” of zip lines, so we want to get you up to the top in style. How do we do that, you ask? We have what’s known as a Pinzgauer! These heavy duty vehicles come equip with 6 wheel drive, a capacity of 2.5 tons, and a top speed of 62 miles per hour. 

Designed in Austria and manufactured in The United Kingdom since 1971, they are primarily military transport vehicles widely used in European armies. It is comparable to the U.S. Army Humvee, and although not as fast, it has a greater carrying capacity. It is still in use today by several nations including the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Austria, and several South American Nations.

All of our Pinzgauers were formally used by the Swiss Army and were built in the 1970’s. They were crafted with one goal in mind; to handle tough terrain. They have gotten a facelift since the 70’s, retrofitted seats and seat belts. Above, there are sturdy metal bars wrapped with a soft cushion that we suggest you hold onto with one hand on our voyage up the steep mountain! 

We have many guests who are awed by the Pinzgauer’s abilities to conquer the roads like no other. To schedule your ride today call (340) 777-9477 or visit our website at www.ziplinestthomas.com.

Shopping in St. Thomas USVI

St. Thomas Shopping

There are a few things to know before you head out for a day of shopping in St. Thomas. First off, shop around before making any big purchases. There are many different shops, but a lot have similar, or the same things and you want to make sure you get a good deal. One of the biggest examples of this, is jewelry, so keep your eyes peeled. Also, don’t be afraid to haggle a little. Most shops are able to bring down their price if you ask. Cash will almost always guarantee a price reduction too! Another thing to keep in mind is being polite and acknowledging the sales associates with a simple “good morning” or “good afternoon”, depending on the time of day. Waltzing into the store without saying anything may be considered rude, and you will less likely to get lucky haggling with them. 

When buying things like alcohol and tobacco products, there are a few rules as well. (These rules apply to U.S. citizens) Even though the legal drinking age is only 18 in the USVI, you still have to be 21 if you want to bring alcohol back to the states. You can bring back 4 liters of any liquor, but you can add a 5th liter if it’s a product of the Virgin Islands! With tobacco, you have to be at least 21 also, and are allowed up to 100 cigars (with an exception of Cuban) and up to 5 cartons (1,000 cigarettes), duty free, per person and only if they are punched in the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Don’t forget, when you leave St. Thomas, you will have to go through customs, so keep all your shopping receipts. Shopping in the USVI is the best deal in the Caribbean! It is duty free with a $1600 exception. If an item you bought is more than $25, you may need to show a certificate of origin. You will also need to declare all your gifts as well, so keep everything you got from St. Thomas organized. 

There are a few awesome places to shop while you’re in St. Thomas. 

Main Street

There’s a lot going on on Main Street! From jewelry to cameras, you can find a lot of good deals. If you are just window shopping, this might not be the place for you. It can get congested and the competition is so fierce on this street, businesses can get a little pushy. If you’re looking for some nice jewelry for a good deal though, it might work in your favor! Everyone is trying to beat out the competition one way or another. Keep your eye out for alleys too, these can hold some great shops and sometimes you can find the best deals there. 

To get to Main Street from the cruise ship docks, you can either take a safari, or, if you’re up to it, you can walk. Walking may take 30 minutes or so, but it’s a scenic trek around the water front, so you really can’t complain. Their hours are 9am-5pm monday-saturday, and the shops close at 3pm on Sunday. 

Vendors Plaza

You can’t really miss Vendors Plaza when you’re walking down the water front! Layers of blue tents are set up every day with a great selection of hand bags, sun glasses, jewelry, St. Thomas T-shirts and even hair braiding. If you’re looking for a souvenir to take home to friends and family from your vacation, this is the place for you.

To get to Vendors Plaza, it’s just about the same distance from the cruise docks as Main Street. You walk along the water front and it’s right before Main Street. Again, it’s a nice walk, but taking a safari is also understandable. They set up shop around 7:30am so they can be up and ready before the cruise ship guests start walking off. They close around 5 pm, when all the cruise ships start boarding again. Their hours really revolve around the cruise ships. 

Havensight

Havensight is located by the primary cruise ship dock and is just steps away from the ships. They have a wide selection of souvenirs, clothing, liquor, electronics, sun glasses, hot sauces, and jewelry. You will see some repeat items, so you should look around before buying, because you don’t want to over pay on something that another store has for less. Also, when you get hungry, there are a number of places you can grab a bite to eat and a cold drink. 

Click the link for more information
http://www.havensightmall.com

Yacht Haven Grande

Located right beyond Havensight, this is another shopping location that holds a wide variety of high end brands. They have high end clothing stores, beauty salon, pet boutique, and delicious food. Our bar, Da Lime in Da Coconut is located right as you walk into Yacht Haven Grande. This is a nice place to sit down and hang out for awhile because it is landscaped beautifully and doesn’t get too crowded, so you can comfortably spread out. We also have live music down at the bar on occasion, which is a nice touch before heading back to the ship. 

Click the link for more information
http://www.yachthavengrande.com

There you have it! A little shopping guide to some popular shopping destinations in St. Thomas. 

Virgin Island Talk

Every culture has its own characteristics that sets it apart from the rest of the world. Here, in the Caribbean, there are a lot of different attributes about the culture that makes it appealing to many people. One of those things is the lingo. If you aren’t familiar with some of the terminology down here, you might be a little lost in conversation. Luckily for you, I’ve taken it upon myself to gather some of the commonly used phrases and words to help all you tourist out!

Rock City- A nickname for St. Thomas

Love City- A nickname for St. John

Twin City- A nickname for St. Croix

Gada (Gah-da)- The Danish word for street. Because the island was once a territory of Denmark, all the street names were in Danish. Even though the US eventually purchased the islands, they kept the street signs as Gada and the driving on the left.

Wa Gon’ On?- What’s going on?

Meh Boi- This phrase is used just like the the word dude, or man. Instead of saying “What’s up, dude?” you’d say “What’s up, meh boo?”

Meh Son- This phrase is used as an exclamation. “Meh son, that’s crazy!”

Limin’- Chillen, hanging out.
A popular used sentence is “Wa da lime is?” which means, what’s going on tonight?

The word limin' is used in our name “Tree Limin’ Extreme”! Breaking it down you will understand the name a little bit more. First off, Tree, because we are up in the trees… Limin’, because there are beautiful platforms to hang out on… and Extreme, because it’s zip lining!

Wildlife of the Month: The Mongoose

The mongoose isn’t native to the Virgin Islands, but because of the lack of predators, they have a thriving population. Ever since these little guys were brought here, they have become a nuisance to many people and indigenous species. Even though they have made a bad name for themselves over the years, they have become apart of the Virgin Island’s habitat. While you are visiting, you may see one or more of these mammals scurrying around trash looking for food, or hiding in small places. 

Mongooses can grow to be 1 to 3.5 feet long (including their tail), and have a ferret/weasel-like look to them. Their diet consists of a wide verity of insects, crabs, lizards, snakes, birds, eggs and rodents. They are responsible for eliminating 7 different types of species over the years, just in the Caribbean alone. They also are a big fan of eating out of the trash, so they spend most of their time near dumpsters. If you make a trip down to Magen’s Bay, there will be a good chance you’ll spot a few of them wondering around the parking lot!

The lifespans of a mongoose is roughly 4 years and they spend most of their time hiding. They breed 2-3 times a year and have an average of 3 babies. They can start mating at only 10 months and over their lifetime can have up to 36 babies!

The mongoose was brought to the islands way back in the 1800s. It was believed, at the time, if they were introduced to the habitat, they would get rid of the tree rats. Funny thing though, mongooses don’t climb trees, nor are they nocturnal, like the tree rats. Therefore the mongoose had no interest in hunting them down, and both the tree rats and the mongoose increased in number. 

After many years of dealing with the mongoose, we know there is no stopping them. All we can do is keep a close eye on them. Hopefully one day, we can all live in peace!

What Type of Tourist are You?

Everybody is unique in their own way, but when we are on vacation, there tends to be some common ground. No matter what kind of tourist you are, there is something for you in the Virgin Islands. After a few minutes of deliberation, I created three categories to define what kind of tourist you are. 

The Sight-Seer

The Adventurer

The Relaxer

The Sight-Seer
Your main reason to take a vacation is to sightsee!

If you are a sight-seer, you want to see everything that the island is known for. Another name for the sight-seer might be called the typical tourist. You’re the kind of person who doesn’t want to miss a second of your vacation and plan it to the T! That may include lists, pre-made reservations, and matching family T-shirts. You also aren’t afraid to sport a hawaiian T, and a camera at all times; you never want to miss out on a picture perfect moment! Even though you may get stressed at times if every things don’t go as planned, it was totally worth the headache and you can’t wait to start planning your next vacation! 

The Adventurer

Your main reason to go on vacation is to explore!

The name says it all, you live for adventure! Your ideal vacation would include getting dirty and discovering new things. You want to do more than just see, you want to experience everything the island has to offer. Even though you want to do everything and more, you don’t always have a plan written out. You rather just see where the wind takes you and sometimes it can blow you into a direction far beyond what you could have imagined. You may also like to capture the beauty of nature, and Instagram it when you get home. No shame in that! 

The Relaxer 
Your main reason to go on vacation is to relax!

Whether you work at a stressful job back home, or you just aren’t the outdoorsy type, you took a vacation for one reason… to unwind. When you planned your vacation, you didn’t need to draw up any plans because you already knew what you were going to do; bottomless mimosas on the beach, naps in a hammock and zero distractions from the outside world. You may get out and about for a small portion of your trip, but the highlight would be tranquility on the beach. 

No matter what kind of tourist you are, you are sure to enjoy St. Thomas or any one of the United States Virgin Islands. We have tons of sights to see, places to explore and beaches to relax at! Don’t forget to check out Tree Limin’ Extreme also! It has a little bit of everything for everyone to enjoy. 

Romance in Ziplining

Honeymoons vary from couple to couple, but we've been noticing a new trend catching on lately...
ziplining. Who said that ziplining couldn't be romantic?! Just imagine, you're on top of a mountain, taking in the fantastic views as far as the eye can see, and you're sharing an experience of a lifetime with the love of your life. Isn't that what love is all about? Every day, we send up happy couples to endure ziplining for the first time together!

The only thing that could be considered more romantic than a honeymoon, is a proposal! On a few occasions, we've had the pleasure to assist with proposals up on the course. It's a wonderful place to make a life changing decision! And not to mention, the engagement pictures always turn out wonderfully. 

I mean... just check out this view!

So, if you're planning a honeymoon, or trying to plot the perfect engagement, keep Tree Limin' Extreme in mind! You'll be glad you did! Visit our website today to schedule your next adventure.

www.ziplinestthomas.com